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That last episode 😭😭😭

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Firefly Ep 14 Full Length Reaction

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Dude Longcouch

May Fox burn in hell for what they took from us!

Tom Grassia

"Can you picture me nakes?" "Hmmmm..." They finally did it. You got that, right?

Shep

Why? Because Fox that's why. Don't do a deep dive on why Firefly did so poorly when it aired if you value your blood pressure.

Inhonor Oftrip

I'd like to think that John McClain would not have saved the Nakatomi Plaza (which is the real-life Fox HQ) if he knew what they would do to Firefly. Sneak Holly out, break out of the garage with Argyle, and drive away saying "You get Hans"...

Dude Longcouch

Oh, now that you've seen this episode, I can say the continuity error that I mentioned on episode 12 "The Message." You may recall that episode was actually the final episode they filmed, but it was moved down in the viewing order. That decision introduced a continuity error when near the beginning, River says "My food is problematic" and Jayne says "Girl's a mind-reading genius, can't even figure out how to eat an ice planet." But Jayne wasn't supposed to know River was a mind-reader until the conversation they had in this episode when he clearly learns it for the first time :)

Tom Grassia

It fascinates me to no end that Wedon's idea of an intriguing potential heroine is a girl who cannot help but react thoughtlessly to emotion and external stimuli. At the same time, his eeriest villain is a man who discusses the nature of things. He is an outstanding filmmaker and storyteller but a horrid philosopher.

EngineeredTwist

SUCH a good episode. One of the writers had gotten really into the concepts of Existentialism, and Jubal Early personifies that, which is why he's doing things like pondering the purpose of an empty room. As an OG watcher who had to wait for the movie, there was something very fitting about the final shot in the series being Early left hanging there in space, just like we were as the audience. I'm also in agreement with you on the idea that one of the reasons it's great is because it was cut short before it ever declined in quality. I'm so grateful we got the movie to wrap it up, but I sort of hope no one ever tries to reboot it, because it could only dilute the little bubble of perfection that is this show.

Eugene Weerts

I honestly think firefly could have been one of the greats.

Eric H

As somebody spactacular familiar with this series, it is wonderful to consider the show from a fresh perspective. Your perspective made me consider that Jubal might have been an early version of the mental experiments that were done to River. This is consistent with River and Early not having a filter, just in different ways. I recall the showrunners (Joss Whedon and TIm Minear) suggested that Early survived. Maybe they wanted to explore the strangeness of Early's mind. Sadly, there was so much more to explore.

Cat

Totally relate to procrastinating on finishing this. I have the same issue with shows and books. I love all the possibilities of beginnings but absolutely dread endings. And endings are so often disappointing when they're done badly so I don't want to tarnish something I enjoyed with a lackluster finish. I never thought about Early as another experiment subject before. It's interesting because I actually had the opposite interpretation. River mentions his family dog disliking him because it could smell the neighbors' pets on him. The implication being he had been hurting pets and small animals. This reads as natural psychopath to me. I always assumed this was an intentional juxtaposition between someone who was born violent and without empathy and someone who was being made that way. Except they never got to finish with River so she's trapped in her own instability, feeling too much. It definitely would have been cool if we got to see other subjects or even a 'finished' experiment. There was so much potential with this story and so many different ways they could have gone with it.

Mrsockmonkie

With the idea of levels, it was cool in the intro that the crew was physically between the bounty hunter and River, and by the end of the episode River was protecting the crew from the bounty hunter. And the intro shot was flying into the top level of serenity, and the ending shot was flying out the lower level.

Alan Kobb

Whedon discovered Summer Glau when he did an episode of Angel that called for a ballerina. She was a dancer who wanted to act, and you can see how well it worked out for her. Whedon frequently used Glau barefoot, because it allowed her to show her natural grace and footwork. You can watch when she walks, it's like a performance in itself.

ErisKnight

Oh man, did not hear that Dead Boy Detectives was cancelled. Absolute bummer, that! I've really appreciated seeing the show again through your eyes, Jacqui. Love what you do here. Also have been itching to watch Serenity again but am holding off to watch along with you.

Ralth

Heartbroken all over again that there is not more after this watching it a second time.

