Serenity

Serenity.

 

 

This writer simply cannot picture Firefly or its accompanying ship, Serenity, without the words of Joss Whedon as sung by Sonny Rhodes filling my mind via The Ballad Of Serenity.

 

"Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand.

I don't care, I'm still free, you can't take the sky from me.

Take me out to the black, tell them I ain't coming back.

Burn the land, and boil the sea.

You can't take the sky from me.

There's no place, I can be, since I've found Serenity.

And you can't take the sky from me."

 

Simple and poetic, those lyrics speak to the beauty and soaring freedom of the series Firefly (2002). Equally so, the spirit of those words and its wings outspread were embodied and captured in the ship design of Serenity, the crew's home.

 

With Serenity, a firefly class vessel, there was a sense of serenity, calm and security about her grace and peace for all aboard her. Firefly the series, underrated or overrated is something you can decide, but for this man it is indeed a beautifully penned series and it gets every episode just right along with the gorgeous ship design of the Serenity herself.

 

 

Code Of Hammurabi or Browncoat Doctrine?

It seems perfectly logical and reasonable to me.

Firefly Ep3: The Train Job

The Train Job is notorious for being aired as the introduction to viewers of the Firefly series on television rather than the intended pilot.

The Train Job was broadcast out of order when Serenity was filmed as the pilot. Given this fact I plan on viewing this by placing myself in the shoes of those first-time viewers. While enjoying the adventure I will keep one eye to that perspective in my analysis to see if I can come to some understanding of why Firefly was cancelled so quickly. The truth is we'll never fully understand, but I thought it might be fun to attempt to breakdown this one variable, The Train Job as the show's pilot, on where it all went wrong. Granted, other variables are not the same since I've already seen the pilot episode. I will do my best to separate myself from that information throughout my viewing experience. This could be interesting or impossible. For a truly terrific analysis on where the show went wrong or went right you need to check out the book, Finding Serenity. It's a terrific Firefly read filled with wonderful essays one of them being reasons for the show's cancellation.

Welcome to Firefly, Episode 3, The Train Job. The story begins as Mal, Jayne and Zoe spend a little time on the down low at a planetary bar with music, drink and recreation. A drunkard begins spouting off from the bar dissing the Browncoats and talking up the Alliance. A. No one disses the Browncoats. B. This is surely one way to piss off Mal Reynolds. You have to love this sequence. This is reason to love the series. It's charged with snappy dialogue and the outcome is unpredictable.

You have to love the bar window. Nice touch with the special effects. There's a whole lot less cleanup after the bar dust ups to be sure. You also get a taste of the Asian language often applied throughout the series by Mal. Jayne is a beauty too. A fight ensues and our trio is quickly outnumbered, but damn-it-all-to-hell if you think someone is going to badmouth the independence movement to Mal's face. The gang is rescued by the timely appearance of Wash and lady Serenity. As Mal, Jayne and Zoe are about to be shot off the ledge of a cliff by a rowdy mob, Wash tells them all to go back inside or he will "blow a new crater in this little moon." Frankly that line and delivery is freaking hysterical. Perhaps that line is made funnier having had the pleasure to learn a bit about Wash in the Pilot. Of course, the Firefly-class ship that is Serenity is a transport vessel and is not armed with any kind of weaponry that Wash bluffs he'll use to make that hole. Fortunately the bar clientele isn't the smartest batch of hombres on the planet.


