Post by Gin on Feb 7, 2009 14:27:29 GMT 1
#1.01 Serenity
from fireflywiki.org, Imdb.com and wikipedia.org
Original air date: 12/20/02
Written by: Joss Whedon
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Summary:
We meet Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe in Serenity Valley, discover how Simon Tam, River Tam, and Shepherd Book joined the crew, deal with a rogue lawman, a tricksy old lady who'd sooner shoot Mal than deal straight, cargo that don't wanna get delivered, and a persistent pack of hungry Reavers. The introduction to the 'verse.
Episode Cast:
Nathan Fillion ... Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds
Gina Torres ... Zoë Washburne
Alan Tudyk ... Hoban 'Wash' Washburne
Morena Baccarin ... Inara Serra
Adam Baldwin ... Jayne Cobb
Jewel Staite ... Kaylee Frye
Sean Maher ... Dr. Simon Tam
Summer Glau ... River Tam
Ron Glass ... Shepherd Book
Carlos Jacott ... Lawrence Dobson
Mark Sheppard ... Badger (as Mark A. Sheppard)
Andy Umberger ... Dortmunder Captain
Phillip Sternborg ... Inara's Client (as Philip Sternberg)
Eddie Adams ... Bendis
Colin Patrick Lynch ... Radio Operator
Bonnie Bartlett ... Patience
Domingo Vara ... Ensign
Stephen O'Mahoney ... Man #1 (Dortmunder)
Jamie McShane ... Man #2
John F. Kearney ... Old Man
Gabrielle Wagner ... Slave
Greg Wendell Reid ... Crying Soldier (uncredited)
Plot
The series opens with Sgt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds and Corporal Zoe Alleyne fighting in the Battle of Serenity Valley during the Unification War. Without air support, the Browncoats are defeated (and massacred) by the Alliance, leaving Zoe and a disheartened Mal as survivors of their unit. Six years later, Mal is the captain of his own transport ship, the Firefly-class vessel Serenity, and Zoe is his second-in-command. While he, Zoe, and their gun-for-hire cohort Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin) are attempting to steal goods from an abandoned wreck in space, they are discovered by an Alliance cruiser. To escape capture, they deploy a decoy distress beacon. The Alliance cruiser falls for the diversion, but posts a bulletin that a Firefly-class ship is carrying stolen Alliance goods.
Introduction of Wash that gives a glimpse into his whimsical personality
Several other crew members are introduced at this point: Wash (Alan Tudyk) the pilot, Kaylee (Jewel Staite) the engineer, and Inara (Morena Baccarin), a "Companion" who docks with Serenity at Persephone, where the crew intends to deliver the goods before moving on to Boros.
On Persephone, the crew attempts to close their deal with the employer for the heist, Badger (Mark Sheppard), but word of their encounter with the Alliance, and the fact that the goods are government-stamped, makes Badger unwilling. Meanwhile, to supplement their income, they take on passengers, which adds to the tension, since now their passengers will be sitting on top of a quantity of government-stamped, illegal salvage goods.
Their new passengers are a preacher named Shepherd Book (Ron Glass), Dobson (Carlos Jacott), and a wealthy doctor named Simon Tam (Sean Maher). Having decided to try their luck with an old adversary, Patience, to sell their goods, they change their flight plan and head for Whitefall, telling the passengers they need to detour to the moon to drop off Alliance medical supplies.
En route, however, Wash discovers that someone on board sent a message to an Alliance cruiser, which he managed to scramble in transmission. Suspecting the wealthy doctor Simon is the mole, Mal confronts him only to discover that Dobson is the "Fed" and that the object of his pursuit is Simon, not Mal and the stolen cargo. In Dobson's attempt to arrest Simon, he shoots Kaylee in the stomach before being overpowered by Book. An Alliance cruiser then hails them and Simon threatens not to treat Kaylee if Mal does not flee. Torn between the threat of capture and Kaylee's safety, Mal reluctantly agrees.
Curious as to why the Alliance wants Simon, Mal goes to the cargo bay, opens Simon's crate, and finds a young nude woman inside in a cryonic sleep. It is revealed to be River Tam (Summer Glau), Simon's sister. Simon explains that she was born with a gifted intellect in diverse fields and that at the age of fourteen she was sent to an Alliance-funded academy where she was subjected to some unspecified experiments on her brain. Simon rescued her from the Alliance and is on the run trying to protect her from them. Mal decides to leave them at Whitefall. Inara threatens that if he expels Simon and River from the ship, she'll leave too. Mal decides to proceed to Whitefall as planned, dropping off both the goods and the Tam siblings.
