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[uv23]

I hate to say it but I don't think its worth saving. I was looking forward to Firefly for months and months, anticipating a gritty sci-fi show with some interesting, dark angel-escque storylines.

Instead, I got a bunch of hicks in space speaking hick-speak. Living in Calgary, I can step onto any street and be barraged by country hicks. The last place I want to see them is on my sci-fi shows.

 

[Richards]

Well, I definitely think it's worth saving. I added my name to the petition. Good work, Negative Zero!

Johnathan

 

[Ranger REG]

OTOH, I don't mind seeing the space western show. It has that Traveller-esque atmosphere being on the fringes of known civilized space. It appears that in most recent episodes they are pulling away from western aspect and focusing on the science fiction aspect; my hope is getting to know more about the ship and technology. Of course, I don't expect them to change their clothing.

You got my vote for a show worth saving. Heck it beats Providence on a friday night. I mean, what else is worth watching on the 8/7 pm slot (the first primetime hour)?

P.S. Still perusing my T20: The Traveller's Handbook.

 

[Pielorinho]

Instead, I got a bunch of hicks in space speaking hick-speak. Living in Calgary, I can step onto any street and be barraged by country hicks. The last place I want to see them is on my sci-fi shows.

Just out of curiosity, have you watched the last few episodes? I was cringing a lot at the dialogue in the early episodes -- "Jaynestown" especially was rootin' tootin' dadblame awful -- but I think the writers have really found their voice in the last few episodes. The dialect is still different, but it's not quite so goofy, IMO.

I think it's a fantastic show, and really hope it survives.

Daniel

 

[uv23]

Just out of curiosity, have you watched the last few episodes? I was cringing a lot at the dialogue in the early episodes -- "Jaynestown" especially was rootin' tootin' dadblame awful -- but I think the writers have really found their voice in the last few episodes. The dialect is still different, but it's not quite so goofy, IMO.

I think it's a fantastic show, and really hope it survives.

Daniel

Well thats a promising development. I watched it faithfully for a while but just couldn't justify it anymore. The rednecks-in-space annoyance factor was overwhelming. I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[John Crichton]

Well thats a promising development. I watched it faithfully for a while but just couldn't justify it anymore. The rednecks-in-space annoyance factor was overwhelming. I guess we'll see what happens.

Rednecks-in-space? Not quite accurate, but everyone is entitled to an opinion. Just because it has a western motif doesn't make them rednecks. Altho I do get your point, I still don't think it's accurate.

 

[Pielorinho]

Rednecks-in-space? Not quite accurate, but everyone is entitled to an opinion. Just because it has a western motif doesn't make them rednecks. Altho I do get your point, I still don't think it's accurate.

Well, I personally thought some of the dialect early on didn't work. Especially when Kaylee used phrases like, "I reckon..." -- she just didn't seem like enough of a cowboy to pull them off. It seemed sort of like if Jayne had said, with a straight face, "Jolly good, chap!"

But since then, they've downplayed that kind of dialect and played up cool stuff like cussing in Chinese. And the show's dialogue generally sparkles with wit.

I definitely recommend giving it a second chance.

Daniel

 

[John Crichton]

Well, I personally thought some of the dialect early on didn't work. Especially when Kaylee used phrases like, "I reckon..." -- she just didn't seem like enough of a cowboy to pull them off. It seemed sort of like if Jayne had said, with a straight face, "Jolly good, chap!"

But since then, they've downplayed that kind of dialect and played up cool stuff like cussing in Chinese. And the show's dialogue generally sparkles with wit.

I definitely recommend giving it a second chance.

Daniel

Ah, well you are still watching it so that is a plus.

As far as the Japanese (I think it's Japanese, not sure) phrases they have been doing that since the start. And the wit has always been there for me. The show just takes a little getting used to perhaps. It is different from just about everything else on the air right now.

 

[Pielorinho]

Ah, well you are still watching it so that is a plus.

As far as the Japanese (I think it's Japanese, not sure) phrases they have been doing that since the start. And the wit has always been there for me. The show just takes a little getting used to perhaps. It is different from just about everything else on the air right now.

Oh, it's been witty from the beginning, don't get me wrong, and I'm telling everyone I know to watch it (unless I know they're the kind of fool who wouldn't like it ). And they've largely fixed my one problem with the show -- the fakey (to my Southern ears) dialect.

As for the cussin', according to this great Firefly thread on the Straight Dope Message Board, it's Chinese:

Some possibly helpful Chinese translations of the racier stuff follows. These are off the top of my head, so probably not comprehensive. Yes, they are speaking Mandarin, but with Western accents (i.e. nonexistent intonation). Here's how I might spell them phonetically.

from 12/6 episode:
pee goo = butt
nyoh seh = cow dung
zow gow = trouble

from earlier episode:
go seh = dog doo

Personally, I think the survival of the Chinese language primarily as epithets is one of the many wonderful details on the show: it hints at a broad, scary history in a subtle fashion.

Daniel

 

[John Crichton]

Ah, Mandarin! Great, that answers it. Cool.

:: edited for spelling ::