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Now if I'm seeing this for the first time I would say there isn't a great deal of character development at the outset, but I would be intrigued by this batch of rogue-like characters and their motivations. At least I'd like to think so. Following the opening credits we witness River on a gurney in Firefly's makeshift medlab where she is clearly having visions of past experiments performed on her person. Much of the information here I have a sense about based upon the pilot which new viewers clearly wouldn't have seen or completely understood. Poor River is very unstable. River rattles off all of the associated numeric information to the Firefly-class vessel and as Mal walks in he's clearly impressed too. The moment clearly speaks to her genius which was also referenced in the pilot. Background information is clearly omitted for first-time viewers.
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Simon wonders if the brawl has brought any unwanted attention upon their group a la his sister River. Mal confirms no. An interesting point is made when River defines Mal's name in Latin as 'bad'. Of course, having taken five years of Spanish I should have noticed that. Mal speaks with Book who asks about River. Mal refers to her as "still whimsical in the brainpan." Splendid funny stuff. Mal is so curt with Book and never buys into his sincere conversation mocking Book as he makes kind remarks about Simon. Book makes ovations to call Mal a good man. Why else would he have fugitives on board? Mal tells Book he needs the "fare." Mal tells Book, look "you're welcome on my boat, God ain't" unbothered by Book's efforts to see inside the man, but on some level he does get Mal.
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Kaylee and Inara are having a little girl time [not like that!] when Mal barges in. It's a wonderfully amusing scene and Mal wants Kaylee back in the engine room to square things away. Mal and Inara are quickly drawn in to their love/hate relationship. Mal warns they will be landing on a Skyplex [space station] that is overseen by a fairly nasty fellow named Niska. Once again, the Inara-Mal dynamic was introduced with greater detail in the Pilot. This scene extends nicely upon that connection, but might seem slightly odd to the first-time viewer.

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Gunslingers, Space stations, the BeBop, rather Serenity, you really get a sense of those Cowboy Bebop flavors.

On the Skyplex, Niska greets Mal and team. Niska sports a mighty fine European accent. He looks like the gentlemanly sort. Niska speaking to Mal is happy to bolster his own unpleasant reputation. To prove his point he slides a door open to display a tortured victim who has failed his mission. The man is bloodied and hanging like a carcass of meat. His fate was an unhealthy one. Niska tells them of "the train job." Mal is made slightly uneasy by the dead man, but listens just the same. Niska has a good read on Mal and friends as he mentions their reputations versus the Alliance. The train is Alliance owned and is their primary target. The boxes on board the train must be removed while en route from one point to the other. It will be a difficult moving target. Niska makes one last threat, if Mal doesn't come through, then their relationship will not be so "solid."
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On the planet below the train roars along. Some nice effects are created for the hovering train craft. Zoe calls Niska a "psycho." She's not wrong. There's even a Nazi-like element to the man. Aboard the train, Zoe and Mal prepare to do the train job. As they begin walking toward their target car they reach one filled with about 20 Alliance soldiers.
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Back on board the Serenity Inara and Book meet in the break room. Book asks her how long she's known Mal. She mentions she's been with the vessel for eight months, but doubts she will ever actually get to know the captain. This adds a little more to the man's guarded character fleshed out in much greater detail in the pilot including Mal's relationship with the good Lord. There's an interesting moment whereby Book says, "I wish I could help." There's something to the way he delivers that line that implies Book has insights from his own past he could offer, but doesn't want to elaborate as he gets tongue-tied and moves off the subject.
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On the train Mal and Zoe move closer to their target, but Zoe rightfully discerns that maybe they aren't getting all of the necessary information. She proceeds with caution not knowing what lies ahead for them. Mal tells her the details don't concern them and not to worry. Mal smiles and tells her the existence of the fed guards "makes it more fun." Inbound, here comes Serenity.
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Zoe: "Sir, I think you have a problem with your brain being missing."

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Mal: "Come on. We stick to the plan. We get the goods. We're back on Serenity before the train even reaches Paradiso only now we do it under the noses of twenty trained Alliance feds and that makes 'em look all manner of stupid. Hell this job I would pull for free."

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Zoe: "Then can I have your share?"

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Mal: "No."

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Zoe: "If you die can I have your share?"

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Mal: "Yes."
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The Serenity prepares the cargo hold. Simon asks Kaylee what she's doing. She responds honestly, matter-of-factly and all cute-like, "crime." This is quite classic and not uncommon in Firefly.


