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Originally posted by Asmodeus:
Fox sucks? yes indeedee, but could it be that the Fox execs rely on test reactions from teens and not, the ahem more "mature" audience that Firefly appeals to, it is a subtle show, so many asides, so much depth to it, it does take repeated viewings to try and get all of the references, in-jokes, funny word play, characterisation etc.. characterisation, at the risk of sounding youthist, isn't that wasted on anybody sub 31 in years? Blow me away if you like, but I feel Fox took the advice of a load of slacker teens when they should have asked us!! It is about time the over 21s stood up and said "Enough you Foxers!"

Viewers in the UK....jammy or what!!!

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in-jokes, funny word play, characterisation etc

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Firefly never stood a chance. The formula was all wrong.

Take an intelligent, cerebral sci-fi show (requires time to build an audience) with an interesting Western twist (takes longer to win over the skeptics) produced by the same guy who also produces a wildly popular if somewhat less cerebral vampire show (setting high expectations for immediate results) and air it on a network desperate for some sign of life in their ratings (therefore possessing a low tolerance for risk).

Is it any wonder FOX cancelled Firefly after less than a dozen episodes? How could it not? What were they even doing with a program like this anyway?

To recap, Firefly took place several centuries in the future, after Earth was "used up" and humanity looked outward for habitation. Humans evidently found other star systems with several habitable worlds, and established an alliance of human planets. As humans are wont to do, civil war broke out and the alliance held together by crushing worlds in opposition to it. Firefly started soon after the war ended, following the efforts of a couple of former rebels trying to find a new life in the new galactic order. They assembled a ragtag crew and took passengers to pay the rent, then went looking for work in the fringe worlds using an old cargo ship, Firefly-class of course, called the Serenity. These outer worlds lacked the high-tech amenities of the core worlds; many people eked out a 19th-century life with only occasional reminders of the larger galaxy around them. Far from being commonplace, space travel amongst the outer worlds was rare and sought after. Serenity's cargo could be anything from the latest medical supplies to cattle. And their trade wasn't always perfectly on the level.

Even though many science fiction programs and movies are little more than Westerns with shiny steel sets, computer-generated lasers, and makeup-artist aliens, it was quite a bold step to blatantly mix the two genres. This author was among the skeptics when the premise first came out, but watching a couple of the early shows demonstrated that it worked well. Using this premise handily resolved the technobabble problem endemic to futuristic sci fi, because in the life of the Serenity crew there often was no techno to babble about. Yet, since they were still space travellers (if low-tech travellers), there was still room for the occasional show about the oddballs they met in deep space.

Firefly twisted the usual SF mantra -- we are not alone in space -- by saying, in essence, "huh, turns out we are alone in space." There was not one alien or half-alien on the show. This neatly sidestepped the often-pivotal question of how humans stack up against other species, allowing the show instead to focus on how humans survive in difficult new environments. It is an interesting paradigm for our own present-day world, where some enjoy the greatest technological advances of the human race while others only a few hours away by airplane essentially still live in the stone age.

Having several of the major characters on board as paying clients rather than crew made it possible to have true moral conflict without the added burden of insubordination. The dynamics were interesting, with individuals on board for different reasons, and with vastly different expectations for the journey. Highly credible disputes over the perspective and resolution of a difficult situation made it possible for Firefly to really examine issues and, perhaps, not always come up with a clear answer -- just like life.

Firefly had what it needed to be a successful show: smart scripting, good actors, an interesting premise. It was in line to inherit a huge, hungry sci fi audience, as it hit the scene just as Farscape was being killed by the Sci Fi Channel and Enterprise floundered in its search for its place in the Trek universe. All it needed was more time to build a reputation and a following, to allow the season to be re-run for latecomers to catch up and get hooked. But half a season of intermittent airing on FOX? Firefly never really had a chance to get off the ground.

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Originally posted by Asmodeus:
Are we jammy in the UK or what? ...
It is about time the over 21s stood up and said "Enough you Foxers!"

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Originally posted by Mercutio:
Hello all,
First ever post here. It's kinda funny, because I registered just so I could express my discontent with the FOX network. Kindred spirits! Now here's what I propose. Let's start a web site, called ***trumpet fanfare***

www.WHYFOXSUCKS.com

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