"We are just too pretty for God to let us die." -- Malcolm Reynolds
Fox originally shelved the pilot because it didn't have enough action, so naturally "Serenity" begins with a big, bright, kiddie-pleasing explosion. It's the battle of Serenity Valley -- the battle that is la^H^H, previously revealed as the origin for the name of Malcolm Reynolds' ship Serenity. It's your standard TV battle with a few soldier, an armored truck and a futuristic plane flying overhead to shoot at the good guys which include Sargent Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe[1].
With their troops being "shredded," Mal and Zoe retreat to a bunker and one of his men informs Mal that air support is being held back --they won't move without a Lieutenant's authorization code. Mal rips the insignia the uniform of a dead lieutenant and tells his radio man to use his code -- "You're Lt. Baker, congratulations on your promotion." Mal orders his squad to retreat in hopes of drawing the enemy out of their trenches and into an ambush. He "volunteers" Zoe to help him take out the jet fighter that is picking off his squad from the air. He orders a young private named "Bendis" to provide them with cover fire. He gives his squad a little inspirational pep talk and orders them to hold their ground.
Zoe wonders if they can bring down the plane. Mal is certain, he takes out a little cross and kisses it[2] before setting out on his "duck hunt." Bendis freezes up and stares into space, leaving Mal and Zoe without any cover fire. But they soldier on and rambo up, capturing an enemy anti-aircraft gun. Mal uses it to blow the enemy plane out of the sky. It crashes right into the gun that downed it, Mal and Zoe are just barely able to escape the blast.
Returning to their bunker, Mal and Zoe find the radio man, Green, dead. Bendis is still staring into space. Mal tries to rally the young private. As a great roar is heard overhead, Mal assumes it is his missing air support and compares it to angels coming to blow the Alliance to the "Hot Place." But Zoe has bad news for them, their air support is not coming. Command is pulling out and they are to lay down their weapons. This leaves Mal with a very loud, unaccounted overhead roar. Rising from his bunker, Mal and Bendis sees enemy drop ships descending to the surface. A burst of gunfire kills Bendis as Mal just stands there, mesmerized by the stunning defeat. The drop ships continue to descend and open fire on anything that moves.
Six years later:
Mal, Zoe, and a third man (Jayne) hover over a derelict ship in space suits. They are trying to open vault using a special compound. They pull back and watch as it burns the lock off the vault. Back on Serenity, Wash is scanning the area for unwanted guests and playing with toy dinosaurs. He detects unwanted guests at about the same time that the lock on the vault blows. He warns them that an Alliance cruiser is bearing down on them. He doesn't know if the cruiser has spotted them. Jayne and Zoe feel "humped." Mal orders Wash to shut all of Serenity's systems down. Kaylee rushes to the engine room to do just that.
Looking like an imperial star destroyer, only more vertical, the Alliance cruiser, I.A.V. "Dortmunder" comes into view. The commander's crew identifies the abandoned ship as a carrier that was lost a few months earlier with all hands lost -- "but it was only run by a skeleton crew anyway." The commander sees no point in checking for survivors.
Wash notices that they are not slowing down and decides that they are not interesting in investigating further. Mal, Zoe, and Jayne watch as the massive ship passes them in space. Onboard the cruiser, an alert crewman spots some "residual heat" on the abandoned vessel. The commander orders him to do a sweep. Wash informs Mal that they are humped.
While Kaylee fires up the engines and Mal orders Zoe and Jayne to hurry with the salvaged cargo, the Alliance cruiser identifies their ship as being a "Firefly" class transport. The commander recognizes that an illegal salvage is underway and orders that the tiny ship be captured. Wash releases a device called a "crybaby" which broadcasts a distress signal and false sensor readings to the Alliance cruiser. The crybaby is identified as a personnel carrier. As Mal, Zoe, and Jayne reach Serenity, they further determine that the carrier is without power. Serenity detaches from the abandoned ship. It's big, central engine glows orange and we see just why they call it a "firefly" class ship. Jayne compares the visual effect to "mooning" the Alliance cruiser.
