Firefly Is Immensely Overrated...

[Chris]

...There, I said it.

Legions of fans are likely going to disagree, but I recently finished watching the entire show, and I couldn't help but think "really?" I had heard so much about the show, so I had to check it out for myself. To be honest, I think the Browncoats are completely off the chart.

So, the show is fun, but where is the "depht" the BC keep ranting on about? Every single episode takes place on the Serenity for 80% of the time, and nothing much happens when they finally land the damn ship. There is little to no depht to the characters, which to be fair, is somewhat understandable considering that the show didn't even get the standard 22 episodes. It was definitely becoming interesting, but judging by the "first" season, I just don't understand why anyone could possible consider this to be one of the finest shows of all time?

Please, explain this insanity to me.

[NorthernChaosGod]

Your face is overrated. :colbert:

[AngelWings8]

I loved the characters! They each had their own back story...I don't even know how to argue :cry: Serenity was good too.....

But then again, I love most of Joss Whedon's shows and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog....I might be biased.

[Chris]

You two are clearly Browncoats. I cannot pretend it does not disgust me a little.

[AngelWings8]

lol, well what exactly didn't you like? You said there was no depth to the characters, but I feel like they expanded on their back stories as much as they could in 14 episodes. Everyone's got their role in the series...there's the captain, his right hand woman, the pilot, the mechanic, the dumb jock, the gorgeous whore, the pastor (whose backstory I really wanted to find out...why he knew so much and was able to get medical treatment with no questions asked), the doctor, and then the psycho chick who excels at killing people :lol: While I was annoyed with River at times...I have to admit she kicks ass (especially in Serenity).

And I think throwing in a bunch of Chinese words, particularly when they were cursing, was kinda cool...but their accents sometimes made me cringe lol.

[Chris]

Due to the shortness of the show, the characters did not have a chance to be expanded upon, so yes, they did have some depht, but certainly not enough to warrant the insanity every single fan of the show throws my way.

I think it is insane how much people continue to praise this show as one of the greatest shows in Television history, and I am merely trying to understand what could possibly warrant such a claim or point of view. :(

The show was fun, but ultimately harmless and not exactly spectacular in any form or fashion if you ask me. If I remember correctly, it didn't exactly get rave reviews either when it first came out, but again, the fans are relentless and I just do not get their enthusiasm.

[Shlup]

Usually I can accept when a person doesn't like something I love, because I can see how it just wouldn't interest them.

But not Firefly. It is not possible to overrate Firefly, and fuck you in the ear.

[AngelWings8]

Haha well, I'm not a crazy fanatic...I just think of it as a great show that had a lot of potential and I wish it had more time to show us more.

From what I could tell, even though they had lots of loyal viewers, it failed because FOX aired the episodes out of order and put them in a crappy time slot (Friday night is the worst slot to be at). I also don't think they put very much into their marketing efforts for the show. And the lack of mainstream appeal...I think the show might have fared better on the Syfy channel than on FOX.

[Del Murder]

Aren't you the guy who used to like Grace Jones?

[Mirage]

Now that's immensely overrated!

[Mercen-X]

Tell me you didn't decide to watch this series based solely on fan-bias. For shame.

I agree the show is very much overrated. It's just like Final Fantasy VII. It doesn't really draw in the core fanbase, but it appeals to the masses, each fan having different reasons for liking it, but it's mostly based on flash and glamour. Cloud wasn't a particularly deep character either, but he was a Brooding Shonen Draco with a bigass sword and he had awesome attacks and a very pretty villain with a ridiculously unwieldy sword. Some parts of the game annoyed me more than I was willing to realize at first, but it for the most part, I still love it. It's my first choice to receive a remake and a thousand more sequels. It's my first choice to gain an animated series or comic line. I wish I could play Before Crisis.

Anyway, I'm way-way-way-way off-topic by now. In less than 1,000,000 words, Firefly is a space-western franchise. Americans are cowboys at heart and we love us a shoot-'em-up. Thanks to Star Trek, a strong sci-fi fanbase also flourishes in American society. It's only natural to assume the two would suck(er) in the average American. Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin were also already rising stars which added to the show's appeal (which is why, despite his dumb-assed trigger-happy persona, Jayne was never kicked off the "boat").
The mystique aurating from the backgrounds of Book and River also gave fans questions they looked forward to having answered.

