Our Top 5 Favorite Space "Crews"

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the release of Firefly (yesterday), we present you with our top five favorite space captains and their crew!

5.  Doctor Who, the TARDIS, and His Companions

The Doctor and Amy Pond looking like they just might fall over. 

If we take the TARDIS (extra points to those who know what the mnemonic for that is) as a living being, then we can hardly call it a spaceship.  However, for all intents and purposes we're just going to assume that the TARDIS really is a ship.  Albeit alive...  the Doctor's adventures through time and space, thanks to the genius writing of cult-favorite Stephen Moffat, are consistently a joy and a pleasure to watch.  However, David Tennant could always move me emotionally and I've yet to see Matt Smith work up such a moving performance.  Here's to another 50 years of Doctor Who!

4.  Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Millennium Falcon

Considering the relatively poor shape of the Millennium Falcon's lightspeed, it's a bit of a stretch to assume that Han and his Wookie could operate this great ship by themselves.  However, as far as badass captains go, these space mercenaries make the cut.  As far as emotional development and character growth goes in the universe of Star Wars, perhaps Han Solo makes some of the biggest leaps and bounds as far as caring for other human beings (and aliens) goes.

3. Darth Vader, his Storm Troopers, and the Death Star

Darth Vader.  Bad ass mo-fo.

While I'm well aware that we've just put another Star Wars crew ahead of this one, let alone the leader of the Dark Side of the Force, let us remind you why Darth Vader kicks so much ass.  His entire crew lives in anxious agony, unsure of whether or not they will be choked to death on any given day.  Besides, who doesn't get nerdish goosebumps of pure joy when Darth Vader first walks down the hallways surrounded by Storm Troopers?

2.  Admiral Adama, Battlestar Gallactica, and Crew

One of many meaningful glances and looks, courtesy of Admiral Adama.

Rewatching the miniseries for Battlestar Gallactica was one of the more painful experiences that I've had television-wise.  The journey that the entire crew embarks upon is one that is so dynamic that to compare the first episode to the last just asks for tears.  The cast is so broad and the crew of the Battlestar so extensive that it's impossible to single out a couple of our favorite crewmen.

1.  Captain Malcolm Reynolds

and the

Crew of the Spaceship Serenity

It seems that every great list ends with Joss Whedon.  The complexity and dexterity of the nine cast members of Firefly makes this the ultimate space ship.  To sum up in three words... cowboys in space.  Captain Malcolm Reynolds is governed by a set of principles all based upon the protection of his crew and his kind.  The only thing wrong with this show is that we couldn't get enough of them.  Darn thee, Fox! 

Just some "big damn heroes".