Last week, Syfy aired its new space-based drama Killjoys, but the question everyone wants to know: is it any good?
Let's face it, Syfy has a reputation of not always committing to good science fiction TV and we're still a little nervous about loving something and then having it cancelled.
However, the network is trying to make a new reputation for itself once more as the leader of science fiction programming, and in addition to new series, such as Killjoys, the network has miniseries adaptations of classic science fiction novels in the works, including Hyperion, Childhood's End and The Expanse.
Early in its history as the Sci-Fi Channel, Syfy was the go-to destination for Friday night science fiction, and it seems the network is bringing that back with its new Friday night schedule, which features not just Killjoys, but also another space-based drama, Dark Matter, and Defiance.
Killjoys, in particular, scratches a certain science fiction itch, perhaps the one sci-fi fans were left with when Fox cancelled Firefly in 2003. Killjoys tells the tale of a group of intergalactic bounty hunters trying to do their jobs in the midst of what could become an intergalactic war.
So why should you watch Killjoys? Here are five reasons this science fiction series stands out.
It's based in space.
It's been a long time since we've had a series based in space, although it's something that science fiction fans love. With Killjoys, we've got a motley crew of three - Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen), John (Aaron Ashmore) and D'avin (Luke MacFarlane) - traveling through the galaxy collecting bounties and getting into trouble. What's not to love?
Of course, a space-based drama is nothing without an interesting spaceship, and the ship in Killjoys, named Lucy, has a personality of her own. For one thing, she talks to the crew and that affects how each crew member interacts with her.
So you've got space and a very cool spaceship. That alone is reason to watch Killjoys, right?
It has a strong female lead.
There's something about science fiction that allows for television to put in more strong female characters, and Killjoys definitely has that in John-Kamen's Dutch. The opening scene features Dutch coming to the rescue of her crew mate, John, and when she pulls out her big gun (and the way that she pulls it out), you know that she is one tough woman.
Dutch is the one in charge aboard Lucy, and she's the only bounty hunter in the crew that has the clearance to kill on the job (although she doesn't seem comfortable with taking assignments that require that).
John-Kamen plays the role well, too. Dutch isn't loud or boisterous, but almost soft-spoken. However, her words still carry a lot of weight when she speaks them.
It's sort of like Firefly, but it's really not.
Of course, we all want Firefly to return to TV, although that will probably never happen. However, we can honor Firefly by watching series that are similar. Obviously, being a spaceship-based drama, Killjoys is a lot like Firefly. But it's really not because this group of misfits seems a little uncomfortable with breaking the rules and operates within a set of guidelines established for bounty hunters in their world.
"The Killjoys operate within a system and I think that is what makes this different," says Killjoys' D'Avin, Luke MacFarlane. "We can't do whatever we want whenever we want: we have to operate with inside the system called the RAC."
Of course, you still have a group of characters, all with their own secrets, who work well together and do things that feel very much like Firefly, but at the end of the day, Killjoys is its own series with new storylines, characters and plots.
But that doesn't stop us as seeing it as a sort of tribute to those of us who are also Browncoats.
Killjoys' showrunners are Michelle Lovretta and Emily Andras.
If you don't know the names of Michelle Lovretta and Emily Andras, you're bound to know their other productions. Lovretta was the showrunner for Lost Girl, a series that took female empowerment to a whole new level. Andras is best known for producing Orphan Black, another popular science fiction show with a strong female lead. Both shows are known for their great writing and characters. Both women know what makes for good-quality television viewing.
The show features great science fiction action scenes.
In Killjoys, the action starts within the first five minutes of the pilot and doesn't let up until the end of the episode. This series takes its action as seriously as it takes its drama and most moments leave you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering if our trio of shipmates will make it out of situations alive.
Not only that, but the actors also do a lot of their own stunts.
"Obviously there are stunt doubles for stuff that they don't want you to get hurt [doing], but they actually let us do a lot of it ourselves," says Ashmore.
"We all had stunt training, military training and physical training," says John-Kamen. "So we kind of plan it out with our stunt double, the fight sequences, and it was so much fun."
Killjoys airs on Syfy on Friday nights.
Photo credit: Syfy
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