Firefly

500 years in the future, Earth has been deserted and mankind has colonized other planets. Captain Malcom Reynolds helped fight in a war against the oppressive Alliance and was defeated. Now forced to journey through space in the ship Serenity, he and his crew take jobs to keep the gas tank filled and food on the table. However, one day they pick up Simon Tam, a young doctor, not knowing that he is stowing his sister away with him. River Tam is a seventeen-year-old prodigy who became a goverment experiment. Simon freed her from the lab and now they are both fugitives. Mal, though reluctant, keeps the two, and Serenity, already wanted, becomes relentlessly pursued by men who want River back.

Simply put, this is the best science fiction I have ever seen. I know a lot of Star Wars fans would argue this point, but Star Wars is, though entertaining, a special effects extravaganza. Firefly is everything a sci-fi show should be, exciting, interesting, and funny, and featuring good characters. In fact, the only 'aliens' on the show are the flesh-eating reavers, which very rarely appear. It's not that I don't like aliens, or that I completely deny the possibility of their existence, but without the presence of nonstop action or expensive special effects, the show concentrates on relationships between the human characters. Plus an occasional gun fight.

I recommend this TV show to almost anybody, including people who aren't into the Fantasy/Sci-fi genre. It's a shame that Fox canceled "Firefly" after only almost one season. After seeing this, you might also want to get the movie follow-up, Serenity, which I will most likely review shortly. In the meantime, I urge you to rent this show and give it a try (Rated NR.)