You can't take the sky from me...
It seems that there are a lot things in life that I'm usually late to the dance for. A lot of books, bands, technological advances...uh, dances(?)...all these I seem to pick up after most normal, more pop culturally aware people. But usually, with film and TV, I'm right on the money and ahead of the curve.
That's why I was so disturbed to find out I totally missed the boat on the cancelled and lamented Joss Whedon show Firefly. Having recently "Netflix'ed" (I love how that is becoming a verb in the American vernacular. I Netflix, will Netflix, have Netflix'ed") the complete and all too short run of the show, I found myself sucked in.
It is quite simply one of the best television shows I've ever seen.
And this is coming from someone who has never seen an episode of Star Trek (any incarnation), let alone any Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel. Sure I loved Star Wars growing up and I read comics, but I would never classify myself as a huge fan if science fiction. It was never my thing. And I think that's the very reason I enjoyed Firefly so much. Sure there were space ships and pseudo scientific jargon being spewed (along with random bits of Chinese which I thought was an intriguing touch), but at it's heart it was a story of a group of misfits on the run and it was in the tone of a western at that. It reminded me of one of my favorite older shows, Quantum Leap, in that once you buy the premise, it stops being a sci-fi show and is just a show about the characters.
And the characters on Firefly are among the best I have ever seen. Nathan Fillian is this generation's Harrison Ford and I hope to work with him someday very soon. Insane comic timing and just a great presence more along the lines of Indiana Jones than Capt. Kirk. He's got flaws and isn't always the bravest dog in the fight, but he gets by. Adam Baldwin is also another standout and is hysterical. You hate him and love him at the same time. Not to mention I'm totally crushing on Jewel Staite as Kaylee. Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Ron Glass (man this guy has a resume you would kill for) as well as Summer Glau, Sean Maher and Morena Baccarin all shine as their characters and give such a life and depth to their dysfunctional family.
The writing on the show is sharp, funny and turns cliche's on their ears. There are a few moments where they suck you right in and then just swerve you out of left field. And you'll love every second of it.
I haven't seen Serenity (the movie based on the series) yet and I'm looking forward to seeing it when it comes out on DVD in a few weeks (so please, if you've seen it...NO SPOILERS. For that I thank you). After every addicting episode I would exclaim to my roommate "How the hell does a show this good get cancelled?!?!?!" It's that good and I really hope that somehow the Gods of Television look down and find some way to bring it back. Television is need of quality and it seems to be returning. This show would fit nicely on SciFi or even an HBO or Showtime. Albeit a massive longshot, here's hoping.
You can pick up the complete series of the show for $30 at Amazon and it's worth checking out. At the very least, rent one of the discs and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
In the immortal words of Fillian as Capt. Mal Reynolds: "If someone tries to kill you, well, you try to kill them right back."
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