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Jayne implies to Kaylee that Mal is thinking of handing Simon and River over to the Alliance. Jayne is a complete box of rocks. He's a trip, but Kaylee wonders if what he's telling her is true anyway. We wonder as well, because thus far Mal has made no mention of such a plan. That's not to say he hasn't actually considered it.
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So, the suspense filled heist aboard the train begins. A fed from the fed car takes a stroll and right away we know trouble is brewing just two to three cars away for Mal and Zoe. The special effects for the sequence are truly magnificent for television. There is such depth and reality to the movements, the air flow, the exhaust from Serenity's propulsion systems. It's a beauty. Thus far though, the character's backgrounds are certainly not there for first time viewers and their motivations are entirely unclear coming off more as bad guys than good or at least folks who've been kicked in the gut by an evil Alliance and just out there trying to survive. It's definitely a vague portrait of this group of people that is not properly defined here. The series pilot is the better establishing vehicle.
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Jayne drops down into the moving train car from Serenity as the trio begins loadin' up the "booty." Wash holds the old girl steady and it has to be a challenging and treacherous mission exercise for him as pilot to keep the girl parallel to the rapidly moving train. At this point, the fed is moving closer and we wonder if they will pull the job off in time. Zoe rigged a smoke bomb as a warning of sorts at the entrance door should anyone arrive. It does go off and the fed begins firing his weapon haphazardly. Mal jumps and knocks him unconscious. Why is the conductor of the train not seeing this in play? Perhaps, it doesn't matter. Anyway, Jayne lifts off the goods and gets back aboard the fleeing Serenity. Mal and Zoe quickly move to the next car to hide amongst the passengers after lobbing a smoke grenade to create a diversion.

On the Serenity it's clear Jayne was shot in the leg during the melee. Mal and Zoe exit the train and the local law enforcement officers converse. No one knows who took what. It's reported medicine was stolen as Mal and Zoe listen in. Mal's none too happy with his role in this one after hearing that. Elsewhere on the planet, the Serenity has ducked off into a crater to lay low until Mal and Zoe return. A shaken River knows the Alliance will keep coming and coming. She has clearly been through alot and her brain wiring has been scrambled good. Book believes being a little late to rendezvous with Niska is better than letting on Mal and Zoe might be missing, might be detained and might be talking. That would not bode well for the crew. How does Book know this? He's either a fairly savvy stowaway with good common sense or he's experienced.

Back on Paradiso, Zoe and Mal contemplate what they have just accomplished amidst a crowd of ill people. Zoe and Mal pretend to be husband and wife. It's a cute exchange and one of those character exchanges you love to see in the series. A local law officer interrogates the couple. Mal fabricates a story that his uncle paid for their trip as a wedding gift to them. They are in Paradiso looking for work in the mines. Unfortunately ore processing has caused afflictions to many of its people. The officer indicates the meds needed to treat their illness was stolen off of the train. The officer asks Mal when he last spoke with Joey Blogs, the man offering them job potential. Mal says he never did. His uncle set him off in this direction. The officer indicates Joey committed suicide about eight months ago. Blew his head clean off. Mal asks, "So would his job be open?" Is that just excellent?

On the Serenity, Jayne is applying pressure to lift the old girl off without Mal and Zoe. Wash refuses to budge right along with Kaylee. Fortunately Simon doped Jayne earlier with painkiller and he finally drops in front of the crew before he can do any further damage by forcing an execution of his plan to return the goods to Niska sans Mal and Zoe's leadership. So the crew hatches a plan to rescue Mal and Zoe. The crew isn't stupid and apart from Wash's love for Zoe, they know the smart plan is to have them on board. This is another factor first time viewers wouldn't entirely grasp, the marriage of Wash and Zoe explored in more detail in the pilot.

