My campaign to resurrect Firefly/Serenity, including how to bring back Wash (believably) Part 2
(Image Source Firefly Fans Net)
Disclaimer: Please note that I have no license or ownership rights of the original characters and storyline of Firefly or Serenity, and that this is my attempt to gain an audience and following, with the end goal of catching the attention of the creators of Firefly and Serenity, for their consideration in regard to bringing back the series and/or the movie franchise.
If you have not read part 1, please stop, and read it first. It can be found here. This section of my “resurrection” proposal shows how the “Verse” has changed in the few years since the crew of the Serenity had broadcast the “Pax Wave” that disclosed how the Alliance accidentally created the Reavers, as well as, revealing the current status of the Serenity crew, as a whole. Further, it goes on to show the evolution of the various main characters, including introduction of some new faces.
Status of the “Verse”:
The Alliance is weakened. There is a "New-Browncoat" resistance rising. The Alliance, at the moment, has been“pacifying” areas where there are known resistance cells. They do this by first sending in special covert forces to blow up small villages, killing innocent women and children, as well as the men, then spreading propaganda that the New-Browncoats are the culprits. This terrorizes the villagers, who are encouraged to reveal the names and locations of known resistance collaborators, and are, then, rewarded for doing so. The “terrorism” is then met with a greater presence of Alliance occupation—a clever tactic. The resistance pops up here and there, managing guerrilla tactics, sometimes scoring victories, and other times losing fighters. They are attempting to overturn the propaganda war with renegade Wave hijacks, showing footage of Alliance “false flag” operations, carried out by covert forces. These Waves are usually timed to overpower regularly scheduled Alliance news “programming” feeds, though often they are cut off in mid-stream with new anti-hijack Wave jamming equipment, by the Alliance. The society has split into opposite poles. Some believing the Wave about how the Reavers “came to be” at the hand of the Alliance,”while others think the resistance made it all up as an attempt to start a new war.
Status of the Serenity crew:
(Image Source Geeks Of Doom)
Meanwhile, the crew of the Serenity have had a bad time procuring jobs. Many of the remaining contacts of Captain Reynolds et, al, are suspicious of the Serenity crew amid rumors that they are working with the Alliance—some saying there are witnesses of one of the Serenity crew members carrying out covert operations. The Serenity has been hiring out of Persephone, by way of personal referral from Sir Warrick (a Lord on Persephone), plus a few deals scraped up here and there. But, all-in-all, they are making due...barely. Plus, they help with the resistance...sometimes...by stealing military supplies from small outposts. They spend as much time as possible trying to balance making a living, with helping the resistance. However, more often they end up cutting and running, due to the pressure of the Alliance hunting them down, not to mention the need to avoid interactions with Niska. They have had several near-miss “just plain bad flying” events with the Serenity, usually due to Mal not paying enough attention, or River, getting distracted, depending on who is flying at the time...Wash is sorely missed..
Status of the main characters:
(Image Source io9)
Captain Reynolds: Mal has become cagier, or more like, “aged like a good wine” yet, is frustrated, questioning himself about whether sending the “Pax Wave” was the right thing to do, as now Wash and Book are both gone, and quite a few of their prior friends and contacts have been devastated by the Alliance. Others, are questioning whether they should do business with Reynolds, et al., some thinking they are secretly Alliance assets. He is glad Zoe has Emma, Wash’s child she was pregnant with when Wash had presumably died in the process of saving her and the crew’s lives. However, Mal worries Zoe is not “on her game” like she had been in the past—being overly protective of Emma. Mal is enjoying a more intimate relationship with Inara, even though it is still “complicated.”
(Image Source Comics Alliance)
Inara: She seems happier, now that she and Mal are openly intimate. She is torn between her continuing the life of a Companion, and giving it up fully for Mal. However, she has continued to be with clients, usually accompanied by resistance from Mal, who she still thinks deliberately avoids being in places symbiotic to her business pursuits. She secretly dreams of having a place of her own where she could train young Companions, and that Mal could call a “home base,” and be with her when he is not about doing “business.” Or, maybe settle down for good, with Mal giving up the role of being the Captain of the Serenity—turning that part of the business over to one of the crew members, Or even selling out, completely, to someone else. She sees that as not likely to happen, however.
(Image Source Comic Vine)
Zoe: Is less accessible, emotionally, with exception to Emma, and those who are helping Zoe to supervise her (for that moment). She is troubled, having the only man she ever loved torn from her, and yet grateful for Emma, who resulted from that relationship. She is less likely to walk right out in the face of danger, now, but still feels she is the same person, with the same loyalties, and would do what is necessary when the time arises. She misses Wash sorely, yet is angry that he died leaving her alone to raise Emma. Even though she tries to “harden herself” and put things behind her, she often finds herself curled up in her bunk--overcome with emotions, and with memories of when her and Wash were together. She tries to occupy herself with “crew things” and getting ready for the next job
(Image Source tumblr)
Emma (new character from the comics): A beige (bronze colored skin), curly red-haired (from one of Gina Torres interviews) bundle of fun. At even a very young age, is displaying a sarcastic sense of humor, and an apparent natural talent for “flying” much like her father. She is always curious about how everything works on the ship—often questioning Kaylee about such things while Kaylee is servicing equipment. That is, unless she can talk Mal into letting her have an occasional hand at flying, which sometimes happens...with supervision, of course.
