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 12 months an bold younger Jedi’s fall from grace spearheaded a revolution in a galaxy far, far-off — one other sci-fi film acquired busy taking cowboys to the celebrities.
“Serenity” author/director Joss Whedon (then finest often 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 every single place 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is successfully Han Solo with much more malleable morals (he would have shot Greedo first), commanding a rickety outdated bucket of bolts that might look proper at dwelling alongside the Millennium Falcon. He and his associates (a ragtag band of mercenaries and fugitives) grift a residing on the outskirts of a “‘Verse” overflowing with rough-‘n-ready Tatooine facsimiles, lawless worlds gentle years away from the management of the Empire Alliance.
However its futuristic setting can also 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 communicate 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 like “Crimson Dwarf“, it is 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 specific 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 shedding Independents (identified colloquially as Browncoats) in a brutal civil battle towards the Alliance. Their Firefly-class vessel Serenity (no particular article) is known as after the decisive, and really bloody, Battle of Serenity Valley that successfully ended the battle.
All this info 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” could be lengthy forgotten, having been cruelly axed by the Fox community in December 2002 after simply 11 of its 14 episodes had aired. However not like “Journeyman”, “Threshold”, “FlashForward” and a lot of the different one-season wonders that littered community TV within the early-’00s, Captain Reynolds and his crew lived to combat one other day.
On the time of “Firefly”‘s cancellation, Whedon mentioned, “I believe [the show] has been mistreated shamefully.” It is laborious 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, nevertheless, Fox did enable Whedon to attempt to promote the present elsewhere. “That is no straightforward prospect,” the present’s creator admitted in 2002. “However I’ll do every part in my energy, as at all times, to maintain this chicken within the air… I will not relaxation till I’ve discovered secure 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 any case.
Common finally stepped in to bankroll a spin-off film, although the $39 million price range was a pittance in house opera phrases. That mentioned, these monetary limitations are integral to the movie “Serenity” grew to become, with VFX sequences saved to a minimal (the climactic house battle principally takes place off-screen) and the sensible, in-camera components 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 at all times its forged, a superbly shaped ensemble whose chemistry was nonetheless intact three years after “Firefly”‘s demise. As in lots of the finest 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) guaranteeing that life on board Mal’s “Boat” isn’t boring.
Some characters are inevitably short-changed by the two-hour runtime — key components of companion Inara (Morena Baccarin)’s story had been left on the slicing room flooring, whereas the present’s ethical middle, Shepherd Guide (Ron Glass), will get nothing greater than a glorified cameo. However most of them get their moments to be “Massive Rattling Heroes”, earlier than Whedon does one thing most main franchises are loath to do — kill off beloved characters and preserve them lifeless. At instances, “Serenity” is really heartbreaking.
It additionally delivers, arguably, the 2 finest 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 good 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 sequence of immense promise that was denied the prospect to succeed in 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 acquired to see on display screen. In the meantime, in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Operative — a ruthless, monologue-loving Alliance agent hellbent on capturing River — the film has a chilling, but surprisingly sympathetic, antagonist.
With “Serenity 2” nonetheless conspicuous by its absence 20 years later, it is no spoiler to say the movie did not set the field workplace on hearth. Even so, the legacy of each the film and the TV present that spawned it lives on.
Most 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” films 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 sequence of Darkish Horse comics crammed gaps within the “Firefly” chronology, whereas the saga managed to have an effect in the true world because of the Browncoats, who organized charity screenings of the film underneath the Cannot Cease the Serenity banner. They raised a reported $1.35 million for ladies’s rights NGO Equality Now between 2006 and 2020.
In 2007, the movie discovered its means into mainstream headlines when the readers of UK-based sci-fi and fantasy journal SFX voted it one of the best sci-fi film of all time. Whereas that is a stretch, it actually wasn’t that shocking. In spite of everything, the eagerness of “Firefly”‘s fanbase was the rationale “Serenity” existed in any respect, and — to paraphrase the film’s communications genius Mr Universe — typically you possibly can’t cease the sign.
“Serenity” is out there to lease or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and different streaming providers 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.
