If you're one of the twenty people who normally read my blogs, chances are you know what a Browncoat is. But, just in case, I'll explain anyway. Browncoats are fans of the show Firefly, like how fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic are called Bronies (and sometimes Pegasisters). However, if you don't know what a Browncoat is, you probably don't know what Firefly is either. Firefly is a space western created by Joss Whedon, of Buffy and Avengers fame. It starred Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin (who is not one of the Baldwin brothers), Jewel Statie, Sean Maher, Ron Glass, and Summer Glau. It first aired September 20, 2002, and was cancelled by December 20 of the same year. So yes, Browncoats are essentially the fanbase of a doomed show. But that then begs the question: are these guys obsessive morons clinging to a show that no one liked? Or are they simply another large cult who just love their show?
Now, to answer that question, we're going to have to really delve into the mindset of a fan, and find out why they do what they do. The Browncoats didn't grow overnight, after all. We're also going to have to go into some of the history behind the show, and even explore the history of fandom in general. Because while on the surface this looks like a simple question, it really isn't. This is a question that, at it's very core, explores what passion truly is.
Fandoms have always been around. They may not have always been called that, but the concept has been here since the dawn of time. And that's simply because, at their core, each person is passionate about something. Hunters are passionate about catching prey. Architects are passionate about building. Painters are passionate about art. It's just something that's always been there. And where there are passionate creators, there are people who are passionate at admiring their work. How else did Mozart, Shakesphere, Da Vinci, and Van Gogh become the universally known figures they are today? Their fans carry on their legacy, and spread it to the rest of the world. But those guys are the great artists of their time, with universal recognizability today. How can Whedon compare to them?
At the time, Joss Whedon was a somewhat recognizable name. He had created the well-known Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it's counterpart, Angel. Around this time, he read The Killer Angels, a book about the Battle of Gettysburg written by Michael Shaara. The idea of exploring the frontier through the eyes of the people history stepped on intrigued him, and he eventually came up with Firefly. I'll admit, I'm not exactly sure where the space idea came from, but it did have a huge effect on the show. One thing Whedon was sure of was that he didn't want to make a sci-fi show like the then-current norm, which he felt was too pristine and rarefied. In essence, he wanted to tell the story of a man who fought for the Confederates and had to deal with their loss, but in space. The end result was one of the most unique shows in television history. However, that was part of the problem. Being a space western, the average viewer was unsure how to cope with this strange universe. It didn't help that FOX, the network that aired the show, did make some poor decisions that ended up hurting the show in the long run. It started when they decided the pilot episode, which introduced the characters and explained why they were on the Firefly-class ship Serenity, would not be aired, and instead they would air the second episode first. This haphazard airing of the show would plague it for the rest of its short life. The promos didn't help either, trying to make it look like an action show, when it clearly was not. The final nail in the coffin was FOX airing it during the Friday night death slot. With all these problems combined, Firefly was practically DOA. So why do so many fans still cherish it today?
For many Browncoats, the main reason they love Firefly is the characters. People love Mal, Wash, Zoe, Kaylee, Jayne, and the rest. Their interactions and traits felt very identifiable to many people. None of them were evil, and none of them were saints either. They were just people trying to survive in an unforgiving world, something most us have gone through at one time or another. Another reason is the humor, a staple of most Whedon productions. However, the most surprising reason is also partly the reason for its demise: the world. Many people find it an interesting, new world, that feels identifiable, unlike worlds like Star Trek's. To clarify, these are Browncoat opinions, not mine. I'm trying to leave my bias out of this, though it is difficult. But whatever the reason, all Browncoats agree that cancelling Firefly was the dumbest thing FOX ever did. So what did they do about it?
Once Firefly's cancellation was announced, the Browncoats joined together in outrage and sadness. FOX received hundreds of e-mails and petitions pleading for the show to return. None were successful, though they eventually did convince FOX to put the series on DVD. Sales went through the roof. Pre-sales topped the charts of even Amazon.com. Two years later, Universal got into contact with Whedon about making a movie, and he chose to continue Firefly through a feature film. On Spetember 30, 2005, Serenity premiered. After an opening weekend of $10.1 million, the movie would eventually gross $38 million worldwide. Sadly, this was just shy of its $39 million budget, and a sequel has yet to be announced. DVD sales once again saved the day, but the damage was done. On the screen, Firefly was dead. It only lived on through novels, comic books, and an RPG.
While cancellation of cult shows is a common thing these days, the Browncoats made Firefly into more than another short-lived show. The Browncoats have turned Firefly into a symbol for cults everywhere. Sure, the Trekkies were what kept Star Trek alive until the movies, but the franchise was successfully revived, and remains the most popular cult to this day. The Browncoats weren't so lucky. They didn't become a symbol for people who fought the network and won, they became the people who fought the network and lost. Many have noted that their plight is similar to that of Captain Malcolm Reynolds: they fought their hardest, and lost. But they still try to keep the dream alive in what little way they can. Firefly is a symbol of sadness, but also one of hope. Because even now, nearly ten years after the show's death, the fanbase remains strong
So what are Browncoats? Well, if it isn't obvious by this point, yes, I am one, so a lot of bias is going into this. However, that doesn't mean I can't recognize the negative aspects of the fanbase. So what do I think? I think the Browncoats are a little bit obsessed, but I do think most of them have a good head on their shoulders. Ultimately they're just people who are passionate about a show that was killed before it even had a chance, and, like Trekkies, Jedi, Bronies, and all other cult followings, are going to do whatever they can to keep it around. If it weren't for them, the family that developed during the making of the show wouldn't have had a chance to get back together. If it weren't for them, the show would indeed, be dead. And let's not forget, the general public has often done the same thing as the Browncoats. Why does I Love Lucy continue to air, decades after it ended? Why does Doctor Who still persist, even after its cancellation in 1989? Because the people who loved it refused to let it truly die. The Browncoats are doing the same thing. The Browncoats still love the show, and still watch it, and still
spread it to people. And in that way, the show remains alive. The fans
have done what the cast and crew couldn't, and the networks wouldn't:
they've kept the light of Firefly aglow.
No comments:
Post a Comment