Page 247 - A Handbook Genre Studies in Mass Media

CHAPTER 9

As it turns out, the naïve Thermians idolize the TV Galaxy Quest show’s
“transmissions” and believe that they are “historical documents” recording
the crew’s actual heroic missions. Naturally, the Thermians have created
a real, fully functional spaceship modeled on the show’s Protector, with
the idea of enlisting Nesmith to take command and save them from Sarris.
When Nesmith jumps at the chance and asks the rest of the crew to join
him, the film’s main plot takes off. (Hence the film’s tagline: “The show
has been cancelled . . . but the adventure is just beginning.”)
The main plot is clearly an expression of two familiar mythic
themes: “imminent annihilation” and “death and resurrection” (rebirth/
regeneration). An impending catastrophe (Sarris’s evil plan) brings the
downtrodden, bickering cast together to defend the Thermians. The actors’
ultimately successful efforts turn a bunch of has-been performers into the
brave and bold starship crew that they had portrayed on their aptly named
spaceship (Protector). In fact, the characters each embrace their respective
roles: The Commander risks his life to battle the Rock Monster and Sarris;
Tech Sgt. Chen bravely “digitizes” (beams up) the Commander, thus saving
his life; and Dr. Lazarus for the first time willingly utters his character’s
signature (and hackneyed) line—“By Grabthar’s hammer, you will be
avenged”—and actually finds the courage to follow through with this vow
in defense of the Thermians. Hitting home the regeneration theme, the film
ends with the actual rebirth of the Galaxy Quest TV series with an older
and much wiser cast, including the once-sniveling Crewman Guy, who has
earned himself a regular part in the show as the security chief.
The plot also incorporates a mythic “quest” theme, as befits the film’s
name. When the Commander willingly goes on board the real spaceship
Protector to help the Thermians, he also embarks on a quest to give his
life meaning beyond that of an out-of-work actor. In fact, his willingness
to jump at this chance for a real adventure is reminiscent of an adolescent
search for identity.
One other important subplot of the film reflects the “quest” ideal—the
story of the brilliant but dorky teen fan Brandon Wheeger. At the con-
vention, the beleaguered Nesmith nastily insists to Wheeger that none
of the show is true. Later, Nesmith accidentally switches his real Therm-
ian-produced transmitter for Wheeger’s fake one, setting the stage for
Nesmith to call on Wheeger for help during the film’s climax. When
Nesmith contradicts his earlier statements and says “it’s all real,” Wheeger
responds, “Oh my God, I knew it. I knew it! I knew it!” and proceeds to
help Nesmith win his struggle against Sarris. Wheeger’s reactions and

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