SERENITY answered some questions but RAISED MORE * first time watching

[@ElliotNesterman]

River didn't grow up on Miranda. She and Simon grew up on Osiris, a central planet. River learned about Miranda while she was at the Academy. Remember when the Operative said, "Key members of Parliament. Key. The minds behind every military, diplomatic, and covert operation in the galaxy, and you put them in a room with a psychic." The Alliance couldn't know exactly what River had learned from the minds of those people, but they couldn't take a chance that she might reveal their most closely guarded secrets.

[@catserver8577]

The "Academy" was on Miranda, I think.

[@wolffontech]

@@catserver8577 So Simon went to Miranda to rescue her and then magically forgot that it existed? No, Miranda is a completely separate thing from the Academy.

[@morganrrhaze]

@@catserver8577the academy was on a core plant. I forgot which one. But it is shown in the show that Simon was in jail and his dad had to bail him out. He was working on information and contacts at that point. No one had been to Maranda for years. The alliance had received the message but decided to cover it up.

[@internetsideshow]

@@catserver8577 3:53 "And you put them in a room with a psychic" That is how River knows about Miranda

[@MrGBH]

They also removed the part of River's brain that allowed her to block out her emotions. Which means she couldn't not use her psychic powers

[@macfine]

"I have a blanket with her face on it" so do the Reavers now

[@brianstraight9308]

Points!

[@BuzryHaproMandalorianHunter]

Dude. Too soon.

[@captbunnykiller1.0]

🏆

[@davismccardle1]

Murder jokes LOL

[@LiveFreeOrDieDH]

👌

[@mamatthews78]

Ashley, episode 1, "I don't know about this theme song." Ashley, Serenity, "If this doesn't have the theme song, I'm gonna riot."

[@theplanetruth]

I loved this when I realized Ashleigh’s growth

[@almag4571]

Theme song: "You had a riot? On account of me? 💕"

[@therealpbristow]

Joss intended the theme to be something Mal had come up with while strumming a guitar in his cabin, but couldn't finish. He was disappointed that the final version used in the show sounded "too professional". After the show aired the song was expanded by a fan, Michele Dockrey, to a full version. Here's "Mal's Song", as performed by Vicky and Tony: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4nTZpR9edeEmLc

[@donsample1002]

@@therealpbristowThe final bit of the score for the film is the Firefly theme being played on a single guitar over the last of the credits.

[@BigDamnHero74]

@@almag4571Shiny ❤

[@BryonLape]

"She's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true." Zoë means the ship as much as herself.

[@KateCourtney-x9k]

It's also the same thing she said in the episode where Malcom has flash backs of when they got serenity

[@awakeningcry]

NO. SHIT. I could tell that the first time I saw it, who couldn't?

[@DavidDylanFisher]

The best part of all of this is Ashley not liking Jane at all but also thinking and saying all the same things as Jane

[@MagsonDare]

We hate when we see our own dark impulses in others?

[@Benefacez]

I was just gonna say, haven't seen another reactor so much like Jayne😂. I mean she hates River just like Jayne does... Lol..

[@DiabIe37]

You mean she lets the intrusive thoughts win sometimes?

[@ShaneHpixels]

A buddy and I were in the theater for a pre-release screening of this. Almost all of us in the audience were wearing brown coats, so other than some press, it was a theater full of die-hard fans. When Wash landed Serenity and said, "I am a leaf on the wind", the whole audience burst out laughing. Then a collective gasp. Then dead silence.

[@johndurrett3573]

That would have been an incredible experience. I"m glad you and you buddy were able to make it.

[@Sakrysta]

Then cries of incredulity. Then muted sobbing… 😭😭😭

[@rayjaymor8754]

I've known my wife for 21 years now. We met in high school. I've never seen her cry over a movie before or since - with the sole exception being that scene.

[@pFoz]

"How does a Reaver clean their blade? They run it though the Wash!" - Nathan Fallon joke at a ComicCon

[@masterrobert86]

As Alan Tudyk sat right next to him

[@cnut5475]

Still to soon

[@thesofahippo4055]

"How do they clean a Reaver ship? Easy, they just run a River through it!"

[@OldRod99]

Movie came out in 2005 and it's still too soon...

[@larrystuder6378]

​@@cnut5475 the obligatory reply...

[@thegingergyrl455]

I still cry over Wash. Alan Tudyk is one of my favorite actors and people period.

[@charlesbratt2504]

Mine too 🌞

[@davidedwards1705]

Miranda was a memory from one of the Alliance big shots that was put in a room with River. "It's not mine, I shouldn't have to carry it." - River Tam

[@kevinedie4119]

My favourite line possibly ever "Going on a year now nothing's twixed my nether regions not run on batteries." Laugh EVERY time

[@LongShaynx]

No shade or anything, but it's 'twixt'. Short for betwixt, or between. It's old 12th century English.

[@TheDissident77]

I met Adam Baldwin and he signed his disc for the series dvd collection, "I could stand to hear a little more." lol

[@johndurrett3573]

@@TheDissident77 Oh that is freakn hilarious!

[@bwiedor]

"I start fighting a war, I guarantee you'll see something new." That's exactly it - from the moment the Shepherd died, Mal shifted from the Captain to the Soldier. Ruthless, unyielding, willing to do whatever he has to, in order to see the battle won. And he believed in that as much as the Operative had his beliefs, making him just as dangerous. Also, what Mal did to the Operative was so much worse than making him fail, or killing him. He broke his faith, destroyed everything that he was and believed in with that video. Hence, "there is nothing left to see."

[@Mr.Ekshin]

The operative used to 'believe hard' (as Shepherd Book put it) in the cause. He justified his actions, however grotesque, in that they were somehow creating a "better world". When he saw what the Alliance had done to the people of Miranda, he lost faith in that cause. The fact that Shepherd Book seemed to know exactly the type of man that the operative was... and all about belief... makes you wonder what his role in the alliance was. Much like the operative, Book lost his faith in the alliance and found something else to believe in. And he recognized that Mal had lost his faith in many things, and needed a cause to believe in too. Makes you wonder what new cause the operative found to fill the void.

[@bwiedor]

@@Mr.Ekshin check out the “Shepherd’s Tale” comic, they do answer that.

