Firefly (2002 — 2003)

The American space Western drama television series, Firefly (2002–2003), was created by Joss Whedon under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. The show centers around the ‘Firefly-class’ spaceship Serenity, home to the main characters. Its body has a firefly-like shape and its tail lights up during acceleration, similar to a bioluminescent insectoid abdomen. The ship was named after the Battle of Serenity Valley, where Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds and Corporal Zoe Alleyne survived on the losing side. In ‘Bushwhacked’, it is revealed that this loss sealed the fate of the Independents. The Alliance controls the star system through an organization of core planets, formed after successfully unifying all colonies under one government. According to DVD commentary, the Alliance consists of two primary systems – one Western and one pan-Asian – which explains the blend of linguistic and visual themes in the series. While the central planets are firmly controlled by the Alliance, outlying planets and moons resemble the American Old West with little governmental authority.

The outlying worlds, inhabited by settlers and refugees, enjoy relative freedom from the central government but lack the advanced amenities of inner worlds. These areas of space, known as ‘the black’, are also home to the Reavers – a cannibalistic group of nomadic humans. Leading the crew of Serenity is Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds, a veteran ‘Browncoat’ of the Unification War along with his first mate, Zoe Washburne (née Alleyne). In ‘Serenity’, it is revealed that Mal purchased Serenity to travel beyond Alliance control in distant reaches of space. Their work mainly involves cargo runs or smuggling jobs. In the pilot episode, Simon joins as a paying passenger and brings along his younger sister River Tam who was smuggled aboard as cargo. River is a child prodigy who was subjected to experiments by Alliance scientists at a undisclosed government facility; she often displays symptoms of schizophrenia and hears voices.