History YMMV / FIREFLY

** The Blue Gloves/"Hands of Blue" are a duo of [[MysteriousMercenaryPursuer independent contractors]] hired by [[Characters/FireflyAlliance the Alliance]] to capture the Tam siblings. The Blue Gloves hunt the ''Serenity'' across the 'Verse, killing anyone in their way as they go, and employ a variety of schemes to capture the two, [[ComicBook/{{Serenity}} notably]] allying with Dobson in an attempt to kill the entire crew. The most evil aspect of them, however, is their use of a [[BrownNote sonic device that painfully kills their targets by rupturing their insides until they melt]], which they use to [[Recap/FireflyE09Ariel kill an entire Alliance building]], systematically checking all of the bodies and murdering any who still cling to life to ensure none survive the massacre, just because a couple of the guards had interacted with the Tams, and the Blue Gloves seek to keep all information possible to themselves.

** Saffron is popular for two reasons: she's one of the recurring antagonists in this very short-lived series, making her an individual ArchEnemy, and [[EvilIsSexy being hot]].
* EvilIsCool: The Operative plays this trope straight. He is [[AffablyEvil impeccably polite]], [[EvilIsSexy handsome]], [[ManOfWealthAndTaste well-dressed]], [[WickedCultured philosophical]], [[TheStoic unflappable]], [[PragmaticVillainy pragmatic]], extremely good at what he does, and he knows it.

!!For ComicBook/AllNewFirefly comics

* AccidentalAesop: From the main page under StrawmanPolitical, the Core Worlds are [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas peaceful and prosperous]], but [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem the government can do damn near anything they want]] to their citizens as long as they can [[IDidWhatIHadToDo justify it]] -- such as [[PlayingWithSyringes cut up little girls' brains]] or [[spoiler:dose [[GovernmentDrugEnforcement entire planets with mind control drugs]]]]. The Rim Worlds are [[CrapsackWorld anarchic and destitute]], but [[ItsUpToYou you can always look your accuser in the eye and settle it one way or another]] -- or even [[TrainingThePeacefulVillagers round up a posse of fellow victims and exact some frontier justice]]. The argument seems to be that ''[[OrderVersusChaos a healthy civilization needs both]]'' and any attempt to [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans "rid the world of sin"]] will do [[GoneHorriblyWrong nothing but harm]] in [[GoneHorriblyRight the long run]].
** As for the Aesop being Accidental, see WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical, below.

* EvilIsSexy: Saffron, played by Creator/ChristinaHendricks, is very pretty, extremely curvy, exceptionally clever, and able to veer between lovably innocent and devilishly seductive depending on what will serve her best at a given moment.

* SpiritualAdaptation: WebVideo/BennettTheSage points out various similarities between ''Firefly'' and ''Anime/OutlawStar'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd6r6gIyirQ&lc=Ugh14g3d_wmpNXgCoAEC here]].

** The scene where Crow gets introduced to ''Serenity's'' engine intake in "[[Recap/FireflyE02TheTrainJob The Train Job]]" is also likely to have this effect. A hero killing an unarmed, defeated villain for refusing an offer (and [[OffingTheMouth a little bit of mouthing off]]), can be shocking. Following that up by taking the next mook, planting him in the exact same spot, and starting to give him the same offer delivered in exactly the same tone, with said mook rushing to agree with the hero before he's even finished a sentence is pretty hilarious.

** The scene where Crow gets introduced to ''Serenity's'' engine intake in "[[Recap/FireflyE02TheTrainJob The Train Job]]" is also likely to have this effect. A hero killing a defeated villain for refusing an offer and a little mouthing off can be shocking. Taking the next mook, planting him in the exact same spot, and starting to give him the same offer delivered in the exact same tone, and said mook rushing to agree with the hero before he's even finished a sentence is pretty hilarious.

** One page on Website/ThisVeryWiki briefly called the preacher ''"Sheppard"'' Book. [[FandomEnragingMisconception That's not even the right spelling]], let alone his first name -- "Shepherd" is his title, much like "Pastor" or "Father" would be for figures in a similar role.

** The whole "pretending Kaylee's dead" from "[[Recap/FireflyE01Serenity Serenity]]", which Simon sums up best:

-->'''Wash''': I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.

-->'''Inara:''' So, do aliens live among us?
-->'''Kaylee:''' Yeah. One of them's [[Series/DoctorWho a doctor]].

* IAmNotShazam: Firefly is the name of the ''class'' of ship, not the ship itself. ''Serenity'' is the name of the ship, the first([[ExecutiveMeddling ish]]) episode and TheMovie.
** And as Inara points out, it's not ''The Serenity'', it's just ''Serenity''.

