Those of you who know me know that I don’t post on my blog very often. Hell, those of you who don’t know me can tell how infrequently I post by just skimming down the previous entries. It’s usually only things that stir me greatly that precipitate my posting here and this is one such thing.
Long story short: Joss Whedon killed Firefly. He did so callously and what I deem unnecessarily and I’m going to go into as much detail as I can to convey why I feel that way. This contains spoilers, so if you don’t want to be prepared for what you’re going to see when you visit your local theater then DO NOT READ ON. Joss killed Firefly by ramming a large spike through its chest; it died for me the moment that Wash did. I’ve felt connections to characters in the past throughout various series — I am, after all, a sci-fi fan — but there are few that I can think of which meant what Wash meant to me. I feel like I’m writing a eulogy, and to a certain degree I am, but it’s a eulogy for myself, even if it’s just a part.
Wash’s introduction to the show was one of the high points of humor in the entire series. It showcased his playfulness and brilliance, as well as his dedication to the ship and its passengers. His ability to maneuver that boat made me envious — to know one’s ship that well, to be that close with a machine. He was a pilot beyond any other, and he loved Serenity. He brought it to life and showed why the Firefly was the choice among connoisseurs. If I were able to live a life in a science fiction universe, his would be the one I’d want.
I love vehicles. Driving to me is a hyperfocus activity in which I shut out the rest of the world, all of it that’s not hurtling directly towards or beside me, and become a part of the machine I’m piloting. If you think that’s lame or corny then that’s something with which you’ll have to come to terms. It’s the truth and it’s given me a great amount of joy in the past and will presumably continue to do so into the future. This is one of the reasons why I felt connected to Wash. When I’m completely concentrating on driving as fast and as accurately as possible I feel like I transcend beyond being just me, and I like to think I understood how Wash felt as he was becoming the leaf on the tumultuous wind that was his final battle. There’s nothing else like it.
There have also been multiple comparisons drawn by friends of ours between Wash and Zöe, and myself and Amanda. I’ve been told I act and dress like him, and the fire they share in their relationship is present in ours as well and I will do everything in my power to not let it die; at least I don’t have to worry about vindictive writing killing it off. She had her husband, the absolute love of her life, stolen from her for no apparent reason. He’d already saved the day. Book’s death meant something: It spurred people into action. They gained resolve from his loss of life. Wash caught a pole with his chest. He was, by my recollection, smiling, pleased that he’d managed to save the lives of his passengers. He died a hero but his was not a hero’s death. The end of her man’s life had no compassion. It pains me to think of how that left Zöe — how it would leave Amanda — feeling.
People have suggested to me that it was due to other contractual obligations on the part of Alan Tudyk. That’s entirely possible, but there are many ways to get rid of a character that don’t involve stealing him from the character’s wife or the fans of the show. It was also mentioned that suddenly killing off a character is a standard literary convention for introducing a twist. I’ve watched all the episodes of Firefly at least once or twice and quite a good bit of Buffy and I know Joss Whedon can introduce twists without resorting to alienating fans and leaving no paths for returning things to the way they were in the event that the storyline doesn’t work out. If this was his reasoning behind Wash’s death then it was foolish and amateur.
“I am a leaf on the wind.” I’ve been there, my friend. I know that leaf and I know that wind. You rode it one last time and I hope it carried you to where you want to be, with the face of your wonderful Zöe awaiting you there for eternity.