[@mage1439]

Him breaking the operative's faith was pretty appropriate, because that's what happened to Mal himself during the war.

[@SuperDave1426]

@@bwiedor The Shepherd's Tale only tells *part* of Book's story - how he knows so much about crime. 😉 Sadly, they never got around to giving us the other part of his story, that tells how he ended up with an identity card that got him top-notch, "right now" care when they brought him to an Alliance cruiser when he was shot. It's a good book, and well worth reading; it just doesn't tell his whole story. 👍‍

[@grumpyboomer61]

​@@Mr.EkshinPerhaps the Operative found his way to a Seminary and became a Shepherd.

[@1down4upworkshop61]

The fact that Summer Glau is a dancer in real life made her fight scenes as River all the more awesome and believable ...

[@therealpbristow]

...and of course her occasional crazy poses balancing weirdly on railings, and clinging to ceilings!

[@1down4upworkshop61]

@therealpbristow if memory serves, that was her preforming that ceiling stunt when Jane was going to shoot her ...

[@mmattson8947]

It was quick (blink and you'll miss it), but Summer doing a roundhouse kick to the head of the guy grabbing her from behind was an insane use of her dance skills.

[@teemusid]

Her first appearance in a Whedon property was an episode of Angel, where she played a ballerina.

[@joshuawiedenbeck6944]

Now that you've finished everything (spoilers!): 1. In the funeral scene, Zoey wears a slinky dress. This is a callback to the episode where Wash asks Mal for money to buy her a slinky dress. Wash is now dead, meaning Mal bought Zoey the slinky dress. 2. Shepard is indeed a double agent. I'll leave the rest for you to read about. 3. Inara has a terminal illness that does not have a cure (or it was at least the plan to follow this storyline). That's why she gets irritated anytime long-term plans are discussed (relationships, kids, etc.) 4. River is able to read people's minds but also had her amygdala stripped. So she is constantly getting bombarded with everyones thoughts and memories and can't block them. That's why she lay down on the coffin and was so happy in the spacesuit outside of the ship. She finally had a chance for her brain to quiet down. 5. Joss Whedon wanted to leave the option open to do a 2nd movie. That's why a couple of issues weren't resolved (like Inara and Mal) and why Shepard and Wash died. Both of the actors had other commitments and couldn't commit to a 2nd film. 6. Although we don't know it at this point, Zoey is pregnant and goes on to have a girl.

[@lilomar2525]

"I'm a leaf on the wind." After basically crashlanding is a brilliant line. Well written, humorous, tension breaking, perfectly in character for Wash. And every Browncoat gets to enjoy it and smile at it exactly once.

[@Sleeping_Insomiac]

And, like a leaf on the wind, it's already on the way to its death, once out hits the ground.

[@rybock]

While I hated Wash getting killed, I think it was brilliant story telling, because it happens as their making their last stand, and so when our heroes are getting hit, we're now primed that any of them could die, that the notion that "well, they won't kill that person off" is taken off the table.

[@JamesWhoMakesGames]

No one who got wounded was in the movie poster. I dunno if that was intentional, but it had me terrified 😅

[@TheOdMan]

I completely disagree, usually I'm all for the meaningful sacrifice plot device, but this was not it. Wash dying had zero impact on the story, it didn't inspire anyone to do anything, I was waiting for Zoe to save the day maybe as revenge for her dead husband, but no, she was just sad, which is natural, but it doesn't really make for an interesting story arc, Wash death just didn't feel earned at all and it didn't feel impactful outside of "damn that's really sad", and imo it was a complete waste of a great character. It felt like they where trying to be shocking for the sake of shock.

[@pheenobarbidoll2016]

@@TheOdMan Exactly. I hate that " well now we know anyone could die" nonsense. It's trite and unimiginative.

[@Dularr]

They only killed off the characters for the actors who refused to sign multiple picture deal.

[@jonhoge153]

@@Dularr its not that they refused, they already had signed contracts for other projects.

[@__Andrew]

One of my favorite stories about the cast post series is Alan Tudyk (Wash) talking about a CON he did. A young woman came up to him with a picture of Wash from Firefly and asked him to sign it. He signed it "Im A Leaf On the Wind, Watch How I Soar" and handed it back to her and she started crying her eyes out and said "How could you write this on my picture?!?"

[@quietrobert2010]

I worked with Summer Glau (River) at a comic con, and years later, I saw her again, and she remembered me!

[@RobertLeather]

"Summer Glau has working memory confirmed."

[@edgarcia4794]

I've attended or worked cons for decades, That's always so cool.

[@BobarissGish]

I got Summer Glau to sign my Firefly soundtrack. She said to her manager at the time "Hey I didn't know this was made, I need a copy asap!"

[@mage1439]

Summer seems pretty awesome.

[@VernulaUtUmbra]

@@RobertLeather I mean, yeah, but I'm pretty sure the implication is that she remembered one person out of presumably hundreds after a couple of years

[@UncleMilo]

There's so many great moments in this movie, but I love when Mal gives a little pat on the shoulder of Mr. Universe's body when he hears the message he left as he was dying. It was just that little sign of respect for what Mr. Universe to help in his last dying moments.

[@cbobwhite5768]

River wasn't from Miranda, she learned about it, reading the minds of the big wigs.

[@miker252]

It's not mine. Why do I have to carry it.

[@MrDeathpilot]

@@miker252 It's also the secret that was scrambling her brain. On Miranda, after she throws up, (34:41) she says "I'm OK" ....and then she realizes she actually is OK now. She says "I'm OK" again, This time in amazement.

[@RoGueNavy]

"I could stand to hear a little more." That's literally Jayne, in a single sentence!

[@JamesLorimor]

"I'll be in my bunk."

[@raifthemad]

That's why I don't kiss them on the mouth.

[@BLACKHT3]

"Dear Buddha, Please bring me a pony and a plastic rocket." Still one of my favorite lines.

[@darkglass1]

Then River puts a plastic rocket on a plinth at the memorial site at the end of the movie.

[@TheCrystalShield]

"I'm surprised you make it this far... in that outfit..."

[@lurkerrekrul]

My favorite line comes from one of the bloopers: Jayne, don't steal too much of their shit!

