Serenity/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Complete Monster:
    • The Reavers might qualify, being Exclusively Evil.
      • Although they aren't the usual sort, since they can't help being what they are. It's no doubt they belong here - fitting all five major criteria - but all the same, the events of the movie see the idea of people killing them to be more of a Shoot the Dog rather than Kick the Son of a Bitch. See also Fridge Brilliance.
    • Although he characterizes himself this way, the Operative isn't truly a complete monster: he only used what he thought was the minimum necessary force to obtain his objectives, and he was genuinely remorseful about all the collateral damage. Didn't stop him from swatting the next fly with a sledgehammer, though.
  • Cult Classic: The movie didn't perform very well financially, but it is almost universally loved among the show's original fans.
  • Ear Worm: Fruity Oaty Bars.
  • Ensemble Darkhorse: River, who went to being one of the two leads in The Movie, and is one of the more memorable, iconic, and popular characters of the show.
  • Fridge Brilliance: See the page.
  • Hilarious in Hindsight: Jayne snaps at River, uttering "I'll show her good and all, I got man parts" in "Trash". Fast forward to the Curb Stomp Battle of Maidenhead, and...
  • Moral Event Horizon: In the film, The Operative's destruction/massacre of anywhere/anyone Serenity might go to for help (The Operative was more of a Magnificent Bastard until that point.)
  • Nerdgasm: A very literal one near the end.
  • Saved by the Fans: The internet petition drive started by fans ultimately led to Universal picking up the movie.
  • Uncanny Valley: This is where the lovedoll designers of the future are situated.
  • The Woobie: Both River and Simon.
  • Hell Is That Noise: Reaver ships constantly broadcast the sound of dozens (possibly hundreds) of people screaming.
  • Crosses the Line Twice: included in the blooper reel is an extra take of the shot in which Mal orders his crew to mask their ship as a Reaver's. The original is very nearly a Kick the Dog scene, but the moment Mal's improvised orders change from the script is the moment that he takes the line and guts it with a screwdriver.

"Put Book front and center; he's our friend, we should honor him. Kaylee, find that kid who's taking a dirt-nap with baby Jesus -- we need a hood ornament. Jayne! Try not to steal too much of their shit!"