Back on the Alliance cruiser, the captain decides to let them go. There's a ship full of people that need their help and they don't have the time to chase after smugglers. They put a bulletin out on "The Cortex" about a Firefly with possible stolen goods onboard and move on. Wash informs them that the cruiser is moving on and Jayne calls it a win.
They open the boxes, revealing many pretty gold bars. Mal spots the Alliance seal on the bars and expects trouble. He asks Wash to speed up but Wash warns that they are low on fuel. Zoe worries that the cruiser might have IDed them. Mal asks Jayne to stow the crates, they will be taking on passengers at Persephone. Kaylee loves the idea and Jayne resents her cheerfulness.
"He's the captain." "Right, I'm just the husband." -- Zoe and Wash
Zoe is worried about Mal. Wash agrees and points out that they need some time off themselves. He suggests that they go off some place by themselves after the job is done. Zoe talks about getting the captain's permission and Wash suggest that they just *tell* him they need to take some time off. Zoe tells him he will ask Mal for some time off and Wash sarcastically reminds her to call him "sir" because "he likes that."[3]
Mal shows up and asks Wash to call "the ambassador" (Inara) and let her know that they are coming. Wash asks if he should ask her to hurry and Mal says no. "Somebody on this boat has to make an honest living," he says. On Inara's shuttle, her client is stuck between awkwardly asking her to marry him and awkwardly implying that she might be cheating him on time. Inara walks over to the cockpit and contacts Wash. She takes off and her shuttle joins a flotilla of small ships buzzing around the futuristic office towers, monorails, and superhighways of Persephone's central city. Over on the Eavesdown docks, the look is less Star Wars and more Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Serenity lands and Kaylee complains that she needs a new compression coil for the ship but Mal wants her to find passengers. Nearby an old man walks through the bustling market on the way to the ships. He isn't identified at this point but regular Firefly viewers recognize him as Shepherd Book. A man approaches "grandpa" and offers him passage on his ship. Book takes one look as the "Brutus," is appalled by what he sees, and tells the stranger that he never married or to be more precise, "I'm not a grandpa."
Mal, Zoe, and Jayne go to meet Badger.[4] Always the charmer, Badger inspects the teeth of what is probably a slave and sends her away before seeing them. He complains they are late. Mal tells them he's lying. They actually landed two hours early so Mal realizes that this is just his way of trying to put them on the defensive because something has gone wrong. Badger shows him the bulletin about a rogue firefly class vessel transporting illegal goods. Mal points out that they didn't ID them. But Badger complains that since the government stamps all its cargo, he wants nothing to do with Mal's goods now. Mal reminds him that they didn't pick the cargo and Badger tells him that he didn't "flash my ass at the gorram law either." Zoe complains that this isn't fair and Jayne gets angry and reaches for his gun. Badger's men raise their weapons and surround them. Mal wonders if there isn't something more that is bothering Badger and as it turns out there is:
"What were you in the war? That big war you failed to win? You were a sargeant, yeah? Sargeant Malcolm Reynolds Balls and Bayonets Brigade. Big, tough veteran. Now you've got yourself a ship and you're a captain. Only I still think you're still a sargeant, see? Still a soldier a man of honor in a den of thieves. Well, this is my gorram den and I don't like the way you look down on me. I'm above you. Better than. Businessman, see? Roots in the community. You're just a scavenger." -- Badger
Mal tells them their here for business and Badger tells him to try one of the border planets. He's certain the Alliance will track Malcolm down if he stays on Persephone.
