Well, I figured it was pretty much a given that the show wasn't exactly a huge hit, given that it ran all of 13 episodes before being cancelled.

Also, I figured it was also a foregone conclusion by now that the movie didn't do all that well in theaters (didn't it do all right on DVD, though? I seem to remember that it was hanging around on the amazon charts for a while and such).

I mean seriously, do you honestly think either Slayer2005 or myself were really trying to say that Firefly or Serenity were runaway mainstream hits and just a few people here didn't like the shows, or that we were referring to how the movie was received in contrast to the show among fans of the show?

While I can't speak for Slayer2005, I know that I was referring to how much the rest of the fans liked the movie. I didn't specifically mention that part of it because I guess I figured that it was pretty much a given that people who didn't like the show (or have never seen it), were definitely the majority, given the whole human population.

Heck, if you want to use this very thread as a sample, out of everybody who has voiced a specific opinion on the movie, we've had two who downright don't like it, one at "ok", and seven people who have rated it at least "good", so even given this very thread the people who don't like the movie are in the minority. Of course, I wouldn't presume that that represents Firefly fans (or god forbid, the general public) as a whole.

My only point was that because I saw two rather negative opinions of Serenity in a row like that, I was a little confused, since I had always figured that Serenity was rather well liked among Firefly fans, but, as I mentioned, the two dissenting opinions could just be the minority.

I like the series and the movie, but most fans I know aren't that keen on the pilot.

Was just "OK" with the two hour pilot, loved the series more and more as it went along, and thought the movie was very good but far from "the best sci-fi movie ever".*


* something I got from one of the podcasts I listen to.

My wife and I just watched the series & movie for the first time last month. She warmed to it much more quickly than I did. But by the end of the series, I was ready to dive in for the second time. So it does get much better I'd say.

I enjoyed the movie as well.

Personally I loved every minute of Firefly and wished there was more. It was a fun show.

I remember when this aired on TV, I really wanted to like it... but for some reason it just didn't do it for me (granted I only watched 'the train job'), and since it was a friday night dud I actually kinda forgot about it after a couple weeks.

When the DVDs came out I decided to give it a second try for a single reason: Joss Whedon. And I'm glad I did. While I found "Serenity" rather boring, around episode 5 it takes off like crazy and never lets you catch a breath.

Personally I really liked the movie, but I didn't love it like I thought I would. It was funny becaue I went and saw the first showing in my college town, and it was the first time I've ever been to a 11am movie that was sold-out. I dragged my parents along that hated 'firefly' on principle (they hated buffy), and I think they actually enjoyed the movie more than I did...

I don't think anyone here was under the delusion that Whedon's work was immensely popular. You're obviously misunderstanding the context that "minority" was being used here, i.e. in the context of people who have seen the movie, and thus could give an opinion about it. Of those that have seen the movie, the numbers show that the majority liked it.

From www.rottentomatoes.com :

Of the Critics, 80% of them listed liked the movie, with the film earning an average rating of 7.1/10. Of the users, 92% of them listed liked the movie, with the film earning an average rating of 8.4/10.

On, www.imdb.com , the film has earned a weighted average vote of 8.0/10. Over 50% of the voters actually rated the film 10/10, and the film has an arithmetic mean of 8.7/10, and a median of 10/10.

Box office and TV ratings only show how many people have seen a particular movie/TV episode, not whether or not it was liked. Of those who've seen the film, those that disliked it are in the minority, while the majority of people did like it.

This is where the holes in your argument really show. By your logic, no show could ever be considered well-liked, since even the most popular shows get a minority of the audience. This is why when people discuss opinions about a show or movie, they are by default talking about the opinions of those who have seen it. Including the non-opinions of those who haven't seen it is unhelpful and unnecessary.

You're using faulty logic. You can't claim the reverse is true, because the majority of people haven't seen the film, and thus can neither give a negative or positive opinion of it. So while those who like the film are in the "minority," those who didn't like the film are in an even further minority. Or, to put it another way, of the minority of people from the general populace that actually saw the film, the majority of them liked it.

As one of the critics, I'll clarify. I really dug firefly. When I watched the Serenity film, I thought most of it was fine. What did I not like? The conversion of an interesting, mysterious, somewhat scary character into "River, the Vampire Slayer".