[@Palitato]

My favorite line in the whole series is during the Wh*rehouse episode when River says "Who do you think is in there?" It's so ridiculously silly but actually wildly profound at the same time.

[@thecassman]

​@@darkglass1 Oh wow how did I never notice that link before? That's a very cool hark back

[@canoli62]

"A landing where everyone is a live is a good landing to me" - so perfect.

[@caldwin]

I cringed so hard when she said that.

[@djcowell91]

Oh, that was sad when you said "any landing where everyone lives" when we knew what was coming. Fun reaction, thanks for the videos as always!

[@Armadaonion]

I laughed so hard at that also. Like, talk to me again in 30 seconds

[@Wiccat1]

She wasn't wrong though. They were all still alive after the landing. It wasn't the landing that caused a fatality.

[@CaptainFrost32]

He had set the scene from his earlier planetfall. Mal: Define "interesting"... Wash: "Oh, god! Oh, God! We're all going to die!" Mal: "Just get us on the ground." Wash: "That part will happen, most definitely!" Zoe: "Are we going to crash?" Mal: "Talk to your husband.'

[@dupersuper1938]

Simon just stunned every one, he didn't slice any one's head open, as shown by the guy giving him the tour being the same guy answering the agent's questions. Mr Universe crawled to his robot wife.

[@cje499]

"So no more running, I aim to misbehave!"

[@zimnizzle]

“I’m a leaf on the wind” is the tattoo I’ll never get but will always feel etched in my heart. ❤️

[@YouLousyKids]

"Eatin' people? When's that get fun?" is one of the best lines. Actually, the best line is when Alan Tudyk said, "My script doesn't have any more pages."

[@neil2444]

For me it was when Zoey says, "You didn't think we were getting out of this alive, did you?" and Jayne says, "Well I might!"

[@stephenolan5539]

I mean to say.

[@TheDemonicPenguin]

Too soon.

[@19_meg_91]

For me it was when Kaylee said "To hell with it! I'm gonna live!"

[@GeryonM]

"I could hear a little more" does it for me.

[@PlasteredDragon]

"Mal how is it you can always tell us apart?" "Fanti's prettier." My favorite line.

[@Hiraghm]

well... he's right..

[@oldbroadwithbaggage5472]

So River didn't live on Miranda, she got the memories from one of the "high ranking officials". But that is the big thing that has been living rent free in her head and part of what drove her crazy. What happened on Miranda happened before River was even born. Remember she's only supposed to be about 17 or so. So I saw it in the theater and was a mess when Sheppard Book died, can't wait to hear an update after you read the graphic novel. I think I had just gotten over Sheppard and my adrenaline was pumping because of the ship battle, and then they killed Wash. They killed Wash! I think the entire theater let out a collective "NO! Not Wash!" and then all you heard for several minutes was tears and sniffles. So when Zoe had to leave her husband's body there and soldier on, that's exactly what she did. She went back into the soldier mentality from the war, because people died in war and you had to keep moving on. And I've always felt that her last line about "She's torn up plenty, but she'll fly true." was more of a comment about herself than about the ship. I think the audience in the theater was still crying at the very end of this movie. So why kill Sheppard and Wash? (if these have already been posted on Patreon I didn't look yet.) This had been intended to be a 3 movie series, or they had hoped to get picked up again by a network. Ron Glass (Sheppard) and Alan Tudyk (Wash) couldn't or didn't want to commit to that so Joss Wheaton decided it was better to kill them off than recast them or anything else. Last, believe me when I say you aren't the only person that was upset that Mal and Inara didn't kiss. LOL GREAT review Ashleigh! I still need to watch your full reaction, but I wasn't up for that this morning. I'll watch it when I have more time to cry. 😂

[@morganrrhaze]

Zoe’s line is about her. In the commentary Nathan said that he didn’t understand that the first time he read it and after Gena performed her part he had to do his again because he realized they were talking in short hand. He had to redo it with different emotions behind it. Think he actually said “oh this is about you”.

[@jculver1674]

Whedon said that if he had been allowed to make Season 2, it would have been about the Miranda storyline that got turned into this movie.

[@mikedignum1868]

The bruising and bloodshot eye on Nathan in the final battle are real. He took so many takes to get it just right his face ended up like that. Also, we didn't know that Zoe was pregnant at this time but hadn't told Wash...RIP Ron Glass.

[@jakubfabisiak9810]

Also note, that when Serenity is going down just before the reavers use the Spear Cleaner 5000(TM), Jayne gets banged around because he's making sure everyone else is strapped in first, and so isn't strapped in himself.

[@whoarocket]

That is kind of a subtle thing to point out if viewers didn't notice it about the growth of Jayne's character. He is actually being selfless there in assuring everyone else's safety before his own.

[@croaker260]

@@whoarocket Agreed, but we knew Jayne had a soft side in EP 1, when he is watching Kaylee get surgery....

[@larrystuder6378]

Don't think I've ever noticed that. Jayne does keep growing...

[@MsAriesQueen]

He also passes the drink to Simon sliding it across the table to him. ❤ jayne

[@jakubfabisiak9810]

@@MsAriesQueenif you can't do something smart, do something right.

[@RussellCHall]

"Hard to get to! That's a fact." Gets me every time 😊

[@MikeMozzaro]

"Will I be disappointed with this movie?" Well; you aren't going to see the one kiss you've been practically begging to see since Episode 1, and one of your favourite characters is going to be shish-kebabbed so... there's probably going to be some disappointment~

[@neil2444]

I think that's a true testament to the show though. The relationship between Inara and Mal was written so well, the writers knew they could tease more of that without giving the full satisfaction of a love story. I'd like to think though that had there been newer seasons, it would have eventually gone into a complicated love/hate relationship.

[@oldbearbrian]

@@neil2444 "gone into"? Felt like it was there from day 1.

[@gattzflappa6306]

​@neil2444 I doubt it. Joss said during the making of buffy that people love the obvious couple that can't get together, but as soon as you put them in a relationship, viewership goes down. "Happy Buffy is good, but sad buffy is great." It was something like that.