Back at the docks Book checks out Serenity and Kaylee tells him he's going to come with them. She assures him that her ship is the nicest and asks him if he's ever been in a firefly. He tells her that he has, "long before you were crawling," but his firefly was an older model and tended to shake. She asks him if he's a missionary, he says that he is and she tells him that Serenity is "the smoothest ride from here to Boros for anyone who can pay." Book tells her he has a little cash and pulls out a small box. Kaylee is stunned by the contents of the box.
"Ten percent of nothin' is... Let me do the math here... Nothin' into nothin'..." -- Jayne
Jayne is upset about Badger. Not only didn't they get paid, they didn't even get the satisfaction of leaving the little rodent in a pool of his own blood. Mal points out that they can't get paid if they are dead. Zoe suggests that they might find a buyer on Boros. Mal counters that Boros is too big and crawling with Feds. Dumping the cargo isn't an option. They won't be able to afford to keep the ship repaired and refueled if they don't sell the cargo. A moon called Whitefall -- and a woman named "Patience" -- is their safest bet. The only drawback is that Patience once tried to shoot Mal. But they have no choice.
As they arrive at Serenity's dock, Kaylee welcomes a man named Dobson onto the ship. There is also an elegantly dressed young doctor in rose tinted sunglasses (Simon Tam) with a huge crate who will be traveling with them. He asks Wash to be careful with the crate. Inara's shuttle arrives and they are ready to take off. Simon looks more than a little suspicious standing next to his big crate.
In the dining area, Mal gives the passengers a rundown of the layout and rules of the ship. He also informs them that their trip to Boros will be delayed by a day because the Alliance has ordered them to drop off some medical supplies off at Whitefall.
In the cargo bay, Dobson seems very clumsy, almost too clumsy. Book pulls out a small sack and a box and gives them to Kaylee. Inara enters and Mal introduces the "ambassador" to Shepherd Book. Book takes this literally and this gives Mal a chance to have some rather rude fun at Inara's expense. He does however concede that Inara is in fact their ambassador because many planets won't even let him dock without someone respectable like a Companion onboard. Mal asks Book if Inara's presence will be a problem for him. Book stumbles around for an answer but Inara makes it easy for him by leaving. In the kitchen, Kaylee opens the box Book gave her and takes a bite out of the strawberries that are inside.
At dinnertime, Books' fresh vegetables and spices are a hit. Mal however is rude to him, refusing let him say grace aloud and continuing to eat while everyone around him prays silently. Simon asks the Alliance commandeers his ship and tells them where to go very often. Mal only responds that that' what governments are for --"gettin' in a man's way." Dobson suggests that this is a good thing if the supplies are needed and Jayne jokes that they're just happy to be doing "good works."
Dobson mentions that he has heard rumors of plagues and famines on the border moons. Zoe says that some of the rumors are exaggerated and some aren't. Like the Central Planets, the border moons have been terraformed. "They're as close to Earth-That-Was as we can make them." But Mal points out that once they are terraformed, the Alliance dumps settlers on them with nothing to survive beyond "blankets, hatchets, maybe a herd. Some will make it. Some won't."[5] Kaylee talks to Simon and they flirt a bit. Jayne interrupts with some crude jokes. This draws a reprimand from Mal who ultimately, banishes Jayne from the table.
In her shuttle, Inara is giving herself a sponge bath when Book walks in. She has been expecting him -- and a lecture on the wickedness of her ways. Book is merely bringing her some dinner but he does have a few lectures prepared if she is interested -- one of them even has lepers. Book apologizes for Mal's behavior earlier. He's fascinated by Mal, he refuses to ingratiate himself to anyone but he is also fiercely loyal to his crew. This mysterious quality is also why Inara is fascinated by Mal -- she finds this quality to be rare among men.