Soon after, they discover that a Reaver ship is approaching. It is explained that if boarded, everyone on Serenity will be raped to death, eaten, and have their skin sewn into the Reavers' clothing (in that order, hopefully). Luckily, the Reaver ship passes by.
Mal tells Jayne to interrogate Dobson and find out what he told the Alliance about them. Once Jayne finds out that the Alliance knows nothing, Dobson attempts to bribe him.
Serenity lands on Whitefall and Mal, Zoe, and Jayne walk out into a valley to meet Patience and her henchmen. Mal gives Patience a sample of the cargo, which turns out to be nutritional/immunization bars, each one of which can feed an entire family for a month. Patience attempts to renege on the deal, but Mal and Zoe, with the help of Jayne taking a sniper position, dispatch Patience and her gang, taking the money they were promised. Jayne then joins the others, having been contacted by Wash with bad news: the Reavers followed them to Whitefall.
Meanwhile back on the ship Dobson escapes, knocking out Book and grabbing River. Simon attacks Dobson and tries to stop him leaving with River, when Mal arrives and shoots Dobson. Mal and Jayne dump him off the ship as they prepare to leave, the Reavers on their tail. Mal orders the passengers to Inara's shuttle as Jayne carries the still-convalescing Kaylee to the engine room. With Jayne carrying out Kaylee's instructions and Wash's flying, Serenity escapes.
Book goes to Inara and, in essence, confesses that he's terribly lost and might be on the wrong ship. Inara tells him he just might be exactly where he ought to be.
On the bridge, Jayne tells Mal that River's in danger and that Dobson had told him the Alliance will keep after her. Mal asks if Dobson tried to bribe him, to which Jayne lets him know it wasn't enough of a bribe, and that it'll be an interesting day if the bribe is ever big enough. Jayne leaves as Simon enters. Mal suggests to Simon that he and River might be safer on the move than hiding in one place, and points out that Serenity is always moving, and in need of a medic. Simon accepts his offer.
TRIVIA
In 2003, the episode won the award for "Best visual effects in a television series" from Visual Effects Society, and was nominated for a Hugo Award in 2003 for "Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form".
The gun that Mal is seen manning in the opening flashback, sports the very distinctive Weyland-Yutani logo at the top of its display. Weyland Yutani is the "Company" from the Alien movies, and is also, like the Alliance, a Sino-American operation.
At the very beginning of the actual pilot episode ("Serenity"), the Alliance ship that comes upon the Serenity is named the "Dortmunder". In several of Donald E. Westlake's comic crime novels, the leader and planner of the group is named Dortmunder. The captain of the Serenity is referred to as a "genius planner," as is Dortmunder. And, as in Westlake's novels, the best-laid plans nearly always go astray.
On Persephone, as Inara docks her shuttle with Serenity, none other than an Imperial Shuttle a la "Star Wars" can be seen in the background sky, left of center.
"Cry baby cry, make your mother sigh" is an actual song lyric from the Beatles(approve sites).
This episode was broken in two parts for showing on the Sci-Fi Channel. The last scene before the split is when Mal first sees River and looks up and merely says "Huh".
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GOOFS
* Revealing mistakes: At the end of the episode after they complete the full burn procedure to escape the Reavers, Wash is clearly miming the actions for steering the ship as he has no controls in his hands. My understanding is that he had to sit back from the controls so the angle could be shot with the confines of the set.
* Crew or equipment visible: Shortly after Serenity arrives at the Eavesdown Docks, Wash drives the mule down the ramp, stops at the bottom, has a few words with Zoe, then drive off. You can see a crew member push the mule down the ramp and jump away from the camera (too late), and then when he drives off you can again see a crew member's hand grab onto the front bumper of the mule to pull it out of the shot.
* Revealing mistakes: In pre-credits sequence the "sticky" Mal uses to melt the lock on the derelict ship is visible several seconds before he applies it.
* Audio/visual unsynchronized: In episode #1.1, "Serenity, Part 1", Simon removes a bullet from Kaylee and drops it in a metal tray. The bullet hits the side of the tray and bounces to the bottom, yet only one metallic "clink" is heard, rather than two.
