Ah. I didn't need the tension ratcheted, but I appreciated it. It changed the last thirty minutes from a technical exercise (informing the universe, ending the chasing of River) into something with personal stakes.

It felt balls to the walls, and I liked it. One of the things I've appreciated about the Jossverse is that characters I love may die, and by Kalshane's lights, I reacted like a non-fan. I'd felt we'd had our token death of a little-used character in the movie, everyone's safe, the stakes are more intellectual and then WHAM.

I left the movie relieved (Zoe wasn't dead) and happy and sad. Every time AT crossed my field of vision I muttered (or sometimes said aloud) "I can't believe he killed you." And when Joss walked by, I shook my head at him.

It was manipulative, but that's another reason I show up for Whedon. He's kinda good at it, and he achieved his stated goals with me.

It was manipulative, but that's another reason I show up for Whedon. He's kinda good at it, and he achieved his stated goals with me.

Yeah. I think he did with me, too. I loved the film. I was excited and happy and sad. I still feel a little hole where Wash's character used to be but honestly, the gamut of emotions was achieved with the movie. I can't say I'm disappointed in any way. Or even angry. Or bitter. Just a little sad.

Except for the fact that the series was cancelled. That bitter may lessen a bit but it will never truly go away for me.

The problem for me, and I'm sure many others, is that we didn't need the tension ratcheted up. We were already invested. As I said before, I shut down emotionally during the final battle because I could not allow myself to care anymore. I went from "Oh my God, this is tense!" to "Why is Joss doing this?" It was just too much and I was thrown out of the story because of it.

I agreed with you then, but after seeing the film again last night, not so much. I think knowing what was going to happen, that no one would die after Wash, helped me enjoy the film more. Seeing Zoe get cut and Simon shot still hurt, but I didn't shut down like I did when I didn't know what their fate would be.

ITA with ita. Book's death felt very Obi-Wan-ish - that is, almost inevitable - because I felt Joss was going to kill someone. It was sad, but it didn't surprise me when I got spoiled for it.

Even knowing about it, Wash hurt a lot, but, because of the placement in the movie, was hugely effective in ratcheting the tension (not to a gratuitous degree, IMO - but in light of Jon B's post, being spoiled may have accounted for a huge part of that). The people I saw it with (who were recent FIREFLYers) were massively shocked, but they liked it a lot too.

I agreed with you then, but after seeing the film again last night, not so much. I think knowing what was going to happen, that no one would die after Wash, helped me enjoy the film more. Seeing Zoe get cut and Simon shot still hurt, but I didn't shut down like I did when I didn't know what their fate would be.

Well, I'm in the same boat. On my second viewing, knowing what was going to happen, I was able to relax and enjoy the film (outside of the horrified shrieks from the people who hadn't seen it before). I know I'm going to enjoy seeing it again Friday night, though as I said upthread, I'm feeling kind of guilty in a wierd way about inflicting it upon my friends who haven't seen it yet but loved Firefly.

Yeah, I think the moans and shrieks from the audience last night were more painful to me than seeing the actual impaling.

I'm glad to read that Wash's death hurts (us) less on repeat viewings. I'd expected it to be so, but I can't help also feeling a little nervous squirm in my stomach about watching it again. Now I just have to figure out whether or not to bring my friend who hasn't seen the whole series yet. Though it would be interesting to watch his reactions to the last several episodes if he'd seen the movie already.

My position is that I'd like my friends to have seen War Stories before the movie. That feeling of melancholy I'm going to get on rewatch -- well, I'd like them to cheer the rescue untaintedly the first time round.

"War Stories" is actually the last one we watched, so that's good. I'm mostly thinking about the scene in "Heart of Gold" in which he and Zoe talk about having kids. ouch!

I think the assumption that only "us" will care is ... well, probably not one made at the time of writing, and it's not one I hold either.

I do think that only "we" will feel a big impact from Wash's death. The non-tv-viewers will feel that wratching up of tensions, but I don't think the movie provides enough insight to Wash in order to really experience the death. It's like the death of a close friend vs. an acquaintance. Impact, yes. But to what extent?

While the movie sets up some of who he is, one big thing that isn't set up well is the relationship between Wash and Zoe. I was upset by Wash's death, but I was more upset for Zoe having to go on without him. She's a strong woman and she'll make it through, but not before she has to go through a lot of grief. That tore me up.