Wash calls Mal up to the bridge. He has detected a signal being sent to the nearest Alliance cruiser. They have a mole onboard. Mal catches Simon checking out his crate in the cargo bay and immediately assumes that he is the mole (Mal had told the passengers earlier that the cargo bay was off limits to them). He punches Simon in the face. Simon doesn't know what this is all about and thinks Mal is crazy. Book points out that Dobson -- who is standing over them with a gun -- is probably the man he wants. Dobson arrests Simon and Mal wonders if there is a reward. Simon refuses to get on the ground and Dobson gets twitchy. Book pleads for calm and Mal suggest that they can lock Simon in one of the passenger cells. But when Mal tries to pick up his weapon, Dobson accuses him of harboring a known fugitive and wants to arrest him as well.
Book continues to plead for calm and Dobson continues to grow more agitated. This all comes to a head when Kaylee bursts into the cargo bay, prompting Dobson to shoot first and ask questions later. This gives Kaylee a nasty belly wound and distracts Dobson long enough for Book to disarm Dobson and knock him out. Jayne is ready to kill him but Book intercedes. Jayne pulls his gun and tells Book to move aside. Zoe pulls a gun on Jayne and tells him to just tie the man up.
Kaylee's in bad shape. Wash announces that the Alliance cruiser has hailed them and told them to prepare to dock for prisoner transfer. Simon tells them to change course, to run, or else he'll let Kaylee die. Zoe tells him that if he lets her die, he'll never make it to the Feds. As Kaylee begins to scream out in pain, Mal reluctantly tells Zoe to change course. Serenity emits greenish yellow whisps of gas followed by a bright explosion as she goes to "hard burn."
In the infirmary, Simon asks for an "extractor." Mal tells him he has a laser saw. Simon says that's not good enough and tells Inara to bring his medical bag. Simon's work is pretty gory, one wonders how it would look different if Mal had had the extractor that Simon asked for. Simon finishes up and tells Mal he can't do anymore until Kaylee stabilizes -- but he's not sure if she will stabilize.
Mal decides to find out what this is all about and heads for the cargo bay. Simon realizes what this means and tries to stop him. Jayne puts Simon in a headlock while Mal opens his crate. Mist rises from the open crate and when it disperses, a nude females form -- lying in the fetal position -- emerges. Mal immediately assumes the worst, the girl awakens and begins screaming before Mal has a chance to really become indignant. Simon runs to her and calms her down.
The girl is River, Simon's sister. She's a genius and when she was fourteen she was sent off to an Alliance sponsored academy. But her letters back made no sense, she would talk about events that never happened. It was a code, they were hurting her. She wanted out. After about two years a group came to Simon and offered to sneak her out for a price.
Everybody except Mal is impressed by the story. Simon's situation threatens to bring the Alliance down on them, everybody on the ship is in danger because of it. He makes things very clear to Simon -- if Kaylee survives, he and River can get off on Whitefall, if she doesn't, they get off sooner, in space. Book and Inara are appalled but Jayne wonders why they haven't already done this to the Fed. Wash also disapproves but Mal doesn't want any debate.
Now that Simon is a dead man, he decides to ask Mal about the job they have planned on Whitefall. He wants to know what makes him so afraid of the Alliance. He believes Mal would sell him out to the Alliance anyway and tells him that he should probably be working for them. This prompts Mal to punch him in the face. Jayne finds it all very amusing.
"Now, you only gotta scare him." "Pain is scary." -- Mal and Jayne
Mal wants to know how much the Fed told the Alliance about them. He lets Jayne interrogate him. While waving around a knife Jayne points out that Mal "was not specific as to how." He finds out that the Fed's name is Laurence and begins to describe the way he plans to cut him. Laurence quickly tells him the Alliance knows everything there is to know about them. Jayne is disappointed -- it's obvious to him that the Alliance doesn't know anything. He quickly becomes disgusted at Laurence's inability to lie. Laurence decides to try bribery. He offers Jayne enough money to buy his own ship if he helps him bring the girl back. This will require Jayne to turn on Mal.
