The Substance of Things

POSTED BY: Fedoraccoon
UPDATED: Sunday, January 29, 2006 23:08
VIEWED: 6785
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FEDORACCOON

Friday, January 27, 2006 10:24 PM

Hey all, this is my first time posting, but I've been a long time fan (sadly, only after the show was cancelled). It occurred to me today, that Hurley(Urley?) the bounty hunter's words that people don't appreciate the substance of things is more than true when it comes to Firefly. I think we can all agree that Firefly was made of something better than ordinary shows (though I have high hopes for Battlestar Galactica). I tried to think of a show with similar quality of "substance." I came up with Star Trek (though some will scorn the comparison). It then occurred to me that if Star Trek was released today it would probably suffer the same fate, which may account for the passing of the late Enterprise. Perhaps television as we know it has moved below and away from shows with real "substance?" Anyway, any thoughts from the wider community of firefly fans?

SAINTANDEOL

Friday, January 27, 2006 10:43 PM

the sad fact is that shows with depth and
substance aren't what most TV watchers are
looking for. THey're looking for Friends, or Seinfeld, something where the appeal of the show
isn't about understanding a unique universe and
how different characters adapt and develope within
it.

Firefly's substance is the very thing that limits
it's audience. Not to be negative to non-Firefly fans (tho it's hard, it's THEIR fault it got cancelled, not mine!), but some people just want a simpler viewing experience when they watch TV.

I just feel sad that they can't have the love of the show that I do, but when you think about it, if there were a show of Firefly quality being broadcast in the 'verse, not all of our BDH would prolly watch it (especially Jayne), but we would still love them.

Aww, i made myself cry a little . . .

Clouds appear
and bring to men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon.
-Matsuo Basho

SAINTANDEOL

Friday, January 27, 2006 10:45 PM

oh yeah, and I think his last name is Early. i could be wrong . . .

Clouds appear
and bring to men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon.
-Matsuo Basho

DONCOAT

Friday, January 27, 2006 10:55 PM

Yes, his name is Jubal Early, a moniker he shares with a famous Civil War general who, in point of fact, is a remote relation to one Nathan Fillion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

GLUEMAN

Friday, January 27, 2006 11:03 PM

I'll tell ya, this show sparks something inside of me other shows do not and I'm a big fan of Star Trek, Farscape, LotR, etc. I think about it every day. I think the same fate would come to Star Wars if it had opened this year also.

HAEKELDRACHE

Friday, January 27, 2006 11:03 PM

It´s Jubal Early I think. (as said above, i´m way to slow ;) )

Yeah, the main Part of today´s TV was sent from outer Space to stupefy Mankind. Done well, i think ;)
At least here in Germany. Lets take a look at the TV-Guide.... okay. Talkshows... more Talkshows. Reality shows about People living in a container... did I mention the Talk Shows? Lifestyle Magazines... even the Kids Programm is not what it was ten Years ago. It´s all somehow... hollow. With no substance, nothing to cary with you, just "blabla" all the time.

*sigh* Well, i think that´s the way the world goes round... and round.... and round.

---

"Burn the land and boil the Sea, you can´t take the Sky from me..."

Haekeldrache is german for Crochetdragon

AKUKODOGO

Friday, January 27, 2006 11:52 PM

Could this be why DVD sales are getting bigger all the time, why watch lousy tv when you can create your own viewing pleasure, when you want it too.

Burn the spam, boil the tea, Serenity's on DVD

THESOAPBOXER

Saturday, January 28, 2006 12:25 AM

One of my favorite quotes from Master Joss himself (there are so many) goes like:

"I'd rather make a movie that 100 people need to see, instead of a movie that 1,000 people want to see."

This pretty much defines a) why Joss and so many other great writers and filmmakers go underappreciated, misunderstood, and out right ignored, and b) why Joss is The Master.

"Stupid" movies are a universal product. Everyone can understand them with little to no brain commitment, so they are aimed toward a larger demographic (Keep in mind, I'm only using these semi-big words to appear like I know stuffs. Is it working?).

"Smart" films on the other hand, aren't as readily marketable (Ah, I'm not fooling anyone...), leaving them to independent or student filmmakers before being swept under rugs and other furniture.

Mmm, smell that bitterness.

But, seriously, if everything was perfect with film and music and what have you, there would be nothing for the next batch of writers, musicians, or what-have-you-ers to fix. Empires eventually collapse, new ones are set up. This principle is one of the foundations of hope.

Huzzah.

_____________________________________________
Could you please just make it stranger? Just stranger. Odder. Could be weirder. More bizarre. How about uncanny? ~Joss Whedon

JPSTARGAZER

Saturday, January 28, 2006 1:29 AM

I think with DVD nowadays that many TV shows now are made with the revenue of the eventual DVD release in mind. I mean shows like Seinfeld and Friends were created before the whole DVD revolution and are just coming out now as an afterthought. However more TV stations are taking the cue from HBO that every show is an eventual DVD release and will create more sales than just the initial run.

This only helps shows like Firefly that have an intense following that would buy DVD's (as the Amazon rank of the set shows). I know we've all read thread after thread about Firefly starting again in some medium, but I think with TV/DVD marketing coinciding so much now, it should be a serious consideration for Fox. Even if they don't want to air more TV seasons, they could always sell it to someone who will. And that's how I rationalize my hope for "Firefly 2: Fly Harder" or whatever a new season/movie will be called.

This is my first post by the way...if that's any indication of the quality.

"All I got is a red guitar, three chords, and the truth...the rest is up to you"
--Bono

GLUEMAN

Saturday, January 28, 2006 2:18 AM

VOD...Video on demand, Pod casting, and Direct to DVD are the big buzz words in the entertainment world right now. VOD in itself might save alot of good shows from early extinction. I rather pick from a menu of viewing options any time of day(I work alot of weekends and nights) then the slim pickins’ now.

"Have you looked at this scan carefully? At his face? It's love point of fact" Operative at the Institute Records Room

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