[@johnguillemette1969]

@@neil2444 If this had a restart back then, as opposed reboot, I would have opened with Zoë in labor having her & Wash's child with the Simon and Inara attending. Then a placard with "x years later "showing the child as a little kid", and that's how I'd start the movie. Still not sure if I'd also have a child of Kaylee and Simon as well. 🤔

[@stefanforrer2573]

@@johnguillemette1969ugh that sounds horrible...

[@sharkdentures3247]

To clarify a few things Ashleigh. 1) The "school" with "young River" was a Dream. (or rather a nightmare) Induced by the Academy personal's experimenting on her. It wasn't "real", nor a real memory. Just something her mind conjured up. 2) River had NEVER been on Miranda before. She "knew" ("knew" in quotation marks) about Miranda, Reavers & what happened there, because she mentally "picked up" that information from the "Key Members of Parliament" who "observed her" at the Academy. But the information was BURIED deep down in her psyche, so she wasn't consciously "aware" of it. (Which also means she doesn't personally KNOW any of the Reavers.) 3) The Alliance soldiers didn't place Mr. Universe with his Lovebot. Like the dog in John Wick dragging himself to John, Mr. Universe dragged HIMSELF to her. (In order to program/ record that dying message for Mal.) 4) "There is nothing left to see." I think the Operative wasn't talking about "self-deletion" as much as that, as former ZEALOT, Mal completely "destroyed" him by "breaking his faith". Also implying that sooner or later (probably sooner) the Alliance would send someone to KILL him anyways since he is "no longer their man".

[@lyregal5]

Out of college I got a job with a company that made subtitles for this movie. My training included watching this movie with subtitles before it was even in theatres . I’d never seen the show, but knew my sister liked the series so this movie is what made me watch the show. And I took my sister to see it in the theatre and made sure not to spoil it.

[@morganrrhaze]

I missed the show Entirely. But went back and watched it after seeing this in theaters.

[@JayG63]

I love the subtext when Mal asks "Wil she fly? And Zoe responds, "She's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true. " They're both talking about Zoe, not Serenity.

[@LaBlueStateGirl]

Something that you might find interesting: there is a legit episode 15 script that you can google to find out what would have happened in the next episode and it featured Mr. Universe, so his character was going to join the recurring cast members of the Firefly universe.

[@TheCrystalShield]

Wooah, didn't know that, thanks!!!

[@Hanneth]

The most common script on the Internet was one that was rejected and parts were used in 2 episodes that did air. There were hopes from the writer to reuse more of it later on. Joss did mention that there was a 15th script that was at least in first draft, if not in final form when they were cancelled, which was slated for shooting after The Message. There was also a 16th script that was en the early stage and had just been green lit to go into full draft writing, but it was only a basic outline at the time. The Message originally was to take place after Objects in Space, but after being cancelled, Joss thought that Objects in Space was a better send off to the show, so he did a bit of re-editing. The movie was what part of Season 2 was planned to be. Joss basically fully wrote Season 2 when he was writing the script for the movie, then remembered, he couldn't have a 15 hour movie. Having to mostly cut it down to the main arc of the season, which was going always be leading to Miranda. When the movie was green lit, Joss said he knew he had to kill a main character, but had no idea who it would be. There was an option for a second movie, if the first did well at the box office. There were 2 actors that couldn't commit to more than one movie, Ron Glass and Alan Tudyk. As Joss said, kind of made the decision easy. The movie unfortunately did not do well at the box office. Whedon does not like people feeling comfortable, he wants you to think that anyone could die at any time. Just see some of his other work. Though to be fair, with The Avengers, he was told he had to kill of a main character. Poor Coulson. You might want to read the comics though. A Shepard's Tale tells you Book's full back story. Zoe and Wash having a baby was a story point in Season 2. This was kept in the comics with Zoe having unknowingly gotten pregnant just before the events of the movie. Yes, Mal and Inara get together, and we find out why she ended up on Serenity. I actually need to go back and read them again because it has been a while and I've forgotten everything that happens. Joss was involved in at least some of the comics.

[@inkwolf77]

I like how over time Ashleigh went from "It's not the best intro music I've ever heard" to "If we do not get the Firefly theme song in this, I am going to riot".

[@MH-jx1hc]

River grew up with Simon on one of the inner planets. She learned of Miranda when she was displayed to the high state officials, whilst they were experimenting on her. That's why she talks about having memories that are not her own and, "Old men covered in blood, never touched it but are swimming in it." The dreams she has are just normal dreams/nightmares. They are her brain trying to reconcile the memories that she unintentionally pulled from the minds of the Alliance officials.

[@robinhood2524]

"I am to misbehave." One of the best lines ever.

[@y00t00b3r]

aim

[@robinhood2524]

@@y00t00b3r Sorry, did my typo harm you in some way? Do you feel superior now? Hope this doesn't affect my final grade. Have a superior day.

[@IanM-id8or]

I love it that when you watched the first episode you didn't like the theme song at all, and by the time you got to the movie you're ready to riot because it's not there. It does grow on you

[@ragabashmoon1551]

The code phrase to deactivate River is "Eto kuram na smekh!," which is Russian, and translates as "That's laughter for chickens." It's a Russian idiom meaning that something is absurd.

[@kylefrandsen2665]

Joss revealed that the backstory of Inara and why she distanced herself from Malcolm is that she had a terminal disease and thought it would be selfish to pursue the relationship. Oddly, in Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds' character leaves her character when he discovers he has a terminal disease.

[@derekclear3913]

Also in the Deadpool 2 trailer where he is changing (slowly) in the phone box there are Firefly posters all over the background scenery.

[@johndurrett3573]

@@derekclear3913 Nice..I gotta rewatch that.

[@Sakrysta]

Hints of this included: The syringe in The Train Job. People thought it was a suicide shot, but it was likely Inara’s medication, and implied her thinking she would die of her disease, not by Reavers. Her “check-up” on Ariel. “Same as last year” note she didn’t say she passed or was healthy. Nandi’s realization in “Heart of Gold” that Inara’s sadness wasn’t just about not being with Mal. Nandi didn’t know what was wrong, but she did know it was more than unrequited feelings.

[@SeerMagicX]

@@Sakrysta You are missing my favorite one. Which I use as proof when people claim she wasn't dying. The episode where she looks up and away and says "I don't want to die at all".