Wash detects another ship, smaller than an Alliance cruiser. It's a very old model that is running without core containment which Mal describes as suicide. He realizes that they must be Reavers. Mal gets on the intercom and informs the crew and passengers about the Reavers. Simon is not familiar with the Reavers, all he's heard are stories about men going mad on the edge of space. Zoe tells him they're not stories, "If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing. And if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order." The Reaver ship is huge compared to Serenity. It passes close by. Wash points out that it's equipped with a magnetic grappler for clamping on to other ships. But it keeps going. Just like the Feds, the Reavers are pushing out further every year. Mal feels that his sky is getting awfully crowded.
"You have just gotta have faith in people." -- Kaylee
Kaylee wakes up. Mal gets her a blanket and tells her to rest. Kaylee really likes the doctor but Mal tells her not to work too hard on that crush, Simon won't be around much longer. But Kaylee doesn't believe that Simon would have ever let her die. He was just trying to survive.
Inara gives Simon a standard companion immunization package to supplement the supplies in the infirmary. She tells him that Kaylee is very dear to all of them. He apologizes for his part in what happened. Mal walks in has words with Inara and catches up to Simon as he leaves. Again he reminds Simon that the life of everyone on the ship is endangered by Simon and River's presence. Mal tells him that sooner or later someone will have to "deal with" the Fed. He tells Simon that it should be him who deals with the Fed. But he doesn't believe that Simon has guts to do so. He also doesn't have the time -- Kaylee's dead. Simon runs frantically to the infirmary (or at least as close to frantically as is possible when you are being filmed in slow motion.
Simon reaches the infirmary. Kaylee smiles and waves at him. "That man's psychotic." Wash, Zoe, and Jayne agree with this assessment when they here about Mal's little practical joke. Mal will only confess to being "a bad man." He's actually quite impressed with Simon's medical skills, he hadn't expected Kaylee to heal so quickly.
Patience hails Serenity. She's practically the mayor of Whitefall now. She's impressed by the deal that Mal is offering her. Mal admits that it is imprinted by the Alliance. She thanks him for being up front and accepts his price. Signing out, Mal comes to one conclusion, "I believe that woman's planning to shoot me again." Jayne points out that she would have haggled a bit if she had really meant to pay him. He suggests that they shoot her first. Wash agrees, "it is her turn." Mal isn't planning to start a fight or rely on luck but he does make it clear that "Patience has got the money to pay and she will pay, one way or another." Meanwhile in his bunk Laurence is trying to free himself.
Serenity lands on Whitefall. Zoe notes that the meeting area is a "nice place for an ambush." Jayne buries the goods and tests out their communications equipment, a task which is made easier by the fact that Mal is standing right next to him when he does it. Mal tries to figure out Patience's strategy. He expects her to have snipers and tells Jayne to take them out.
Back on Serenity Book tries to warn Laurence that he's in more danger than he thinks and gets a snootful of fire extinguisher for his troubles. Laurence tries to send a message but his signal is still being jammed. He pulls out a gun. River awakens and calls for Simon. Laurence grabs her and runs off.
Mal and Zoe prepare to talk to Patience. She arrives on horseback with about six men. Jayne takes out one of Patience's snipers and takes his place. Sure enough, the rifle was trained on Mal. Patience wants to see the cargo. Mal produces a single gold bar and tosses it to Patience. She takes off the gold wrapping to uncover the "genuine, A-grade foodstuffs." Patience is impressed and tosses them a bag of money. Mal gives her directions to the location of the cargo. Several awkward pauses follow. Patience finally admits that she doesn't plan on paying him if she doesn't have to. With Jayne's sniper rifle trained on him, Mal tosses the money back to Patience. Jayne tracks the bag's movement to get a fix on her and her men.
