1 reception
1.1 critical response
1.2 fandom
1.3 cult status
1.4 awards
1.5 ratings
1.6 in popular culture
reception
critical response
many reviews focused on show s fusion of wild west , outer space motifs. tv guide s matt roush, instance, called show oddball , offbeat , , noted how literally series took metaphor of space operas westerns. roush opined shift space travel horseback jarring , once got used this, found characters cleverly conceived, , writing crisp balance of action, tension , humor. several reviewers, however, criticized show s setting; tim goodman of san francisco chronicle felt melding of western , science fiction genres forced hodgepodge of 2 alarmingly opposite genres sake of being different , called series vast disappointment , , carina chocano of salon.com said while space wild west metaphor redundant, neither genre connected present. emily nussbaum of new york times, reviewing dvd set, noted program featured oddball genre mix might have doomed beginning: character-rich sci-fi western comedy-drama existential underpinnings, hard sell during season dominated joe millionaire .
the boston globe described firefly wonderful, imaginative mess brimming possibility . review further notes difference between new series , other programs shows burst onto scene slick pilots , deteriorate mediocrity... firefly on opposite creative journey. jason snell called show 1 of best on television, , 1 potential future brilliance .
reviewers compared firefly whedon s other series, buffy vampire slayer. chocano noted series lacks psychological tension of buffy, , suggests might attributable episodes being aired out of order. msn, on other hand, pointed out after viewing dvd boxed set easy see why program had attracted many die-hard fans. of whedon s fingerprints there: witty dialogue, quirky premises , dark exploration of human fallacy made buffy brilliant found way space drama .
fandom
example fan artwork produced susan renee tomb (widely known in browncoat community 11th hour ) used guerrilla marketing promote sale of firefly , serenity dvds.
firefly generated loyal base of fans during three-month original broadcast run on fox in late 2002. these fans, self-styled browncoats, used online forums organize , try save series being canceled fox 3 months after debut. efforts included raising money ad in variety magazine , postcard writing campaign upn. while unsuccessful in finding network continue show, support led release of series on dvd in december 2003. subsequent fan campaign raised on $14,000 in donations have purchased firefly dvd set placed aboard 250 u.s. navy ships april 2004 recreational viewing crews.
these , other continuing fan activities persuaded universal studios produce feature film, serenity. (the title of serenity chosen, according whedon, because fox still owned rights name firefly ). numerous screenings of rough film cuts held existing fans starting in may 2005 attempt create buzz increase ticket sales when final film cut released on september 30, 2005. film not commercially successful fans had hoped, opening @ number 2 , making $40 million worldwide during initial theatrical release.
on june 23, 2006, fans organized first worldwide charity screenings of serenity in 47 cities, dubbed can t stop serenity or csts, homage movie s tagline, can t stop signal . event raised on $65,000 whedon s favorite charity, equality now. in 2007, $106,000 raised; in 2008, $107,219; , in 2009, $137,331.
in july 2006, fan-made documentary released, titled done impossible, , commercially available. documentary relates story of fans , how show has affected them, , features interviews whedon , various cast members. part of dvd proceeds donated equality now.
nasa browncoat astronaut steven swanson took firefly , serenity dvds him on space shuttle atlantis s sts-117 mission in june 2007. dvds added media collection on international space station entertainment station s crews.
a fan-made, not-for-profit, unofficial sequel serenity, titled browncoats: redemption, premiered @ dragon*con 2010 on september 4, 2010. according film s creator , producer, whedon gave blessing project. film sold on dvd , blu-ray @ film s website, proceeds being distributed among 5 charities. film screened @ various science-fiction conventions across united states, admission receipts being donated. sales ended on september 1, 2011, 1 year after premiere, total revenues exceeding $115,000.
cult status
in 2005, new scientist magazine s website held internet poll find world s best space sci-fi ever . firefly came in first place, cinematic follow-up serenity in second. in 2012, entertainment weekly listed show @ no. 11 in 25 best cult tv shows past 25 years, commenting, does, martyrdom has enhanced legend.
brad wright, co-creator of stargate sg-1 has said 200th episode of sg-1 little kiss serenity , firefly, possibly 1 of best canceled series in history . in episode, martin lloyd has come s.g.c. [stargate command] because though wormhole x-treme! canceled after 3 episodes, did on dvd re making feature [film] . follow-up film, serenity, voted best science fiction movie of time in sfx magazine poll of 3,000 fans. firefly later ranked #25 on tv guide s top cult shows ever. name google beta app google wave inspired tv series.
