"If you're showing up time and time again and they're taking you for granted, and they're not showing up for you and you communicate that and they don't change, it doesn't mean you're doing it wrong, it means this isn't your team." I needed to hear this today. Thank you.
@A (nonymous) i feel the same way about my divorce, and with some distance i realize we both fucked up, although i still blame him because he cheated on me for a year and than left me for her.
My favorite thing ever was the line, "well, she is our witch! So cut her down." It wasn't just about loyalty it was a wonderful statement on how to deal with a crowd. He didn't bother with need to argue against the crowd about witches but the fact the person is part of his crew and it doesn't matter what you call them.
Bonus points for "cut her the hell down" in the face of "religious" zealots and their "holy cleansing". It adds contrast and at the same time mocks their fake religiousness.
I took a fantasy literature class in sophomore year and our teacher had a thing he called "Firefly Fridays" where the class would watch an episode each Friday. Needless to say, the writing in this show was so good that our class totally bonded with the characters, felt their pains, and truly cared for them.
When Jayne says "Make something up, don't tell 'em what i did.", that is the point, where Jayne realized that he actually cares about the rest of the crew, and their opinions of him. Mal realizes that as well, that's why he pushed the button, because Jayne was no longer someone that needed to be 'let go'.
I'm at this exact point right now. Trying to find someone to carry me. Sometimes you're so down you can't even ask for help anymore. You can just grab the hand someone stretches out to you.
In serenity I always lose it when during the final firefight she is comforting Simon saying how he always looked after her and she goes “my turn” and runs into the melee. It’s such a huge moment for her and the movie.
They meddle, the Alliance. I want to point out the amazing music, as well. I find a lot of cinema music these days incredibly heavy handed. The music for Firefly is a unique fusion of traditional folk American and folk Chinese. Hauntingly beautiful.
Best series ever. Just saying. I'm not sure if I'm gutted that there's only one season, or relieved that I didn't have to see it drag on until the message and magic of the show got lost. Either way, it's the Princess Bride of TV series. Fun, somehow moving, endlessly quotable, and not nearly long enough.
“The Princess Bride of Tv series” is legit the best way to describe this show completely…I’m stealing it, thanks for delivering a line that saves me the heavy lifting 😁
One thing I like about Mal is that even when he lost his faith he didn't loose his humanity or compassion when it really mattered. Two of my favourite lines: "My days of taking you seriously are definitely coming to a middle." Mal "This is a moment in time; step aside and let it pass." Inara A good friend of mine encouraged me to buy the box set sight unseen and based on my trust in her opinion. She wasn't wrong!
This group dynamic is a lot like my research group. We had vastly different individuals, almost every continent represented, sorry Antarctica. Our desire to be together was often remarked on by other groups. Any two together would eventually become all of us. We loved our differences and would spend hours together discussing our views. I’m so thankful for the time I had with them, it was formative and has provided amazing memories and friends.
Firefly was really ahead of it’s time. It would have cleaned up in the streaming era. Powerhouse cast, compelling story. Doesn’t get much better than that.
@Sophie Scott, I think it is because it implies that outside of the table, he would not be safe, so in other situations he would maybe kill him if there was another betrayal.
There's Duty and Honor. Prior service, Navy. You never leave a man in the water. Nasty Pacific storm, flight ops canceled, man overboard, you go. No matter how dangerous, how treacherous the conditions, you go.
And honestly, that scene is one I find chilling, for reasons I can't explain. "If you're on my table, you're safe." That's frightening in a way I cannot articulate.
The writing is so concise. The fewest words to say so much. Never treating the audience like children. We don't feel led through the story, but experiencing it.
I only watched the Star Wars Original Trilogy and first prequel last year and honestly didn't think too much of them, especially with the decades of hype and fandom around them. Seeing that dialogue and then just the Firefly pilot (also called Serenity) made me realise that Firefly is what I had invisioned Star Wars to be like before I had seen it.
1. Serve without judgement - 02:53 2. See the good in those you disagree with - 07:22 3. Look after who you're with - 10:58 4. Make a home of wherever you are - 13:28 5. Create loyalty by showing loyalty - 18:40 6. Find the group that will reciprocate love - 20:32 7. Trust is a choice - 24:03 8. Grieve with and comfort each other - 28:00
As far as #4 the reason he chose the Firefly is nostalgia from the war. Firefly class transports were frequently used as dropships, medevac/casevac ships during the war. Its like how some modern day veterans buy hummers or jeeps.
If you want to watch a show with a similar concept of found family (albeit a different genre) I highly highly recommend The Good Place. It's one of my favorite shows of all time, because it covers different philosophy about human nature, the impact we have on the world, and comes to the conclusion that our connection with others makes us better people. It's a show filled with hope, and I think it's something we need more of today. I'd love to hear your take on it!
Simon is one of my favorite characters of all time. He sacrificed everything for his little sister with absolutely no hope of them returning to a normal life, but he shoulders the burden of protecting his _mei mei_ with a sincere smile and zero complaints because he truly, genuinely wants to do this, and he has no regrets about any of it. And you really get a glimpse of how much his sacrificed in _Ariel._ He didn't just sacrifice his comfort and safety, he sacrificed his potential, his dignity, his authority, the work that he loved, the untold good that he could have done for hundreds if not thousands of others. He could have been greater than all the other crewmembers combined, and he threw it all away in a heartbeat for River.
Its also not what he through away but the fact that she has a constant need for his care because of the episodes she has because of what the Alliance did to her. She can't just peacefully be a fugitive like him, she is despite her brilliance and greater than human ability entirely incapable of caring for herself and keeping herself safe. He is constantly taking care of her, trying to find out what they did and how he can fix it, and trying to live his life along with it. It really reflects every parent who has had a child with a lifestyle affecting medical need and because of her he is a criminal on the run on top of it all.
It also factors into him sabotaging the possibility of a relationship with Kaylee for so long. A lot of it is due to his own indoctrinated arrogance. Some, his innate social awkwardness. But it is mostly the focus on protecting his sister which (to his mindset) must forgo any pursuit of personal happiness. Which, as we learn, is silly both because one may not necessarily prohibit the other. And that (as scattered as she is) River loves her older brother and wants to see him happy, and KNOWS how wonderful Kaylee would be for him.
Yes and I really love that he is doing that for the love of his sister, and not a lover. I feel that this is not that common in shows or movie. Love between siblings, I mean.
This has got to be one of my favorite shows. There is so much to look at in this show, I wouldn't be surprised if someone has written a thesis about it. I love how characters work through their relationships, especially Mal & Inara and Kaylee & Simon (particularly their conversation at the end of Jaynetown). As a language teacher, I also love how they used Chinese in Firefly. While the actors may've struggled with pronunciation, it was incorporated in a way that 1) show's characters' fluency and 2) never impedes the audience's understanding of what is happening. There are many examples of language in context. When everyone is arguing and Mal yells "都闭嘴!" Since everyone immediately stops talking, you don't need to have studied Chinese to infer that Mal had said something along the lines of "Shut up!" Most of the time they use Chinese in Firefly (this is less true in Serenity), you may not be able infer the exact words, but you can infer whether it's an exclamation, an insult or giving permission to come in.
The family unit really works because of Mal. Each member of the crew was meant to represent something that Mal had or wants to have. Zoe is his tie back to the war and the comradery of service. Book is his tie to his faith that died the day the war ended. Wash is that lighthearted spirit that runs deep within him. Jayne is the rough gun-slinging persona he shows the outside world. Kaylee is the conduit of love for Serenity, the means that lets him escape into his own world. Inara is a look into a life with love. An escape from a life of just getting by. I don't think it was a coincidence that her room was a repurposed escape shuttle. Simon is a reflection of what Mal would do for his family, his crew. River is a reminder of what the Alliance is capable of and why Mal cannot trust them, even in times of peace.
This show is so unbelievably good. The writing and the characters were highlighted a lot in this video, but also a shout-out to the music and prop people. The sets look like real, lived-in places while also embodying everything that makes this universe unique, and the music invites you to settle and contemplate. It's such a tragedy that it was cancelled, but honestly, it says so much in the one season it got that I feel there wasn't too much left out. The one thing I would have liked to see is Mal completing his arc. For all the time we get with him, he's either a callow inexperienced young man who wears his heart on his sleeve and is intensely optimistic about the universe (opening flashback) or he's a bitter, cynical veteran hollowed out by the loss of everything that used to define him. All the people around him, simply by being themselves, act as constant beacons calling him to step back into life, but he can't yet. I'd have loved to see him come full circle, to learn to open himself up again and realise his full potential whilst holding onto the valuable lessons hardship has taught him. Writing this comment has helped me to realise that Serenity (the film) didn't do much thematically to move Mal along his arc, which is part of why I find it less satisfying even though on a plot level it very much wraps up the core narrative from the show.
THIS! I had never had a way to verbalize what for me was the biggest loss of this show bing canceled…and you said it all. While I feel that some of the other characters felt still incomplete by the end the show/movie (Wash and Book being big examples of this due their untimely and unceremonious deaths) I could at least find comfort in the fact that their was resolution if not completion to their character arcs….but not with Mal, who logistically is the core and main character of this show…he brings everyone together and they remain in his orbit because of the safe haven he provides, connection and family…but his own needs and center of being are never really fully addressed, confronted, or realized…thank you for giving clarity of thought to a missing puzzle piece I had thought forever lost to me
Jonathan we've had a very similar religious experience. I often feel I don't fit in, but I really feel grateful when I find good role models in faith. People who are compassionate, accepting, and loving to the world. Thank you so much.
