# Let's Talk About Firefly
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 23, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060 "2010-01-23T00:47:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/1 "2010-01-23T00:47:56Z")
Last weekend I was watching the movie Serenity on TV. I’d heard of the movie before, but never had the chance to watch it. Despite having never seen the show in which it’s based, I decided to watch anyway.
I loved it! The best part was that my roommate walked by at one point and mentioned that he had the DVD collection of Firefly. Three guesses as to what I’ve been doing all week…
I think the thing I really like about the show is that it’s about a band of people trying to eke out a living traipsing through space while dealing with double-crosses and bouts of sexual tension. If there’s one thing that captivates my interest, it’s a good heist. I also like the mix of old and new technology, like the use of laser guns and bullet-shooting guns. Some sci-fi stories are so hi-tech they seem a little too “sanitary”, if you know what I mean, but Firefly doesn’t have any of that.
Like all the other fans out there, I’m disappointed that there is only one season. Can anyone recommend similar works? It doesn’t even have to be TV or film, I’d love some book recommendations, too. It doesn’t need to have the Western thread that Firefly has going on, but the heist aspect is a must. To give you an idea of what I’d call “similar”, I’d say the book The Lies of Locke Lamora is in the same vein. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a fantasy novel about a group of talented rogues pulling heists around a big city. Another similarity is that the world isn’t hanging in the balance here - it’s just about some people living their lives.
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### Author:  [@enigmatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigmatic)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/2 "2010-01-23T00:53:18Z")
If you are willing to check out Anime it might be worth trying to get hold of “Cowboy Bebop”. It follows a group of bounty hunters flying around a rather contemporary looking solar system, it’s certainly to closest match for Firefly’s general vibe that I’ve seen.
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### Author:  [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/3 "2010-01-23T02:09:59Z")
Another Doper makes a thread about how wonderful Firefly is. Is it that time of the month?
If you want to fill the void in your soul left by Firefly, a good place to start is with other Joss Whedon shows – Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Dollhouse. Otherwise there is really nothing else like it.
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### Author:  [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/4 "2010-01-23T15:51:57Z")
And Doctor Horrible, how could you forget about Doctor Horrible?
“I’ve got a PH.D in Horrible-ness”
“And _these_, are not the Hammer…”
Doctor Horrible’s lab coat is the same coat used by the Alliance Doctors in Firefly, and Doc H’s “Death Ray” is an Alliance sonic rifle held upside down, repainted, and with a scope on the top, err…bottom
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### Author:  [@in\_hiding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/in_hiding)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/5 "2010-01-23T16:30:46Z")
> [@enigmatic](#):
>
> If you are willing to check out Anime it might be worth trying to get hold of “Cowboy Bebop”. It follows a group of bounty hunters flying around a rather contemporary looking solar system, it’s certainly to closest match for Firefly’s general vibe that I’ve seen.
Yeah, it has a different style, but the music alone is worth it. It’s fun.
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### Author:  [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/6 "2010-01-23T17:10:23Z")
I’m joyous that you were able to watch and appreciate Firefly. I’m also happy to see that we can add one more person to the “Life Without Firefly” personal hell we all get to go through. Welcome, you’ll be here forever.
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### Author:  [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/7 "2010-01-23T19:36:58Z")
If you haven’t seen it, \*Farscape \*is worth checking out. And although only Mal Reynolds appears, be sure to check out the “Vampire Weekend” episode of _Castle_.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/8 "2010-01-23T22:16:00Z")
I’ve been meaning to check out _Farscape_, but if I’m going to be watching a show on DVD, I’m darned well going to watch it in order, and the first season seems rather hard to come by (it’s not on Netflix, at least).
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### Author:  [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/9 "2010-01-23T22:22:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> I’ve been meaning to check out _Farscape_, but if I’m going to be watching a show on DVD, I’m darned well going to watch it in order, and the first season seems rather hard to come by (it’s not on Netflix, at least).
Actually, Farscape’s first three seasons are available on Netflix’s instant view. 🙂
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### Author:  [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/10 "2010-01-23T22:26:13Z")
There are two comic book miniseries, the movie, and a roleplaying game expanding the universe.
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### Author:  [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/11 "2010-01-24T08:07:11Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#):
>
> There are two comic book miniseries, the movie, and a roleplaying game expanding the universe.
Yes! Definitely check out the expanded universe stuff. Especially because I think they are finally going to do a Book origin story.