Mal compliments the rifle of one of Patience's men and asks if he's her best shot. She confirms that he is and that his nickname is "Two-Fry." Mal compliments Two-Fry on his hat. This turns out to be Jayne's signal to shoot and Two-Fry is the first of Patience's men to be killed. With the advantage of that momentary surprise, Mal and Zoe draw their guns and fire. Two more of Patience's men are dead before they even have a chance to react. Zoe is shot in the chest. Jayne takes out another man and then another. Zoe rises from the ground and takes out another man. Patience shoots Mal in the arm and Mal shoots the last of her men in the leg. Zoe complains that her armor is dented but is otherwise alright. Patience warns Mal not to take another step, so he shoots her horse. With Patience pinned under her horse, Mal tells her "I do the job...and then I get paid." He takes her money and leaves. Jayne runs down and tells Mal that he has received a message from Wash, the Reavers followed them.
Back on Serenity Wash talks to Simon. He tells Simon that Whitefall is uncivilized and that he should ask the captain to drop him off somewhere else. Simon tells him not to worry about him. Wash replies that he always worries about Zoe when she out on a deal, so "it's not out of my way." Through the intercom Kaylee warns them that Laurence has taken River. As Simon runs off, Wash notices a blip on the ship's sensors. Simon catches up to them in the ship's cargo bay and jumps from the top of the railing (about two stories) on top of Laurence. They get up and struggle for a gun. Simon gets to one first. Wash announces over the intercom that Reavers are incoming. Laurence tries to talk Simon out of killing him. Having entered the atmosphere, the Reaver ship fires its thrusters and belches out smoke.
Wash shouts into his radio for Mal, Zoe, and Jayne to hurry up. They are traveling on horseback now. Laurence continues to talk to Simon --Simon still can't bring himself to shoot. As Mal, Zoe, and Jayne reach Serenity and the cargo bay doors begin to open, the noise distracts Simon and Laurence is able to retrieve his gun. He grabs River and holds her hostage. He tries to threaten to kill her but Mal shoots him before he can finish. He and Jayne drag Laurence's body out of the ship while Zoe closes the cargo bay doors and tells Wash to take off.
But the Reavers are getting close. Wash needs Kaylee in the engine room. Mal tells Inara to get the civilians on her shuttle and prepare to take off. Book offers to help Kaylee in the engine room. The case through the atmosphere is quite exciting to watch. Wash tells Kaylee to prepare for a full burn. Mal suggests a "Crazy Ivan." Kaylee has always wanted to try one and talks Jayne through the procedure. Serenity executes a 180 degree turn and the Reaver ship flies right past her as she prepares to go to full burn. Serenity's engine produces a plume of flame and a shockwave that sends the Reaver ship spinning. She blasts out of the atmosphere too rapidly for the Reavers to follow. Zoe asks Mal to take the helm.
"I've been out of the abbey two days. I've beaten a lawman senseless. Fallen in with criminals. I've watched the captain shoot the man I swore to protect. I'm not even sure if I think it was wrong." -- Book
Inara checks on Book's wound. She's sure he'll be fine but Book's not so sure. He wonders if he's on the wrong ship. Inara suggests that he is exactly where he ought to be.
Simon checks in on River and promises that they'll find a safe place. She didn't think he'd come for her. He tells her she's a dummy and gives her a big hug.
Jayne tells Mal that River is a problem. The Alliance will keep looking for her. Her brain is important to them for some reason. They're best off getting rid of her and her brother. Mal realizes that the lawman tried to make a deal with Jayne and asks him why he didn't turn on him. Jayne says the money wasn't good enough. Mal asks what happens when it is good enough. "That'll be an interesting day," is Jayne's only reply.[6]
Simon asks where Mal plans to dump them. Mal says that's up to him but that he would be safer on the move. He tells Simon he needs a medic. He'll have to live by his rules and keep his sister under control. Simon asks how he can know that Mal won't kill him in his sleep. Again, Mal makes it very clear to him, "if I ever kill you, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed."
The zero-g effects during the salvage scene look very good. It's a rare in science fiction when you actually see people moving a around in zero gravity.