You mentioned the show never leaves the ship. Well, I'm sorry in advance if this offends you, but DUH! It's called Firefly. The Serenity is a Firefly class vessel. The show is ABOUT life aboard the ship. Please, if you're going to criticize a show, don't throw in asinine trivia like you did here.

Personally, I think they went balls-out on the movie and it more than paid off. I just wish they'd not stopped at the one film. Firefly is a good enough franchise to warrant Star Trek level appeal. It just needs to expand its goal and focus the show more on the government's relation to the Firefly crew. God, do I want to see another sequel.
They might even try making a videogame.

[Chris]

I decided to watch the show because I was curious.

I never once said that I did not like the show, only that I don't understand all of the immense hype there is about the show. Like I said, I thought the show was great fun, but that is about it. So, that is why I asked you guys to try to explain it to me.

[Miriel]

First of all, it's "depth".

And Firefly isn't one of my favorite shows of all time, but I did enjoy it a ton. And I think if the show had continued, it had the promise to become one of my favorites.

The show is just flat out fun to watch. There are incredibly few adventure type shows to begin with on television and even fewer with the kind of wit and humor that Firefly had. Great dialogue, a unique premise, a wonderful cast that fit together brilliantly, these are the reasons why people fell in love with Firefly. Firefly had a special charm that's rare among TV shows. I don't even think Joss' other work had it. Buffy was funny, sarcastic, powerful and vulnerable, but not especially "charming". Firefly just had oodles of charm. And a big part of that I think was the rare way in which the characters kinda fell into place. Talk about a lovable rag-tag team.

If you don't get it, then you don't get it. It's kinda like trying to explain to someone who doesn't think Arrested Development is funny, how and why it's funny.

[Rostum]

My girlfriend and I really enjoyed Firefly, it's a shame they couldn't continue it. Agree with Miriel.

Anyways, it's not our fault you didn't really get in to it as much as others have. Does not mean it's overrated - in fact most people I tell to watch it, have never heard of it even to this day.

[Chris]

Wasn't it the "fans" who managed to convince them to make the movie? That is dedication, I must say. But is it too late for a second season? I mean, it's been so long since the show ended.

I've read something about a possible something (prequel, or I'm not so sure) with a different cast. Wouldn't that defeat the entire purpose of the show?

[Marshall Banana]

You're crazy.

[Rostum]

I think the problem might be that the cast are much older now and are busy with other things. At least Nathan Fillion is busy with Castle and possibly other projects.

Just like with Stargate, we're forced to simply... move on. :(

[Del Murder]

I think there should be a Firefly game. If the right developer got ahold of it, and Wheadon was involved, it could be really good. Plus you could get as many of the original cast as possible since it's not as hard to do voice overs as it is to do a TV series or movie.

[Madame Adequate]

You are objectively wrong. They had to build a Tenth Circle of Hell for the people who cancelled Firefly.

[sharkythesharkdogg]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but for the record, everyone ELSE thinks your opinion sucks.

Firefly is great!

[Pike]

I sort of almost think Firefly is a... well, not really an acquired taste, but you have to let it stew for a bit before you make a final analysis.


The first time I watched it, I was like "You know, this is a pretty great show, but it's not the best thing ever like everyone told me it would be."

Several months later I realized that not only could I not get the characters and quotes out of my head, but I kept looking back on the show with a great fondness that I don't normally look back on things with. Thus, I was forced to rescind my previous assessment of the show and now I do think it is pretty much the best thing ever.

So no, I do not personally think it is overrated. Although if you do, then that's your opinion, of course~

[NorthernChaosGod]

I guess now I should give a serious response.

I really don't see how you don't see depth; Mal alone has loads of depth to him, especially if you've seen the pilot compared to any of the other episodes. I honestly believe there was better character development in the 14 episodes of Firefly than some series do within a season or more.

[rubah]

I watched Serenity, but not Firefly and found it boring. Take that as you will.

