Ghad...how did I miss this one?

Explains why no one bit on my post in the alt-TV shows thread.
Anywhoo...agree w/ Dale and RCAF that the Serenity plotline is at least two seasons, if not three. Add in the "Expanded Universe" plots from the Comics "Those Left Behind" and "Better Days". Note that all three of these plotlines are modified from OTL due to changes not made for the Movie adaption.
"Serenity" Plot lines not made include:
* No "missing" crew. Book and Inara were both absent in Serenity. This is probably due to the Film medium where loads of characters complicate things. Hence Book's reduction to virtual cameo and Inara's absence from the first half. Both were "explained" in Those Left Behind, but that really was a plot-hole patch more as a reaction to changes demanded by the medium change rather than part of the long-term plan, IMO. In the TV series we maybe see Inara "leave" temporarily as a plot device (since as love interest and ship's "heart" she can be removed for a while as a dramatic device), but I doubt we lose Book barring other work for Mr. Glass since his role as ship's "soul" is harder to excise.
* Perhaps no "Operative". The "Hands of Blue" are menacing villains and probably stay on longer as the chief menace for River. Chiwetel Ejioror was brought into the movie, but such "star power" concerns notwithstanding you probably see the Hands pf Blue longer into the series, possibly remaining the primary "villains" throughout the Miranda plotline, at least.
* Wash's fate. Hard to say. I think he lasts longer than the Miranda plot line, possibly indefinitely as a fan favorite. But this is a Whedon Production and his romantic connection to Zoe makes his "Death" so much more dramatically tragic, ergo more likely to be Joss Bait. Obviously being a Whedon show someone's doomed before the series is out. Wash's odds are bad for the reasons given, but I'd bet Real Life Writes the Plot in determining which character(s) eventually "die". Note that we probably have a Wash/Zoe "baby crisis" of some sort at some point.
* Book's Fate: probably not for a while, if ever. There's too much built-in mystery there to exploit for dramatic purposes. Unless the actor leaves, I think Book stays around.
* River's "outing" as a WaiFu killer death machine probably takes longer than a season. You saw the beginnings of this transformation in the first season, so you can expect this same slow-pace transformation rather than just "zero to Kung Fu master" switch from the freaky subliminal Japanesey commercial trigger of the movie. Eventually, over seasons, her powers become more apparent. Similarly, if Wash lives then her "innate piloting skill" (kind of a convenient sudden informed skill) may never appear.
* Kaylee/Simon: this will get milked for a lot longer, but once they eventually become a "couple" expect continuing problems. I expect a rocky, but ultimately caring relationship.