[@Sakrysta]

Yes!!! I knew I was forgetting something!

[@Uhthis]

I'm so happy you went through this journey! The feeling you have about the lost potential, the loss of such stories we could have been told, it's something all fans of Firefly deal with forever lol

[@jasonmack760]

My favorite part of all this? Ashleigh disliking the theme song at the beginning, singing along after a few episodes, then *demanding* it play by the end. :)

[@RoGueNavy]

The first Reaver that River punches in slow motion...is played by Neil Patrick Harris!

[@ThomasPhillip-d9e]

Is that actually true

[@RoGueNavy]

@ThomasPhillip-d9e it is.

[@Endigo_Vandane]

It's been 19 years and Wash's death still hurts. I saw this on the big screen when it came out and from the moment of Wash getting got upto the moment we see the gravestones, I was in denial. A great movie and a great reaction. Thank you Ashleigh.

[@davidl5452]

This has been an amazing journey. So glad that you enjoyed it so much. Just a small note on Mr. Universe. You said it was nice that the solders put him with his wife (robot). They didn't. He crawled there after they left him for dead so he could record the message for Mal.

[@Uncle_T]

"My turn." Oooh yeah! :)

[@Ew_Michelle]

When my bestie & I saw Serenity in the theater, all of us Browncoats started singing the theme song on our own- all the muggles in the audience were looking around, confused and probably a bit creeped out 🤣🤣

[@diamondem]

"She's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true." Zoe's not really talking about the ship there.

[@Jason_xofilos]

Well on the surface Zoe is talking about the ship and her repairs. She is also talking about herself at a deeper level.

[@awakeningcry]

NO. SHIT. I could tell that the first time I watched it

[@diamondem]

@@Jason_xofilos True. I did mean at face value it's about the ship, but I was really just clarifying the subtext for Ashleigh as she didn't acknowledge it when Zoe said it, so she may have missed it.

[@diamondem]

@@awakeningcry Good for you? Plenty of people miss the subtext the first time around so what's the issue with pointing it out?

[@lordofalltime]

Kaylee's line about how "nothing' Twix my neither's, weren't run by batteries" always makes me laugh. Also Mal says that it's been 8 months since the pilot episode, and Zoe got the "slinky" dress that Wash wanted to get her during the Shindig episode

[@red9delta877]

How do Reavers clean their spears? They run them through the Wash. I'll see myself out.

[@secondghost]

🤣🤣

[@ApacheGamer]

Beat me to it. Lol

[@wynnyx7071]

straight to jail meme.

[@michaelweinacht7811]

IIRC, this joke was first told publicly by Nathan Fillion at a comicon panel IN FRONT OF Alan Tudyk

[@Philbert-s2c]

@@michaelweinacht7811 The look on Tudyk's face is absolutely priceless.

[@DudeLongcouch]

49:53 "Love keeps her in the air when she oughtta fall down." You ever notice how Nathan Fillion was looking right at the camera when he delivered that line? That was a message to the fans that this movie only existed because of their incredible passion and love for the series. New Browncoats everyday, and once a Browncoat, always a Browncoat.

[@NostalgiaBrit]

*Browncoats* of the world, _UNITE!_ ✊🏻

[@DudeLongcouch]

@@NostalgiaBrit Can't stop the signal.

[@NostalgiaBrit]

@@DudeLongcouch let us _all_ *aim to misbehave!* ✊🏻

[@DudeLongcouch]

@@NostalgiaBrit like big damn heroes B-)

[@NostalgiaBrit]

@@DudeLongcouch ain’t we just! 😏

[@AndrewKendall71]

It's one of the things I like most about Joss' writing. He treats death the way it happens in real life. It's often random, senseless. That, plus his casting and wittiness really draws you in where the situation is otherwise wildly unrealistic. Kinda brilliant.

[@ghostbeetle2950]

He was terrific, but I am so glad he had to stop before woke reached its peak. I don't ever want to see what a Whedon show might have looked like under woke management. I'm eternally grateful I got to experience at least thirty years of good, normal entertainment before we re-entered the Dark Ages. The Eighties, Nineties and Noughties were a glorious time to grow up in.

[@legendaccount3247]

@@ghostbeetle2950 Joss Whedon pioneered gay relationships on TV you moron.

[@unkindestcut]

@@ghostbeetle2950Seriously? If Whedon started Buffy today, you lot would be calling it “woke,” even though Whedon’s “feminism” was almost entirely performative given how he treated his female cast members.

[@AndrewKendall71]

@@unkindestcut Couple of thoughts-though I wasn't planning to start a whole thing-I agree, it's difficult when he's got those accusations and I find the women in those cases believable, too. Makes it hard to trust the man. But there are a lot of artists and musicians and such whose art I can appreciate or even really love who turn out themselves to be absurd humans. Also, I kinda find it easy to agree with ghostbeetle because the timing of Joss' work was when it was just a political bent, a prevailing cultural awareness and fighting for women. But these day's the "wokeness" is more like an outrageous religion that works to pit people against one another. One is easy to watch and dismiss what you don't agree with. The other berates the person not lining up with the beliefs.

[@ghostbeetle2950]

@@unkindestcut Bull. Not a single one of Whedon's characters was ever left without a proper development. Not a single Mary Sue, not a single unearned succes amongst them. And Whedon never tore down his male characters to build his female ones up more. Whatever anyone thinks of him personally, he knew how to write. That is all.

[@Br0nto5aurus]

If it makes you feel any better, in the Firefly comic book continuation, Zoe gives birth to Wash's baby 8 or 9 months after the events of this movie.

[@Tomcatt817]

I was deployed to Iraq when I watched the Firefly series. One of my friends had lent me the series to watch and I downed it in a just a few days. When it was finished I went back to him to see if he had season two. Sadface, "Yea, well about that....but I do have Serenity"

[@derekclear3913]

There is a copy of the series on the ISS.

[@BigDamnHero74]

Thank you for your service!

[@michaelhoward142]

At least you got to enjoy all the episodes without knowing there wouldn't be more.

[@Tofushoots]

I can't explain how much I love her laugh and how good it makes me feel.

