tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post1016382393858486656..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 577: Not pictured: jokeCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-63486388486518230892009-05-07T20:23:00.000-07:002009-05-07T20:23:00.000-07:00Maybe he wanted to really draw attention to the fa...Maybe he wanted to really draw attention to the fact it was a series, because it's easy to miss if you just casually skim?<br /><br />I should clarify I'm not anti-television as a medium, but it's in many ways the difference between a collection of short stories on the same subject and a novel. The novel can present a more coherent whole--rather than developing over the course of several episodes, and often reinforcing the development of previous episodes before adding new information, it can spend a good chunk of time developing characters and setting and plot and then resolve it.<br /><br />Certain television series work very well as series--The Prisoner was very episodic in nature, for instance, and would have been fairly weak as a feature film. Even the first season of BSG was strong television--episodes didn't really progress the plot very far; it was primarily small, discrete problems that the surviving fleet had to face.<br /><br />Television series certainly have the advantage of more time to do whatever they're doing--but a film series like the original Star Wars trilogy presents so much more fully fleshed out characters, concepts, and settings than fourteen episodes of a television series--and I liked Firefly a great deal. It was almost all character development, though, with very little paying attention to plot.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-58935213585057240532009-05-07T18:51:00.000-07:002009-05-07T18:51:00.000-07:00Agreed with Rob. I mean sometimes there are good ...Agreed with Rob. I mean sometimes there are good writers--Prison Break was pretty damn well written, with the right amounts of cliffhangers mixed in with just enough story development, until they actually broke out of the prison. Then it was like ehhhh okay we'll show you how good this guy is in this episode BUT WAIT HE IS SUCH A BAD MAN oh wait no he is good, but now he is dead. Next episode! Look they are on the run now. Still.<br /><br />Anyway. Excellent post, Jay! I look forward to reading more from you.<br /><br />Nitpicking: does he really need the TBC at the bottom of the comic? I mean it /does/ say "Part 1," AND it's not in any of the next parts. RANDALL YOU SUCKAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-81939998870377939582009-05-07T10:33:00.000-07:002009-05-07T10:33:00.000-07:00Disagree entirely. The only thing you can fit more...Disagree entirely. The only thing you can fit more of is characterization, and even then it isn't really necessary. A single season of BSG doesn't go anywhere nearly as far as a feature film could do. Ditto Firefly. Things that happen are pretty much by necessity not terribly interesting, or not enough to radically change it, since it only covers at best a tenth of the total plot going on--and you can't have a climax until the final episode, and even then you're better off throwing up a cliffhanger that doesn't resolve anything.<br /><br />The format is simply not good for storytelling. The medium cripples itself.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-30786799119662741302009-05-07T10:15:00.000-07:002009-05-07T10:15:00.000-07:00That depends on the show. Formulaic tv that reboot...That depends on the show. Formulaic tv that reboots everyone back to the way things were at the start (sitcoms, Simpsons, etc.) do less with more.<br /><br />Episode shows (BSG, Firefly, Babylon 5) use the space of the television format to do more with more. Any of those series fit a hell of a lot more depth of character and plot than any movie could ever dream of matching. There just isn't time.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15767533340997202595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-18152021564210080212009-05-06T12:58:00.000-07:002009-05-06T12:58:00.000-07:00Regarding Firefly vs. Star Wars in terms of length...Regarding Firefly vs. Star Wars in terms of length:<br /><br />As much as I like Firefly, the length isn't really comparable. Television is a format uniquely suited to not getting anything done, so you do less with more. A two hour feature film can be a lot more interesting, plot-filled, and worth watching than a television season, if not an entire series.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-53133617793229945052009-05-06T10:17:00.000-07:002009-05-06T10:17:00.000-07:00Anonymous:
