Wondering what sort of fans Firefly attracts?

POSTED BY: Ruthie
UPDATED: Thursday, July 26, 2007 21:16
VIEWED: 27348
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RUTHIE

Monday, June 23, 2003 7:21 PM

Hello, everyone.
I've been lurking around here since Firefly started showing in the UK - came looking for Chinese translations, and now I'm hooked into the boards, as well as the show!

I'm just wondering if I'm a 'fish out of water' here (as I usually seem to be in SF circles - don't fall in the right demographic!)

I'm a female in my mid-forties, a mother and a scientist (not working atm).

I enjoy watching Star Trek (all series!), Buffy and Angel, 24 etc. I also enjoy reading SF, mostly the older 'classic' authors - Heinlein, Asimov, Clarke, Wyndham, and the newer writers who follow in the same tradition.

My previous 'big love' was X-Files. That was the only TV show I bothered to tape (and then buy videos and DVD's) to watch and re-watch.

It was when I started to feel the need to re-watch Firefly eps that I realised that I had found my replacement for X-Files. I have Sky+ (like Tivo), so it was easy to re-watch - and now all the eps so far are safely on tape to keep.

What is it about Firefly that makes each ep worth re-watching? I don't know - but intelligent dialogue, interesting sets with lots to see in the background, and a storyline that keeps me wanting the next ep are certainly part of it.

I just wish that the joy of discovery had not been coloured by the knowledge, from the start, that it would be a short-lived pleasure....

So - does anyone else here share my interests, or am I alone (not that I'd either stop watching or visiting here even if I am!)

SLOWSMURF

Monday, June 23, 2003 8:12 PM

Well, I can tell you I'm a male teenager and I know a few others(that I've made fans ;)) as well as older people.

I've heard various places that firefly actually does attract more than the 18-30 male range or whatever it is they talk about so much. Much more, so I don't think you're alone ;)

CAPTBAGGYTROUSERS

Monday, June 23, 2003 8:17 PM

What kind of fans does Firefly attract?

The sexy kind.

History repeats the old conceits

WULFHAWK

Monday, June 23, 2003 8:44 PM

Glad to meet ya, Ruthie.

I've been enjoying science fiction since about 1967...5th grade or so. There were these fascinating puppet shows with spaceships, wondermous events about astronauts going to the moon, and I was hooked. Conan the Barbarian, Robby the Robot, Gandalf the Gray, and Lazarus Long were a few of the characters that I came to love over the years, and Mr. Spock has long been a hero of mine (Pain is an illusion of the mind, the mind can be controlled, thus pain can be controlled ).

Don't feel left out, Ruthie; you and I are the keepers of the flame, passed to us by Carpenter and Astounding and 'When Worlds Collide'. These other kids didn't have to imagine epic battles between space armadas, or the creepy transformations of aliens and werewolves ... they've seen it, in technicolor.

Asimov and Disch and Drake and Gibson and Card, Niven and Pournelle, Apirin to Zelazney, and hundreds of others ... been some interesting times, ain't it?

Glad to meet ya, Ruthie, and glad to hear you intend to stay around.

tanstaafl

SHINY

Monday, June 23, 2003 9:13 PM

What kind of fans does Firefly attract?

Unbelievably rich people with loads of free time and disposable income (in case any of the networks, advertisers, or potential investors are listening)

HJERMSTED

Monday, June 23, 2003 9:29 PM

Quote:
Apirin to Zelazney, and hundreds of others ...

Speaking of Zelazney... would anyone else LOVE to see Whedon could do with the Amber series?

Oh, this thread is about demographics...

M
mid-30s
Sci Fi fan for as long as I can remember (probably got hooked with Star Wars or Battlestar Gallactica in their original presentations).
Growing up I always enjoyed the John Christopher novels (Tripods trilogy; Prince in Waiting trilogy) better than the Narnia tales. Can't understate the importance of S.E. Hinton's first four novels on my life.

Lifelong favorite authors are Heinlein, O.S. Card, Zelazny, Harry Harrison and Tom Robbins (whose stuff is definitely fantasy! :)

Loved Twin Peaks, Star Trek TNG and Star Trek DS9! (All of which I taped). Went through the motions taping X-Files and Star Trek Voyager but have since erased those in favor of Buffy, Angel and Firefly!

mattro

WULFHAWK

Monday, June 23, 2003 9:40 PM

Deathworld! haw, been a long time.

I guess I forgot the demographic part too.

I'm married, 46 years of age and wisdom, have 4 children, 1 grandchild, and sometimes I'm called Lord Direwolf.

tanstaafl

SERGEANTX

Monday, June 23, 2003 9:46 PM

Lurking and posting on these boards for almost a year now, one of the most interesting things about Firefly fanhood is the broad rage of people that the show attracts. I still think it was one of the biggest reasons Fox had such a hard time getting a handle on the series.

Firefly attracts people who pay a little more attention and want to see more than another throw-away story with forgetable characters. These people aren't represented by any particular demographic. Its a cliche, but people here come from all walks of life. Ages range from people that are legitimately called senior citizens to those not yet in high school. Many are well educated, but there are Firefly Fans that dropped out early. Women seem to make up about half of the diehard fans, which I don't think is the case for most science fiction followings.

If there is any consistent trait among fans of the show, I'd say it's a cetain curiosity, or at least a willingness to really pay attention. Many of the best lines of dialog in Firefly are the most subtle, one of the reasons repeated viewings are so rewarding. The story and character development are layered and complex and don't reveal their true art to the casual(lazy?) viewer.

Its especially fun to see that the new wave of fans coming in from the UK and elsewhere, seem to share the same qualities, and the same diversity. Stick around Ruthie. We're still flying.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

KAYTHRYN

Monday, June 23, 2003 9:54 PM

Quote:
Posted by Captbaggytrousers:

What kind of fans does Firefly attract?

The sexy kind.

and the saucey kind

Oh! And a big ditto to what you said Sarge!

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It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
Aristotle

KOFFEE

Monday, June 23, 2003 11:39 PM

I think what Sarg said about covers it.

I am female, 30, and married. I have never considered myself a sci-fi fan. Not saying I didn't watch TNG growing up, but when you don't have cable and one main tv, you tend to watch what the parets decide to watch.

But, then again, I don't necessarily think FF fits into the typical sci-fi mold. It seams more "real" in its "what if" of pioneering space travel. Not many fancy gadgets, no sign of aliens, and not everything is all sugar and spice and fancy catsuit uniforms.

I enjoy the dailog and banter between the characters. They get mad, laugh, cry, and love like people would really do. Its just great. Not sure how else to put it, but I just love it as a whole.

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“It's a real burn, being right so often.”

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