It’s Better to Burn Out, Than to Fade Away

In my usual amazing ability to be on the pulse of all things other than computers (as long as on the pulse means about 5 years behind), I recently discovered an awesome little TV series called Firefly. Indeed it kept me glued to my TV for almost an entire day (yes one of those brain has gone to mush after a previous nights over indulgence).

Western and Sci-Fi were not (to me) the most obvious of bedfellows. The only other thing I can muster from the old cranial archives is Cowboy Bebop (also fantastic!). But this got me thinking, Firefly’s really a Western with a few Sci-Fi trappings. Most of the characters use old six-shooter style guns (except for in a very few episodes), people ride around on horseback and most of the worlds they seem to set down are all dustballs with the usual western selection of gangsters, whorehouses and wotnot. We’ve even got Red Indians (the Reapers).

Don’t get me wrong, this is far from a criticism. I think taking the classic Western formula and injecting it with some Sci-Fi has produced something much fresher and more interesting. Star Wars did a similar thing. Taking the classic fantasy adventure and giving is a thin Sci-fi wrapper. Works a treat! What else could they do? Perhaps a Sci-fi coming-of-age road film, yeah that could work… ‘Road Trip in Space’! Or a futuristic courtroom drama?

Well now I’ve drifted properly in to Off-Topic Rant mode. What I originally wanted to bemoan was that it only lasted 14 episodes! They were not even allowed to finish the season. Left right in the middle of several nicely building sub-plots / character investigations. Damn them! When rubbish like Lost drags on for years with no obvious direction and this doesn’t even get one run! Never mind. I’ve still to see the film they made afterwards (‘Serenity’ for anyone else who’s been living in a cave like me). So maybe it will tie up some loose ends.

Or maybe its actually a semi-blessing, too many TV shows are milked way past their sell by date. I think Kurt Cobain said it best…