Why Firefly and Serenity Didn't Become Bigger Hits?

POSTED BY: fireflyfan278
UPDATED: Thursday, December 1, 2005 01:03
VIEWED: 9856
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FIREFLYFAN278

Sunday, November 27, 2005 6:29 PM

Why didn't the TV show Firefly and the movie Serenity become absolutely huge hits?

I have been thinking about this question for a while. Some have blamed the network. Some have blamed the viewers. As I go through watch the series for my 5th and 6th times, I have finally come up with an answer.

I believe that the number one reason that these exquisitely written and directed pieces did not become the mega-hits that they should have been is the titles.

I heard the name Firefly, but made no connection to Science Fiction, space ships, etc. When I finally was talked into watching the first episode when it came on the SciFi channel on a Friday night, I was stunned. Here was an extremely high quality TV show that should have been a smash hit and no one had heard of it. Within a few weeks I had bought the DVD set. I watched the entire DVD set within a week and started again. I have continued to both watch the episodes as they aired on TV (recording them on TIVO) and watching them again as I go through the DVDs.

I strongly believe that if the title had been "Spaceship: Firefly" or "Starship: Firefly", it would have attracted more viewers. Or if the movie had been titled "Spaceship Serenity" or Starship Serenity", it would have made twice as much money.

What an absolute shame! I challenge the FOX channel to air the entire series again with a new title! Throw it on in the summer when ratings are low anyway. I would rather you air it this next spring right after American Idol, but I will settle for anything.

KHYRON

Sunday, November 27, 2005 6:37 PM

I've also always felt that the theme music was a hindrance. Whenever I forced some newbies to look at the show with me, they liked the opening sequence of the pilot, and then all of a sudden this folky country song comes along. Most people then look at me with a "WTF!?!?" expression on their face and I feel forced to skip past the intro before they give up on the show and leave the room.

TRAKEN

Sunday, November 27, 2005 7:01 PM

I think the intro theme is great, lets face it most television is for shallow people. if they cannot get past the theme they will probably not like the high quality show FF is.

SPACEHOPPER

Sunday, November 27, 2005 7:02 PM

I have thought about the choice of names as well. But I didn't think it should have a more sci-fi sounding prefix; I wondered why Whedon chose to go with 'Firefly' rather than 'Serenity' for the series, which I feel is a much stronger name. 'Firefly' isn’t a powerful enough word (I hope you understand what I mean by that) and it conjures the wrong ideas; makes me think of kiddie things and fairies, and doesn’t capture the essence of the program like 'Serenity' does.

As for the music, I agree that at first I thought the same as your friends, Khyron, but now, as I’m sure most of you agree, I can’t picture Firefly without it. So I’m unsure – it’s not brilliant for first impressions and may have caused a few people to turn over, but, having watched the series, I wouldn’t choose anything else.

KHYRON

Sunday, November 27, 2005 7:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SpaceHopper:
As for the music, I agree that at first I thought the same as your friends, Khyron, but now, as I’m sure most of you agree, I can’t picture Firefly without it. So I’m unsure – it’s not brilliant for first impressions and may have caused a few people to turn over, but, having watched the series, I wouldn’t choose anything else.

Okay, but we're talking about newbies here and how they'd react to it, and I don't think it gives such a great first impression to most people, because at first it seems a bit cheesy. To be absolutely honest, I've seen the intro dozens of times already and I'm still not convinced it's the best possible choice. But it's not my kind of music anyway. Now, if Velvet Acid Christ made an industrial remix of the song, then maybe...

As for the name, I agree with what's been said, but adding "Starship: " or something like that in front of "Firefly" would have turned me off from the start (shallow person that I am). How about this: "The Adventures Of Captain Mal And His Loyal Space Monkeys"! Brilliant! They would have made, like literally, HUNDREDS of dollars!

CAUSAL

Sunday, November 27, 2005 9:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fireflyfan278:
I strongly believe that if the title had been "Spaceship: Firefly" or "Starship: Firefly", it would have attracted more viewers. Or if the movie had been titled "Spaceship Serenity" or Starship Serenity", it would have made twice as much money.

I don't know how many "reasons" I've heard for why Firefly/Serenity weren't bigger hits, including the name thing. I've just settled on: dunno. I don't think it was any one thing, but more like a multitude of forces acting.

________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

SIMONWHO

Sunday, November 27, 2005 10:31 PM

I think Joss has always had this thing about wanting to have the title drive away the wrong sort of crowd. Buffy the Vampire Slayer? I mean, seriously?

The idea is probably that the first few shows get a smallish but smart, open-minded audience who then tell their friends and the show grows from there. Perhaps if Joss had attended the meeting where the Fox execs insisted it had to get 10m viewers, right out of the gate, then he'd have gone for something more snappy like Super Space Cowboys. And put in Aliens. And had a pulsing rock theme tune. And hired Dakota Fanning for the role of River.

*shudders*

CAUSAL

Sunday, November 27, 2005 10:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer? I mean, seriously?

Wait a minute. That's about the most normal title you could have for Buffy: main character, premise. Bada-boom. Simple. I mean seriously, what else would you call it? No matter what you call it, it goes from wierd to wierder. "Paranormal Investigation Squad". "Ass-Kicker of the Undead". "Hellmouth High". "High School Vampire Killing Girl". I mean, honestly.

Quote:
I think Joss has always had this thing about wanting to have the title drive away the wrong sort of crowd...The idea is probably that the first few shows get a smallish but smart, open-minded audience who then tell their friends and the show grows from there.

Ridiculous. We feel super cool because we're into this thing that nobody else gets--its geek chic, man. Our inner nerd feels vindicated: "I may be a nerd, but you've never seen Firefly. Ha!" We feel elite, in some twisted way. Joss, on the other hand wants lots of people to like the show. He's not going to compromise to get there, mind you, but he's not going to set out to drive folks away. I find it very hard to believe that Joss would name a thing a particular thing in order to get people not to watch. As a matter of fact, in one of the commentaries or documentaries (can't remember which) he said he picked "Firefly" because it evoked the kinds of images he wanted for the show.

________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

ADDIE

Sunday, November 27, 2005 11:01 PM

I actually got confused with an Aussie drama, which was called Fireflies...which was about fire fighters in the bush. It was a pretty ordinary show.

I'd seen it advertised and thought it was the Aussie show...only on cable tv though. Evidently when it was on here on free to air telly it was on about 11 pm...and I usually dont' stay up that late when I have work the next day.

JUSTLIKESUNDAYMORNING

Sunday, November 27, 2005 11:12 PM

Psh. I LOVED the intro song when I first watched it. It was beautiful and describes the show really well.

..jen..

Saffron: I do know my bible, sir. On the night of their betrothal the wife shall open to the man as the furrow to the plow. He shall work in her again and again, til she bring him to his full. And rest him then upon the sweat of her breast.
Mal: Whoa. Good bible.

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