I loved Doc's speech cause it was framed like he was going to threaten Jane but he doesn't. He became a doctor to help people, he isn't going to ruin his morals, especially when he knows Mal will fight to keep them safe too
@RealTChick yeah, that's why I love it so much. It's somewhat of a simple scene in one way, the idea that he took an oath, but it's much more complex. Especially since I don't think it's ever said that there is an oath that doctors have to take anymore
That's not just for intensity in the scene! It's framed as a threat to exhibit Doc.'s point that doing no harm is a choice because, as medic, the opportunity for vengeance will present itself. Jane's not bright, so being shown the danger is a good way to illustrate it's reality. This is also somewhat paralleled in the air lock scene, at which point, Jane is only shown mercy after he expressed remorse/shame/regret, meaning Jane recognized his actions were shameful. It illustrates a tie between the high class healer and wild west gun for hire; no matter where you come from or how you live, the rules of trust and integrity rely on the same principles, a dichotomy of doing no harm while doing whatever it takes to protect.
I was SO mad at my friends for dragging me to Serenity without even telling me about Firefly first. And it's still one of my absolute favorites to this day.
"Create loyalty by showing loyalty" is a powerful way to put that. I've always said that you should always be the first one to do something for someone else, even if you don't get anything back from it. I've worked in environments where no one ever sticks up/out for each other because "no one ever sticks their neck out for me." That's because someone has to be the first one to do it.
It's amazing how much this concept is lost on people, even people who HAVE had demonstrations of generosity. I'm not one to give too freely as I've known too many people who begin to expect my generosity for nothing in return. But when I'm presented with the opportunity to make an actually impactful difference in someone's life, be it big or small, I take it. And I don't expect anything in return because for me the most gratifying thing is just knowing I helped. I get something out of it that almost makes it feel more self serving than generous. I enjoy helping when I know it's actually helpful (and not just self ego stroking, or being a doormat), & hope it will simply be paid forward
I really love stories about found family, and how you don't have to be biologically related to someone to consider them kin. It reminds me of that Buffy episode where the Scooby Gang firmly lets Tara's abusive parents know that THEY'RE her real family.
@L Ge My guess about Joss is that he either grew up around people with complicated home lives, was in one himself, or both. With that in mind, you could view his choice in including found family dynamics in his shows/movies (dollhouse, agents of shield, firefly, avengers, etc) as a fantasy of sorts, maybe wishing he could have what the characters in his stories have. With the rumors of him being a deeply unpleasant person, it would make sense that no one wants him as part of their "crew" so to speak. He can write the perfect group dynamic but is unable to be part of one IRL because he acts like a tool.
@Itzel Wisteria than I would advise Sense8 to you. It’s on Netflix. It’s about eight strangers who live in different cities in different countries around the world and suddenly find themselves telepathically linked to eachother. They experience each other’s lives, emotions, sensations and experiences and they share eachothers skills and knowledge. Because they share all their experiences with eachother they grow very close to eachother and they have to rely on eachother all the time to solve their personal and collective struggles. Because these people come from different countries and are from different cultures and backgrounds they all have very different personalities and identities, but regardless of that they grow very close and become a real family. Bit of a spoiler so DON’T READ IF YOU DONT WANT THE SHOW SPOILED!!! But my favorite episode is the last one where all of the characters meet up in person for the first time. Up to that point they had all interacted and communicated with eachother inside their heads, with some of them occasionally having met eachother physically. But this is the first time when all the main characters and side characters come together and interact with each other and team up to finally defeat the bad guy. And I love it. Other suggestions for found family that you might like: Umbrella Academy. It’s not actually “found” family because the characters did grow up together, but they are adopted family. It’s about a dysfunctional family of superheroes who try to save the world from an impending apocalypse and there’s time travel and everything. I’m usually not particularly a fan of superhero shows, but it’s the characters that made me love this show. And if you like a good laugh, Community. Community is about a group of very diverse people who attend the same community college and start their own studygroup and they become very close and almost like a family to eachother. Like I said it’s a comedy and it was created by the same guy who is also the mind behind Rick and Morty and Polar Opposites. So if you like that kind of humor, Community might also be fun for you
God, i L O V E found family, because it demonstrates that the bonds we share with people does not depend on something to be valid (speaking of blood, colour, religion, etc). When its formed, the bond just exists. Truly beautiful
The closest real-world example, to the family dynamic in this show, is probably how soldiers interact with each other in the Squad/Platoon level. You get wildly different people from all over the country, and sometimes from other countries, from all walks of life, and throw them together in sometimes life/death situations.
I love how complex all the characters are. For example, Jayne is pretty crass and selfish, frequently making observations that others would keep to themselves. However, we eventually learn that he's been supporting his mother and sister. He also has an unexpected friendship with Shepherd Book, feels obvious guilt about being treated like hero by the mudders, and has a last minute change of heart about betraying River and Simon when he realizes the full extent of the danger they're in. PS) You could easily do a video on each of the 9 main characters.
Even relatively straightforward characters like Wash and Kaylee show surprising depth at times and in ways that are both unexpected and yet feel totally in character.
What I love about Adam Baldwin's casting as Jayne is that he is very like his character Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket, who was based on a real person so it makes Jayne seem realer.
Just hearing you talk about the show makes me tear up! It was absolutely my favorite, and I’m still bitter about it being cancelled!! Every character was interesting, the writing is amazing, and every episode was a fun watch from beginning to end. RIP Firefly ❤
Nathan Fillion was THE perfect actor for that character. They serendipitously had the most perfect cast and the most funniest writing for a sci-fi flick.
This show was cancelled way before its time, though at least they managed to get a film three years later. The characters are immensely memorable, and so diverse, and their connections with each other really draw you in. The actors' performances also work wonders.
@Crap Tacular Yeah. I'd rather have one perfect, well crafted season than five mediocre, stale seasons. Unlike TNG, Firefly didn't need three seasons just to find it's footing.
@Kristy Eden Considering how many actors had other projects and never wanted to come back to the show/how many cast members left early, really makes me think we should have picked up on something. Heck, SMG was clearly traumatized by something about the job. Shes very clearly seperated herself from that life and really wants nothing to do with Buffy anymore. (She doesn't hate Buffy or anything, she just seems to have nothing to say about the show anymore/no interest in discussing it. Which is fair, she worked 16-20 hour days and she was essentially taking over for Joss as the person on set taking care of the quest stars. I really don't think she ever really had the time to enjoy being Buffy and can only appreciate Buffy as a femanist icon.
@Kristy Eden buffy was more about growing up I think than just a strong female character. The first 2 seasons are meh as an adult and im not sure I could really relate to the later seasons anymore but I immensely enjoyed it for years. But to each their own.
What is so amazing about the chemistry of the cast is that it happened so quickly. I mean the show barely started! It can take a couple seasons for some shows to exhibit this level of synergy. So many amazing things about this show.
I have very conflicted feelings about Joss whedon as a person but his works are undeniably masterpieces. And what you guys were saying about how you can never have a heartfelt scene without a joke at the end is why I love Joss whedon's work. That seems to be his signature move in all of his stuff Buffy the vampire Slayer Firefly the first avengers movie and even Dr horrible's Sing-Along blog. They are all character driven stories with brilliant humor all the way along and it's phenomenal
@Ylyrra I get that, but when it's something big like a film or TV show, you're also supporting the actors and all the other people who worked hard to make something wonderful. It's an individual choice everyone has to make themselves.
@Great Gyatso Problem is that you aren't just "appreciating their work" as an isolated factor, you're financially supporting their behaviour during the creation of that work. I'm not gonna venture into an argument about the right or wrongs of that, but it is an important distinction.
@sanityisrelative And I also really love the reverse of this, which I got from the writer of the Carmilla webseries. "I'm gonna make you laugh a whole lot and then over here . . . I have a knife waiting"
I so needed this episode. I recently was fired from a job with an organization that I thought fit well with my values, skills and lifestyle. Figuring out what makes a good team is something I was struggling with. This episode showed me how to be a better team member, and I don't feel as bad for losing the job because they were not willing to follow your advice, so it wasn't the right group for me to invest in
❤. Sometimes our losses are not our lessons. Sometimes we are the catalyst for someone else. It's hard to feel that void of understanding. Please don't dwell to hard on it. The person who needs your kindness is sometimes you. I hope you find a better crew.
“Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regards to my character, so let me make this abundantly clear: I do the job, and then I get paid.” Mal has a very clear set of principles, and he doesn’t break them for near anything, and that’s what I love about him.
@Sidecutter @Diamond MX Of note, in the movie he doesn't kill the Operative. When he has every reason to. The Operative has chased him across the 'Verse, threatened and terrified his family, and killed Book, Mr. Universe, and is responsible for Wash dying. In the end Mal doesn't know if his entire team is dead, but after defeating the Operative and challenging his entire world view, he leaves him to find his way.
@Diamond MX I would argue that with the bounty hunter, Mal has every reason not to trust him about being unarmed, and even more reason to know that the only way he's going to stop him is if he kills the hunter before the hunter kills Mal. He's not a person who is unarmed and currently retreating or unaware of an approaching attack, which I think is what Mal was saying. The same goes for the swordsman. They were already in combat. There was only one way it could end if Mal didn't win, and that way would hurt people. The opponent was aware, able/armed, and an active threat. Mal is basically saying he wouldn't kill someone who retreated or surrendered in good faith, and that he would just walk up behind someone in a bar and shoot them out of the blue.
@Diamond MX A: principles, not principals. One is a set of values to which you ascribe, the other is a group of school administrators. Sorry, but I have to correct an error when I see it, despite understanding your point otherwise. B: Like I said, Mal doesn’t break his principles for near anything. And like Alan said, Mal would much rather take the easy path but for that honest streak of his. That doesn’t mean he’s Lawful Stupid, just Neutral Good, possibly Chaotic Good depending on the circumstances.
