Why Firefly?

Pirate, cowboy and war hero; and that is just the captain of the ship on the television show named Firefly. Its run was short lived. It only has seventeen episodes, but creator Joss Whedon made a beautiful show about a former soldier just trying to make a living on the Outer Rim.

Captain Malcolm Reynolds has a crew made up of diverse characters that are also renegades, fugitives and searchers in their own right. Two contrasting crew members are Zoe, the beautiful and deadly fellow soldier that fought alongside Malcolm against the Alliance, and Wash, the peaceful, comic relief husband to Zoe. These three are quick with action and dialog. But there's more. The cast is rounded out by a “long as I get paid” mercenary named Jayne, a wayward priest, a reputable “companion and a naive yet handy mechanic. All are in search of something more. Then add in the two fugitives running from the Alliance: Simon and River.
Whedon's sci-fi creation (you might know him from "Buffy" and "Angel") is quick and serious, dynamic with action and dabbled with humor. The stories delve into the eternal quest for knowledge, independence and serenity with a quirky sauciness of rouges and renegades.

I missed the show when it was on Friday nights. It had the wrong time slot for the audience that would love it. My wife bought it when it came out on DVD. I watched it with her and fell in love with Firefly.

It does things the other science fiction shows never seem to try. No sound in space. There is not a mission or purpose; they are survivors. And look for the aliens...they are not there. The classic science fiction author of Heinlien explored that notion. Also, the culture that created may smack of a western, but listen to how the characters use foul language. The implied evolution from "the Earth that was" is intriguing; especially in the case of Inara, the companion.

And the dialog is phenomenal. The show steps out of the box for any genre. Not only do the characters swear in Chinese, they having a unique dialect. When things are good, they are “shiney.” Universe is shortened to “verse”, as in, “best ship in the verse.” As Malcolm fights a monstrous henchman, Zoe stops the others from stepping in saying, “Captain needs to do this for himself.” Malcolm, battered and fighting for his life, says, “No, I don’t!” The gang says “oh” and shoots the bad guy full of holes.

The show is truly entertaining. It is also thought provoking and dynamic. I use this show in my science fiction class and show students how it steps away from all the other science fiction shows. It is unique. And leave the class with, “That’s why, Firefly.”