Serenity thoughts...

[lapsedagnostic]

Okay, I've been thinking about it, and I've got a theory for why Wash had to die.

Joss needed a way to convince the audience that this wasn't a tv show anymore, that the Reavers weren't just big, bad, bogeymen, but, no, really, kill you dead, end of story bad bogeymen. When wash died, the audience suddenly didn't know who else, maybe everyone? was going to die in that stupid tunnel. Maybe Zoey wasn't going to get back behind the lines, maybe Kaylee was going to fade away from the poison, maybe the doc was going to die, and then everyone else after him.

These possibilities became real because Wash died, and Joss proved that the rules had changed. It wasn't going to be all right, everyone wasn't going to be back next week, and maybe, just maybe, they were all going to die. And I think the audience reacted to the fear the way he wanted; I know that we did. It was emotionally gut wrenching and exhausting.

And, sadly, Wash was the most disposable.

Comments

True

[kugelblitz.livejournal.com]

Also Wash is thee most expensive actor. Oddly enough they signed contracts for all three movies planned. Sooooo is that decieving? Is there a Wash Must Live movie? (hope not).

Re: True

[lapsedagnostic.livejournal.com]

Hell, joss has no issue with re-using dead people, now does he? Buffy's mom came back a couple of times, Wash's ghost might, too.

Re: True

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Prequel!!

[a-treitell.livejournal.com]

I don't agree that he was the most disposable (hey, I'm married to beloved_master I'm biased), BUT, I think you're right, you read the "why SOMEONE had to die" in much the same way I did.

Serene reviews

[matthew-g.livejournal.com]

I have to agree Q. I'll never forget in my first night in gaming with a new group lrt512killed his wife's character. He gained much in my eyes for being that committed. :) "Holy shit, anything can happen!"

Which is exactly what Joss wanted, I think.

Like said in my LJ

my review:

Audience: JOSS! Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!

Joss: Ha ha! Mine is an evil laugh!

[cz_unit]

I was reminded of Galaxy Quest when Queilig was shot right after freeing his people. His reaction "... I've been shot" was quite stunning, and I think the movie really turned on that.

It went from a silly, feel good movie to one that was serious. Good people could die, and his death did inspire the rest of the crew.

CZ

[fangirlsays.livejournal.com]

They coulda killed off Inara and I wouldn't have shed a tear. *mutters and grumps*

[gospeed.livejournal.com]

i finally saw the movie last night, and i agree completely with lapsedagnostic, i was completely ready for everyone to be killed off once wash was killed. i was actually excited that whedon would take that step, and almost disappointed when he disn't. personally though, wash is (was) probably my favorite character, so i'm not happy with it. i don't think he was disposable! in general though, i really liked the movie.

now i'll bitch...

inara did not have anywhere near the exotic sexiness she did on television. not sure if it was the makeup, the plainer costume, the writing, how they filmed her, or what... but she really turns me on in the tv show, and it wasn't there during the movie. maybe it was just the fact that they didn't use her character very much.

as for kaylee, somebody give that girl a cheeseburger. she needs to find that 20lbs she lost after the series ended. she wasn't nearly as cute.

in general, the costuming seemed to suffer when compared to the series, i think. simon had none of the doc-holliday-string-tie thing going on anymore, and was all in turtlenecks and stuff.

all these things are tirvial though, i really enjoyed the movie. i'll miss wash in the next movies (at least as a living, corporeal being), and bringing him back as a ghost will seem kinda tacky to me. obiwan i can understand, the force and all, but wash? errr... no. maybe they just needed to sign him for flashbacks, flashbacks (or prequels) would be cool.