Transformation of a Beth

Oh man I am so glad you asked. The R. Tam Sessions are my favourite special feature from the Firefly ‘Verse. I love to talk about them.

They were “leaked” as part of a viral promotion for Serenity In the following order:

R. Tam, Session 416 - Second Excerpt (rel. August 16, 2005)

R. Tam, Session 1 - Excerpt

R. Tam, Session 22 - Excerpt

R. Tam, Session 165 - Excerpt

R. Tam, Session 416 - First Excerpt (rel. September 5, 2005)

You can see all of the sessions in that order here. (Transcript is available here)

Unlike Firefly, the R. Tam Sessions were released out of order on purpose, and unlike Firefly, I think the order in which they were released is the best order in which to view them.

soprano: why

When it comes down to it, I feel like that’s why this show works so well as an exploration of adolescence and gender dynamics. Because it’s devoted to kind humor, it makes a space in which these kids can explore who they are and who they are going to be when they grow up without us as an audience feeling worried for them. 

I’m never afraid that Tina will discover an amazing talent only for it to be laughed away by her family or for it to be retconned out of the show an episode later. When Gene dresses up as a woman, I never cringe and think that Bob is about to say something degrading toward women or tell Gene to “act like a man.”

As an audience member, I feel safe. I feel like it’s going to be okay. And that gives the show license to do more interesting things with the development of these characters. Which is surely a good thing. In a world where the typical teenage drama on the CW stars men and women in their mid to late twenties, and the only other well known animated teens are from Family Guy, Tina and Gene are worth their weight in gold. Moreso is the writing team who are able to write them, and write them well.

Gentlemen, welcome…

not in a ‘poor baby is so misunderstood’ way