"The Message" just now on the Sci-Fi Channel (UK) by Katy

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"The Message" just now on the Sci-Fi Channel (UK)

POSTED BY: KATY
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 14:45
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VIEWED: 2724
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Monday, July 28, 2003 11:53 AM

Hi,

Not sure if I'm doing this right, not having used this forum before, so bare with me.. (but not in a nekkid way.. just.. in a tolerant-to-newbies kinda.. okay, nevermind... TOPIC!)

Yeah, so, the Firefly episode "The Message" just premiered on the UK Sci-Fi channel and I wanted to say (somewhere semi-public where folks'd be inclined to agree with me) how great I thought it was.

Guess I need to spoiler font the following details? Yes? No? (Bueller?) We're-jaded-and-fully-downloaded-Firefly-fans-but-spoiler-font-yer-babbling-anyway? Okay.

{

Select to view spoiler:

I've really enjoyed the shows run thus far on Sci-Fi. They've done a really good job of promoting it and keeping it going (lots of repeats as well as the weekly new episode). It's a grand shame the US network couldn't manage something similar. I'm gonna miss it (next week's the last episode, right?) A black hole will be left in my Monday evenings when it's over.

Alright. The Message. In as few words as possible? Jonathan M. Woodward. Whatta guy. He's just great, innie? :D Love him to death (again.) Adored him as Holden Webster on Buffy last year (highlight of the season for me), bounced up and down in my seat and squealed with surprise and glee when he reappeared as Knox on Angel (in Tim Minear's cool Wolfram & Hart-y finale) a couple of months back. Was really great to see him again. Liked Tracey immensely from the moment he woke up. (Ergo, didn't get too attached as was sure Joss'd kill him deader'n before by the end of the episode. I know, I know, I must be, like, psychic! Or, y'know, familiar with Joss's EVIL.) He made me cry. He dies really well. Someone be sure and mention that to him.. but don't encourage it. (Was very much the drama class death scene.. slow, wordy, painful-looking, everybody watching.. great stuff really.)

I tuned in 'specially (video machine and PAL 180 standing by) as I'd heard a vague rumour he'd be on the show. Predicted he'd die. Again. (Joss Whedon, does he just like killing certain people or what? Something tells me Knox ain't gonna have a happy and fulfilling (nor long) life on Angel next season. But it'd make for a refreshing change 'o pace if he did! *hint, nudge, please?*)

Jayne's hat. I loved Jayne's hat. If anyone (or anyone's mother) wants to knit me a hat like that and send it to me.. even in late July.. I'd be happy to recieve it and I'd, of course, take a polaroid of myself wearing it and post it on the internet for all to admire.) I love Jayne completely actually. Hatless or behatted. He's great. So is River (one of the things that makes me saddest about the show's cancellation. I really wanted to see what happened with River. "Objects In Space" made me absolutely crazy with curiousity.) My brothers (who are both here and who ended up watching the episode with rapt attention, I should add) would like the express their appreciation for both Kaylee and Inara. (*tisk* Men.. )

Setting a person on fire.. or even threatening to set a person on fire.. is not nice. But it is very effective. Something more I have learned from Joss Whedon. Thanks man. I'll keep that (along with the cover of the first Rage Against The Machine album) in mind.

I thought the repeat of the self-eulogy VO at the end was excellent. Jonathan Woodward read it very well, but it was also very resonant, very sad. Very meaningful. Really really well done.

I never hated Tracey. You'd think if someone shot Wash and held Kaylee at gunpoint I'd at least hate him a little bit. But I never hated him. Poor guy. The bit that really got me was when he was dying and he stopped briefly and kind of reached out for Mal and said "Sarge.." That was painful. He panicked in a very human way. Loved that part.

This is the first episode of Firefly that has made me cry, btw. So, a hearty well done to those responsible. This was a fabulous episode and it's cruel that there aren't many many more to follow it.

And just cuz I really like this emoticon..

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Monday, July 28, 2003 8:55 PM

MANIACNUMBERONE

I agree with you Katy, it is cruel, too too cruel. The entire human race needs many more episode's. I loved this episode too by the way. I have never seen a fan base for a tv show appear so quickly into every country it was introduced. I did have a small query about yer post. You wrote that you are watching Firefly on monday nights? Wasn't it originally scheduled on Fridays? What do you think might have been the reason for the change?

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Monday, July 28, 2003 11:06 PM

MAJORHAPHAZARD

Another brit here. Frequenter of the SCIFI uk forums if your ever aboot

Scifi Uk premieres Firefly on a monday at 9, with the previous weeks episode before it. This process is repeated on Friday Nights and Sunday Nights.

One query i had about this episode,

Select to view spoiler:

why didnt Book/Mal just tell Tracey the plan?. I mean they say "Look tracey, we've got these guys licked. Sit back and enjoy" then there off.
I dont think mal ever had the intention of giving him over to them, cos he was in tears when he had to shoot him

Other than that this episode was real depressing.

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Tuesday, July 29, 2003 5:38 AM

BUTTERFLY

Actually each episode is repeated FIVE times in one week. Each Monday at 9pm, then later on that same evening around 1am. Then again on Friday, Sunday and then again the following Monday at 8pm.

How great is that?! Sci-Fi UK rule. They know how to keep us UK fans happy. Let's hope they do another Firefly day (when it finishes) like they did last month when they showed all the episodes back to back. I'm sure they will.

What I got. She has a name!
So does this. Call it Vera.
OR
Anybody there...? Anybody else.

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Tuesday, July 29, 2003 10:21 AM

SHEPHERDOFHERMAS

I wept as well. It is my favourite episode.

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Tuesday, July 29, 2003 11:45 AM

ENGLISHFAN

We are honoured here in the UK to be the venue for the world premiere of 'The Message'.

I really enjoyed this episode.

Select to view spoiler:

It was a clever plot twist that Tracy was dead and it was all sad, and then he's alive and it's all action and adventure, and you think they'll save him, but then - all change again - and he's dead again.

The moral of this tale seems to be that you can only save yourself. Tracy (what is it with the girls' names for boys?) couldn't get it together even with the strength and wisdom of Mal and Zoe as an example. Very poignant. It doesn't matter how hard you try to help some people, they are just beyond help, doomed to self-destruct.

Hearing his last message 3 times emphasised this process; like a particularly moving motif in a symphony.

In answer to your question MajorHaphazard, I don't think they thought that Tracy wouldn't trust them - they didn't realise how emotionally damaged he is. Besides it would have ruined the plot wouldn't it?

Also the doc didn't even try to fix him up, what about that?

I can't believe there is only one more episode. I've only just got into it. What am I going to watch for inspiration now? Eastenders?

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Tuesday, July 29, 2003 2:45 PM

TABITHA

I thought we had two eps to go: Heart of Gold next week, then my favourite of those that aired in the US, "Objects in Space".

Here's hoping anyhow, I am sad at how wonderful these unaired episodes have been. Really, they are just perfect.... :(

www.ascifi.com

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