Firefly - Episode 1 - Serenity - REACTION - First Time Watching

[@ThatCronus]

One of the best shows on TV, canceled before it got a chance. Watch the movie after the series to get a bit of closure. Enjoy the journey guys.

[@Liesmith424]

The line about how "some planets won't even let them dock without a companion" is just saying that the Serenity and her crew are so dodging that, on their own, they wouldn't be allowed to dock most places. But a Companion is a licensed and very respected person, so Inara brings the entire ship more prestige and access just by being present.

[@Iymarra]

And that dude she was with heavily messed up by talking about her being on the clock.

[@Aeroldoth3]

*dodgy Also, Inara's job was being crass talking about her "cheating".

[@RamblersInc]

Interesting social hierarchy.

[@rodentnolastname6612]

@@RamblersInc Registered Companions could be compared to Japanese Geishas. It's not just about sex, there's a huge cultural experience involved.

[@Garryck-1]

@@rodentnolastname6612 - They could easily be compared to Europe's Courtesans as well. They were often highly educated, and able to converse on subjects such as politics and economics, having privileged access to places that few women of that era were able.

[@leav4g]

I love that you caught more than most reactors. The mandarin was used for two reasons: 1. As far as world building it combined American and China who survived. 2. It allowed them to cuss or say weird stuff to pass sensors.

[@michaelrunnels7660]

It's called a "Space Cowboy" series. You are beginning to learn what is valuable for colonist people living in survival mode and it isn't gold or jewels. It's food, water, shelter, and any creature comforts that you can afford. Food and medicine are the most valuable commodities on the outer planets and are often used for trade (ie. strawberry for a ride). Food bars and hover cars are good but animals are even better. The inner planets where all the wealth is are the places that a rogue ship like Serenity aren't really welcome. That's where Inara comes in. Companions are generally found on the inner planets where the wealthy can afford them and they are appreciated. Inara is unique in renting space (a shuttle) on a second class ship usually roaming the outer planets like Serenity.

[@RamblersInc]

Yeh, it looks like a lot of surviving and looking for scraps or whatever you can get a hold of. I'm sure we'll learn a lot more about Inara as the show continues.

[@michaelrunnels7660]

@@RamblersInc You will learn a lot about all of them but, in my opinion, Jayne is developed the most throughout the series. River usually speaks softly and doesn't make a lot of sense but don't ever think that what she says isn't important, usually later on.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@michaelrunnels7660Yeah, nothing River says is a throw away line

[@djcowell91]

Yep. You mentioned Castle in the intro. You may remember an episode of Castle where he was trying on Halloween costumes and had this brown coat and sidearm. He called it his Space Cowboy costume and his daughter chided him "Didn't you wear that already, like, five years ago?" :-)

[@errnee]

FireFly reaction? Shiny 😁 Enjoy boys. Dont forget about the film after you end the season.

[@xConundrumx]

Hell ya, that one kinda blew my mind.

[@NippingTickTuck]

I met the crew back in 2005 in the movie. Imagine my excitement, when I realized that there was a series called Firefly! :D @@xConundrumx

[@migmit]

You have it backwards, guys. It's not "it was unpopular, so they cancelled it", it's more like "they wanted to cancel it, so they made sure it was unpopular". The TV channel, Fox, got a change of management shortly before this first aired. The old management wanted Firefly, the new management hated it. So, they didn't do any promotion, they showed the episodes out of order, they basically wanted an excuse to cancel it. They got their wish. It's nice you watch it in a proper order; the pilot was actually aired last. So, the "Kaylee's dead" joke didn't work.

[@FloridaMugwump]

You forget that the "future with legal prostitution" caused many, many complaints. Complaints equals a lack of advertisers. However, I agree that showing them in the wrong order hurt the show. I remember telling a friend the next day after the first episode "Don't bother, it's just another crappy 'cowboys in space' show."

[@migmit]

@@FloridaMugwump I'd like some proof links with that.

[@FloridaMugwump]

@@migmit You want like copies of my memory somehow? Sorry, that technology doesn't exist. Neither do internet records of the Entertainment fluff news of that time. Sorry, just slightly out of date for internet searching.

[@migmit]

@@FloridaMugwump OK, that's fair.

[@lindenella]

Yay Firefly! Aint nothin in the 'verse can stop me watching these!

[@Randy-r4e]

Good move guys. Firefly was done dirty from the jump by the bosses. First they showed it completely out of release order, in their worse time slot and on a tight budget. It got a lot of love from a few folks while it was on and a lot more once it was canceled. It was so loved that they actually made a full length movie several years later to appease the fans. Good reaction.

[@styleisaweapon]

To add to this, It was killed because there was a power shift, the new guy in charge shit on everything that wasnt developed under his watch.

[@FloridaMugwump]

Lots of complaints about a future with legal prostitution. Advertisers didn't like that.