in interview on february 17, 2011, entertainment weekly, nathan fillion joked that: if got $300 million california lottery, first thing buy rights firefly, make on own, , distribute on internet . gave rise fan-run initiative raising funds purchase rights. on march 7, 2011, organizers announced closure of project due lack of endorsement creators, $1 million pledged @ time shut down.
joss whedon, tim minear, , cast members nathan fillion, alan tudyk, summer glau, adam baldwin , sean maher reunited @ 2012 san diego comic-con 10th anniversary panel. ten thousand people lined panel, , panel ended entire crowd giving cast , crew standing ovation.
a tenth anniversary special, browncoats unite, shown on science channel on november 11, 2012. special featured whedon, minear, , several of cast members, in discussion on series history.
according reason s julian sanchez, firefly s cult following seems include disproportionate number of libertarians. story themes cautionary too-powerful central authority , capacity bad while being considered majority good. characters each exhibit traits exemplify core libertarian values, such right bear arms (jayne, zoe), legal prostitution (inara), freedom of religion (book), logic , reasoning (simon), , anti-conscription (river). joss whedon notes theme, saying mal is, if not republican, libertarian, s less-government kinda guy. s opposite of me in many ways.
awards
firefly won following awards:
emmy award: outstanding special visual effects series, 2003
visual effects society: best visual effects in television series, 2003 (episode serenity )
saturn award: cinescape genre face of future award, male, 2003 (nathan fillion)
saturn award: saturn award best dvd release (television), 2004
syfy genre awards: best series/television, 2006
syfy genre awards: best actor/television nathan fillion, 2006
syfy genre awards: best supporting actor/television adam baldwin, 2006
syfy genre awards: best special guest/television christina hendricks trash , 2006
syfy genre awards: best episode/television trash , 2006
the series nominated following awards:
visual effects society: best compositing in televised program, music video, or commercial, 2003
motion picture sound editors, usa, golden reel award : best sound editing in television long form: sound effects/foley, 2003
hugo award: best dramatic presentation, short form, 2003 (episode serenity )
hugo award: best dramatic presentation, short form, 2004 (episodes heart of gold , message , @ time had not been shown on television in usa)
golden satellite award: best dvd extras, 2004
ratings
at time series cancelled fox, averaged 4.7 million viewers , ranked 98th in nielsen ratings.
in popular culture
on cbs sitcom, big bang theory, sheldon cooper fan of firefly. when , leonard hofstadter discussing roommate agreement, include passage in dedicate friday nights watching firefly, sheldon believes last years. upon cancellation, brands rupert murdoch, owner of fox, traitor. during second season of big bang theory, in episode 17 ( terminator decoupling ), summer glau appears herself, encountering sheldon, leonard, , friends on train san francisco. when raj tries hit on says although astrophysicist, in space during shooting of firefly. glau chides him believing , raj backtracks, saying, crazy people!
on nbc comedy community, characters troy , abed fans of show. have agreement if 1 of them dies, other stage suicide caused cancellation of firefly, in hopes bring show back.
in 2003 battlestar galactica miniseries/pilot, ship resembling serenity appears in background of scene laura roslin (mary mcdonnell). serenity 1 of several spaceships inserted cameos digital effects scenes zoic studios, company responsible digital effects in both firefly , battlestar galactica.
the television series castle, fillion plays lead character richard castle, has made ongoing homages firefly. castle has props firefly decorative items in home, has dressed space cowboy halloween ( wore 5 years ago, cracked daughter), speaks chinese learned tv show [he] loved , , has made rapid two-by-two finger motions while wearing blue surgical gloves. has been humorously asked if has ever heard of spa known serenity , , firefly catchphrases such shiny , special hell , , aiming head have been used punchlines during various dramatic scenes in castle. has worked murder case @ science fiction convention suspects being cast of long-cancelled space opera ran season, , has had incidental interaction people portrayed firefly cast members.
con man, 2015 comedy web series created tudyk , co-produced fillion, draws on pair s experiences cult science fiction actors touring convention circuit. though not autobiographical, show s fictional spectrum echoes firefly , tudyk s , fillion s roles reflect own firefly roles. staite, torres , maher made guest appearances. maher played himself former firefly actor.
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