More Fireflying

[dangermousie]

Am now in the middle of the 5th episode ("Shindig") which is

a. hilarious (Kaylee's horrid ruffled dress! River's insult of Badger etc)
b. Made me a lifelong Mal/Inara shipper. The whole "we'll die before we'll admit our feelings" thing? I am a sucker for it. When he rather incoherently tries to tell her not to take up the guy's offer? Awwwww. And he is totally jealous earlier and shows off for her like a little boy. *dies from the awwwww*

I find it rather interesting that hookers are held in such high regard in this society (a la ancient Greece or Japan), but Mal is really anti-it. I guess he isn't much for society dictates. He's pretty straightforward and if he thinks it's wrong, he thinks it's wrong, and the fact that society thinks it's OK isn't going to change his mind. I love the whole fact that he hit whats-his-name for calling Inara a whore, but he does it on a regular basis (as she points out). I guess it's because he really likes her and can't deal with her profession. I am a sucker for UST and angst potential. Wash/Zoe? Sweet and happy and funny. But there is no angst or development potential, so not much interest in that ship, I am afraid.

Also, I love how it has little normal things, like billiard balls or saloon windows, but in a futuristic fashion (balls are electronic, window looks like a force-type installation). Yay.

Oh, and on another Mal note, I really do think he was most suited to be in the rebel military, because he is an idealist, but now he can't do it any more, but I think it really doesn't fit him to be a decent guy in a crook profession because he doesn't want to settle in society.

My Kaylee love continues (her ball enthusiasm and awful dress? Love). And so does my love for Jayne. My feeling that Simon is really into his sis and Book indifference? Ditto.

I think I need some Firefly icons.

ETA: Finished now. How much did I love Inara offering to stay with Mr. Starchypants exclusively (and I assume forever) if only he'd let Mal live. And of course, when Mal does defeat the guy and says "a great man would just let you live" and then pokes him a few times with his sword, wounding him and says "I guess I am only a good man." ROFL. And then the tag with Mal and Inara sitting there, with all that chemistry and he keeps trying to show her where he was wounded and she tells him she would have never left the ship and he gets all intense-looking and she says it's because she needs to keep Kaylee out of trouble and would never want to leave Serenity, and you know that is not what she is talking about and OMG I am all about the fucked-up Inara/Mal love. Kiss already people. Or at least have Lee/Kara type fantasy sex.

Comments

[meyerlemon.livejournal.com]

See, the way you describe it, it sounds like something I should love!

I'm determined to give it another try this Friday. *crosses fingers*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's really good, but the thing is, it's kinda confusing for a bit, so you have to keep watching and after 10 or so minutes it all starts making sense. IMO, of course.

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

Do they sell dvds of the season? (It seems I have to get the episodes legally)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I bought the "entire" show at Borders. It was $49.99, but I am sure something like ebay would have it for way cheaper.

[danceswithwords.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of mixed feelings about Firefly. I found the characters very engaging from the get-go, and came to adore them. At the same time, I had serious, serious problems with the worldbuilding. Some of the things you find charming--the billiard balls, the saloon windows--had me tearing my hair out in frustration because they make NO SENSE. Ahem. In general, I found a lot of the Western elements really gimmicky and poorly integrated with the sci fi elements, and like nobody at ME had bothered to think any of it through. But the concept of the show is incredibly interesting, and there are real glimmers of potential. Some of the best episodes--some really remarkable episodes that even someone like me who has problems with the show think are very fine--are still ahead of you.

And Jayne really is the best.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Jayne is like a Bouncer on steroids :)

Yes, I know the world-building doesn't really make sense, not in a way Tolkien could do it, but then worldbuilding on BSG and Farscape, while better, is still faulty. I have yet to see a scifi show with really good world-building ability.

I am generally in for the characters (and the angst) so as long as this delivers (and it does), I will overlook the inconsistency. As long as the show is internally consistent (even if it makes no sense from world-building perspective), I'll deal. It's more Western than scifi.

[danceswithwords.livejournal.com]

Worldbuilding in sci fi shows is never perfect, and I agree with you that internal consistency is really important. Farcape is SUCH a handwave show, but it all makes sense internally. For me, personally, Firefly did not meet that bar at all in the first 13 episodes--and who knows, given more than that, it's entirely possible that it would have.

(Part of my feelings about Firefly are a product of my perception of Joss Whedon's strengths and weaknesses as a writer as well. He does some things very well--characters, dialogue, big concepts, layers--and other things not as well--mechanics, actual concrete small-details plotting.)

Jayne is a snarky, morally ambiguous character who is deeply straightforward on the surface and even more straightforward internally, but in a very different way, and I lurve him.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen all 13 eps yet, so I can't really say anything about internal inconsistency of the season.

I think JW's biggest weakenesses had no time to manifest yet, because IMO it is a. losing interest (what happened with Buffy, which ended two seasons two late)and b. doing drama for dramatic sake resulting in a overly pessimistic about human relationship ending (once again, no ship in Buffy had survived, which was just as bizarre as HEA for everyone involved).

