Seriously, I keep finding these excellent TV shows either a couple seasons into their run, or after they've been pulled off the air. It's really annoying.

At least in the case of Firefly, I can chalk that up to simply not having heard about the show. Seriously, the first I'd ever heard of this show was when it was brought to DVD last year.

Firefly, from Joss Whedon (the mastermind behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel), is perhaps best described as a sci-fi western. 500 years into the future, Captain Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) has taken command of a Firefly-class ship called Serenity, where he and his (merry?) crew travel the galaxies, performing jobs of varying degrees of legality.

One of the first things you'll notice upon popping one of the four discs in this set is that Firefly doesn't really look like a television show. In fact, the series looks like a well-produced movie, with its expansive universe and sleek special effects. One thing's for sure, Firefly was an expensive show for Mutant Enemy Productions (you know, the "Grr. Argh." people).

Fortunately, behind the glamour and pretty computer-generated effects lies an engaging story of nine different souls coming aboard a beat-up vessel and finding what none of them had before: a home. Joss has always told his tales with a higher purpose, a greater theme. Buffy was about power and trying to fit in, Angel was about fighting the good fight and seeking redemption.

Firefly? Well, this show is about finding a home, somewhere to belong in life.

And for that to be told amid the canvas of a universe of spacecraft and cowboys on horses is nothing short of brilliant. It seems a bit hokey on paper (which, to be honest, the premise of all three of Joss' shows do), but it typical Mutant Enemy style, the juxtaposition works wonders for the show.

Not to mention the dialogue. Joss and his co-producer Tim Minear proved on the two vampire shows that they, along with the rest of Mutant Enemy's staff, have a way with the English language. In the case of Firefly, they not only show this flare again, but they also give us a bit of Chinese to show the merging of cultures in this post-apocalyptic universe. It's a powerful statement to see customs and wardrobes of various cultures blended together, and it goes nicely with a show where the core cast is so diverse itself.

Speaking of the cast....

We've already spoken of the good captain. Fillion portrays Mal very well, showing many dimensions to a war-hardened man who seems to have lost a good bit of hope in the world. He's not as broody as David Boreanaz's Angel, but there are definite similarities in the two characters.

Gina Torres, who I've seen blowing her brains out on 24, eating people in Angel and kicking Sydney Bristow's butt in Alias, plays Mal's right-hand woman Zoe. Zoe's not your typical tough chick, and Gina does a good job giving a very nuanced, subtle performace.

Amazingly enough for Joss Whedon, Zoe is married to Serenity's pilot, Wash (Alan Tudyk). Tudyk provides a good chunk of the show's comic relief, sort of taking the Xander role. He's quite goofy and humorous, but at the same time he's very compassionate and a valuable asset to both Mal and Zoe.

Also on Mal's crew is Jayne, played by Adam Baldwin (no relation to the umpteen thousand Baldwin brothers; Angel fans may know him better as Hamilton, liaison to the Senior Partners). The best way to describe Jayne is to perhaps call him Buffy Cordelia on steroids. He's straight-up, tells it like it is, not too bright upstairs, and he loves his guns. If Cordy was large with the butch, she'd be the female Jayne.

The incomparable Ron Glass plays Shepard Book, the preacher on-board. I find it interesting that Joss, a self-proclaimed aetheist, has put a preacher on this ship, but Book intrigues me so. I wish there had been more episodes, so we could get to know this man better.

Jewel Staite plays the cute and seemingly-innocent Kaylee (you'll understand why I say "seemingly" when you see "Out of Gas"). She's perhaps the Willow of the group, the shy, sweet girl who is the heart of the family. She's always got a smile on her face (even with a bullet in her gut), and her eyes light up the room. And, how often do you hear of a woman having to gain weight for a role?

The beautiful Morena Baccarin plays the companion Inara, and one of the reasons I love this character is because a creator has finally created a prostitute and portrayed them like an actual human being, someone with heart and compassion. Inara is likeable, despite her profession, and the tension between her and Mal is one of the show's many high points.

Which leaves us with the good doctor and his mentally-challenged sister. Dr. Simon Tam (Sean Maher) and his younger sister River (Summer Glau, who played a ballerina in the Angel season three episode "Waiting in the Wings") add an interesting tension to the Serenity family, even though they do grow and become a part of things when all is said and done. Still, Glau's nuanced performance adds tremendously to River, and makes her one of the more intriguing characters of the show.

I spent so much time examining the characters because glitzy special effects and fantastic universe aside, they are the strength of this show. Joss' shows have always thrived on ensemble casts, and while I was at first reluctant at the idea of a cast with NINE people in it (too many characters, someone's bound to be ignored), it was done wonderfully. Each person is different, yet they all manage to come together and find comfort in each other as they travel the brutal and all-too-lonely cosmos.

It's a shame this set only contains 14 episodes (three of which never aired--thanks, Fox...), because this is quite possibly Joss' best work yet. At 11 episodes, Firefly is better than Buffy and Angel were after 11 episodes. The only complaint regarding the show itself is the fact that there are so few episodes, and when you're done, you will be clamoring for more.

Fortunately, there are a good many features in this four-disc set. Seven of the 14 episodes feature cast and crew commentary, which is a joy to listen to (where else are you gonna learn that David Boreanaz is afraid of chickens? Well, besides this review). Add three lengthy featurettes, Alan Tudyk's screen test, Joss' rendition of the theme song (one of the best themes EVER), a gag reel and a plethora of deleted scenes, and you'll fall in love all over again.

And you'll probably find yourself writing to Fox, chastizing them for cutting this show so soon into its lifespan. Given a full season or two, Firefly could've easily become one of this generation's greatest shows, but as it is, it's tremendous and tragic all at once. Good television is dying, and this is but another ufortunate casualty.

Fear not, though, for next week, shooting on Serenity, Joss' movie version of this show, begins. I know I can't wait for that. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and check out Firefly. The TV fan inside will thank you.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older