[@TheReturnOfSak]

Now that the Browncoat initiation is done, welcome to the family Ashleigh. We all went through this. The only thing left is to read the comics and novels. There's a lot that happens after the movie and a lot of answers to questions you brought up throughout the season. Welcome to the family.

[@BigDamnHero74]

No power in the ’Verse can stop us ❤

[@brucechmiel7964]

I love that attention to detail you see the scar crow gave Mal when he threw that skinning knife at him at the end of The Train Job.

[@givaFlyingFiggz]

Nathan (Mal) loved this series so much when the series ended, that he grabbed just about any prop that wasn't nailed down; then after the movie ended, he grabbed just about any prop that wasn't nailed down. In interviews, he stated that if he ever won a lottery, he would spend it on rights to the show and start airing new episodes.

[@markmosley3547]

He wore the costume in an episode of Castle.

[@metheus108]

@@markmosley3547 'The Part You Don't Know You Need Until You Need It' is also on a bookshelf in that show, I think you can see it in the same episode with the "Space Cowboy" costume. Also, when Becket asked where he learned Chinese, he says something like "From a show I loved.'

[@cybergeek11235]

@@markmosley3547 Man, the first 2.9 seasons of that show were so great...

[@bbbabrock]

For just a split second his dick is visible (just barely) in an episode of Rick and Morty.

[@RoGueNavy]

When I saw this in the theater on opening night, it was a packed house. When Book died, the room was nearly totally silent, with just a few quiet sobs in the background. When Wash died, there were howls of outrage.

[@spidermanjj]

Yeah, my biggest memory of seeing the movie was the woman in the seat behind me making a noise like she had been punched in the stomach when Wash died. I get why they did it though, after that it felt like no one was safe

[@Raidr]

Ashleigh: PLEASE please spend some time watching the Firefly outtakes. One of the best outtakes from any series/movie ever. You will not be disappointed

[@MsAriesQueen]

Second this! Hilarious group of people!

[@RaistliniltsiaR]

"Put Book front and center, he's our friend, we should honor him!"

[@TatewakiKunoAge17]

TRAAAAAAAAAAAAP!

[@maticman94]

One of us! One of us! Glad you enjoyed the series. I enjoyed your hilarious reactions throughout! Keep it up.

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

"Old men, covered in blood. Never touched them, but they're drowning in it." She's referring to the members of Parliament and presumably the military leaders who are responsible for all the bad shit she knows about...particularly the Reavers. They're all old men, and every death at the hands of the Reavers (or there own military goons and such) is on their hands. They've never personally killed anyone, but their policies and orders have killed millions.

[@RedwoodTheElf]

River had never been to Miranda before. Remember, the Tams' parents were wealthy inner system. She found OUT about it from the politicians who visited the facility (She was, in fact, psychic) but buried it deep in her subconscious.

[@k_t18]

I’m glad you didn’t get spoiled for Sarah Paulson because I knew you would enjoy it. As a fun fact you’ve seen Mr Universe before…in Addams Family Values as the boy at camp that ended up with Wednesday

[@JaxMerrick]

As well as Bernard the Head Elf in The Santa Clause.

[@dupersuper1938]

I liked him in Numb3rs.

[@heathergarnham9555]

And 10 things I hate about you

[@bobbuethe1477]

And he was in a very bad "Justice League" CBS-TV pilot made in 1997. You can find it online (but not on KZbin) with a little websurfing.

[@krisbrown6692]

Ashleigh: I wasn't prepared to lose Shepard, I wasn't prepared to lose Shepard. Serenity: Hold my beer...

[@jamesjohnston1935]

Now you need to watch Castle. For no other reason than to catch all the Firefly easter eggs.

[@ghostbeetle2950]

But stop after season 3 or 4. It's very diminishing returns after that, unfortunately.

[@lastguyminn2324]

Space cowboy.

[@christinabrown8399]

I didn’t stop, Jayne showed up later than that.

[@ghostbeetle2950]

@@christinabrown8399 If you want more Jay watch Chuck instead!XD

[@nickandsue1]

I think Nathan is better in the rookie, he's not as smug as castle

[@anonagain]

46:22 - Neil Patrick Harris cameo. Seriously! Thanks for sharing the journey Ashleigh!

[@c6uille]

WHAT THE F!!!!!!!!!

[@Bluesparot]

All the actors had to sign contracts for three films. Alan “Wash” couldn’t because of other obligations. That is why he died. Plus Fox didn’t make the movie, Universal had to pay for the rights and they made it.

[@toinenosoite3173]

Thank you for the journey! This is a series that I simply love: the story of course, but especially the characters and their interplay. It has been so much fun to experience it again through your eyes.

[@RadioAlaster]

Hey Asheleigh, glad to have seen you finally finish up the Firefly saga. A few notes for you to think about, is that River didn't grow up on Miranda. One of the themes than ran thru the show and the movie was that central planets were protected by the alliance, border planets were generally discarded. When River was captured and experimented on as the "Operative/bad guy" says there were key government officials in the same room with her. Just thru being in proximity of her, she psychically learned about what happened on Miranda. And she couldn't cope with knowing that information. It's why when she was remembering and even misremembering her time at school that she kept sawing flashes of reavers, in people's faces, or how how the teach asked them all to just lie down and go to sleep. I can't say for sure if she knew exactly what had happened there, but she certainly had a hunch about something very wrong occuring on the planet. Something so important to her, that she would basically pull a mutiny on the ship to make sure the crew knew what was bothering her. The one thing I will say about it's cancellation is, at the time I was supremely bummed out because I felt like it could have gotten so much more interesting. But on the flip side, it didn't get franchised long enough to get bad. I suppose in my mind that's the trade off. I would have loved an extra episode with Shepard Book, Or More with Inara. But this movie managed to sort of wrap everything up well enough for me even if some questions were left unanswered.

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

'It isn't mine! The memory, it isn't mine! I shouldn't have to carry it!" River didn't grow up on Miranda, she had knowledge and memories from Alliance Parliament Members about Miranda. They blur with her own memories and those of the people around her.

[@ryanotorpedo]

54:46 technically we did see Inara kiss Mal during our Mrs. Reynolds Also don't know if you noticed but the opening scene on the serenity is done in one full shot to help establish the ship and the crew

[@therealpbristow]

Yep, apart from cleverly disguised but necessary cut when Mal and Simon are on the staircase.... Because the set for the upper deck was actually built *beside* the lower one.

