Serenity: Leaves on the Wind

March 15, 2015

Browncoats, the extraordinarily loyal fans of Joss Whedon's brilliant sf TV series Firefly and its feature film follow-up Serenity, celebrated the announcement of this sequel to the film. Since their broadcast of secret information about an Alliance experiment that caused the deaths of millions and created the ultraviolent space marauders known as Reavers, Capt. Mal Reynolds and the crew of the spaceship Serenity have been lying low for months, while the Alliance denies everything and searches for them. But when widowed first mate Zoe's baby is born, complications force them to leave her at an Alliance-controlled hospital. Meanwhile, tough young rebel Bea, a leader in the New Resistance movement inspired by Serenity's broadcast, hires mercenary Jayne Cobb (who has left Serenity) to track down Mal, whom she hopes will become their leader. Jeanty's likenesses are not spot-on, but Zack (brother of Joss) captures the crew's personalities and speech patterns well--and the story is a crowd-pleaser, featuring major developments in the lives of beloved characters and the return of two of the most charismatic antagonists in the series. VERDICT Recommended wherever Browncoats live, which is probably everywhere.--S.R.

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