Firefly fandom no longer cool

[sombrefan]

So I was reading Matt's latest missive at Hellmouth Central about the Browncoats. Now it's in his usual overblown style but there's some interesting points to be got from it.

So here's my thoughts.

1) It seems that the Firefly fandom has gone mainstream and is exactly the same as the Star Wars and Star Trek fandoms. So it's a whole new ball game and there's baggage that comes with it. But new opportunities as well.

2) Nathan Fillion is very popular. I'll go out on a limb and say he's the new James Marsters in terms of Whedonverse fan popularity. In fact I'll even say right now he's the most popular actor in the Whedonverse fandom.

3) So what's the new cool underground fandom? Heroes? Too popular. Doctor Who? Too bitter. Torchwood? For slash lovers it's lovely but that's about it really. Veronica Mars? Too incestuous and Buffy wannabee. Goners? Won't be made for another 5 years (I think so anyhow).

Comments

[anyasbuttmonkey.livejournal.com]

Would BSG be considered an "underground" fandom? It's hardly got a large audience ("Angel" at it's lowest point had bigger ratings), but it's fans - myself included - are ferociously obsessed with the show. I dunno. Maybe there should be, like, a panel of judges to decide this issue...

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

One of the reason the Firefly/Serenity crown may seem more, erm, enthusiastic, is that unlike the Angel/Buffy crowd, they didnt have 5/7 years to meet, fall in love, and then come to the conclusion that actually, he's a bit of a tosser and move on to someone else, it's more like 6 months in, he was ran over by a car and now he'll always be young and beautiful and perfect.

*from Esmerelda's book of why fandoms are like boyfriends*

[anyasbuttmonkey.livejournal.com]

That is a frackin' great analogy, Es :)

Are you actually using "fandom" and "cool" in the same sentence?

[kuzibah.livejournal.com]

I guess if one is really worried about being slightly less geeky than another fan, this is something to worry about, but we're still going to get our asses kicked by the kids in auto shop. :)

What she said.

[carduustristus.livejournal.com]

"Coolness" is irrelevant to "fandom".
For fun and obscure fandoms, check out yuletide: http://www.yuletidetreasure.org/

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

This you say one day after I changed my Christmas desktop wallpaper into a Serenity one. When Frances does something like that I can assure you: it's gone mainstream. (Although I admit having a Daan-icon before he hit the Belgian charts.)

[sl-podcast.livejournal.com]

Matt is a bitter man.... part of why we love Hellmouth Central. I'm not sure he's right. Outside of our little corner of the world... Firfely fandom doesn't seem mainstream. People still look at me and say "huh?"

[vampedvixen.livejournal.com]

That's cause Nathan rocks. I've met him a few times and I'm more wow-ed over by his personality (hyper, hilarious and so sweet) than his looks and that's not something I can say about too many actors I've talked to.

[morgaine-nicely.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who...too bitter? wha?
:(
nooooooo he's not! lol