Giving Firefly another try

[Utsanomiko]

I think CDiehl's point was that it's inane self-indulgence to wish the cast had an expensive piece of equipment just because it'd be 'cool'. It'd stretch too many established aspects of their situation.

*Especially* suggesting that Mal would keep the Earth Laser gun for his own use. They stated it was priceless artifact, he might as well have stolen the crown off the king of Londinium but stop to think "you know, I could use a shiny hat..." just so two or three people in the audience can clap and exclaim "Yay, I'm so glad they gave Mal a gold crown! That's cool!"

[Lord Poe]

But to me, it has the same effect. I sat through a couple of episodes waiting for that "click" you get when you watch a cool show and it just never did. I'm not knocking the show mind you, it definantly seems like thought was put into the show, but, I dunno, I just didn't get it.

It took a LOT of episodes before it clicked with me. I didn't like it at all until I saw "Jaynestown." Start there.

[Lord Relvenous]

But to me, it has the same effect. I sat through a couple of episodes waiting for that "click" you get when you watch a cool show and it just never did. I'm not knocking the show mind you, it definantly seems like thought was put into the show, but, I dunno, I just didn't get it.

It took a LOT of episodes before it clicked with me. I didn't like it at all until I saw "Jaynestown." Start there.

I started out with Serenity and so I already had a liking for the characters when i started the show.

[Stofsk]

Actually, I was thinking of Mal, et al. purchasing a laser weapon.

If that's the case then how expensive is a laser weapon?

You don't know. Full stop. Which means there might be some other reason why Mal doesn't use them - nobody mentioned the unreliability of lasers yet, which is something you CAN point to and go "Ah HA! That's why lasers aren't used all that much even though they can make them", because we saw them in action in "Heart of Gold".

On the other hand, we also see how fatal a direct hit from a laser can be, while gun wounds seem comparatively easy to fix for Simon Tam. And plus, the original reason for having them - so that you don't have to shove an assault rifle into a vacc suit and aim it because, apparently, in this universe you can't fire bullets without oxygen.

I never saw the episode you're talking about, but I figured it was reasonable to assume that almost none of the main characters have ever even seen, let alone own, use or steal, a laser weapon.

Why is it reasonable to assume that? Mal has a goddamn arsenal on his ship, as does Jayne. All these guns are cheap but lasers aren't?

Nyrath's point wasn't that lasers are expensive across the board, but that they're expensive to frontier worlds which don't have the infrastructure to support them.

This is perfectly reasonable for hillbillies living in a pioneer town... for a guy on a spaceship? And if money is tight, why does he have so many OTHER guns?

The idea that they should have laser weapons is as silly to me as the idea of cloning their dead associates to bring them back from the dead. I've actually seen the latter idea advocated on another board, on the assumption that because this is science-fiction, it should be possible.

Which is a stupid assumption, but I'm afraid has absolutely nothing to do with the availability of lasers in terms of expense, which is a claim you're suggesting is insurmountable.

[Stofsk]

I think CDiehl's point was that it's inane self-indulgence to wish the cast had an expensive piece of equipment just because it'd be 'cool'.

Because it'd be cool? Not useful?

I remember typing useful as well, in fact the only reason why this has become an issue is because I mentioned the climax of "Our Mrs Reynolds" relied upon Vira being able to fire without oxygen, and my musing "Gee it would be useful to have a laser rifle for just such an event."

It would ALSO be cool, but that's tangenital to my original and main point, and you know it (since you read what I wrote but chose to fixate on the 'cool' rather than the 'useful' aspect).

What it wouldn't be is the punchline to a joke, which is all that we see lasers fulfill in Firefly.

*Especially* suggesting that Mal would keep the Earth Laser gun for his own use. They stated it was priceless artifact, he might as well have stolen the crown off the king of Londinium but stop to think "you know, I could use a shiny hat..." just so two or three people in the audience can clap and exclaim "Yay, I'm so glad they gave Mal a gold crown! That's cool!"

Yay for missing the point! So I didn't remember a single pertinent fact, that makes the possibility of stealing a working laser completely improbable...

This is a universe where Mal can get his crew to scrounge around in a junkyard for a couple hours to find a surplus grav vehicle and disguise it as a working ambulance. My whole point is that he COULD get it if he needed it (which he does, as the improv solution to their problem in "Our Mrs Reynolds" wouldn't be necessary if they could shoot a weapon in the absence of an atmosphere, which a laser would more than be able to accomplish... though apparently so could normal firearms, so maybe the writers just don't think about these things at all).

[Shroom Man 777]

We didn't see lasers being used by ground infantry in the war flashbacks also. Maybe lasers ARE expensive and that asshole in the Heart of Gold was rich enough to buy one because, well, he's also rich enough so that he can impoverish the whole town to fulfill his cowboying fantasies (that was stated, right? the whole him keeping the town poor so he could have his fun).

[jimthegray]

well in the episode where they steal the laser, it appears that inara has one, it could just be that lasers are a rich persons toy, powerful but perhaps to much upkeep for a military weapon

[Ghost Rider]

well in the episode where they steal the laser, it appears that inara has one, it could just be that lasers are a rich persons toy, powerful but perhaps to much upkeep for a military weapon

That didn't work.

And in another episode it is noted that it's a weapon that has been only utilized by a person of wealth...which has been mentioned multiple times in THIS THREAD.

