Why didn't Firefly "fly"?

[Big Bad]

Why is it that Firefly didn't catch on with the masses? Was it that it was just too strange? Was it because of the way FOX handled it? I personally think it was a combination of the two.

I think the whole premise of the show was a bit too much for the general public to grasp. "Cowboys that live in space and speak Chinese? I don't get it. :headscratch:" It was a bit confusing for even die hard Sci-Fi geek like me to understand just from watching the first episode.

Which brings me to my second point- FOX. FOX felt that the pilot episode was too slow paced to hook viewers, so they instead aired the second episode, "The Train Job", first. Instead of hooking viewers, it just left everyone confused as to who the characters were and what they were doing. I felt like I was playing catch up during the entire run of the series.

Even though I was a bit confused, I liked the characters and story enough to buy it on DVD when it was released. Watching it on DVD was as different as night from day. Not only did I enjoy it much more, I actually understood the story so much better.

Anyone else have thoughts about why Firefly bombed on TV?

[Jenni Lou]

It's amazing the dvd sales it got.

And I blame FOX. This is isn't the first or last series they've given up on and/or switched episodes around. It's like if they don't have a hit from the get-go then they just cancel it; they don't give shows enough time to build a fan base. I've never been a fan of FOX; they have some good shows but you can't trust them.

Firefly, Wonderfalls, The Inside, Drive, John Doe ....

They give up so easily.

But the concept is partly to blame too. A few years back audiences weren't very excited to see sci-fi on network tv. Now they are a bit more warmed up to it.

[Cordelia_Chase]

I dont get it. If you watch the DVD extras, they get standing ovations at the cons, and they are always megga packed out...And it obv sold well in Dvd...and it went into a movie...so what i dont get is why they axed it after just 14 eps.

I thought it was brill. The writing, the directing, the cast. it had it all...even now im still torn between Mal, Simon, and Jayne. lol


You know what...we should write to Joss....get Firefly to make a come back...

[Paradise]

I don't get why either. It was an amazing show and it has loads of fans. The movie was fantastic too. It should've gone much further. :err: :err:

[Thomas]

I think it was because it was on Friday. Not to mention it was before it's time. SciFi on mainstream TV stations are more accepted now then in 2002. If he waited five years, it'd probably still be on.

[ThePoet's<3]

FOX.

If it isn't amazing TV by a landslide - they yank the series. Same thing with Drive.

I thought Firefly was such great TV!

[Risa]

I think Firefly didn't make it because of the channel it was on. In my opinion, FOX is one of those channels that airs shows that are directed towards a certain audience...like the OC. People who love shows like Firefly aren't necessarily ever gonna watch Fox, especially times when Firely would have been on. More likely they would be on Sci-Fi, watching great shows like Stargate. So I'm blaming it on the channel on which it came on. If Firefly had aired on Sci-Fi, I think it would still be going strong.

[Big Bad]

If Firefly had aired on Sci-Fi, I think it would still be going strong.

I have often said the same to friends of mine. SG-1 is an ok show (I generally enjoy it) and it has lasted 10 years!!! I thoroughly believe that if Firefly were on Sci-Fi, a channel actually geared to that audience, it would have just wrapped it's 5th season. But sadly, we will never know. :(

[ciderdrinker]

There was an article in an English newspaper last week (The Independant I think) which discussed how more attune the general public is into far-fetched/fantasy TV at the moment than ever before. It cited Doctor Who, Lost, Heroes and Life on Mars as being shows that are bigs hits in the UK that wouldn't have been anywhere near as popular if they were aired even as little as two years earlier. There was a section detailing the 5 best fantasy/sci-fi shows ever and Buffy and Firefly both made it!

In my opinion Firefly was doomed by Fox not giving it time, but also that Joss was ahead of his time (again!), and yes if it was on Sci-Fi I think it would've had a real fighting chance.

[Goddess Guidance]

Are the episodes in their proper order on the dvds?

[Llywela]

Yes. On the DVDs, the episodes are placed in the order in which they were intended to be seen, so you can watch and enjoy the continuity of character development. :)

One of the reasons for the show's failure (beyond the sheer lunacy of Fox) was the fact that the episodes were aired out of order, which meant that the careful continuity that had gone into their creation was completely lost and viewers were left frustrated. :(

[Francy]

One of the reasons for the show's failure (beyond the sheer lunacy of Fox) was the fact that the episodes were aired out of order, which meant that the careful continuity that had gone into their creation was completely lost and viewers were left frustrated. :(

And whose fault was that? Who aired them in the wrong order? Always Fox..so, in the end, it's always Fox's fault. Grrr....

[Dana]

Most definitely FOX's fault.
First they say no to the original pilot and airs episodes 2 and then put everything out of order which confused all viewers. And then not to forget the promos they aired before the show began. They didn't reflect the show one bit, instead it built up something else and practically made fun of the show before it got a chance with the viewers. and then after all this, they pulled the plug.

I most definitely blame FOX for Firefly's "death".

[Veverka]

Interesting, I think. I even had people say to me that I might not like FF, since as a Buffy fan I might be looking for 'Buffy' in anything from Joss. They were wrong- I love Firefly... I think what I'm getting at are the too many preconcieved notions that people had about a 'space-western'.