How should I watch the episodes of the FIREFLY? Advice from true fans needed! by the

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How should I watch the episodes of the FIREFLY? Advice from true fans needed!

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POSTED BY: THE_13TH
UPDATED: Friday, April 13, 2012 17:46
SHORT URL: http://bit.ly/HCrzHA
VIEWED: 3642
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012 3:04 PM

Hi all,

I was stunned to see how many posts there are on this forum - didn't expect that from a series that only lived for one season - it was clearly very good to gain such long-lasting following.

Anyway, I've just finished watching the feature film Serenity, which was just great, and I want to watch the original 14 episodes. What I don't understand is how I should watch the episodes.

I understand there is an order in which the episodes were aired and the order in which creators intended to release them. Please could TRUE FANS recommend me the order for best experience? (I've already seen the feature film if that matters). Being a bit of a nerd when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy - I want to get the very best experience!

Thanks a lot.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012 3:09 PM

DMI

Expired, forgotten, spoiled rotten.

In the order presented by the DVDs. That is pretty much the intended order (definitely not the aired order).

I say that because you seem already very interested. Were I showing it to a hostile or skeptical audience, I might start with one of my favorite episodes like Out of Gas, Jaynestown, or Our Mrs. Reynolds, just to get them hooked. Sometimes I've shown people the original pilot and it's length and pace turns them off.

----------------------------- I pray for one last landing, on the globe that gave me birth. Let me rest my eyes on the fleecy skies and the cool, green hills of Earth.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012 3:49 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Yup DVD order is correct. I envy you that you are watching them for the first time.

David

'Begone, sugar-free candy antichrist!' - Nathan Rabin.

'Geeks can't admit that anything worthwhile was invented before 1981. Soon, "making cocoa" will be called "milk hacking."' - Lore Sjoberg

http://xkcd.com/386/

"Don't worry. Captain Hammer will save us." - Penny.

I has myspace - http://www.myspace.com/daveshayneforpresident

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012 7:24 PM

BOOKONBOARDSYSTEMCOM

Well here was my experience. I watched Serenity, liked it and found out it was based on a series. I rented the DVD's popped in the first episode and for the same reasons DMI listed I didn't finish it. The disks went back and a good chunk of time went by before I found it again.

Then I was flipping through the channels and Sci-Fi (Not SYFY then) was running a marathon and the Train Job was on. As soon as Jayne explained the chain of command, I was hooked. I watched it and the next 2 episodes then went out and bought the set. Fox screwed up with Firefly but I have to say they made the right call on the Train Job. I do enjoy the original pilot now. It's usually my in flight movie when I travel, and while the Train Job is not my favorite episode in the series, (but still high on the list) it is the reason I became a fan.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012 9:32 PM

RAHLMACLAREN

Quote:
Sometimes I've shown people the original pilot and it's length and pace turns them off.

Happened to me twice. Is it possible FOX was smart in airing The Train Job first?

???

Anyways....

Now adays I watch them in number order. That is the number in the end credits. (Except for the pilot which is #79 for some reason.)

Serenity (Pilot) The Train Job Bushwacked Shindig Safe Our Mrs. Reynolds Jaynestown Out Of Gas Ariel War Stories Heart of Gold Objects in Space Trash The Message

All that's different is the last two pairs of episodes are switched. But the DVD order does end the series on a happier note with Objects In Space rather than The Message.

-------------------------------------------------- Find here the Serenity you seek. -Tara Maclay

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 2:19 AM

LEMMING

"How should I watch the episodes of Firefly?"

Only one useful answer (the others regarding the DVD box set order are merely correct :-):

"Repeatedly"

Admittedly, this is a bit of a no brainer

:-)

Welcome!

Nick

The Signal < www.serenityfirefly.com>;

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 4:01 AM

PENNAUSAMIKE

Quote:
Originally posted by RahlMaclaren:
Quote:
Sometimes I've shown people the original pilot and it's length and pace turns them off.
Happened to me twice. Is it possible FOX was smart in airing The Train Job first?

???