* Revealing mistakes: When the camera follows a man through a curtain to reveal the town of Persephone to us, we can clearly see an extra standing to the left, waiting for the director to tell him to start walking.
* Crew or equipment visible: After Simon asks Mal "What business is that" (he's a dead man he can't know), Mal punches Simon in the face. When Simon falls down, you can see at the bottom left of the screen, hands catching Simon (after 50:13 minutes).
* Continuity: When prepping the ship for the Crazy Ivan, Kaylee tells Jayne to cut the hydraulics on the port jet control. But the exterior shot shows the left (port) engine moving while the right one is stationary.
* Continuity: When Mal inspects the seal prior to asking Jayne for the "sticky", the ring around the seal from the "sticky" is already visible.
* Revealing mistakes: During a scene involving Wash interacting with other characters on the bridge of Serenity, his seat was moved back away from the console to keep him in the shot (as per the director's commentary). Visible in the widescreen DVD, as a result, is the fact that he's not actually holding the control yoke of the ship - he only has his hands held up in that position, miming the actions.
* Continuity: The "sticky" (the goo used to burn open the hatch of the derelict carrier) is present in the first shot of the hatch, over Mal's shoulder, before he applies it.
Deleted Scenes
This episode has two deleted scenes.
* An alternate opening scene showing the aftermath of the Battle of Serenity Valley. Most of the Independent soldiers are dead. Mal and the survivors witness the long-awaited arrival of the medships; when one soldier says "Thank God" for the ships' arrival, Mal bitterly asks whose side God is on. This scene was deleted because the studio wanted a more action-packed opening scene.
* A scene where Simon is taking care of the wounded Kaylee. Book asks why Simon chose to come aboard Serenity and he replies that it seemed disreputable. Book suggests that Simon lacks a knowledge of history. Simon researches the Battle of Serenity Valley on his encyclopedia and Zoe tells him about how many soldiers died during the battle and its aftermath. She tells Simon that Mal won't kill him unless he's got no other option. When Simon asks why Mal named the ship after such a horrible battle, Zoe replies that "once you've been in Serenity, you never leave".
Arc significance
This episode introduces a major story arc of the short-lived series: that of River and Simon. It reveals Simon's deep, selfless love for his sister and that his life is now defined by her.[1]
Despite the script stating that Dobson is killed by Mal, Joss Whedon had planned to bring the character back.[2] Although the series was cancelled, Dobson coming back for revenge was a key part of the plot in Serenity: Those Left Behind, a three-issue comic book miniseries intended to bridge the television series and the movie Serenity.[2]
Foreshadowing
* Kaylee fruitlessly asks Mal for a new compression coil for the engine, warning that they'll be adrift in space if it breaks. This foreshadows the failure of the "catalyzer on the port compression coil" that cripples the ship in "Out of Gas". In the original rough-cut of the episode (known in Browncoat circles as "The Tube") Mal actually orders Wash to attempt to locate a compression coil.
* Mal and Jayne talk about Dobson's attempt to bribe Jayne into betraying his employer. In "Out of Gas", we see that this is exactly how Jayne first joined the Serenity crew. It also foreshadows "Ariel" when Jayne betrays Mal by turning in the Tams to the feds for the large reward.
* Book's feelings that his experiences on Serenity have corrupted him foreshadows his later decision to leave the ship for this very reason in the comic book series Serenity: Those Left Behind.
* The same Reaver ship that chases Serenity in this episode later appears in the film Serenity as part of the Reaver fleet which emerges from an ion storm in pursuit of Mal and his crew.
Themes
As Joss Whedon points out in the commentary for this episode, every show he does is "about creating family".[1] To achieve the sense of family, he centers some action around a dinner scene at a table, and directs warm light into the faces of the characters.[1] Strengthening this theme is the interaction between Simon and his sister River. Simon has done a selfless act in rescuing his sister, and his life is now defined by it. Whedon wanted to show a relationship like that that was not a parent-child relationship.[1]
Another theme is the fusion of Asian and frontier culture. As Brett Matthews said, you couldn't ask for a better mission statement for the show than the shot of Mal with a Western tin cup and chopsticks.[1] He then contrasts this to the tall, vertical Alliance cruiser that detects them, as he wanted to show how inefficient the Alliance government was.[1]
He also wanted to show a lifestyle that was very tactile and physical, and contrast it to the lifestyle of the contemporary audience where things "fall in your lap".[1]
Production details
This episode was originally intended as the pilot, but since the original version didn't suit Fox, it did not air. The beginning sequence was reshot before it did air, to give more of the "action" that Fox wanted.[1] Instead, "The Train Job" aired as the pilot - "Serenity" was the last episode to air.
