"A lot of people are asking me, you know, what exactly is Firefly? It's a TV show you morons!" - Joss Whedon
During my Year Abroad I've watched a lot of TV shows - thanks in part to not having a proper Internet connection, nor any actual television to watch - and I have to say that of all the programmes I've watched these past seven months, Firefly is by far the best.
I bought the DVD box set after watching and loving the film Serenity and wanting to see more of this wonderful world and cast of characters.
**About Firefly**
Firefly was first broadcast in 2002 on the Fox Network in the US. After eleven episodes had aired, the show was cancelled. A lot of what I've read around the internet says that this was in part due to Fox's poor handling of the episodes - dodgy scheduling, poor advertising, messing around with the order of episodes - but the fact is, it failed and we're left with an incomplete series of fifteen episodes.
In 2005, a film 'Serenity' was released, with a continuation of the story from Firefly and with all of the cast members returning.
To bridge the gap between the TV series ending and the start of the film, there is a three-part comic series called "Serenity: Those Left Behind". A further set of three comics is being released this year.
**The Plot**
Firefly is set five hundred years into the future. 'Earth that was' has been abandoned, and the two superpowers
of China and America have merged to form the Alliance, branching out into space, terraforming planets and settling on them.
The series follows the Firefly class spaceship Serenity and its crew as they meander through space; taking whatever jobs they can - legal or otherwise. Each episode is a self-contained story, largely focusing on whatever job it is they happen to be doing; however there are a couple of story arcs running through the entire series. Unfortunately, we don't get to see the fruition of these due to the series being cut short.
Firefly is, in essence, a Space Western - which sounds like a very odd combination, but surprisingly it works. I've never been a big fan of Western's, but in Firefly - it's great.
**The Characters**
Ahh, the characters. You'll find someone to love and someone to hate amongst the nine mainstays of the show. The main protagonist is Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) - an unlikely hero with a lonely edge and biting wit. Mal makes a great and likeable lead character.
Second in command to Mal is Zoe Washburne (Gina Torres), a stoic ex-soldier who always has Mal's back. She's the sort of character who's very hard on the surface, but there are several instances when we get to see the real Zoe.
Serenity's pilot, Wash (Alan Tudyk) is Zoe's husband and an all round fantastic character. He adds a lot of the heart and the humour to the cast, and has some great one-liners.
The muscle of the show is Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin). He's the man we call Jayne and he's an odd one. I don't know whether to love him or hate him - there are moments throughout the series when it's a bit of both.
Kaylee Frye (Jewel Staite) is the true heart of the show. Always cheerful, she's the ship's mechanic and is just a very sweet character.
Inara Serra (Morena Baccarin) rents one of the ship's shuttles for her personal use as a registered Companion. A Companion in the Firefly world is similar to a Courtesan or Geisha, and is a respected profession. Inara provides a lot of the conscience on the ship, and is always on hand for some advice.
Shepherd Book (Ron Glass) is picked up as a traveller, and remains for the rest of the time on Serenity. He's a preacher, and like Inara, is always around to provide some morals or advice.
Simon Tam (Sean Maher) is also picked up as a traveller, along with his sister River (Summer Glau). Simon's a doctor who has given up everything to save River from the government scientists who experimented on her and turned her insane.
There are several other recurring characters, such as YoSaffBridge (Christina Hendricks) - and you'll have to watch it to find out the story behind her name!
**Special Effects and Music**
The special effects in Firefly are top-notch for a TV show. The outer shots of Serenity are fantastic - it's a really nice looking spaceship. There are several instances when there are shots of the futuristic cities, and they look fantastic too.
The special effects team did a great job on this show.
The music is really good as well, an intriguing mix of country music with Chinese, Celtic and many other influences. The theme song is so catchy you'll find yourself humming it all the time… '…take my love and take my land, take me where I cannot stand, I don't care, I'm still free, you can't take the sky from me…'
**Everything's Looking Shiny**
So why should you invest in watching a cancelled TV show that hasn't even got a complete run of episodes?
To put it simply: because it's great.
There's so much to love about Firefly: the characters, the plots, the humour, the dialogue…I could go on and on.
I can't put my finger on just what it is about this series that has enamoured me, but there is something special here and I know I'm not alone in saying that Fox were fools for cancelling such a great show!
**The Box Set**
The box set contains four disks with all fifteen episodes of the series - in the correct order. When originally aired, the episodes were shown out of order, but here on the DVDs they're as the makers originally intended.
Included in the box set is an insert with episode titles and descriptions.
There are commentaries for a few of the episodes, and some Special Features on disk four, including Alan Tudyk's audition tape, deleted scenes and a couple of making-of documentaries.
**I want more!**
So, if I've convinced you to watch Firefly, chances are you'll want more after you've watched it. Good news - there's a film set in the same 'verse with the same characters.
Seems a bit improbable - that they'd make a film out of a cancelled series, but as many Firefly fans say they 'did the impossible' and in 2005 the film Serenity was released. I won't go into full detail here but the film is a great ending to the series, despite losing some of Firefly's immeasurable charm.
**Overall**
If you like well-written, character and plot driven television shows, then give Firefly a go. The mix of science fiction and western shouldn't work, but it does. The characters are fantastic, the dialogue sharp and witty, the stories are exciting and keep your attention and the humour is spot-on.
A great, great show that met an untimely end, unfortunately.
And you know what? It's just gorram shiny!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Science Fiction - Director: Alex Proyas - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride, Alan Tudyk
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Much praised and much missed after its premature cancellation,Fireflyis the first SF TV ... more
series to be conceived by Joss Whedon, creator ofBuffyand cocreator ofAngel. Set five centuries in the future, it is a show where the mysterious personal pasts of t...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Much praised and much missed after its premature cancellation,Fireflyis the first SF TV ... more
series to be conceived by Joss Whedon, creator ofBuffyand cocreator ofAngel. Set five centuries in the future, it is a show where the mysterious personal pasts of t...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
All 14 Series EpisodesFive hundred years in the future there's a whole new frontier, and a ... more
crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity is eager to stake a claim on the action. They'll take any job, legal or illegal, to keep fuel in the tanks and food ...
Five hundred years in the future there's a whole new frontier and the crew of the ... more
Firefly-class spaceship Serenity is eager to stake a claim on the action. They'll take any job legal or illegal to keep fuel in the tanks and food on the table. But th...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Excellent script/writing, fantastic characters, and a good overall "look" and "feel" to the show. Disadvantages: There is only one season of Firefly
Advantages: The boxset is inexspensive, and you can also get a feature length movie called Serenity to go with it, long lasting entertainment, crosses genres so that nonsci fi fans still get hooked Disadvantages: Fox cancelled it, so unless someone commisons more, this is it. Did I mention this show is addictive?
Advantages: Excellent script/writing, fantastic characters, and a good overall "look" and "feel" to the show. Disadvantages: There is only one season of Firefly
![Firefly - The Complete Series [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78518679.jpg "Firefly - The Complete Series [DVD] [2003]")
exceptional by (3%):
very helpful by (90%):
helpful by (7%):
