The Canadian sci-fi show Killjoys was perfectly positioned to fill the gap left by the cancelation of Joss Whedon’s Firefly, 13 years later. There are tons of underappreciated shows in the sci-fi genre, with many being canceled despite a passionate and dedicated fanbase. Of all the many sci-fi series canceled far too soon, Firefly is often the standout example, hailed as a great show that never got a chance when it was originally aired out of order. Since being canceled, Firefly has built up a cult following and an attempt at a resolution in the form of the movie, Serenity.
While fans have made attempts to resurrect Firefly, it appears that there will never be a return to the show in its original form. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it joins many excellent sci-fi TV shows that you can binge in a day. Firefly might have been groundbreaking for its blend of sci-fi and Western elements, but it is far from being the only fun and creative sci-fi TV show out there. Over a decade after Firefly was canceled, another show with a similar tone was released, and this lasted for five seasons.
Killjoys Is A Great Show To Watch If You Miss Firefly
Killjoys Is Arguably Better Than Firefly In Some Respects
Killjoys stars Hannah John-Kamen, Aaron Ashmore, and Luke Macfarlane as a trio of space bounty hunters, all trying to escape events in their pasts. The trio works for a four-planet system known as The Quad, and takes on warrants to apprehend people and occasionally property. This sets the show up with a core cast with a developing dynamic, as well as a series of exciting guest stars who appear for an episode or two. Killjoys is not too complex and overwhelming, and, like Firefly, the show prioritizes fun over complicated storylines and visuals.
Some of the characters in Killjoys closely resemble Firefly characters, making the show ideal to fill the gap left by Firefly. Dutch (John-Kamen) is a highly-skilled fighter with a secret history, resembling Firefly‘s River Tam. John (Ashmore), the pilot in Killjoys, has a similar goofy sense of humor as Wash, while sharing a connection to the ship that resembles Kaylee’s bond with Serenity. D’avin (Macfarlane) has the physical strength of Firefly‘s Jayne Cobb, but the vulnerability of River. Killjoys shares a sense of humor and fun with Firefly, with the characters finding themselves on adventures and in trouble.
Firefly made an impact in just one season, earning it a 96% audience review on Rotten Tomatoes, but while some sci-fi shows lose their edge over time, Killjoys did not, and three out of its five seasons earned a 100% critical rating. Those five seasons gave Killjoys the chance to develop its world and characters, making the series arguably better than Firefly. Another factor that gives Killjoys its edge over other sci-fi series is its excellent soundtrack, which features both established and lesser-known artists, including The Heavy, Danger Twins, July Talk, and Skrillex.
Killjoys Features Some Familiar Faces In Sci-Fi
Both Firefly And Killjoys Set Up Elaborate Worlds
While Killjoys mostly focused on its three main characters and scene-stealing recurring characters, some familiar faces made appearances. Sci-fi veteran Rob Stewart (Painkiller Jane) played Dutch’s father and mentor, Khylen. The Expanse‘s Jaeden Noel plays the hybrid Jaqobis “Jaq” Ozzman Kin Rit in Killjoys seasons 4 and 5, and Stargate SG-1‘s Amanda Tapping appeared in one episode as a scientist. Both lead cast members, Hannah John-Kamen and Aaron Ashmore, have also had extensive sci-fi credentials. John-Kamen appeared in the Resident Evil, Black Mirror, and Avengers franchises, and Ashmore has starred in Warehouse 13 and Smallville.
The worlds of both Killjoys and Firefly are similar at times.
The worlds of both Killjoys and Firefly are similar at times, with a mysterious overarching government conspiracy and the usual “space dive bars” for the characters to get up to mischief in. That said, Firefly often skimmed over the logistics and reality of its central worlds in favor of the characters, while Killjoys has put more thought into exactly how characters like Dutch and John survive and make a living. Firefly‘s Captain Mal’s prequel story may answer some of these leftover questions, while Killjoys was given the chance to answer them before the show ended.
Killjoys Has A Lower Budget Than Many Sci-Fi Series (But That’s Not A Problem)
Killjoys Has Similarities To Other Dystopian Sci-Fi Classics
So many sci-fi shows have been made on a shoestring budget that low-budget sci-fi is almost a genre in itself. Low-budget does not always mean low quality, though, and if a show is creative enough, this can make up for many common flaws. Both Firefly and Killjoys are incredible sci-fi TV shows made on a budget, and Killjoys makes up for the lack of expansive space worlds in other ways. The costume design is outstanding, and the series often focuses on small sets with intense moments between characters, with interesting factions drawing attention away from the lack of spectacle.
Killjoys was nominated for several awards, including two Canadian Screen Awards nominations.
If Killjoys has a flaw, it is sometimes very close to other great dystopian sci-fi works, especially Blade Runner, with its bounty-hunting theme and neon visuals. Still, some similarities are likely a coincidence, like the episode “Vessel,” which sees the group trying to save a group of nuns who are being used as surrogates for the nine powerful ruling families. It is easy to compare the plot and costume choices to both the 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale and Mad Max: Fury Road, but both Fury Road and this Killjoys episode were released in 2015.
Unlike Many Great Sci-Fi Shows, Killjoys Has A Real Ending
If Firefly Had Continued, There Could Have Been Potential For A Crossover With Killjoys
Many great sci-fi shows are canceled before their time, which is not only frustrating for the viewers but also does not always do justice to shows that could have been successful in time. Another problem this causes is the fact that many of the canceled sci-fi shows end on cliffhangers. Firefly did not end on a frustrating cliffhanger, but it set up a second series, with Mal and River flying Serenity and tension on the horizon with Inara planning to leave. On the other hand, Killjoys had a definitive ending, which wrapped up the fates of the major characters on the show.
Related
If You Still Miss Firefly, Check Out This Other Space Opera That Ran For 5 Seasons
The cancelation still stings decades later, but there’s another 2000s sci-fi show out there that salves the wound left when Fox axed Firefly in.
If Firefly had been allowed to continue, the world would almost certainly have expanded significantly. This would have left a great deal more space available for Mal and his team, and with the characters in Firefly and Killjoys being so similar, this is a TV crossover that should have happened. Dutch and her team might tread close to the line, but they are generally on the right side of the law, while the Firefly crew are not. This could have provided some explosive and funny moments if the characters met, especially if the Killjoys characters were pursuing Mal and Serenity.
-
- Release Date
-
2015 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
-
Michelle Lovretta
- Directors
-
Stefan Pleszczynski, Paolo Barzman, Peter Stebbings, Chris Grismer, Samir Rehem, Andy Mikita, April Mullen, James Genn, Martin Wood, Ruba Nadda, Jeff Renfroe, Grant Harvey, Ken Girotti, Michael Marshall, Michael Nankin, Stephanie Morgenstern
- Writers
-
M. A. Lovretta, Adam Barken, Jeremy Boxen, Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, Julie Puckrin, emily andras, Jon Cooksey, Sean Reycraft, Aaron Martin, Vivian Lin
-
