Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]

Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin

20th Century Fox, 2008, Blu-ray

Product Description

As the 2005 theatrical release of Serenity made clear, Firefly was a science fiction concept that deserved a second chance. Devoted fans (or "Browncoats") knew it all along, and with this well-packaged DVD set, those who missed the show's original broadcasts can see what they missed. Creator Joss Whedon's ambitious science-fiction Western (Whedon's third series after Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) was canceled after only 11 of these 14 episodes had aired on the Fox network, but history has proven that its demise was woefully premature. Whedon's generic hybrid got off to a shaky start when network executives demanded an action-packed one-hour premiere ("The Train Job"); in hindsight the intended two-hour pilot (also titled "Serenity," and oddly enough, the final episode aired) provides a better introduction to the show's concept and splendid ensemble cast. Obsessive fans can debate the quirky logic of combining spaceships with direct parallels to frontier America (it's 500 years in the future, and embattled humankind has expanded into the galaxy, where undeveloped "outer rim" planets struggle with the equivalent of Old West accommodations), but Whedon and his gifted co-writers and directors make it work, at least well enough to fashion a credible context from the incongruous culture-clashing of past, present, and future technologies, along with a polyglot language (the result of two dominant superpowers) that combines English with an abundance of Chinese slang.
What makes it work is Whedon's delightfully well-chosen cast and their nine well-developed characters — a typically Whedon-esque extended family — each providing a unique perspective on their adventures aboard Serenity, the junky but beloved "Firefly-class" starship they call home. As a veteran of the disadvantaged Independent faction's war against the all-powerful planetary Alliance (think of it as Underdogs vs. Overlords), Serenity captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) leads his compact crew on a quest for survival. They're renegades with an amoral agenda, taking any job that pays well, but Firefly's complex tapestry of right and wrong (and peace vs. violence) is richer and deeper than it first appears. Tantalizing clues about Blue Sun (an insidious mega-corporation with a mysteriously evil agenda), its ties to the Alliance, and the traumatizing use of Serenity's resident stowaway (Summer Glau) as a guinea pig in the development of advanced warfare were clear indications Firefly was heading for exciting revelations that were precluded by the series' cancellation. Fortunately, the big-screen Serenity (which can be enjoyed independently of the series) ensured that Whedon's wild extraterrestrial west had not seen its final sunset. Its very existence confirms that these 14 episodes (and enjoyable bonus features) will endure as irrefutable proof Fox made a glaring mistake in canceling the series. — Jeff Shannon

Beyond Firefly on Blu-ray

Stargate: Continuum

Blu-ray Sci-Fi Bundle

Sunshine

Stills from Firefly (Click for larger image)

Product Details

Title: Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]
Sales Rank: 303 in DVD
Actor: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin
Studio: 20th Century Fox, 2008-11-11
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Acpect Ratio 1.78:1
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Running Time: 665 minutes
Package Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches, 0.3 pounds

Customer Reviews

it is what it is...: considering the source(if it's not shot in HD,it will only be as good as the source)this is the best picture you will get for this show,if you have a good set up for Blueray.you will also get better sound than the DVD.as for the show,if you have seen it and do not love it i cannot help you...now about a Buffy Blueray.... More reviews

Better, still some grain, special effects in SD res: Only caught the series AFTER it was canceled, and have become a browncoat, to the point that, yes, I actually do wear a brown coat I bought when Serenity came out. It's a series worth checking out. The chances you'll become that much of a nerd are very low, so don't be afraid. :)
Picture quality is high compared to the original DVDs, detailed… More reviews

Great show - Cheap packaging: I love this show. Joss Whedon hit a major home run and Fox was too blind to see that they had a hit in the making... at least with fans of science fiction and maybe, had they been a little patient, even more.
That said, the lack of the fifth star in my rating is due to cheap packaging. I had previously bought… More reviews

Skip The Blu-Ray version, the standard DVD set is just fine.: Although I love the show, the Blu-Ray release stinks. They didn't improve the picture quality much at all so you might as well stick with the DVD set if you have it. They did remix the sound to DTS but it's hardly worth $60.00. Another Fox Blu-Ray failure if you ask me.
More reviews

Nice visual and sound update, but sparse on new features.: At first Firefly was a bittersweet experience for me that ended with much love for the show. You see I was a fan of Dark Angel and Fox in their infinite wisdom replaced my favorite sci-fi television show at the time for this "Firefly" thing. I'm still a sci-fi fan so I watched Firefly. By the end of that premier episode (which ironically wasn't… More reviews