If you haven't seen Joss Whedon's short-lived series Firefly, I suggest you talk to me or rent it...now. As I've mentioned before, I like most everything from Joss Whedon. But, Firefly is perhaps the best of his works and quite possible the greatest television series of all time.
The series is set in the future -- a future where a civil war had broken out between those planets which wanted to form an alliance of sorts and force everyone to join their alliance -- and those which wanted independence from this alliance. Effectively, the galaxy that they live in is similar in atmosphere to the old west -- a great many people are wandering from town to town looking for work however they can get it. Instead of traveling by horse, buggy, or on foot -- people are traveling in space crafts. Technology, instead of being ridiculously futuristic it's gotten to aircrafts that can travel from planet to planet, there's no laser weapons, no crazy aliens, no sound in space, and no "warp speed" or anything of the sort. Instead of going to that extreme that most science fiction does...which makes it more realistic and gritty.
The main characters vary from a goofy pilot, to a former "independent" Colonel, to a Doctor running from the law with his sister, to a Companion (i.e. prostitute) who's considered to be the most honest working one amongst them. Great depth to each and every one of them -- more dimensions that most characters on shows that have been running for years.
The bottom line on Firefly? It's a space western along the lines of Cowboy Bebop -- except without the animation, life on Mars, and ridiculousness. It can appeal to everyone. I should know -- my wife who hates science fiction, for the most part, can sit down and watch the series with me...and enjoys that along with the movie, Serenity. It's fun, cleverly written, and just a masterpiece of television. And yet, like too many shows these days, wasn't even given a chance. With a poor time slot and the episodes shown ridiculously out of order, Firefly never had a shot. The one season of the show is worth every single cent to purchase and again, if you haven't seen it...watch it.
The series is set in the future -- a future where a civil war had broken out between those planets which wanted to form an alliance of sorts and force everyone to join their alliance -- and those which wanted independence from this alliance. Effectively, the galaxy that they live in is similar in atmosphere to the old west -- a great many people are wandering from town to town looking for work however they can get it. Instead of traveling by horse, buggy, or on foot -- people are traveling in space crafts. Technology, instead of being ridiculously futuristic it's gotten to aircrafts that can travel from planet to planet, there's no laser weapons, no crazy aliens, no sound in space, and no "warp speed" or anything of the sort. Instead of going to that extreme that most science fiction does...which makes it more realistic and gritty.
The main characters vary from a goofy pilot, to a former "independent" Colonel, to a Doctor running from the law with his sister, to a Companion (i.e. prostitute) who's considered to be the most honest working one amongst them. Great depth to each and every one of them -- more dimensions that most characters on shows that have been running for years.
The bottom line on Firefly? It's a space western along the lines of Cowboy Bebop -- except without the animation, life on Mars, and ridiculousness. It can appeal to everyone. I should know -- my wife who hates science fiction, for the most part, can sit down and watch the series with me...and enjoys that along with the movie, Serenity. It's fun, cleverly written, and just a masterpiece of television. And yet, like too many shows these days, wasn't even given a chance. With a poor time slot and the episodes shown ridiculously out of order, Firefly never had a shot. The one season of the show is worth every single cent to purchase and again, if you haven't seen it...watch it.
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