Scientific project about Firefly by SMoretto

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Scientific project about Firefly

POSTED BY: SMORETTO
UPDATED: Sunday, February 26, 2006 05:23
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Saturday, February 25, 2006 3:39 AM

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a scientific project about the Firefly-phenomenon. In addition to a textual analysis of Firefly itself, I also intend to include a little study on what exactly it is that appeals so much to the show’s fans. After all, when looking at Firefly from a scientific perspective, one cannot help but notice the unusual popularity it has enjoyed, especially for a series that was so short-lived. While cries of outrage after the premature cancellation of critcally acclaimed and beloved shows are not exactly unheard of – and the same goes for a continued support of a loyal fanbase – the extent to which the voice was heard in the case of Firefly is, I dare say, rather unusual. As Joss Whedon himself has pointed out correctly, shows that are cancelled after a few episodes usually don’t get made into major motion pictures.

Since, unlike River, I’m not psychic, to find out what the show’s fans think, I need your help. Therefore, I’d appreciate it a lot if you’d think about this question for a moment:

What is it that makes Firefly so appealing to you?

Any comments would be great. Whether you’d like to write about the show as a whole or specific episodes, talk about the movie or just the show or both, write a lot of stuff or just a few random thoughts, or if you can think of a specific key moment that made something click in your mind and let you say: “Now, this is why Firefly rocks!” – tell me.

I have chosen this very open-ended question quite consciously, so I would not anticipate any results. For the same reason, I’d also like to keep my own hypotheses on what I think people might find so appealing to myself for the moment, as well as my own opinion on what makes Firefly great, having become more and more of a Browncoat myself during the course of this project.

For the purpose of proper disclosure: I’m also posting this question on a number of other Firefly message boards with the goal of collecting as many voices and opinions as possible.

So, if you have a few minutes time to spare: shoot away. Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. If you don’t mind, it would also be helpful if you could include some information where you are from. No exact address required

- country will suffice.

And thanks a lot in advance!

Kind regards,
Sebastian Moretto

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 3:43 AM

HIXIE129

I like the cast.

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 4:34 AM

NUCLEARDAY

Hey, my favorite topic :) Anything in the name of science, huh?

I'd only caught a couple episodes while it was on the air originally. Thought it was a neat idea melding Sci-Fi and Western stuff, and I go for a more "low-tech" sci-fi, always found Star Trek and the others a bit too antiseptic. I like a bit of rust on my spaceships. I remembered it had some pretty interesting characters, great dialogue, and lots of good humour interspersed throughout the dramatic parts. (Plus I had a crush on Kaylee...)

I guess if I had to pick one moment, though, it was when I rented the movie. Not many movies make me actively cry, but towards the end I was bawling like a baby. There's the scene where Mal gets off the elevator after his fight with the Operative, and the rest of his crew is in pretty bad shape. The underdogs have just barely managed to live another day. Mal's looking over what's left of his crew... and that's when I got hooked I suppose. The whole emotional rollercoaster quotient, Joss got it dead on as far as I was concerned.

I've blogged on at length about this stuff, so I'll leave it at that I suppose. Oh, I hail from Michigan, USA as I see you've asked for that ;p

________________________________________________
You can take my hope when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 5:57 AM

DONCOAT

Hi, Smoretto,

Good question -- one which has been discussed before, but I'm sure this won't be the last go-round either.

I watched Firefly's broadcast debut -- The Train Job -- and was drawn in immediately. The first thing that caught my attention (besides the blending of SF and Western genres) was the way Firefly absolutely refused to play by conventional rules. A fight in a Western bar takes on another aspect when somebody gets tossed through a holographic window. A life-or-death confrontation takes a mighty twist when your soon-to-be-beloved spaceship rises into frame. When a successful caper goes sour because the maguffin turns out to be desperately-needed medicine, things get interesting. And when the big, scary, blustering bad guy gets casually converted into a meat slushie by the good guy... well, let's just say that's when the hook was set.

But in a larger sense, I think it's something else that really stays with you. Firefly works on the same level that all great literature and art do: it encapsulates the human condition. Mal and Co. aren't superheroes or saints, and most times they don't even try to be. They're ordinary folks who are trying to navigate between the rocks and sirens of their world and just keep flyin'. The fact that they manage to do this, leaning on one another, and still keep their dignity (usually) and sanity (usually) intact is what endears them to us.

Isn't that what we're all trying to do in our own scary and wonderous world?

Good luck with your study. If possible, please give us access to the final product -- I'm sure a lot of us would be interested in reading it.

Edited to add: I'm from Massachusetts in the USA.

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

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 7:36 AM

RHYIANAN

For me, it was the character interactions and the whole mystery aspect of the plot. I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on, why river freaked out and did some of her stranger stuff, and who the hands of blue were and why they wanted her back. It's not one of those shows where you can pretty much guess everything because once you think you've got something figured out, something else throws it out of the window.

Also, the witty banter is hi-larious. Living in the US, it's hard to find tv shows that have that kind of humor. Most shows just have people making idiots of themselves or doing things so stupid that you have to laugh because otherwise you'd start crying.

Wash: Yeah, but psychic? That sounds like science fiction.
Zoe: You live on a spaceship, dear.

