Though the unique “Star Wars” is commonly described as an area western, the franchise did not actually resurrect the ol’ gunslinger vibe till a sure Mandalorian debuted in 2019. However in 2005 — the identical yr an formidable younger Jedi’s fall from grace spearheaded a revolution in a galaxy far, far-off — one other sci-fi film bought busy taking cowboys to the celebrities.
“Serenity” author/director Joss Whedon (then greatest generally known as the creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”) by no means made a secret of his love of “Star Wars”, and the influences are in all places to see. Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is successfully Han Solo with much more malleable morals (he would have shot Greedo first), commanding a rickety previous bucket of bolts that will look proper at dwelling alongside the Millennium Falcon. He and his associates (a ragtag band of mercenaries and fugitives) grift a dwelling on the outskirts of a “‘Verse” overflowing with rough-‘n-ready Tatooine facsimiles, lawless worlds mild years away from the management of the Empire Alliance.
However its futuristic setting can be a darker various to “Star Trek“‘s utopia, a twenty sixth century the place the sources of “Earth that was” have been used up, forcing humanity out among the many stars to terraform new worlds. In the meantime, the dialect of this anachronistic Wild West is an unlikely mixture of quippy, quotable “Buffy”-style slang, the cowboy converse of “Bonanza” the place olde worlde phrases like “twixt my nethers” are commonplace, and Mandarin insults. (On this model of future historical past, international superpowers China and the US have joined forces to create a single, all-encompassing entity.)
Very similar to “Purple Dwarf“, this can be a universe with out aliens, the principal threats coming from Reavers (space-faring zombie individuals with extreme anger administration points), and an Alliance that wishes peace and prosperity for all — so long as it matches their explicit model of peace and prosperity. Reynolds and first mate Zoë Washburne (Gina Torres) have extra motive than most to distrust this totalitarian authorities, having fought for the dropping Independents (recognized colloquially as Browncoats) in a brutal civil conflict in opposition to the Alliance. Their Firefly-class vessel Serenity (no particular article) is called after the decisive, and really bloody, Battle of Serenity Valley that successfully ended the battle.
All this data would have been information to most theatergoers, however for a choose (and really passionate) few, “Serenity” was probably the most thrilling launch within the historical past of cinema — or, on the very least, 2005. As a result of for followers of the prematurely cancelled TV present “Firefly”, this was one thing they by no means thought they’d get to see, the continuation of a narrative that had come to an abrupt halt three years earlier.
In most different realities, “Firefly” can be lengthy forgotten, having been cruelly axed by the Fox community in December 2002 after simply 11 of its 14 episodes had aired. However in contrast to “Journeyman”, “Threshold”, “FlashForward” and many of the different one-season wonders that littered community TV within the early-’00s, Captain Reynolds and his crew lived to battle one other day.
On the time of “Firefly”‘s cancellation, Whedon stated, “I believe [the show] has been mistreated shamefully.” It is exhausting to disagree, seeing as Fox made the unfathomable choice to broadcast these aforementioned 11 instalments out of order — the double-length pilot episode (additionally known as, confusingly, “Serenity”) did not air till the finish of the unique run.
To their eventual credit score, nonetheless, Fox did permit Whedon to attempt to promote the present elsewhere. “That is no simple prospect,” the present’s creator admitted in 2002. “However I’ll do every part in my energy, as all the time, to maintain this chook within the air… I will not relaxation till I’ve discovered protected harbor for this vessel.”
Statements like this could often be dismissed because the bravado of a not too long ago scorned author, however Whedon had an unusually passionate fanbase on his aspect. Calling themselves Browncoats (in honor of Mal and his comrades), they had been glad to precise their “Firefly” love on-line. The present was additionally a significant beneficiary of the brand new DVD boxset tradition of the early twenty first century, as spectacular gross sales proved there was an viewers for Reynolds and co in spite of everything.
