LOL, that was a great scene Jdog!

I agree about the concept, it's a great one, and it's so consistently applied throughout the series.  That's where a comparison to "Bebop" is really apt, too--having a distinct premise and sticking to it so well.

When I first watched FF, it reminded me of elements of stories like "The Outlaw Josey Wales", and "Wagon Train".  I found myself "back-forming" the story lines in my head, that is, if this story or that one were set in the Old West, what would the movie look like.  The Aliiance are Federals, of course (Kaylee even refers to "purple-bellies" in one episode, a version of the epithet former Rebs had for Yankees, "blue-bellies"), Reavers would be Indians (ever see "A Man Called Horse"?), and the crew would end up in some remote mining town, or head to the territorial capital.  I could see [i[Serentiy[/i] as a river boat, or maybe a small wagon train.

And it's not just the story lines, but I think the actors were all well-cast and did very well with their parts.

Though, I can't see Wash, without thinking, "Steve the Pirate!  Garrrrr!"