Star Wars: Blogs | From the Desk of Ghent | I'm Trying to Like Joss Whedon

From the Desk of Ghent

date posted: Sep 27, 2005 3:34 PM

I'm Trying to Like Joss Whedon

There's only so much weekly "appointment television" I can watch, despite the life-changing invention of TiVo. Reality shows (ranging from Jon Stewart to Survivor to sports) tend to get selected first, since their impact is more closely associated with real-time viewing and water cooler discussion.

Comedies and dramas are the first casualties. But, in this new world order I've learned that if I fall behind more than one or two shows, then I'm just as happy to "wait for DVD". TV on DVD is awesome... no commercials (or even hitting the "skip" button... man, how lazy do I sound?), high-resolution, and none of the pesky waiting-a-week to solve the cliff-hanger episode ending.

I have well-meaning friends and associates who want to introduce me to shows that they think I will love. In general, they're completely correct... but I just don't have time for new weekly commitments.

TV on DVD saves the day again! In the doldrums of summers with uninteresting TV and movie theater-fare, I could take the advice and finally catch Enterprise, Lost (drool.... soooooooooo good) and Firefly... if only to get the TV-pushers off my back.

I never got in to Buffy or Angel, so Joss Whedon's name brings no excitement to me. The ads for Firefly during its initial run were intriguing enough for me to watch a few episodes, but it simply didn't make my live TV cut. Then it goes off the air and you'd think the entire internet (or maybe just the Star Wars-portion) was kicked in the gut or something. That was attempt #1 at trying to like Firefly.

OK, so the DVDs come out... Fine, maybe I missed something. I put Firefly at the top of my Netflix queue and give it another change. Disc 1... nothing, but everyone says it'll get better. Disc 2... I'm asleep. I just don't care. Attempt #2 at trying to like Firefly.

OK, so the Serenity movie comes out this weekend. I'm desperate for a fun movie theater experience, so despite it all, I'm "in" for the film. While I'm sure they're making it completely accessible to folks who've never seen the show... I feel like I want to do it right.

I'm on day 5 of trying to jam through the entire run of Serenity. I have one disc left to complete before Friday. The show is growing on me, but I just can't get excited.

Why is EVERYONE on the show Han Solo? It's good to have one Han Solo (as prequel detractors will tell you), but it can't be everyone. Where's the Luke? The R2? The Vader?

To all those of the "Joss Whedon is the next George Lucas" among you... I'm afraid I just don't get it. Maybe the movie will convert me. Does the Emperor have no clothing, or am I just too out of it?

(Early casualty of this season: HBO's Rome. Meant to watch it.... just couldn't. Waitin for DVD...)

http://blogs.starwars.com/ghent/42

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NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything

date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 3:52 PM

hehehe, so you're just not a fan, just not your style. No biggie. Not everyone can like everything. Right?

I know a LOT of people who "don't get" Star Wars either. Probably for the same reason I "don't get" Hindi movies, hate reality TV and...in spite of watching every episode (at the urging of two friends) of Babylon 5 it's...just not my thing.

Hope your friends don't give you a hard time about it.

	21212121212 "So be it.......21212121212"
date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 4:26 PM Its okay man, Even though I perfer Star Wars Fans, Its okay, but I Dont apperciate the "Not your Style thing" Never say that on a Star Wars blog website, because, what are you doing here if you dont like this site. DARK SIDER!!!!!!!

	bonniegrrl Droids Just Wanna Have Fun
date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 5:11 PM see what you're doing Paul! You'e creating strife! So what does your son think of Firefly?

	Ghent From the Desk of Ghent
date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 5:43 PM Funny you should ask, Bonnie. My son watched about 10 minutes and kept wanting to know which ones were the bad guys. I had no answer for him. Then the professional companion came in to the story, and I decided it'd be better for he and I to do something else.

