Series/Firefly

Yes, but really the most interesting part of it was the villain, not the focus on the (ymmv) worst character in the ensemble.

twasnt a focus, but a finish

Oi S was River going, remember how I was a genius before I went crazy? Still am. And crazy. For me, worst part of the cancellation was that that was the only time River got to be crazy AND genius.

...Well of course you're not going to like the episode if it revolves around a character you don't like. If you liked River, you'd have liked the episode. It doesn't go much deeper than that.

I did like the episode overall, Jubal Early was awesome. Just thought the "I am the ship" stuff was incredibly narmy.

Science channel got me excited for almost nothing again. They're having a Christmas marathon, and The commercial made me think for a second there were new episodes.

So I just watched the famous Big Damn Heroes episode.

Huh...a spaceship age...western-time gun...

Okay, it just looks weird, is there any justification in such a vastly inconsistent technology level?

Why should people be carrying lasers? There's a reason why in universe (they're gimmicky pieces of shit which don't work so well and have limited battery life) but should there even have to be? We've got robots and submarines and spaceships right now, why don't we have laser pistols?

Technological development is all arbitrary, after all. It's just an aesthetic, equally as arbitrary as Star Wars Just roll with it.

......Wow, really? I mean, really?

Too much? Or does the explanation suck?

I'm not having the best of times right now...

Well, in that case this discussion can wait until you ARE having the best of times.

Nah, I'll catch myself this time.

There are a lot of high tech elements to the universe (like the holographic window in the bar that they're chucked out of/through) but they're implemented very patchily. That's probably because they're on the outer rim of the galaxy, where there's less regulation, and distribution is difficult. Some amount of high technology has filtered out there, like the laser pistols, but it's all very expensive or gimmicky stuff, so it's not in wide distribution.

The inner worlds have a greater proliferation of high tech objects, including floating ambulances, computers, and futuristic lighting schemes! Go purple lights!

Lasers are also expensive. Out on the frontier, only the richest people have them.

What about weapons we use right now, what happened to those? 0_o

Oh well, can't really argue about an aspect of an series that I haven't watched yet, can I? Just ignore what I said, I'll get back to it once I watched this series.

You get your tactical nukes when you can show me someone on the rim who can afford tactical nukes.

Whoops, wrong thread.

edited 15th Dec '11 11:04:55 PM by dRoy

I'm gettig close to finishing the show, I just need to see Hear of Gold and Objects in Space and then I'll be done.

Then I'll buy the movie rewatch that, all the epsiodes with commentary etc.

Nitpick: The Firefly 'Verse is five star systems (four orbiting a fifth), not a galaxy.

The reason for the inconsistent technology is thus:

The core planets around White Sun were the most habitable and settled first. They received all the benefits of the technology brought with humanity from Earth. Using terraforming and gravity control, planets and moons further out (the "Border" and "Rim") were made habitable, but the settlers were frequently dumped there with very low-tech supplies - horses, cattle, hand tools, etc. Why this was isn't fully addressed: it's implied to have been deliberate or malicious, but it's possible that they chose the low tech option because they were lower class citizens who couldn't afford better but wanted a new start elsewhere. We only have Mal's point of view and vague statements about it, and he's very biased.

So, the border and rim worlds had only low tech manufacturing available for tools and weapons except to the very wealthy who could import better. Guns like those seen in the series are relatively easy to manufacture, even without modern tech, are fairly effective at making people dead, and usually don't have enough of a punch to puncture a hull (very important if you live on a spaceship, particularly one involved in quasilegal or outright illegal operations). Thus the explanation for the guns.

It's worth noting that while the guns look similar, the technology isn't really the same as modern and pre-modern guns. They use caseless ammo and a chemical propulsion system, explaining the noises they make when cocked, and many have a larger capacity or rate of fire than the gun they are modeled on.

edited 16th Dec '11 11:52:25 AM by ccoa

Most hollywood guns have a larger capacity, faster rate of fire, and louder report though.

Yes, but these ones have an excuse for it.

There's also the benefit that simple guns are easier to maintain. The absense of electronics and minute moving parts means the guns can be repaired with just simple steelworking tools, and a competent blacksmith could probably hand-forge replacement parts.

Basicly why guerillas prefer AK-47s.

There's also the issue that just because something looks like something old doesn't mean it is something old. In fact, there's about half a dozen tropes for the phenomenon.

I personally go with the explanation that Mal's revolver is a revolver because revolvers are easy as shit to load, disassemble, clean, etc, and rarely jam. A good revolver will never let you down.

I just use the explanation that everyone uses western-style guns because it's, well, a space western. If they went around using Glocks and AK-47s it wouldn't fit the aesthetic one bit.

Doylist versus Watsonian, et cetera.

I'm a hardcore Watsonian.

edited 18th Dec '11 8:47:44 PM by Exelixi

Meh. I find trying to see things from a Watsonian perspective needlessly trivial.