Seeing something you know you will be viewing for the last time is never easy. This was the kind of prejudice I felt going into the last episode of Firefly the TV show.
Going a little off of Holly’s cynicism and avowing that the show was canceled for a reason I can’t help but feel like the ending episode had elements of “giving up” in it.
But for me, it was not the kind of giving up that denotes failure of renunciation. It was for me more like the idea of Russian Cossacks who burned their cattle and farms rather than give up their lands to the collectivizing Bolshevik Stalinists (A digression, sorry, but a metaphor that helps me express myself).
I find myself wondering what was in Whedon was thinking as he knew the show was going to be canceled. I also find myself asking, “Of all the ways that he could have ended it, why did he choose this way?” To be honest, I still am somewhat perturbed and do not feel like a have a more tangible answer to that question other than “blah blah existentialist b.s blah blah blah” ( not to hate on existentialism, I enjoy it, I’m just an equal opportunity hater).
His choice to end with a newly introduced character who comes in, shakes up the crews world RADICALLY (emotionally, mentally, philosophically, and physically) somewhat blows me away. The only thing that I can grasp, is the idea of resignation. Early was resigned to his fate, and maybe that was what Joss was trying to do. I just wonder why he choose to do it with a new character, leaving the crew we’ve grown attached to as the least standout individuals in this episode
6 comments:
Now that you mention it, I find it interesting too that they chose to end with Early floating, alone, as an object in space. It would make sense that, if they knew they were ending the series, they would have ended the last episode with the main characters and not with Early. My guess is that they left it open-ended where they could have continued the series or ended it depending on what the network decided (and we know what that ultimately was).
Yeah! Even though I think Whedon knew that the show was canceled, he could have been meaning to leave it ambiguous so if and when it came back, the waiting for it's revival would have seemed all the more epic, arduous, and fullfilling.
I do want to know the exact timeline for which episodes were written/shot/directed with what knowledge of the imminent end. I think it really does add flavor to the reasons for it's ending.
And it may be that I just don't want the show to end on an existential crisis.
I'm curious to whether or not Whedon knew it was going to be cancelled why writing the end episodes. I thought I read things about the cancellation that nuanced that it was sort of surprise but nothing concrete enough with timelines.
Early floating in space and saying, "well here I am"... I think is how Whedon would sort of feel about the incomplete story line. That the characters in a sense were launched into the space of being cancelled and would never develop to the potential that I'm sure ran through his and other writers minds.
I totally see that floating metaphor as something they all must have felt.
Must look into dates of cancellation, and how that correlates to when things were written and filmed, b/c now I'm really curious.
perhaps Whedon leaving the last episode with the viewing of Early represents the view that even though some things must come to an end all you can do is float on through your life until something comes along. I mean Jubal accepts the fact that he's "out there" but it doesn't neccesarily mean that he is going to just sit around and accept it with a "giving up" attitude, especially because it seems un-befitting of his character.
Another great post!
I am almost certain that Whedon knew the show was canceled when he wrote "Objects in Space." The ending serving as "THE ending" was deliberate. At the very least, he would have known there was a very good chance that it would be the last episode.
Love the idea that he's giving up like an angry Cossack.
Post a Comment