Actually I often got confused about his principals. Especially about killing defenseless people. In one episode he claims (to Simon)he'd never shoot someone unless they were awake, facing him and armed. In another, the bounty hunter says he's unarmed, and Mal says "good" and shoots him in the chest. Mal also stabs the swordsman by surprise after pretending to be beaten. It seems his principals at least in this regard might be more flexible than he claims. (To be fair I don't think he's wrong in any of the cases, but it's not who he says he is, just one more of Mal's self contradictions)
Two minutes in, you've not even discussed the series yet and I've already found an odd affirmation in my own relationship grom watching you guys. My boyfriend and I also watch and analize films like this together, its one of our favorite bonding activities, and watching you two lifelong friends makes me think I've foumd a partner that is going to be my life-long best friend. 😊
I finished just the first two minutes of this video and could rewatch that over and over again, what a beautiful lifelong friendship brewed over Firefly!!! 🥺😍
I love Firefly so much. And Shepherd Book's approach with people is absolutely worth striving for. I have no words really for what this show means to me.
I love that no matter what dark rabbit whole I descend to on youtube, showing me how bad the world's state is, you guys always make me see all the beauty in it again. Especially when it's a Firefly episode. Thanks for your authenticity, humor and absolutely wonderful insights on psychology and filmmaking!
Firefly can be one of the top 3 tv series for many, but if you put 3 people in a room who thinks like that, it becomes number one with no hesitation. So underrated and yet so loved :(
I'd seen Firefly, loved it, cried over it, couldn't get enough. Then I moved to Britain and met the man who was going to be my last forever husband. He'd never seen it. So, we both ended up getting flu early in our relationship and I was stuck at his flat. We took care of each other, hot tea with lemon and lots of tissues and we watched the whole of FireFly together. That was it. We bonded tighter than tight over Firefly and we've never looked back in anger. We adore each other and we still adore Firefly.
@Polly RG The whole parenthesis part of statement feels weirdly unneeded. I really hope you don't call him that around your fiance, that's one of those things that would eat away at my self confidence.
Me too! Introduced to Firefly by a boyfriend (who I still refer to as my 'second-favourite boyfriend') around 2006, then used "oh, you love that show too? I have it on DVD. Want to hang out and watch it?" with my favourite boyfriend, now finacé, just a couple of years ago. Makes me wonder how many more Firefly love stories are out there ♥️
This was outstanding. Very therapeutic to us heartbroken Brown-Coats dealing with the loss of such a perfect cast of actors to portray these captivating characters. ❤ ✌ 🎥
I'M SO EXCITED YOU GUYS DID FIREFLY!!! I went to the Fanex earlier this year and when Jonathan was on the browncoats panel I almost died of sheer nerd joy. Also as a side note, his Nathan Filian impression was literally so spot on. I'm making my roommate watch this show and she loves it too, so here's to hoping Firefly can sponser another multi-decade friendship. :)
I only watched the first 30 seconds of this and, I really needed this. Not even an hour passed and I was crying because of my emotionally unavailable and unsupportive parents. Thank you so so much
So I have a author friend who was letting me alpha read some of her stuff, and give her feed back, and at one point I was trying to express to her what I thought her story was missing and the only way I could think of it was..."your characters need a Firefly-like bonding moment." The show just epitomizes that team feeling.
But Jayne has a very deep sense of loyalty to someone that is only somewhat referred to in the show - his mother and brother. He talks big, but he sends his money back home to support his birth family.
Which is such a big and underrated part of his character too. If I knew that I needed to be constantly making more money to send him to my younger siblings to support them, who knows what kinda of stupid or reckless shenanigans I'd get into if it meant the safety and stability of my siblings. I think most people could heavily related to that same feeling, but bc its only briefly touched on with Jayne we don't get the time to really explore it.
I always liked the idea that Mal surrounded himself with people who had parts of him he felt he lost. Mal is also a good manager as he treats each person in a way to get the best of them. What works for Wash wouldn't work for Jayne.
I agree on both parts but on the second, as a manager myself, I have a saying on my board, Leaders listen and treat everybody different" Meaning you need to listen to and know your people so you can treat each of them in the way which can bring out the best in them. Not lie or manipulate. Just how it works best for them. I wish I could do as good of a job as Mal does, but I am still trying.
Truth. There's an episode where they come across a ship sending out a distress signal. Mal tells some of the crew they're there to help, others he says they'll be rewarded handsomely. When he finds out the ship is full of nothing but dead bodies and traps, he avoids a panic by limiting who knows what, having some of the crew retrieve the bodies for proper burial while having the hardened ones work on deactivating the booby traps. He knows just what to say to each person to get the job done.
Firefly just keeps being amazing. And is Alan wearing an Oaty Bar shirt? Perfection. ♥️ I’m glad they mentioned how convincing that death scene was. I never noticed it til this watch through but then they voiced exactly what I thought.
God I love a good Firefly analysis - especially from you two knuckleheads. I literally couldn't click the video fast enough :D [Edit] About #7 - Trust as Choice: One thing that I don't think gets mentioned or observed enough is during the table scene towards the end of Serenity, Jayne passes the bottle to Simon, and Simon takes a swig. That wouldn't have been possible before their encounter in Trash. Subtle, in the grand scheme of the show, but powerful.
I had never heard of this show until you both covered firefly, and it is now my favorite show and movie 💙 it has seriously changed and shaped my life and world view, as has your content. Thank you Alan and Jonathan for existing and making this channel
I will argue until I am blue in the face that Out of Gas is one of the greatest episodes of any television show ever. Flashbacks within flashbacks to tell an emotionally rich origin story. Just incredible! Thank you both for doing this!!
"When your miracle gets here, just push the button and we'll come back." They framed the button and gave it to Joss Weedon after the show and I always like to think that when they got the OK to do the movie, Joss told the crew, "I'm pushing the button."
Guys, I was introduced to Firefly by my uncle and cousins on a lake boat trip. My mom and aunt were so pissed that we'd rather watch that show than spend time swimming, paddle boarding, or doing literally anything else. We did get to those things, I swear. 😅🤣 But Firefly is absolutely incredible and possibly a perfect show. I love it with all my heart to this day.
This makes me so happy. I watched this show back when it originally aired and just fell in love. I don't think I've ever watched a show since that makes me feel the way this one does. I would really enjoy seeing more from you guys about these characters.
I'm so happy you guys decided to do Firefly. Is there any chance you would do Avatar: The last Airbender? That or Legend of Korra. There's so much great Villian analysis potential (Azula, Amon... Zuko anyone?). Not to mention all the members of the Gaang.
This is one of the greatest shows out there. I shared this with my adoptive grandfather and we also bonded over this series. Powerful and touching stuff
The scene between Simon and Jane in the medbay is one of my favorites. Up till then in the show, Simon has never seemed as "dangerous" as anyone else in the crew. Then this scene comes out of nowhere and you realize he's been prepared to be an ice cold *rational* murderer all along. And, after you've seen the movie your brain re-contextualizes Simon's oppositions to heists and killing as being more about the fact he and his sister are fugitives trying to lay low.
Especially one who is considered a genius (although he would sappear to be an imbecile compared to River); Simon can cover up a "mistake" on the operating table if he had to. All because he wants to protect River at all costs.
@Crap Tacular yup, don’t break the law while you’re breaking the law. I always laugh at stories of criminals who had this whole elaborate master plan, who then get foiled by doing something minor and completely avoidable that gets a cop or a very civic minded witness to take a second look.
The only reason Simon comes across as a naive idiot in the show, and not a terrifying mastermind is: prep time and context. Just in the show, Ariel shows that in an environment he is familiar with, and society he knows the rules to, he is an absolute master of deception and manipulation with just a little prep time. If it hadn't been for Jayne, they would have literally walked out with no issue. Every other time they are doing a heist or scheme, he is either locked on the ship or thrown in with no warning or understanding.
Yes, he's clearly intentionally focusing Jayne's mind on the... interesting possibilities of making an enemy of a trauma surgeon. It's a threat, and a pretty good one, without him having to explicitly threaten.
I think seeing him on this show is why I loved Nathon Fillion on "Castle". Both great characters, but so completely different. Rick was such a lovable, easy-going man-child, lol!
Yes!! This is such a great show. The fact that it is still beautiful, still funny, and still relevant is a testament to just how great it is. I how you can do more episodes on this series as there is so much going on throughout the series and there needs to be more said on the cinematography.
How you guys feel about the connectiveness among this motley crue is how I feel about Rogue One ❤️ One of the many reasons why I love that movie so much is how different each team member is, but in the end they were able to work together and make huge things happen. And then when I started learning more about the making of Rogue One, I realized how this was true in real life among the actors in the movie as well! The actors from the movie not only came from very different places from all around the world, but also from very different languages and cultures. And yet, the actors were able to pull together and make such an epic movie!! (Which was also very different and at such a bigger scale then many of them had ever been a part of)... and of course, Alan Tudyk was in Rogue One too(: #leafinthewind
I know you guys mostly do cinema therapy and rarely do shows, but my goodness, is there so much meat on the bone when it comes to Once Upon a Time! Some of the best character arcs ever, from Regina / Evil Queen, Emma, Rumpelstiltskin, Hook, Belle, and even Snow white
it is so funny how the priest and the courtisane are the most similar people on that ship despite their glaringly different stands on sex. They are very spiritual, well educated, highly moral people that have strong mother hen tendency and see it as their calling to help people, are usualy serious and thoughtful, but with good humor. everyone else works through their contrasts , not their similarities
They’re also the two people who have really experienced the actual job differs from the job description. They’re both running from their past lives (instead of permanently living in the aftermath of it it like Mal or Zoe) as is hinted repeatedly about both of them. Book was definitely a government gun and Inara left an incredibly promising career in the Core with no discernible benefit. Simon’s sacrifice gives us some idea of what she left so…. I really wish they’d gotten to tell those stories.
It's so great! These characters have similar personalities, but different views and backgrounds. For some folks, that would lead to head butting, for them I think it gives them friendship and mutual respect.
I also came upon this series in university. We had just finished studying all day and then taking a test. She said she'd pay, and afterward, I found out it was a series. Bought it, binged it, and then watched it again. I've since bought it for multiple people. Still cried!
BIG DAMN HEROES!💖😍😍😍💖 Right On!!💖 Thank you guys sooo much for this terrific "Firefly" episode regarding human relationship dynamics, trust & team-building. It was terrific! When it first came out in 2002, "Firefly" utterly blew me away! It was a TOTAL revelation. I have never stopped loving & mourning the premature end of that show, like so many other fans. 💖💖💖😊 We love your show and will keep on watching~you're doing good work, the both of you!
Ok first, I love that Alan was wearing a Serenity T for this. Second, the CC saying "Internet Dads:" for when they spoke in unison was absolutely perfect. I adore Firefly and WISH there had been more made back in the day. My current D&D character is partially inspired by River, specifically the "I can kill you with my brain" line, because my character is a bard with a lot of psychic damage and just staring and making things hurt, along with being kinda socially broken (backstory is grew up as an orphan who was raised by a hired killer during wartime). I'd love to see a whole series of looking more indepth into how the comradery between the characters evolves in each and every episode!
I watched Serenity before I was introduced to Firefly. I love both, and it's wonderful to just sit and watch. I really wish we had gotten more than one season. Especially for Janes arc.
I think the team works mainly because Mal is a good leader. His ability to draw together a completely disparate group of people because he values each of them in different ways is incredible. And his willingness to show loyalty to create loyalty is an amazing insight. It kills me the show was never allowed to develop past the first series. Love Serenity though. The opening is masterful.
My dad and I spent time together once a week when he was home from work to watch an episode. This is some of my best memories growing up, as he and I didn’t share too many things in common, and we both loved this show very much- and he got me into it lol
I just wanted to share that I'm another of the countless people who love this show. I had the same experience as Jon where a friend took me to watch the movie Serenity before I realized there was a whole TV show. Eventually I named a child after a character in the show, and have met lots of people my age who also have kids named after the show! Just a testament to the great writing.
Firefly is a huge cornerstone of my relationship with my husband, we started watching Firefly about a year or so after we started dating at 17. We were both in different places, i was at work and he was at uni but saw each other on weekends and once a week in the week. We started watching firefly together, and then Serenity, and then because i liked it so much we started watching Castle because its got Nathan Fillian in it and that was a huge part of our relationship growing, constantly rewatching firefly and castle and anything else we could find that had the actors from that in. Our relationship would not be what it is without that shared time with these shows.
I haven't started this episode yet, but I just got the notification, and I am so freaking excited!!!!! I watch the whole season straight through about twice every year. I feel like I know these characters intimately. If I walked on the ship and lived there for a month, I know who I would butt heads with. I know who I would stay up all night talking with. I know who I would I have a crush on, and it would end poorly. I know who I would seek approval from. I know who wouldn't like me much. I love them so much.
HOW?!?!? How is Firefly 20 years old?! **brain explodes** Firefly was such a huge part of my young adult fandom experience. I have such fond memories of the huge Browncoat revolution that happened during the show's run and after its cancellation. DragonCon 2004 and 2005 were pretty much all Browncoat/Firefly/Serenity. Fans raised so much money for charity, spent so much effort toward trying to save the show, and felt such vindication when we got the movie! And being in the earlier days of the Internet, it was one of the first movements where the show's creators and cast really got involved with and communicated with the fans. It created such a camaraderie as strangers all over the world bonded over this thing that we all loved so dearly. Can't stop the signal! You can't take the sky from me!!!!
I aws part of the save Firefly brigade and loved it(I recorded the episodes but they were always getting pre-empted and shown out of order. I am a loyal Browncoat and proud of it.(my whole family still cosplays from Firefly as do many others)
The dynamics really remind me of the Straw Hat Pirates from _One Piece._ Especially the earlier episodes where we got downtime moments between the crew. And Alan's notes on cast really remind me of the casts of two of my favorite shows: _Psych_ and _Leverage._
Oh man, this is one of my favorite shows of all time. I always found it interesting that the beginning of the movie--when Simon gets river out--takes place before the events of the show, and the rest of the movie takes place after the show. Not sure I realized this before now, but in the scene where Mal is going to throw Jayne out the airlock for selling Simon and River out, it's pretty obvious he doesn't because Jayne showed shame in his actions. Jayne isn't the kind of person who cares what people think of him, probably wouldn't care what they think of him after death, but he cared what the crew thought of him. I think if he hadn't Mal would have totally thrown him out into space.
when I say i was v happy upon seeing this upload, I mean it. Firefly is one of my fave shows of all fine, IS one of the best sci-fi cult-classics of all time, and truly does not get the amount of content it deserves. This is one of my fav YT channels and the fact that y’all have uploaded this as I’m rewatching this series makes me feel like you read my mind lol. Thank you for this 🤍
Thank you so much for loving one of my all time favorite shows too and discussing it the way you did. Your interpretations of the scenes are spot on. Love it!!! I hope others run across your channel the way I did and find something worthwhile in it 🙂
I always forget how much I love Firefly until I catch a clip of it again. A friend introduced me to it in college and it's been one of my favorites since. Thank you for doing a video on it!
Jayne and Book is an underrated dynamic, I feel like Books mission would have eventually worn Jayne into a much better person. From Books past Jayne is the one he was most like ironically so hed have the best bet or succeeding with him.
@Diamond MXI think it's actually the opposite. Book has lived that life and that is what has driven him to his faith. Because of that, I don't think anything will ever dim those ideals and code in him. He HAS lived it, and that is exactly why he has this idealism and faith. If he can be redeemed, who can't?
I think you're right but also that Book's faith/code was going to be eroded over time, keeping many of his ideals but not his idealism. It's clear that Book has some real shady shit in his past and he knows that keeping strictly to his new code is not a great fit for this life on Serenity.
'cause you're on my crew. why are we still talking about this?' ... that's what i always felt like every time a therapist asked me why I did things regarding my family although feeling overwhelmed and 'shitty' about it: they are family. i never understood why that was not telling enough... i loved(!) Firefly and Serenity and while I am sad that there is not more to love I also cherish the fact that there isn't. it probably wouldn't be so iconic if there was.
I’ll never forget watching it on Fox and knowing how awesome it was but having trouble figuring everything out because Fox messed up the order in which the episodes aired. Watched it when it came out on DVD and fell in love with it all over again (and it all made sense). Watching the movie a few years later in the theater put such closer to what is still my favorite single season of a television show.
My father and I watched this together when it was on TV. The episodes were a little out of order, but we loved it. To say we were bummed when it was canceled is an understatement. Imagine our surprise when they made a movie years later. Doesn't make up for what was lost, but it was a nice band aid.
![The one where Ben dies?! Did JD screw up? | Doctor Reacts to [ Scrubs ] | My Screw Up](/img/1.gif)
"If you're showing up time and time again and they're taking you for granted, and they're not showing up for you and you communicate that and they don't change, it doesn't mean you're doing it wrong, it means this isn't your team." I needed to hear this today. Thank you.
yeah, same.
@A (nonymous) I love you
Learned that a lot througout the last year with my burn out and depression. When you are at a low point, you will see who is truly there for you.
@A (nonymous) i feel the same way about my divorce, and with some distance i realize we both fucked up, although i still blame him because he cheated on me for a year and than left me for her.
@A (nonymous) you deserve better!
My favorite thing ever was the line, "well, she is our witch! So cut her down." It wasn't just about loyalty it was a wonderful statement on how to deal with a crowd. He didn't bother with need to argue against the crowd about witches but the fact the person is part of his crew and it doesn't matter what you call them.
Bonus points for "cut her the hell down" in the face of "religious" zealots and their "holy cleansing". It adds contrast and at the same time mocks their fake religiousness.
I took a fantasy literature class in sophomore year and our teacher had a thing he called "Firefly Fridays" where the class would watch an episode each Friday. Needless to say, the writing in this show was so good that our class totally bonded with the characters, felt their pains, and truly cared for them.
Just finished the show. I couldn’t agree more ❤
@Mia-Sara King It totally was! It was so fun to have the whole class to relate too, and especially when we saw the grand finale and everything.
that sounds freaking brilliant! oh i would love to watch firefly with a whole class and then spend time discussing characters and plot and everything
I love that Jonathan and Alan found family in each other through a show about found family. ❤️
👏👏👏👍❤
When Jayne says "Make something up, don't tell 'em what i did.", that is the point, where Jayne realized that he actually cares about the rest of the crew, and their opinions of him.
Mal realizes that as well, that's why he pushed the button, because Jayne was no longer someone that needed to be 'let go'.
"When you can't run you crawl, and when you can't crawl, you find someone to carry you" never fails to make me cry
@Mauricio Villegas Thank you. Much appreciated. O muchísimas gracias. Whatever you prefer. 🙂
@DoloresLehmann Sorry. *Extends a virtual hand.*
I'm at this exact point right now. Trying to find someone to carry me. Sometimes you're so down you can't even ask for help anymore. You can just grab the hand someone stretches out to you.
@kulmschneider1 The funeral at the end was real for the cast and crew .
Firefly is one of the best shows. This is how you portray diversity. I wish Disney and Amazon would take notes.
Yes!
@Dunedain Dude The even hold Whedon hostage .. soplease nobody feed more evil to the Mouse
@Fire-Heart the Wolf thanks
@Nighteyes Shadowwolf True that!
@Jupiter Snoot if you're on THIS channel, surely you can do better than muddying the waters with strawman fallacies.
In serenity I always lose it when during the final firefight she is comforting Simon saying how he always looked after her and she goes “my turn” and runs into the melee. It’s such a huge moment for her and the movie.
They meddle, the Alliance.