The plan goes into effect. Inara waltzes into the office holding Mal and Zoe for questioning and slaps Mal and informs the sheriff that Mal is her "indentured man," or as The One To Be Pitied calls it, love slave. They buy it. She brings Mal and Zoe back to the ship. Kaylee asks how it went. Mal puts it plainly referring to Inara, "she hit me." But, Mal and Zoe tell the crew they aren't going anywhere. The medicine must be returned. Mal knows they'll just have to tell Niska the deal went south. This, of course, speaks volumes about the heart and soul of Mal. He is a good man at heart and to see this many people suffering is not what he signed up for. He won't have a hand in the ills of regular folk. In the end, Niska's mob shows up and Mal will need to deal with them directly. Mal tells the murderous group the deal is off. He calls it even. "There's no even" with Mr. Niska. A huge brawl ensues. Mal is about to get wacked when Jayne suddenly shoots the head moron in the leg. Mal excitedly proclaims "nice shot" to Jayne. A drugged up Jayne slurs his speech with one of the funniest lines, "I was aiming for his head."

Mal brings the goods back to the local Paradiso sheriff. The sheriff respects Mal's decision to return the goods. He tells Mal a man has a choice to make when he hears of the kind of circumstances the people are living under. Mal, the big damn hero, makes it clear there is only one choice, the right one, and he makes it. That says it all about Mal. This is why we love Mal. If anything it gave first-time viewers a chance to see what this cast of rogues was all about.

Back at Serenity, Mal tells the head thug to return the money to Niska. "We're not thieves, but we are thieves, point is we're not taking what's his." Funny, funny stuff. The head musclehead tells him keep the money for his funeral. Mal is forced to kill him and kicks him into the vacuum of Serenity's turbine engine thrusters. The next thug quickly complies with Mal's wishes after witnessing his partner's quick demise. Classic!



Not to be confused with the Blue Man Group!

The final moments introduce two men complete with blue gloves in search of a girl in the photo. The girl is River. There is a touch of mystery about these men presenting their quest to the Alliance. I always found it to be the X-Files element within the show and it was a terrific idea. It was a frightening undercurrent. About midway through the entry, River is having one of her seemingly psychotic breaks when she offers some information. At the time the information seems fairly innocuous or strange or pointless like psychobabble when it really lends a bit of insight into her past. There is meaning there when she says, "they'll never stop, they'll just keep coming until they get back what you took, two by two, hands of blue." Jayne brushes her off as crazy like most of us do. I suspect much of what she says isn't quite as crazy as it seemed upon my initial viewing. Unfortunately the hands of blue never get fully fleshed out in this series. What a heartbreaker.

It's a hoot to watch a series for a second go round. Getting all of the intimate details you missed the first time around is fun. In the end, I'm not sure I fully excused myself from my prior knowledge of Firefly's pilot entry despite my efforts to do so. In fact, I know I didn't. I see where the proper sequencing of this series would have worked to its long-term benefit. Having said that, I cannot understand how someone still wouldn't be lured into this wonderful series based upon The Train Job. HAVING said that, I believe there were many variables in play at the time of Firefly's release that doomed its future from the very start. You can point to many problems outside of the series' material itself. This is a flawlessly penned show and there is no fault in it that I can see. It's impeccable. Fox squarely and solely takes ownership and bears responsibility for this failed series. Like any new show it needed time to develop and garner an audience. It never had a chance. I truly believe it is the best Joss Whedon has offered in his short career. The TV format requires time, Firefly burned brightly, like the insect, it's life too was far too short.
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The Train Job: A

Firefly Ep2: Serenity Part Two

Funny thing blogging, on a creative level, nothing gives me more joy than running through the varied currents of my latest science-fiction exercise of the week and sharing it with you. That and family of course. Typing on a blank screen like some kind of canvas and filling it with pictures and visual images is somehow fairly satisfying. In fact, I think about the only thing that might give me greater satisfaction would be to find that inherent gift of Joss Whedon writing brilliance shined down upon me from the heavens from pen to paper to write something as wonderful and timeless as Firefly. Would that day ever come it would be a great joy indeed. Until such time, I shall continue to squeeze in my own personal explorations and analysis right here with my fellow sci-fi comrades between work, coaching, cooking, splinter removals, bills and the occasional trip to the bathroom.