[Madonna]

Troll thread? Troll thread. No point in making a thread where you respond with vehement no's to everything anyone can possibly say about the show. You refuse to see character development, environmental and political backdrops, clever writing, and your brain is pretty much a gigantic off switch when it comes to discussion. Thanks for wasting my time, Chris.

[Rostum]

I watched Serenity, but not Firefly and found it boring. Take that as you will.

You really, really, really need to have watched Firefly to find Serenity good. Otherwise you have no idea who the fuck these characters are.

[Laddy]

YOUR OPINION IS INVALID.

[Araciel]

problem firefly fans?!

potential can't fail - this is why firefly is so good - one good season and the show would be so great after but it got canceled - it didn't have the change to get stale or make toomany mistakes.

[G13]

If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

[Pike]

I didn't like Serenity nearly as much as I liked Firefly for some reason.

It was probably the ending :whimper:

[sharkythesharkdogg]

I didn't like Serenity nearly as much as I liked Firefly for some reason.

It was probably the ending :whimper:

True. There's a reason for that though. Unless I have my timeline completely wrong. The movie was obviously made after the series, and since Wheaton couldn't get funding to continue the series, they decided to go with at "Fuck it, let's make this ending legendary." style. You have to admit that killing off some main characters definitely made the story even more gripping even if it was sad.

Of course then they get enough clout to make a comic afterwards, but they'd already killed some people. So they just have to continue from there.

[NorthernChaosGod]

"I'm a leaf on the wind"

:(

[rubah]

I watched Serenity, but not Firefly and found it boring. Take that as you will.

You really, really, really need to have watched Firefly to find Serenity good. Otherwise you have no idea who the smurf these characters are.

except that having seen the movie first, I have a bad impression of the series and probably won't ever watch the show 8D

[Madame Adequate]

Don't be a derp Alli. PG, tell her!

[rubah]

you think I listen to azns?

[Pike]

"I'm a leaf on the wind"

:(

*bows head*

[Rostum]

"I'm a leaf on the wind"

:(

:whimper:



except that having seen the movie first, I have a bad impression of the series and probably won't ever watch the show 8D

Oh well, your loss not mine. :D

[Mercen-X]

If you don't get it, then you don't get it. It's kinda like trying to explain to someone who doesn't think Arrested Development is funny, how and why it's funny.

I only found AD to be half-funny and it really didn't hold my attention (though there were moments I could relate to), but I still know what you mean.

As for Serenity, I only have love. What sort of ending were you people looking for exactly?

Admittedly, there were some episodes of Firefly that made me itch. But they could probably build a sequel series just by having Mal and River hanging together. Summer Glau was one of the major draws to The Cape for its short television stint. My parents and I are still disappointed it got yanked too. Admittedly, the show could have done more to be impressive, but it felt like it tried to be a more realistic superhero show. The only part that was surreal was that whacky cape.
Can't count on any subsequent Nathan Fillion Firefly roles either as it seems unlikely that Castle is flushing anytime soon.

[AngelWings8]

"It's okay, I'm a leaf on the wind!"
"What does that mean?!"

:lol:

[G13]

I will say that I am getting a little tired of hearing people say "I am a leaf on the wind". It's getting to be where I can't mention the series/movie without hearing that quote, much like I can't mention Portal without hearing some cleverly original twat shout out "The cake is a lie!" Yes, yes, it was a cool quote. Can we get on with our lives now?

I will admit, however, that when I saw Wash in the new Transformers, that was the first thing I thought. But I did not say it out loud. :nonono:

But other than that, I stand by my previous comment.

[NorthernChaosGod]

It's the preface to one of the saddest moments of my adult life. :colbert:

[Pike]

I will say that I am getting a little tired of hearing people say "I am a leaf on the wind". It's getting to be where I can't mention the series/movie without hearing that quote, much like I can't mention Portal without hearing some cleverly original twat shout out "The cake is a lie!" Yes, yes, it was a cool quote. Can we get on with our lives now?

I will admit, however, that when I saw Wash in the new Transformers, that was the first thing I thought. But I did not say it out loud. :nonono:

But other than that, I stand by my previous comment.

It's overused, but I still like it. I say it sometimes. I like how whenever I do, any of my friends in the vicinity immediately go "NO, DON'T SAY IT, DON'T SAY IT" because I might jinx myself. :tongue: