Serenity spoiler thread

[grebo]

Hrm, talking about continuities, one thing _did_ seriously bother me after seeing the film:

About the Reavers. How the hell is it that they are completely batshit insane (as explained by the vid they find on Miranda), yet are still somehow able to operate very complex machinery such as spacecraft (particularly the big cruiser-type ones that would require large numbers of them working in unison) with any semblance of cohesion? Furthermore, why have they not turned on each other and self-destructed as a society in the ten years that they've been floating around in "Reaver space", since i would imagine they'd get pretty bored after a while. I know Wash mentiones them sending out raiding parties, but on how large a scale? Enough to satisfy the collective insanity of several hundred thousand (or however many there are)?

 - meg

Hmm... Army Ants?

And there's 30,000.  1/10th of a percent of 30mil.

[Samwise]

I figure it's the same neurological phenomenon that causes zombies to attack the living instead of each other.

[Megrim]

I figure it's the same neurological phenomenon that causes zombies to attack the living instead of each other.

Ha. Clever boy =D

 - meg

[Ironwood]

I figure it's the same neurological phenomenon that causes zombies to attack the living instead of each other.

According to the Walking Dead, that's a smell thing.  But then, mysteriously two issues later, they'd forgotten they could use that for immunity.

Riiiiight....

[Bunk]

Everybody knows its a visual thing. Shuffle like a zombie and moan a bit, you'll be just fine.

[Fargull]

After reading the book, which does not explain the Reaver portion to any greater degree, it does explain that Mr. Universe was the closest place to do a broadband broadcast and had the appropriate equipment.  If you remember, on the shuttle that it was recorded, they could not broadcast the feed either.  Guess it requires some major mojo to do it.

I think the Reavers molded into something psychopathic, and perhaps kicked in as a mob mentality... lord of the flies kind of state.  So, they operated in a tribal strongest one directs kind of society.  They did not become mindless.

[Yegolev]

That's kinda the only thing I have trouble with.  I can suspend disbelief on a lot of crazy crap, but having a crew that includes multiple genius-level IQs not spot an easy answer isn't one of them.   

I never thought of any of them as general geniuses, just really good at what they do.  Mal and Zoe are soldiers turned smugglers.  Wash was a great pilot but not at all cut out for combat.  Kaylee is almost an idiot savant with machinery, but you would have to watch the series to get the history.  Simon is smart, sure, but he used all of his brain on medical knowledge.  Book kept his abilities to himself most of the time.  Inara?  Same as Simon, essentially.  River is (was?) crazy and Jayne is an idiot.

[Samwise]

I maintain that even Jayne would be clever enough to say "uhm, let's beam it to him instead of flying there k?"   

[Yegolev]

I maintain that even Jayne would be clever enough to say "uhm, let's beam it to him instead of flying there k?"   

Would have been a good excuse to explain it to the audience.

[Samwise]

Exactly.

[Bunk]

And if they shot that scene, it's the type of scene that ends up on the cutting room floor.

"Do we need this scene to explain this plot hole?"

 - "Well, the fanboi types who read the comics and buy the roleplaying game will probably jump all over it."

"Will normal people notice?"

 - "No."

"Cut it."

[Ironwood]

Saw it tonight.

Fantastic.


I don't even have the enthusiasm for sarcasm, digs or devils advocate.  I loved it.

Sorry.

[Yegolev]

Now get your mitts on the series.

[Samwise]

Did I mention I'm dressing as Jayne for Halloween this year?  (Along with every other Firefly geek on the planet, I'm sure.)

[Furiously]

That's odd - I'm going as Animal Mother.

[Ironwood]

The whole Miranda thing was pure genius IMO, much better than that Clone Wars crap.  You just know there are people in government right now who would be willing to try something like that.

Agreed.  And I was very happy that they had rational explanation of some sort for the Reavers.  The whole "went mad on the edge of space" thing always sounded like a load of crap to me.

I've been rereading this thread (oh God, the pain) to see if there's stuff you guys thought that, now I've seen the film, I can agree or disagree with.

This bit stands out because it's obvious to all that Whedon had planned summat like this from the start.  The Reaver madness was a load of crap, as presented.  Even Jayne - not the sharpest tool in the box - makes a big speech about how he's been to the edge and not gone crazy.  I thought the film dealt very nicely with this apparent incongruity that never made sense to anyone.  Hence, I think, planned.

Also, the plot hole that kept most of this thread going seems a silly argument to me.  Holo-player was on ship, holo-player was not on serenity, holo-player was in Mr Universes Pad - as well as the power to shunt it out everywhere.  I don't see the big deal or plot hole here at all.  It's also quite obvious that Mal knew that Mr Universes pad was a trap for various reasons :

The Operative had been killing and trapping EVERYONE that Mal knew.  The 'burning screens' scene made that clear.  Further, he made a speech about 'trapping your prey' and leaving it 'no ground to run to'.  All of a sudden Mal sees that Mr Universes place is clear ?  Doesn't sound likely.  Mal would have known it was a trap, just as with Inara.  Hence, Reaver baiting.  Also, it's been made clear that Mr Universe is THE GUY to go to if you want a signal put out everywhere.  The operative would know that as well as Mal.  So, trap.  That's also why he didn't just beam it over there, even if he could've, which he couldn't.  Arg.  We need to talk about this over drinks.  It's easier that way !