[@mryan22]

I've seen several reactors watching this episode, and you're the first that has ever picked up the "kissed his cross" / "loss of faith" connection. Well done.

[@michaelccozens]

I don't think this is a spoiler, as it's more slightly-unclear lore than anything, and it's never specifically mentioned in the series; one of the reasons Mal loses his faith is that the Alliance, whose ships you see descending at the end of the battle of Serenity Valley, received the surrender of the Browncoats and carpet-bombed the valley anyway, killing nearly everyone. That's the series of explosions you see right at the end of the scene, and part of why Mal looks so stricken as he witnesses the atrocity; he was watching a truly-evil force being allowed to win and take over complete control of everyone. Hard to believe in a benevolent and just God after that.

[@anderscarlsson4309]

- Don't know these guys, don't much care to. - They're doing Firefly. - I'm in! (You'll get it eventually) 😉

[@NippingTickTuck]

so the legend grows. ;)

[@EJSmith-dk3yg]

You are NOT wrong !

[@ernesthakey3396]

New Firefly reactor?!? Instant sub! Episodic with some continuing stories/questions - Joss had more than one season plotted out, the network ended up sabotaging the show because the exec that brought them in was replaced and the new exec who took their place wanted to make his mark with something he wanted to do. So the roughly half a season was what we got. Then there's a movie made later to help tie up some loose ends.

[@JeffKelly03]

I think you guys are really going to enjoy this one. Couple things: if you're not aware, there's a movie called Serenity that was released a few years after the show was canceled, which answered SOME of the questions the show never got a chance to, but not all of them. There were also comic books that later came out and answered some of those other questions, so that stuff is pretty easy to google, when you get to the end and still want to know what certain things raised by the show and movie were all about. Also: FOX completely fucked this show. They aired the episodes out of order, to the point where -- if I'm not mistaken -- this pilot was actually the LAST episode they aired. That was a big part of why it never found an audience initially, because obviously when the episodes are out of order, it just makes it confusing as hell for the viewer. Great job, FOX. Well done. Good effort.

[@RamblersInc]

Messing up the release and schedule of a show like this (which looks good so far) feels like rejecting money. What kinda studio exec does that ?

[@madux42]

@@RamblersInc Not only did they not start the series with the pilot episode and only aired it as the last episode, they also published some of the other episodes completely out of order, resulting in characters that should have been already introduced to show up out of nowhere and similar confusing stuff. In short, a complete mess. 3 out of the 14 produced episodes were not even aired anymore after Fox cancelled it. They were only published over half a year later by ScyFy in the UK. FOX also promoted it as action-comedy instead of what it really is. They really did everything to make sure it would fail. The show's story was originally planned for 7 years.

[@hartjohnson2975]

My first Nathan Fillion exposure was on the soap opera, One Life to Live, in the early 90s. I could watch him fold socks. But I love the chemistry and humor of this show.

[@RamblersInc]

"I could watch him fold socks" 😂 I'm stealing that.

[@whendays659]

OMFG I'm so excited for this journey!!!!!! Took me a minute to get over the slang/Chinese, but overall, this series + movie is excellent if you like character/relationship development. You guys are so perceptive and empathetic I feel pretty sure this will be up your alley.

[@JeffKelly03]

It's such a fun one. I got a chance to go to an advance screening of the movie about six months before it came out (and yes, I absolutely wore a brown coat), and then when it DID come out, I had wrecked my car about a week earlier than it hit theaters, and the day it was released, I walked the three miles to the movie theater so that I could see it again.

[@whendays659]

@@JeffKelly03Wow! I may have done the same had I seen the series! I was one of the ones who saw the movie first, then the series. I've since re-watched in sequence multiple times, and I adore it.

[@michaelccozens]

The "Chinglish" dialect serves a couple of purposes; one, demonstrating that China and (probably) the US were more-or-less equal dominant powers on Earth-that-was at the time of the Exodus, and; two, allowing the show to get away with a lot more (implied) swearing than they might have done otherwise. Apparently English-speaking censors don't much care if you swear in Chinese. And it really helps give the show and dialogue an additional distinct and unique aspect. You wouldn't mistake lines from "FIrefly" as being from any other show, even other Whedon shows. Masterclass in implied world-building, up there with "Fury Road".

[@quentinmichel7581]

Despite their unusual appearance, the firearms aren't "blasters"...they are absolutely conventional firearms in the world of the show... bullets & all. The series was curtailed early but there is a follow-up movie SERENITY that was released several years later to wind up the story.

[@SarahMaeBea]

AAAHH!!! What a nice surprise! Enjoy!!

[@Bills_Place]

Exactly my response

[@xConundrumx]

I aim to misbehave!

[@whendays659]

meaningless spoiler comment at this point. think.

[@xConundrumx]

@@whendays659 huh?

