Firefly - The Complete Series Review

The Case

In 2002, a new show from Joss Whedon (the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) aired on Fox.  This show was called Firefly.  Not even a year later, it was summarily canceled.  Most television viewers in America have never heard of this show, partly because it wasn't on the air very long and partly because it wasn't advertised/scheduled well when it was.  It came softly and departed silently.  And that was the end of that.  Except that it wasn't.

This story, my friends, is one of the greatest tragedies in television history - and also one of the greatest successes.  I kid you not.  I first became aware of Firefly through a friend of mine, who stared at me aghast when I offhandedly commented that I'd never seen it before.  He promptly loaned me his DVD set, which I devoured in less than 48 hours.  Seriously.  It's that good.  I then began recommending it to every single person I know who enjoys sci-fi, westerns, drama, comedy, action, great character development, and/or anything else you can think of.  Basically, I recommended it to everyone I've ever known.  Ever.  And, with the exception of one person who shall not be named, literally everyone I know is now a fan of Firefly. 

So, I say to you, check out the DVDs!!!  Immerse yourself in the 'Verse!!!  Fall in love with the crew!!!  Hop on Serenity for the ride of your life!!!  Become a fan and make the transformation from regular joe to full-fledged BROWNCOAT!!!

The Good

Well, obviously, I like the show.  I think you get that by now.  So, I'm gonna write a brief paragraph here on the plot of the series (for those of you who need to know what you're getting yourselves into), a brief paragraph on why it's good, and then another paragraph on the actual DVD set (for those of you who like to know what you're getting for your money).

The Premise - Firefly, in a nutshell, is a western set in space.  Now, I know that sounds a little hokey, and it's a pretty broad description, so let me narrow it down for you a bit.  In this future, Earth has become overwhelmed with humanity, so humanity has expanded into space.  The universe consists of many worlds and moons - all terraformed to resemble Earth.  These planets are governed by the Alliance.  Years ago, a group of resistance fighters - known as Browncoats - rebelled against this government, but they were quickly quashed.

Enter Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds, former Browncoat, now captain of Serenity, a Firefly-class starship.  Think Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon.  He and his ragtag crew eke out a living on the edges of space by taking odd jobs, some of them legal, some of them not so much.  Though the central planets of the Alliance are rich and prosperous, the border planets tend to be rough and untamed, much like the historical wild west of America.  Mal and his crew just want to get the job done and get paid (hopefully!), but when you throw mysterious passengers like Inara Serra, Shepherd Book, and Simon and River Tam onboard, it's guaranteed that the Serenity travelers are in for more of a ride than they bargained for.

Why It Soars - Firefly is a wonderful, rip-roaring adventure story set in space, but it goes so much deeper than that.  It's a show about people, about relationships, about family.  It's a show with some serious soul.  Featuring nine main characters, a series like this could get bogged down, but each and every person on Firefly has a unique history and a specific individuality, which succeeds in enriching the show in a multitude of ways.  You're given the time and opportunity to really get to know them, which can be rare for ensemble television.  The writing also pops, adding to character voices, layering emotions, and resulting in some of the most hilarious dialogue I've ever had the privilege to enjoy.  The majority of the episodes have nice, tight plots, and the visuals and special effects are awesome!  The whole thing is just...shiny!

The DVDs - The boxset includes the entire series: four discs with fourteen episodes total (eleven that aired and three that didn't).  There are seven absolutely stellar audio commentaries, featuring cast and crew, which are definitely worth listening to.  The commentaries are chock-full of fun anecdotes, little-known facts, interesting information, and a general vibe of happy nostalgia for the show.  I particularly enjoy the ones with actors Nathan Fillion (Mal Reynolds) and Alan Tudyk (Wash).  Also included are deleted scenes and three featurettes, entitled "Here's How It Was: The Making Of Firefly," "Serenity: The 10th Character," and "Joss Tours The Set."  Plus, you get a bunch of fun features like Joss singing the Firefly theme song (beautiful!), Alan Tudyk's audition (best scene ever!), the gag reel (absolutely hilarious!), and - my favorite - an easter egg* of Adam Baldwin regaling us with "The Hero Of Canton" (just priceless!).  Overall, it's one of the best DVD boxsets I've ever purchased, and I swear, I'm not just saying that!

The Bad

Not so much a 'bad' as a thing to be aware of: this show isn't for viewers of all ages.  It's got violence, a little sex, and some language.  It's not Battlestar Galactica, but it's not The Jetsons either, so be warned!  Honestly, in my book, the only bad thing about this show is that it didn't have a longer life span.  Fourteen episodes may seem like a good amount for a canceled series, but trust me, when you get to that last episode, you're going to be craving more!  Why oh why did they cancel this show?! 

Wait!  Before you lament too heavily, let me fill you in on a fun tidbit: there IS more after the last episode!  Because of the overwhelming outcry at the show's cancellation, and because of the outstanding fan base (FYI: fans of the show call themselves 'Browncoats'), the characters of Firefly were miraculously resurrected for the full-length feature film Serenity.  So, when you get finished with the series, go pick up Serenity.  At least you'll get an additional two hours with our favorite people in our favorite 'Verse!

The Verdict

Five stars!  And if I could give it more, I would!  Television doesn't get much better than Firefly!

* To access the easter egg, go to the Special Features menu on the fourth disc, maneuver so that 'Joss Sings the Firefly Theme' is highlighted, and toggle left with your remote.  The symbol to the left of the image on the page will be selected.