(Image Source Pinterest)
Simon “Doc” Tam: Has gained the Crew's trust and admiration. He is an active crew-member, now, patching everyone up after things don’t go well on jobs. He is less protective of his sister, River, as she seems to be doing well almost all the time now, though she does still have her moments. He and Kaylee have had an ongoing intimate relationship, even though he still stumbles, socially. Sometimes, they can’t keep their hands off of each other. He has a concern about their “friends” on various worlds, as there have been many acts of terror lately—mostly blamed on the resistance, and he wants to be of assistance whenever he can for them.
(Image Source Deviant Art)
Kaylee: Complains much less, with exception of when Doc Tam is acting socially impaired--saying weird s**t, and grasping for what to say, in order to appear “polite.” She is more insistent in regard to the maintenance of the Serenity, though Captain Reynolds still tries to put things off. She, now, ends up winning the argument more times than not. However, she has to resort to scavenging the spare parts from the dump. Therefore, her greatest excuse for the failure of a recent “retrofit,” is usually “well Cap’n, ya get what ya pay for, and hopefully we won't all be paying for it...some day.” She tries to stock up on several of each “experienced” (used) part, “cause when yer using old junk for parts, two is one, and one is nuthin.” (an axiom of James Wesley Rawles, an acquaintence, and a well known writer and preparedness guru).
(Image Source SCREENRANT)
River Tam: She feels more in control due to the meds her brother gives her, and makes more sense when speaking, but there are still some times when she feels like she is on the verge If losing it. However, more times than not, she is dependable and in command of most of her abilities. Further, she seems to be able to keep her emotions in check, which helps her analysis when she “reads” someone. She, also, seems to know the proper time to use her physical abilities (fighting and such), when the need arises, and in a more deliberate manor. She is an important asset to Mal and his crew. She directly participates in most of the “jobs,” as well as, sharing “insight” during planning sessions. She is now having dreams and visions of an old sage saying “it's time.” This perplexes her, and she doesn't know what to make of it.
(Image Source Comic Vine)
Jayne: He had left the crew and stayed with his “Ma” for a while, having his first introspective thoughts after the “mudder,” an indentured servant on one of the planets, had died by taking a shotgun blast for him, which has never made sense to him. He is back on the Serenity, though others do not fully trust him due to his prior “personality flaws.” However, that situation has been changing somewhat for the better lately. His “friend” Book, who had advised him so often, had been murdered by the Alliance, along with the entire mining community where Book was Shepard, during the same period of time, and due in part to, the Serenity crew sending the “Pax Wave.” This haunted him and further drove him to question his path in life. Jayne has (new) “flashbacks” of Shepard Book, “saying scripture things,” and he sometimes brushes the dust of an old “scriptures” Book that the Shepard had (presumably) given him during a visit to the mining colony where Book had been preaching. Jayne struggles reading it, and sometimes tries to reference it during conversations, though usually misquoting it terribly, and always completely out of context (though it makes perfect sense to him). Jayne is attempting to be a better man. However, he is, still, easily “tempted” to go on jobs that Book would not have approved of. He justifies his actions by saying things like “after all, man’s gota make a livin.” He often feels remorse for attempting to turn the Tam's in for a reward. This is especially true when either of then end up “savin [his] arse.” He is secretly infatuated with Bea, a New-Browncoats resistance leader, who is also with the crew, though she insists it's only temporary. She perplexes him, as sometimes she acts enticingly toward him, and at other times she acts as though she'd just rather shoot him.
(Image Source Firefly Fans Net)
Bea (new character from comics): Is a New-Browncoat resistance leader who has been with the crew since her ship was blown up by an Alliance asset. She has since spent time organizing further resistance cells with the reluctant help of Malcolm, et al., while participating in the Serenity's on-world “business stops” to earn her keep. She is very tenacious in her personal resentment of the Alliance, and will do almost anything to further her cause...”almost” anything, that is. She is very athletic and talented in military skills. She is, as Wash would have described her, “a warrior woman,” though much more charismatic, and outgoing than Zoe. She likes taunting and teasing Jayne as a pass-time, though she has more physically intimate thoughts of him from time-to-time...which circumstances (interruptions) seem to stop in mid-course.
Niska: He has been sending out operatives to find Captain Reynolds, Zoe, and Wash (He had not heard news of the “presumed death” of Wash), but of late, has bigger fish to fry, with many of his on-world assets being blown up. Leaked rumors say it's the New-Browncoats, but his own people, have observed, small, highly trained tactical groups wearing suspiciously “Alliance-like” uniforms. Niska has turned his main efforts away from finding Mal, et al,, and instead, concentrates his efforts on tracking down these new “Alliance boys interloping into his business affairs.”
