The Last American Non-Firefly Fan

[jon_chaisson]

I know lynxreign and emmalyon heard this already--repeatedly, actually--I am proud to say that I believe I am the only American, or on Live Journal at least, who wasn't impressed by Firefly.

Why, you say? Especially after watching just one episode?

I'm still trying to figure it out, but it just didn't jive with me. Should I watch another few episodes and give it a chance? Maybe I should, but just for the record, I just wasn't hooked. Although I was amused by the obscure Beatles reference at the beginning of the pilot episode.

I think part of it was the deliberately slow pace. I understand that Whedon was going for a "Western in Space" thing, but I just found it a bit too plodding. Even when the action picked up, it still felt too slow for me. I wasn't expecting explosions left and right, but I really, really wanted a little more action. A little more tension!!! Please? Just a little? Okay, I also admit that plot tension in Westerns hinges upon the time-honored High-Noon-Gary-Cooper-who-will-shoot-first showdown, but it just felt contrived here.

I'm just posting this simply because of Serenity coming out this weekend. I'm not talking anyone out of going to see it--on the contrary, I think movies like that should get people's money. It's just not something I'm interested in going to see. And no, head58, I'm not kidding you like Lynxie did. It just didn't grab me, that's all. ;)

Comments

[animated-max.livejournal.com]

I'd give it another episode or two.

[emmalyon.livejournal.com]

My feeling also. I watched the original run sporadically and out of order, so it took a while to figure out the names, let alone anything else....

[mekkasimian.livejournal.com]

MEKKASIMIAN LIKE ALL CHARACTERS. FIT TOGETHER PERFECTLY.

MEK HARDLY *EVER* LIKE TV CHARACTERS, LET ALONE ALL. ESPECIALLY CAST SO BIG.

ALL ELSE LESS IMPORTANT: IF FOCUS ON SCI-FI OR WESTERN STUFF, THEN MISSING POINT.

BESIDES, SOMETIMES INTRO MORE EXPOSITION THAN TENSION. WITHOUT KNOW CHARACTER OR CONTEXT YET, SOMETIMES HARD JUDGE WHAT "JEOPARDY" IS.

HOW LONG WOULD GIVE BOOK BEFORE GIVE UP? MEK GENERALLY GIVE 50-100 PAGES.

(SEEM LIKE MEK GIVE TV SERIES PREMIERES THIS SEASON 5-10 MINUTES OF FIRST EPISODE, TOPS!)

=M=

[emmalyon.livejournal.com]

I said almost the same thing--character is by far the most important element. And too much SF falls doen on that job, esp. with regards to female characters.

[joncwriter.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's a matter of "missing the point". Like I told h58 and shadawyn, my expectations were too high because of the hype and I was let down by that. I've read enough spoilers and descriptions (and lord knows how many LJ posts! :p ) to know generally what the show was about and where the plot is going, so I knew what was going to happen later on.

As for the other question, when reading potential book purchases, if I'm up to page 15 or 20 in the store, then I buy it. If I don't get past 5, then it's not for me. ;)