Rewatching some Firefly
Jul. 2nd, 2006 02:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieI am rewatching some Firefly eps, namely "Jaynetown," my very favorite ep of all "Out of Gas," and "Ariel"
So so so good (and like every time I watch this show, it fills me with rage that there are only 15 eps + movie). Is there ANY chance that the movie will get a sequel, btw? Direct to video, with sock puppets, whatever?
The thing that I notice the most in Jaynetown this time around is Simon. He is definitely a fish out of water in these surroundings and I love that he manages to keep a quiet dignity that is at the same time amusing and endearing (the look on his face as Kaylee tells Inara 'have a good sex!' is priceless). I've commented before about his drunk telling to Kaylee that she is 'pretty pretty' especially when covered in engine grease (and in light of the Movie, wheeeeeeeeeeeee!) and I love his telling her at the end that his politeness is a way of showing he cares because that's the one thing he has left. Simon is no Mal, but in his quiet way, he is just as unyielding and brave.
And you know what occurred to me? Much as Mal/Inara is my OTP for the show, I think Simon/Kaylee has a better chance of HEA. Because Mal and Inara are both so alpha and so stong willed and stubborn and are also very very different in upbringing, background, views, that their relationship would need a lot of hard work. Not to mention that Simon, as soon as the River stressor is out, is a pretty normal guy, but Mal is so amazingly, incredibly damaged. So I see Kaylee and Simon settling down and being happy.
But to get back to the ep, I also love the irony that it's Jayne, the least heroic of the group, who is worshipped in Canton. Because the mistake Inara makes, assuming it's Mal, is one any audience member would, if all they knew is the Robin Hood thing, without the names. But the truth is messy and unheroic and people aren't disillusioned and Jayne isn't reformed and how one ep manages to be both hilarious and heart-breaking is amazing.
And then there is "Out of Gas" which just kills me. I love the bit with Simon's bday in the beginning. Simon is this amazingly giving person, but whenever Kaylee does anything nice for him, he is always so taken aback, as if he can't believe someone will actually do something nice for him. It's endearing. And I think Mal loves Serenity more than he does anyone else, even Zoe and Inara. Because it's his home, and because it restores to him something Serenity Valley took from him. And because every day he is on the run, he achieves a victory over Alliance as they couldn't control him despite doing their best.
And how heartbreaking is Simon, saying it's his birthday and that he has to die on his birthday. He comes across as so impossibly young in that scene. Though when Inara says she doesn't want to die at all with a very odd look on her face, I am beginning to wonder: is she actually dying? We never find out, of course, but she seems to be OK with the Guild yet is out on the Rim for no good reason. And she does have that check-up next ep, and it could be annual, or not.
I also love all the flashbacks in the ep. They really do illustrate something all of Joss' shows are good at: non-romantic relationships. I especially love one between Kaylee and Mal, sort of an older brother younger sister one (which makes sense, they are both farm folk, in some ways very similar, the way Inara and Simon are socially similar).
And I get the feeling Mal sends everyone but himself in a shuttle partially because he cannot bear to leave Serenity. It's really all he has. I love his telling Inara that everyone dies alone, but however he tries to believe it, however he wants to be tough, when he is all by himself, and facing certain death, you sense loneliness and fear in him. The bit at the end, where he is so weak and woozy and everyone is around him, and Simon tells him to go to sleep and he asks whether everyone will be there when he wakes up? It just breaks my heart, and his vulnerability, which he cannot control in his weakened state just makes me melt. It's the worst we've ever seen Mal until Serenity (which almost breaks him) and to see someone that strong brought down so much, laid so open feels in a way, not right, as if you are intruding somewhere private. It's as if we see the shades of an idealistic, normal person he was before everything went down. Also, the Mal/Inara UST in this ep? Out of this world. She so doesn't want to leave him and I feel like yelling at the two stubborn idiots to do it already! AndI love the flashback to their first meeting. "You want me." And the look on his face!
But the scene that got me the most, on this rewatch, was when the other ship shows up, and so their systems let in air while docking which Serenity didn't have and Mal eagerly leans in to breathe it and I think how horrifying and how hard-scrabble an existence it is where you are grateful and blissing because of air. Wow.
And then there is "Ariel" which I love. Here, it's the crew in Simon's world. And Simon is the planner. And his utter certainty, his knowledge makes even more sense: he does have the experience of breaking his sister out. I commented on it before, when I saw the ep, but the fact that in the middle of a risky enterprise, where he can be caught at any moment, he stops and saves the life of a complete stranger, is amazing. If I didn't love Simon before this ep, I would now. And his horror when says 'they' cut into River's brain. It's not just because he loves her, it's because his innate decency is outraged. I do think the whole Miranda thing from the movie and it being a deep secret (and who knows how many others River knows) ties in with the desire of the government people to have no one talk to River. I llove how even crazed and afraid, River trusts Simon when he puts her to sleep. And their tenderness at the end? Guuuh.
And I love the quick conversation on their mutual return between Mal and Inara. Very domestic. Just like that even Jayne knows that when he wants to get rid of River, he should mention that she could harm Inara.
And then comes my favorite ending for an ep ever. "You did it to me, Jayne." I love Mal because he can do that: he can put Jayne out of the airlock. You do not want to cross Mal. Ever. And I love Mal because he doesn't do it after all. I love Mal, basically. He is heartbreaking and heroic and stubborn and crazy and funny and vulnerable and a mess. But a glorious mess.