[@JeffKelly03]

@@xConundrumx Yeah, that's not remotely a spoiler. Just because it's a line they haven't heard yet, there is zero context in your comment, so anyone calling it a "spoiler" is just wild. I don't like spoiling people but holy shit. I recently commented on someone's reaction to an episode of Band of Brothers, and noted how great episode 9 was, and someone called me out for THAT somehow being a spoiler. It's absurd.

[@Iymarra]

Firefly really is great, I don't think there's a dud episode.

[@GrumpyOldGuyPlaysGames]

Heart of Gold

[@pleutron]

yay, 2 of my newest found reactors doing this great show. hope you both like it as much as I do.

[@Trepanation21]

32:25 - Space cowboy with a metal horse? Bravestarr?! 🤠

[@RamblersInc]

Yup. BraveStarr 🙌

[@Trepanation21]

@@RamblersInc Ayy! What a reference 🤣

[@christopherdeguilio6375]

Here we go, y'all!

[@mitchellhp]

Ooh I always love Firefly reactions. Such a great & heartfelt show that barely got a chance. Not sure if anyone’s mentioned it, but the characters curse in Mandarin - a clever way for Whedon to get around censoring 😆 You’ll see a lot of Asian inspired things throughout the show. In the show, the US & China grew together to form The Anglo-Sino Alliance.

[@becca1189]

Welcome to the Browncoats!!! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@markkringle9144]

Mad max style...good description of reevers. If they're entering the atmosphere backwards, that means that's where the heat shield is. The two dominant languages are English and Chinese. (They use Chinese for swearing on the show)

[@RamblersInc]

Ahh ok. The heat shield being back there makes sense....unless.....they're just insane 🤣

[@JeffKelly03]

@@RamblersInc In fairness... the Reavers are definitively insane. So that tracks, too. (You'll get to understand what they are/what they're about more as you move forward.)

[@melopiccity]

Non stop bangers on this channel! You love to see it :)

[@RamblersInc]

🙌

[@007videovixen]

Subbed for Firefly

[@RamblersInc]

🙌

[@brauliob]

I'm so glad you guys are doing this, I love your The Good Place reactions. The Alliance is the central planets with High Society and all the High Tech living that entails (best doctors/healthcare, ships, ect). Everyone else just gets the cast offs. There was an abundance of newly terraformed planets for those that didn't want to be under the Alliance's boot to move out towards with what little technology they could bring (hence the western feel of the crew). Some planets, like the one we saw at the beginning, is a bit of a hybrid of both - Inara was "servicing" that guy when we first saw her and she flew off to the low tech side to meet up with Serenity. Inara is a "Companion" which is partly well respected high society socialite and geisha trained in elocution, art, politics, and yes, sex.

[@RamblersInc]

Feels impossible to go wrong with space and western in the same show.

[@TheMacerica]

Aaaahhhh, I'm so excited you two are reacting to Firefly! It's such an amazing show. And it's great watching people who really pay attention and follow the story react to it. Now I get to watch reactions to two of my favorite shows - The Good Place & Firefly - from two of my favorite reactors!

[@RamblersInc]

We're going to be upset it ended aren't we ?

[@Garryck-1]

@@RamblersInc - Not upset. Gutted. The only way to deal with the grief is to introduce the series to others who've never seen it before, then wallow in *their* grief. Thus does the army of Browncoats grow.

[@TheMacerica]

@@RamblersInc Yup! Welcome to the pain of Firefly!

[@IgnoreLan]

Glad to see you guys doing Firefly. It was hugely influential and the movie is also quite good.

[@Biomirth]

I can't believe I've watched you watch the whole Expanse series and now you pick the perfect after-show, Firefly. I love your style and am a big fan of your reactions. You guys always have something interesting to say and deliver a predictable (structurally, a good thing) and entertaining reaction. I have no idea why you do what you do, but I'm glad you do it. I bank up your reactions for when I really need a good experience.

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for sticking around, even when we're talking rubbish sometimes 😂

[@sirmoonslosthismind]

yep, the food was very intentionally made to look like gold.

[@rodentnolastname6612]

Of note; Nathan really got to fire the big A/A gun in the beginning. As he leaps away to avoid the crashing fighter, Nathan ripped the crotch out of the vintage pants he was wearing. This earned him the nickname "Captain Tight pants" by the cast and crew for which they reference in a later episode. 🤟😎

[@RamblersInc]

🤣

[@kevinjohnson613]

Two more Browncoats. Enjoy the ride. Yes, after the series there's a movie to kinda close a few things out. Then after the movie you'll want to watch the blooper and gag reels. There are even some graphic comics and books. And if you're really hooked there are several interviews, reunions, and comic Cons to watch. A game, gatherings, fan movie, fan art. There's even a real Firefly aerospace company. They have Reaver engines that have been in space. It doesn't really stop. Can't stop the signal!

[@RamblersInc]

I'm so glad they were able to continue the story in books. Goes to show that there was always a story to tell.

