For folks looking for a bit more diversity in my decision making, my apologies, but credit must be given when its due. Mr. Joss Whedon, the man responsible for a large majority of my TV-lovin', created perhaps the most magnificent pilot with "Serenity', the first episode of his short-lived Firefly series on FOX. [Good news, though: my runner-up was another FOX show, Fringe, but I figure you'd be tired of hearing about that by now]
Why is it such a good Pilot? Because it hits all the right cords and all those things I mentioned in the opening paragraph. "Serenity" immediately introduces these wacky band of characters, and we instantly get them. The actors get them. The writer gets them. The entire hour and a half "Pilot" comes off effortlessly, like this was a stellar plotty episode from its fifth season or something. Everything is comfortable, from the characters dialogue, their interactions, to even the score and editing. It is, in a word, sublime, and by no coincidence one of the episodes I rewatch in the DVD set more often than the others.Truth be told it's been awhile since I watched "Serenity", so I can't pinpoint a particular detail here or there that I think is truly fabulous, but the reason I love this pilot is essentially so simple: it works. The entire episode is one perfect introduction. If the remainder of the series was never picked up, I would begrudgingly be content-ish with this stellar episode. "Serenity" rocks. So does Nathan Fillion. And Joss Whedon.
3 comments:
If my current marriage should not work out, I plan on making Nathan Fillion my second husband. Now, how do I break the news to him without sounding like a stalker?
This pilot was definitely awesome, but it's a shame Fox didn't recognize that enough to actually show it as the pilot episode. One thing, of many, I'm sure that screwed the series into cancellation.
Considering that the FOX execs generally think their audience is unintelligent, it was rather inevitable that "Serenity" was dropped for a more paint-by-the-numbers "The Train Job".
I think, perhaps, "24" and "Sarah Connor Chronicles" were the only shows on FOX that had some depth to 'em. But of course, haven't watched HOUSE, BONES, or LIE TO ME, so I probably shouldn't be making such claims...
Re Fillion: gel up your hair, wear bright golden contacts, and pale your face up. Now you're no longer a stalker, just a creepy vampire with a obsession. It's TOTALLY different and TOTALLY socially acceptable.
It's TOTALLY different and TOTALLY socially acceptable.
That would only apply if Mr. Fillion were a 15 year old girl...which I'm pretty sure he's not.
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