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By
Carolyn Jenkins
Published 9 minutes ago
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Carolyn Jenkins is a voracious consumer of film and television. She graduated from Long Island University with an MFA in Screenwriting and Producing where she learned the art of character, plot, and structure. The best teacher is absorbing media and she spends her time reading about different worlds from teen angst to the universe of Stephen King.
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Some shows become so iconic that two decades after the fact, the cancellation is a wound that still aches. If there is one series that fans are still not over to this day, it’s Firefly. Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his crew of the spaceship, Serenity, were always the underdogs, as was the series itself. Doomed before it even had a chance, Fox notoriously aired the episodes out of order. It slated the epic movie-length pilot for the middle of the schedule, confusing anyone who watched it on television.
Most Firefly fans came into the series after its demise and watched the episodes in order, as they were made to be seen. The unfairness of its cancellation still remains, but there is no time like the present to rewatch it, or catch it for the first time. Fans can view the near-perfect introduction to the series in the first episode, titled “Serenity.”
The episode takes its time introducing fans to the distant future where China and the United States have joined as a united superpower. After Earth’s resources were depleted, humanity found other solar systems and terraformed them. The central planets gained all the merits of a central government, while the outer planets had minimal technology, similar to the old West. This allowed smugglers like Mal the opportunity to make a living in a Western-inspired space opera. The Fox series was unlike anything on television and was cut short so soon that it never had the chance to have a bad episode.
The Themes in ‘Firefly’ Are Timeless
Upon its premiere, Firefly was a misunderstood series that probably would have done better on another network. The short-lived show wasn’t just a mindless space romp, but, as with all good sci-fi, was highly influenced by modern times. The biggest and most relevant theme was Firefly’s anti-fascist slant. After the galaxy was terriformed, the entity known as the Alliance decided to unify all central planets. Mal and his first mate, Zoë (Gina Torres), took issue with the government telling them how to live their lives. The Browncoat rebellion sadly failed, and wherever the crew went, they would see examples of how the Alliance subjugated the people of the system.
While Mal amasses a crew including Zoë’s husband, Wash (Alan Tudyk), and wild card, Jayne (Adam Baldwin), they encounter just how far the Alliance’s villainy spreads. Mal takes on Simon Tam (Sean Maher) and his sister, River (Summer Glau), fugitives of the Alliance. The Alliance discovered River was psychic and performed invasive tests on her that drove her to the brink of her sanity, also depicted in the 2005 film, Serenity.
For his part, Simon had been raised on a Central planet, in the lap of luxury. What the government did to his sister was unforgivable, and despite his upbringing, he risked his life to bring her home and defend her against the cruel forces at work. All in all, there is no doubt that fans keep returning to this world because of the characters.
Simon’s characteristics are surprising sometimes. He is a rich boy who doesn’t hesitate for a second to give it all up because it’s the right thing to do. The mechanic, Kaylee (Jewel Staite), is the antithesis of the stringent beauty standards women are subjected to and an example of how to write female characters well. Kaylee is optimistic and bubbly, and also happens to be the smartest person with a wrench. At the center of it all was, also, a love that could never be between Mal and the companion Inara (Morena Baccarin). Their relationship completed a show that was the whole package, even if it left fans wanting. As devastating as it is to get to the final episode, which never aired on television, Firefly always offers hope against insurmountable odds. Viewers can watch the series in its entirety by streaming all 14 episodes on Hulu.
Firefly
Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Adventure Science Fiction Release Date 2002 - 2003-00-00 Network FOX Showrunner Joss Whedon Directors Allan Kroeker, David Solomon, James A. Contner, Marita Grabiak, Michael Grossman, Tim Minear, Vern Gillum Writers Cheryl Cain, Drew Z. Greenberg, Jane EspensonCast
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Nathan Fillion
Mal Reynolds
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Gina Torres
Zoë Washburne
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Firefly
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Nathan Fillion
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