The science fiction television show Firefly, created by Joss Whedon the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, aired during the Fall of 2002. The story takes place approximately 500 years from the present day, following the depletion of Earth's resources and an expansion of the human race into 'the frontier' of outer space.
Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) commands a small Firefly class starship called Serenity, making cargo runs and other errands to scrape together a living for himself and his crew. Reynolds and some of his crewmates are on rather unfriendly terms with the imperial government known as "The Alliance", so they try to keep a low profile.
Featuring a blend of elements from the space opera and western genres, the show depicts mankind's future in a way that is uncharacteristic of many contemporary science fiction programs. The dialogue and interplay between characters is central to the plot of the program, resulting in a story that is alternately serious and humorous.
Though the show had a loyal following during its lifetime, it was cancelled in December 2002 after only eleven episodes. Low ratings were blamed for the cancellation; it has also been suggested that Whedon's additional responsibilities on Angel after co-creator David Greenwalt's departure from that show was a contributing factor. As of March 2003, three finished episodes of Firefly remain unaired by Fox Network.
In the hopes of getting another network such as UPN to pick up Firefly, fans formed the Firefly Immediate Assistance campaign, but in the end were unsuccessful in promoting the show's continuance.
See the List of Firefly episodes
Cast
- Malcolm Reynolds, played by Nathan Fillion
- Zoë, played by Gina Torres
- Wash, played by Alan Tudyk
- Inara Serra, played by Morena Baccarin
- Kaylee Frye, played by Jewel Staite
- Jayne Cobb, played by Adam Baldwin
- Simon Tam, played by Sean Maher
- River Tam, played by Summer Glau
- Book, played by Ron Glass