UK showings in wrong order? by Kurgan

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

UK showings in wrong order?

POSTED BY: KURGAN
UPDATED: Saturday, May 31, 2003 06:15
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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 12:32 AM

Having now shown the pilot then 'The Train Job' and 'Bushwacked' the UK SCi-Fi channel trailed 'Shindig' as the next episode, which strikes me as deeply wrong...

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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 2:49 AM

ZEKE023

Actually, that's the right order. The US showed them out of order. I guess FOX tried to push the ratings or something by showing certain episodes before others.

But anyway, you are watching them in the right order. No worries.

-Zeke

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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 5:12 AM

GTHING

I read somewhere that it was Tim Minear's idea to show "Shindig" and "Safe" later. He wanted viewers to see "Our Mrs. Reynolds" and "Out of Gas" early on.

I don't believe it was a bad decision. "Out of Gas" established a lot about our characters. However, I will say that "Safe" has always felt like it was designed to be shown earlier in the season.

Excerpt from My Genre Geek Resume:
~huge Odyssey 5 fan (despite its cancellation)
~dangerously obsessed with BtVS and Angel
~former Andromeda fan

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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 5:32 AM

SERGEANTX

That was my understanding as well, however its worth pointing out that ME was under heavy pressure to boost ratings after the pilot was nixed by Fox and a three week gap in the scheduling was forced on them. Continuity was the lesser of their worries and they were desperate for anything that would keep them on the air. So the decision was made to forgo character development in favor of more lively, attention getting episodes.

The Brits are still getting the better end of the deal, IMHO, seeing the story arcs develop in a more sensible way and with a better balance. As you mentioned, seeing 'Safe' so late in the series left River a largely undeveloped, and for me, rather annoying character. And I think Jaynestown would have been somewhat more meaningful if shown after the character had been more firmly established.

I'll avoid spoilery and say nothing more....

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 5:33 AM

HJERMSTED

Guess we'll have an answer to the intended/proper order question when the DVDs finally come out.

Sounds like the Brits are seeing the show the way it flows best, IMHO as well.

mattro

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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 6:51 AM

XENARC

I've sat and rewatched them straight through in the Fox order, then did so in the 'right' order. The Fox order seems to match what was said above about balancing out the action for ratings, but the 'right' order is sooo much more enjoyable. Especially in regards to Simon and River. There are changes in the rest of the crew's attitudes toward them that flow much better in the 'right' order than in Fox's.

XenArc

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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 7:31 AM

SERGEANTX

Another thing I was thinking about. I remember Minear and Whedon going out of their way early on to mention in interviews and such that the initial batch of episodes were designed to stand on their own, so new viewers could 'come on in' and enjoy the show (when, from what I saw, some fairly signifigant stories were developing right from the start). That might have been partially a response to pressure from the network to avoid the heavy reliance on story arcs that were typical of Buffy and Angel. Of course, I'd guess that most everyone here considers the well developed story arcs to be one of the great strengths of ME's style, and not something that should be mucked with just to bring in a few more people off the street.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Saturday, May 31, 2003 5:05 AM

INVISIBLEGREEN

But the UK airing order is still the wrong order, at least according to Minear. I don't know if Joss has commented on the episode switches, other than "Serenity," but it would be nice to hear from him.

And become the DVDs are being released by Fox Home Entertainment, we won't necessarily get a straight answer from that; they might even put "Serenity" last! Just see how they mutilated "Buffy"

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Saturday, May 31, 2003 6:15 AM

GINOBIFFARONI

Quote:
Actually, that's the right order. The US showed them out of order. I guess FOX tried to push the ratings or something by showing certain episodes before others.

Hell, I see it as just another way Fox tried to screw the show up. Maybe I am dreaming, but from reading the scripts kindly placed here by Haken, I think the strongest episodes haven't even been played yet. Heart of Gold, and Trash strike me as being very good, while The Message has me waiting for Friday so I can read the next piece. Can anyone imagine what the level of writing would be like into say, the third season. Makes me want to burn Fox to the ground.

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