The thrilling pilot entry continues. Serenity Part One and Serenity Part Two combine as one lengthy pilot on Blu-Ray, but I had to break it up for sanity purposes while assembling for the blog. As we all know, Part One was a thrill ride and loaded to the hilt with exciting character introductions and splendid 'verse table-setting. Here we go with the launch of Firefly, Episode 2, Serenity Part Two.

When we last left our heroes aboard the Serenity, Mal had opened a freezer box in the cargo hold unveiling one adorably naked girl in the form of Summer Glau in the old birthday suit. Who is she? She wakes screaming. She knows Simon's name as he runs to her side. He clearly cares for the girl. She holds him. "This is my sister." Her name is River. She is the final regular character to be introduced in the series. Simon takes five to fill in the crew. Simon is clearly a gifted individual. He informs all that his sister makes him look like "an idiot child." His sister is brilliant and apparently a more gifted individual. His family decided to send her to a government-sponsored school at the age of fourteen. She wrote Simon until the letters to her ceased arriving. She informed him, "they're hurting us, get me out." Simon knew he must save his sister. He came upon an underground movement that informed him the government was "playing with her brain." He indicates here that this group could inevitably aid him in getting his sister out. This is explained in greater detail visually in the feature length film Serenity, but I don't believe it plays out in the movie as it is hinted to or explained here if my recollection is correct. When Simon finishes with his story, Mal cheekily calls his story "a tale of woe, very stirring." Mal is more concerned about his crew being pursued by The Alliance. Mal is always concerned for his crew. Mal admits "we finish the job." He wants to unload the goods and "keep flying." Simon asks what will become of he and his sister. Mal suggests if Kaylee lives, Simon and River will be free to leave next stop. Inara threatens to leave Serenity if Simon and River are cast aside.

Simon confronts Mal and wants to know what Mal fears in The Alliance. Mal firmly suggests he not push him on the subject. When he does, Simon gets another big, fat, right hook.

Later, Mal interrogates The Alliance mole regarding what he knows. Mal tells the man he has left the job to a knife-wielding Jayne. Mal mutters softly to Jane as he exits. "Now you're only gonna scare 'em," says Mal, because that's the kind of guy Mal is. A line like that really speaks volumes about the character of the man that is Mal Reynolds. He is a good man left to deal with the realities of a harsh universe. After Mal is gone, Lawrence, the Alliance mole, tells Jayne that the girl, referring to River, is a "precious commodity." He continues, "long after you bury me, they'll be coming." As Lawrence talks and Jayne listens, Lawrence begins to realize Jayne isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and looks to be fairly open to the power of suggestion. He offers to make a deal with Jayne that could garner him enough funds to buy his own ship, a "better one than this piece of crap." Jayne is certainly one to consider his options. He's a player, an opportunist. Jayne inquires if his offer means "turning on the Captain." You know the answer.

On the bridge of the Serenity, Wash picks up a vessel that is "operating without core containment," translated means its passengers are exposed to a high level of radiation. Most normal living, breathing creatures would die from such an arrangement without the protection from a vessel's core. Something is different about this. There is no music. The mood is somber and Mal mentions one word, "Reavers." If I recall, this would be the one entry to give us a general sense of dread regarding the Reavers. We would not actually have the chance to meet and engage this enemy in this short series any more than they do in the second portion of this pilot. The sheer mention of the Reavers was enough to instill fear into the passengers' hearts, but it would not be until the feature length motion picture Serenity that we would see and learn more about the bloody, literally, Reavers. "God" says Mal. "Oh God oh God" says Wash.

You really get a sense of just how feared the Reavers are. They have established a reputation and you can see it in the faces of those aboard the Serenity. It is near quiet as the mood is really built up beautifully in the sequence. There is real tension. Coming face to face with the Reavers is clearly tantamount to facing death and is the least desired path. The silence is deafening. The vacuum of space has never been handled with more convincing terror than the silence employed in this sequence. Horror has never been more deftly delivered for television without actually seeing the enemy. Lives are hanging in the balance here and you can feel it.

