Question for evil foreign browncoats by BitterBierce

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Question for evil foreign browncoats

POSTED BY: BITTERBIERCE
UPDATED: Thursday, February 16, 2006 08:22
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Thursday, February 16, 2006 7:28 AM

I watch Firefly with a limey friend of mine at work. He really likes Firefly. I mean really really likes it.

I don't get it. I've heard you evil foreigners complain of the Western patois and the difficult to decipher Americanisms, and this makes sense to me. The show is intensely American despite a thin veneer of "mixed culture". It's the sheer abstuse Americanness of the show that makes me wonder how you can even understand what characters are saying, much less appreciate it.

And I say this knowing full well the "blend of cultures" vibe Joss wanted to put into it. The problem is that all the multi-culti mixing is utterly superficial, whereas the story itself, the language, the style of humor, and the inside jokes strike me as hyper-American. I don't understand how you understand it, or at least a lot of it. The whole show seems to me to be an inter-American conversation of the most inaccessible kind to people not born here.

And I admit up-front that the writing is good enough to stand on its own. No one needs to be told that Jayne falling asleep in the middle of taking over the ship isn't damn funny.

And like I said, I'm asking, not telling. Do you find parts of it leave you scratching your head? Am I completely full of crap in my assumptions? Are you willing to send me your money and young women? No Euros or girls from Shoreditch, I have standards.

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Thursday, February 16, 2006 7:54 AM

AZTECHROME

Yes, such terribly high standards.

I'm from the USA, so I'm not an evil foreigner.
Just to get that out of the way.

However, I propose that someone foreign would have far LESS trouble assimilating to the "Antebellum"/"Western" theme of Serenity/Firefly.

Why?
Because, as far as the world is concerned, these are American stereotypes that are familiar and easily grasped upon.

The tiny little flaws in Nathan's "southern" delivery are easily lost on someone foreign. (GASP! I love nathan too, but sometimes he puts a little TOO much into a line)

Someone from England could easily pick out an actor from South Africa, or Manchester or something, who is attempting to play a role in high London diction.

In other words, the extra degree of separation makes it difficult for people outside the USA to see the tiny technical flaws that I see.
However the spirit and wonderful power of the story and characters reaches out and grabs you no matter who you are.

I think that may be why the foreign market and critics don't perceive things the same way that U.S. spectators do.

"What is the difference between work and love?... Show me" (Passion) (JLG)

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Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:03 AM

HANS

Firstly: I know you were being somewhat tounge-in-cheek, but "foreign" doesn't always mean European. I live in Canada which has more than it's fair share of genuine cowboys and a very strong history of frontier exploration. From the days of the Voyageurs and Champlain (back when the US West was still deserted except for the natives), to the Yukon gold rush, to the Metis rebellion, to the formation of the RCMP, to the modern day cowboys and calgary stampede, the history of the Canadian west is a strong and interesting one. Just a few less Mexicans and a few more French then your west. Okay, maybe a tiny bit colder as well.

And other countries have their own genuine cowboys and outback - Australia certainly comes to mind.

Secondly: The whole theme of the show that Joss was going for (the little people on the frontier who are in danger of being crushed by civilization) is one that people from any country can understand.

Edit: And of course, Nathan and Jewell are Canadian themselves, which might explain why his accent isn't quite perfect... :)

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Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:15 AM

GIXXER

Foreigners?

I'm British. Everyone else is foreigners.

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Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:22 AM

AZTECHROME

I agree with all of the points above.

I think it just re-inforces what I was trying to say.

The frontiersmasn/post-war society is something that almost every nationality can reach into the past and grab.
This show happens to be an American/Chinese historical hybrid, so the seams show a little bit more to people in those societies. (I'd be interested to know what a Chinese fan thinks).

Again, the spirit of the signal is universal, the delivery isn't quite.

Nathan's fantastic, and I forgive him for being Canadian ;) Seriously, he does well, but he CAN'T sound like a southerner to someone attuned. Mal is also the captain, so any faults in his delivery are more glaring. However, I love everything about this show. I'm just trying to engage in a good debate about its merits.
You're preaching to the choir, if you're telling me that Firely is an awesome show.

Also, Jewel's way to fabulously cute to possibly find fault with.

THE END

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