I want to point out the amazing music, as well. I find a lot of cinema music these days incredibly heavy handed. The music for Firefly is a unique fusion of traditional folk American and folk Chinese. Hauntingly beautiful.
Best series ever. Just saying. I'm not sure if I'm gutted that there's only one season, or relieved that I didn't have to see it drag on until the message and magic of the show got lost. Either way, it's the Princess Bride of TV series. Fun, somehow moving, endlessly quotable, and not nearly long enough.
“The Princess Bride of Tv series” is legit the best way to describe this show completely…I’m stealing it, thanks for delivering a line that saves me the heavy lifting 😁
So grateful that the movie, Serenity, was made to finish the story.
Also amazing that the movie was made because the fans of the show made it happen.
That's exactly how I feel about it being cancelled. It's a blessing and a curse
One thing I like about Mal is that even when he lost his faith he didn't loose his humanity or compassion when it really mattered. Two of my favourite lines:
"My days of taking you seriously are definitely coming to a middle." Mal
"This is a moment in time; step aside and let it pass." Inara
A good friend of mine encouraged me to buy the box set sight unseen and based on my trust in her opinion. She wasn't wrong!
Guys I think I said this before, but your subtitles are just next level, even changing position to not obstruct anything
Huge thanks to Anna Preis
I never use subtitles for the show, but this sounds like a great job and the one I would love to see! High praise to the person who did it ❤
You are most welcome!
OMG PLEASE spend several episodes on this group of people. They are so well written, so different in everything. PLEASE. PLEASE! We NEED IT!
You could easily do an entire episode of content on each of the main characters and it would be amazing.
Deep dives into each character!!!
There is SO MUCH material you can cover between this show and the movie, and I could watch these two talk about it HOURS.
Yes yes yes !!!
Ok the two others are on Serenity, close enough
This group dynamic is a lot like my research group. We had vastly different individuals, almost every continent represented, sorry Antarctica. Our desire to be together was often remarked on by other groups. Any two together would eventually become all of us. We loved our differences and would spend hours together discussing our views. I’m so thankful for the time I had with them, it was formative and has provided amazing memories and friends.
Oh, that’s really cool! You’re fortunate to have experienced that. Sounds amazing.
Go send them a message. :)
Firefly was really ahead of it’s time. It would have cleaned up in the streaming era. Powerhouse cast, compelling story. Doesn’t get much better than that.
The medics separation between duty and personal feelings are how you know he's a damn good medic.
@Sophie Scott, I think it is because it implies that outside of the table, he would not be safe, so in other situations he would maybe kill him if there was another betrayal.
@Sophie Scott It's the Marathon man "Is it safe?" implication.
There's Duty and Honor. Prior service, Navy. You never leave a man in the water. Nasty Pacific storm, flight ops canceled, man overboard, you go. No matter how dangerous, how treacherous the conditions, you go.
And honestly, that scene is one I find chilling, for reasons I can't explain. "If you're on my table, you're safe." That's frightening in a way I cannot articulate.
I think he slipped in the "but I easily COULD kill you" to dissuade Jane from testing him.
Alan is like me when I want to force my friends to do something with me. "I'll pay" 🤣
Works every time.
The writing is so concise. The fewest words to say so much. Never treating the audience like children. We don't feel led through the story, but experiencing it.
In fact, when I first saw this on cable, I lost interest. I got into it through streaming.
I only watched the Star Wars Original Trilogy and first prequel last year and honestly didn't think too much of them, especially with the decades of hype and fandom around them. Seeing that dialogue and then just the Firefly pilot (also called Serenity) made me realise that Firefly is what I had invisioned Star Wars to be like before I had seen it.
Unlike their review of spirited away...
That's Joss Whedon for you.
1. Serve without judgement - 02:53
2. See the good in those you disagree with - 07:22
3. Look after who you're with - 10:58
4. Make a home of wherever you are - 13:28
5. Create loyalty by showing loyalty - 18:40
6. Find the group that will reciprocate love - 20:32
7. Trust is a choice - 24:03
8. Grieve with and comfort each other - 28:00
@Nighteyes Shadowwolf thank you for this insight! It really helps to know the deeper meanings and emotions behind this scene.
As far as #4 the reason he chose the Firefly is nostalgia from the war. Firefly class transports were frequently used as dropships, medevac/casevac ships during the war. Its like how some modern day veterans buy hummers or jeeps.
Honestly, these are just great mantras to live by in life.
Thank you!
👏 👏
If you want to watch a show with a similar concept of found family (albeit a different genre) I highly highly recommend The Good Place. It's one of my favorite shows of all time, because it covers different philosophy about human nature, the impact we have on the world, and comes to the conclusion that our connection with others makes us better people. It's a show filled with hope, and I think it's something we need more of today. I'd love to hear your take on it!
Oh man, I'd love to see you two just react to this whole series! It's a beautiful show!
Simon is one of my favorite characters of all time. He sacrificed everything for his little sister with absolutely no hope of them returning to a normal life, but he shoulders the burden of protecting his _mei mei_ with a sincere smile and zero complaints because he truly, genuinely wants to do this, and he has no regrets about any of it.
And you really get a glimpse of how much his sacrificed in _Ariel._ He didn't just sacrifice his comfort and safety, he sacrificed his potential, his dignity, his authority, the work that he loved, the untold good that he could have done for hundreds if not thousands of others. He could have been greater than all the other crewmembers combined, and he threw it all away in a heartbeat for River.
Its also not what he through away but the fact that she has a constant need for his care because of the episodes she has because of what the Alliance did to her. She can't just peacefully be a fugitive like him, she is despite her brilliance and greater than human ability entirely incapable of caring for herself and keeping herself safe. He is constantly taking care of her, trying to find out what they did and how he can fix it, and trying to live his life along with it. It really reflects every parent who has had a child with a lifestyle affecting medical need and because of her he is a criminal on the run on top of it all.
It also factors into him sabotaging the possibility of a relationship with Kaylee for so long.
A lot of it is due to his own indoctrinated arrogance. Some, his innate social awkwardness. But it is mostly the focus on protecting his sister which (to his mindset) must forgo any pursuit of personal happiness.
Which, as we learn, is silly both because one may not necessarily prohibit the other. And that (as scattered as she is) River loves her older brother and wants to see him happy, and KNOWS how wonderful Kaylee would be for him.
Yes and I really love that he is doing that for the love of his sister, and not a lover. I feel that this is not that common in shows or movie. Love between siblings, I mean.
This has got to be one of my favorite shows. There is so much to look at in this show, I wouldn't be surprised if someone has written a thesis about it. I love how characters work through their relationships, especially Mal & Inara and Kaylee & Simon (particularly their conversation at the end of Jaynetown).
As a language teacher, I also love how they used Chinese in Firefly. While the actors may've struggled with pronunciation, it was incorporated in a way that 1) show's characters' fluency and 2) never impedes the audience's understanding of what is happening. There are many examples of language in context. When everyone is arguing and Mal yells "都闭嘴!" Since everyone immediately stops talking, you don't need to have studied Chinese to infer that Mal had said something along the lines of "Shut up!" Most of the time they use Chinese in Firefly (this is less true in Serenity), you may not be able infer the exact words, but you can infer whether it's an exclamation, an insult or giving permission to come in.
This show was that “lightning in a bottle” type magic. The perfect cast, wonderful writing… screwed up by network executives.
The family unit really works because of Mal. Each member of the crew was meant to represent something that Mal had or wants to have.
Zoe is his tie back to the war and the comradery of service.
Book is his tie to his faith that died the day the war ended.
Wash is that lighthearted spirit that runs deep within him.
Jayne is the rough gun-slinging persona he shows the outside world.
Kaylee is the conduit of love for Serenity, the means that lets him escape into his own world.
Inara is a look into a life with love. An escape from a life of just getting by. I don't think it was a coincidence that her room was a repurposed escape shuttle.
Simon is a reflection of what Mal would do for his family, his crew.
River is a reminder of what the Alliance is capable of and why Mal cannot trust them, even in times of peace.
This analysis is perfection
@jodinsan Even worse than that was Book not being part of the crew from the beginning of the movie that doesn't exist!
@neuralmute Wash at least had his moment on screen. Book dying off screen before the movie even started is the worst.
That is apt right there. Well-said.
holy fucking shit this is so good.
This show is so unbelievably good. The writing and the characters were highlighted a lot in this video, but also a shout-out to the music and prop people. The sets look like real, lived-in places while also embodying everything that makes this universe unique, and the music invites you to settle and contemplate. It's such a tragedy that it was cancelled, but honestly, it says so much in the one season it got that I feel there wasn't too much left out.
The one thing I would have liked to see is Mal completing his arc. For all the time we get with him, he's either a callow inexperienced young man who wears his heart on his sleeve and is intensely optimistic about the universe (opening flashback) or he's a bitter, cynical veteran hollowed out by the loss of everything that used to define him. All the people around him, simply by being themselves, act as constant beacons calling him to step back into life, but he can't yet. I'd have loved to see him come full circle, to learn to open himself up again and realise his full potential whilst holding onto the valuable lessons hardship has taught him. Writing this comment has helped me to realise that Serenity (the film) didn't do much thematically to move Mal along his arc, which is part of why I find it less satisfying even though on a plot level it very much wraps up the core narrative from the show.
@William Bento glad I could help. Stay shiny :)
THIS! I had never had a way to verbalize what for me was the biggest loss of this show bing canceled…and you said it all. While I feel that some of the other characters felt still incomplete by the end the show/movie (Wash and Book being big examples of this due their untimely and unceremonious deaths) I could at least find comfort in the fact that their was resolution if not completion to their character arcs….but not with Mal, who logistically is the core and main character of this show…he brings everyone together and they remain in his orbit because of the safe haven he provides, connection and family…but his own needs and center of being are never really fully addressed, confronted, or realized…thank you for giving clarity of thought to a missing puzzle piece I had thought forever lost to me
Jonathan we've had a very similar religious experience. I often feel I don't fit in, but I really feel grateful when I find good role models in faith. People who are compassionate, accepting, and loving to the world. Thank you so much.
