Nathan Fillion’s Sci-Fi Western Is Officially the Darker Star Wars
In the past few decades of highs and lows, Star Wars has always remained a political project. When George Lucas’ original trilogy first premiered, it had an obvious anti-fascist sentiment, and this idea has been pushed even further with the hard-hitting plot lines of Andor. Star Wars has long been a foundational text for many sci-fi works that have taken this mantle with pride – especially the darker material.
One of the most beloved is Firefly, which is a dark take on the ragtag crew trope. Clearly influenced by Star Wars, Firefly takes on an even darker ton in its follow-up film, Serenity, which shows some of the most brutal actions taken by the crew of the titular spaceship.
Serenity Shows the Gunslinging Malcolm Reynolds At His Most Vengeful
From its inception, Firefly was inspired by the smuggling lifestyle of Han Solo. Like Han, Mal wears dark pants and a gun on his hip, making his trade on his beloved ship. However, this is where their paths diverge. Han becomes a war hero while Mal has a harder road to travel. After losing the civil war that led to Alliance control over the known ‘verse, he was relegated to smuggling goods in a Western-inspired sci-fi world.
In this galaxy, there is no hope for a dramatic and hopeful rebellion. Mal is resigned to living his life on the wrong side of the law – though he does have his own set of principles. This becomes his true way of life in the tragically underseen but masterful film, Serenity, which charts the lives of the ship’s crew after Firefly Season 1 was cancelled. Speaking of the crew, they are in tatters. Mal’s refusal to admit his feelings has pushed the love of his life, Inara, away, while Simon and River are also in dire straits.
This is all in the face of an unyielding empire – ahem, the “Alliance” – that is intent on capturing River at all costs. Mal’s refusal to make waves is a characteristic of his that is made for a more jaded era. He lost once and never wants to be put in that position again. It is what makes him a terrible communicator and why he can’t open up to Inara. He is willing to do what it takes to protect his little corner of the universe and nothing else.
As most characters do, however, he progresses through the life of Serenity, almost to the detriment of some. No matter what he does, Mal realizes he will lose because the Alliance will never stop. One of his most brutal acts is in the aftermath of Shepherd Book’s death. With his dying breath, Book encourages him to believe in something, which turns out to be his found family. Mal is vicious in his will to live, and he does the impossible to go through Reaver space.
Kaylee is horrified at the captain’s insistence on camouflaging their ship from the space cannibals by adorning Serenity with the bodies of their dead friends. These actions are the sort that have no place in Star Wars, but do have a place in a gritty sci-fi Western that shows characters not as viewers hope people would be, but how they are. Mal can’t get by on a can-do attitude and space magic. He needs a little something extra to survive in this horrifying fascist regime.
Serenity Shows the Innerworkings of a Corrupt Government
Image via Universal Pictures
When Star Wars posits that the Empire is harsh and cruel, viewers generally have to take its word for it. Luke lives on the Outer Rim, where his exposure to scum and villainy is in a cantina that largely plays the same song. There is no ground-level evidence of fascism in this world. All the evil is delivered in exposition as Grand Moff Tarkin discusses dissolving the Republic and Darth Vader choking people with his mind.
Serenity shows not just the evil that happens day to day, but how casually cruel it is. The characters of Simon and River are created expressly for this purpose. Simon was once a prominent doctor, but once he realizes that the government is torturing River because of her psychic abilities, he wastes no time getting her out of their hands – and spending the rest of his life running because of it. The government tries to track them down for no other reason than desiring River’s abilities, even if they have to dissect her brain to get it. River is undoubtedly one of the saddest characters in sci-fi because of this alone.
The corruption and cruelty of this government are thrown in the faces of the viewers. Serenity also charts the origin story of the Reavers, who were created by the Alliance as a way to supposedly make people more docile. A percentage of the population reacts horribly, and one of the most terrifying sci-fi villains was born. Mal puts it best when he balks at the idea that the Alliance though they could “make people better” instead of just letting them be. Thematically, this is much heavier than Star Wars, and a fascinating insight that sci-fi is primed to do.
There is No Better Time For a Firefly Revival
Image via Fox
Star Wars will always carry on its merry way, which is disappointing for fans of Firefly and Serenity. Firefly was essentially set up to fail when Fox aired the episodes out of order. Serenity was a way to rectify this after the cancellation, but it was not enough to continue the series. Recent new surrounding creator Joss Whedon’s toxicity has threated to put a black mark on the series, but just like Mal’s crew, Firefly cannot be beaton.
Nathan Fillion and the rest of the Firefly cast confirmed their return to the fan-favorite series in the form of an animated series. This approach is logically the only way to bring the story back, considering how much time has passed since Serenity. If there is a time to bring it back, however, that time is now. Firefly and Serenity are more thematically relevant than ever before.
Anti-fascism should always be in style, but a crew of underdog shipmates fighting – sometimes fruitlessly – against an unempathetic government is just what the fans need now. The new Firefly series will reportedly take place between the events of Firefly and Serenity, which allows Alan Tudyk to come back in the beloved role of Wash. Ron Glass regrettably died, so Shepherd Book will have to be recast, should the character appear. The jury is still out on how much Inara will factor in since she leaves at the end of Firefly, but the series will explore this when the most mourned cancellation of all time comes back to the airwaves in all its shiny glory.
Original article at CBR
