I’m sure most of you have seen the promotional poster for NBC’s “The Rookie” on the sides of MBTA buses or on TV or on billboards in the city. The new NBC police procedural, which premiered on Oct. 16, stars Nathan Fillion as the titular “Rookie.” Of ”Castle” fame, Fillion has earned the reputation of being the guy-next-door due to his affable, genuine, and down-to-earth nature. What you may not know is that before he shot to fame in ”Castle,” he starred as Captain Malcolm Reynolds in “Firefly” (2002), a short-lived space Western created by Geek King, Joss Whedon. Following its cancellation after airing 11 of 14 episodes, the show gained a cult following with its release on DVD, prompting Whedon and Universal Pictures to make “Serenity,” a film starring the original cast, to give fans some semblance of closure. The show since then has lived on as comic books and even a game. This show is a must-watch and here are a few reasons why:

Joss Whedon: With “The Avengers” catapulting him to worldwide fame, Joss Whedon is someone who we know puts out great stuff. But even before “The Avengers,” Whedon was known as the creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and its spinoff, “Angel,” both of which are so popular that they have lived on in comic books for years after the shows ended. Everything he creates means something to him and he pours his soul into his work, and that is reflected by how people respond to his work. You can expect a good time watching anything he has made.

Realism: I’ve mentioned that it’s a space Western, but I don’t mean like cowboys with ray guns and sci-fi tech. It’s how an actual Western show would be, with space ships thrown into the mix. Now, I’m not saying that there aren’t advanced weaponry and technology. There are, but in the hands of the elite, the rich, the government. The common people, the real people, make do with good old-fashioned metal guns and flesh-and-blood horses, though they do have some tech, but old and salvaged. This might sound weird to you but it makes perfect sense. In real life, the outcasts, the rejected, the poor, the people who fight to survive make do with what they have and don’t have access to, or the means to have access to, what might be common for you and me. That’s what the show reflects so accurately. The show’s characters are a group of people, outlawed, non-conforming, and with secrets who just want to survive. Also, there’s one thing that’s scientifically accurate “Firefly” does which all space-set movies and shows don’t do. Space is a vacuum, which means sound can’t propagate. So, when things fly or stuff blows up in space, guess what? It’s silent. Oh, and no aliens.

The characters: The characters are as diverse as they are relatable: the leader who wants to live their life, trying to make a living and wanting to do the right thing but having to choose between what is right and what needs to be done to survive; the soldier who follows the leader without question but is also the voice of reason and makes sure that they don’t hurt people in their quest to survive; the one who uses comedy in tough situations to help people; the mercenary who helps others when it suits their interests; the innocent person who experiences how cruel and harsh the real world can be; the one who just wants to protect their family no matter what; the one who, no fault of their own, has been dealt a bad hand which can cause pain and injury to self and loved ones; the contrite one who has to deal with the misgivings of past actions and tries to do good to make up for it. There’s one not-so-relatable but it does propose an interesting concept: a cross between a geisha and an escort who is considered to be highly respectable, even in top levels of government. There are also escorts in the show who are similar to what we have in the real world, but they’re considered two very different classes. All in all, the characters are unique in their own ways and have interesting backstories and learn to become a family.

The universe that Whedon started to build was a very interesting one and one that I’m sure hasn’t been seen since the show got pulled off the air. There were social and political undertones that dealt with issues of morality, legalization of prostitution, authoritarian government, economic inequality, and more. The short life of the series prevented the expansion of what was to be a very promising universe. Fan presence and response at conventions and panels about “Firefly” or the actors who were on the show still are very strong, with everyone wanting the show to be brought back. But, it’s unrealistic. So, the only thing we can do is re-watch the show till we learn the script by heart, and then still continue re-watching it. I highly recommend it any sci-fi fans, Western fans (I’m not going to say Whedon or Fillion fans becuase most of them will have already watched it), and plain old fans of good shows. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed. And, to all the Browncoats out there, keep things shiny and don’t let any gorram power in the ‘verse stop you. Be a leaf on the wind and soar!