Only the characters are saving this show
POSTED BY: UFO
UPDATED: Saturday, November 9, 2002 02:05
VIEWED: 13407
PAGE 3 of 5
I like that analogy. Well said.
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1,000 Gallons of No
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Quote:
Originally posted by LivingImpaired:
The reason that Firefly would still work in another time period is that the story is universal--if you pardon the pun.
What most Sci Fi people find dissapointing about the show is that it's is a show about 'cowboys in space' and not 'space cowboys'.
Cowboys don't have to be set in Westerns, Babylon 5 and Farscape were full of cowboys! (Hell, Babylon 5 even had King Arthur in one of the episodes!)
I personally think that having to stick so closely to the Western theme limits the show in it's capacity to tell a good sci fi story. Everything that doesn't fit in with a Western theme doesn't fit into Firefly. Out of Gas was a great episode, but it was perculiar after Jaynestown!
Firefly would therefore, in my opinion, been better set in a Western and not in space as a previous poster suggested. As hard sci fi goes, Firefly is a poor example. I absolutely agree, the characterisation is very cool and that, as other posters have indicated, is the reason I too watch the show.
Also, some of us like to checkout innovative ideas on futuristic technology. I'm not a Treky, but I'd have liked to see some cool looking spaceships and innovative technology (ie. energy weapons). I (and many others) have come to expect that in our sci fi and it's shame that Firefly has taken the low-tech approach.
PS. I'm very nervous about expressing negative opinions about Firefly on a website dedicated to the fans of the show - it's dissrespectful to the community. I'm genuinely not trying to wind the fanbase up, I'm just interested in posters opinions and talinkg about things that worry me about the show. (If I hated the show, I wouldn't have such a big website dedicated to it).
SadGeezers Guide to Firefly
http://www.sadgeezer.com/firefly
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I'm of the ilk that really enjoys the show. I find it a refreshing change from all of those "family sitcoms". Being a country gal myself, I am glad that someone has finally combined "western/rural/country" themes with science fiction.
Though I agree it is far from "hard" science fiction with its lack of futuristic technologies, it is still classified as science fiction. The science in question is more socio-ecomonical. Previous posters have said its the interactions between the characters that make the show; this is the social science part. And what happens after a war? Things go to pot, including the economy, which is why they're characterizing many people as backwater/planet hayseeds. But its still science fiction, no matter how soft it is.
Now when throwing in the "western" themes, it does change things. This show is implying questions like "What if the Wild West attitude has survived over 500 years?" or "What if the Wild west mentality was ressurected?" These questions and others mixed with the soft sci-fi makes me want to broaden its categorization: speculative fiction.
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Sad Geezer, On a completely unrelated topic, I love your Buffy Pruity test, but one of the possible responces to question #12 really should be "Miss Kitty Fantastico."
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Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
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Quote:
Originally posted by BlueHoot:
This show is implying questions like "What if the Wild West attitude has survived over 500 years?" or "What if the Wild west mentality was ressurected?".
Good point, and I guess it's not something that the writers want to dwell on too much since it would be an over-explanation as far as they were concerned.
I still want my sexy spaceships and cool guns though.
Quote:
Originally posted by LivingImpaired:
Sad Geezer, On a completely unrelated topic, I love your Buffy Pruity test, but one of the possible responces to question #12 really should be "Miss Kitty Fantastico."
Thanks! I'll tell Newkate (the reviewer), I'm sure she'd agree.
SadGeezers Guide to Firefly
http://www.sadgeezer.com/firefly
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I must agree. Definitely Miss Kitty Fantistico. Speaking of which... what the heck ever happened to said kitty?
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Tara: You know, we could ... we could name her Trixie, or Miss Kitty Fantastico, or something.
Willow: And we could make kitty go bonkers with string and catnip and stuff?
Tara: Absolutely.
Willow: Fun! I'm in.
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Quote:
Originally posted by bobknaptor:
I must agree. Definitely Miss Kitty Fantistico. Speaking of which... what the heck ever happened to said kitty?
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Tara: You know, we could ... we could name her Trixie, or Miss Kitty Fantastico, or something.
Willow: And we could make kitty go bonkers with string and catnip and stuff?
Tara: Absolutely.
Willow: Fun! I'm in.
That is what I have been asking for the past two years!
________________
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
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Well, Firefly is not science fiction. In science fiction the science or technology posits "what if" questions and the answers to these questions are explored in the stories and in the characters. This just does not happen in Firefly stories. The same stories could be set in current times or a hundred years ago.
Joss Whedon is a master of creating and writing interesting characters. The show does have this to it's credit.
But what worries me is that is all that it has. That is sufficient for me, but the average viewer wants something more--something I call a gimmick. In Buffy, the monsters and vampires and slaying ritual was the unique gimmick that attracted less motivated viewers--i.e. those not interested in the characters. People who like science fiction have tuned in thinking they would find science fiction but they are going to lose interest soon without that hook to keep them involved.
So I can enjoy it because I like big casts with lots of interesting character interaction and I don't expect it to be science fiction, but I think I'm in the minority. The future looks bleak for Firefly.
roj
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Quote:
Though I agree it is far from "hard" science fiction with its lack of futuristic technologies, it is still classified as science fiction. The science in question is more socio-ecomonical. Previous posters have said its the interactions between the characters that make the show; this is the social science part. And what happens after a war? Things go to pot, including the economy, which is why they're characterizing many people as backwater/planet hayseeds. But its still science fiction, no matter how soft it is.
It is not science fiction unless each story posits a "what if" question that has never been examined in past history. What happens after war is not science fiction, because we have had wars and experienced what happens after war. It is true that the "what if" questions do not have to involve possible future technology or knowledge of science. There is a lot of science fiction that examines different possible social mores and cultural aberations. But I don't see that in Firefly. The only thing close to that is "what if prostitution were legalized?" But the show doesn't deal with that issue much and in fact, seems to not have really embraced the possiblity as a science fiction theme because according to Mal it is not socially acceptable or a respectible profession. He's always putting down Inara. If prostitution were legalized and socially acceptable, he would have no negative comments or opinions about Inara's profession. Science fiction would explore what would happen if everyone were cool with it. But Mal's opinion is no different than that of millions of people who live today.
roj
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Firefly is as much science fiction as any other science fiction.
You want a "what if" clause?
What if an interstellar civil war left a large group of economically destroyed planets and disaffected people who sought freedom from an oppressive super-power in deep space?
What if the social conditions and economic disparity of the future are no different then they are today despite the technology?
What if the advances in science make us no more enlightened as a people then we are right now?
What if our current human condition is all we will ever be?
How's that "what if" for you?
If you can't find a "what if" in Firefly, you're not thinking about it hard enough or you're dumb, possibly both. ;) 
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In the Dark Ages, Romano-Celtic Britannia was over-run by Viking-like cultures collectively called the Anglo-Saxons. They were led by warlords called Drytinns, and the greatest warriors among them were the Thegns.
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