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 7:41 AM

DAVESHAYNE

Chicago, IL USA

There is so much about Firefly that is fantastic that it's hard to list it all.

First off is the use of language: the chinese, the westernisms, the technobable and of course the witty dialog all tossed into a sort of word salad.

Secondarily the depth of character: no character is just a single thing - most of them have a mysterious past and they all have human failings as well as heroic capabilities.

And then of course are the stories. One week our heroes are planning a heist the next week we get an intense character study and then a bit later on w get a bit of the A Team. Plus you have to respect a show that's willing to steal a plot device from Gilligan's Island.

The production style also apeals to me. The purposefully crude camera work, the lighting fixtures and reflectors left in shots and the generally relaxed attitude toward continuity. It really creates a feeling of immediacy in the shows.

David

"A lot of people are asking me, you know, what exactly is Firefly? It's a tv show you morons!" - Joss Whedon

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 9:43 AM

ASHBURNBROWNCOAT

Mainly the show's fate atrracted me. Also the fact that it shows the dirty side of the future. Not the pretty-fied versions like Star Trek. I'd like to see the final report, it sounds like a good topic.

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 10:00 AM

SMUGGLER

the biggest appeal of the show as the fact it wasn't all polished and antiseptic like all other Sci-fi shows it actually felt like it could happen

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 10:00 AM

SMUGGLER

the biggest appeal of the show as the fact it wasn't all polished and antiseptic like all other Sci-fi shows it actually felt like it could happen

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 11:47 AM

LAUGHINGMUSE

I like the cast and the characters. I like the rich storytelling. I like the highly believable projection of our current world to what-might be.

But I think that what echoes most strongly with me is the theme of the individual's wish to be left to choose their own life, to go their own way, to make their own choices based on their own beliefs,...and great, big, huge, oblivious-yet-well-meaning parental-figure government telling us, "Oh, no, you will do this instead of that because, really, that's what will make everyone the most happy. It's in your own best interests. We know what is best. Making your own decisions is so hard, sometimes...let us take that stress from you, let us make things easier for you."

Both extremes of the spectrum are the same way. And, on behalf of moderates of every stripe...we're getting real sick of it.

...dang...I want a spaceship...

---------------------------------
Mankind makes tools; we use them to augment our hands, arms and legs.
The computer augments the brain and this makes it very unpopular with totalitarians. - Charles J.C. Lyall

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:14 PM

GAMMARAYGIRL

Quote:
Originally posted by SMoretto:

What is it that makes Firefly so appealing to you?

Mainly the characters and the great story.

The fantasy of space travel and self employment (without estimated income taxes

).

That it's science fiction, but not completely unbelievable.

The value placed on free will.

(Also, I live in Washington, DC.)

Good luck with your project!

gammaraygirl

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:55 PM

COPILOT

I watched the show on DVD in fall of 2005 it was recomended by my significant other. He had watched it with his friends when it was on televison. I never knew it was on the air. Damn you fox! So back to the story I just fell in love with the rich depths of each character. The writing was quick and witty. The story line was entertaining and believable. Every one brought something different but they worked together for a common goal...survival. Of course they could have chosen to sit back let the Alliance take control and live peacefully on some dusty moon at least untill the gorram Reavers came and ate them. I guess what really ment something to me was each characters unique point of view. The best parts to me had little to do with the story and everything to do with the personalities on the boat. Another thing that stood out was the way you tell that the actors loved the people they were pretending to be and wanted more than anything to stay on Serenity forever. This is also evident in cast interviews and commentaries. I could go on forever but this seems like a good spot to stop before I start gushing and taking up too much space.

An I carried such a torch

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 1:26 PM

THEPISTONENGINE

Sebastian,
What appeals to me about the series? The characters are real. They don't fit any mold, they aren't 2d cardboard cutouts. They talk like real people: "Explode? I don't wanna explode!" Lets face it, that's not terribly funny, but it's something someone would actually say to try to be funny.
Let me list some attributes of characters that make them real to me, and most of these will be negative.
Mal: asshole, prejudiced, hot tempered
Zoe: prejudiced
Kaylee: stupidly optimistic, easily hurt
Simon: wuss (for the majority of situations, not all)
Book: faith can be shaken (Out of Gas)
Jayne: dumb as a brick
Wash: inferiority complex
Inara: Stubborn, prideful
River: died in the wool crazy.

Please no one castrate me for these blasphemous words about our favorite crew.

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 3:08 PM

REDLAVA

I was excited about the show the first time I saw a trailer for the upcoming series on TV.

The entire premise of the show is what I find to be the most intersting. Sci-fi show set 500 years in the future where a ragtag crew try to live day to day in a world that could care less about them. People with opposing viewpoints and ideas on the way to live life choosing to be together in a dilapidated transport ship flying through space.

Whats not to like???

That and Jewel is a damn fine looking woman.

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 5:23 AM

SMORETTO

Quote:
If possible, please give us access to the final product -- I'm sure a lot of us would be interested in reading it.

That basically shouldn't be a problem. It'll a take a while, since my current "base of operations", so to speak, is the University of Bochum, Germany, and the first version will therefore be written in German. However, I do plan to do a translation. Least I can do for all the interesting comments pouring in. :)

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