I've been watching Firefly in the Sci-Fi recasts (which means I've now seen the whole pilot, and not much else) and I have to say that I agreed with her main concern. I haven't seen any reason that I ought to sympathize with Mal and Company yet, and I haven't seen any real evidence that the Alliance actually *are* bad guys, or even that Mal and Company have any good reason to be pissed off at them. The only thing that points to the Alliance being creepy so far is River's testimony, and, well, she's fracking nuts. I have a feeling that after I watch tonight's episode I'll find myself agreeing with Fox's much-maligned decision to air it first, 'cause the pilot was great fun but didn't really work as a pilot to me.

On the other hand, about fifteen minutes in I did find myself squeeing "They're trying to trick people into rooting for unrepentant Confederate soldiers! This is *so* cool!" and I'm going to keep watching just for that (My Confederate sympathies are hard-earned. Yes, Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon line. The bloody despot put our capital under military occupation. I'm shocked by how many Marylanders forget that.) Oh, and the music. It makes me wish I had been able to get into Cowboy Bebop, though.