spdrwn ([info]spdrwn) wrote,
@ 2007-09-22 17:40:00
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To Jason...again.

Started watching Firefly.  Am blond, so have lots of questions.

1) So the independents (Browncoats) are like the Rebels, and the Alliance is like the Empire?  Why are they called Browncoats?  Just cuz they wear brown coats?
2) What is that language they keep speaking that sounds like Chinese?
3) Why do they need a "companion" on the ship?  So far she hasn't had sex with anybody so it seems kinda pointless.

Sorry that I am lame.  :)


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[info]djinneth
2007-09-23 01:16 am UTC (link)
He's gonna ba so mad that I 'scooped' him! This is what I know...

1) They were the freedom fighters AGAINST the Alliance, not exactly like the rebels... the Alliance kept getting larger and larger, pushing the boundaries of 'controlled' planets outward. The browncoats were fighting to keep the frontier free. They're called browncoats because they wore long brown dusters, which were normal gear for the outer planet ranchers, and since they were poor and couldn't afford uniforms, they got called browncoats. (Also a reference to the confederate soldiers, called greycoatsm in the civil war. )

2) It's Chinese! As I understand it, the Chinese were the first to colonize many of the outer planets, either that or there was a war.. I can't remember. But they hybridize Chinese and English. Usually when they're swearing. I love it! You'll also notice that a lot of the design themes for the show are 'oriental'.. definitely on purpose.

3) A Companion means something totally different than we would think of. Yes, she sleeps with dudes for money, but in the Firefly 'verse, it's a status symbol to keep a companion in your company. They call the shots and are a sort of currency. You are allowed to dock in certain places only if you have a companion to offer. You get your wheels greased, as it were. A companion is also more than just a whore. In fact, Mal seems to be the only one who ever has a problem with her vocation. She is also trained in interpreting people's needs, body language, she knows several languages, etc. etc. It's way more like a Geisha than anything else. She's very valuable. (Not only that, but the interplay between her and Mal is one of my favorite parts of the series!!)

You're not lame!! That show is complex and has its own history.. so it's good to ask questions. :) Let us know if you have any other questions!

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[info]spdrwn
2007-09-23 02:00 am UTC (link)
Wow! Thanks, you are so helpful. I've watched another episode since I wrote this blog and had started to figure out the companion part on my own (that they're not just whores, more like geishas).

I'm sure that I will have more questions. Just started watching!

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