No, it wasn't. *cough* Bebop ripoff...Anonymous:<br /> No, it wasn't. *cough* Bebop ripoff *cough*<br /><br />An American plagiarization of Cowboy Bebop?! Wow. So I really should watch firefly.<br /><br />WHY DID IT HAD TO END LIKE THAT?! *tears* *whimper*<br /><br />BTW, did anyone here see the shooped pics of Keano Reeves as Spike Spiegel?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-21222921035269019872009-05-06T08:32:00.000-07:002009-05-06T08:32:00.000-07:00No, it wasn't. *cough* Bebop ripoff *cough*No, it wasn't. *cough* Bebop ripoff *cough*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-10357500494429794342009-05-06T04:44:00.000-07:002009-05-06T04:44:00.000-07:00One point: how many hours did we have in the Star ...One point: how many hours did we have in the Star Wars universe at the end of Return of the Jedi? All together we got 379 minutes ~= 6.31 hours.<br /><br />Think about how popular it remained when we just had those three movies of content.<br /><br />Firefly: 14 episodes at (let's say) 40 minutes per gives us 9.3 hours. Add in the final episode (the movie Serenity) and we get 11.31 hours. Yes, it really was *that* good.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15767533340997202595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-17241742491845189692009-05-05T23:59:00.000-07:002009-05-05T23:59:00.000-07:00Holy crap, this story arc is fucking horrible. It'...Holy crap, this story arc is fucking horrible. It's about as shitty as his other story arcs with the added bonus that I don't watch these TV shows so I don't get any of the references.Timofeihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478844501804517520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-10348536480136274532009-05-05T22:40:00.000-07:002009-05-05T22:40:00.000-07:00ROB GET OUT OF MY HEADROB GET OUT OF MY HEADAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-66161656408596183062009-05-05T22:39:00.000-07:002009-05-05T22:39:00.000-07:00oh God. this new one is just Randall writing fanfi...oh God. this new one is just Randall writing fanfiction about how everyone in Firefly is not only exclusively notable for their roles in Firefly, but they also behave just like their characters, so when he meets them it is like aogOiofanffkfrshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-81860036459696385942009-05-05T22:23:00.000-07:002009-05-05T22:23:00.000-07:00FurfagFurfagAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-15882207079632721272009-05-05T22:04:00.000-07:002009-05-05T22:04:00.000-07:00If he gets a blister from the marginal amount of d...If he gets a blister from the marginal amount of drawing he's doing, maybe he should relax his death-grip on his 10-cent Bic pen.<br /><br />Does anyone else remember "Drive?" That was a terrible show. Fillion was pretty okay in it, considering what he had to work with.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74744176405866637652009-05-05T20:11:00.000-07:002009-05-05T20:11:00.000-07:00Actual lines from the #xkcd channel on IRC:
[Rand...Actual lines from the #xkcd channel on IRC:<br /><br />[Randall] ow ow ow have to add a last panel to today's comic and I have a blister on my finger where I hold the pen :(<br />[Randall] today's comic brought to you by: blood sweat and tears :(<br /><br />I used brackets in place of errors because the site mistakes it for HTML.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-1990970930751466212009-05-05T18:48:00.000-07:002009-05-05T18:48:00.000-07:00I suspect Randall is being entirely cynical here. ...I suspect Randall is being entirely cynical here. He can write a comic like this in 15 minutes and his good fans will appreciate it almost as much as a quality comic--substituting shared positive feelings for someone else's artistic work for the wit and humor of old xkcd.Realistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-59454487254306798802009-05-05T17:43:00.000-07:002009-05-05T17:43:00.000-07:00I have to agree with Malethoth and poore: Fillion ...I have to agree with Malethoth and poore: Fillion is an extremely talented actor and, from what I can tell, an extremely intelligent person. I loved him as Malcolm Reynolds, I loved him as Captain Hammer (even as I hated Captain Hammer himself), and - although Castle as a show may not be nearly as interesting as either Firefly or Dr. Horrible - I love him as Rick Castle.<br /><br />Each of those characters is quite different, yet he pulls them all off amazingly: it seems insulting to suggest that he would be stuck in the persona of only one of the characters, or even that he would combine characteristics of several, because neither of those does a good actor make. Randall's portrayal of Fillion, IMHO, belittles the man's talents and makes him seem a fool.<br /><br />Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if Fillion missed his days as Mal - it seems like Alan Tudyk (Wash from Firefly) still hopes that the series might soon be revived. And Reynolds was a character that I imagine would have been very fun to play, just as Firefly was a show which must have been great to be a part of. Still, missing the chance to play a character is different from constantly dressing up as said character and insisting everyone address you by his name. I understand the role of hyperbole in comedy, but it requires some basis in reality - the xkcd Fillion's behavior is not a satirical extension of either real-Fillion's behavior or Captain Reynolds'. It's just the behavior of a deluded idiot.