30 Days of TV - Day 1

[briarwood]

In an effort to start posting a little more frequently, I thought I'd try a meme (from birggitt).

Day 01 - A show that should have never been canceled
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show ( aired this t.v season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best t.v show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First t.v show obsession
Day 29 - Current t.v show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

Day 01 - A show that should have never been canceled

There are so many! But the absolute top of my list has to be Firefly. Fabulous cast, brilliant concept, great characters and plots...wtf happened? Oh, yeah. Fox happened.

The original Star Trek was described as "wagon train to the stars" so perhaps it's not true to say that the traditional Western in space hasn't been done before. Hell, there are nods to the Western in most popular sci-fi, but rarely has it been done as literally as Firefly with its cowboy-like costumes, space-whores, horses and cattle, outlaws and sheriffs, pioneers and wagons and pretty pink bonnets. Even the music follows the Western theme, but at the same time it's firmly set in a fully-realised future sci-fi world. There wasn't a single major character I disliked - though I could have done without one or two of the recurring characters - and the mystery of River provides an ongoing story arc that keeps me watching.

It's been a while since I've re-watched the series, but it's striking how strong that first-and-only half a season is. Most shows with this format (stand-alone episodes with maybe some kind of continuing arc), the first four to eight episodes are really ropey. Firefly was engaging from episode one...or would have been if Fox had actually screened episode one first. Only one episode of the thirteen is truly weak, and even that one might not have been if they'd been allowed to make the full season that would have put it into context.

Fox, what were you thinking?

Comments

[mab_browne]

Oh, god, yes. Maybe it would have disappointed in the end, but thirteen episodes and a film was not enough time with those characters.

[briarwood]

Not nearly enough, I agree. I know they did comic books and stuff, but it belongs on-screen. Tie-ins just aren't the same.

[shanaqui]

Which episode of the thirteen do you consider weak? Hmmm. (I always find it interesting how people's ideas conflict on this. My girlfriend's brother hates my favourite episode.)

[birggitt]

Oh, yes! Firefly! What a great, fantastic show! and what a shame it got canceled!
This is yet another Fox failure *sigh*

[briarwood]

The Message. It's just not coherent and most if it is boring.

I suspect a later follow up would have made a big difference. Or perhaps because it was the last ep they filmed the crew were just off-game. I don't know.

[shanaqui]

Somehow, I guessed you were going to say that. I liked The Message. *pinches Tracey's cheeks*

[briarwood]

Yeah. With many of Fox's cancellations, I can understand it, even if I don't agree. But Firefly was amazing; the only reason it had slightly poor ratings was because they screwed the show by airing it out of order and at stupid times.

[briarwood]

*sticks out tongue*

I never said it was awful! Just, you know, by comparison to the rest.

[birggitt]

Exactly! They kept changing days and time, and then, complained because people wasn't watching *throws arms on air* How could they? People never knew when the show was aired...
I read the comic books, but they weren't the same... and don't even get me going with Serenity!

And I still can't believe how little time they give a show to grow on audience. Like Happy Town! I haven't watched the third episode, and they already canceled?