[Crown]

well in the episode where they steal the laser, it appears that inara has one, it could just be that lasers are a rich persons toy, powerful but perhaps to much upkeep for a military weapon

That didn't work.

And in another episode it is noted that it's a weapon that has been only utilized by a person of wealth...which has been mentioned multiple times in THIS THREAD.

I think he's actually talking about the gun she pulled out after the priceless antique failed to work. We don't know if it is a laser gun or a regular gun though, since it wasn't actually fired, I believe he's just speculating it is due to it's unorthodox design. Hardly worth an eye rolling emote.

[Invictus ChiKen]

*sigh*

Okay. I ordered the series for myself. An the movie, soundtracks... visual companion and oth volumes of the series companions...

[KrauserKrauser]

Am I smelling a Browncoat in the making?

[Invictus ChiKen]

...how did that get on me?

Besides I repeat. JEWEL!!! The second third cutest girl no Earth after my girl friend and niece Nikkei.

[Bounty]

The theme song grows on you. Well at least it did with me.

Ain't that the truth. I first heard the theme song and thought it was wierd but after about the fourth episode it had grown on me and I founf myself singing along...

This is going to sound weird, but when I first saw the opening credits on...I don't know, Youtube didn't exist back then, so it must've been some website; anyway, after I saw the credits I immediately ordered the series, because something with a song that cool just could not be a bad show. It wasn't cool cool, the sort of prepackaged cool that permeates modern media, but it was cool for being all old-fashionedy and sepia - it had character.

And to think that before Firefly, I hated Whedon with the fire of a thousand suns for making Buffy.

[Sam Or I]

This is going to sound weird, but when I first saw the opening credits on...I don't know, Youtube didn't exist back then, so it must've been some website; anyway, after I saw the credits I immediately ordered the series, because something with a song that cool just could not be a bad show. It wasn't cool cool, the sort of prepackaged cool that permeates modern media, but it was cool for being all old-fashionedy and sepia - it had character.

And to think that before Firefly, I hated Whedon with the fire of a thousand suns for making Buffy.

I don't know what it is about that song. I don't particularly care for country type music. Something about that song though strikes a nerve.

I don't really like Buffy or Angel, they are just not for me. (I don't mind them, but I do not go out of my way to watch them.)

[CaptainChewbacca]

The only problem with the theme song is that its almost impossible for a movie theater full of Browncoats to sing it without sounding melancholoy and forgetting the order of verses;)

[Invictus ChiKen]

While I am obviously warming up to this show, is anyone else annoyed by River?

Cute girl but she makes me think of qualifing for the annoying kids line.

In other news Mal has become someone I respected along with the Shepard and Doctor.

[Crazedwraith]

River's crazy and mentally traumatised. What do you expect?

[Invictus ChiKen]

An the being a super super genius... meh I just tend to get annoyed whenever she is on screen...

Kaylee an Inara's interactions are probably my honest favorite parts of the show. Along with Mal's getting into trouble.

[Rye]

The annoyance thing is part of her character arc.

[Stark]

The annoyance thing is part of her character arc.

Dammit Rye you know it's not about themes or characters, it should be about KOOL! If she was cooler nobody would ever say 'holy shit that bitch is crazy get her off my ship lol'! Imagine all the stories that wouldn't work if she was a fully-functional, lucid genius. Imagine how much shorter the 'do we accept River' season would be if it was KOOLER!

Also, I hate everything Whedon has ever done except Firefly. I don't judge him for churning out Buffy for years and years after it was dead - if they backed up a truckload of money, I'd do it too.

[Big Orange]

And to think that before Firefly, I hated Whedon with the fire of a thousand suns for making Buffy.

What did you so dislike about Buffy the Vampire Slayer? While I never got into it and only saw a few episodes on a infrequent basis, I never saw it as a bad series and Anthony Head was very good.

[Ghost Rider]

And to think that before Firefly, I hated Whedon with the fire of a thousand suns for making Buffy.

What did you so dislike about Buffy the Vampire Slayer? While I never got into it and only saw a few episodes on a infrequent basis, I never saw it as a bad series and Anthony Head was very good.

And we have a thing called the PM system, to ask people questions and prevent things that have nothing at all to do with a topic.

USE IT.

[jimthegray]

well in the episode where they steal the laser, it appears that inara has one, it could just be that lasers are a rich persons toy, powerful but perhaps to much upkeep for a military weapon

That didn't work.

And in another episode it is noted that it's a weapon that has been only utilized by a person of wealth...which has been mentioned multiple times in THIS THREAD.

I think he's actually talking about the gun she pulled out after the priceless antique failed to work. We don't know if it is a laser gun or a regular gun though, since it wasn't actually fired, I believe he's just speculating it is due to it's unorthodox design. Hardly worth an eye rolling emote.

i need to rewatch episode but I belive inara makes a comment that hers works, and it was deffinetly an unconventional looking gun.
I was mainly saying that it is likely that laser weapons in firefly are likely not trustworthy in the dirty rough enviroment of combat.

[Invictus ChiKen]

Okay what is that odd sound thos guns make when they fire? Is there some sorta megnetic accleration or somthing with them???

I'm at Jaynestown right not. THEY BUILT *HIM* A STATUE! This can NOT end well...

[Lord Poe]

I'm at Jaynestown right not. THEY BUILT *HIM* A STATUE! This can NOT end well...

Trust me, if this doesn't change your perception of the show after you finish this episode, you may as well quit now.