Firefly - The Complete Series Reviews

A future that isn't shiny

Forget about phasers, light sabers, and doors that go 'Swoosh' - the world of Firefly is far from perfect.

In a future where technology is horded by those with power the different settings are as varied as they are spectacular. From the technology rich core planets, to the edges of colonised space where a fast set of wheels is a horse and cart.

The crew of Serenity comprises an array of characters from mercenary to diplomat, mechanic to preacher, each bringing a vital element to the success of the series. Firefly provides a welcome breath of fresh air into the space genre providing a series set in a universe we can all relate to - where people make the best of what they've got.

Joss Whedon has produced a remarkable series here, taking the best elements of his work on Buffy and Angel to produce this cult classic. This is a truly magnificent series that will leave you desperately wanting more and wondering why on earth was it cancelled by its US producers after such a short run?

COWBOYS IN SPACE

Anyone who likes westerns and space movies will love this series. Its not childish like startrek and doesn't try to shove morales down your throat. Great show hope they make more, It's like the wild west in space, rough & ready.

Once you've seen a couple, you'll be hooked

Its difficult to put my finger on what makes this show work, but trust me when I say that it really does. Its true that the first episode (entitled 'Serenity' in a similar way to the recent film of the series) is a little slow to get going, but once it does there is no going back.

The series is written by Joss Wheedon, previously known for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel and co-writing Toy Story. But it is far from childish. This is adult sci-fi - solid characters, interesting world theory (western and eastern cultures and languages combined in a 'wild west' type setting) and excellent use of dry humour.

The pace of the series is generally quite laid back - although each episode has a reasonable amount of action in it. The easy-going, steel guitar soundtrack (oddly also penned by Wheedon) sets the mood well.

All in all this is a great series, which may take a couple of episodes to get into, but once you're in I can guarantee you won't want to put it down. Don't stop with disc 1, at least give disc 2 a try as well.

If you're a trekkie or trekker or any kind of sci-fi fan that spends hours upon hours musing over practical theories behind warp core technology, give this a miss...its not for you...it will only frustrate you.

Everybody else - sit back and enjoy the most underated sci-fi show in TV history.

Quality television

Take the best elements of Star Wars, Alien, Blakes 7, Buffy, and Unforgiven, garnish with sprinklings of various comic books, mix 'em all up, and you get "Firefly".

Created by the man behind Buffy, this TV series was cancelled by the network before it even got going. Why, is a complete mystery: this is better than brilliant Buffy.

It's basic premise involves an embittered spaceship captain (think a grumpy Hans Solo) trying to make enough money to keep fuelling his rust bucket of a ship and feed his crew by taking dodgy smuggling jobs, whilst avoiding the hated government / authorities who he fought against in a war that his side lost. He's also not too keen on running into the gangsters he's double-crossed, or the terrifying, murderous and psychotic "Reavers".

His crew includes his first mate (who is basically Chewie in human, female form), his muscle (who is pretty much Hudson from Aliens), a hippy mechanic (think Willow crossed with Data) and a whore - which in this universe is a respectable profession.

They're joined by an old preacher, a doctor and the doctor's sister, who was born "gifted" and taken by the authorities for "testing" which has left her half-crazed and prone to making cryptic predictions (think the girl from Minority Report crossed with Wolverine).

It's all done very much in a western style: they have six-shooters, bullets, bar-room brawls, and the planets they land on all have that frontier look.

This is quality TV and should be a must for any sci-fi fan.

[Highly rated reviewer]

If you haven't seen this add it to your list

Joss is more well known for Buffy & Angel but this was his own project. Unlike a lot of US series this in its first (incomplete) series feels like its been running for years. It's incredably well produced a sort of space opera spaggetti western hybrid. It is very character centric and what fantastic characters it has.

Not to mention names but it's refreshing to have a series that is not either dawsons creek with a SciFi element or StarTrek. The DVD box set has sold like hot cakes and now there is a film in the pipeline ( coming out mid to end of 2005) due to the demand for the DVDs Universal have picked it up.

Just rent this and you'll see what fools the TV execs are who cancelled this show- they have no idea!

Not worth renting

It was watchable but not gripping...not going to rent the next series.

Terrible

I found this so boring. It was just dull, dull, dull. I got fed up after the 2nd disc.

I love Sci-Fi but just didnt do it for me.

Dull

Cowboys in space, why is it that the Americans have to try and transplant their culture into space, they seem to have to do it with all their Sci-Fi productions from Star trek to Battlestar galactica. I would like the writers to have some imagination for a change. After the first episode I found this dull and predictable and the Corny characters didn’t help

Weak

Good scripts badly acted. Despite it being sci-fi I still need to be convinced by the characters. Reminded me of that dodgy Christmas special that 'Star Wars' made in the late 70s.

Don't bother if you nit-pick bad acting like me. I moaned more watching this than I do 'Hollyoaks'.

At least they don't sing...

Obviously Joss Whedon has his diehard fans but I had no trouble at all understanding why Firefly was taken off the air midway through its first season. The show is part western, part hip comedy and part sci-fi, and the combination doesn't work. Having guys chewing tobacco, dressed like cowboys, firing ray-beams from their Winchesters is too daft for words.

As for the stock characters, we've seen them all before. The Captain is Angel with a six-shooter. The red-headed girl does with an engine what the red-headed girl in Buffy did with a computer. A mystical Dawn gives way to a mystical River. The goofy pilot is Xander with blonde highlights. And the uptight doctor, who has to save a different wounded crewmate each episode, is either Giles or Wesley with a first aid box, take your pick.

The scripts are typical of Joss Whedon, which is to say, generally clever and funny but prone to flights of self-indulgence. By killing off the series quickly at least we've been spared the episodes where the characters turn into puppets and break into song.