Natasha Hervatta
If you liked the Avengers movie, you'll love these TV shows. Here are 6 Sci-Fi shows by Joss Whedon that every geek and non-geek MUST WATCH (or binge-watch). Enjoy!
In August 2012, Whedon signed a deal to develop the Marvel TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for ABC. The series focuses on the secret military law-enforcement agency featured throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Created by Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, he stated that while the show involves individuals who possess powers within the spectacle of science fiction, it also focuses on "the peripheral people ... the people on the edges of the grand adventures".
Whedon created the space western Firefly, starring Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau and Ron Glass. Set in the year 2517, Firefly explores the lives of the people who, on the outskirts of society, make their living as the crew of Serenity, a "Firefly-class" spaceship. The series' original concept progressed after Whedon read The Killer Angels, a book on the Battle of Gettysburg.
Following Firefly was Serenity, a follow-up film taking place after the events of the final episode. This developed into a franchise that led to novels, comic books and other media; all centered around the show's fictional universe.
In 1997, Whedon created his first TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series depicts Buffy Summers, the latest in a line of young women called to battle against vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. The idea came directly from his aversion to seeing the Hollywood formula of "the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror movie". Whedon said he wanted to subvert the idea and create someone who was a hero.
Whedon directed, co-wrote and produced Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. It tells the story of Dr. Horrible, an aspiring supervillain, who shares a love interest in a girl named Penny with his nemesis, Captain Hammer. To Whedon the miniseries was "always meant to be a project of love", and an accomplishment "that's gonna really make us excited, that's gonna be our passion, and our ridiculousness".
In 2009, Whedon created his fourth television series Dollhouse, and explored themes throughout the show that were initially present in an unproduced spec script of his called Afterlife. The series follows Echo, an "Active" programmed for various purposes, on her journey towards self-awareness. As stated by Whedon, Dollhouse was about "the sides of us that we don't want people to see", "the idea of sexuality" and, on some level, "a celebration of perversion" because "perversion, like obsession, is the thing that makes people passionate and interesting and worthy".
As a result of Buffy the Vampire Slayer 's success, Whedon was allowed the opportunity to make his 1999 spin-off series, Angel. It follows Angel (played by David Boreanaz), who works as a private detective in order to "help the helpless". It was praised for presenting a unique and progressive version of the archetypal noir hero as a sympathetic vampire detective.
I'll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days. (The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath)
