The McGinn Perspective - Firefly Review

Okay it has been long enough, i have recovered from the state of grief i was thrown into when Fox cancelled Firefly. And so now it is high time i reviewed it, as there is much to say. So what is Firefly? It stands as one of the most controversial Sc-Fi television shows in the world today, with its mix of classic Si-Fi and Western to create an unprecedented hybrid genre.

So first let me introduce you to the plot of the story if you are unfamiliar. The Firefly series focused on the crew of a Firefly transport ship called Serenity, and features their struggle to make their way in the "vers" as they would call it, by taking jobs where they come. Of course right from the pilot episode there was always more to it than this, like back stories for the lead characters, some of which tying into key events in the Firefly universe, that will ultimately impact the story.
What really stood out for me was that unlike other Sc-Fi stories, there was no sort of ultimate purpose, in the sense that the characters literally did what they did to keep themselves fed and their ship flying. Not giving the characters any cause makes for a sense of misdirection to be created for you, the viewer, that keeps you guessing and therefore interested.

It is no secret that Firefly was discontinued on the air, but this is a shame as it was a story designed to properly passe itself, never revealing too much at once, keeping the overall story shrouded in mystery. But even with key story elements being rationed in such small portions, you as the viewer can get so much from one episode. Tiny details in the dialogue or even brief sound effects go far to immerse you in this universe that Joss Whedon has created.
When looking at the scenery in some episodes it is easy to feel like they were limited in actual places off set where they could film, as sometimes it seemed pretty bland. But the story and the genre explain this very well, not making it more pleasant, but at the least acceptable.

As for the cast, there is a mix of some well-known actors and some not so well-known actors, but just the fact that there is a Terminator on screen must have done the show credit. The key point being that if you aren't familiar with one of the cast now, after watching it, you will be, with very little chance that you will dislike his/her performance. Even if you as a viewer are not interested in this form of television, or simply just not adventurous enough to trust a hybrid genre like this, you could still step back and admire the performance of some of the cast, as all throughout the series they are able to give a truly riveting standard of acting that few others could do.

But then of course we come to the black mark of this otherwise sparkly clean story, which is of course the instalment of the film "Serenity". The film was made as a result of fans acting out in anger after the series was cancelled, and acted as a way to tie certain loose ends in the storyline. From the beginning it was clear that this was never going to work, simply because Firefly held countless details and story elements, all designed to be spread out over entire seasons of televised episodes. All that planned content could never be packed into one film, regardless of how hard they may have tried.
Part of what made the film such a kick in the teeth for the fans was the fact that it changed the storyline completely, massive elements to the story had to be changed to suit the film, and so much planning for future seasons had to be discarded.Therefore certain characters met different outcomes than they would have had the series been able to continue. The most noticeable being the development of the character "River". Where as by the climax of Firefly we were only just getting indication that she could have been giving special abilities as a result of her being tested on, by the beginning of the film she becomes a mind reading ninja warrior. Though of course this isn't something that could be controlled by good old Joss, perhaps this film, made to satisfy the fans, would have been better off never being made. Basically, where as Firefly was good television all around, Serenity failed across the board.

Overall i found the Firefly universe to be utterly engrossing, and a brave step to push the boundaries of conventional television, however the film was a major problem. As much as i hate this fact, the film is cannon, no matter how much we, as the fans, wish it wasn't. It is because of this clear fact that the storyline we all came to love over the course of the series has turned soar.
But i would recommend the Firefly series to anyone who has a keen appreciation for Si-Fi, as even with only one series, Firefly is able to immerse you so well as a viewer. I would however, ask that you stay clear of the film if you do go on to enjoy the storyline.


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