[rawles.livejournal.com]

Mal/Inara is just...nhhh.

Just watch. Watch. I CANNOT SAY MORE UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE WATCHING.

And, dood, they aren't even my OTP for this show, but I love them sooooo much, because I love this show that much. Gah.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Who's your OTP? Please don't say Mal/Simon. I know it's really popular but I am totally confused by it because so far Simon has no personality (except for the devotion to his sister), so it's like slashing someone with a table or a lamppost.

[rawles.livejournal.com]

Erm...no. You know all those really popular Firefly slash pairings? Well, I thoroughly dislike them all.

However, that will not solve your complaint, as my OTP is Simon/Kaylee. And not only is it my OTP, but it is my OTP to end all OTPs. And Simon is quite possibly my favorite character. Ever. And Kaylee is a close second. Very close.

So, I shall get back to you when you are finished watching. What episode are you on again?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I just finished Shindig (it's 5 of 14 or 4 of 13, their numbering confuses me).

I take it Simon improves on longer acquaintance?

I can actually see Simon/Kaylee. Not enough angst for me, but I can see it :)

[rawles.livejournal.com]

I just finished Shindig (it's 5 of 14 or 4 of 13, their numbering confuses me).

Argh. Will not go into the long involved tale of the proper Firefly viewing order. Just...you have the DVDs right? Watch 'em that way. Also, Shindig is 5 of 15 if you're counting hours.

I take it Simon improves on longer acquaintance?

I cannot say. I have loved Simon so deeply for so long that I cannot remember when I first fell. But it was early in the game. Though, it should be noted that I watched the show when it originally aired, wackily out of order. So, that also attributes to my not knowing.

Anyway, Safe is next for you. It is a Simon episode. It has backstory. He is awesome. Though, it is still about his devotion to his sister, because that is a defining character trait for him; it is not however his only character trait. However, then there's Our Mrs. Reynolds, which is hilarious, but not about Simon. Then there is Jaynestown, which is also hilarious and features Simon away from River and interacting with other people, which given your particular concerns might be when you change your opinion about him, or not.

Honestly, the final episode, Objects in Space, is probably the opus of Simon awesomeness. That or Ariel. And I will stop talking now. Cos...yeah. Finish watching. Quickly.

I can actually see Simon/Kaylee. Not enough angst for me, but I can see it :)

Then you are two steps ahead of most of the fandom. Though, I've been writing Simon/Kaylee angst for years in defiance of the view of them as angstless. But that might just be because I'm just contrary.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am watching them in DVD order.

Hmmm, let's see if I'll change my mind on Simon. I am however a one-character girl in general, and seem to have latched on to Mal. But let's see if Simon becomes cooler.

[rawles.livejournal.com]

Oh, see. I am a characterslut (and a pairingslut and a fandomslut). So, like on BSG, I get to be madly in love with Lee AND Helo(oooo). And I watch Firefly and love Simon and Mal. Simultaeneously. And, actually, everyone else too. [oldbie]That's how we did it my day! All nine of the pretty, pretty cast were beloved by all![/oldbie]

Though, it took dearladydisdain until her second run through the series to find the Simonlove. She was very much Mal's girl three seconds in by the time Simon started being really awesome, so she didn't care too much. Your tastes, what with the overwhelming Mal and Mal/Inara love, seem to run very close to hers, so the same may prove true for you.

But as I told her, it's ok. Because I love Simon enough for everyone. In existence. Ever.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Because I love Simon enough for everyone. In existence. Ever.

ROFL!

Yeah, I am afraid I have a teeny brain, so can have only one character fixation at a time (in a show).

[hobviously.livejournal.com]

Dropping by just to say: MMMMMMAL!

And also yay for Simon. :]

[rawles.livejournal.com]

*tear*

It's all so beautiful.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Love your taste!

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Simon grew on me. Yes, he's entirely too devoted to River, but that's just his personality. I find he and Kaylee adorable together as she actually seems to make him more human. Simon is probably the only character on the show I'd acutally date.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

No, see I am all for family men and all, but there are limits. I wouldn't date anyone on Firefly on a bet :)

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I think part of Mal's issue is 1) he values women more than as sex objects. He's old fashioned, an idealist, and you see in his interaction with Zoe and Kaylee that he really cares about them as people. The same thing for Inara, though she sets him on edge. 2) He's outright jealous. He proves that by his vicious comments about her patrons. Mal is transparent to everyone except Inara.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

True. I think his idealism is an extra "help" in his edge with Inara. I think even if he didn't have the hots for her he would still be uncomfortable with the concept.

Mal is transparent to everyone except Inara.

Indeedy. When Inara was talking to Book that she thinks Mal is a mystery? LOL. Girl, he is transparent to everyone but you.

[katranna.livejournal.com]

greensword :-P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Will check it out when I don't feel like being spoiled :)