# New 'Firefly' Tonight, 12/6 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936 "2002-12-06T15:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/81 "2002-12-09T23:02:44Z")
Wow, what an amazingly awesome bit of throwaway production design. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/82 "2002-12-09T23:28:06Z")
Who was that in the Blue Sun ad? ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/83 "2002-12-09T23:43:55Z")
Evil soft drink companies making super soldiers? Sweeeeeeeeeeet. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/84 "2002-12-10T06:05:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\*Sorry. > I thought the ear was cool. > SNIP \*\* * * * It was, except for the nasty flashback I had to **Reservoir Dogs**. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/85 "2002-12-10T13:22:01Z")
I watched last week’s episode again last night and got to thinking… What do you all think about the fact that both Niska and Book were familiar with the writings of Shu-Yan? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/86 "2002-12-10T13:34:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gallows fodder \* > \*\* both Niska and Book were familiar with the writings of Shu-Yan? \*\* Perhaps it would help if one knew who Shu-Yan was. [Is he an historical personage?](http://www.google.com/search?q=Shu-Yan&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&start=10&sa=N) ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/87 "2002-12-10T13:49:40Z")
> [@](#): > > What do you all think about the fact that both Niska and Book were familiar with the writings of Shu-Yan? Quite interesting and, I am sure, significant. Some nice little tidbits about Book this time out. He’s surprisingly knowlegable about guns and tactics (shooting rabbits at the Abbey?) and apparently has read the works of a dictator/warlord. Also, during the sequence in the beginning where he is talking to Simon about River, I somehow got the impression that he knew more about what had been done to her than he was letting on and was really trying to find out what Simon had learned (and was maybe trying to deflect his line of research by bringing up Shu-Yan.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/88 "2002-12-10T13:59:57Z")
It is interesting that new information surfaces with a “new” writer and director. I wonder if the outline and or story were Cheryl Cain’s or just the screen play. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/89 "2002-12-10T16:39:59Z")
Oh, no, all this stuff is worked out ahead of time by Joss Whedon. See [this article](http://www.fox.com/firefly/espenson.htm) from one of the members of his writing team, describing the general process. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/90 "2002-12-10T17:30:41Z")
A few eps ago, when Preacher was shot, I seem to recall the Blue Hand guys being fairly unwilling to help until they came acorss his ID and like _that_ they were falling over themselves to get him patched up. Am I mis-remembering that? It seems to me that this tells us quite a lot. ---
**Author:** ![slackergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@slackergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slackergirl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/91 "2002-12-10T18:02:30Z")
It wasn’t the Blue Hands, it was the Alliance. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/92 "2002-12-10T20:36:37Z")
Oh yeah. Well, still, he obviously is/was a person of some authority and power. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/93 "2002-12-10T20:57:13Z")
I hope we get to find out. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/94 "2002-12-12T13:39:02Z")
I’m bumping this thread to say that if you got frustrated googling the name of the psychotic dictator referred to by Book and Niska, it’s because I got his name wrong. It’s Shan-Yu (who, coincidentally or not, was a character in Disney’s _Mulan_). ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/95 "2002-12-12T16:47:18Z")
Too bad we will never find out who Book really is (or was), nor learn more about the Serenity crew’s past for the end is near. Man, this show spoiled me. I have a hard time watching **Enterprise** and season 6 episodes of **Stargate SG-1**. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/96 "2002-12-12T19:28:44Z")
Noooooooo! [url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2002-12-11-shows-santa\_x.htm]This USA Today article lists Firefly as cancelled[ulr]. Tell me it ain’t so! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/97 "2002-12-12T19:33:14Z")
Fixed link: [url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2002-12-11-shows-santa\_x.htm]This USA Today article lists Firefly as cancelled. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/98 "2002-12-12T19:34:36Z")
Gah! Grief has driven me mad. [This USA Today article lists Firefly as cancelled](http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2002-12-11-shows-santa_x.htm). Daniel previewing this time, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![DeepPurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@DeepPurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepPurple)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/99 "2002-12-12T19:43:42Z")
I am so sad. I have a few on tape. Hopefully I can get the others from other collectors. Maybe I’ll go blow a couple hundred on the press kit on ebay. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936/100 "2002-12-12T20:39:56Z")
Even though it was inevitable, that doesn’t make it suck less. That’ll teach me to get interested in a TV show again. Hopefully Whedon will get on the site and say what was GOING to happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-firefly-tonight-12-6/140936.md?page=6)