Firefly is best remembered for being one of those TV shows that were canceled too soon, but also for killing a beloved character: Hoban Washburne, best known simply as Wash. But why was he killed off in the series’ movie, Serenity? Created by Joss Whedon, Firefly is a space western drama TV series that made its debut on Fox in 2002 but was canceled a few months later, with a couple more episodes waiting to be released. However, the series built a strong and loyal fanbase, which continues to revisit the episodes, the comic books that followed, and the movie, Serenity.
Firefly is set many, many years into the future, after a universal civil war that left the crew of a small transport spaceship (called Serenity) taking any job they can in order to survive and constantly looking over their shoulders as they are not exactly the government’s favorite people. The crew is led by Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), owner and captain of the Serenity, followed by Zoë Washburne (Gina Torres), the ship’s first mate. Among the members of the crew was Hoban “Wash” Washburne (Alan Tudyk), pilot of the Serenity and Zoë’s husband, who became a favorite among Firefly fans – so much that Whedon had to kill him in Serenity.
Serenity was released in 2005 as a continuation and proper closure to Firefly, and it brought back the main cast. Serenity takes place after the events of the final episode of the series, continuing the efforts of the crew to run away from the Alliance and keep themselves safe. After Wash piloted the ship through the crossfire in a battle between the Reavers and the Alliance, he crashed near the broadcast tower and was impaled by a Reaver spear, instantly dying. Wash’s last words were “I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar”, the last word being cut off by the attack. This quote had a long-lasting effect on the Firefly fandom, and it can be found on various products related to the series and the movie. Whedon has a tendency to kill off fan-favorite characters, so in that sense, it’s not surprising that Wash didn’t survive Serenity, but there’s actually a behind-the-scenes reason that fully justifies his death.
Although all nine main cast members returned for Serenity, not all of them were on board for the long-term, had there been more Firefly films. Those were Ron Glass (who played Shepherd Book) and Alan Tudyk, and so Whedon had to rework the script. Wash and Shepherd’s deaths were added to the second draft of the script, solving the problem of them not being able to commit to sequels, even if that meant angering fans. Rumors about a Serenity sequel began not long after the film was released, and even though Whedon expressed interest in it, it was never made. Whedon has also shared that, had Firefly continued as hoped and planned, Wash wouldn’t have died, further proving that his death was just a consequence of Tudyk’s busy agenda.
Alan Tudyk’s post Firefly and Serenity career has included a lot of voice work, most notably in Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, and Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin, along with unforgettable droid K-2SO in Rogue One. Although Wash’s death in Serenity was an unexpected move and one that hurt fans, it also helped make Wash an even more popular and beloved character, and fans will always be able to revisit his time with the crew in the series, the movie, and the comic books.