Unpopular Opinion
Oct. 15th, 2008 11:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soc_puppetSo apparently updating my LJ in a timely fashion is no longer important to me or something? IDK, it just happened.
Anyhow, Unpopular Opinion Time!
See, here's the thing. First there were characters at CFUD, and everyone was having a blast, and I was wondering off-handedly if I shouldn't watch and maybe see what all the fuss is about, even though the internet was simultaneously biasing me against Joss Whedon works. Then there were friends of mine who said it was awesome and they loved it and I should totally give it a shot, but still I remained indifferent. After that, someone, at whose journal I lurk (a lurkee, if you will) and whose taste I generally consider a barometer for if I'll like something, professed to have enjoyed it greatly - but no, I had other things to do, other shows to watch.
And then my BFF's younger brother, younger brother's girlfriend and father professed to having found it enjoyable, and my friend said, "Fine, lemme borrow it then," and brought home the box set. And I said, "Well, I have been vaguely meaning to give it a shot," and my other roommate said, "We should make a roommates social event out of it, because I am totally interested in learning more as well." And so it was that the three of us sat down and watched the pilot episode of Firefly.
...The short version: It didn't really do anything for me. I don't think I'll be watching more.
The long version:
I'm pretty sure it was either too western or too sci-fi for me. These are not, for me, two great tastes that taste great together - or, at least, not when thrown into a pot together willy-nilly. If the sci-fi were more, say, steampunk, then I would be more likely to be all over this series like stripes on a tiger. (I don't really care for Reese's PB Cups either, though I don't object to the combination of peanut butter and chocolate as a whole.) As it is, though, it's really not grabbing my attention.
Character-wise, I've got to say I liked more of them than I didn't. Zoe and Wash totally won me over with their adorable married dynamic and, in at least Wash's case, adorable plastic dinosaur antics; the preacher was spiritual without being closed to new experiences, and willing to kick butt when the times called for it besides; and when Simon ended up sounding a lot younger than I expected, he totally won me over. Sadly, I don't think I quite saw enough of Jayne (first impression: positive XD), Inara (first impression: neutral) or River (first impression: neutral) to make any sort of decision as to whether I really cared for them or not. Mal and Kaylee, however, just ended up ...not doing anything at all for me, and in less of a neutral way. I don't know that I can really say why I didn't care for them, because taste is funny that way and I don't know that I've been introspective enough about it yet, though it could just be character type with Mal (I've never cared for John Wayne, either). I'm hoping it's not an actor thing with Kaylee, since I keep flip-flopping with how I feel about Keller in Stargate: Atlantis, but I have to admit to myself that may be part of it.
I also can't say that what little plot I saw did much for me. While I'm willing to admit that this may be because I didn't understand or even pick up enough character motivations in many cases (sometimes I couldn't find subtlety if it took a brick to my head), I'm pretty sure I did pick up enough pieces to at least make out a general shape of things. I guess what I'm mostly missing is motivations for Serenity's crew and the bad guys? Iunno. I do know that not understanding the underlying motivations for various actions has killed my love for various things in the past, though. (See: my parents sitting me through the original Star Wars trilogy before I could really get what was going on most of the time. My appreciation of something grows in direct proportion to how much of what's gong on I understand.)
I will say, however, that this show had fantastic music. It's just almost everywhere else that it fell apart for me.
In summary, while I loved the music, liked some of the characters, and even loved one or two of the interaction dynamics, the rest of the show wasn't enough to keep my interest. The sci-fi and western aspects weren't well balanced enough for me (either make the culture less western or the science more steampunk), and I just really didn't get enough worldbuilding information. Though the dialog was amusing and quotable, the show itself seemed to have a more serious and dramatic tone than humorous, a major selling point (or not-selling point, in this case) for me. I do know that series pilots are not the be-all, end-all of the series they represent, and that elements can change dramatically in the first regular episode, but in this case I didn't feel well enough invested by the pilot to continue watching.
In the end, I liked less than I didn't like, and what I liked I'd generally like to see more on television and in stories as a rule. If poked, I might give it another shot, but I make no promises.
And Unpopular Opinion done! Yay!
And now I've got a psychiatrist appointment; you guys can start shunning me when I get back, I guess.
Edit: So, giving it another try, it seems. Jaynestown has been given 100% approval as the episode to see.
Socchan: *wanders into the living room and starts poking through the Firefly DVDs* So, the internet has decided that I should give Firefly another chance. Except, like. Later. In the series.
Pat: Yeah, the first two or three episodes didn't really do anything for me either. And then I missed half an episode and came back and was all, What the hell is this series? This is awesome!
Socchan: Oh? Well, that's good to hear. Anyhow, they say I should watch Jaynestown.
Pat: Jaynestown? That's a ridiculous episode.
Socchan: Really? *finds correct DVD case*
Pat: Really, absolutely ridiculous.
Socchan: *reads episode summary* ...Wait. Is this the one that the song's from?
Pat: Yes.
Socchan: I may have to give this more thought.
Pat: You didn't like the song?
Socchan: No, I just have to think about it more. New variables to contemplate and all that.
Pat: Well, whatever.
On a completely different topic (but still quite probably some sort of Unpopular Opinion), I need to catch up on Naruto so I can write that wrongderful Karen/Suigetsu PWP my brain has been feeding me lines of all day. Or possibly not write it, depending on what's been happening in the series since last I read. Either way, really, as long as it leaves me alone.
