Parents need to know that one of the main characters is a "companion" -- a glorified term for a high-class prostitute. One of the show's storylines centers on the attraction, and resulting sexual tension, between her and the ship's captain, and there's plenty of discussion of her job (it's a high-status profession in the show's world). There's lots of sci-fi action, though little of it results in visible bloodshed, and some characters drink and smoke. It's worth noting that this series was created by the same man responsible for Buffy the Vampire Slayer; like Buffy, this show has a strong cult following and some very passionate fans.

Families can talk about the two genres that this show blends together. Which elements make it a sci-fi series? Which make it a Western? What do the two genres have in common, and how are they different? What, if anything, does this show have in common with creator Joss Whedon's earlier series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Families can also discuss power. Many of the show's disputes are settled through violence (or the threat of violence), particularly in outlying planets that are far from the reach of the law, where the strong can take advantage of the weak and defenseless. Does might ever make right? In most societies, what stops the powerful from making whatever rules they want?