That person for me was my dad; the most Christ-like person I've ever known
I loved Doc's speech cause it was framed like he was going to threaten Jane but he doesn't. He became a doctor to help people, he isn't going to ruin his morals, especially when he knows Mal will fight to keep them safe too
@RealTChick yeah, that's why I love it so much. It's somewhat of a simple scene in one way, the idea that he took an oath, but it's much more complex. Especially since I don't think it's ever said that there is an oath that doctors have to take anymore
That's not just for intensity in the scene!
It's framed as a threat to exhibit Doc.'s point that doing no harm is a choice because, as medic, the opportunity for vengeance will present itself. Jane's not bright, so being shown the danger is a good way to illustrate it's reality.
This is also somewhat paralleled in the air lock scene, at which point, Jane is only shown mercy after he expressed remorse/shame/regret, meaning Jane recognized his actions were shameful.
It illustrates a tie between the high class healer and wild west gun for hire; no matter where you come from or how you live, the rules of trust and integrity rely on the same principles, a dichotomy of doing no harm while doing whatever it takes to protect.
@13Amazons Or, on the other lobe....
River, on the other hand....
I was SO mad at my friends for dragging me to Serenity without even telling me about Firefly first. And it's still one of my absolute favorites to this day.
"Create loyalty by showing loyalty" is a powerful way to put that. I've always said that you should always be the first one to do something for someone else, even if you don't get anything back from it. I've worked in environments where no one ever sticks up/out for each other because "no one ever sticks their neck out for me." That's because someone has to be the first one to do it.
It's amazing how much this concept is lost on people, even people who HAVE had demonstrations of generosity.
I'm not one to give too freely as I've known too many people who begin to expect my generosity for nothing in return. But when I'm presented with the opportunity to make an actually impactful difference in someone's life, be it big or small, I take it. And I don't expect anything in return because for me the most gratifying thing is just knowing I helped. I get something out of it that almost makes it feel more self serving than generous. I enjoy helping when I know it's actually helpful (and not just self ego stroking, or being a doormat), & hope it will simply be paid forward
I really love stories about found family, and how you don't have to be biologically related to someone to consider them kin. It reminds me of that Buffy episode where the Scooby Gang firmly lets Tara's abusive parents know that THEY'RE her real family.
@Trina Q thanks buddyy❤️❤️❤️
@L Ge My guess about Joss is that he either grew up around people with complicated home lives, was in one himself, or both. With that in mind, you could view his choice in including found family dynamics in his shows/movies (dollhouse, agents of shield, firefly, avengers, etc) as a fantasy of sorts, maybe wishing he could have what the characters in his stories have. With the rumors of him being a deeply unpleasant person, it would make sense that no one wants him as part of their "crew" so to speak. He can write the perfect group dynamic but is unable to be part of one IRL because he acts like a tool.
@Itzel Wisteria than I would advise Sense8 to you. It’s on Netflix. It’s about eight strangers who live in different cities in different countries around the world and suddenly find themselves telepathically linked to eachother. They experience each other’s lives, emotions, sensations and experiences and they share eachothers skills and knowledge. Because they share all their experiences with eachother they grow very close to eachother and they have to rely on eachother all the time to solve their personal and collective struggles. Because these people come from different countries and are from different cultures and backgrounds they all have very different personalities and identities, but regardless of that they grow very close and become a real family. Bit of a spoiler so DON’T READ IF YOU DONT WANT THE SHOW SPOILED!!!
But my favorite episode is the last one where all of the characters meet up in person for the first time. Up to that point they had all interacted and communicated with eachother inside their heads, with some of them occasionally having met eachother physically. But this is the first time when all the main characters and side characters come together and interact with each other and team up to finally defeat the bad guy. And I love it.
Other suggestions for found family that you might like:
Umbrella Academy. It’s not actually “found” family because the characters did grow up together, but they are adopted family. It’s about a dysfunctional family of superheroes who try to save the world from an impending apocalypse and there’s time travel and everything. I’m usually not particularly a fan of superhero shows, but it’s the characters that made me love this show.
And if you like a good laugh, Community. Community is about a group of very diverse people who attend the same community college and start their own studygroup and they become very close and almost like a family to eachother. Like I said it’s a comedy and it was created by the same guy who is also the mind behind Rick and Morty and Polar Opposites. So if you like that kind of humor, Community might also be fun for you
God, i L O V E found family, because it demonstrates that the bonds we share with people does not depend on something to be valid (speaking of blood, colour, religion, etc). When its formed, the bond just exists. Truly beautiful
@Serenity113 sadly it often does not start there either
As a lifelong browncoat, I'm so excited to watch this. Firefly is my favorite show and what really made me fall in love with the found-family concept.
The closest real-world example, to the family dynamic in this show, is probably how soldiers interact with each other in the Squad/Platoon level. You get wildly different people from all over the country, and sometimes from other countries, from all walks of life, and throw them together in sometimes life/death situations.
I love how complex all the characters are. For example, Jayne is pretty crass and selfish, frequently making observations that others would keep to themselves. However, we eventually learn that he's been supporting his mother and sister. He also has an unexpected friendship with Shepherd Book, feels obvious guilt about being treated like hero by the mudders, and has a last minute change of heart about betraying River and Simon when he realizes the full extent of the danger they're in.
PS) You could easily do a video on each of the 9 main characters.
Even relatively straightforward characters like Wash and Kaylee show surprising depth at times and in ways that are both unexpected and yet feel totally in character.
I would absolutely love a video about each character.
What I love about Adam Baldwin's casting as Jayne is that he is very like his character Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket, who was based on a real person so it makes Jayne seem realer.
Just hearing you talk about the show makes me tear up! It was absolutely my favorite, and I’m still bitter about it being cancelled!!
Every character was interesting, the writing is amazing, and every episode was a fun watch from beginning to end. RIP Firefly ❤
Nathan Fillion was THE perfect actor for that character. They serendipitously had the most perfect cast and the most funniest writing for a sci-fi flick.
This show was cancelled way before its time, though at least they managed to get a film three years later. The characters are immensely memorable, and so diverse, and their connections with each other really draw you in. The actors' performances also work wonders.
@Crap Tacular Yeah. I'd rather have one perfect, well crafted season than five mediocre, stale seasons. Unlike TNG, Firefly didn't need three seasons just to find it's footing.
I came around to the belief that Firefly was cancelled before it could suck.
@liza bette Yeah, I was 13 when it premiered and it just didn't grab me.
@Kristy Eden Considering how many actors had other projects and never wanted to come back to the show/how many cast members left early, really makes me think we should have picked up on something. Heck, SMG was clearly traumatized by something about the job. Shes very clearly seperated herself from that life and really wants nothing to do with Buffy anymore.
(She doesn't hate Buffy or anything, she just seems to have nothing to say about the show anymore/no interest in discussing it. Which is fair, she worked 16-20 hour days and she was essentially taking over for Joss as the person on set taking care of the quest stars. I really don't think she ever really had the time to enjoy being Buffy and can only appreciate Buffy as a femanist icon.
@Kristy Eden buffy was more about growing up I think than just a strong female character. The first 2 seasons are meh as an adult and im not sure I could really relate to the later seasons anymore but I immensely enjoyed it for years. But to each their own.
Firefly is one of the strongest ensemble shows. I adore the found family theme that runs throughout. So much heart. A true gem and classic.
What is so amazing about the chemistry of the cast is that it happened so quickly. I mean the show barely started! It can take a couple seasons for some shows to exhibit this level of synergy. So many amazing things about this show.
I have very conflicted feelings about Joss whedon as a person but his works are undeniably masterpieces. And what you guys were saying about how you can never have a heartfelt scene without a joke at the end is why I love Joss whedon's work. That seems to be his signature move in all of his stuff Buffy the vampire Slayer Firefly the first avengers movie and even Dr horrible's Sing-Along blog. They are all character driven stories with brilliant humor all the way along and it's phenomenal
@Ylyrra the cast and crew of Firefly are still close with Joss, if that helps at all.
@Ylyrra I get that, but when it's something big like a film or TV show, you're also supporting the actors and all the other people who worked hard to make something wonderful. It's an individual choice everyone has to make themselves.
@Great Gyatso Problem is that you aren't just "appreciating their work" as an isolated factor, you're financially supporting their behaviour during the creation of that work. I'm not gonna venture into an argument about the right or wrongs of that, but it is an important distinction.
@sanityisrelative And I also really love the reverse of this, which I got from the writer of the Carmilla webseries. "I'm gonna make you laugh a whole lot and then over here . . . I have a knife waiting"
I absolutely LOVE that the two of you bonded over Firefly!! No wonder I enjoy your channel so much! Big damn heroes, for sure!!
I so needed this episode. I recently was fired from a job with an organization that I thought fit well with my values, skills and lifestyle. Figuring out what makes a good team is something I was struggling with. This episode showed me how to be a better team member, and I don't feel as bad for losing the job because they were not willing to follow your advice, so it wasn't the right group for me to invest in
❤. Sometimes our losses are not our lessons. Sometimes we are the catalyst for someone else.
It's hard to feel that void of understanding. Please don't dwell to hard on it. The person who needs your kindness is sometimes you.
I hope you find a better crew.
“Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regards to my character, so let me make this abundantly clear: I do the job, and then I get paid.”
Mal has a very clear set of principles, and he doesn’t break them for near anything, and that’s what I love about him.
Go run your little world.
@Sidecutter @Diamond MX Of note, in the movie he doesn't kill the Operative. When he has every reason to. The Operative has chased him across the 'Verse, threatened and terrified his family, and killed Book, Mr. Universe, and is responsible for Wash dying. In the end Mal doesn't know if his entire team is dead, but after defeating the Operative and challenging his entire world view, he leaves him to find his way.
