It's June, which of course means it is now Official Serenifly Month here at Vicomte's Blog Extravaganza. An entire month of choice Firefly-related bloggery, I know you're excited. In this first installment, I'm going to explain what Firefly is, and hopefully pique your interest enough that you will watch the show and stop back in for more.

Without any further delay...

What is Firefly?

Firefly was a short-lived Science-fiction Western Action Space Drama that aired on FOX way back in the Autumn season of 2002, roughly from September though December, before it was most unjustly cancelled. Through much campaigning and hard work by fans and supporters of the show, a full-length feature film, Serenity, was released as a continuation to the series last fall.

The series itself is difficult to describe. It takes place in the future, approximately 500 years, to be approximate, where the Earth had become 'used up', so the inhabitants of said sphere packed up and moved to a new galaxy, where the planets were Terraformed (Earthified) for human life. The governing body, the Alliance, is formed from a union of the United States and China. The story itself concerns the inhabitants of Serenity, a Firefly-class mid-bulk transport. A smuggling ship. The Captain, Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds, is a former Browncoat, the name given to the Independents that fought against the Alliance, and lost. The rest of the crew includes a Browncoat, mercenary, mechanic, preacher, space-whore, doctor, and a cool-minded pilot that slouches and wears Hawaiian shirts. Let's not forget the crazy sister, whose brother rescued her from an Alliance academy, consequently turning himself into a wanted fugitive.

This isn't your standard 'Space Pirates' fare, however. Firefly has style, a lot of style. Deep concepts, interesting characters, story arcs, cinematography, humor, and men with blue hands that walk two by two. Sounds boring, I know. This is why movie reviewers are overpaid. Words don't work. The best way to find out what Firefly is, is to watch Firefly. Rent, buy, download the pilot on iTunes, whatever, as long as you try it. A wise friend of mine once said "Don't knock it 'til you try it". Of course, he was talking about Broadway Musicals, but I think it applies here, as well. If you don't want to try the series, by all means, rent the movie, Serenity. I have not met one person who didn't enjoy the film, not a one. Besides, would Vicomte lie to you? Yes. But not this time.

The most compelling proof I have that Firefly is good is the movie itself. If a cancelled television show can be made into a major motion picture three years after its cancellation, it had to have been doing something right. It was picked up by Universal, by the way, not some unknown company. Credentials, mate, credentials.

I must also mention that June 23 is Serenity Day, on which all Browncoats around the 'Verse will be celebrating all things Serenity, including buying a copy of the DVD. The purchases are intended to provide a spike in the sales charts to show the folks up at Universal that people do care about Firefly, and are going to fight for it. If you buy the film, that would be the best time, although buying it at all is a favor to yourself and every other Browncoat. There are also charity screenings of Serenity planned around the world, as well as a possible letter-writing campaign.

I often hear people asking which they should watch first, the movie or the series. It really doesn't matter. The movie was made to be independent of the series, able to be enjoyed by someone who has never heard the word 'gorram' uttered before. The movie will be much more fulfilling if you watch at least some of the series first, of course, but that is in no way mandatory, just like the Fruity Oaty bar.

Keep in mind that Firefly is an intelligent show, and therefore only appreciated by intelligent people. You don't want to be stupid, do you?

Interested?