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The execution of the sequence is science fiction heaven. I love this stuff!

The team clearly has lady luck on their side this time around. Kaylee is coming around after being shot in the gut in Serenity Part One. She tells the Captain it's no one's fault. She asks him to remember that and the Captain tells her he'll "keep it in mind." Kaylee is a peacekeeper and a bridge builder. She doesn't actually build physical bridges, but works on bringing people together and fortifying relationships. She's a real diplomat. She is a positive force on Serenity. She was referred to by Joss Whedon as the soul of the ship and her crew. Her innocence is adored by Mal. She represents what he used to be I suspect. He loves her for it. "You just gotta have faith in people" she tells Mal. That's exactly the problem. Mal has lost his faith. That is something running in short supply for Mal and he struggles with it. Those aboard Serenity keep it alive for him.

Meanwhile, Simon and Inara talk with one another. He apologizes for his part in what happened with Kaylee. Inara understands and tells him "you're lost in the woods." It's a powerful metaphor. She continues, "We all are even the Captain, the only difference is he likes it that way." She's so right. Mal jealously interrupts. Mal exhibits real displeasure with Inara and her role as companion. Mal tells Simon he can see things clearer in the woods. Why do I understand how he feels? I imagine many of us feel that way when the world hardly makes sense. It's funny, but there is a real chemistry between Inara and Mal and the back and forth is always engaging. Each actor was perfectly cast in their respective roles. There is so much chemistry aboard the Serenity. Mal and Inara continue building walls between themselves, masking their pains and their problems with one another, rather than communicating honestly. In an odd way, it's what they know and they, like many of us, don't know how to break from the cycle. At the same time it's survival and self-preservation and ironically if it means Mal can be with her it will have to do because he does love her.

Mal meets up with Simon and explains the predicament he has while he and his sister remain on board. The Fed mole will also need to be dealt with at some point. He tells Simon his time is running out and that "Kaylee's dead." He turns and walks away. Simon runs stumbling back to medlab. He really is psychotic. This is priceless and gives us another glimpse of the man.

A cowgirl/ business woman named Patience hails Mal and the crew. She knows the drill. She knows the loot is Alliance marked. She's okay with that. Mal indicates, "I believe that woman's planning to shoot me again," alluding to the fact they share a history. Mal knows something is up. But one way or another it needs to happen. I like this moment because you really sense Mal's desperation a bit. The Alliance pretty much squeezes him, his crew and his ship. The organization's ability to extend its government tentacles throughout space serves as a real problem for the captain. Mal does everything in his power to remain outside of its reach, outside of its grip [simply sing that theme song people]. If it means being an intergalactic Robin Hood, he'll do it, but no way in hell will he relent to the realities of survival in a post-Alliance galaxy. It ain't gonna happen! He will not let it. This is a gripping example of the kind of dialogue and character interaction that dart through the terrific series.

What I love about Mal's indignant anger is that he refuses to be relent, give up or succumb to becoming some kind of down on his luck, loser. He will make his way if it kills him. I think I know of a few less than industrious people that could learn a thing or two from Mal, except for that smuggling part.

Just because it's cool!

So, the Serenity lands in Whitefall and lands with some pretty, impressive special effects I might add. As Mal, Zoe and Jayne head out they are quite aware of the possibility of an ambush by old friend Patience. The team prepares for the deal to go down by scoping out their very western surroundings. There's definitely a hint of spaghetti Western to the whole vibe. You might half expect to see Clint Eastwood make an appearance complete with that whistle sound from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly given their wardrobe, guns, holsters and general ready-for-a-showdown look. It's terrific stuff. If you asked me if I would enjoy a Western fused with Science Fiction as a genre form years ago I would have laughed. I'm a changed man. I'm a believer now. This is your typical sparkling dialogue and exactly why Firefly is special.

