November 25, 2006

• A tradition of mine that I started two years ago for the holiday season of Thanksgiving, is to re-watch all the episodes of what is arguably one of my most favorite TV series of all time. "Firefly." It's a short lived tv show that spawned a movie to finish off the story, as well as created a passionate fan base called the "browncoats."

  This western meets science fiction fantasy concept created by Joss Whedon, has given me a TV show that I think I've always either wanted to make myself or at least be able to watch. Despite the niche genre of fans that this show attracts, there are many qualities about Firefly that makes it work so well to my inclinations. The action, the drama, the sense of humor are all top notch in my eyes. But the two elements that really stand out to me though are, the ensemble cast of characters and the writing.

  Before the TV show "Lost" made ensemble casts in serialized TV shows popular again, Firefly was the one that got it right first in this decade. I grew to think of these characters like an extension of my family, and that's a testament to what they meant for me. Malcolm Reynolds as played by Nathan Fillion, has also become my most favorite character of all time (to think that he started off as a simple tribute to Star War's "Han Solo"). To me, the story is probably the most important element for me in a TV show, and Firefly's got this down exceptionally. Before the "Battlestar Galactica" TV show remake made humanistic and realistic stories in a sci-fi world popular again, Firefly was the one that got it right first in this decade. Whedon was able to make some seemingly conventional plots in his stories come out fresh and original all over again. That's something most TV shows wish they can claim to achieve.

  I know that Firefly isn't necessarily something that meets everyone's tastes, but damn do I love it. I've just recently re-watched the pilot episode again, and I'm already looking forward to seeing the rest of the show, up to it's inevitable conclusion in the movie finale.

  

  • 5:39 am
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