The Operative (from Serenity): Although some presume he was killed by Zoe (from a comic book story, that left readers wondering), was spared at the last moment, as Zoe had second thoughts, and let him go--She doesn't know why. He went back to where Mal had once met with him on a cold snowy planet, in regard to finding, the then imprisoned Zoe. He was trying to get back to his roots, and this was the closest place to an actual home that he has had of late. He had belonged to a secret society before leaving and helping the Alliance. “The Hidden Path Society,” or the “Black Dragons,” as they have been called, was a group of “shadows” that has been keeping the balance of all things from behind the scenes--A balance of liberty vs tyranny, good vs evil, nature vs industry. This group of people had kept the balance since ancient times on “Earth that was,” sometimes as an “unseen hand” of influence, and other times by assassination, but always without a trace. Only recently were some of the “Black Dragons” tricked into believing they could help make a better world (worlds) through aiding the Alliance. The Operative, in his youth, had been trained by The Hidden Path Society at a temple located in a valley near his current place of residence. He had recently returned to the temple, where he had trained as a youth, with the desire to re-join with what was left of his former peers.. However, upon returning, his Master told him he had aided in furthering of the Alliance’s tyranny, and as such has caused a great imbalance, and that he needed to “undue” this imbalance, he had created, before he could return. He had trained super-soldiers for the Alliance—one, a female, who became, in many ways, more skillful than he. Further, he had been responsible for many secret operations, sanctioned directly by the Parliament. He, now, spends his time meditating, and plotting how he could accomplish the needed “undoing,” and gain acceptance back into “The Hidden Path Society.
The old sage (new character): This old man resides, in what at first glance, resembles a simple structure, nestled into the trees against the snowy mountainside. However, once one is inside, it expands into an elaborate temple burrowed into the mountain. The Sage is the subject of Rivers dreams and visions. He lives in the valley at the base of the mountainside where the Operative lives. He is a little man of Asian decent, and calls himself “Chin” (a shout out to “Remo Williams The Adventure Begins”). He is the keeper of many ancient secrets, and hidden knowledge. He is only seen speaking Mandarin, but in Rivers Dreams and Visions, he communicates in plain English. He is the Master of what is left of “The Hidden Path Society.”
(Image Source The Firefly And Serenity Fandom Wiki)
Wash: Is alive! He Is fully healed, reprogrammed, and retrained. He only remembers younger years before the war, and goes by the name “Hoban,” his actual birth name. He is working covertly with the Alliance—participating in raids, and other such activities, thinking he is “doing the right thing.” He continually has dreams and “flashes” of a beautiful black woman, that seems familiar to him, but he doesn't know why. There is an Alliance “handler” near him, most times, with a “safe word” meant to snap him out of one of those “flashes”--sort of a reset button.
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I value your comments and critiques, and of course, your up-votes. Look for part 3, where I begin my Firefly “fan fiction.” I will, also, be starting an original work, Science fiction-Space Western novel . Look for those posts coming soon. Please follow me at Steemit and Twitter, if you value my work. Thank you.
much as i hate to admit it, it looks like book and wash really are dead and while most of the other actors don't seem to be involved in much of note, it seems like they might have moved on. i'm not opposed to a revival, i just don't think it is in the cards. if you like this series and movie and like to read, i can give you some suggestions. good TV is an accidental occurrence. the contents of the TV schedule, right now, is appalling. i quit TV and started steeming. if my progress continues as it has, i'll move on from here soon. as cool as it has been i am stagnating. i think it may be much the same if the cast were to come back and try to relive the glory. i could be wrong. i'm not going to push my desire for any kind of revival or some studio might do some horrible reboot with different actors, sullying the memory. it has been way too long to do any kind of a prequel, so, what is left? wash in a float chair and mal with a beer gut married to inara the interstellar stripper because she got pregnant and they couldn't afford the powercell to keep the ship running? the ideas in the post aren't bad. i really think you might enjoy a little known series known as the continuing time by daniel keys moran. the two books, "the long run" and, "the last dancer" are two of my all time favorites. i liked firefly and serenity but, this is way better. i don't think they exist on audio.
If you read part 1, you will see why I have a believable case that Wash is not actually dead. Post can be seen here:
https://steemit.com/writing/@james83501/my-campaign-to-resurrect-firefly-serenity-including-how-to-bring-back-wash-believably-part-1
Thank you for your post, and your advice. I will look into your suggestions. Here is my introductory post, so you can read more about me and what else I plan to do here at Steemit:
https://steemit.com/introducemyself/@james83501/saying-hello-to-all-you-steemians
Again, thank you for looking.
~Cheers~
I found out that my son is collecting that series of books (there are quite a few, actually). He has been suggesting I read them. Now I think I should do that...If I remember correctly, they are kind of like "The Champion Eternal" meme, if I am correct. Please follow me. I just followed you. It looks like you do some good writing. Please follow me back. ~Cheers~
i thought i was the only one who ever heard of Moran. cool, at least someone else is getting something out of his books. it's like cyberpunk with aliens.
My adult son, sure likes it. He's been collecting the entire series :)
you might like Snowcrash by Neil Stephenson.
I'll check it out. Thank you...I just looked at the Wiki...kind of looks like a Tom Clancy book. Thanks.
~Cheers~