Michael G. Munz

"Red usually means 'danger'... Or 'beef,' if it's a bullion cube." -Alsatia Zevo, TOYS

Michael G. Munz

Also, to quote Frank Costanza: "SERENITY NOW!!" 😉

Kevin (GiantFutures.com)

Now that it’s pretty much clear and confirmed that River is a “Reader”, it’s time to look back at some of her odd behavior. Now, sure, some of this was pretty much telegraphed, like River reading Ruby’s mind while being kidnapped in Safe (perhaps the most blatant example, but since the perpetually blind-to-the-obvious Simon is the only crew member to see it, no one else is tipped off). There’s other things, like River sensing the newly-made Reaver in Bushwacked. But there’s two scenes I love, and one that confuses me. In Shindig: She begins tearing the labels off of cans, leading to what Book says will be some “Mystery Meals”. Why? Because she’s tired of being able to see inside things/people because with people, the insides and the label don’t match. (👀 Shepherd Book, whatcha doing?) In Bushwacked: When Simon and River don’t hide in the ship, but literally on the ship…Simon is scared poop-less, as was referred two twice earlier, but River was looking out to the stars in wonder. This wasn’t just a contrast of the siblings…River had a very good reason to be paying attention out there: It was quiet. There was no one to read out there, a relief after having read the Reaver all episode. But then there’s Ariel, and “He looks better in red” with the slashing of Jayne. This…I don’t get. At this point, there is no indication Jayne has decided to rat out River and Simon…that seems to only come from the opportunity of having them off the ship to call them in on, and even beyond that, it’s very possible that Jayne only was inspired to because of getting slashed. People say “Jayne never liked them”, and yes…that’s true…but what prompted this attack in this moment? That usually leads to the response I don’t accept: She could see in the future that he would. At no other point in the show does future-seeing ever seem to be a part of her or anything else. I don’t know why River did it, but the explanations seem unanswered. Also, where did she get that gun in this episode?

Kevin Fuller

Allergies must be acting up, got my eyes all watery.

Alec Zrike

If you can find it, I highly recommend listening to Joss's Director's Commentary on this episode. It explains a lot about what's going on.

Alec Zrike

"How do you have an episode like this and then cancel; the show?!" Sadly, this episode never even aired. It was one of three that were only included in the DVD set and subsequent streaming services. The rat-f***ery that went on with the production/airing of this show is *legendary*

Mark Lecuyer

so happy you enjoyed the series. Not sure if it is in the DVD commentary or somewhere else - but it was brought up that at the end of this episode River asks Mal for permission to come aboard. When she 1st came aboard - she was in a box - so he never got the opportunity to say yes or no to her. So, there is a bit of poetry that River was officially welcomed on to Serenity on what turned out to be the final episode. It is weird how art works sometimes. Yeah, over time it is best to be happy and cherish the 14 episodes of Firefly we got versus lament on what never came to be (14 episodes out of a potential 20-24 episode season 1 - the norm when this show came out) Yes, Fox botched this big time - but they did also greenlight a space western from the guy who created a show about a Vampire Slayer. That in itself is kind of a Mircle.

Thom

when you watch the movie you will some plot lines they planned to do maybe in 4, 5 seasons and it will you feel even worse because it could've been so amazing if they had time to build this world and stories with enough time to breathe and explore

Ian Forbes

Jacqui, I posted this in a YouTube comment reply but please note that you should NOT watch the YouTube link I’m posting until after watching Serenity. I’m certain there would be spoilers since it is the San Diego Comic Con 10th anniversary panel of Firefly which includes cast and Joss talking about the show. https://youtu.be/V85olh2aZ34?si=BRJK93prqVru_jy_ There are also some fun SDCC panels of charity auctions run by Zachary Levi where he invited Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk to donate stuff and even run some of those panels. Those also have spoilers for what happens in Serenity (and other projects of theirs) but are well worth looking up afterwards.

John

If you haven't watched Serenity yet, here's an intro to the film that Joss Whedon did for a pre-release screening before the film was completed. You can tell just how much Serenity means to Joss, the fans and the cast and crew. It's spoiler free. https://youtu.be/7hEjGYFj5c4?si=Z_Tm8BJi-p6nrn0R

John

Jubal Early was a lawyer and Confederate General during the US Civil War and is an ancestor of Nathan Fillion. (from the Trivia on the Amazone Prime version of the episode)

Armchair Rizzard

Hey Jacqui, not trying to rush you but I was asking if you could please give some kind of update on the release of the movie Serenity? Have you watched it, and when might it be released?

Graeme Findlay

I've only just joined up but I'm confused why ep 13/14 have a big timer covering the whole screen. I am probably missing a very logical and well mentioned reason, but I thought I'd ask here anyway.

Travis

Welcome to the pain:)

Darj

I only learned about the comic book explaining Shepard Book's backstory through the comments on your reactions. Rewatching this full length reaction series with the knowledge of the backstory changes SO much about it!