Nathan Fillion, Firefly, and Serenity

I'll admit to not being a rabid Buffy or Angel fan, but have watched several episodes with interest. Initially, I was turned off by Firefly, as I wasn't sure about the rumored 'cowboys in space' theme. However, on repeated viewings of the complete series on DVD, I found this to be one of the most entertaining shows I've watched in a long time.

Nathan Fillion, Firefly's Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, portrays the character with such perfection, one almost forgets he's acting. His seemingly rogue-like ventures are actually hiding a blend of authority, charm, and playfulness that alludes to another famous starship captain. Star Wars hero Han Solo; a tell-it-like-it-is smuggler turned Rebel Alliance member. Creator Joss Whedon even mentions Han and his ship, the Millennium Falcon, in 'making-of' segments so it's safe to say there's a connection. Reynolds, like Solo, is the 'everyman' character audiences associate with. A Captain that doesn't just stand around delivering orders, but one that almost prefers to be among the action himself. While that kind of character was missing from the Star Wars prequels, Whedon delivers him to us instead.


The crew of Serenity. © 2005 Univeral Pictures.

Yet, Capt. Reynolds is different from Han. Instead of travelling with a single trusted companion like Chewbacca, he travels with an ensemble cast of characters that each bring their own trait to Firefly and Serenity, the feature film based on the cancelled TV series. From Zoe, Malcom's loyal war-time partner and now ship's First Mate, to Jayne, the shoot-first-ask-questions-later Mercenary, to the cheerful, dedicated mechanic Kaylee, and the mysterious River, a young woman with extraordinary abilities who seems to have a symbiotic relationship with the ship, Serenity. Add the unforgettable shipmates Wash, Simon, Shepherd Book, and Inara and you have one of the most interesting casts in science fiction since Stargate: SG-1 and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Serenity was one of the best films of 2005 and easily one of the most enjoyable science fiction films in years. It begins with an energy that doesn't let up and carries us further into Whedon's Firefly universe without alienating new viewers. The Operative, played outstandingly by Chiwetel Ejiofor, is one of the most charismatic screen villains since Ricardo Montalban's Khan. The effects are on par with films nearly triple its budget, and Nathan Fillion brings it all together with such honesty, you're demanding a sequel (or new show) before the credits finish.

Fillion has mentioned his love for the role and I suspect we'll see more Serenity adventures with Captain Malcom Reynolds at the helm.

Bring it on.

Firefly and Serenity are both availble on DVD.