When Buffy the Vampire Slayer reached Season Seven, there were concerns that the quality would wane, because of a new love in Joss Whedon's life. The mysterious 'space project' as Firefly was originally known, was like a younger mistress to the rapidly ageing Buffy and the difficult Angel. Fans asked "What is the big deal about this new series?".
Then it was screened, and the question became "Why are they cancelling this amazing series?" Firefly is stronger, funnier, tighter than either of Whedon's vampire chronicles. This is the work of a man who has practised and perfected the art of dramatic science fiction. Whilst Buffy and Angel have rapidly expanding casts, Firefly has nine main characters, and a handful of guest stars. The stories are crafted, well structured, the character arcs glide along like a Russian figure skater with no sign of faltering. The world is drawn and developed with an amazing competency, and a message : the real lives of working people are as interesting and as dramatic as the lives of vampire slayers and demon hunters.
In the two hour pilot 'Serenity' (which Fox TV chose to lump slap bang into the middle of the season, leaving some viewers mystified as to the origins of the characters), we meet Sgt. Malcolm Reynolds, fighting on the side of independance at the Battle of Serenity Valley. The 'browncoats' are fighting to retain independance for the planets in the solar system, while the Alliance are fighting for unification. The final battle shows the sparce outpost waiting for air support which doesn't come.
Flash forward five years and Malcolm (Nathan Fillion)is now Captain Reynolds, of a ship called Serenity, a firefly class transporter. He has a first mate, Zoe (Gina Torres) who fought with him side by side at Serenity Valley, her husband Wash, the pilot (Alan Tudyk), mechanic Kaylee (Jewel Staite), self-confessed bounty hunter Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin)and registered companion Inara (Morena Baccarin). The crew are in the business of taking on cargo and delivering it, just trying to make enough money to survive and stay at arms length of the Alliance, who don't take too kindly to the former enemy.
Taking on passengers at a port called Persephone, they come across a preacher, and a young doctor with a large box which he is reluctant to let out of his sight. Here we have the assembled cast of Firefly. No demons, no witches and certainly no vampires. The contents of the box turn out to be the doctor's sister, River Tam (Summer Glau), who he has recently rescued from a government facility where she was being tested on due to her genius level brain. The Alliance wants her back for unknown but clearly nefarious reasons, and the crew of Serenity embark on their riskiest mission, a game of hide and seek with the Alliance.
There were only 14 episodes of Firefly, but this is a packed DVD. There are commentaries on every episode from the detailed (Joss Whedon) to the hilarious (Tudyk and Fillion). There is a mini documentary on the origins of the series, outtakes, a version of the Firefly theme by Joss Whedon and Alan Tudyk's original audition for the role of Wash. Also, an Easter Egg reveals Adam Baldwin singing 'The Ballad of Jayne' from the episode Jaynestown.
If you are a Whedon fan and don't already own this DVD, you are missing out in a monumental way. If you're not a Whedon fan, then you're clearly not into great writing, superb casting and beautifully structured drama. Why not try the DVD box set of the hilarious Jaspar Carrot show 'All About Me'? The rest of you, keep flying, and buy this shiny product. You won't regret it.
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