What IS It With Firefly?

A little over ten years ago, the tv series Firefly premiered. It was on a cable channel, so we didn’t get it. I’ve since seen it. I’ve since been given the DVD set of the all-too-few episodes. I’ve since watched them several times.

Mom and I have been catching up on the early seasons of NCIS before we started following the show, ordering the disks one-by-one from Netflix. This last time, in between disk deliveries, I said, “You want to read something, or watch a movie, or we could watch Firefly again.”

Just hearing the name of the show settled the question. No contest: we would watch Firefly again.

So what IS it about that show?

Part of it is the wonderful cast. From the first episode, they worked beautifully, singly and together. The feeling of a history between the crew characters, of experiences shared, of interpersonal dynamics explored and balanced, was there from the start.

The writing is mostly wonderful. Me, I could do without the creepy blue-handed guys and the whole River’s brain thing. Yeah, I know it’s major, and I know it’s what drives the movie, Serenity, but I hated the movie Serenity, so there you go. OTHER THAN THAT, I loved the writing. I could totally watch endless episodes that were just episodes, with no series-long plot arc.

I love the costumes and sets. Kaylee’s ratty paper parasol and her overalls with the teddy bear applique. Jayne’s arsenal and his knitting project on the corner of his bunk. Inara’s hair and makeup and clothes. That rawhide string Zoe has tied around her neck. EVERYTHING about the look of the show is … just … great.

If you don’t know anything about Firefly, Here’s a Wiki about it. But don’t watch it. I warn you, you’ll be hooked.

This being Tuesday, I’m posting at Fatal Foodies on the subject of what to do with a dead biscuit.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: What is your main character’s favorite tv show, or other form of entertainment?

MA