Shows You Might Have Missed: 'Firefly'

Here at Yidio, we believe in giving everyone the best TV-viewing experience possible. So, it would be a shame to let some of you miss out on the best TV shows that might have gone under your radar. In today's "Shows You Might Have Missed," we'll discuss Joss Whedon's short-lived sci-fi western, "Firefly."

What is this show?

"Firefly" was created by Joss Whedon, whom you might know as the mind behind "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"...as well as the director of the upcoming "The Avengers." In typical Whedon form, the show focuses on the everyday lives of people in an extraordinary setting: in this case, a group of smugglers living on a small space ship in the newly-settled sectors of the galaxy.

The show is set in the far future, after Earth has been used up. The human race moved on to settle on other planets, some under the direct control of the government ("The Alliance"), the others living a less developed but more independent lifestyle. As a result, the show blends classic Western motifs (lawlessness and the struggle for survival and independence in a wild frontier) with sci-fi (space ships. Lasers. Zombie people). And you know what? It totally works.

Why do I care?

If you were already a fan of Joss Whedon (or sci-fi) then you have probably already seen this show. If you weren't, you're missing out: few shows have this level of wit, drama and originality. Joss Whedon has a way of writing characters that you immediately love, and "Firefly" is no exception.

Even if you're not a fan of sci-fi, there's still a lot to love about this show. Strong characters provide consistent laughs and surprising drama, and there's a classic "will they or won't they?" throughout the short series between more than one set of protagonists. That's right, TWO awkward romances!

Additionally, the show is bolstered by a terrific cast, including Alan Tudyk (whom you will recognize when you see him), Adam Baldwin ("Chuck"), Morena Baccarin ("V"), Summer Glau ("The Cape," "Terminator: the Sarah Conner Chronicles") and Nathan Fillion, who currently stars in the title role on ABC's "Castle."

What happened to it?

"Firefly" met an early demise due to low ratings. Fox (who originally aired the show) has never been a network with a lot of patience for well-loved but low-rated shows...after all, this is the channel that cancelled "Family Guy." Thus, "Firefly" only ran for one season. Luckily, the loose ends of the storyline were tied up in the release of "Serenity," a movie continuing the story from the TV show.

Where can I watch it?

Check out our show page for "Firefly" to find out where to watch!