The others may be valid criticism, but from a storytelling perspective, he most certainly did not kill Wash for no reason.
Wash was killed at that moment so that first-time watchers of the film would suddenly believe that every single one of the characters might be about to die -- because fucking Wash just died. Wash was killed so that when Zoe, Kaylee, Simon, and even Mal and River went down with injuries or flew into the breach, you believed they might really die -- because fucking Wash just died.
It was done for that effect, and a less popular character wouldn't have cut it. From my own perspective, it was successful. I could no longer be certain that some of my favorite characters weren't going to die.
(Fun fact: before Serenity came out, sometimes some friends and I would discuss ideas about where the Firefly tv story might have gone if it hadn't been cancelled. My idea for a season finale, probably in the second season, had Wash dying too. After learning that Zoe was pregnant. Before he died, he'd ask Mal to take care of them.)
(Geez, maybe I'm just a monster.)
Wash was killed at that moment so that first-time watchers of the film would suddenly believe that every single one of the characters might be about to die -- because fucking Wash just died. Wash was killed so that when Zoe, Kaylee, Simon, and even Mal and River went down with injuries or flew into the breach, you believed they might really die -- because fucking Wash just died.
It was done for that effect, and a less popular character wouldn't have cut it. From my own perspective, it was successful. I could no longer be certain that some of my favorite characters weren't going to die.
(Fun fact: before Serenity came out, sometimes some friends and I would discuss ideas about where the Firefly tv story might have gone if it hadn't been cancelled. My idea for a season finale, probably in the second season, had Wash dying too. After learning that Zoe was pregnant. Before he died, he'd ask Mal to take care of them.)
(Geez, maybe I'm just a monster.)
Warder to starry_nite
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
A heretic blasphemes St Joss of Whedon.
- 16/10/2009 07:03:29 PM
1074 Views
I have two disagreements.
- 16/10/2009 07:20:49 PM
559 Views
(by which I mean a bunch of typing that somehow turned into 1.5 moderately relevant comments.) *NM*
- 16/10/2009 07:25:07 PM
231 Views
Well he does cite Firefly as the superior show.
- 16/10/2009 09:01:01 PM
686 Views
I agree with Seriana.
- 17/10/2009 05:42:33 AM
522 Views
I didn't say she was wrong or that feminists are right, I just presented what their position'd be
- 18/10/2009 12:11:25 AM
672 Views
So the guy hates Whedon as much as some love him.
- 16/10/2009 08:44:39 PM
475 Views
Actually, it suggests he likes Whedon's work, but hates Whedon's posturing & fan excesses. *NM*
- 16/10/2009 09:02:03 PM
273 Views
As far as I can have an opinion on them, I agree with all of his points *NM*
- 16/10/2009 09:50:30 PM
251 Views
Not having seen the movies he wrote scripts for...
- 16/10/2009 10:34:09 PM
478 Views
That was also the magic bullet episode.
- 16/10/2009 11:40:11 PM
478 Views
Guns jerk up when fired, especially if you are a sissy poser like Warren. 1st Buffy, 2nd Tara
- 18/10/2009 12:13:44 AM
669 Views
You never saw Toy Story? 
*NM*
- 16/10/2009 11:55:55 PM
218 Views
*NM*
- 16/10/2009 11:55:55 PM
218 Views
I'd kind of forgotten he worked on that too, but no, actually. *NM*
- 17/10/2009 01:16:35 PM
244 Views
I strongly disagree with the Wash thing.
- 16/10/2009 11:54:16 PM
631 Views
Interesting tidbit.
- 16/10/2009 11:57:14 PM
541 Views
Huh. Neat.
- 17/10/2009 12:22:11 AM
546 Views
Wait, when do we learn about his past in Serenity?
- 19/10/2009 03:42:34 AM
536 Views
I don't actually mind the killing happy characters thing, but it IS JW's most noted trait *NM*
- 18/10/2009 12:15:00 AM
314 Views
It is what he's known for, though sometimes I wonder why. (General Joss spoilers)
- 19/10/2009 05:50:55 AM
514 Views
...Echo is the baddest ass Kung Fu Whore TV has ever seen... Lol! She IS a naughty little doll. 
*NM*
- 18/10/2009 01:36:57 AM
254 Views
*NM*
- 18/10/2009 01:36:57 AM
254 Views
the first thing is the only one that's really rational
- 19/10/2009 05:46:05 AM
605 Views