https://youtu.be/jfT8FDSoX6A?si=jwjVxrb7HIfZBVVg

I heard the news last night: Firefly, one of my favorite shows, is returning in cartoon form, with most of the cast reprising their roles.

From the moment I first heard "The Ballad of Serenity," I felt I was in for a treat. I was right.

Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is captain of the Firefly-class freighter Serenity. When he picks up Dr. Simon Tam, he's unaware of what he's getting himself into.

Tam is smuggling his sister River (Summer Glau), a troubled girl with psychic powers. They're on the run from the ironically-named Alliance government.

I think the decision to make Serenity a small, lived-in ship was the right one. The nine-member crew play well off each other, from the aggressive Jayne Cobb to mild-mannered Dr. Tam. Mal is the perfect gentleman to all and sundry.

Another great thing about Firefly is its sci-fi/Western setting, kind of Louis L'Amour meets Star Wars. It makes an odd kind of sense: Mal and co. often visit backwater planets. Plus, there's something neat about seeing spaceships alongside horse-drawn carriages and old-fashion costumes.

It's funny: before this show, I'd only seen Alan Tudyk play CGI characters. Now he'll probably be playing another. What goes around... (While I'd love to see Firefly in hand-drawn style, it seems unlikely. We'll see.)

I'm cautiously excited for this new show. Will it recapture the magic of the original? How will the new actor for Shepherd Book work out? Time will tell.

Tail high,
Seff