[@ZakhadWOW]

I'm sort of stunned I thought you had already done this.. I thinks its because 732 REview Crew was concurrently doing expanse with you, but also doing Firefly. But glad for another reason to keep checking you crazy goofballs out. Welcome to "The Verse".

[@RamblersInc]

Already sad that we'll be leaving it soon 😭.

[@zatornagirroc7175]

First time viewer here - nice job you two. You picked up on a lot of things, so I think you will enjoy this one. Thanks for letting me come on the ride with you.

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for joining us 🙌.

[@corgiluver9718]

Love Firefly (and the movie Serenity), great reaction. A real shame Fox canceled the show midway through the first season, hence only 14 episodes (only 10 or 11 were initially shown) and not the planned 22. I'm sure others will fill you in on how dirty Fox treated the show. But, on the positive side, what we have is terrific.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

Oh you guys did the best reaction I've watched yet. You were figuring out the unknowns and most everything that was happening just perfectly. This is an incredible journey you're taking and I assure you, you will love it. Oh yeah, there is the film, Serenity that concludes the tale. It is amazing. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

[@Mindbombable]

Something about these boys not having more subscribers is downright unsettlin'

[@SciFiCatGuy]

The pilot's name is Washburn, "Wash" for short. He is a leaf on the wind.

[@RamblersInc]

Apologies in advance as you see Shyam stumble between Wash, Walsh, and Warsh 🤦‍♂️😂

[@LeeCarlson]

A licensed Companion in this setting is something closer to a traditional Japanese Geisha, or the ancient Grecian Haetara, rather than what Mal presents Inara as.

[@davidmcleod5133]

European Courtesan. Geisha do not have sex with their clients, which Inara very much does.

[@LeeCarlson]

@@davidmcleod5133, Companions are closer to the Geisha in their classical training, which is also why I mentioned the Haetara.

[@atlasisshrugging]

If you wanted to be accurate in your description of Companions by referencing an example from Japanese culture, mentioning geishas would be far from accurate given the fact that they WEREN'T prostitutes or courtesans. The only ACCURATE example from Japanese culture would have been the courtesan class collectively known as the OIRAN (or the sub-class of oiran known as the tayū).

[@larrystuder6378]

The point of Kaylee's strawberry and the food ration bars is to emphasize how impoverished the Rim Worlds are. Basic survival rations, in quantity, ARE a treasure- something like a genuine fresh strawberry is so precious it can be packaged in an individual presentation box, to be given as a luxury gift...

[@Lucy-uv4hv]

Always fun to see people's reactions to this show if they go in knowing nothing! Firefly really does just throw you in at the deep end and doesn't wait for you to catch up, but you guys were really observant and picked up on lots of the worldbuilding!

[@byronabrahams871]

Guys! So happy you're doing this show. Get ready for the ride.

[@adamwells9352]

Forking yay! My favorite reaction pair reacting to my favorite show ever. Sure, the Expanse is good, but this is the shirt.

[@adamwells9352]

Oh, and since I tell virtually everyone who starts this show: when Mal tells Simon Kaylee's dead, it's not just a joke; it's Mal taking the measure of the man. When he runs right away to see what he can do, Mal knows he can be trusted--at least a little.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

32:43 *_Gooood day!_*

[@amyg4961]

Yes!! New Firefly reaction, I am subbing! I remember the heartbreak when we found out that the show was cancelled, my friends and I literally howled at the tv. 😅You have a cool reaction style, I look forward to enjoying the series with you. 😁

[@RamblersInc]

I hate it when good tv shows get cancelled without even getting a chance. Thanks for joining us 🙂

[@lyricmezzosoprano5357]

Firefly and The Good Place are 2 of my 3 favorite shows. I just found your channel a bit ago but you guys have REALLY good reactions. I’m looking forward to binging your back log.

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for joining us 🙂 We're loving both those shows.

[@sherrysink3177]

Yay! I'm so excited for your reactions to this show. I already love your Good Place reactions and commentaries, and Firefly is a favorite show of mine as well from back in the day. (P.S. I remember that Two Guys, A Girl & A Pizza Place show, lol!)

[@RamblersInc]

Yayy. Someone else who remembers Two Guys and A Girl 🙌

[@MarshaLove0723]

I love this show. ❤ It was hard to watch it when it originally aired. Episodes were shown out of order. (I think the next one was the first aired, because it had more action or something like that. **smh**) They would also move it around outside its time slot and some were even just preempted for the evening with other shows/specials. Pre TiVo/DVR days - you looked at the TV guide and set your VCR if you were not going to be home. So many times, I'd come home to watch Firefly and found that I taped an hour or something else. I was determined to watch it because I liked Joss Whedon shows, had just recently watched Gina Torres in the very campy 'Cleopatra 2525' and was a huge fan of Ron Glass. I got the DVD's soon after it came out, and my like of the show turned into a love. And then I saw Serenity four or five time in the theater - I kept dragging different people with me. I even got a few hooked on Firely, after they had watched Serenity. (One was smitten with Kaley and needed more of her character.)

