I don't recall whether or not they had to lighten up Mal's character. I'm a little baffled by people who think he's too dark, though. I mean, he's no Kaylee, but I can think of any number of lighthearted quotes and moments when he opens up, cracks jokes, or lets his fierce brand of optimism shine through. ("Still flying," for example, or "Looking to make a few good stands after this one.") But then, I love Mal with a bright and undying love, so I may be slightly biased.
It's good to have cargo. Makes us a target for every other scavenger out there, though, but sometimes that's fun too.
Mal ,'Shindig'
Firefly 4: Also, we can kill you with our brains
Discussion of the Mutant Enemy series, Firefly, the ensuing movie Serenity, and other projects in that universe. Like the other show threads, anything broadcast in the US is fine; spoilers are verboten and will be deleted if found.
Kate P. - Feb 07, 2005 9:40:50 am PST #614 of 10001
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
Beverly - Feb 07, 2005 10:06:02 am PST #615 of 10001
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.
Yeah, I don't know if it's in the commentary on the dvds--I think it's mentioned there, by either Joss or Nathan--but it has come up in interviews that FOX thought Mal was too dark, and lightening him up was something they did to keep the show on the air. Joss has also mentioned that for the BDM Mal went back to the dark character Joss had originally intended him to be. Nathan has repeated in many interviews that "this guy is SO much darker than me," so I think the observation is more than valid.
What I find funny, though, is that the person watching jstroix's dvds found post-lightening-up series Mal "too dark."
Zenkitty - Feb 07, 2005 11:41:53 am PST #616 of 10001
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.
All this kinda scares me as to how dark Mal is gonna be in the movie. Mal is scary anyway (Nathan Fillion, for a nice guy, can get a ferocious glare on him); something really bad must have happened in the interim to make him lose the happy he was starting to get by the end of the run. I just hope Joss doesn't end the movie with everyone miserable.
WildDemon Cornelius - Feb 07, 2005 12:14:49 pm PST #617 of 10001
Take your fingers off it, don't you dare touch it, you know it don't belong to you, to you...
To which Joss replied, "she don't know me very well, do she?"
As long as no one hooks up they'll all be happy and surviving.
Jars - Feb 07, 2005 12:17:20 pm PST #618 of 10001
I just hope Joss doesn't end the movie with everyone miserable.
I just hope they're still flying.
arby - Feb 07, 2005 12:34:02 pm PST #619 of 10001
Guy #1: Man, there are so many hipsters around. I hate hipsters! Guy #2: You're at the wrong place. That's like going to Vegas only to say "I hate titties!" --The Warsaw, Williamsburg (OINY)
I did not like Mal at all until I saw the series in order (i.e. on the DVDs). I wouldn't have said "too dark" but more like "too mean". Everyone else was within a normal range of being friendly with each other but he just stuck out as being a total prick. BUT I think having missed "Our Mrs. Reynolds" during the original run probably had a lot to do with it too. When I got my DVDs and watched them in order, I started to understand him more from the pilot* - but OMR is when I fell in love with him.
ETA * - the whole "you're a softy" exchange with Kaylee in the pilot also helped a lot towards making Mal a likable character
Matt the Bruins fan - Feb 07, 2005 1:29:55 pm PST #620 of 10001
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
As long as no one hooks up they'll all be happy and surviving.
Whew! So as long as Kaylee keeps chasing Simon, she's safe.
Gus - Feb 08, 2005 7:09:19 am PST #621 of 10001
Bag the crypto. Say what is on your mind.
Simon/Kaylee is doomed.
RepublicanMouthpiece/Kaylee is doomed.
Wash/Kaylee ... Wash is doomed.
Mal/Kaylee ... OK, I'd buy a ticket.
Book/Kaylee ... Ew! (Which means this is the hardiest hookup, for those having the writing chops.)
River or Zoe/Kaylee .. sure, I'd buy a ticket, but I'd feel bad about it. A little.
Badger/Kaylee? Here's my bank account, take what you will.
tommyrot - Feb 08, 2005 7:29:40 am PST #622 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Badger/Kaylee? Here's my bank account, take what you will.
That would only work for me if their relationship was a little... kinky.
Gus - Feb 08, 2005 7:34:38 am PST #623 of 10001
Bag the crypto. Say what is on your mind.
She wears the hat.
Fork over the bank account, dude.