Firefly - The Complete Series

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As the 2005 theatrical release of Serenity made clear, Firefly was a science fiction concept that deserved a second chance. Devoted fans (or "Browncoats") knew it all along, and with this well-packaged DVD set, those who missed the show's original broadcasts can see what they missed. Creator Joss Whedon's ambitious science-fiction Western (Whedon's third series after Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) was canceled after only 11 of these 14 episodes had aired on the Fox network, but history has proven that its demise was woefully premature. Whedon's generic hybrid got off to a shaky start when network executives demanded an action-packed one-hour premiere ("The Train Job"); in hindsight the intended two-hour pilot (also titled "Serenity," and oddly enough, the final episode aired) provides a better introduction to the show's concept and splendid ensemble cast. Obsessive fans can debate the quirky logic of combining spaceships with direct parallels to frontier America (it's 500 years in the future, and embattled humankind has expanded into the galaxy, where undeveloped "outer rim" planets struggle with the equivalent of Old West accommodations), but Whedon and his gifted co-writers and directors make it work, at least well enough to fashion a credible context from the incongruous culture-clashing of past, present, and future technologies, along with a polyglot language (the result of two dominant superpowers) that combines English with an abundance of Chinese slang.

What makes it work is Whedon's delightfully well-chosen cast and their nine well-developed characters--a typically Whedon-esque extended family--each providing a unique perspective on their adventures aboard Serenity, the junky but beloved "Firefly-class" starship they call home. As a veteran of the disadvantaged Independent faction's war against the all-powerful planetary Alliance (think of it as Underdogs vs. Overlords), Serenity captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) leads his compact crew on a quest for survival. They're renegades with an amoral agenda, taking any job that pays well, but Firefly's complex tapestry of right and wrong (and peace vs. violence) is richer and deeper than it first appears. Tantalizing clues about Blue Sun (an insidious mega-corporation with a mysteriously evil agenda), its ties to the Alliance, and the traumatizing use of Serenity's resident stowaway (Summer Glau) as a guinea pig in the development of advanced warfare were clear indications Firefly was heading for exciting revelations that were precluded by the series' cancellation. Fortunately, the big-screen Serenity (which can be enjoyed independently of the series) ensured that Whedon's wild extraterrestrial west had not seen its final sunset. Its very existence confirms that these 14 episodes (and enjoyable bonus features) will endure as irrefutable proof Fox made a glaring mistake in canceling the series. --Jeff Shannon

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Customer Reviews:   Read 2692 more reviews...

Firefly   August 28, 2008
Diane Hernandez (Arlington, Texas USA)
This movie is supper i loved it buy it my whole family liked it alot
from start to finish if they had more i would buy it.


Shiny !   August 28, 2008
G2 in Gillett PA
What a great series! I think that maybe I'm lucky to not have seen
it before on it's regular broadcast, so now I can enjoy it for the
first time, but, I would have been just as upset as the rest of the
folks when they took it off the air, bad move I think, a really bad
move on their part to not continue this.
Loved the Serenity movie, actually saw that first and found out about
the series, so it was kind of a spoiler to see what happens to everyone
I'll not give any of that away in this review, but if you can, get this
series first and then watch the movie Serenity, you'll enjoy it all the more.

G2


Best sci fi series in 10 years   August 25, 2008
Zackary D. Ennis (Melbourne Austrralia)
I loved this series sci fi and western mixed together get stories and character interaction.


Best show ever ! Browncoats unite and bring it back !   August 23, 2008
samy (Switzerland)
This show is absolute gold ! Shiny is the word !
The cast , the writing, the characters, everything is wonderful !
The storylines can always surprise you, you gotta love this crew (and the cap'tain of course !) , there's even some of the best bad guys in tv history
(Adelai Niska ,it's for you ,you're solid )!

The only bad point is that there's no season 2 ...yet !
If you want to be part of a project to show your support to the show ,and hopefully bring it back :
come and visit :
http://www.savefirefly.org

and don't forget to bring all the browncoats you know with you !


One of the Best TV Shows Ever   August 22, 2008
Gregory Fischer (Michigan)
Like a lot of people, I found out about Firefly too late. Despite only 14 episodes, this is one of the best television series I have ever seen. Highly recommend it.