Serenity Generator Plot Device
From Firefly, the coolest sci-fi series ever, comes Serenity, the movie, in which our intrepid hero braves a giant generator to save the day.
In the exciting climax of “Serenity”, WARNING! SPOILERS! Captain Reynolds has some business to attend to which requires that he get to a platform in the middle of a huge generator with giant blades whirling below him. The only way to the central platform, apparently, is to swing across like tarzan on these large random, good-old-fashioned linked chains. This requires serious upper body strength and is made all the more difficult by the Alliance dude hanging on his legs, slashing at him with a samurai sword and otherwise having a chicken fight with him over blades.
This was very entertaining to watch. But then I got sad in the middle of it, nostalgic, even. Realizing that, if the energy of the future is focus fusion, this generator thing would be moot.
Would it be as much fun to watch our hero walk past a garage sized room and get to the controls? I don’t think so.
In the interests of drama, we could always ask the Focus Fusion plant designers to study the feasability of adding a big gratuitous ornamental generator-esque contraption with each reactor to increase the dramatic potential and heroic possibilities. Such a feature would be a bit like the vestigial screw-in light-bulb contrivance.
PS. Serenity is great, go see it!
PPS. Galaxy Quest also has a ridiculous engine contrivance that they take pleasure in pointing out.