	Singin Hobo I find your lack of pants disturbing
date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 7:22 PM Hmmm I put this in my queue a few days ago as well... I was sorta looking forward to falling instantly in love with it from all the things I've heard and read about it... now all that is shattered

	adarjapheth The Troubles and Travails of the Fan that is -- Me.
date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 9:44 PM I recall waiting with bated breath when I found out Joss was releasing a new show... of course it got cancelled after scant few episodes, and I remember not caring because I hadn't been watching it. I watched two episodes, got bored, and stopped.

adarjapheth
The Troubles and Travails of the Fan that is -- Me.

date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 9:45 PM

When I found out there would be a movie, I decided to give it another shot. I gambled and bought the set, and popped it in. I remember starting off immediately remembering why I had been so bored, but when I paid really close attention, and finally saw the hidden beauty of it all. And once I did, I couldn't not see it - like a Magic Eye picture (or that part during the credits of Dodgeball that will scar me for life).

adarjapheth
The Troubles and Travails of the Fan that is -- Me.

date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 9:45 PM

I never was into westerns, but when you mix it with sci-fi... hoooo boy! And I find that that is the optimal mindset in which to watch Firefly. It's the Old West, gunslingers, the high seas, and a pirate's life for me! They're all Han Solo because they live perpetually in his world. And it feels like a fun place to be. Plus, it's rutting funny. I laugh myself silly at some of the episodes (notably Our Mrs. Reynolds and Jaynestown - two of my favorites anyway).

adarjapheth
The Troubles and Travails of the Fan that is -- Me.

date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 9:46 PM

It wasn't until DragonCon that I officially became a browncoat, though. Going there, seeing the passion this little show had inspired, and feeling the energy of its fans, I knew I'd found something special, and I couldn't let it go. Plus, at the panel there, someone pointed out another reason I didn't realize I loved the show: It's that rare show where you can't help but care deeply for every character on it.

	adarjapheth The Troubles and Travails of the Fan that is -- Me.
date Posted: Sep 27, 2005 9:46 PM Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm a huge fan, so felt obligated to throw in my two cents (or twenty, as it were). I hope I gave you something to think about, and if not... diff'rent strokes. Enjoy the movie, perhaps, as it's less niched in its appeal? ...Ugh, I gotta stop writing these responses. I burdened Karen Traviss with one too. Sorry, Ghent.

supercodepoet
Never Underestimate Radical Vision

date Posted: Sep 28, 2005 7:11 AM

Firefly is like the adult version of Star Wars. It is what I believe would have been the GFFA in the old, old republic years. More of everyone for themselves. I love Star Wars with every fiber of my being but what it lacks Firefly picks up. The characterization, the in-depth storyline, the mystery. It has what the first SW movies had, mystery. You don't know everything and that is ok. It gives the show a sorta historical feel. It also has GREAT dialogue, something George Lucas could take note from.

	supercodepoet Never Underestimate Radical Vision
date Posted: Sep 28, 2005 7:12 AM I would also say that not all the characters are Han Solo. Only a few would be that type, Mal and Zoe. The others have differences to their stories an personalities that are far removed from Han. The only thing they have in common with Han is the free spirit feeling that is part of the universe they are placed.

supercodepoet
Never Underestimate Radical Vision

date Posted: Sep 28, 2005 7:12 AM

The bad guys are hard to regonize in Firefly becuase that is the way it is intented. We are all bad in ways that haunt us. We can connect with the characters in Firefly becuase they are not all white-washed, good-two-shoes. They have demons and motivations just like us. They have desires and dreams jsut like us. We connect becuase they are more real. By the way, there are some real villians in Firefly, you just have to watch it all to know.

supercodepoet
Never Underestimate Radical Vision

date Posted: Sep 28, 2005 7:12 AM

Lastly, I love Firefly and I love Star Wars for different reasons. I love Star Wars becuase it is good vs. evil with good winning. It is a utopia where morality is taken seriuosly. It throws in a little sci-fi/western to spice things up, but in the end it is an escape. I love Firefly because it is the adult Star Wars. It is the Stars Wars for me now. It is complex, deep and highly grey. It is what the world would be like in the future. It is the Star Wars we would become.

