It was some passing references here, I think, a few years back. I'd never heard of Firefly, and like you, I saw the movie first, almost by accident. It wasn't until last year that I downloaded the one and only season to watch.

I thought it was brilliant. I blasted through the first few episodes, devoured them voraciously. But then as I neared the end of what I knew was the only season the show would ever have, I became reluctant to watch, as if I'd "use up" Firefly and there'd be no more once it was gone (which was true, but I can always watch it again). It took me nearly a month after the penultimate episode to watch the final episode. Bittersweet, that was.

There was lots of entertaining acting and memorable characters. I think Summer Glau as "River" was particularly riveting. She's since made a career of playing distinctly psycho young women, including a role as a Terminator (I kid you not) and as a broken young scientist on Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" (another show Fox killed prematurely). I keep an eye out for the same "Summer Glau" these days. Her best line ever was when she addressed the crazy Baldwin in sickbay, who'd had it in for her from the beginning: "I could kill you with my mind, you know." Deadpan delivery, sweet innocent face, and a sly joke.

Which does bring me to Fox. Damn them to hell and eternal fire. I don't know why Joss Whedon continues to produce shows for them, because they seem to have it in for him. They greenlight his shows, approve big production budgets (reportedly $2 million/episode for Firefly) but no marketing budget, then kill the shows when they don't attract blockbuster audiences. That's the kind of perversity you get programming by the numbers instead of by taste and aesthetic judgment.

There's been a movement afoot for years to bring back Firefly, and Whedon and some of the actors have said they'd do it. But I'm not holding my breath--it sounds like wishful thinking.

Enough gushing. Welcome to the fan club, ER!