[@RamblersInc]

Sounds like they were drunk when scheduling this. Ooooooohhhhh I would be really really mad if I taped something and something else got recorded.

[@gr8fullytedicated]

I've been waiting for you guys to do this. It's been an interesting day. Shiny! You're gonna become attached to each of these characters. And then there's the movie Serenity at the end.

[@angelagraves865]

Have either of you ever seen Babylon 5? It ran for five seasons in the mid 90s and it's a great show with superior writing and acting. It has its cheesy aspects but it has surprisingly good special effects and cgi for the time. It's also got a small but very dedicated following. It's five seasons written as one overarching bigger story centered on a UN like space station where humans and aliens can meet on neutral ground. I hope you'll keep it in mind when choosing a new series. 🖖🏽

[@RamblersInc]

We haven't but we'll add it to our watchlist

[@arnieadam]

You two are darn good at picking up on a lot of the little clues that are meaningful, but not obvious. This is going to be so fun watching with you. By the end you'll probably be calling yourself a "Brown Coat" like the rest of us fans.

[@iKvetch558]

Welcome to the ranks of the BrownCoats...if you are not one now, you soon will be.😁 LOL...I remember 2 Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place...I had such a crush on Traylor Howard! Though I had forgotten that Nathan Fillion was in that...the thing I always think of as being the first time I saw him was his famous small part in Saving Private Ryan as the wrong Ryan that Tom Hanks and company found first.😎

[@RamblersInc]

Who didn't have a crush on her 😂. Omg. You're right. He WAS the wrong Ryan. Good catch.

[@larrystuder6378]

Joss has 'em hooked already- did you see how they reacted to Kaylee being shot?

[@larrystuder6378]

Joss has 'em hooked already- did you see how they reacted to Kaylee being shot?

[@Audra1964]

Excited to see this! Enjoyed your reaction. There is a movie, called Serenity, that came about after a fan-driven campaign that helps answer some of the questions left unanswered by the series. I believe the poster you saw featuring River is from the movie rather than the series.

[@RamblersInc]

I'm glad the fanbase got together to force the movie to be made.

[@natalielang6209]

You're in for a ride! There really isn't a "filler" episode and you just get drawn in as the series continues. Enjoy!

[@ksbsnowowl3569]

The cartoon you were thinking of might be Bravestarr from the late ‘80s. Pleased as punch you two are watching Firefly!

[@RamblersInc]

Yep. That's the one.

[@Callisto_Arcas]

So so glad to see you guys finally checking out the best space western ever made. Thank you for sharing your journey thru this show with us! (then maybe the movie?). 🤠

[@RamblersInc]

Definitely the movie afterwards.

[@Tampahop]

I understand the reaction to the strawberries. In the navy, I was stationed aboard a submarine that went out to sea for months at a time. One of the first things that happened when we pulled into port was unload a pallet of fresh fruit, vegetables, and milk. We formed a human chain down to the mess deck where everything was stored, passing boxes hand over hand. For some odd reason , some of the fruit never made it down as everyone in the chain would grab a handful of something to stuff in their mouths, and strawberries do make a convenient mouthful. 😄

[@RamblersInc]

Wow. It must have tasted like the best fruit you've had in a while.

[@AliceI7764]

Oh I think you guys are really really going to like this show and a lot of questions also get answered in the movie that you would watch after the show. As a matter of fact the only reason that there is a movie is because the fan base got together and made it happen.

[@RamblersInc]

I love it when fanbases get together to convince a studio to make something. If only they listened enough to let them make multiple seasons.

[@AndreaMGC]

Ahh! Cool! I never hear anyone talk about Two guys, a girl, and pizza place! I loved that show growing up. Also, I IMMEDIATELY subbed. Anyone watching Firefly is an immediate watch for me. Hope you enjoy it! We'll make Browncoats of you!

[@baslifico]

Really think you'll like this hidden gem.

[@kirkdarling4120]

Glad to see you guys picking up Firefly. It only got half a season on the air (a little more in the can), but it's going to be time well spent. I've watched this several times, but like The Expanse, I've seen more bits of foreshadowing in just the clips you've shown that I hadn't noted before. This is a character-driven series. Its success lies in the characters and their interaction, which is why could probably never be rebooted. The only problem this series had was with the producers. The episodes are somewhat episodic, but they are still sequential, and the show was aired out of sequence. It was also moved in its network time zone once or twice and often replaced for specials. It was difficult for the audience to follow, and cancelled after nine episodes were aired. The producers were on meth...only logical explanation.

[@RamblersInc]

I hope we're watching it in the right order

[@kirkdarling4120]

@@RamblersInc You are. What you will see as the second episode was actually broadcast first.

