I am – Hercules!!

It’s the first because tonight’s two-hour installment is the never-before-aired two-hour pilot written and directed by Joss Whedon.

It’s the last because “Firefly” was cancelled while we were off at BnaT (sneaky little netlet!), and there will be a lengthy mid-season hiatus before we see the remaining three unaired episodes sometime in 2003. (Though Fox cancelled the show, its production company continues to shop “Firefly” to other networks, with struggling “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”/”Enterprise” network UPN said to be a leading candidate.)

Herc is running a fever of about 108 right now, so a full review of this four-star episode will not be forthcoming.

This pilot deals with how Simon, River and Book came aboard the Serenity. (River makes her big entrance nakedly.)

Was the scene where Zoe explains to Simon why the ship is called Serenity cut? I think so. One really cool thing that was added since that tape I got last summer was the Reavers’ ship, which throws off the most intimidating smoke-trail in the quadrant.

One thing, thankfully, that did make the final cut was the little dinosaur who screams, “I think we should call it ‘Your Grave.’” Also darkly humorous is Inara's body language when she learns the Reavers are about.

Herc’s rating for “Firefly” 1.1-1.2?

****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:

• ***** better than we deserve
• **** better than most motion pictures
• *** actually worth your valuable time
• ** as horrible as most stuff on TV
• * makes you quietly pray for bulletins

I warn you not to defy me!!

I am – Hercules!!