@Diamond MX I would argue that with the bounty hunter, Mal has every reason not to trust him about being unarmed, and even more reason to know that the only way he's going to stop him is if he kills the hunter before the hunter kills Mal. He's not a person who is unarmed and currently retreating or unaware of an approaching attack, which I think is what Mal was saying.
The same goes for the swordsman. They were already in combat. There was only one way it could end if Mal didn't win, and that way would hurt people. The opponent was aware, able/armed, and an active threat.
Mal is basically saying he wouldn't kill someone who retreated or surrendered in good faith, and that he would just walk up behind someone in a bar and shoot them out of the blue.
@Diamond MX A: principles, not principals. One is a set of values to which you ascribe, the other is a group of school administrators. Sorry, but I have to correct an error when I see it, despite understanding your point otherwise.
B: Like I said, Mal doesn’t break his principles for near anything. And like Alan said, Mal would much rather take the easy path but for that honest streak of his. That doesn’t mean he’s Lawful Stupid, just Neutral Good, possibly Chaotic Good depending on the circumstances.
Actually I often got confused about his principals. Especially about killing defenseless people. In one episode he claims (to Simon)he'd never shoot someone unless they were awake, facing him and armed. In another, the bounty hunter says he's unarmed, and Mal says "good" and shoots him in the chest. Mal also stabs the swordsman by surprise after pretending to be beaten.
It seems his principals at least in this regard might be more flexible than he claims. (To be fair I don't think he's wrong in any of the cases, but it's not who he says he is, just one more of Mal's self contradictions)
Two minutes in, you've not even discussed the series yet and I've already found an odd affirmation in my own relationship grom watching you guys. My boyfriend and I also watch and analize films like this together, its one of our favorite bonding activities, and watching you two lifelong friends makes me think I've foumd a partner that is going to be my life-long best friend. 😊
I finished just the first two minutes of this video and could rewatch that over and over again, what a beautiful lifelong friendship brewed over Firefly!!! 🥺😍
I love Firefly so much. And Shepherd Book's approach with people is absolutely worth striving for. I have no words really for what this show means to me.
I love that no matter what dark rabbit whole I descend to on youtube, showing me how bad the world's state is, you guys always make me see all the beauty in it again. Especially when it's a Firefly episode. Thanks for your authenticity, humor and absolutely wonderful insights on psychology and filmmaking!
Firefly can be one of the top 3 tv series for many, but if you put 3 people in a room who thinks like that, it becomes number one with no hesitation. So underrated and yet so loved :(
I'd seen Firefly, loved it, cried over it, couldn't get enough. Then I moved to Britain and met the man who was going to be my last forever husband. He'd never seen it. So, we both ended up getting flu early in our relationship and I was stuck at his flat. We took care of each other, hot tea with lemon and lots of tissues and we watched the whole of FireFly together. That was it. We bonded tighter than tight over Firefly and we've never looked back in anger. We adore each other and we still adore Firefly.
@Polly RG The whole parenthesis part of statement feels weirdly unneeded. I really hope you don't call him that around your fiance, that's one of those things that would eat away at my self confidence.
@muffinn It's Starwars Scifi, where they don't techno babble you and handwave it as space magic.
That is beautiful
Me too! Introduced to Firefly by a boyfriend (who I still refer to as my 'second-favourite boyfriend') around 2006, then used "oh, you love that show too? I have it on DVD. Want to hang out and watch it?" with my favourite boyfriend, now finacé, just a couple of years ago.
Makes me wonder how many more Firefly love stories are out there ♥️
@muffinn true. Though he hasn't really counted a lot of things he likes under sci fi where they fit. He doth protest too much if you ask me 😏
This was outstanding.
Very therapeutic to us heartbroken Brown-Coats dealing with the loss of such a perfect cast of actors to portray these captivating characters. ❤ ✌ 🎥
I'M SO EXCITED YOU GUYS DID FIREFLY!!! I went to the Fanex earlier this year and when Jonathan was on the browncoats panel I almost died of sheer nerd joy. Also as a side note, his Nathan Filian impression was literally so spot on.
I'm making my roommate watch this show and she loves it too, so here's to hoping Firefly can sponser another multi-decade friendship. :)
I only watched the first 30 seconds of this and, I really needed this. Not even an hour passed and I was crying because of my emotionally unavailable and unsupportive parents. Thank you so so much
So I have a author friend who was letting me alpha read some of her stuff, and give her feed back, and at one point I was trying to express to her what I thought her story was missing and the only way I could think of it was..."your characters need a Firefly-like bonding moment." The show just epitomizes that team feeling.
But Jayne has a very deep sense of loyalty to someone that is only somewhat referred to in the show - his mother and brother. He talks big, but he sends his money back home to support his birth family.
Which is such a big and underrated part of his character too. If I knew that I needed to be constantly making more money to send him to my younger siblings to support them, who knows what kinda of stupid or reckless shenanigans I'd get into if it meant the safety and stability of my siblings. I think most people could heavily related to that same feeling, but bc its only briefly touched on with Jayne we don't get the time to really explore it.
I always liked the idea that Mal surrounded himself with people who had parts of him he felt he lost.
Mal is also a good manager as he treats each person in a way to get the best of them. What works for Wash wouldn't work for Jayne.
I agree on both parts but on the second, as a manager myself, I have a saying on my board, Leaders listen and treat everybody different" Meaning you need to listen to and know your people so you can treat each of them in the way which can bring out the best in them. Not lie or manipulate. Just how it works best for them. I wish I could do as good of a job as Mal does, but I am still trying.
Except for Inara, but apart from her yes.
Truth. There's an episode where they come across a ship sending out a distress signal. Mal tells some of the crew they're there to help, others he says they'll be rewarded handsomely. When he finds out the ship is full of nothing but dead bodies and traps, he avoids a panic by limiting who knows what, having some of the crew retrieve the bodies for proper burial while having the hardened ones work on deactivating the booby traps. He knows just what to say to each person to get the job done.
Firefly just keeps being amazing. And is Alan wearing an Oaty Bar shirt? Perfection. ♥️
I’m glad they mentioned how convincing that death scene was. I never noticed it til this watch through but then they voiced exactly what I thought.
Such a great show I can't believe you didn't talk about the torture/interrogation scene with Mal and Walsh
I would've loved the scene where the whole crew is being interrogated by the alliance and none of them have matching storjes
God I love a good Firefly analysis - especially from you two knuckleheads. I literally couldn't click the video fast enough :D
[Edit] About #7 - Trust as Choice: One thing that I don't think gets mentioned or observed enough is during the table scene towards the end of Serenity, Jayne passes the bottle to Simon, and Simon takes a swig. That wouldn't have been possible before their encounter in Trash. Subtle, in the grand scheme of the show, but powerful.
The moment this video started I just started grinning so hard because I absolutely love Firefly! Thank you, guys, for covering it!
I had never heard of this show until you both covered firefly, and it is now my favorite show and movie 💙 it has seriously changed and shaped my life and world view, as has your content. Thank you Alan and Jonathan for existing and making this channel
I will argue until I am blue in the face that Out of Gas is one of the greatest episodes of any television show ever. Flashbacks within flashbacks to tell an emotionally rich origin story. Just incredible! Thank you both for doing this!!
And I love that the Origin Story came so late into the show.
"When your miracle gets here, just push the button and we'll come back." They framed the button and gave it to Joss Weedon after the show and I always like to think that when they got the OK to do the movie, Joss told the crew, "I'm pushing the button."
My favorite episode on so many levels!
@suonatar1 Glad to be of service. 😁
100% my favorite episode.
I can never watch clips of this show without weeping. I think it was just about perfect.
Guys, I was introduced to Firefly by my uncle and cousins on a lake boat trip. My mom and aunt were so pissed that we'd rather watch that show than spend time swimming, paddle boarding, or doing literally anything else.
We did get to those things, I swear. 😅🤣 But Firefly is absolutely incredible and possibly a perfect show. I love it with all my heart to this day.
This makes me so happy. I watched this show back when it originally aired and just fell in love. I don't think I've ever watched a show since that makes me feel the way this one does. I would really enjoy seeing more from you guys about these characters.
I'm so happy you guys decided to do Firefly. Is there any chance you would do Avatar: The last Airbender? That or Legend of Korra. There's so much great Villian analysis potential (Azula, Amon... Zuko anyone?). Not to mention all the members of the Gaang.
This is one of the greatest shows out there. I shared this with my adoptive grandfather and we also bonded over this series. Powerful and touching stuff
The scene between Simon and Jane in the medbay is one of my favorites. Up till then in the show, Simon has never seemed as "dangerous" as anyone else in the crew. Then this scene comes out of nowhere and you realize he's been prepared to be an ice cold *rational* murderer all along.
And, after you've seen the movie your brain re-contextualizes Simon's oppositions to heists and killing as being more about the fact he and his sister are fugitives trying to lay low.
Especially one who is considered a genius (although he would sappear to be an imbecile compared to River); Simon can cover up a "mistake" on the operating table if he had to.
All because he wants to protect River at all costs.
@Crap Tacular yup, don’t break the law while you’re breaking the law. I always laugh at stories of criminals who had this whole elaborate master plan, who then get foiled by doing something minor and completely avoidable that gets a cop or a very civic minded witness to take a second look.
As the old saying goes, if you've got a body in the trunk, you'd best stick to the speed limit and have working tail lights.
The only reason Simon comes across as a naive idiot in the show, and not a terrifying mastermind is: prep time and context.
Just in the show, Ariel shows that in an environment he is familiar with, and society he knows the rules to, he is an absolute master of deception and manipulation with just a little prep time.
If it hadn't been for Jayne, they would have literally walked out with no issue.
