So what does Serenity do for Firefly fans who watch it after finishing the show? Seeing as I fit into this category, I'm going to approach the topic from a personal perspective. I realize that Serenity was also influential in spreading Firefly's influence and increasing the show's fan base, but, as I've already said, that was not my experience. Before even watching any Firefly episodes, I knew there was a film because the same friends who kept telling me I needed to watch the show also tried to use Serenity as bait to get me on the Firefly bandwagon (I'm usually more of a movie person, TV shows just take too much time to finish). After finally making the fateful decision to acquiesce to my friend's demands (one of the best decisions I've made in a while), I started and finished Firefly within a fairly short time span. The fact that Firefly was all but over was a disturbing thought, but I was consoled by the knowledge that Serenity, an entire film of Firefly goodness, was waiting for me.
So, Serenity's first major contribution for new-born Firefly fans is simply the promise of more, specifically in a more climactic and conclusive manner, at least we hope (and our hopes are not, in my opinion, let down. Serenity really ushers Firefly out with a bang, providing viewers with a truly epic space battle and some major character deaths), than the final TV episode "Objects in Space." The next thing that Serenity gives fans is a character history lesson in the form of visual footage of Simon rescuing River. Windows into past events in our favorite character's lives are always good things, and it is a joy to witness the success of Simon's daring rescue plan. The final two things that Serenity accomplishes, in my opinion, go hand in hand. Basically, the film takes Mal and his crew and, by its end, breaks and reshapes them, resulting in the truly unfortunate loss of Wash, but also a crew and their captain who have fought without hope before the very gates of death and returned to tell the tale. Serenity brings Firefly's characters together and reforges them into a new family where River and Simon are just as home as Zoe and Mal. So, in the end, the film gives its viewers both a ship's crew united (I ecspecially like the image of River taking over the helm from Mal) and a conclusion that is more solid than the TV show's (seen in a new Serenity, with a somewhat new, more tightly knit crew, and the promise of adventure without leaving the viewer with large, unanswered questions).
4 comments:
I am one of those people who has only seen the episodes of the show that we watched in class. I really enjoyed the movie though, and I think if I would have seen it first I would have been more of a fan of the show. While I can see how it adds to what fans know about the show and the characters, it also introduces them in a different way then the pilot. The movie is a more complete story than an episode which also adds to its appeal to me.
I agree that the movie changes the crew relationships once they return from the fight. They seem closer, more trusing of one another, and like they care about one another more.
After finding out how abruptly this series was ripped out of its fans hands, I'm sure the movie was a hit when it came out. I agree that it did a good job bringing the story of serenity, and its crew, to a proper finish and leaving its fans with a feeling of closure.
Do you think there will ever be more movies or a resurrected TV show?
I don't think so. They sort of killed any possibility of a continuation with the deaths of two of the most important characters in the show.
It is unfortunate.
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