Firstly, everyone rips on FOX (for great reason of course) but I will say that FOX did allow Universal to buy the rights and make the movie Serenity, which was enjoyable and at least a concession.
Now, I honestly tried really hard to give it a 9 because it can't be perfect can it? But what other sci-fi show is above it, let alone any show? The show Dark was incredible, also OA, first season of Altered Carbon, and perhaps the one to beat it is The Expanse, however, it was given 6 seasons to build upon... Many shows have episodes in a season that are great and if the whole season was like that, it could beat Firefly (like the first x episodes of Lost were damn good!), but....
The short of it is that Firefly never seems to disappoint or bore you in any episode, they're all bangers, and the renegade/western flavour fits perfectly here, while the characters are actually very skillfully developed and nuanced yet also making an atmosphere of welcome lightheartedness.
Now, I honestly tried really hard to give it a 9 because it can't be perfect can it? But what other sci-fi show is above it, let alone any show? The show Dark was incredible, also OA, first season of Altered Carbon, and perhaps the one to beat it is The Expanse, however, it was given 6 seasons to build upon... Many shows have episodes in a season that are great and if the whole season was like that, it could beat Firefly (like the first x episodes of Lost were damn good!), but....
The short of it is that Firefly never seems to disappoint or bore you in any episode, they're all bangers, and the renegade/western flavour fits perfectly here, while the characters are actually very skillfully developed and nuanced yet also making an atmosphere of welcome lightheartedness.