<br /><br />As for Randall himself: I don't yet know whether I can judge him for his obsession. I only saw Firefly a few months ago, so I can't say for sure that I'll be over it in a few years. I suspect that I won't, as it is one of my favorite shows (and Serenity one of my favorite movies). On the other hand - given Randall's penchant for referencing tired memes - I think it's safe to assume that most of Firefly's recent appearances in the comic result from his laziness rather than any remaining loyalty to or appreciation of the show.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06178364663978405979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-62723523946421060022009-05-05T17:00:00.000-07:002009-05-05T17:00:00.000-07:00Upon critical reading, I am almost certain that "T...Upon critical reading, I am almost certain that "The Hammer" refers to his penis.<br /><br />Such Freudian analysis is known to be fraught with pitfalls, but I stand quite resolved, and you may read my full thesis in the next issue of <I>Deconstructionist Weekly</I>... Oh hell with it:<br /><br />"'The Hammer' is my penis."<br />-Captain Hammer, <I>Dr. Horrible</I>@Alex: Seriously man, if he had meant "Captain Hammer" he would have silently, cravenly corrected it by now, right? "Homoerotic dick joke" is clearly the more fertile avenue for criticism.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12456796465979923295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-53324859717756045342009-05-05T15:42:00.000-07:002009-05-05T15:42:00.000-07:00Anon: "I was about to write something really mean ...Anon: "I was about to write something really mean about Randy then I decided not to because it was too mean and wasn't very productive." Don't know much about this place, do you? Anyway, Randcarl isn't here at the moment, so you'll have to wait for him to get back.Ann Apolishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08566528013026340201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74276493072787128412009-05-05T15:39:00.000-07:002009-05-05T15:39:00.000-07:00I meant the alt text. The dude in the comic is a g...I meant the alt text. The dude in the comic is a gross Satanic perversion of Nathan Fillion. And a foil to Munroe Stu.Ramseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-49837579548101701052009-05-05T13:41:00.000-07:002009-05-05T13:41:00.000-07:00John: you had to make that typo. You just had to.
...John: you had to make that typo. You just had to.<br /><br />Ramsey/Alex: I guess it's possible? But I interpreted the character's behavior to be, like, some weird crossbreed of Mal and Captain Hammer, because that is all Randy knows about Nathan Fillion.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-35730701820877397562009-05-05T13:02:00.000-07:002009-05-05T13:02:00.000-07:00Vaguely homoerotic too, since he's talking about N...Vaguely homoerotic too, since he's talking about Nathan Fillion's penis and him in tight pants and all of that.<br /><br />He MEANT Captain Hammer and not Captain Hammer's Penis so Rob's thing stands, more or less kinda.Alex Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07550690494033404633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-40871135503068646932009-05-05T12:54:00.000-07:002009-05-05T12:54:00.000-07:00He didn't get Captain Hammer's name wrong. He was ...He didn't get Captain Hammer's name wrong. He was referring to "The Hammer" itself.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this means he just made another fucking dick joke.Ramseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74285600176516027742009-05-05T12:53:00.000-07:002009-05-05T12:53:00.000-07:00Errr...
*dreamy version
Though, I think my origi...Errr...<br /><br />*dreamy version<br /><br />Though, I think my original post stands as is.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-6029813425914198142009-05-05T12:52:00.000-07:002009-05-05T12:52:00.000-07:00I was about to write something really mean about R...I was about to write something really mean about Randy then I decided not to because it was too mean and wasn't very productive.<br /><br />It's your art, Randy.<br /><br />You can draw some more things, not just the ones that are directly related to the story. What about pictures in rooms? How about some vase or a potted plant? Some cracks in the walls? See, those are great things you might want to add and will surely wow your readership.<br /><br />Randy, please put more effort in your visual art because we know you can do better! *pep* *motivate* *encourage*<br />Draw draw draw draw a beautiful comic!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-73438988774533904582009-05-05T12:51:00.000-07:002009-05-05T12:51:00.000-07:00@Sarah
Yes. Randall has managed to bring one of t...@Sarah<br /><br />Yes. Randall has managed to bring one of the worst type of fanfiction into xkcd.<br /><br />I like it better when generic male character isn't blatantly Randall's creamy version of himself, because that's what adds the creepy subtext to some of the comics.Johnnoreply@blogger.com