Firefly

Watch Firefly

  • TV-14
  • 2002
  • 1 Season
  • 9.0  (279,987)

Firefly is a science fiction television series that premiered on FOX in 2002, created by Joss Whedon. The show is set in the year 2517, following the results of a civil war in which the Alliance emerged as the ruling power. The narrative follows the crew of the spaceship Serenity, a group of nine people who travel through space, taking on various jobs, both legal and illegal, to earn a living.

The series stars Nathan Fillion as the captain of the Serenity, Malcolm Reynolds, a former sergeant in the war who now operates as a smuggler and thief. Gina Torres plays his first mate, Zoë, a fierce and loyal soldier who fought alongside him in the war. Other members of the crew include Alan Tudyk as the ship's pilot, Wash; Morena Baccarin as Inara, a courtesan who rents a shuttle from the crew; Adam Baldwin as the mercenary Jayne; Jewel Staite as the ship's mechanic, Kaylee; Sean Maher as the doctor, Simon, and Summer Glau as his sister, River, who possesses special abilities after being subjected to experimentation by the Alliance. Rounding out the cast are Ron Glass as the spiritual Shepherd Book and Christina Hendricks as the mysterious Saffron.

The show's setting mixes elements of Western and sci-fi genres with a tone that is both comedic and dramatic. The visuals of the show feature a mixture of futuristic technology and old-fashioned, worn- out spaceships and planets. The show's writing and direction are excellent, with Joss Whedon's signature style of witty dialogue and dramatic pathos.

The characters are well-developed, with strong personalities and complex relationships. Captain Reynolds is a flawed yet likable character who struggles to balance his desire for personal freedom and justice with the need to protect his crew. Zoë is stoic and loyal, willing to sacrifice herself for the crew, while Wash provides a dose of comic relief as the ship's often-beleaguered pilot. Inara is a fascinating character, working as a courtesan but also possessing a strong sense of independence and principles.

The overall plot of the show involves the crew of the Serenity taking on a variety of jobs and encounters that feature themes of survival, rebellion, and moral ambiguity. The series also explores the idea of a "browncoat" resistance movement, composed of those who fought against the Alliance in the war before its defeat. Moreover, the show delves into the idea of government conspiracy, with the Alliance hiding their most controversial actions from their own citizens.

The series was notable for its cancellation by FOX after only one season due to low ratings, despite a strong cult following. This led to the production of the movie, "Serenity," which Whedon wrote and directed, in 2005. The film served as a continuation of the storyline, following the crew of the Serenity as they uncovered a dangerous conspiracy while grappling with their own personal demons.

Overall, Firefly is a well-crafted show that combines science fiction with Western elements, and features a talented cast, engaging plot, and strong characters. Despite its short run, the show has had a lasting impact on the genre and continues to have a devoted following to this day.

Firefly is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (14 episodes). The series first aired on December 20, 2002.

Firefly
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Seasons
Objects in Space
14. Objects in Space
December 13, 2002
A bounty hunter named 'Jubal Early' sneaks aboard Serenity, hoping to capture River for an enormous reward. He takes Simon captive, hoping he will lead him to River. The only problem is that they can't find River anywhere aboard the ship.
Heart of Gold
13. Heart of Gold
June 23, 2003
The crew comes to the aid of a bordello when its madam, an old acquaintance of Inara's, asks for help after a gunslinger claims a prostitute's bay is his and he's taking it because his wife is barren.
The Message
12. The Message
July 28, 2003
Mal and Zoe receive a package that contains the body of their old war buddy, Tracey.
Trash
11. Trash
July 21, 2003
Mal is shocked to discover his friend's new wife is Saffron (first seen in episode "Our Mrs. Reynolds"). She offers him a cut on the big-time scam she's planning.
War Stories
10. War Stories
December 6, 2002
Niska finally gets his revenge on Mal when his men find him and Wash on a planet. Nothing would please Niska more than to see them suffer right in front of him. Back at Serenity, Zoe and the crew decide to mount a daring rescue to get their friends back.
Ariel
9. Ariel
November 15, 2002
The ship heads to Ariel to drop off Inara for her yearly companion health check-up. Simon realizes River's condition is getting worse and decides to sneak her into an Alliance hospital in Ariel for a brain scan. Mal and the others agrees to help him with his plan, but also takes this opportunity to steal some valuable medical supplies in the hospital and sell it at the street market.
Out of Gas
8. Out of Gas
October 25, 2002
After the engine fails to run, the ship starts to run out of oxygen. As the crew abandon ship, the captain stays behind to see if any nearby vessel responds to their distress call. Under the conditions of the low oxygen levels, Mal has flashbacks relating to how he assembled his crew.
Jaynestown
7. Jaynestown
October 18, 2002
The crew arrive at a planet where the local town mistakenly honor Jayne as a hero for giving money to the poor a few years ago.
Our Mrs. Reynolds
6. Our Mrs. Reynolds
October 4, 2002
A girl named 'Saffron' sneaks aboard Serenity and claims that she is Mal's wife. What he and the crew don't know is that she is secretly working with a company to betray the crew of Serenity, so they can steal the ship, take it apart, and sell its pieces.
Safe
5. Safe
November 8, 2002
Simon is kidnapped by some villagers who desperately need a doctor. Back at Serenity, Book is severely injured and needs medical help. Unable to find Simon, Serenity takes off without him to find medical help... in an Alliance facility.
Shindig
4. Shindig
November 1, 2002
Badger contacts Serenity and tells them he wants the crew to help a local crimelord on the planet Persephone to transport some goods. All Mal have to do is find that warlord in a big ball he's attending that evening. Meanwhile, a young man named Atherton Wing hires Inara to be his date at a ball, the same ball Mal is attending that evening.
Bushwhacked
3. Bushwhacked
September 27, 2002
The crew of Serenity find a dead spaceship at drift and takes the only surviving crew member aboard. Then an Alliance ship comes along whose commander is looking for the two fugitives, Simon and River.
The Train Job
2. The Train Job
September 20, 2002
After finding themselves in a fight with supporters of The Alliance in a place that fairly resembles a bar, Mal, Zoe and Jayne walk away with knowledge that a man named Niska might have a new job for them.
Serenity
1. Serenity
December 20, 2002
The crew of the spaceship Serenity attempt to rid themselves of precious salvaged cargo.
Description
Where to Watch Firefly
Firefly is available for streaming on the FOX website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Firefly on demand at Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    December 20, 2002
  • IMDB Rating
    9.0  (279,987)
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