Some questions:

Why does every single FIREFLY / SERENITY thread end up being dragged down with the same 'Firefly wasn't a hit, Serenity wasn't a hit, look at the statistics and charts to prove how many people did or didn't like it' bullshit?

Does any of that even matter now?

Are box-office returns and ratings all there is to discuss regarding this subject, repeated until the end of time?

Guys, I don't really care about rating or popularity and I don't want to debate over rating or popularity. I just wanted to know if it would improve the show after few episodes, that's all.

FWIW, I loved the show, and "The Train Job," although I thought "Bushwacked," the one with the Reaver, was pretty weak. It does get better as the show goes on. "Shindig" is good fun, although "Safe" is a bit weak as well. From "Our Mrs. Reynolds" on, the show really gets going.

Never watched Buffy or Angel, forced to watch Firefly by a good friend, wasn't hooked until Our Mrs. Reynolds.

Can't recommend the series enough. Great blind buy for anyone thinking about making the move.

Can't recommend the movie.

Okay, I completed the series and movie. [sigh] I only can say it's not a great TV series - IMO, of course, it's just O.K..

The movie is somewhat better than the series.

Well, you tried. I guess not everyone can fall for the charm of the characters. Most Firefly fans feel the series is vastly superior to the film (even though it's also very well liked).

However, Firefly is only my 3rd favorite Whedon's series. Buffy & Angel are in another league, IMO. I probably wouldn't have give Firefly the time of day had I not already been a fan of the guy.

Who wouldn't love Our Mrs. Reynolds?



But seriously, I loved the show and the movie.

Am I the only one who really liked Shindig?

Bushwacked and The Message were probably me least favorite episodes. But even those had their moments.

I just got into the show over the last couple of weeks. I hate Fox now more than ever and I already hated them quite a bit.

OK, I just want to apologize.

Back in 2002 when this first premiered on Fox, I wasn't at all interested in watching the program and I didn't. Of course I was not a Nielsen household, so I cannot be directly blamed for the low ratings.

Here it is, 5 1/2 years later and about 3 months ago, I set a season pass up for this show on the Universal HD channel.

Last night I finished watching all 13/15 episodes and I must say that it was a good show that was/is very different than most of the dramas that have been broadcast these last 10 years or so.

And how can you go wrong with one of the most beautiful actresses to ever grace the small screen:



She is about as close to perfection as they get.

The one problem I had was trying to watch these in the order they were aired, thinking that was the order intended to view them. The last 2 episodes I saw last night were Serenity Pts 1 & 2. Even though I recorded those 3 months ago, I held off watching them because since they were the last episodes broadcast on Fox, I thought they were the wrap up to the show.

So, I actually saw the pilot episodes last!

I still haven't seen the movie Serenity yet, but plan to when it is shown.

So, sorry to all of you out there that felt all alone in your support of Firefly. I wasn't part of your group back then, but now I can proudly say I saw the series and I really enjoyed it and damn Fox for cutting short the life of another quality show.

Oh and are there any movies where I can see 'more' of Morena Baccarin?

Chris

While her acting leaves something to be desired, the hormones in me would like to see her in more roles as well.

She was in the final 2 seasons of Stargate: SG-1 and the subsequent movie, the Ark of Truth.

You can watch her on the now defunct TNT series Heartland. All 9 episodes can be downloaded on Itunes for $15.99. I watched it when it aired last summer and it was okay. She is hot though!

Interestingly, both she (pause for longing sigh) and Adam Baldwin were in a rather awful Sci-Fi movie, "Sands of Oblivion." It wasn't a good movie by any accounts, but it was awfully fun to see them both together (they play divorced husband and wife archeologists).

Monica also becomes one of the final big-bads in the last season of Stargate SG-1--(actually the sped-up-growth daughter of Claudia Black's character). Although I don't remember whether her clothes are droolworthy or not...

Oh yeah. It gets better. The cast gels and the stories get better. Stay with it.
I just turned someone onto it last year and they were glad they gave it a chance.

1. Yes, it gets better. Although I can't remember NOT ever loving any episode of Firefly since I've watched the series about 20 times now, I know I wasn't completely taken with it at first.

2. Though I've never liked anything else (to my knowledge) Whedon has done, Firefly is my favorite show ever.

3. Serenity was just "OK" in my book.

Who is Monica?

Probably meant Morena (Baccarin).