[@ryanotorpedo]

@@therealpbristow I think also that was the furthest they could get before someone messed up and yelled Summer! Lol

[@MrWillheim]

It was fun to join you in the Firefly universe. Such a great show

[@venerac2759]

At 53:55 I think there is some un-intentional double audio tracks with a snippet from something else. Loved experiencing this with you!

[@kaisokusekkendou1498]

It's the missing audio from back at 35:30 with the sex bot, maybe? It got quiet and I originally thought she had done a string of swears that she blipped out, lol.. but it seems the audio got moved accidentally in her video editor? Typo maybe? Transposed 35 for 53, etc?

[@KlooKloo]

@@kaisokusekkendou1498 it seems like it accidentally got added to the track with the "like & subscribe" animation overlay, and then whenever that was copy-pasted in, the missing audio also played. This happened in another of her reactions earlier, with LOUD ass music lol

[@dbluwlf3596]

My favorite villain line was when Mal and the Operative have their first encounter. "I'd start whistling." "Captain... what do you think is going to happen here?" One of the coldest lines ever.

[@gr8fulded]

Big fan of Firefly here. I recommend checking out The Expanse, too. Not light, like Firefly, but a fantastic sci fi series.

[@elphabarichardson607]

I second The Expanse.

[@rons8654]

@@elphabarichardson607 It's just too darned bad that Amazon never saw fir to finish it. I Read it through, the ending would have been epic and glorious...

[@chopper2429]

51:11 She was never on the planet, she read the minds of key members of Parliament. That's why she says the memories "aren't mine, I shouldn't have to carry them." It wasn't until that message triggered her that they came to the surface.

[@ryanotorpedo]

You are now a full blown browncoat and as this movie is rough like a Spear piercing right into our hearts remember "when you cant run, you crawl and when you cant do that you find someone to help carry you the rest of the way" we are all here to help carry each other

[@robbycarroll5608]

I don't know if you want to call this Head Canon, or Fan Theory. But what I've deduced from all of the hints and insinuations that were left throughout the series and the movie, is that Shepherd Book's backstory is basically the same as The Covert Operative's story throughout the movie especially at The End of the movie. I believe that Shepard Book was an Alliance operative during the war that had became Disillusioned about the Alliance, and disappeared himself after the war ended. Going into seclusion at the monastery where he became a shepherd, and after 6 years leaving the monastery and the first thing he comes across is the crew of the Serenity on Boros. I think that's why he knew so much about the criminal underworld, and why one look at his identity card by the captain of that ship immediately authorized him for all medical assistance after he was shot.

[@Insaneian]

Just a heads up, there's about 15 seconds of silence after Mr Universe gets skewered. Your whole commentary there has no audio. ::edit:: I'm wrong, the audio from that part plays at 53:56...over what your saying there 😅

[@CoverBandDrummer]

Found your missing audio! 53:55

[@Insaneian]

@@CoverBandDrummer I said that in the second half of my comment 😅

[@CoverBandDrummer]

@@Insaneian Oops - so you did! Sorry!

[@Insaneian]

@@CoverBandDrummer no worries!

[@johnscott4196]

Miranda is where the reader part of River comes out. She lives those memories and can't stop

[@carlosspeicywiener7018]

If you have any questions about shepherd book and his backstory, just pay attention to the nameless man that's chasing river and simon. Book was that guy 20 years before the events of the series when we meet him. It explains why he knows so much about so many things and why he's so highly regarded by the alliance. And it gives him impetus to join the brotherhood, forsaking all else in his life. Plus, I believe that the nameless man in the movie left everything behind and joined a different monastery where he'll have adopted a new name and refashioned himself over say, 20 years or so.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

That’s how I always took the ending of the nameless man. It was basically Joss giving us Book’s backstory, without spoon feeding it to us, which I appreciate. I appreciate the ending lines with Mal & Inara too. It would’ve been too easy to have them kiss & give everyone that kind of trite ending.

[@Dularr]

Book has three backstories. I do like the idea his stories are hinted at.

[@morganrrhaze]

This was the prevailing fan theory until joss published the shepherds tale that Ashley shows at the end. We were close in a lot of the theories but way off in others.

[@Brian-qn7fn]

Not true.

[@Henrik_Holst]

that is just a fan theory (it's so interesting how people always post fan theories as facts on Joss shows) that Joss himself debunked when The Shepards Tale came out years ago. That said however, the nameless man would be a promising recruit for a future Shepard like character.

[@alexboehm2514]

I missed Firefly during its first run but a new friend at University lent me the DVDs so he would have someone to go see Serenity with when it came out plus he knew I liked Sci-Fi (we bonded over that). I banged off Firefly in a few days then went to see Serenity that weekend. The movie was great. The better, and most memorable event from that night, was listening to my friend angry rant the full 40 minutes straight, in public, trip from the theatre back to our dorms. Great night, great movie, great series. Glad you enjoyed the trip in much the same way I did.

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

Wash died. Zoe is not a regular human, she's a soldier. You see your friends fall and you're in a battle, you put it aside and deal with the battle...no time for grieving. If you survive you will have time for grief later. You can't take the time to deal with it til the battle is over. Then you can fall apart. You have to possess that ability to compartmentalize or you die. Welcome to actual war. Been there. The shakes and tears come after.

[@rayevarney]

Came here to say this

[@OldRod99]

"I wasn't prepared to lose Shepherd"... oh... oh my

[@lonnieeastin6401]

There's a thing called "The River Tam Sessions". Adds a little back story that you might like. Also, there's two graphic novels between Firefly and Serenity. Also good.

[@kaisokusekkendou1498]

I think Firefly paved the way for this type of show to become popular. If not in the industry, then the folks who watched it spent the next 10 years getting into the industry and making shows more like it. While much more drama and less comedy, the show The Expanse gave me some very similar vibes: wild west in space, with different factions at each other's throats, quirky different languages and vastly different settings, etc. Complete with sci-fi mystery undertones. I've noticed many other shows and movies that have picked up some similar elements to Firefly as well, though The Expanse is the one that actually made me think of Firefly when I first started watching it. It definitely left an impact on our media, even with only a partial season and a movie. Such a good show.