Every other time they are doing a heist or scheme, he is either locked on the ship or thrown in with no warning or understanding.
Yes, he's clearly intentionally focusing Jayne's mind on the... interesting possibilities of making an enemy of a trauma surgeon. It's a threat, and a pretty good one, without him having to explicitly threaten.
"That thought...wearies me" That is an awesome line that I have used in life. I love it.
I think seeing him on this show is why I loved Nathon Fillion on "Castle". Both great characters, but so completely different. Rick was such a lovable, easy-going man-child, lol!
Yes!! This is such a great show. The fact that it is still beautiful, still funny, and still relevant is a testament to just how great it is. I how you can do more episodes on this series as there is so much going on throughout the series and there needs to be more said on the cinematography.
How you guys feel about the connectiveness among this motley crue is how I feel about Rogue One ❤️ One of the many reasons why I love that movie so much is how different each team member is, but in the end they were able to work together and make huge things happen. And then when I started learning more about the making of Rogue One, I realized how this was true in real life among the actors in the movie as well! The actors from the movie not only came from very different places from all around the world, but also from very different languages and cultures. And yet, the actors were able to pull together and make such an epic movie!! (Which was also very different and at such a bigger scale then many of them had ever been a part of)... and of course, Alan Tudyk was in Rogue One too(: #leafinthewind
I know you guys mostly do cinema therapy and rarely do shows, but my goodness, is there so much meat on the bone when it comes to Once Upon a Time! Some of the best character arcs ever, from Regina / Evil Queen, Emma, Rumpelstiltskin, Hook, Belle, and even Snow white
Absolutely! Rumple's final redemption alone is worth an episode or two.
it is so funny how the priest and the courtisane are the most similar people on that ship despite their glaringly different stands on sex. They are very spiritual, well educated, highly moral people that have strong mother hen tendency and see it as their calling to help people, are usualy serious and thoughtful, but with good humor.
everyone else works through their contrasts , not their similarities
They’re also the two people who have really experienced the actual job differs from the job description.
They’re both running from their past lives (instead of permanently living in the aftermath of it it like Mal or Zoe) as is hinted repeatedly about both of them.
Book was definitely a government gun and Inara left an incredibly promising career in the Core with no discernible benefit. Simon’s sacrifice gives us some idea of what she left so….
I really wish they’d gotten to tell those stories.
It's so great! These characters have similar personalities, but different views and backgrounds. For some folks, that would lead to head butting, for them I think it gives them friendship and mutual respect.
I also came upon this series in university. We had just finished studying all day and then taking a test. She said she'd pay, and afterward, I found out it was a series. Bought it, binged it, and then watched it again. I've since bought it for multiple people.
Still cried!
It is a testament to this show's quality that I almost cried several times watching this *discussion* of the show.
BIG DAMN HEROES!💖😍😍😍💖 Right On!!💖 Thank you guys sooo much for this terrific "Firefly" episode regarding human relationship dynamics, trust & team-building. It was terrific!
When it first came out in 2002, "Firefly" utterly blew me away! It was a TOTAL revelation. I have never stopped loving & mourning the premature end of that show, like so many other fans. 💖💖💖😊
We love your show and will keep on watching~you're doing good work, the both of you!
Ok first, I love that Alan was wearing a Serenity T for this. Second, the CC saying "Internet Dads:" for when they spoke in unison was absolutely perfect.
I adore Firefly and WISH there had been more made back in the day. My current D&D character is partially inspired by River, specifically the "I can kill you with my brain" line, because my character is a bard with a lot of psychic damage and just staring and making things hurt, along with being kinda socially broken (backstory is grew up as an orphan who was raised by a hired killer during wartime).
I'd love to see a whole series of looking more indepth into how the comradery between the characters evolves in each and every episode!
I watched Serenity before I was introduced to Firefly. I love both, and it's wonderful to just sit and watch. I really wish we had gotten more than one season. Especially for Janes arc.
I seriously teared up a bit at the "you're on my crew" scene. That level of loyalty is just beautiful!
I think the team works mainly because Mal is a good leader. His ability to draw together a completely disparate group of people because he values each of them in different ways is incredible. And his willingness to show loyalty to create loyalty is an amazing insight. It kills me the show was never allowed to develop past the first series. Love Serenity though. The opening is masterful.
My dad and I spent time together once a week when he was home from work to watch an episode. This is some of my best memories growing up, as he and I didn’t share too many things in common, and we both loved this show very much- and he got me into it lol
I just wanted to share that I'm another of the countless people who love this show. I had the same experience as Jon where a friend took me to watch the movie Serenity before I realized there was a whole TV show. Eventually I named a child after a character in the show, and have met lots of people my age who also have kids named after the show! Just a testament to the great writing.
Firefly is a huge cornerstone of my relationship with my husband, we started watching Firefly about a year or so after we started dating at 17. We were both in different places, i was at work and he was at uni but saw each other on weekends and once a week in the week. We started watching firefly together, and then Serenity, and then because i liked it so much we started watching Castle because its got Nathan Fillian in it and that was a huge part of our relationship growing, constantly rewatching firefly and castle and anything else we could find that had the actors from that in. Our relationship would not be what it is without that shared time with these shows.
I haven't started this episode yet, but I just got the notification, and I am so freaking excited!!!!! I watch the whole season straight through about twice every year. I feel like I know these characters intimately.
If I walked on the ship and lived there for a month, I know who I would butt heads with. I know who I would stay up all night talking with. I know who I would I have a crush on, and it would end poorly. I know who I would seek approval from. I know who wouldn't like me much. I love them so much.
HOW?!?!? How is Firefly 20 years old?! **brain explodes**
Firefly was such a huge part of my young adult fandom experience. I have such fond memories of the huge Browncoat revolution that happened during the show's run and after its cancellation. DragonCon 2004 and 2005 were pretty much all Browncoat/Firefly/Serenity. Fans raised so much money for charity, spent so much effort toward trying to save the show, and felt such vindication when we got the movie! And being in the earlier days of the Internet, it was one of the first movements where the show's creators and cast really got involved with and communicated with the fans. It created such a camaraderie as strangers all over the world bonded over this thing that we all loved so dearly.
Can't stop the signal! You can't take the sky from me!!!!
I aws part of the save Firefly brigade and loved it(I recorded the episodes but they were always getting pre-empted and shown out of order. I am a loyal Browncoat and proud of it.(my whole family still cosplays from Firefly as do many others)
Browncoats FOREVER!
The dynamics really remind me of the Straw Hat Pirates from _One Piece._ Especially the earlier episodes where we got downtime moments between the crew. And Alan's notes on cast really remind me of the casts of two of my favorite shows: _Psych_ and _Leverage._
I'm in tears for the whole of this video. How much did we love Firefly.
This show was just amazing and had something real to say every episode.
Oh man, this is one of my favorite shows of all time. I always found it interesting that the beginning of the movie--when Simon gets river out--takes place before the events of the show, and the rest of the movie takes place after the show. Not sure I realized this before now, but in the scene where Mal is going to throw Jayne out the airlock for selling Simon and River out, it's pretty obvious he doesn't because Jayne showed shame in his actions. Jayne isn't the kind of person who cares what people think of him, probably wouldn't care what they think of him after death, but he cared what the crew thought of him. I think if he hadn't Mal would have totally thrown him out into space.
Each character now deserves their own episode.
Yes.yes yes yes.
My favorite is Kaylee I think
Yessssss
Yes they do!
Thank you guys
This is my favorite show and I'm so excited. The episode has barely started and I already love it.
when I say i was v happy upon seeing this upload, I mean it. Firefly is one of my fave shows of all fine, IS one of the best sci-fi cult-classics of all time, and truly does not get the amount of content it deserves. This is one of my fav YT channels and the fact that y’all have uploaded this as I’m rewatching this series makes me feel like you read my mind lol. Thank you for this 🤍
Thank you so much for loving one of my all time favorite shows too and discussing it the way you did. Your interpretations of the scenes are spot on. Love it!!! I hope others run across your channel the way I did and find something worthwhile in it 🙂
I always forget how much I love Firefly until I catch a clip of it again. A friend introduced me to it in college and it's been one of my favorites since. Thank you for doing a video on it!
Jayne and Book is an underrated dynamic, I feel like Books mission would have eventually worn Jayne into a much better person. From Books past Jayne is the one he was most like ironically so hed have the best bet or succeeding with him.
@Diamond MXI think it's actually the opposite. Book has lived that life and that is what has driven him to his faith. Because of that, I don't think anything will ever dim those ideals and code in him. He HAS lived it, and that is exactly why he has this idealism and faith. If he can be redeemed, who can't?
“The Bible is somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps”
I think you're right but also that Book's faith/code was going to be eroded over time, keeping many of his ideals but not his idealism.
It's clear that Book has some real shady shit in his past and he knows that keeping strictly to his new code is not a great fit for this life on Serenity.
'cause you're on my crew. why are we still talking about this?' ... that's what i always felt like every time a therapist asked me why I did things regarding my family although feeling overwhelmed and 'shitty' about it: they are family. i never understood why that was not telling enough...
i loved(!) Firefly and Serenity and while I am sad that there is not more to love I also cherish the fact that there isn't. it probably wouldn't be so iconic if there was.
I've always regretted this series not getting any more than one season. It was fantastically written and casted! Great video on this series, BTW!😁👍
I’ll never forget watching it on Fox and knowing how awesome it was but having trouble figuring everything out because Fox messed up the order in which the episodes aired. Watched it when it came out on DVD and fell in love with it all over again (and it all made sense). Watching the movie a few years later in the theater put such closer to what is still my favorite single season of a television show.
My father and I watched this together when it was on TV. The episodes were a little out of order, but we loved it. To say we were bummed when it was canceled is an understatement. Imagine our surprise when they made a movie years later. Doesn't make up for what was lost, but it was a nice band aid.