I've never understood the idea that the "pacing" of the original two-part Serenity pilot is too slow. I was engaged every moment as the story unfolded and characters were introduced. I liked the characters as I was introduced to them in the rush of the BDM SERENITY (which I also saw first), but I fell in love with the characters as their personalities and make-up were presented in the pilot Serenity. To me, The Train Job feels like an episode that was slapped together in a weekend,(oh, that's right, it WAS). The Train Job rushes through everything, barely grazing on all the information it needs to present, all while trying to squeeze a story in between the exposition. The pilot Serenity uses the extra length to naturally present all the series introduction exposition as a natural part of developing the story. And frankly, so much of modern entertainment (to me) just feels so rush-rush-rush, pounding, yelling, in-your-face; I really appreciate a tale told by laying a good foundation of character development and situational development, and then having the story grow and make sense to the audience out of that familiarity. Bitching about the length of the pilot Serenity seems like complaining if a novel is over 100 pages long.

So, I watch the episodes in the order that Joss put them on the DVD. I would say that watching them out of order makes some of the jokes (which rely on previous character development) a LOT less meaningful and funny than when you "get" the reference.

Mike My Firefly/Serenity Collection: http://fireflydvd.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3541

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 7:42 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Welcome to the site, and to the ranks of the browncoats The 13th. Good to have you posting with us. :cheers:

As my fellow 'coats have said, the order of the dvd set is the order in which you want to see the episodes. Looking forward to your thoughts on them.

_______________________________________________

Holding the line since December '02!

X.O. / Battalion O.I.C.

http://76thbattalion.homestead.com/index.html

http://76thbattalion.proboards.com

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 8:08 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

I saw the pilot episode "Serenity" on December 20, 2002, after I had seen the other episodes broadcast. I thought it was great, and I fail to understand why FOX didn't like it or what problems other viewers have with it. "The Train Job" is probably my least favorite episode. It does have some good dialogue, but it's a lousy first episode IMO.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 8:13 AM

FLORALBUNNY

No truer fan there is than I, your faithful bun. Watch the episodes in the order that Joss intended, beginning with the pilot. That's how they are on the DVD set. If you were able to sit through the feature film, you ought to be able to plunk your rump on your sofa long enough to watch the whole pilot. There is plenty to watch if you're paying attention. Bring some snacks and a cat or small dog if you think it might be absolutely necessary to multi-task.

Do you never watch a double-length episode of any other new show? I am serious in asking this, not trying to be snarky. I know things change, and like to keep up.

bun

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 8:18 AM

STORYMARK

Quote:
Originally posted by RahlMaclaren:
Quote:
Sometimes I've shown people the original pilot and it's length and pace turns them off.
Happened to me twice. Is it possible FOX was smart in airing The Train Job first?

???

Anyways....

Now adays I watch them in number order. That is the number in the end credits. (Except for the pilot which is #79 for some reason.)

Serenity (Pilot) The Train Job Bushwacked Shindig Safe Our Mrs. Reynolds Jaynestown Out Of Gas Ariel War Stories Heart of Gold Objects in Space Trash The Message

All that's different is the last two pairs of episodes are switched. But the DVD order does end the series on a happier note with Objects In Space rather than The Message.

-------------------------------------------------- Find here the Serenity you seek. -Tara Maclay

Problem there being that you have Objects in Space before Trash - which breifly includes Juba's ship following them.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 9:25 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark: [Problem there being that you have Objects in Space before Trash - which breifly includes Juba's ship following them.

What? I never caught that one. Where?

That being said...

Watch them in the order on the DVD set.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 10:41 AM

STORYMARK

Quote:
Originally posted by m52nickerson:
Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark: [Problem there being that you have Objects in Space before Trash - which breifly includes Juba's ship following them.

What? I never caught that one. Where?

That being said...

Watch them in the order on the DVD set.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

Through the window, during the scene where Mal and YoSaffBridge steal the gun, and are interrupted by hubby (I don't know the time stamp off hand).