* MemeticMutation: "I'll be in my bunk.", "Also? [[PsychicPowers I can kill you with my brain.]]", "[[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!]]", "Mine is an EvilLaugh!", "This food is problematic", "BigDamnHeroes, sir!" Etc., etc.

** An extremely creepy one-way version of this between [[PsychoForHire Jubal Early]] and [[TheWoobie River]] in "[[Recap/FireflyE14ObjectsInSpace Objects in Space]]". Pretty much ''all'' of his lines regarding her can easily be interpreted as sexual in nature, and that's ''before'' you factor in the rape threats. Not to mention River's line, "You crawl inside me uninvited," which does NOT help things.

** Crosses the line from subtext to text in the case of Kaylee, to whom he coldly threatens rape as something he neither desires nor undesires, just a thing that he will do if she doesn't cooperate.

* EvilIsSexy: Saffron, played by Creator/ChristinaHendricks, is very pretty, [[BuxomIsBetter extremely curvy]], exceptionally clever, and able to veer between lovably innocent and devilishly seductive depending on what will serve her best at a given moment.

** [[FauxAffablyEvil Adelai Niska]] is a SoftSpokenSadist proud of his [[TheDreaded feared reputation amongst the criminal community]], and is obsessed with ensuring the horror stories surrounding him are all true. When he first meets the crew of ''Serenity'' in "[[Recap/FireflyE02TheTrainJob The Train Job]]", Niska shows off the mutilated corpse of his wife's nephew to solidify his reputation in their eyes and to show them what price they'll pay should [[YouHaveFailedMe they fail him]] in stealing a shipment of medicine intended for sick settlers. In his next appearance, in "[[Recap/FireflyE10WarStories War Stories]]," Niska carves up another failed employee, before getting his hands on Mal and Wash, whom he proceeds to [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]] for hours. Eventually Zoe, Mal's first mate and Wash's wife, offers to buy Niska's captives off of him, but Niska tells her that with the money she has, she can only afford one of them and tries to force her into a SadisticChoice. When Zoe ruins his fun by immediately picking her husband, he responds by saying there is enough money for some of Captain Reynolds. He then cuts off Mal's ear and gives it to her. Niska then starts torturing Mal to death, only to use advanced technology to bring him back to life so Niska can have the pleasure of torturing Mal to death for days.
** "[[Recap/FireflyE02TheTrainJob The Train Job]]", "[[Recap/FireflyE09Ariel Ariel]]", and ''[[ComicBook/{{Serenity}} Serenity: Those Left Behind]]'' comic: The Blue Gloves/"Hands of Blue" are a duo of [[MysteriousMercenaryPursuer independent contractors]] hired by [[Characters/FireflyAlliance the Alliance]] to capture the Tam siblings. The Blue Gloves hunt the ''Serenity'' across the 'Verse, killing anyone in their way as they go, and employ a variety of schemes to capture the two, notably allying with Dobson in an attempt to kill the entire crew. The evilest aspect of them, however, is their use of a [[BrownNote sonic device that painfully kills their targets by rupturing their insides until they melt]], which they use to kill an entire Alliance building, systematically checking all of the bodies and murdering any who still cling to life to ensure none survive the massacre, just because a couple of the guards had interacted with the Tams, and the Blue Gloves seek to keep all information possible to themselves.

%%* EvilIsSexy: Saffron, but she ''is'' played by Creator/ChristinaHendricks.

* AccidentalAesop: From the main page under StrawmanPolitical, the Core Worlds are [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas peaceful and prosperous]], but [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem the government can do damn near anything they want]] to their citizens as long as they can [[IDidWhatIHadToDo justify it]] -- such as [[PlayingWithSyringes cut up little girls' brains]] or [[spoiler:[[GovernmentDrugEnforcement dose entire planets with mind control drugs]]]]. The Rim Worlds are [[CrapsackWorld anarchic and destitute]], but [[ItsUpToYou you can always look your accuser in the eye and settle it one way or another]] -- or even [[TrainingThePeacefulVillagers round up a posse of fellow victims and exact some frontier justice]]. The argument seems to be that ''[[OrderVersusChaos a healthy civilization needs both]]'' and any attempt to [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans "rid the world of sin"]] will do [[GoneHorriblyWrong nothing but harm]] in [[GoneHorriblyRight the long run]].

* SpiritualLicensee: WebVideo/BennettTheSage points out various similarities between ''Firefly'' and ''Anime/OutlawStar'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd6r6gIyirQ&lc=Ugh14g3d_wmpNXgCoAEC here]].