[@hackthedungeon]

They did such a good job of building up reavers throughout the show. Not just the writing, but the acting when talking about them, they were more terrifying than anything before them.

[@LordVolkov]

'More terrifying than anything before them' 🤔 Sure Jan... The Reavers are the first threat introduced, and the last time they are mentioned is episode 3... The blue hands are mentioned at least as much and Niska has two whole episodes devoted to him (and he actually manages to kill Mal...) Whedon just picked one of his unresolved mystery boxes and went with it for the movie.

[@hackthedungeon]

​@LordVolkov i didn't mean before then in the show. There are very few terrifying things in any show on television. I have never seen a show that did a better job of making a bad guy scary. I also do not believe he just "picked an unresolved" bad guy and put them in the movie. I think the plan all along was to have them be the big bad of the show, it just wasn't around long enough.

[@LordVolkov]

@@hackthedungeon If he did, wouldn't he have more of them in his show? A hastily created villain (Niska) from the pilot 2.0 (Train Job), which was written after the 2-part pilot was filmed (and whatever pre-production worldbuilding Joss did before that), has more screen time than the Reavers...

[@victorluke5816]

There was a six season run planned for this show. Reavers were supposed to show up throughout it. @@LordVolkov

[@hackthedungeon]

@@LordVolkov If you are wanting to have multiple seasons of a show, you don't jump right in with the big bad in season 1 episode 1. You ease into it. Dribble little bits in along the way. keep them mysterious and unknown. It builds the fear, that is what foreshadowing is for. That is why you don't see Jaws until the 1 hour 21 minute mark of the original movie, to build suspense.

[@JuryRigged]

Fanty and Mingo are always such a highlight. I just absolutely love that little shrug of 'you know he's right'. But by far the greatest moment in the whole film is the Operative's face when the Reavers show up. From smug to 'we're all going to die' in a half-second. Also, fun trivia, the scene where the crew agrees to the plan was longer, but they trimmed it down on the logic that 'well, if Jayne's agreeing, then everyone else is definitely in on the plan'. And possibly the most controversial decision ever in taking out, well...

[@VixenIcaza]

A couple of things now you have seen Serenity. 1) The ship feels such a character because she was built as 2 long sets and the cast hung out on her between takes. 2) Zoe goes on to captain her own firefly class ship named Jetwash.

[@croaker260]

Wash's death: Tears. Lots of tears. And the funeral...we all mourned with them. It was so beautiful and no words at all...... and Zoe saying "she's torn up plenty, but shell fly true" hit so hard. I saw this in the theaters and the WHOLE audience gasped/cried out and then was speechless after this. it hit us all hard. And (as Joss Whedon intended).. we couldn't recover before the next hit, and the next one. Brutal. Mal's words about love were in our wedding ceremony... "Love. Can know all the math in the 'verse but take a boat in the air that you don't love? She'll shake you off just as sure as a turn in the worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home.”

[@TheAes86]

In the series Josh Whedon said everyone had a secret, not just River. Inara's was that she was dying. She was suffering from a disease with no known cure. That's why she left the "House" where her friend said she could have made head of household of if she had stayed. It's also why she didn't take a cruise ship and chose to go on Serenity. So she could see the Universe before she died. Also to maybe find something that could help her. Only 2 clues in the series to her secret. In the 1st episode passing the reavers she pulls out a syringe, which was hinted was some sort of painless suic.ide drug. Probably for her to take if the disease became too painful. And in "Out of Gas" when Simon was talking to her and said he didn't want to die on the ship, she responded "I don't want to die at all" which seemed like a weird throw away line. Also why she doesn't want to get into a relationship with Mal besides the fact of her job and the obvious issues that would have created. She knows she is dying and so doesnt want a commitment to someone and cause more pain to them, especially Mal who lost so much.

[@BigDamnHero74]

Actually, her dying of cancer was a different plot point. During a 2012 Science Channel Firefly reunion special, executive producer Tim Minnear explained that now-controversial writer-director, Joss Whedon, actually pitched the show to him based on a dark storyline involving Inara's syringe, explaining that the syringe contains a poison that is to be used in the case a Companion's client becomes violent. The violator would then "die a horrible death" after the sexual encounter. This plot point was to be used in a future episode where the Reavers kidnap Inara. Malcolm would arrive on the Reaver ship in order to save Inara, only to find all the Reavers dead-implying that the syringe had been used. Malcolm then "gets down on his knee, and he takes her hand. And he treats her like a lady."

[@TheAes86]

@@BigDamnHero74 Well I think Fillion came up with that as a possible story (or Alan Tudyk) Not that it was shown necessarily as that was the reason it was shown in the 1st episode. I saw that special as well.

[@donkfail1]

Another sci-fi series that ended prematurely in 2003 was Farscape, that I actually liked much more than Firefly (but perhaps I shouldn't try making you reacting to a four season long series...). Farscape was all planned out to have five seasons, but while making the fourth they got notice that it would be the last and tried to make an open ending that didn't ruin the whole show for the audience. But right after they were able to make a three hour mini series to tie things up quite nicely. OK, thinking about it some more, I totally recommend you to watch Farscape. They put all the resources on practical effects like makeup, animatronics and awesome puppets (it was a Henson production, so ... awesome!), rather than CGI that may not have aged very well. But it turned out to be much better that "Muppets in space" as some feared it would be. The absolute majority of the alien characters are just people in great makeup. But you do what you feel like. It usually turns out for the best.

[@oscardiggs246]

"I don't know if I should get ready to cry. I don't know if I should be ready to be disappointed..." Yes to the second one, but double yes to the first one.

[@wild_lee_coyote]

I love how the entire opening landing sequence walking through the entire ship is in a one take. (Yes I know it was two by the spice is so seamless). So many quotes from that one scene.

[@Swenglish]

River didn't grow up on Miranda. She grew up with Simon. She got the Miranda knowledge psychically from being in a room full of people with top secret information in their heads.

[@Dracounguis]

When buying the Firefly DVDs it was a pleasant surprise to find that they were unaired episodes. 😆