And yeah - the DVD order is the way to go. Those numbers are production order - which is determined by logistics and not story.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 11:30 AM

BYTEMITE

I liked a lot about the first half of the pilot. The opener with the War and Mal's "Right, we win" line is perfect, and got me hooked. And then of course Simon's explanation about River is so amazing.

But even though I ate it up, after watching it a few more times and also trying and failing to get other people interested, I think there was a lot of extra stuff in the pilot that they didn't need to introduce yet.

If I were to try again, I might show people the pilot opener and then Simon's speech and then the Train Job. Let them discover the pilot on their own when they're more interested.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 11:35 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark: Through the window, during the scene where Mal and YoSaffBridge steal the gun, and are interrupted by hubby (I don't know the time stamp off hand).

I'm going to have to check that out tonight.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 12:12 PM

DMI

Expired, forgotten, spoiled rotten.

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon: I saw the pilot episode "Serenity" on December 20, 2002, after I had seen the other episodes broadcast. I thought it was great, and I fail to understand why FOX didn't like it or what problems other viewers have with it. "The Train Job" is probably my least favorite episode. It does have some good dialogue, but it's a lousy first episode IMO.

So did I and I agree with PENNAUSAMIKE that "Serenity" is an incredible episode, but my having seen it last colors my opinion. I can't identify with it; I can only bear witness: it doesn't work for some noobs.

StoryMark, how have I never heard of that before? Checking it out ASAP.

----------------------------- I pray for one last landing, on the globe that gave me birth. Let me rest my eyes on the fleecy skies and the cool, green hills of Earth.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 12:37 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht

I can't imagine watching them in any order other than what's on the DVDs. If someone missed the pilot they'd miss all about Mal and River and everyone so they wouldn't know it all going in. That is incomprehensable to me. If they want to do it that way fine, but I'd never recommend it.

I assume you're my pal until you let me know otherwise.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012 2:52 PM

CHRISISALL

Down the centuries you have slurred the meaning of the words, WE THE PEOPLE...

The DVD order just feels so right to me.

Chrisisall, wearing a frilly Mal thing on his head, and ready to shoot unarmed, full-body armoured Operatives

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Friday, April 13, 2012 7:16 AM

CLJOHNSTON108

Yeah, I've watched the "Serenity" pilot more times than any of the others; it's just so beautifully done. My favorite pilot episode of any series I've seen. I was only vaguely of Firefly when the first trailer for the BDM went online, so I Googled it and found that "Hello, Cowgirl" site that had the episodes archived in RealPlayer format: Even with the crappy image and sound quality, I was blown away by what I was watching, and it was about when Kaylee bragged to the Shepherd, "Mine's the nicest!" that I made the decision to run out and get the DVD set, which I consumed in two 7-hour sessions.

But some'n weird happened once when I gave out my loaner copy of the DVDs to a friend who was interested: I'd already explained to him about how Fux had screwed up the airing order, and before handing them over I showed him the airdates listed on the disc covers to prove it. Then I joked, "But y'know what some idiot did? They watched the DVDs according to this screwed-up order, then went on the FFF forums to complain that the story didn't make sense! Can you believe that?!"

The next week, he gave them back to me... "Oh, I did what you told me to do — I watched 'em according to the airdates..."

"Whuh? Where'd you get that idea? How does a story that starts with 'Y'know what some idiot did...' get interpreted as a recommendation?"

"But it's okay! I actually liked 'em better that way!"

Unreal.

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Friday, April 13, 2012 7:35 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108: "But it's okay! I actually liked 'em better that way!"

How would he know if he liked it that way more when he didn't watch it the correct way in the first place.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Friday, April 13, 2012 4:55 PM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108: How does a story that starts with 'Y'know what some idiot did...' get interpreted as a recommendation?"

Well, y'know, any sentence that begins with "people wouldn't be so stupid as to. . ."

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Friday, April 13, 2012 5:46 PM

TRAVELER

Firefly is for wankers. Ye be needing to plant yer eyes on Scottish Star Trek.

http://www.imdb.com/list/1pzry-tpdaI/

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