This is another review of what I consider a truly delightful show that doesn’t happen to be a mystery. (Of course, it’s a mystery to me that it was cancelled after only one season… although I have a feeling that when a network decides to air the shows of a new series out of sequence, that can’t help establish the show…)
Firefly is really a departure from any one type of genre>>> The best way to describe it is to say that it’s a western/science fiction/dramedy. (If you aren’t a sci-fi fan, don’t be put off by that part of the label! The series is set in the far-away future and features the escapades of a rather unconventional spaceship crew. The characters are three dimensional, the special effects are fun and vivid, the plot lines are original, and the acting is more than convincing… This show really is a delight to watch.
The writer/director of Firefly is Joss Whedon (whom a lot of you probably recognize.) Firefly follows the adventures on a cargo ship (the Serenity) which is commanded/owned by a good-guy-sort of captain (played by Nathan Fillion). Firefly breaks the stereotypical rules— Gina Torres plays both the only wife in the crew and a very tough warrior. It was through Firefly that my family first experienced the comedic delivery of Adam Baldwin (not from the Baldwin brother acting family)>>> (You can now see him on the television show Chuck.) He plays the perfect marshmallow tough guy… a delight to watch.
Firefly originally aired on the Fox network, and a lot of the shows’ fans were greatly disappointed when it was cancelled. Perhaps because it had such a large following, in 2005 Joss Whedon released the movie Serenity. I would definitely recommend watching the series in its correct chronological order, and then following it with the movie. I am not a huge sci-fi fan and I think that I would probably have been a little lost watching the movie without knowing all of the characters and the ship’s purpose. I am sure that my adult son and daughter (as well as my husband) could have gone into the movie “cold.”
Although Firefly is loads of fun to watch… it is not for young children.
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Vickie says
I totally loved watching Firefly, which of course, led to its demise. Anything really good that I really like and is ever so slightly quirky, gets cancelled. I have it on DVD and I watch it on hulu.com when I get the chance. I will watch anything Joss Whedon works on.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Vickie,
I’m going to have to ask you to stop watching all of my favorite shows… Sounds like you are jinxing them!
All kidding aside, doesn’t it amaze you when they take these really good shows off the air and they keep ordering new episodes of some of the shows that they keep airing?!? (I almost listed a few real jokes, but decided that my taste doesn’t dictate what’s good and what’s bad…)
But, come on network brass!!! Firefly and Brisco County are axed so quickly in favor of some of the schlock that is left on the air!?!?!
Amy says
Have you watched Serenity the movie follow up of Firefly? I agree on the devastation of Firefly being cancelled. Loving the recommendations.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Amy, yes, we have! It was a decent enough movie, though it felt more like a rushed wrap up of the series than anything else.
-V- says
OMG! I LUH-HUV Brisco County! I have that on DVD too! My boyfriend, Bruce Campbell, is my guilty pleasure. My DH just shakes his head…..
I cannot stand most of what is left on TV anymore. I am afraid to like something too much. I am pleased that Bones is still on and occasionally Eureka. OH! And NCIS! I caught that late in its series, so it’s safe….
Danna - cozy mystery list says
OK, Vickie, I am intrigued…
I now have Bones, Eureka, and NCIS on my list of “must watch” shows… Anyone who is a Firefly AND Brisco County fan must know what she is talking about! I just looked all of them up and see that they are well past the first year seasons… Glad you joined them late and didn’t jinx them!
Thanks for the suggestions!
PS>>> Have you seen Bruce Campbell in Burn Notice? I just looked his name up and came up with that show… apparently he is his normal, wonderful self… We all love his self-deprecating, natural style of acting. He was in Austin a little while ago and my college-age daughter and I were sorry we didn’t get a chance to see him.
Judith says
I’m another huge fan of Firefly (and Brisco, Bones and Eureka). For Joss Whedon fans – if you haven’t seen his Internet series “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” you should see it (it is online and also it is now out on DVD at Amazon). It stars Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillian and Felicia Day. This is how Joss Whedon spent his time during the writer’s strike.
And nothing to do with Firefly, but another series that I loved that was cancelled far too soon is Pushing Daisies
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Judith, for letting us know about Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” I will definitely check it out. My husband told me that we can expect a new series from Whedon: Dollhouse. Here’s hoping that it lives up to Firefly’s excellence!
mike says
I loved the series Firefly, and was thrilled when hulu started showing all of the episodes including the last three that were never seen. I would absolutely love to see the sci fi channel pick up the series or at least a mini series.
NiteMage says
I loved Firefly and was so upset when it was cancelled. I was really glad Josh Weldon was able to produce the movie “Serenity” which answered some questions but hope he does another movie because I have a lot more questions. I hope also that one of the writers for the show would start a book series but so far only the graphic novels are being released. I mean if they can write the Buffy books why can’t they write the Firefly books???
Julie says
I’m surprised but quite pleased to find Firefly here on your site! 🙂 I am a complete and total Firefly geek, and am always recommending it to folks who’ve not come across it. All Thing Whedon, that’s me. *grin* Keep up the good work on the site!
And if you like Buffy at all, you might want to take a look at author Julie Kenner, who writes books like “Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom” featuring a character who is very much like Buffy all grown up and married. I wish Joss had written books like Kenner’s, instead, but hey, they’re a fun read in any case!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julie, we love Firefly!
AND
Thanks for telling us about Julie Kenner. I know there are a lot of Paranormal Mystery Readers amongst us…
Holly says
TOO SOON. Lol. I have friends who now hate me for introducing them to Firefly. This show is the epitome of the “brilliant but cancelled.” Joss Whedon really knows how to tell a story and he does it so brilliantly (Well, maybe not Angel, lol). I have been a Whedon fan since my first viewing of Buffy, the series.
Dollhouse had such potential also, but FOX, being FOX cancelled it. You could tell how much story Joss still had to tell with that one, but wasn’t able to. The second season was rushed because FOX only gave him till the end of the season to finish up the story.
Hopefully with the success of Avengers and Cabin in the Woods, Whedon has more say so in what happens to his shows.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Holly, we were quite surprised when they cancelled Firefly, but certainly are happy that the network at least gave it a try. It’s too bad there wasn’t a bigger viewership.