I personally think Firefly is Joss’s best series. Buffy and Angel were great, but they were rooted too much in fantasy (basically live action cartoons) and humor to be taken entirely seriously as a whole. Dollhouse was a ‘realistic’ series, but was not as consistent in quality, especially in the penultimate episode… Firefly had great humor but was rooted in (sci-fi) realism, and the film resolution was fantastic both as a series ender and as a film in it’s own right…
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### Author:  [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/12 "2010-01-24T14:34:35Z")
In a sci fi/fantasy book forum I visit occasionally, I searched for threads related to Firefly, and found a recommendation for a book called [Retribution Falls.](http://www.amazon.com/Retribution-Falls-Tales-Ketty-Jay/dp/0575085150/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3RSN4CFJRDX9V&colid=2S5A5SPKUAXUR) The recommender described it as “A Firefly-inspired work as written by Scott Lynch after playing too much Crimson Skies.”
Now _that_ sounds like my kind of book right about now!
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### Author:  [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/13 "2010-01-24T17:09:45Z")
> [@Daddypants](#):
>
> Actually, Farscape’s first three seasons are available on Netflix’s instant view. 🙂
😃
> **[Firefly](https://www.hulu.com/series/firefly-044bbd6e-4ef5-4723-93fe-a384d785b45d)**
>
> The Crew of a starship travel through outer space after Earth's resources have diminished and forced us to look elsewhere in 2517. Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) steers his bandit-crew through anything to keep them alive, and keep...
They can only post 5 at a time, so it’s on rotation. I reccomend people watch them in order, and avoid spoiling themselves.
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### Author:  [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/14 "2010-01-24T17:24:08Z")
[Actually…](http://www.amazon.com/Farscape-Complete-Ben-Browder/dp/B002GP7ZWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1264353802&sr=8-1)
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### Author:  [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/15 "2010-01-24T17:47:56Z")
> [@ExTank](#):
>
> [Actually…](http://www.amazon.com/Farscape-Complete-Ben-Browder/dp/B002GP7ZWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1264353802&sr=8-1)
Thanks 🙂
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/16 "2010-01-24T19:37:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Actually, Farscape’s first three seasons are available on Netflix’s instant view.
That would have been great news, if, A, I had more than a couple of weeks left on my Netflix subscription, and B, I had a computer capable of using the instant view.
Maybe after I’ve accumulated a fresh new set of good movies I haven’t seen, and after I’ve gotten a new computer, I’ll sign up for Netflix again.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/17 "2010-01-26T11:04:26Z")
I am a comparative latecomer to _Firefly_ - I saw the movie a while back, but couldn’t find a way to see the series because it was difficult to find/expensive on DVD here (and the online streamed versions don’t work outside the USA).
I stumbled upon the box set at a bargain price second hand just before Christmas and my wife seized it and wrapped it up for me.
I watched two episodes a night in the first few days after Christmas, then cut back a bit, then rewatched a few before getting to _Objects In Space_ sometime in January.
I really like the whole thing, and I completely see what all the fuss is about - there’s no one thing about _Firefly_ that makes it work, but the gestalt of all the little things is just highly pleasing and entertaining.
Although I would like to see more, I’m not sure I’m going to mourn if that never happens (which seems likely) - I’m happy enough to accept it as one of those things that exists as a small, highly-regarded run - and is all the more endearing for it (like, say, _Fawlty Towers_ or _Bagpuss_).
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### Author:  [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/18 "2010-01-26T13:24:20Z")
> [@MacTech](#):
>
> And Doctor Horrible, how could you forget about Doctor Horrible?
> …
>
> “And _these_, are not the Hammer…”
>
> …
“the hammer is my penis.”
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/19 "2010-01-26T13:41:37Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#):
>
> Can anyone recommend similar works? It doesn’t even have to be TV or film, I’d love some book recommendations, too. It doesn’t need to have the Western thread that Firefly has going on, but the heist aspect is a must. To give you an idea of what I’d call “similar”, I’d say the book The Lies of Locke Lamora is in the same vein. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a fantasy novel about a group of talented rogues pulling heists around a big city. Another similarity is that the world isn’t hanging in the balance here - it’s just about some people living their lives.
[Hustle](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007gf9k). I believe it’s on AMC in the US.
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### Author:  [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-firefly/526060/20 "2010-01-26T14:22:56Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#):
>
> I think the thing I really like about the show is that it’s about a band of people trying to eke out a living traipsing through space while dealing with double-crosses and bouts of sexual tension. If there’s one thing that captivates my interest, it’s a good heist.
Well, most would say it doesn’t hold a candle to Firefly/Serenity, but I enjoy Leverage. Each episode revolves around a ‘heist’:
> **[Leverage (TV Series 2008–2012) ⭐ 7.9 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1103987/)**
>
> 42m | TV-PG
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