Here is something I posted over on the Sciffy boards 2 years ago <gasp!> Every once in a while I go look it up, re-read it and smile. I wrote this on the train coming home after seeing Serenity in the theatre. I posted this on November 4th, 2005 with the thread title, “Found Serenity.” In honor of the GWC hunkerin’ down to do a Firefly re-watch I want to share with you something close to my heart and my best articulation of what the show and movie meant to me. If for no other reason, I want to share this with you as have come to consider y’all my Crew in the Firefly sense.
I hope you enjoy it.
- Solai
Hey there stranger. You can pay me no mind if you like. I don’t mean no harm and I aint no ravin’ loony, I’ve just come to sit a spell and speak my peace. What I can promise you is what I have to say is from the heart. I’d be much obliged if you like to sit there back for a moment and listen, won’t mind if you don’t want to. That’s your right.
I come hear tonight to tell you about thoughts that are flittin’ through my craw. You see, I gone and finally finished the circle, completed the ride, seen all there is to see. Tonight I found Serenity and Serenity found me. Funniest thing, only cost a handful of dollars, but it left me changed somewhat.
You see, not more than two months ago, Firefly found me. People makin’ a ruckus about some new fangled picture coming out called, “Serenity” and that I should drop everything I was doing and go see it.
Well, I consider myself a thoughtful man, measured even. Sure, I’ll do something on a whim, maybe even spontaneous like. But to see a picture based on people just sayin’ go see it? No sir. I wouldn’t do no such thing. Their talk tho, their talk left me intrigued. What was this here Firefly? I went and told my recordin’ device to go and collect all the Firefly it could find. Nothing much else on anyhow, nothing I cared for much that I hadn’t already seen. Just so happens because of this picture comin’ out there is a whole boatload of Firefly, more than I can shake a stick at. I am determined to do it right, watch it in order. Glad I did…later discovered that was more than the original people got.
So I watched. Let me tell you friend I am not one for flowery language. I get to the point and leave the flowers to others, although you may laugh at that as I meander through my thoughts here. All I can tell you is that there was something about the show that struck a chord deep inside me. It was like an old friend whom I had forgotten about had come knockin’ on my door, gave me a big smile and said hello all unexpected like.
The characters struck me. The theme moved me. The plot made me smile at myself, reminded me of the frailty of people. There can be good people, there can be bad. Some can both, none can be neither, or maybe they hope they can be. I almost immediately realized there was something special, something different about this show. I felt at home. I watched them through. Went and bought ‘em and watched them through again, with commentary where it was warranted. Realized that there was no mistake, it was good. It was very good.
Tonight, at long last, I found Serenity. I expected to see it alone, as it had been around for so long. I walked into the theatre and twenty people were to be my companions which made me happy. Serenity is not something one wants to find alone. You find it in the company of others.
As the curtain time drew closer my surprise grew as the theatre continued to fill. By the time the lights began to dim there were people sitting in the aisles, forgoing seats.
If Firefly was like bumping into an old dear friend, Serenity was akin to finding the love of your life waiting for you patiently in your own room, not knowing who she was but always knowing who she is. Serenity was a song I knew by heart, but had never heard the tune before. By the end of the movie I was left wanting more, hoping that it would not end.
Had I found Serenity? In part, perhaps yes. There is some art, some literature, some music that can move you to tears or make you stand up cheering just by the thought of it. This was something different, something more.
I once again find myself thankful that Firefly found its way, almost by accident, unbelievably only about two months ago, into my life. The show reminds me of parts of me I had forgotten, or forced myself to forget. People are infinitely complex. Things are rarely as simple as we thought they would be. There is always a touch of humor, even unexpectedly found.
Feel free to jibe me if you like, I won’t mind. I came here with only one thought, share what I am thinking, speak what I am sayin’. It isn’t meant to be right nor wrong, better or worse. It just is.
I ain’t no fool. I know that the people I see there on the screen are just people playing a part with words given to them by someone else. I don’t believe in them, but I do believe in what they represent. I suspect they represent something different for each person who encounters them. If you have read this far, I’ll let you know something I wouldn’t normally tell you…to me, the story represents hope, peace and friendship above all else. Hope in the face of the impossible, peace in the most unlikely of places and the friendship of those who you don’t realize have somehow become your family.
…and somehow, I think you will understand, as I suspect you have found Serenity too. If not, like I said, pay me no mind. It is your right to say what you like, nothing wrong with that. Just remember, always remember it is always easier to tear down than to build. Or I can invoke Shakespeare and let you know if these shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended, that you have but slumbered here while these words did appear, and this weak and idle theme, no more yielding than a dream.
Thank you for reading. Sorry I am so late to the party. You can’t stop the signal and Serenity is indeed worth fightin’ for.
These two are bright and shining exceptions and resonate within me like a gripping and moving novel that penatrates and awakens.
