This is a bad-ass science-fiction/fantasy show that combines riveting melodrama, gritty action, surprisingly good visual effects (for TV at any rate), excellently drawn-out characters and story lines layers with apropos complexity without contrivance, and a quasi-Western theme. The music, not to mention the theme song, is explicitly Western in genre homage, and right off the bat in the pilot one sees that this will be something like a Western story. If one could make a comparison, the Sgt. Reynolds character played by Nathan Fillion becomes a rogue Captain of the ship Firefly after losing in war (i.e. Civil War, turned gunslinger, pirate, whatever). And, as the episode goes on, that a motif of scavengers having to deal with total scum business people- first the shyster in the Mos Eisley-esquire space port, then later with the old-lady gunslinger- one sees it beefed up more-so.

It should be kinda strange, but the 'different' attitude doesn't feel at all out of place. On the contrary, as Whedon probably knows from the lineage of Star Wars, a Western backdrop out in space is just what's needed to keep the drama fresh. Whedon also has a strong knack at getting humorous moments, if not any real comedy, out of scenes and situations that could in other hands be total trash (i.e. mixing together a hooker character and a Shepherd character). On top of this, as just evidenced in the pilot episode that came first in chronology if not in original release date, Whedon is a really spot-on storyteller in getting the intended audience ready for more and more servings. Aside from the obvious- what will happen with that doctor and her fragile sister brought out of near hibernation (if you haven't seen the movie I won't say anything more)- all the characters, put on by actors like Alan Tudyk and Adam Baldwin and Gina Torres with brilliant ease- are perfectly relatable and interesting.

Can't wait to see more! That's the bottom line, folks.