[@JeffKelly03]

@@kirkdarling4120 Yep... FOX, for whatever reason, didn't think the actual pilot would work as a pilot, so they made Whedon go back and write a shorter, more "fun" intro to the crew, which ended up being The Train Job (episode 2). Can't remember exactly, but I believe they whipped that script up in like a weekend because of the time crunch FOX gave them. So dumb. (It's a really fun episode but just shows you how little faith the network had in the show, for whatever reason.)

[@markkringle9144]

Also should check out Dark Matter

[@madux42]

Just another good show that was cancelled before its story had ended...

[@larrystuder6378]

The show was inspired by a book Joss read about the battle of Gettysburg, in the American Civil War. At the end of it, the Union, the winners, proclaimed a general amnesty- those who fought on the side of the Confederacy or were prisoners of war, were pardoned, released, and allowed to return home.

[@danii7584]

fun fact on this episode: the antiair gun mal uses to bring down the plane has the Weyland-Yutani logo on the center top of it's heads up display, which also appears in the alien movies, which suggests that those two share one universe.

[@RamblersInc]

WHAT ? ! It's linked to the Alien universe ? That's an amazing easter egg.

[@Garryck-1]

Blade Runner and Soldier are also connected to the Alien universe, so that's *four* franchises now set in the same universe.

[@Emburbujada]

Welcome to the 'Verse! You'll love it!

[@Hiraghm]

In much of science fiction, particularly the Falkenberg's Legion series, you'll find a mix of technologies. In one scene, a character notes that they were riding a steamboat down a river, using scouts in canoes, with a helicopter tied down on board, and they got to the planet in a starship. The reason for this is simple; shipping costs and agriculture. Horses make more horses. Tractors require parts that require factories to manufacture. So, horse-drawn plows are preferable when first setting up a colony on a new world. They make better transportation than Ferrari's for the same reason. So a lot of the "western" atmosphere isn't so much a mixing of genres but a depiction of how it probably would be on colony worlds.

[@BlackDerek]

The 'Crazy Ivan' is an actual move used by submarines. Comes up in Hunt for Red October.

[@RamblersInc]

We'll have to add that to our list

[@ThePharaz]

The season was intended to be 22 episodes and it was hoped for 5 to 7 seasons. Canceled after 10 episodes and then aired the 2-hour pilot. The 2nd episode was the first one aired which they adjusted for it being the first. Imagine after 10 episodes you finally get to see the pilot episode that explains so very much.

[@RamblersInc]

Damn. From 5 seasons of 22 episodes to 14 episodes. That's a shame

[@dalesharp9953]

Great reactions. I love this show. It sucks that it was cancelled midseason. I'm looking forward for the journey.

[@garethneller8239]

I said i was going to try to stick around for you guys after the expanse... well this'll help😂 Looking forwards to this

[@bellaluthiel4858]

The cartoon you were thinking of was Bravestarr.

[@RamblersInc]

That's the one 👍

[@gailseatonhumbert]

Have fun with this series. It's very episodic. This show was not shown in order so nobody had the intro to the characters that you just got. It was a brilliant character based show and their world building is great. The movie was finally done to tie up the plot some years later.

[@sherrysink3177]

Manesh: He's a proper grumpy-pants, isn't he? Me: 🤣🤣🤣

[@RamblersInc]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ryankieth1675]

Great reaction to one one of the best shows of all time. Subbed!

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for joining us 🙂

[@kaybailey-jones3740]

Here for this ride. I can see you get it. ❤

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

I've liked some of your other reactions, but this got me to subscribe. 🙂

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for joining us 🙂

[@vgalea]

It would be easy to get mixed up with the names. Serenity is the name of the valley where Mal was in the losing battle that lost the war, also the name of hte ship, and the name of both the opening episode and the movie that kind of wraps up the series, while Firefly is the class of the ship and the name of the series. This episode is a pretty good exposition of the universe as well as the origins of the crew, and there is an episode later that shows a lot more detail. I've watched these so many times, and they are always very engaging and enjoyable. You're in for a great ride.

[@obelisk21]

I was one of the people that watched this show during its initial run on TV when the executives at FOX completely screwed it over by interfering with it. The episode you just watched was intended to be the Pilot (episode one) by Joss Whedon who wrote and produced it but FOX didn't think it had enough action so they quickly put together a new Pilot called "The Train Job" which in fact in terms of the timeline of the story is the second episode. Needless to say when I watched this show the first time there were entire plot points I missed out on until I watched the correct order on the DVDs simply because things were aired on TV out of sequence. The show developed its cult following after the DVDs were released because people could finally see the vision the creators of the show had for the story arc. There was enough of an outcry from the fanbase that Joss Whedon decided to do a theatrical release called "Serenity" to wrap up the open-ended plot lines when the series was prematurely cancelled. They were walking a bit of a tightrope as they were trying to create a movie that would still be appealing to people who never saw the series and yet still satisfy fans of the series. They did a good job in the end.

