Firefly quenches sci-fi thirst
"Take my love, take my land,
Take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care, I'm still free.
You can't take the sky from me.
Take me out to the black,
Tell them I ain't comin' back.
Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.
There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity,
But you can't take the sky from me..."
Those words, from the theme song of Firefly, perfectly capture the spirit of the television show, from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Joss Whedon. Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his daring crew aboard the spaceship Serenity forge their livings in a vast and lawless frontier, reminiscent of the Wild West. The show actually embraces the Wild West theme, featuring six-shooters, horses, cowboys, and twangy music. From a sci fi show, that might seem odd, but it makes sense. If you're struggling to survive in distant space, would you rather have expensive, state-of-the-art equipment that could break and then require scarce parts, or cheap and proven technology that's easily replaceable?
Even considering the logic of the Wild West theme, it would shift from novelty to annoyance quickly in a normal show. Thankfully, Firefly is not a normal show. I say, without exaggeration, it is one of the best science fiction programs of all-time.
As you might have inferred from the program's desperate Wild West theme, the crew of the Serenity aren't virtuous and heroic explorers spreading enlightened values, a la Star Trek. They're real people facing serious problems that don't always wrap up neatly with a bow on top by episode's end. As they smuggle, help, thieve, and sneak their way across the far reaches of an oppressive empire, each of the unique characters demonstrates the best and worst of humanity. We flawed yet decent humans can sympathize and emphasize with these characters: The irascibly ethical Captain Reynolds. The tough and sensitive Jayne. The perky, plump, sexy, and intelligent engineer, Kaylee. The super-talented but super-unstable River. The moral though practical preacher, Book. The scrupled whore, Inara. Etc.
In that regard, Firefly distinguishes itself from the modern Battlestar Galactica. Even
New BP CEO: Some Efforts To Be Scaled Back
The changes do not signify a lessening of the oil giant's commitment to clean up the oil spill, but do signify that some areas don't need a continuing effort, incoming executive Bob Dudley said Friday.
Chrysler To Add Jobs, Save Michigan Factory
Chrysler Group LLC said Friday that it will add nearly 900 jobs at a factory in suburban Detroit and spare it from a planned closure. The decision is a show of optimism that consumers will embrace the company's refurbished midsize sedans.
when things go to hell, and the baser instincts of people emerge, the courage, hope, and humor that are also hallmarks of our species burst into view. Light triumphs over dark, not always cleanly, but eventually. The same episodes that make us gasp and cry also make us smile and laugh. To some people, that might seem like a dichotomy that could only lead to disjointed installments. But Whedon makes the juxtaposition work.
Further adding to the appeal of Firefly is its defiance of genre. Certainly, as a show with a spaceship in the future as its primary setting, Firefly is a science fiction program. Yet weird aliens, peculiar anomalies, and complicated technobabble don't drive its plots. Anyone who likes drama, comedy, and action could enjoy Firefly.
Unfortunately, Firefly only ran half a season in Fall 2002 before Fox canceled it, after bungling it throughout its whole time on the air. For example, Fox aired the first episode, explaining the premise of the show, last! Luckily for us, we can still watch Firefly as its creators intended on DVD. It's 14 episodes of sci fi/action/drama/comedy goodness.
Additionally, Universal Pictures has picked up the Firefly ball from where Fox dropped it, and they're using it in a grander game than Fox ever considered. On September 30, the rough-and-tumble crew will fly across the silver screen in the motion picture Serenity. Now that Star Wars has become one with the Force, and Star Trek has stopped boldly going, the adventures of the Firefly-class Serenity can satisfy our craving for space adventure.
And then some!
About the Author
The author, Jason Vines, maintains Hypersyllogistic, a freewheeling personal website, at http://www.hypersyllogistic.com. Hypersyllogistic enshrines independent thought and respectful discussion.
This article is © Jason Vines. All usage of this article must include a citation to the author and a link to Hypersyllogistic.
|