Zoe: "Don't think it's a good spot sir. She still has the advantage over us."

Mal: "Everyone always does, that's what makes us special."

You gotta love that! "Don't kill anyone if you don't have to." But if you have to definitely do it! Kidding aside, this is once again just a brief little bit that speaks to the heart of a man with certain ethics and morals that have been pushed aside or at least tempered with the goal of survival. Back on Serenity, Book visits the incarcerated fed. Book is knocked unconscious and even after being knocked out is given an unmerciful double-pounding. YOWZA! It is not pleasant and says alot about the enemy that is The Alliance. The fed finds his belongings and attempts to logon to a PDA-like device that accesses something called the Central Cortex, but there's no connection. He does get his gun. River awakens in medlab calling for Simon. Held at gunpoint, the fed has River and that would be all that he needs.

Outside, with Jayne taken to higher ground as cover for both Mal and Zoe, Mal and Zoe meet up with Patience arriving fittingly on horseback. By the way, Patience has such a great western-styled ring to is doesn't it. Is there anything on this show that isn't well thought out. Jayne finds one of Patience' sniper goons and takes him out. Now Jayne has Patience through the scope's cross hairs after flashing it over his partner Mal. Mal and Patience prepare to make the deal as he shows Patience a sample of the high protein food supplements. That was a pretty good surprise. I thought the gold bars were gold, but they are food stuffs and apparently just as valuable as gold. Mal informs Patience of the location of the goods and the two sort of pause in a kind of Mexican stand off. Mal asks politely for Patience and company to leave first. Now that Patience has what she needs, the little double-crossing, old granny plans on getting the bag of money back she just threw over to Mal. She's a vicious, vile little septuagenarian [I think]. As a result, a down and dirty shoot 'em up ensues and Zoe takes a hard shot to the chest after most of Patience' crew goes down. It's a wild exchange and does the Western proud.

Wash tries telling Simon to see about getting dropped off somewhere a bit more civilized than Whitefall when this is all over. Simon says not to worry, but Wash always worries especially when Zoe is out making deals with Mal. The shooting sequence is juxtaposed with the security and warmth of the Serenity. This concludes with a bit of trouble when Kaylee informs over the intercom that the fed has taken River. He's a fly in the ointment. As the fed is close to exiting, Simon leaps over one of the overhangs and jumps on top of him.

With the shoot out over, Zoe leans up off the ground. Wisely, as only a good smuggler can with sound preparation, she lives. She was protected by an armored vest, now complete with dent. "Well, you were right about this being a bad idea," says Mal. "Thanks for saying sir," retorts Zoe. Zoe has a real respect for Mal and is a true soldier who understands chain-of-command. Patience is all that is left and she tells Mal not to take another step. With one shot he takes down her horse, which falls upon her. Here are Mal's final words and they are a beaut!

The bad news is Whitefall has incoming hostiles in the form of Reavers. Seriously, when do pilots ever get this exciting? I think Lost may have been one of the few that pulled it off in aces, but Serenity Part One and Serenity Part Two are simply amazing in their pacing. This is inspired work.

On board Serenity, Wash informs all aboard via intercom Reavers are incoming and that normally means their vessel needs to move fast and move fast now. They exit in one minute's time. Between the Serenity and the Reaver vessel some serious cash went into the look and design of the science fiction portion of Firefly. It is exciting stuff to look at, a true feast for the eyes. Things are getting tense as the Reavers have entered Whitefall's atmosphere. Mal, Zoe and Jayne are on horseback and riding like the wind back to the old girl. You can sense the dread, panic and general desperation in Wash's voice. He is anxious to pull out of there before it is too late. These are people who understand the danger that lies ahead.

Simon holds the quote unquote "lawman" at gunpoint as he tries to smooth talk Simon. A badly wounded Book looks on with a big, bloody gash. This is the kind of stuff that made Firefly so damn fun. It shoots from the hip [literally] and simply blows you away. You just can't turn your eyes away.

