By Jonathan Klotz and Joshua Tyler | Published
The 1990s and early 2000s brought tons of wild, exciting science fiction television, but that seemed to fade away in the 2010s. It has been replaced by super serious programming like Battlestar Galactica again The atmospherethere is little light travel left for sci-fi fans.
However, one show dared to be different. It bucked the trend and delivered a series of exciting space adventures, quietly earning five full seasons in the process.
It’s lost twenty-teen angst, almost nobody seems to notice, but it’s time to change that. This Why Killjoys Failed.
Firefly It wasn’t the first series to use the sci-fi-Western mashup, but it made it popular. To this day, that’s what people think of when they hear “western space.” Decades later, it has become common for sci-fi shows to incorporate Western elements into their world-building and storytelling. Although it lacks dusters and six shooters, Killjoys it captures that same spirit of the old West.
Following a bunch of bounty hunters who are always losers and who often run for one group or another, doesn’t hurt Fireflybut you scratch the same. Killjoy is a bounty hunter. In the first episode, we meet the “heroes,” Dutch and Johnny, as they take out a warrant to kill Andras on what appears to be a routine assignment.
However, it turns out that “Andras” is actually Johnny’s brother D’avin, so instead, they find a way to get the warrant out. D’avin joins them as a brand new member of the Killjoys and, as such, becomes a substitute audience for learning about the tough and cutting edge business.
These are only the first two episodes Killjoyswhich quickly falls into the rhythm of the events of the episode combined with the general mythology arc playing in the background. Unlike others sci-fi shows that can’t find the right balance, this SyFy original keeps things from the word “go.”
The Killjoys work as officers for the RAC (Reclamation Apprehension Coalition), one of many groups in the area. It all revolves around the Old City, an industrial city controlled by the Company, which is a major organization involved in trade and commerce. You can see where the conflict is Killjoys goes, but like any series about life on the fringes of society, loyalties can change with the wind.
While working on SyFy, Killjoys it gained widespread fame for the incredible depth of its world. In contrast Fireflythat didn’t have time to explain much of the workings of the Inner Planets, this series delves deep into politics, intrigue, and secret plans involving powerful immortal soldiers.
Why Killjoys Failed
Killjoys It never got the credit it deserved during its run, but the SyFy channel handled it well. It was canceled after 5 seasons, but SyFy allowed it to finish on its own terms, something that almost got nothing on television.
Despite getting five seasons, Killjoys never really exploded onto the radar of many science fiction fans, and today, just a few years after the show ended its run in 2019, it’s all but forgotten. What’s going on? Why isn’t it a big part of the conversation?
Something about Killjoys that it is best for a spiritual follower and not only Firefly but also Farscape. In an era of super serious sci-fi, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and remains light-hearted throughout.
However, that is both a positive and, for some, a negative. Killjoys it does not reach the emotional depths of its contemporaries, such as The atmosphere or A Dark Story. And we have to admit, it is evident in the acting of the game, which is passable but not beyond “B-tier sci-fi series.”
For some, that’s a good thing. When you start watching the show a good time is exactly what you will get. You get a lot of it too, as there is a lot to eat.
One of the things we love about Killjoys the fun the team had with episode titles, either puns or references, from “How to Kill Friends and Influence People” to “The Hullen Have Eyes” and, hopefully, a meaningful reference to Blake Lively’s greatest line reading ever, “Wargasm.” That immediately lets you know the level of seriousness the show maintains, and now you can happily check it out even if you want to stay far, far away.
As a television show in an era of serious TV, an era when people were so opposed to even the idea of comedy that Hollywood stopped making it, it’s easy to understand why. Killjoys he may never have seen the success he might have deserved.