So so so good (and like every time I watch this show, it fills me with rage that there are only 15 eps + movie). Is there ANY chance that the movie will get a sequel, btw? Direct to video, with sock puppets, whatever?
The thing that I notice the most in Jaynetown this time around is Simon. He is definitely a fish out of water in these surroundings and I love that he manages to keep a quiet dignity that is at the same time amusing and endearing (the look on his face as Kaylee tells Inara 'have a good sex!' is priceless). I've commented before about his drunk telling to Kaylee that she is 'pretty pretty' especially when covered in engine grease (and in light of the Movie, wheeeeeeeeeeeee!) and I love his telling her at the end that his politeness is a way of showing he cares because that's the one thing he has left. Simon is no Mal, but in his quiet way, he is just as unyielding and brave.
And you know what occurred to me? Much as Mal/Inara is my OTP for the show, I think Simon/Kaylee has a better chance of HEA. Because Mal and Inara are both so alpha and so stong willed and stubborn and are also very very different in upbringing, background, views, that their relationship would need a lot of hard work. Not to mention that Simon, as soon as the River stressor is out, is a pretty normal guy, but Mal is so amazingly, incredibly damaged. So I see Kaylee and Simon settling down and being happy.
But to get back to the ep, I also love the irony that it's Jayne, the least heroic of the group, who is worshipped in Canton. Because the mistake Inara makes, assuming it's Mal, is one any audience member would, if all they knew is the Robin Hood thing, without the names. But the truth is messy and unheroic and people aren't disillusioned and Jayne isn't reformed and how one ep manages to be both hilarious and heart-breaking is amazing.
And then there is "Out of Gas" which just kills me. I love the bit with Simon's bday in the beginning. Simon is this amazingly giving person, but whenever Kaylee does anything nice for him, he is always so taken aback, as if he can't believe someone will actually do something nice for him. It's endearing. And I think Mal loves Serenity more than he does anyone else, even Zoe and Inara. Because it's his home, and because it restores to him something Serenity Valley took from him. And because every day he is on the run, he achieves a victory over Alliance as they couldn't control him despite doing their best.
And how heartbreaking is Simon, saying it's his birthday and that he has to die on his birthday. He comes across as so impossibly young in that scene. Though when Inara says she doesn't want to die at all with a very odd look on her face, I am beginning to wonder: is she actually dying? We never find out, of course, but she seems to be OK with the Guild yet is out on the Rim for no good reason. And she does have that check-up next ep, and it could be annual, or not.
I also love all the flashbacks in the ep. They really do illustrate something all of Joss' shows are good at: non-romantic relationships. I especially love one between Kaylee and Mal, sort of an older brother younger sister one (which makes sense, they are both farm folk, in some ways very similar, the way Inara and Simon are socially similar).
And I get the feeling Mal sends everyone but himself in a shuttle partially because he cannot bear to leave Serenity. It's really all he has. I love his telling Inara that everyone dies alone, but however he tries to believe it, however he wants to be tough, when he is all by himself, and facing certain death, you sense loneliness and fear in him. The bit at the end, where he is so weak and woozy and everyone is around him, and Simon tells him to go to sleep and he asks whether everyone will be there when he wakes up? It just breaks my heart, and his vulnerability, which he cannot control in his weakened state just makes me melt. It's the worst we've ever seen Mal until Serenity (which almost breaks him) and to see someone that strong brought down so much, laid so open feels in a way, not right, as if you are intruding somewhere private. It's as if we see the shades of an idealistic, normal person he was before everything went down. Also, the Mal/Inara UST in this ep? Out of this world. She so doesn't want to leave him and I feel like yelling at the two stubborn idiots to do it already! AndI love the flashback to their first meeting. "You want me." And the look on his face!
But the scene that got me the most, on this rewatch, was when the other ship shows up, and so their systems let in air while docking which Serenity didn't have and Mal eagerly leans in to breathe it and I think how horrifying and how hard-scrabble an existence it is where you are grateful and blissing because of air. Wow.
And then there is "Ariel" which I love. Here, it's the crew in Simon's world. And Simon is the planner. And his utter certainty, his knowledge makes even more sense: he does have the experience of breaking his sister out. I commented on it before, when I saw the ep, but the fact that in the middle of a risky enterprise, where he can be caught at any moment, he stops and saves the life of a complete stranger, is amazing. If I didn't love Simon before this ep, I would now. And his horror when says 'they' cut into River's brain. It's not just because he loves her, it's because his innate decency is outraged. I do think the whole Miranda thing from the movie and it being a deep secret (and who knows how many others River knows) ties in with the desire of the government people to have no one talk to River. I llove how even crazed and afraid, River trusts Simon when he puts her to sleep. And their tenderness at the end? Guuuh.
And I love the quick conversation on their mutual return between Mal and Inara. Very domestic. Just like that even Jayne knows that when he wants to get rid of River, he should mention that she could harm Inara.
And then comes my favorite ending for an ep ever. "You did it to me, Jayne." I love Mal because he can do that: he can put Jayne out of the airlock. You do not want to cross Mal. Ever. And I love Mal because he doesn't do it after all. I love Mal, basically. He is heartbreaking and heroic and stubborn and crazy and funny and vulnerable and a mess. But a glorious mess.
