In John Scalzi's "Redshirts," the narrative concept revolves around the notion that crew member fatalities are an expected part of their existence rather than unfortunate incidents. The character Cassaway's remark emphasizes a darker truth within the story's universe, where the characters are aware of their precarious fates, akin to the tropes seen in classic science fiction series.

This self-awareness leads to humor and a critique of genre conventions, as the characters navigate their roles while recognizing that their deaths serve a specific narrative purpose. By framing crew deaths as an integral aspect of their reality, Scalzi invites readers to reconsider the implications of storytelling in science fiction.