Firefly is one of my favorite shows ever. Josh Whedon is a humanist so he has themes of individualism and freedom in his work, but he ultimately defines freedom as many leftists do--there can be no other person limiting your choices. Yes, that includes business, which he often demonizes.

Little known fact, if Firefly wasn't canceled, the Blue Sun Corporation was going to be the group behind the government/everything. Notice how he did a similar story in Dollhouse with the company that ran the Dollhouses and ended up destroying the world. Without the Blue Sun story, Whedon had to simplify things in Serenity and thus came out with a brilliant movie.

I think we have to separate out the creator and exec producer from some of the writers on the show.
personally, I miss Buffy.

I have watched a few episodes. It struck me as a steam punk western with faster than light spaceships. The tone did seem to present a goverment that was too powerful. I like it. My wife can't stand it.