[@RamblersInc]

Sounds like Whedon had the perfect TV show and they got the release completely wrong.

[@TheChiraagG]

The show you're talking about is BraveStarr, a space western cartoon from the 80s!

[@GentleGiantJason]

I had forgotten about that one. I was thinking perhaps Trigun? Do they have metal horses?

[@TheChiraagG]

@@GentleGiantJason not sure about Trigun, but wiki's description of Bravestarr's horse: "Equestroids - Cyborg equines capable of assuming human attributes (bipedal stance and prehensile forelimbs especially) at will. Thirty/Thirty is the only survivor of this colony."

[@RamblersInc]

Yep. That's the one.

[@TheChiraagG]

@@RamblersInc we're showing our age here now hah! Didn't realise other British Indians watched this show, not many remember it anyway!

[@user-kg7co9vi5r]

Welcome to the 'verse, enjoy the ride.

[@jeffthompson9622]

Firefly! I'm subscribing.

[@RamblersInc]

🙌

[@errnee]

the cartoon was called Bravestar? where he had the speed of a puma? eyes of a hawk?

[@RamblersInc]

Yep. It was Bravestarr. It's amazing just how popular "the space cowboy" genre is.

[@steviemcintyre1497]

It always made me think of The Outlaw Josie Wales meets Star Wars. Amazing character depth. Great reaction.

[@Ajonr]

Firefly - about time! The cast/crew of this show is what drew the popular appeal, as you are seeing even here in Ep 1. (Ivan = Crazy Ivan Turn, if you saw or read The Hunt for Red October, you will have seen it referenced there - it's a 180 turn to check if anyone is following you.) And, yep, Castle. The Producers slipped a few very thinly veiled references to Firefly in the show Castle. Western/Space = Cowboy Bebop.

[@RamblersInc]

Damn. Missed a reference because we haven't seen The Hunt for Red October. It's on our list though.

[@Ajonr]

@@RamblersIncNot really a reference to Hunt. Hunt was the first time I had seen the term in popular culture.

[@stuartdower]

I think the animation with the space cowboy was the Adventures of Galaxy Rangers, they definitely had metal horses in space

[@RamblersInc]

It was BraveStarr. Just goes to show how popular the space cowboy genre was back then.

[@nathanciszewski4875]

Came here to say BraveStarr. There was also a cyborg cowboy character in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe named Rio Blast.

[@raziel6896]

Looking forward to these reactions! Just got a subscription! And yes Wash is a very good pilot. He graduated the best ever from the flight academy if i recall correctly. One person did beat him but i wont say who or why because it contains spoilers. Needless to say Wash is a beast of a pilot!

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for joining us 🙌

[@leav4g]

Welcome. As far as the cinematography you can't base on year. They used a lot of old fashion methods..flares..not centered...weird focus. They did them on purpose.😅

[@AliceI7764]

Oh yeah and the fan base called themselves the brown coats.

[@errnee]

Nathan Fillion is curranty in the Rookie which is a good show. Alan Tudyk who plays wash is a good friend with Nathan, they always star in each others shows . Also have you seen a Knight Tail? Alan Tudyk stars in it. Its one of them underrated movies.

[@JeffKelly03]

Also: in the Cabin in the Woods reaction, someone suggested Tucker and Dale vs Evil, and Tudyk is one of the stars of that movie. He's so damned underrated.

[@CoL_Drake]

nathan also played the main character in CASTLE maybe the second most interesting "cop + x solve stuff together" show after lucifer xD

[@errnee]

I almost forgot resident alien with alan tudyk .

[@RamblersInc]

I also remember Tudyk from a movie called "Death at a Funeral" that I watched a while back. Hilarious.

[@Markus117d]

Not only did the network mess about with the airing order they kept changing the day and timeslot, And not only canceled it before the whole season was done, They canceled it even before the all the episodes already produced got to air.. They never gave the show a chance, Yet it's lived on in so many fans hearts and continued to grow its fan base even to this day, The network were idiot's to be blunt, It's because of the fans they at least made the movie to tie off most of the dangling plot lines. Brown Coats forever! 🎉❤

[@Otokichi786]

No-longer-seasonal note: Every time a KZbin viewer falls in love with "Firefly," a Fox TV executive falls off the Nakatomi Plaza building.

[@RamblersInc]

For something so popular, I wonder why no one's attempted a reboot.

