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Looking forward to Dollhouse. I have no idea how they'll make the season mysteries out of this show (that's if, fingers crossed, it gets that far). Also curious to see if an ex-Neighbours star can make it in the US without making terrible bland top 40 music.
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CommentAuthororwellseyes
- CommentTimeMay 21st 2008
he really added something to the recent season of Torchwood - namely, James Marsters.
I watched episodes of Smallville to see that man.
SMALLVILLE. -
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Hm. I've never seen Buffy or Angel. Or Alien Resurrection...
However, I have watched excessive amounts of Firefly and Serenity, and read the comic miniseries.
First of all, I didn't like the miniseries much. Without going too much into spoilers (not that I think anyone really cares) they brought a dead character back to life just to kill him again, and the art wasn't even very good.
The first time I watched Firefly, I loved it. The second time, I noticed some flaws. The third time, I started to dislike certain characters, and the fourth time, I started to dislike the show. I am a person the dialog "didn't work for." Now, I'll allow that it's witty and clever -- but it's also unrealistic. (Most) people in life or death situations do not crack sly jokes. Maybe if one character did, it would be okay, but an entire ship of fearless smartasses is pushing it. Especially because a lot of them get really afraid, they just break character to make some witty remark and then go back to being afraid.
Also, I'm all for inventing slang (one of the only things I really like about BSG is 'frak' and how natural it sounds -- I also really appreciate the same in A Clockwork Orange) but the Chinese in Firefly just sounds forced. Along with most of the slang... Which is unfortunate, and why I think more writers don't try their own slang -- it's hard, and I applaud Joss Whedon for trying, even if it didn't succeed.
Another factor is that the way it was originally introduced to me, the Chinese thing was really overdescribed. I was kind of imagining a show wherein you would need subtitles to understand it unless you spoke both English and Chinese. The fact that it's just a few swear words always bothered me. It is weird -- supposedly Chinese is the secondary dominant language, very important for both trade and academics, but the only loan words are curses? My inner linguist cringes.
Then Serenity took itself waaay too seriously. I enjoyed it, but the Captain's speech at the end was sort of the capstone on a whole two hours of awkward, forced, too-witty dialog.
Although, in spite of all this, as an afficianado of tabletop roleplaying games, the Serenity RPG is one of my favorites, ever. I've had some great times with my friends schlepping through the 'Verse.
And in spite of my sick burns on the series, I would like to stress the fact that I do really like it and will always be up to watch an episode or two with my friends. Despite the fact that I don't like Inarra. Scratch that... I'm not really sure I like anyone besides Jayne. But only when he's wearing the hat. -
I saw the first episode of Buffy I've ever seen today, and was blown away by how shitty it was. Season 5 Ep 7 Fool For Love? Fucking WOW that sucked. Shitty acting, shitty dialogue, shitty plot.
That said, I really loved the one season of Firefly, and I'm saving Serenity as I'm sure it will be awesome. That's pretty much my entire experience with Joss Whedon, though I should say this time yesterday I expected anything with his name on it to be gold based on how much I see his name floating around on Whitechapel. I generally agree with the majority's tastes. -
It is weird -- supposedly Chinese is the secondary dominant language, very important for both trade and academics, but the only loan words are curses?
What's so odd about that?
English is very important to trade and academics, but strangely here in Finland it tends to get used mostly for cursing. I'll grant Chinese could have used a bit more usage in Firefly, but then again it would have risked alienating the potential audience all the more, TV being what it is. (Also: "frak" did absolutely nothing to endear me to BSG.) -
@tmofee - i think you're forgetting the Billy's great on House.. and Alan Dale is ubiquitous
what scare me re: Dollhouse is that they've already got Minear involved. Poor guy's cursed. I have the fear! -
@m1k3y , Sorry who you talking about? I've never seen House...
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@tmofee - Jesse Spencer
on the comix - I'm loving the hell out of the new season of Buffy - oh, to have seen him to do on the small screen.
the lesbian scene esp. was vintage Buffy-banter! -
Astonishing and Runaways were ruined by the delays.
I don't know whose fault it was, but I can't keep track of a narrative that goes on pause for what feels like months at a time. -
@m1k3y - He was on Time Trax! Hahah... Oh, there's some badness from the past....
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English is very important to trade and academics, but strangely here in Finland it tends to get used mostly for cursing.
So you don't talk about English language brand names, products, cultural items, etc?
EDIT: It seems like, you know, maybe at least once there would be a Chinese-named engine part or something like that, or a Chinese-named ship they encountered... but no.
I mean, I'll admit I don't know too much about Finland (though y'all know how to make some metal) but it seems like English must be used for more than cursing. I guess in Firefly there's really no evidence that Chinese is very dominant, so maybe it's not and everyone just says it is. Sort of like a widespread conspiracy...
When I was in France, though, people mostly used English curse words, I suppose. "You are ze mozzerfucker!" -
@Cyman
Season 5 Ep 7 Fool For Love? Fucking WOW that sucked.
Well whaddaya want if you choose a crap episode like that? Look, I never said that everything Joss does is pure genius, no. But when he is good, he is fantastic. Let me suggest a few episodes that you may find more interesting...
1x10 Nightmares
1x12 Prophecy Girl
2x03 School Hard
2x08 The Dark Age
2x13 Surprise
2x14 Innocence
3x06 Band Candy
3x09 The Wish
3x12 Helpless
3x13 The Zeppo
3x18 Earshot (delayed in the US due to the Colombine massacre)
3x21 Graduation Day Part 1
3x22 Graduation Day Part 2
4x04 Fear Itself
4x10 Hush (undoubtedly the finest episode in the entire 7 seasons)
You get the idea, but I feel I should also recommend 6x07 Once More with Feeling (yes, the ubiquitous musical episode)
Look, give some of these a shot, make damn sure you watch Hush and get back to me...
And yes, I am aware I'll probably get a bunch of detractors... -
@ SRT:
Certainly brand names and so on get used, as do quotes and cultural references, but unfortunately the most common usage seems to be cursing. A sorry state of affairs, but there you go.
Like I said, Firefly could have used more Chinese, but as it stands it doesn't demand too much dispension of disbelief. YMMV, I reckon. :)