Classic Sci Fi TV: Our ongoing look back at many of the classics of science fiction and fantasy television.
What Is It? Five hundred years in the future, humans have expanded across the galaxy and the central governing force known as the Alliance rules over the colonists with a tight grip. A group of former rebels and outlaws try to survive aboard the “Firefly” class ship Serenity by living on the fringes of colonized space and attempting to steer clear of Alliance forces.
Aired: FOX, 2002-03, 1 Season Totaling 14 Episodes
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, Ron Glass
Created By: Joss Whedon
Is It Must-Watch Sci Fi? Absolutely. This is one of the all-time great sci fi TV series and is definitely a must-watch for serious genre fans as well as anyone who likes quality television.
The Skinny: When Firefly debuted on FOX in 2002, Joss Whedon had already developed a reputation for his cult-favorite hits Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. His new show diverged significantly from those supernatural dramas, but he still brought over his strong storytelling, well-rounded world-building, as well as sense of humor. Firefly delivered as complete of a series as you could ask for. It had an extensive back story, interesting and well-developed characters, good episodic stories, and also an extended arc full of mystery and intrigue. And it distinguished itself from other space-based shows with its genre-bending gritty space western look and feel. In addition, just as Whedon had done with Buffy and Angel, the show mixed in plenty of humor and snappy dialogue that helped it rise above the by-the-numbers space opera formula (as opposed to shows like Andromeda and Starhunter which were airing at the same time in syndication).
But the show’s greatest asset was its first-rate cast that helped push this one from just being a very good series to one of the all-time greats on television. With the exception of Ron Glass and Adam Baldwin, the actors were mostly unknown. But since this series debuted, the names Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Summer Glau, and more have become practically iconic among genre fans for their accomplishments on this and subsequent shows. Sometimes the make-or-break deal for a series can be the chemistry between its actors, and this show managed that rare accomplishment of pulling together a troupe that was completely in sync and played well off each other. Fillion was definitely the show’s center as Captain Malcolm Reynolds, but the supporting cast helped elevate his game and expand the story possibilities, taking the show to the next level.
Sadly, Firefly was infamously cut short (more on that below), and only received an unsatisfying conclusion with the 2005 film Serenity. But the franchise has lived on in the hearts of fans and is well-remembered for the fourteen excellent episodes it did produce. This is definitely a show that all sci fi fans should check out, and it is a pretty quick watch even when you include the film. If you have never seen it, then it is time to get this one on your must-watch list. If you have, this one plays well to multiple viewings and is definitely worth a re-watch.
Cancelled To Soon? Yes, and infamously so. The cancellation of this show (which I go into in more detail at this link) is one of the classic network blunders and truncated what could have been the next great sci fi franchise. The broadcast nets still didn’t quite know what to do with sci fi shows at the time this one debuted, and FOX was truly guilty of a classic mishandling of Firefly. They promoted it as a sci fi comedy, they aired episodes out of order, they scheduled it on low-viewership Fridays, and they frequently preempted the show. Not surprisingly, the ratings were low and FOX cancelled it at mid-season. It did get a DVD release which proved to be a big hit and ultimately helped the show jump to the big screen with Serenity. But the story ended there and Joss Whedon’s vision for a seven-year run was never realized.
Should It Be Revived/Rebooted? A reboot for this one should be an absolute no. Better to have its short, pristine run than to rework it without the original cast. As to whether it should be revived, seventeen years is an awful long time to wait to bring the cast and crew back together. Would the magic still be there that made this show so special? And could they even get all the principals back together? Maybe another movie or two might be good, but it seems like the time has past for bringing this one back as an ongoing series.
Interesting Fact: Nathan Fillion starred for eight years in the crime drama Castle starting in 2009, and several of the former Firefly actors made appearances on that show. Richard Burgi appears in season four, Adam Baldwin in seasons four and eight, Gina Torres in season five, and Summer Glau and Jewel Staite appeared in season eight (in separate episodes).
Where Can You Watch It? The entire series has been released on DVD and Blu-ray and you can also purchase it VOD. The show is also currently available for streaming on Hulu. The Serenity movie is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4k UHD and you can purchase it VOD.
Read More About the Show: Wikipedia | IMDb.com
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