[@RamblersInc]

🤣

[@holdyourfire74]

Great stuff! As others have mentioned this was the original intended pilot. But the network thought it wasn't action enough so they wanted a different one. The next episode was the aired pilot. It's still very good, but it feels a little weird because there's a lot of exposition used to introduce the characters. The network really botched it's handling of this show. They changed day and time slots a few times, putting it in weaker slots. So it never got consistent numbers. They aired the episodes out of the intended order which also made it confusing at times. It wasn't advertised well. So they were still in the middle of shooting when it was cancelled. By that time it had gained enough of a following that it really pissed people off. Of course in those days there weren't streaming services to pick it up and another network wouldn't take a chance on a show that was cancelled mid-season. I'm glad the movie Serenity got made to give it a proper closure. Even with all that said, this series only gets better. I love to watch reactors discover this for the first time! It's definitely well worth it!!

[@marcbloom7462]

RIP Ron Glass

[@RamblersInc]

💔

[@JAYWALKER1000]

The Network was expecting Jos to make something similar to Buffy and Angel - but Jos didn't want to repeat himself - they had no idea what he gave them - didn't understand it - didn't give it a chance. They aired the episodes out of order (this one wasn't seen until the show was already cancelled), if there was special programming Firefly was the show they'd preempt - and thats how they killed. If you actually liked the show you had no idea when it was on. I didn't learn to love it until it was in syndication. Only 14 episodes and there isn't a stinker in any of them. Jos made a movie to tie up the loose ends. Watch it once you get trought the show. Malcolm (Mal) Reynolds - the captain Zoe Alleyne - 2nd in command, married to Hoban "Wash" Washburne - the pilot Kaywinnet Lee (Kaylee) Frye - the mechanic Jayne Cobb - the muscle Inara Serra - the Companion Derriel Book - the preacher Simon Tam - the doctor River Tam - the mystery Humanity left "Earth that was" with the two languages the majority of people spoke - English and Chinese - the crew speak English but they swear in Chinese - Goram is used exactly as you said. Welcome to the Browncoats!!!!!

[@DaleESkywalker]

Welcome to the Browncoats!

[@Sinewmire]

Ah, excellent choice! I believe you're remembering BraveStarr, about a space sheriff. Firefly's a great show, especially around it's character work. It's mostly episodic, but there are storylines and arcs set up, or touched upon. The film, Serenity, resolves some of the main plots, but there was a lot left unfinished. Fox famously messed with Firefly, moving it around in the schedules and airing the episodes out of order - this being before Game of Thrones and the concept of tv as long-form storytelling becoming popular. Rumour has it, they didn't like it's politics, or just wanted episodic gunge to churn out, though in retrospect, one wonders if they didn't like Joss Whedon for reasons now obvious. This episode, for example, was the *last* one aired. Firefly got popular after it's DVD release and people could watch it in order.

[@lutzheckmann5093]

My guess would be Saber Rider and the Star Sherrifs. But you could be right as well 😊

[@Sinewmire]

@@lutzheckmann5093 yeah, yours has a robot horse rather than a cyborg one!

[@RamblersInc]

Yep. It was Bravestarr. But looking at everyone's suggestions, it's crazy just how popular the "space cowboy" genre was so popular, especially in animation.

[@Sinewmire]

@@RamblersInc cowboy films and shows were still pretty solidly on the air when I was a kid in the 80s/90s, probably because they were cheap!

[@Mindbombable]

Woo hoo

[@sandwiched]

Was the cartoon you were referencing in the end, about the cowboy riding a metal horse, _Cowboy Bebop_ perchance? I've actually never seen it myself, but I have heard many people note the similarities between it and Firefly.

[@RamblersInc]

It was Bravestarr. Super old

[@dudieb]

I have followed other reactors down the Firefly hole and it seems normal for them to start out a little unsure but intrigued. They all end up hooked and just as angry as the original fans that we only get 14 episodes and a movie. Trust me you will be pissed when it ends. By the way, Fox would not let them air this as the pilot so Joss had to quickly write a new one and that is the next episode; #2 The Train Job. I enjoyed your reaction. I Sub'd so I could follow along with you on this journey.

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for joining us 🙌 I'm definitely not looking forward to being angry 😂

[@victorluke5816]

You just watched the last aired episode of Firefly. Yes, they aired the pilot last. Everyone who saw it pretty much loved it when it was first aired. Fox did everything possible to get it cancelled and they won. Out of order airing for one of the first serialized shows. Airing it on Fridays when its audience would be going out. Getting complaints about the time slot so they just moved it around randomly without much warning.

[@RamblersInc]

I wonder if Whedon could've just taken it to a different studio or if it doesn't work like that.

[@victorluke5816]

The early 2000 were a different world. Channel jumps were rare even though i Whedon had it happen with Buffy. However that was a big hit show with 5 seasons when it jumped networks. As for the studio, they were behind the show but they just didn't have anywhere to take it. Nowadays when the Expanse got cancelled by ScifI, Amazon picked it up just like that. Netflix saved a bunch recetnly.@@RamblersInc

[@litergation]

IT'S JUST BANGER AFTER BANGER WITH YOU GUYS! Ted Lasso, The Good Place, now Firefly?!