Common ultimately stepped in to bankroll a spin-off film, although the $39 million price range was a pittance in house opera phrases. That stated, these monetary limitations are integral to the movie “Serenity” turned, with VFX sequences saved to a minimal (the climactic house battle principally takes place off-screen) and the sensible, in-camera parts giving the motion the tactile really feel the CG-happy “Star Wars” prequels typically lacked. Even so, with all of “Firefly”‘s interiors torn down after the present’s cancellation, the movie’s set designers needed to rebuild from scratch, utilizing the DVDs as a blueprint.
And “Serenity”‘s secret weapon was all the time its forged, a superbly fashioned ensemble whose chemistry was nonetheless intact three years after “Firefly”‘s demise. As in most of the greatest sitcoms, these are individuals compelled collectively by circumstance as a lot as friendship, the assorted tensions between them (whether or not it is sexual or bona fide antagonism) making certain that life on board Mal’s “Boat” isn’t uninteresting.
Some characters are inevitably short-changed by the two-hour runtime — key parts of companion Inara (Morena Baccarin)’s story had been left on the slicing room ground, whereas the present’s ethical heart, Shepherd Ebook (Ron Glass), will get nothing greater than a glorified cameo. However most of them get their moments to be “Huge Rattling Heroes”, earlier than Whedon does one thing most main franchises are loath to do — kill off beloved characters and hold them useless. At instances, “Serenity” is actually heartbreaking.
It additionally delivers, arguably, the 2 greatest hours within the franchise. As a result of regardless of the adoration lavished on “Firefly”, it by no means fairly achieved full-on greatness. Certain, there are sensible episodes over the course of that all-too-brief run, however there’s additionally loads of filler because the present finds its house legs. It is a collection of immense promise that was denied the possibility to achieve its full potential.
In addition to introducing its worlds to newbies in an environment friendly, eloquent type, “Serenity” crams a season’s price of revelations into its runtime. Questions concerning the origins of the Reavers and River Tam (an enigmatic psychic on the run from the Alliance, performed by future “Sarah Connor Chronicles” star Summer time Glau) are answered in type, earlier than Reynolds and his remaining shipmates blast off for thrilling new adventures we by no means bought to see on display. In the meantime, in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Operative — a ruthless, monologue-loving Alliance agent hellbent on capturing River — the film has a chilling, but unusually sympathetic, antagonist.
With “Serenity 2” nonetheless conspicuous by its absence 20 years later, it is no spoiler to say the movie didn’t set the field workplace on hearth. Even so, the legacy of each the film and the TV present that spawned it lives on.
Lots of the forged have since had profitable careers in Hollywood, most notably Fillion (“Citadel”, “The Rookie”), Baccarin (“Homeland”, “Gotham”, “Deadpool”), and Alan Tudyk (“Rogue One“, “Resident Alien“, quite a few Disney animations). Whedon went on to direct the primary two “Avengers” motion pictures for Marvel, and “Justice League” for DC, although a number of actors have since accused him of office harassment. (Whedon has denied the allegations.)
A collection of Darkish Horse comics stuffed gaps within the “Firefly” chronology, whereas the saga managed to have an effect in the actual world due to the Browncoats, who organized charity screenings of the film beneath the Cannot Cease the Serenity banner. They raised a reported $1.35 million for girls’s rights NGO Equality Now between 2006 and 2020.
In 2007, the movie discovered its approach into mainstream headlines when the readers of UK-based sci-fi and fantasy journal SFX voted it the very best sci-fi film of all time. Whereas that is a stretch, it actually wasn’t that stunning. In any case, the fervour of “Firefly”‘s fanbase was the explanation “Serenity” existed in any respect, and — to paraphrase the film’s communications genius Mr Universe — generally you possibly can’t cease the sign.
“Serenity” is obtainable to hire or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and different streaming companies within the US and UK. You’ll be able to watch each episode of “Firefly” on Hulu within the US and Disney+ within the UK.