It's interesting to see Mal's transformation from a man of faith to a man with a great deal of contempt for religious leaders. It would seem to be an outgrowth of the contempt for authority that he picked up from having served in an ultimately hopeless war.
The scene from the rough cut version of "Serenity" which was distributed on Kazaa -- I posted a summary of this version of the pilot on alt.tv.firefly which is archived at http://www.pcwranglers.com/pilot.htm -- where Simon uses an electronic dictionary to study about the battle of Serenity while Zoe explains the losing sides' version of the events has been completely omitted in this version of the pilot. But the scene at the beginning showing the battle of Serenity was not in the rough cut version. It was a decent looking scene but didn't look quite as good as the rest of the episode in my opinion. It's an interesting trade off a visual explanation of the battle complete with explosions and guys getting shot versus a simple (but emotional) summary of the events given by an eyewitness. Overall, I think that Zoe's explanation of the battle did a better job of explaining its importance to Mal and to the failed rebellion -- in fact, I'm not even sure that the battle made it particularly clear that this was a civil war. Still the final shot of Mal watching spellbound as Alliance troop ships land in the valley and blow up everything in sight packed quite an emotional wallup. If I had my druthers, I'd want to keep both those scenes.
Other than those two scenes, the opening theme, the aired version of Serenity added the opening credits and theme song and the music that is used throughout the series. There were also a few individual lines added here and there. Other than that, and generally low quality of the video, the rough cut is roughly comparable to the aired version of "Serenity."
Simon's description of River's ordeal at the Academy -- she left at 14 and he heard from the men who eventually freed her two years later would put her age at least 16. This the same age as Buffy at the beginning of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. The fact that her message to Simon was "They're hurting us" implies that there might be other teenagers like her out there in the Fireflyverse.
[1] The key to staying alive in battle appears to be to *not* wear a helmet, no matter how thick the bullets are flying. Mal and Zoe don't were helmets, it's never clear why this is the case beyond showing off their good looks on the battlefield, and yet the same bullets that kill their helmeted compatriots (and their enemies as well) never seem to come close enough to the show's stars to do any damage.
[2] For the entire time that we've known him, the Malcolm Reynolds that has been portrayed on Firefly has been an atheist. The revelation that he was in fact quite religious -- it's not really clear how devout he is, he at the very least is an example of the "there are no atheists in foxholes" phenomenon -- gives a new dimension to his character. This was probably not the original intention of this scene but rather it was to emphasize the profound effect that the battle had on Mal. It appears that Mal left more than just his fallen comrades in Serenity Valley -- he also left his faith.
[3] Following "War Stories" there were some complaints that Wash and Zoe's marital tensions over her relationship with Mal in that episode felt contrived. There had been few, if any examples of such tensions in previously aired episodes. Yet here, in the "Serenity," we see very clearly the same tensions that come to a head in "War Stories" get raised again -- ironically for the first time.
[4] Badger is the same character who needs Mal as an intermediary in "Shindig." The tension between Badger and Mal in that episode is a direct result of the incident portrayed in "Serenity."
[5] A common complaint during the early days after Firefly's debut was about the primitive nature of the planets they visited. Although it was in keeping with the show's western motif -- which in and of itself takes some getting used to -- a lot of people were having trouble suspending disbelief for this show. It almost seemed as if society had regressed and grown more primitive for no good reason. This scene is crucial to Firefly's central conceit as a space-based western. Things are primitive on many of Firefly's planets for a reason -- because the Alliance has a policy of systematically setting all of its colonies at square one technologically. If you want to leave the core worlds and live on the newly terraformed outer planets, you have to leave modern civilization behind and start one of your own -- from scratch. This would make colonization uninviting for the typical Alliance citizen, only the poorest and least well-educated will tend to want to take their chances on these new planets. This would seem to be more than enough reason for the primitive state that many of the outer planets are in.
[6] Which of course totally foreshadows the events of "Ariel."
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