You’re right. “Skank” was a bit harsh. 2 demerits.
Yes.
It’s kind of a crowded system (although, some of them are moons.)
Here is the thing about Joss: He is very much like RDM when it comes to questions of science and engineering. One of my favorite quotes from Joss was in response to the question, “What is the top speed of a Firefly?”
“The top speed of a Firefly?” he responded…,
“a Firefly travels at the speed of plot”
Yeah, and I totallly respect that. If the “science” in Joss Whedon’s science fiction is maybe a bit…questionable----that doesn’t reduce my great affection for him and for Firefly one little bit. (Late last night, just for the hell of it, I rewatched Heart of Gold and Objects in Space).
Freaky. I rewatched Objects in Space last night.
No way! That is freaky. I should have had you over. (although the flight from Florida to New Hampshire would have been a bit excessive).
I’m telling ya, that episode really pulls at my heart-strings for several reasons: the Inara/Mal and Simon/Kaylee relationships coming to a turn, the fate of River up for grabs, and the sad, poinigent fact that it’s the last episode of a series that should have gone on and delivered more wonderfulness. 
Oh keep your opinions to yourself…uh, creator of the forum. :o
Just kidding, of course. You are wise as always, Chuck. That said, I’ve just been seeing so much of the Slave Leia costume that it’s getting old, particularly since it seems to be going beyond fandom into something scarily mysoginistic which makes me uncomfortable on various levels (not least of which because I’m a heterosexual male who, while finding it mysoginistic, also finds himself attracted to these women in the skimpy sci-fi costumes). Just sayin’.
Re. Firefly: I don’t know about Firefly fandom. Lucky was something of an evangelist for the show when he kindly gave me one of his copies of the DVD set. My wife and I have been enjoying the show tremendously (even my mother-in-law, far from a sci-fi fan, has commented about how good a show she thinks it is, based on what she’s caught with us). I wouldn’t consider myself a fan in the same way that I’m a fan of BSG or Star Wars (the latter of which seems to be in decline for me for the moment), but I enjoy it mostly because, as you say, the economy and government laid out is very interesting (the whole world Whedon builds is very, very strong and well conceived) and the characters are just so incredibly relatable. With each episode I find myself caring for them more (which was true of my experience with BSG, so I may end up an official Browncoat by the end of this voyage). Even when I find something to criticize on the show (mostly related to some sets looking like sets to me, probably because of a lack of a budget from the studio), the story and characters surpass those limitations (as they do in all great drama) and help me continue to suspend that disbelief.
Besides, any show that uses the “Alla Danza Tedesca” movement from Beethoven’s late B-flat String Quartet as a running motive in one of its episode is pretty cool in my book. 
Just sayin’. 
Hmm…I hadn’t thought about that. I was assuming that it was all inter-galactic rather than intra-system (or whatever the term would be). Even without faster than light engines, though, travel within one solar system would take forever (think about how long a trip to Mars would be).
But, I hadn’t really thought about that.
I’m telling ya, that episode really pulls at my heart-strings for several reasons: the Inara/Mal and Simon/Kaylee relationships coming to a turn, the fate of River up for grabs, and the sad, poinigent fact that it’s the last episode of a series that should have gone on and delivered more wonderfulness.
Hey watch it! I’m only up to “Our Mrs. Reynolds.” (Yeah, I’m going really slowly. Been a busy month.)
Yikes! Sorry about that. Listen, if you want I will write notes to your employer, your wife and your children giving you permission to drop everything and watch the rest of the Firefly series
Armando, I (heart) you! Though I never really thought of it as fandom but rather as something disturbingly misogynistic, you’re definitely right in noting that intensification makes it more obvious - and that the desires tied up in it are challenging as well.
I am bemused that women can prance around in skimpy clothes, and it gets labeled as “misogynistic.”
Well, my wife is watching it with me, but I could use the note for my employer.
Well, it is, in a way. That is the subtext in ROTJ, whether you like it or not. Of course, the irony is that Leia, who is placed in the skimpy outfit AS a mysoginistic gesture by Jabba the Hutt, kills her enslaving slug in an act of defiance and self-empowerment.
I may be reading too much into a silly movie with muppets, but it’s hard NOT to see that subtext there. When, by contrast, we simply celebrate her looking sexy in that outfit and revel in women around us wearing said outfit, however innocent our intentions, it is, at least covertly, a mysoginistic act.
I realize I probably sound angrier and more riled up about this than I really am. After all, like Chuck, I’m a heterosexual male and I can’t help but admire the female form. But as someone who likes to treat women with respect (and who is the father of two women whom I would like to see treated with respect) I can’t help but be a little uncomfortable about the whole thing and its proliferation in the mainstream culture. But I’ll admit that, as far as mysoginy in mainstream pop culture is concerned, Slave Leia outfits are pretty low on the totem pole (particularly given my analysis above).
And I reiterate: Armando’s one of my heroes!
I thought we were talking about the conventions.
Caught this episode last night. It’s my favorite so far. What a fun ride that was!
“Jaynestown” is next. I may be made into a fan yet…
I’m eager to hear your take on it. It’s the one episode I skip on rewatches. It’s sort of a “You need to see it once. But only once.” in my mind. (And a thousand browncoats cried out in pain.)
I do cry out in pain. Really the only ep that i skip is Hear of Gold. You can skip Trash as well, its not essential but i do love me some YoSafBridg.
Yeah, I know where you’re coming from. But there’s enough going on there to keep me interested.
The Message annoys the hell out of me. It’s the classic “plot happens because people don’t have casual conversation” episode. A hallmark of hackdom. And yet, the cunning hat is enough to rescue it.
Holy crap – Jaynestown is awesome. I love Jaynestown. And Trash.