4) Firefly – Out of Gas
Mere mention of the word Firefly can incite a strange mixture of unbridled joy and seething frustration for those who fell in love with Whedon’s one season wonder. Despite drawing an extremely dedicated cult fanbase, Firefly was cancelled after just fourteen episodes, but those who are still in mourning should at least appreciate that this allowed the show to end on a high.
Although “Out Of Gas” is confined to the location of the ship, flashbacks that depict each crew members first moments on Serenity make this a powerful origin story, something that’s quite unusual considering the bottle episode format the story follows. Each individual tale is pulled together by Captain Mal Reynold’s struggle in the present, as he fights to preserve what little oxygen he has left on the ship.
The pilot episode of Firefly was a strong opener, but “Out Of Gas” could serve as a better introduction for those trying to convince their friends that this is a program worth watching. Like the best Whedon projects, this particular episode managed to successfully juggle gripping action with tender moments of pathos that brought out something special in each of the characters. Episodes like these prove exactly why Whedon was the perfect choice to direct the Avengers movie, giving each of the iconic heroes their own time in the spotlight while still bringing them together as a cohesive unit.