Nathan Fillion’s 2000s Sci-Fi Gem Is a Must Watch For All The Rookie Fans

ABC’s own The Rookie has recently celebrated the exciting milestone of 100 episodes and isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon. Though the fans are extremely happy to see the show progress the way it does, seemingly unshattered by 2023’s WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes, they’re always on a lookout for something fresh to watch while waiting for another episode.

Something new to you may actually be something old, but flying under anyone’s radar up until now. Though the majority of the hardcore The Rookie stans probably already know of Castle, the previous procedural TV show led by Nathan Fillion, this 2002 sci-fi show you probably missed.

Created by writer and director Joss Whedon, Firefly was supposed to be a sci-fi western TV series but didn’t last even a full season. However, many people believe now, that it was simply too ahead of its time, and could’ve been the next 2024 hit, if done correctly.

Was the Firefly TV Series Bad?

If you follow any entertainment media sources and keep up with television resources, you know that the industry is dominated by westerns, science fiction, and period dramas. The more genres a show can mix, the better. In this regard, the flopped show of the 2000s, Firefly, could probably top the Netflix charts today.

Mirroring the U.S. Civil War and its aftermath, Firefly was a sci-fi western that focused on the adventures of the rogue crew of the Serenity, a Firefly-class starship. The Rookie's Nathan Fillion portrayed the main character, Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds, and was joined by Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, and Adam Baldwin.

Many believe that the show was butchered by Fox, the network that worked on its release. Instead of being promoted as a serious sci-fi drama, it was pushed as a comedy and didn't live up to viewers' expectations. In addition, the network set its own order for releasing the episodes, which made the story harder to follow.

In the end, the show was canceled after releasing 11 of the 14 episodes that had been filmed. It wasn't the only flop of the story, however. Joss Whedon's 2005 film Serenity, which was supposed to continue the story, also failed at the box office, earning just over $40 million on a budget of $39 million.

However, judging by the reviews of those who did see the show and really enjoyed it, it feels like Firefly and the story of the Serenity ship needs to be brought back by one of the networks and done justice. Who knows, maybe Nathan Fillion will be available to give it another shot?