All the reasons why I love the Killjoys (That aren’t spoilers)

Welcome to Smugglivus 2017! Throughout this month, we will have guests – authors and bloggers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2017, looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2018, and more.

Today’s Smugglivus guest is our very own Dianna Gunn – author of the first novella we published this year, Keeper of the Dawn!

Please give a warm welcome to Dianna, everybody!

All the reasons why I love the Killjoys (That aren’t spoilers)

When the Book Smugglers invited me to participate in this year’s Smugglivus I knew exactly what I had to write about: Killjoys. A magnificent science fiction set in a dystopian, corporate-controlled solar system known as “The Quad” for its one populated planet and three moons. And, at least in my opinion, the most underrated science fiction show currently on TV.

Which isn’t to say that it’s unappreciated. Killjoys‘ fan base is extremely dedicated, and when two fans come together we gush for hours. Killjoys has also been renewed for a fourth season, unlike my other favorite contemporary science fiction show, Dark Matter. So somebody out there sees its value.

The problem, in my opinion, is that everyone needs to see its value. So today I’m going to try to convince you, my fellow science fiction lover, to give this excellent show a chance.

Need a little arm twisting? Here are three reasons why you will love this show:

1.It’s a lot of fun

“Killjoys” is the nickname for bounty hunters that work for the RAC, tracking people—usually criminals—across space. This is a great set up for some fun adventures around the system and the galaxy beyond it. The first few episodes even have a space western vibe reminiscent of the much-loved Firefly.

Killjoys also features the funniest AI I’ve encountered in a long time, Lucy, the mind behind the ship the main characters fly. Every one of her lines is a winner sure to draw a laugh out of you.

2.It features the deepest, most beautiful friendship I’ve seen on TV in a long time

The two Killjoys the series follows, Dutch and Johnny Jacoby, are platonic life partners—and they even use that exact terminology to describe each other at various points throughout the show.

I’ve always been drawn to stories that focus on the power of friendship above romantic relationships, and I’ve hardly ever seen it done this well. It’s particularly sweet and refreshing because it’s so rare to see men and women be friends without any romantic/sexual overtones.

3.It deals with trauma in an honest, powerful way

Dutch and Johnny are the best at what they do. Dutch is incredibly well trained in a variety of martial arts, weapons, and languages.

Johnny is the ultimate nerd, able to solve just about any technological problem. Together they are the ultimate team.

They are also both severely traumatized people. As the show goes on you discover that a large part of the show—the confident, wise cracking and ass kicking attitude they display on missions—are a careful cover for years of trauma and fear. Dutch’s trauma is particularly deep, and both the traumatic events and the healing process are tackled with a raw, unmatched honesty.

In the interest of avoiding spoilers, I’ll sum it up with this: there are several moments in this show that STILL give me shivers when I think about them. Watching Dutch face her trauma head on has reminded me that I still have a long way to go on my own healing journey—and that I must keep doing the work.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a science fiction show with the perfect balance between fun and serious, Killjoys is the show for you. Give it a watch, and when you fall in love, pass it on to all your friends so they can fall in love with it too!