%%* SugarWiki/DevelopmentHeaven: A lot of the CGI was done to fit in the shots instead of making the shots to fit the CGI. Beyond that, the amount of detail that goes into everything -- from [[SceneryPorn backgrounds]], to [[FutureSlang slang]], to [[ChekhovsGun minor plot points that don't become important until six episodes later]] is simply amazing. This was Creator/JossWhedon and Creator/TimMinear's baby. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork And it was killed after fourteen episodes]].

* SugarWiki/DevelopmentHeaven: A lot of the CGI was done to fit in the shots instead of making the shots to fit the CGI. Beyond that, the amount of detail that goes into everything -- from [[SceneryPorn backgrounds]], to [[FutureSlang slang]], to [[ChekhovsGun minor plot points that don't become important until six episodes later]] is simply amazing. This was Creator/JossWhedon and Creator/TimMinear's baby. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork And it was killed after fourteen episodes]].

* UnfortunateImplications: [[http://www.racebending.com/v4/featured/frustrations-asian-american-whedonite/ One of the biggest enduring criticisms of]] the series was the fact that despite taking place in a future where China was a massive superpower and Chinese influence could be felt in everything from dialogue to clothing, there were almost no actual Chinese (or indeed any Asian) characters in the show. Even the Tam Siblings, who had a Chinese surname, were played by white actors Sean Maher and Summer Glau.

* UnfortunateImplications: [[http://www.racebending.com/v4/featured/frustrations-asian-american-whedonite/ One of the biggest enduring criticisms of]] the series was the fact that despite taking place in a future where China was a massive superpower and Chinese influence could be felt in everything from dialogue to clothing, there were almost no actual Chinese (or indeed any Asian) characters in the show. Even the Tam Siblings, who had a Chinese surname, were played by white actors.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical: People seem to want to read politics into ''Firefly'' everywhere, with critics interpreting it as everything from an anti-Big-Government libertarian parable, to a racist, pro-Confederate perspective on the Wild West. The show is, in fact, fairly apolitical; with the exception of some possible feminist overtones (which are typical of Creator/JossWhedon's work), ''Firefly'' does not seem to have one specific political "message" as much as people would like to believe. Whedon even qualifies that, if anti-government messages '''do''' sneak in, that is because the story is essentially Mal's story, and it all comes from his perspective as a bitter ex-soldier who fought against a government that he personally considered evil.

* SlidingScaleOfSocialSatisfaction: Categorized as "Revolution is the Key".

----

** One page on Wiki/ThisVeryWiki briefly called the preacher ''"Sheppard"'' Book. [[FandomEnragingMisconception That's not even the right spelling]], let alone his first name -- "Shepherd" is his title, much like "Pastor" or "Father" would be for figures in a similar role.

* FoeYay: Mal and Saffron have ''heaps'' of this, as do the Tam siblings with Jayne.

* FanPreferredCutContent: The deleted scene from the pilot where Zoe tells Mal about the Battle of Serenity Valley is considered to be a good character moment that fleshes out some aspects of the characters which are never said out loud. While it was deleted due to its tie-in with the original (also deleted) opening, many feel it would have worked fine as a follow-up to the revised opening.

* HypeBacklash: There's been no shortage of people who find the series' continuing popularity overblown, even if they ignore Creator/JossWhedon's fall into disgrace following the allegations of abusive behavior brought up against him.

* HypeBacklash: There's been no shortage of people who find the series' continuing popularity overblown, and that's before Creator/JossWhedon's fall into disgrace following the allegations of abusive behavior brought up against him.

* LesYay: Between Kaylee and Inara and Kaylee and River, with the latter especially noticeable in "[[Recap/FireflyE01Serenity Serenity]]" and "[[Recap/FireflyE14ObjectsInSpace Objects In Space]]".

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: From "[[Recap/FireflyE04Shindig Shindig]]", when Zoe and Wash are TalkingInBed about what to do if Jayne decides to take over the ship. Just try laughing at Wash joking about how to properly eulogize Zoe [[spoiler:after watching her at his funeral in the BigDamnMovie.]]

** In that same vein, there's Wash's fantasy about being rich in the "Better Days" comics that take place in-between the show and the BigDamnMovie. In it, he's piloting a luxury cruiser big enough to "land a '''planet''' on" and takes a break to play with his child. [[spoiler:Thanks to his death in ''Film/{{Serenity}}'', only a small part of that comes to pass in later comics: The one-shot comic "Float Out" (which, ironically, was collected in the same volume as "Better Days") reveals that [[SomeoneToRememberHimBy Zoe became pregnant before his death]], and during the events of "Leaves on the Wind", she gives birth to their daughter, Emma.]]
* GeniusBonus: The opening line of the song is ''"Take my love / Take my land"'' and goes on to say that the singer doesn't mind because he's still free. Machiavelli's ''Literature/ThePrince'' says the two things you can't take from people without inciting revolt are their women (love) and land.