Sol Kassar
Ramblings from the Detention Center (Startled)

date Posted: Sep 28, 2005 8:25 AM

I agree with you. I've seen the trailers for Serenity and they are not very impressive. I'm just scared it may turn out to be another Battlefield Earth - you know how bombastic that was! If The History of Violence is still in theatres when Serenity comes out, I may see that instead.....however, in betwixt TiVO and Netflix, there is one tiny show that isn't too bad - Prison Break. Now that is one nail biter..................

Leland Y Chee
Keeper of the Holocron's Blog

date Posted: Sep 28, 2005 9:19 AM

I, like one of earlier posters, was hooked after seeing a Serenity panel with Jos Whedon and a group of the stars at WonderCon. I hadn't watched Firefly previously but was a huge Buffy/Angel fan. The comraderie between the group was infectious and surprisingly entertaining. I went back home, thinking, "I've got to watch this show." Regardless of whether the movie is good or not, I admire the effort it took to get a failed TV show turned into a movie (like Buffy, only in reverse) based on the will of the show's cast, creators and the Browncoats.

NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything

date Posted: Sep 28, 2005 5:00 PM

Big Buffy fan, lesser Angel fan.
I rely on DVD's & taped shows. Like Ghent I have well-meaning friends that "persuade" me to love their fav prog's, not always a good thing.
A friend gave me complete Buffy and Angel DVD sets and mentioned Firefly with a twinkle in his eye. I rented it. Enjoyed it. Reminded me of Space: Above and Beyond, another good flying-under-the-radar-replaced-with-American-Idol series dying before its time.

You know, I would have liked Firefly even if I wasn't a Whedon fan.

BTW, anyone seen the t-shirts: "Joss Whedon is my master now" very funny.

Leah

**
heheh, oh boy 21212121212, I don't think you got what I said. *shakes head giggling*

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 3:35 AM

Boy oh boy
Firefly/Serenity is SO what a Star Wars series would be if it concentrated purely on the underworld of Star Wars. Granted, in our version we would have Hutts, Ganglords and gangsters, more lush locations etc. But the seedy, look out for number one attitude would be right there.
The Star Wars galaxy has always been a tough, harsh and occasionally seedy place to be. George concentrates on the big picture - light vs dark, grand opera on a big scale, but for most folks living in the SWG, this would be how it is.

	janlomona Smugglers Rants
date Posted: Sep 30, 2005 3:35 AM I'm not claiming to be an expert but I've been fan writing underworld stories for 23 years now (Lightsabre)and Firefly is so tuned in to what I've been doing (with a dash of Hitchhikers thrown in) that I just LOVE it. After ROTS this is my must-see film of the year.

Hedec Ga
War Journal of Hedec Ga

date Posted: Oct 11, 2005 1:16 PM

I like Firefly. I thought Serenity was a really good movie. But I totally understand you, Ghent, about there being too many Han Solos on the boat. The show doesn't have a whole lot dynamics in the way of WAY different personalities. On Buffy,everyone pretty much just skuttled around and kissed Buffy's butt and whatever she said, they did and they were all pansies. Angel got it right. Everyone had their own unique style and it worked. But on Firefly, everyone's kind of a jerk, really. Mal thinks his problems are worse than everyone else's and the rest of the crew manages to share his self-centerdness. Like I said, I like Firefly, but that aspect of it has ALWAYS bugged me.

Hedec Ga
War Journal of Hedec Ga

date Posted: Oct 11, 2005 1:17 PM

I long for the day when heroes are HEROES and not just bad, selfish people who happen to do something decent once in a while and think that's enough. What's so uncool about being noble, virtuous, and true? I think that was what really attracted all of us to Star Wars in the first place. Luke was a HERO. Not some dark, twisted soul looking for redemption. I mean, yeah, Vader's like that and it's cool, but it's also cool to have a good person enjoy being a good person and helping people. We've embraced the anti-hero so much, we need to remind ourselves (and our CHILDREN) what a true hero really is.

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