42) Firefly
Title- Firefly (Serenity 1x1, Shindig 1x4)
Year- 2002
Character- Badger
Synopsis- Joss Whedon writes cowboys in space.
Medium- DVD
Entirety or episode?- Entirety
Overall verdict- I’ve always had a weird relationship with Firefly. I was introduced to it years ago by a really overenthusiastic fanboy of the SIT DOWN! WATCH THIS! persuasion, and my initial response was not as good as it may have been if I’d found the show under my own steam. Fast forward, and I’ve known several people who have Really. Loved. Firefly. To the point that I’ve got a bit sickened of it being constantly quoted at me. But, all that said, I went for the rewatch (because, let’s face it, Badger) and I’m really enjoying it. Firefly is very, very good. It’s a space Western, which could be cheesy af and is in fact cheesy af (with tons of delightful details like holographic saloon windows that remake themselves every time someone’s thrown through in a bar brawl). For some reason, everyone dresses like the Old West, and there’s a distinctly steampunk vibe that is totally at odds with the advanced technology, but for some reason it doesn’t matter a bit. The characterisation is phenomenal, the characters are loveable/likeable/despicable as required. The writing is fantastic, tight, excellent dialogue. The costumes, sets, everything looks gorgeous. The ‘space western’ aspect is all just tongue in cheek enough, and the comedy is actually hilarious. This is just a really wonderful, quality sci fi.
That said, and I’m only gonna say this briefly, Firefly is also intensely problematic. I have SUCH an issue with the whole ‘Companion’ thing. I think I see what they’re trying to do with it, and I am absolutely not down on sex workers, or on women who enjoy lots of casual sex, but the idea that the most valuable thing that a woman has to commodify is her body really sits awkwardly with me. I think it would perhaps have worked better if there had been male companions shown too, but you get the distinct impression that it’s a female-only trade. And despite how we’re repeatedly told that it’s a high-ranking, respected, desirable profession, we still hear Inara called a ‘whore’ repeatedly (especially by Mal, who is supposed to be her friend). There’s a lot of this kind of casual sexism in Firefly, directed against all of the female characters. I just think it’s a shame that that’s the main ‘nope’ for me in an otherwise really well-realised show. I also personally find Firefly’s diversity slightly problematic. It’s nice to see they tried, especially back in 2002 (which is not long ago, but somehow feels like ancient history in terms of representation in fiction), but whilst there’s diversity up to a point, there’s not enough and it can come across rather appropriative. They have something that could be great, with the Chinese influence on a future homogenised society, but despite that, the cast are still all mainly white and there’s not a single major character who is Chinese. It just feels off.
But all that said, it’s an excellent, well-made, fun show.
Screen time- Mark is actually in this only really briefly, but it’s worth it
Accent- Cockney
Mark’s character- Badger was the first Mark S character that I properly noticed. He’s just a lovely character design – the dialogue, the costume, he’s just entire-package gorgeous. I did forget (or perhaps repress) actually how gross Badger is, which really struck me on the rewatch (that ‘let me see your teeth’ line he opens with, ugh what) but it’s easy to handwave, with how River’s interaction humanises him later on.
There are a couple of characters that Mr S doesn’t so much play as inhabit and Badger is one of them. He just IS Badger. You can’t get much better than that. He’s played flawlessly. He’s an awful, mercurial, petty, unscrupulous small-time thug. But he’s also hilarious, charming and a survivor. He reminds me of a Jack Russell terrier and they are basically my favourite creatures on earth, so there you go.
Highlight- The music is really great, and so is the effective use of silence (so effective I actually noticed it!)
Wash playing with the dinosaurs.
Badger’s apple peeler tho.
“The wheel never stops turning.” “That only matters to the people on the rim.”
Kaylee. I feel weirdly protective over her in a way that I do not feel about many characters. Kaylee and her love for Serenity ‘my ship’s the prettiest’. Kaylee and strawberries (heartbreaking <3) Kaylee and the ugly pink dress. Kaylee charming every single dude at the ball because she actually has stuff to say. I just love her so much.
Although Jayne is frequently awful he’s undeniably hilarious and gets some great one-liners. “You only gotta scare him.” “Pain is scary?”
Most of Badger’s lines too “I got my hands on a couple” FNAR his face when he realises what he just said <3 He’s that lovely balance of smart, scary, ridiculous, pitiful and relatable that works so well in any character.
That scene between Badger and River, and Badger’s reaction to it, and his facial expressions – such pure gold.
This is a minor point but I just really like the foldaway sink/toilet design, OK?
Rewatch?- Repeatedly.