Confessions of a Sci-Fi Newbie #2 – If Serenity is the Ship, Then What the Hell is a Firefly?

My homie, Wikipedia, told me that the show, Firefly, was named this because the ship is what they call, “firefly-class.” This means that it’s a small transport ship. So far, I’ve only seen one episode, but I think I will watch more because I’m pretty curious to see where they’re going with this. I was really surprised to learn that the show only had one season. I know the franchise expanded to a movie, Serenity, as well as comics, but how come only one season?

The first thing I couldn’t wrap my head around was the western theme. It was really out of place with the backdrop of this really science-tech, future world. I mean, you guys are riding through space right now, but there’s horses in the opening theme. I saw that big ass sign that said they eat dogs though. Do they eat horses too? I have a theory about the western thing though. I got the feeling it was supposed to be like the humans were all pioneers on a new frontier, which could be space or it could be the new civilizations that are basically starting over on Earth. Even though the story takes place in this future setting, it definitely has an a old-time country vibe. I think the creators did an interesting thing finding similarities in the two.

I didn’t understand what the war was about at the beginning (partially because my little sister decided to perform her rendition of Demi Lovato’s “Heart Attack” right in front of my TV). Were aliens fighting us? Why was there fighting? Is that supposed to be how the world got into disarray?

Another thing that threw me off was the fact that they had a prosty on board, or what they called a “companion.” Part of the reason I want to continue watching the show is because I want to know what she has going on with the captain. There’s definitely some undercurrent passion under all of that snide. The look he gave her when she said she gave Simon a “complimentary thrust”; I could have died and been reincarnated from all the gagging I was doing.

I like the captain. He’s tough, but you can tell he cares about his crew. The fact that they have sit-down meals really ties into the whole trying to put down roots in an unfamiliar territory thing. There’s a sense that these characters have had everything taken from them, and the’re traveling, not necessarily knowing where they’re going, but trying to survive and get back some form of normalcy in their lives. The crew actually resembles a family.

Captain Reynolds is obviously the father. Did you see how he sent Jayne away from the table like he was a child? Jayne really does seem like he’s the rebellious son. Kaylee is definitely the resident baby. It seems like everyone’s really bent on protecting her, and she has this naive quality about her that makes her seem younger than she probably is. I didn’t think it was funny at all when Reynolds told Simon that Kaylee was dead, like he really must be psychotic. What kind of sense of humor does this man have?

Hoban and Zoe are like the family friends that live next door, or maybe even Reynold’s sister and brother-in-law, because they have more authority and also a sway over the captain’s decisions as though he holds them at higher esteem.

I think I can guess the future couplings in this show based on the subtle inklings they were giving us, but what I’m really interested to learn about is River’s story. What really happened to her when she went away? I realize I’m a little over 10 years late, but can I still get on the train if it’s already gone? Maybe I can finally get some of Sheldon’s references now.

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