Despite only containing 14 episodes, Firefly is one of the most beloved TV shows of the 21st century. It boasts a joyous blend of sci-fi and western elements, features a dynamic ensemble, and - thanks to its all too brief run - has a consistently high quality of episodes.

While the original series didn't even make it past one season, the franchise has lived on thanks to numerous comics, the feature film Serenity, and a countless number of memes. In honor of the show's 20th anniversary and the potential reboot on the way, here are the 10 memes which best sum up the series.

Zoe Points Out The Obvious

Zoe points out that the crew live on a spaceship
Source: QuotesGram

Firefly is one of the most grounded science-fiction shows in all of television history. There aren't any laser guns, aliens, or any mystical abilities. It's just a bunch of outlaws roughing it through space.

Related: 10 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows Of All Time, According To IMDb

When River begins to show signs of heightened mental abilities, the crew are in disbelief, yet Zoe succinctly points out how absurd their own lives are. The show might look and feel a lot like a western, but it's still science fiction, and the above meme makes this clear.

Reavers

Jayne Does the Aliens thing from Ancient Aliens
Source: Facebook

A play on the "Aliens" meme from Ancient Aliens, the Reavers meme is ironic considering everyone's fear of the animalistic Reavers. Jayne is especially terrified by them, as evidenced by the episode "Bushwacked" when the crew stumble upon a ship that had been pillaged by Reavers.

Unlike the Aliens meme which is often uses aliens as a justification for anything out of the ordinary, the Reavers do actually explain the Alliance's motivations in trying to capture River. In the film Serenity, it's revealed that she read the minds of several top officials and learned of their involvement in the creation of the Reavers, thus making the meme both funny and accurate.

Shiny Serenity

Mal and Kaylee both adore their ship
Source: Pinterest

Sometimes considered the 10th main character of the show, the starship Serenity is often called a piece of junk by passengers and even some of the crew. Despite its rundown appearance and its near-constant state of disrepair though, Mal and Kaylee both have nothing but adoration for the ship.

The sincere nature of this meme is reflected in the two characters' commitment to the ship, with Kaylee willing to defend its mechanics and Mal going so far as to stay aboard it after it lost power in Firefly's best episode. That type of dedication is one of Mal's defining features, and it extends to the crew as well as his ship.

Chain of Command

Jayne threatens to take control of the ship
Source: Twitter

A hilarious quote from the show's second episode, Jayne invokes the chain of command when Mal and Zoe are caught up in the local town after the crew pulled off a heist. Wanting to finish the job, Jayne threatens to take control, but Simon sedates him.

Related: 9 Best Firefly Quotes, According To Ranker

As the meme implies, Jayne is a headstrong character who thinks with his fists more than his brain. He's a violent man who will stand in the way of no one, and is more than willing to betray the crew to make a profit.

You Guys Are Getting Seasons?

The Meet the Millers Meme where they discuss pay, only each member is a TV show talking about how many seasons they get
Source: eBaum's World

Based off the conversation from We're the Millers, this meme points out how unfair it is that Firefly only got one season of television. It represents not just the disappointment of fans who have been clamoring for more seasons since the show's cancellation but the crew's disappointment at getting axed by Fox.

In addition to the shock and sorrow the meme portrays, it also alludes to the quality of Firefly itself. By comparing it to the likes of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, the meme asserts that Firefly is one of the best TV shows of the 21st century.

Realizing Firefly Is Never Coming Back

Mal looks sad over Firefly's cancellation, then realizes it will forever be good as a result
Source: Imgflip

Though this meme has partially been disproven by the numerous comics that continue the adventures of the crew, it is accurate in its assessment that the original cast and crew are not likely to come back to the property. Firefly was cancelled after one season, and in the 20 years since the, the fandom remains healthily nostalgic for the show.

Beyond being a commentary on the show's fandom, the meme also sums up the viewing experience of Firefly. After 14 episodes, one can't help but feel sad about the untapped potential there was for the show, yet one also realizes that the series' brevity ensured that it never produced any lackluster episodes.

Jayne Gets Bribed

Jayne gets bribed
Source: Know Your Meme

Based on a fan favorite moment from "Out of Gas," the above meme sums up two of the show's main characters while also poking fun at RPGs. Rather than give stock answers to Jayne's threat, Mal assesses the situation and plays to Jayne's personality by offering him more money than what he's currently making.

While the meme portrays Mal as a quick, intuitive thinker, it also points to Jayne's duplicitous nature. He's a man with few morals, willing to switch sides and betray his crew if the pay's good enough, and this meme highlights that in a humorous fashion.

May Have Been The Losing Side

While interrogated, Mal stands up for his involvement in the war
Source: Reddit

Taken from the episode "Bushwacked," this tense exchange is made hilarious by the simple addition of the scenario proposed at the top of the meme. More importantly, it encapsulates who Mal is as an individual.

Related: 10 Best TV Shows Cancelled Before Their Time, According To Ranker

Behind the rugged good looks and charm Nathan Fillion brings to the role, Mal is a fiercely loyal person who is a stickler to his principles. He might be a criminal who has no qualms with killing or thieving, but he also believes in the goodness of individuals and their ability to discern right from wrong.

The Subject of Kneecaps

Shepherd Book shoots at some gangsters' kneecaps
Source: Pinterest

Based on a hilarious exchange from the episode "War Stories," this meme highlights the loose morality of Firefly's main cast. They don't pretend to be a bunch of big goram heroes, and even the most pious of the protagonists is willing to bend the rules, should the need to do so be necessary.

Beyond the commentary on morality, the meme also points toward Shepherd Book's mysterious past. It's never outright revealed who he is in the TV show, but it's clear from episodes such as the one this meme is based on (along with "Safe") that he's more than just an ordinary preacher.

Firefly Addiction

Firefly addiction: 13 hours of bliss, a lifetime of withdrawal
Source: Reddit

More than any other meme, this image expresses the sheer joy and exhilaration one gets from watching Firefly. It was a show that produced 14 episodes of near perfect television, yet was cancelled before the entire first season was aired.

Even though the series has produced spinoff material and was given something of a conclusion in Serenity, fans will never be satisfied. They'll always hunger for what could have been, and this meme highlights this sad reality better than any other.

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