Keywords:
	Space opera Unaired episodes Fusion of genres

STARRING:
Nathan Fillion -	Mal Reynolds
Gina Torres -	Zoe
Alan Tudyk -	Wash
Adam Baldwin -	Jayne
Sean Maher -	Dr. Simon Tam
Summer Glau -	River Tam
Jewel Staite -	Kaylee
Morena Baccarin -	Inara
Ron Glass -	Shepherd Book

Season

1 Movie

Transmitted:	Sept 2002 - Dec 2002	Seasons:	1
Overall Rating:		Last Updated	18th July 2010

Superb follow up series from the creator of Buffy, Joss Whedon, though it has to be noted this bears virtually no comparison with the aforementioned, excepting the snappy, sarcastic dialogue. There's only 15 episodes, three of which were never aired, as this series was criminally underrated and appallingly treated by its TV network. Moving time slots, no advertising, showing episodes out of order so the arc plot made no sense, the principal reason being that they were promoting a new James Cameron show called Dark Angel - not seen it yet - and didn't feel they could have two major sci-fi shows running at the same time. Question - why commission two then? Truly, the most underrated show I've ever encountered, and a great shame. The premise - A band of mercenaries of dubious morality are on board Serenity, a Firefly class vessel they use to stop at planet ports and townships to acquire work, legal or otherwise. Inevitably, each stop along the way brings with it it's own problems, dangers and adventure. Superbly written - this is warm, funny, smart, taut - and acted, and beautifully shot, this fuses sci-fi and Western so effortlessly it takes the breath away; two seemingly disparate genre's combined into something new. Effects wise this looks great too, but the real victory for this show is the interchange between the crew. Snappy dialogue and a genuine sense of dynamics between the individuals adds to the realism in a situation that is as far removed from reality as is possible. An excellent show, sadly missed. Note - the episode listing below is in the order as recommended by Joss Whedon himself, not the order of transmission.

Season 1	Season Rating:
Serenity, Part 1 & 2	Captain Mal's crew are on a salvage operation when The Alliance show up, forcing them to flee. Expecting to sell their wares to Badger, when he refuses they are forced to go off world, heading to the more dangerous areas of space, but not before taking on board three very different passengers; Book, a Shepherd (a Priest of sorts), Simon, a Doctor, and Dobson. Well it's not too long before Dobson is pointing a gun, revealing that he is an Alliance agent, and demanding Simon turn over whatever it is he has in the cargo bay....
The Train Job	A vicious crime lord Niska 'requests' that the Firefly crew undertake a robbery on his behalf, from a moving train. What he doesn't tell them is them is the nature of the merchandise and, when Mal finds out what it is, he decides to stage a rebellion.
Bushwhacked	A drifting vessel appears to have been attacked by Reavers. On salvage duties, Firefly becomes ensnared by booby traps, only saved when an Alliance vessel happens by. An Alliance vessel on the lookout for a Firefly class vessel with two wanted fugitives on board.....
Shindig	One of Inara's clients is disrespectful, prompting Mal to punch him out, inadvertently challenging him to a duel to the death in the process.
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Safe	Simon is taken hostage by a group of locals who require a doctor's expertise River is tied to a stake, to be burnt as a witch.
Our Mrs. Reynolds	After a drunken night dancing, Mal finds he has inadvertently married. But married who?
Jaynestown	After dropping a bunch of money on the impoverished citizens of Canton, Jayne returns to discover he is a folk hero.
Out of Gas	After a freak explosion cripples Firefly in a deserted region of space, knocking out the life support system in the process, the crew are forced to abandon ship, leaving only Mal on board. Deprived of oxygen, his mind turns to how the crew came to be his crew.
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Ariel	Inara is required to take her annual examination to renew her Companion licence. While they are there, may as well break into The Alliance hospital's medical storeroom to steal some supplies to be sold on later. Meanwhile, Simon smuggles River into the facility to perform a scan to help him determine precisely what The Alliance did to his sister's brain.
War Stories	Wash gets jealous of The Captain and Zoe's relationship and insists on going on the next mission in place of his wife. Mal and Wash are kidnapped by the crimelord Niska, still pissed at them for refusing to do a job for him and for sucking one of his henchmen into Serenity's engines.
Trash	Mrs. Reynolds returns, this time recruiting the team to help her steal a technologically advanced weapon.
The Message	An old war colleague of Mal and Zoe posts his corpse to them, a clear violation of Alliance Postal rules. Thing is, the man is not really dead and he has something in his possession that The Alliance want back.
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Heart of Gold	The Serenity crew come to the aid of a house full of whores being persecuted by a rich and crooked land owner. How very A-Team.
Objects in Space	A sinister and highly articulate bounty hunter, Early, sneaks aboard Serenity with one simply mission: capture River any cost. But his plans are thwarted when River seems to have 'become' Serenity', her disembodied voice informing him that she has melted into the ship.
Movie
Serenity	For full review, click here