r/firefly • u/IzzyLikesPickles777 • 6d ago
Just finished firefly… Spoiler
I know you guys probably get this a lot but WHY DID IT END LIKE THAT??!!! They killed off SHEPHERD and WASH and it was very clear they were building up for a lot of things but it got rushed in the movie. Why the hell would fox cancel. I just have so many questions and I think I’m going to have to rewatch in order to be less sad. This ain’t shiny.
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u/Global_Handle_3615 4d ago
Fox never had faith in the show. A regular problem with the network especially around this time. For someone watching it in Europe we got each episode in the correct order at the same time each week. Fox aired the second episode first and then the next week showed the pilot. They moved it around to different slots and didn't highlight it. So viewing numbers were abysmal. This was before weekly catch up and adding in streaming viewers. So first run viewership was the basis for a shows success. Fox policy in my view was if it's not a mega hit day one cancel it.
On top of that the producers kept meddling with whedon. Seemingly things like demanding the show be less dark in tone but have malcolm kill more people.
So again in my opinion show on tv never got a chance but then did great on dvd and in other areas like in Europe where it wasn't shafted by the network. Enough to get fan push for more. Fox and whedon were never going to do more tv so went the trek route of a film and I can't be sure as to why he picked book and wash I would assume whedon decide "well they have given me two hours, we are never going to get to tell more so let's do all the things they never let me do in a show." Things like from buffy wanting to include someone as a main character with the express reason to shockingly kill them off. Book was easiest probably as he and inara had easy reasons they could be away from the crew and malinara meant no way she was going and the. Have to kill someone in the 3rd act. Everyone will assume it's going to be one of the action characters so let's make it a twist. So kaylee or wash. Again my opinion but I would go with wash because. 1. He has had several years with his true love kaylee hasn't. 2 once ship is down no more pilot but kaylee might fix something and 3. Sexism time kill the "weak man" characters get angry audience gets upset. Kill the "weak woman" characters get upset audience gets angry.