Quote:
Originally Posted by
FooDog 
Oh, GOD, Firefly. I just watched my DVDs for the third time through. Plus Serenity. Sigh. Joss Whedon RULES.
From Wikipedia, this may have been THE problem:
" One of the struggles that Whedon had with Fox was the tone of the show, especially with the main character Malcolm Reynolds. Fox pressured Whedon to make Mal more "jolly", as they feared he was too dark in the original pilot, epitomized by the moment he suggests he might "space" Simon and River, throwing them out of the airlock to die. In addition, Fox was not happy that the show involved the "nobodies" who "get squished by policy" instead of the actual policy makers."
So they missed glamor, according Fox because they were playing the maverick losers, rather than the 'policy maker' leaders of a noble rebellion? I think the writers could have gotten them there, don't you?
But far worse was the instruction given. What kind of directorial advice is that to give to an actor?
"Be more jolly?"
Perhaps he should have gone back to the executives at Fox and explained to them that this would be contrary to the character. Here's a man who lost all on the losing side of a war and 'being jolly ' doesn't fit him nor does it make him sweet. ( bland and stupid? Perhaps.) Rather like turning the cynical, masculine and brokenhearted Rick Blaine (Bogey in Casablanca) into a warm and fuzzy Mr. Rogers
Well, it's a wonderful day in the Galaxy. A wonderful day in the Galaxy , Won't you be my, could you be my.--- friend?
*sigh*