Anyhow, Unpopular Opinion Time!
See, here's the thing. First there were characters at CFUD, and everyone was having a blast, and I was wondering off-handedly if I shouldn't watch and maybe see what all the fuss is about, even though the internet was simultaneously biasing me against Joss Whedon works. Then there were friends of mine who said it was awesome and they loved it and I should totally give it a shot, but still I remained indifferent. After that, someone, at whose journal I lurk (a lurkee, if you will) and whose taste I generally consider a barometer for if I'll like something, professed to have enjoyed it greatly - but no, I had other things to do, other shows to watch.
And then my BFF's younger brother, younger brother's girlfriend and father professed to having found it enjoyable, and my friend said, "Fine, lemme borrow it then," and brought home the box set. And I said, "Well, I have been vaguely meaning to give it a shot," and my other roommate said, "We should make a roommates social event out of it, because I am totally interested in learning more as well." And so it was that the three of us sat down and watched the pilot episode of Firefly.
...The short version: It didn't really do anything for me. I don't think I'll be watching more.
The long version:
I'm pretty sure it was either too western or too sci-fi for me. These are not, for me, two great tastes that taste great together - or, at least, not when thrown into a pot together willy-nilly. If the sci-fi were more, say, steampunk, then I would be more likely to be all over this series like stripes on a tiger. (I don't really care for Reese's PB Cups either, though I don't object to the combination of peanut butter and chocolate as a whole.) As it is, though, it's really not grabbing my attention.
Character-wise, I've got to say I liked more of them than I didn't. Zoe and Wash totally won me over with their adorable married dynamic and, in at least Wash's case, adorable plastic dinosaur antics; the preacher was spiritual without being closed to new experiences, and willing to kick butt when the times called for it besides; and when Simon ended up sounding a lot younger than I expected, he totally won me over. Sadly, I don't think I quite saw enough of Jayne (first impression: positive XD), Inara (first impression: neutral) or River (first impression: neutral) to make any sort of decision as to whether I really cared for them or not. Mal and Kaylee, however, just ended up ...not doing anything at all for me, and in less of a neutral way. I don't know that I can really say why I didn't care for them, because taste is funny that way and I don't know that I've been introspective enough about it yet, though it could just be character type with Mal (I've never cared for John Wayne, either). I'm hoping it's not an actor thing with Kaylee, since I keep flip-flopping with how I feel about Keller in Stargate: Atlantis, but I have to admit to myself that may be part of it.
I also can't say that what little plot I saw did much for me. While I'm willing to admit that this may be because I didn't understand or even pick up enough character motivations in many cases (sometimes I couldn't find subtlety if it took a brick to my head), I'm pretty sure I did pick up enough pieces to at least make out a general shape of things. I guess what I'm mostly missing is motivations for Serenity's crew and the bad guys? Iunno. I do know that not understanding the underlying motivations for various actions has killed my love for various things in the past, though. (See: my parents sitting me through the original Star Wars trilogy before I could really get what was going on most of the time. My appreciation of something grows in direct proportion to how much of what's gong on I understand.)
I will say, however, that this show had fantastic music. It's just almost everywhere else that it fell apart for me.
In summary, while I loved the music, liked some of the characters, and even loved one or two of the interaction dynamics, the rest of the show wasn't enough to keep my interest. The sci-fi and western aspects weren't well balanced enough for me (either make the culture less western or the science more steampunk), and I just really didn't get enough worldbuilding information. Though the dialog was amusing and quotable, the show itself seemed to have a more serious and dramatic tone than humorous, a major selling point (or not-selling point, in this case) for me. I do know that series pilots are not the be-all, end-all of the series they represent, and that elements can change dramatically in the first regular episode, but in this case I didn't feel well enough invested by the pilot to continue watching.
In the end, I liked less than I didn't like, and what I liked I'd generally like to see more on television and in stories as a rule. If poked, I might give it another shot, but I make no promises.
And Unpopular Opinion done! Yay!
And now I've got a psychiatrist appointment; you guys can start shunning me when I get back, I guess.
Edit: So, giving it another try, it seems. Jaynestown has been given 100% approval as the episode to see.
Socchan: *wanders into the living room and starts poking through the Firefly DVDs* So, the internet has decided that I should give Firefly another chance. Except, like. Later. In the series.
Pat: Yeah, the first two or three episodes didn't really do anything for me either. And then I missed half an episode and came back and was all, What the hell is this series? This is awesome!
Socchan: Oh? Well, that's good to hear. Anyhow, they say I should watch Jaynestown.
Pat: Jaynestown? That's a ridiculous episode.
Socchan: Really? *finds correct DVD case*
Pat: Really, absolutely ridiculous.
Socchan: *reads episode summary* ...Wait. Is this the one that the song's from?
Pat: Yes.
Socchan: I may have to give this more thought.
Pat: You didn't like the song?
Socchan: No, I just have to think about it more. New variables to contemplate and all that.
Pat: Well, whatever.
On a completely different topic (but still quite probably some sort of Unpopular Opinion), I need to catch up on Naruto so I can write that wrongderful Karen/Suigetsu PWP my brain has been feeding me lines of all day. Or possibly not write it, depending on what's been happening in the series since last I read. Either way, really, as long as it leaves me alone.
