Heh, just an example.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/dvd/ref=sv_d_3/104-9029895-3355936
Firefly series is the highest selling DVD they have... #1. Five years after the show was canceled it's the top selling DVD on amazon, beating out current shows and movies.
Of all of Joss Whedon's projects, I come to the inevitable conclusion that Firefly had the most potential out of all of them. However, I will also say that because it was only two episodes (if you include the unreleased ones) longer than Buffy's very own first season, it did not have enough time to sink its roots into the proverbial soil of primetime television, and therefore, I regard it second only to Angel -- which in turn -- I place above Buffy itself (even though, lol, Buffy was my first true TV love). It's a weird vicious circle.
Truth be told, all three of the series had excellent lead characters. Buffy was the angst-filled teenager struggling with an epic, legendary, and frightfully demanding duty that ultimately dominated all aspects of her life, much as she hated it. Angel was once the most sadistic vampire to ever 'grace' the Earth, and he fights for redemption now, cursed with a soul, struggling with his newfound conscience. Malcolm was a veteran of a war he ultimately lost, a narcissist and a cynic, struggling with his odd sense of honor. I often akin him to James Spader's character from Boston Legal (it's not really a stretch if you watch both shows), Alan Shore.
Whedon did an ingenious job, portraying each of these characters. I also have to say that Firefly's ultimate lack of success was due primarily to Fox launching the second episode ahead of the first episode(s), thus entirely screwing with the establishment of the characters. That, and Whedon was already managing two other successful shows at the time.
Just my two cents.
Originally posted by Ushgarak
Exanda- sorry, but that simply is the way it is. Your opinion here is irrelevant. You can keep trying to say that Firefly told a better story until the cows come home. But the publi don't agree with you, and as the public are the ones that you try and tell storiesd to, that is the yardstick you measure success by.
Ush, you're not totally wrong, but neither is Exanda. Sure, Firefly failed, but it sure as hell wasn't the show's fault. I'm one of those people that didn't bother to watch it while it was on FOX. I just didn't think to on a Friday night, and I didn't see a whole lot of advertisements for it so it wasn't fresh on my mind. And the commercials they did show gave no really idea on what the show was about. I assume I was on the same boat as a number of other people.
Later, I saw Serenity, like it, and learned that it was continued from the show. I happened to catch an episode on Sci-Fi and loved it. I ended up buying the full season, and haven't regretted it. It's probably one of the best shows I've seen, and people I know that have seen it within the past year feel the same. It's a great show, for all the reasons already mentioned. Sure it failed, but it was no fault of it's own. It was on FOX for their failure. They took a show, stuck it on a bad schedule (Friday night, while also having to be held back for whatever game was scheduled), had a serious lack of advertisement, and playing every episode out of order, which make it hard for people to know what exactly was going on. Fans and critics alike thought the show was great, but unfortunately they got the short end of the stick.
Started watching this show again recently... forgot how great it is. The great thing about waiting probably about 5 or 6 years since I saw it the first time is that I don't remember it very well and it's like watching it for the first time!! Haha.. this show rocks. Haven't looked into it, but hopefully Whedon is still determined to continue it somehow. The movie was awesome. Would love to see another one if they've got it in 'em..
I liked the story arc of Firefly, I'm not saying it was comprehensive but it reminded me of those old school shows like The Prisoner where each episode could stand on it's own. Yes I am disappointed that it got cancelled after 14 shows but I actually think that that adds to it's cult status. If they had gone on for another few years it might have got a bit too silly. I liked the frontier aspect of the show but I think it could have done with a more dynamic theme tune. Incidentally, Mal Reynolds was recently voted best sci-fi character of all time, not too sure I agree with that completly but I do love the character and find him very believable and am glad that the character gets the recognition he deserves.