*Aside :  All the Firefly women are hot as fuck.  There's nothing like having an extremely large woody during the film to detract you from plot holes.  Could Zoe's ass be nicer ?  Kaylee's smiler more seductive ?  Innaras sheer attraction more indepth and wholesome?  Man, I wanted to jump in *

I do think it's a shame it's all over now.  I agree that a sequel is unlikely and a return to TV even less likely.  Bah.

[Roac]

This bit stands out because it's obvious to all that Whedon had planned summat like this from the start.  The Reaver madness was a load of crap, as presented.

I took it to be something like stories old sailors tell the green to scare 'em.  Everyone knows it's bullshit, but everyone keeps telling the same stories, so just maybe...  It becomes the galactic boogeyman.  It didn't help the story any that Reavers liked the black. 

Aside :  All the Firefly women are hot as fuck.

More Kaylee, plz.

[Nevermore]

The only plot point I wonder about is why the Operative didn't leave a garrison of soldiers at Mr. Universe's place.  Can just chalk it up to arrogance on his part, I suppose.

[Samwise]

Or how the Reavers always shoot to immobilize or trap rather than kill, except when their target has another acting gig lined up.   

[Ironwood]

The only plot point I wonder about is why the Operative didn't leave a garrison of soldiers at Mr. Universe's place.  Can just chalk it up to arrogance on his part, I suppose.

Er, why would he do this ?

He was in orbit around the planet with a fleet.  No-one was getting past him.

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Unless they brought every reaver in the verse with them, of course.

[Viin]

Or how the Reavers always shoot to immobilize or trap rather than kill, except when their target has another acting gig lined up.   

Accidentally though. It's not like they *planned* on it killing him.

[Fargull]

Unless they brought every reaver in the verse with them, of course.

Welcome to the dark side, your conversion is complete.

[Samwise]

Or how the Reavers always shoot to immobilize or trap rather than kill, except when their target has another acting gig lined up.   

Accidentally though. It's not like they *planned* on it killing him.

So they were trying to merely immobilize him?  WITH A TEN FOOT HARPOON?

Next you're going to tell me that they were trying to harpoon the ship, and Wash was just an innocent bystander.  Never mind that the ship was very obviously not going anywhere by that point.   

[Yegolev]

Or how the Reavers always shoot to immobilize or trap rather than kill, except when their target has another acting gig lined up.   

Accidentally though. It's not like they *planned* on it killing him.

So they were trying to merely immobilize him?  WITH A TEN FOOT HARPOON?

Next you're going to tell me that they were trying to harpoon the ship, and Wash was just an innocent bystander.  Never mind that the ship was very obviously not going anywhere by that point.   

I had assumed that they harpooned it so they could haul it out of the hole and back into space.  No sense in field-stripping a ship if you are going to use all of the parts anyway.

[Samwise]

I'm tempted to discuss how there's no way in hell a few harpoons shot through the cockpit window would be able to haul a ship that size out of the hangar and off the ground.  Or how it'd make no sense whatsoever from a Reaver point of view to start working on towing arrangements for the ship before raping, skinning, and eating the passengers.  But I won't.   

[Yegolev]

You just don't grok the Reavers. =)

[Samwise]

That's probably a good thing, since the Reavers apparently reproduce by inducing grokking in others.

[Yegolev]

Didja get that gas canister I sentcha?

[Fargull]

I'm tempted to discuss how there's no way in hell a few harpoons shot through the cockpit window would be able to haul a ship that size out of the hangar and off the ground.  Or how it'd make no sense whatsoever from a Reaver point of view to start working on towing arrangements for the ship before raping, skinning, and eating the passengers.  But I won't.   

Don't take a lot to tow in space if the other craft has no propulsion...  Not sure those harpoons are especially useful in atmo, but they certainly do add a spicy element.

[Ironwood]

Unless they brought every reaver in the verse with them, of course.

Welcome to the dark side, your conversion is complete.

People seem to have a serious missaphrension here - I got the DvD's as soon as they were released on these shores.  I've been watching Firefly for as long as I could.

This is not a recent thing really....

[Fargull]

I just got a chuckle from the use of the slang.  Verse just sounds right.  Same with Gorram for some damn reason.

[Shockeye]

Universal has finally revealed Joss Whedon's Serenity for 12/20. The film will be available in dual anamorphic widescreen and full frame editions (SRP $29.98 each). Both versions will include Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, deleted scenes, outtakes, a video introduction with Whedon, audio commentary with Whedon and 3 featurettes (including Future History: The Story of Earth That Was, What's in a Firefly and Re-Lighting the Firefly).

Stocking stuffer, anyone?

[HaemishM]

Fuck yeah.

[Furiously]

I know what I'm getting the wife now!

[Fargull]

Got to talk to Summer Glau over the weekend at Wizcon Tx.  Asked about a sequel and she gave the depends on how good it does answer, but seemed upbeat.  Hope they pull off enough to do a trilogy.

Wish Whedon could get a spot doing a show on HBO.