Editing Firefly (TV series) (section)

=== Signature show elements ===
The show blends elements from the [[space opera]] and Western genres in a grounded depiction of humanity's future. ''Firefly'' takes place in a multi-social future, primarily a fusion of Western and [[Culture of Asia#East Asia|East Asian societies]] (and in particular those of [[mainland China]]), where there is gross class inequality. As a result of the [[Alliance (Firefly)|Sino-American Alliance]], [[Mandarin Chinese]] is a common second language; English-speaking characters in the show frequently curse in Mandarin.

The show features slang not used in contemporary culture, such as adaptations of modern words or new words. "Shiny" is frequently used as the real world slang "cool", and "gorram" is used as a mild swear word. Written and spoken Chinese, as well as Old West dialect, are also employed. As one reviewer noted: "The dialogue tended to be a bizarre [[purée]] of wisecracks, old-timey Western-paperback patois, and snatches of Chinese."<ref name="weeklystandard" />

Tim Minear and Joss Whedon pointed out two scenes that articulated the show's mood clearly:<ref name="pilotcommentary" /> In the original pilot "Serenity" when Mal is eating with chopsticks with a Western tin cup by his plate; and in "The Train Job" pilot when Mal is thrown out of a [[Volumetric display|holographic]] bar window.<ref name="ttjc1" /> The DVD set's "making-of" documentary explains the distinctive [[Book frontispiece|frontispiece]] of the series (wherein ''Serenity'' soars over a herd of horses) as Whedon's attempt to capture "everything you need to understand about the series in five seconds."

Whedon struggled with Fox over the tone of the show, and especially over the character of Malcolm Reynolds. Fox pressured Whedon to make Mal more "jolly", as they feared he was too dark in the original pilot, epitomized by the moment he suggests he might "space" Simon and River, throwing them out of the airlock. Fox was unhappy that the show portrayed "nobodies" who "get squished by policy" instead of actual policymakers.<ref name="pilotcommentary" /><ref name="ttjc7" />