Well, they were in a hurry and now their off! The Reaver and Serenity chase sequence is intense and mostly a tour de force of sci-fi aerial excitement. It needs to be seen on the big screen to be fully enjoyed appreciated.

There is an exchange between Mal and Inara during the heat of the chase that really sheds some light on Mal's true feelings for Inara as he touches her shoulder and tells her to leave the ship in the shuttle with the civilians. Mal has a heart of gold for those he deems worthy of showing. Wash has a plan and Kaylee knows it. The two appear to work in sync. She offers full burn of the girl's engines and Wash tells her to prepare it. Book assists the injured Kaylee. Mal calls for an "Ivan." Wash asks Kaylee how she would feel about pulling a "Crazy Ivan." She always wanted to give it a try. The Reavers prepare to hit their pray with an electronic grappler. How can one resist an electronic grappler!? Oh for cryin' out loud, it may not be the big screen, in fact, it may be the smallest damned screen going, but I just gotta show you one of my all-time favorite sci-fi moments in science fiction television. Here ya go with the absolutely fantastic Crazy Ivan maneuver!

I love how the ship reverses direction in what probably amounts to a technical marvel that defies logic I'm sure. Further, Serenity literally loads up on full burn and lays waste to the Reavers absolutely disintegrating the animals. Outta sight people! Are you diggin' this? And how 'bout the sweet stroke of Kaylee's hand on the body of the Serenity. t's true love. She caresses her like a baby and we intuitively understand her affection. To celebrate, Zoe and Wash head off for a touch of stress release if you know what I mean.

Inara tends to Book. His faith has wavered by all that he is seen this day. He appears shaken. "I think I'm on the wrong ship" he tells her. Inara places her hand on his head conversely giving Book some faith of her own. She tells him he might have it right. Either way, Book is a man in search of himself. Inara may be one of the most grounded of the crew, one of the most confident and self-assured of any of them. Clearly, this whore really has it together. The image is almost Christ-like as Inara offers her trust to Book. It's an image of forgiveness and I cannot help but feel a Christian parallel to the moment.

Simon tends to his sister. River has spent most of her time resting thus far. She didn't think Simon would come for her. He calls her a "dummy." The siblings embrace.

Mal and Jayne talk about the fed. Mal knows the scumbag offered Jayne a deal. It makes sense to me now why Jayne initially placed Mal in the site of his gun. He thought about the deal that was made by the fed. He knew if he wanted to he could take down Mal, but he didn't do it. He tells Mal here there wasn't enough money offered to turn on Mal. If I recall correctly, Jayne came to Mal nearly the same way. Jayne shot his partners with Mal held at gunpoint. So you have to imagine Mal isn't completely certain of Jayne's motivations and would certainly proceed with an element of caution. Still, he puts his faith and trust in Jayne with what little he has to offer. Jayne is like the girlfriend you got when she cheated on her boyfriend with you. Will she do the same to you next? We won't know all that transpired, but I'd hazard to guess Jayne enjoys the bad boy / outlaw status, but that down deep he's in search of something more, be it a brother, be it a family, be it acceptance and trust. He tells Mal it will be an interesting day should the right offer ever come along. "Imagine it will," responds Mal. Sadly, we'd never have the chance to find out.

Simon asks Mal where he'll be getting dumped off. Mal says they're safest on the move. Mal makes an offer to the medic of staying on board Serenity for refuge until something better comes along. Simon aks how he'd would know if Mal would ever wanted to kill him in his sleep. Mal replies, "You don't know me son, so let me explain this to you once. If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me and you'll be armed." Okay. You see, he's a straight shooter. Mal is a man of honor in a world of thieves. He's playing by the rules of thieves while hanging on to his own code. Simon isn't quite sure what to make of the captain. The captain tells him "We're still flying." Simon says, "that's not much." The captain replies, in two words what it all means to him, "that's enough." That's everything to this series.

That's enough for now compadres. Stick around for joy space cowboys.

Serenity Part Two: A

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon