Firefly

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Phil DeGraves

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Talking about movie errors, what about this. I was watching "Firefly" last night (what a great show!) the episode "Our Mrs. Reynolds." They are about to fly into the net and they decide Jayne should get suited up with "Vera" and shoot from outside the ship. Jayne says "But it needs oxygen to combust the powder." (or words to that effect. At least it shows the writers are thinking) So they put Vera in a suit also and successfully shoot what they need to and they get away. So, can you shoot a firearm in space? Is the oxygen inside the case enough to burn the powder? And then, after they shoot a hole in the suit, he fires 3 more rounds that weakens the port on the BGs ship and they get sucked out into space. If in fact they need to put Vera in a suit for the oxygen, then after he fires the one round and compromised the integrity of the suit, how can they fire additional rounds?
 
If being able to fire additional rounds after losing pressure in the suit was your first indication of nonsense in that chain of events, you must have been having a slow day ;)

Firearms do not require oxygen to burn the powder. Gunpowder contains its own oxidants.
 
It's a fun show, enjoy it as such and don't think so hard.

Besides the guns don't sound like they're operating on gunpowder in that show anyway.
 
Maybe it was just Jayne Logic (tm). The man didn't have too many sparks in the frying pan, if you know what I mean.

jm
 
Maybe it was just Jayne Logic (tm). The man didn't have too many sparks in the frying pan, if you know what I mean.
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Although I know what you mean, the phrase puzzles me.

Seems you would WANT not many sparks in your frying pan...
 
Yes, conventional firearms can discharge in a vacuum.

However, on a show set in a star system with multiple inhabitable planets, why do we assume that all firearms use the technology that we are familiar with? The particular weapon in question might a design that requires taking oxygen from the atmosphere for combustion, but compensates for this problem with some other characteristic superior to regular firearms.
 
So...which would you choose - Vera or Mrs. Reynolds?
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Umm... Vera?

Cause she's not going to get up in the middle of the night and blow a hole in me.

(Or at least, has less of a chance of that- who knows if these future guns DO have a mind of their own...)
 
I do enjoy the show a great deal. But the technology they are using is 20th century...revolvers, Berettas, pump shotguns, that Hawgs Laig that Zoe has. I love that aspect of it.
 
"It's all been discussed before - A LOT.
Search is your friend. Really."

I tried that. Didn't work. Sorry.
 
"Love the show, love the premise, love the freedom message."

And that the Alliance (bad guys) wear blue helmets. Hmmm. Remind you of anybody?
 
I do enjoy the show a great deal. But the technology they are using is 20th century...revolvers, Berettas, pump shotguns, that Hawgs Laig that Zoe has. I love that aspect of it.
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Even the Lassiter, the hand laser that was valuable as it was the foundation of all future laser small arms?

Some of the technology is 20th century. A huge percentage is not, including weaponry, artificial gravity, anti-gravity, interplanteray drives, inertial dampers, etc.
 
The sounds those guns make are not the same sounds mine make, even though they may look the same. So, the conclusion I draw there is that the guns ARE the same, but the ammo is not. Perhaps they've moved to caseless ammo that DOES require O2? I just took it as they gave it and moved on.
 
'Sides which, that's not just a gun. That's a Callahan Full-Bore Autolock. The best weapon ever made. 'Course it needs oxygen around it to work. Duh.

[/Jaynespeak]
 
Hi Phil,

I just rewatched the entire series including the movie over the last couple of weeks. I have the same thought whenever I see that scene, but what the heck, it is still one of the best TV series ever!

Inara...mmmmmmmmmm....;)
 
Why are people arguing over a science fiction tv show?
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Why not? It is a free country. Its preferable to cop bashing. And is actually gun related. And really didn't seem like arguing to me :).

And he asks an interesting question: do modern firearms need external oxygen to operate? My understanding is that they do not, Jayne or whatever future weapons they use on Firefly notwithstanding.

Good show as well.
 
Asked And Answered

And yes, we've had plenty of Firefly discussions.

I would leave the thread open, but there are already indications it's not going to stay "on mission" for long.

Thanks anyway.
 
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