Also, at the time they were shooting this, Rebecca Gayheart was playing the role of Inara Serra, but Whedon knew that it was not going to work out and so shot scenes with her interacting with the crew in singles, so that the only part that would have to be reshot would be the shots of Inara.[1]
After the Reavers are introduced, the screen goes to near black before cutting to commercials. Whedon wanted to give the audience time to "breathe" before being hit with commercials, but a true black would automatically cue the ads. Instead, he went with a color that was as close to black as he could go without causing this.[1]
Cultural and literary allusions
There were several references to popular culture in this episode. The character Bendis, the soldier that fought in Serenity Valley, was named after comic book writer and artist, Brian Michael Bendis. Also, when deploying the decoy called the "Cry Baby", Malcolm Reynolds says "Cry baby cry" and Wash responds with: "Make your mother sigh", which is a quote from The Beatles' song "Cry Baby Cry".
The logo of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation from the Alien series can be seen at the top of the interface screen on the anti-aircraft gun during the battle sequence at the beginning of the episode. (Joss Whedon wrote the script for the fourth movie in the Alien series.)
As part of the effort to have props serve as meaning, the Chinese character for "Short Interval" is visible on an hourglass in Inara's shuttle when she is with her client during the character's introduction.
Quotes
MAL: Ready?
ZOE: Always.
MAL: We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so very pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die. Huh? Look at that chiseled jaw.
WASH: This is a Fertile land and we will thrive...
WASH (as stegosaurus): We will rule over all this land, and we will call it... This Land.
WASH (as T-Rex): I think we should call it... your grave!
WASH (as stegosaurus): Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
WASH (as T-Rex): Ha HA! Mine is an evil laugh! Now die!
WASH: I'd say worth a little risk.
JAYNE: Yeah, that was some pretty risky sittin' you did there.
WASH: I can always say I was flying the ship by accident.
JAYNE: Captain, can you stop her from bein' cheerful, please?
MAL: I don't believe there is a power in the 'verse that can stop Kaylee from being cheerful. Sometimes you just wanna duct tape her mouth and dump her in the hold for a month.
ZOE: I know something ain't right.
WASH: Sweetie, we're crooks. If everything were right, we'd be in jail.
WASH: Just a couple of days lying around, you with the bathing. Me with the watching you bathe.
MAL: And I'd like to be king of all Londinum and wear a shiny hat.
KAYLEE: Compression coil busts, we're drifting...
MAL: Best not bust, then.
MAL: Well, maybe I'm not a fancy gentleman like you with your... very fine hat.
JAYNE: I don't understand why we didn't leave that sumpregnant dog in a pool of his own blood.
MAL: We'd be dead. Can't get paid if you're dead.
JAYNE: Ten percent of nothing is -- let me do the math here -- nothing into nothing, carry the --
MAL: We got protein in all the colors of the rainbow.
MAL: Jayne, your mouth is talking. You might wanna look to that.
MAL: Been a long time since Patience shot me and that was due to a perfectly legitimate conflict of interest. I got no grudge.
MAL: If anyone gets nosy, just, you know... shoot 'em.
ZOE: Shoot 'em?
MAL: Politely.
JAYNE: Little Kaylee here just wishes you was a gynecologist.
BOOK: brought you some supper, but if you'd prefer a lecture, I've a few very catchy ones prepped. Sin and hellfire... one has lepers.
MAL: This is not my best day ever.
SIMON: Can you move your feet? Kaylee. Stay with me. Can you move your feet?
KAYLEE: Are you asking me to dance...?
MAL: This is over, you and me are gonna have a personal chat.
SIMON: Won't that be fun.
MAL: Huh.
SIMON: I need to check her vitals.
MAL: Oh, is that what they call it?
WASH: Can we maybe vote on the whole murdering people issue?
MAL: Now you only gotta scare him.
JAYNE: Pain is scary.
JAYNE: Was gonna get me an ear, too.
ZOE: 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.
MAL: Gettin' awful crowded in my sky.
KAYLEE: You're nice, too.
MAL: No, I'm not. I'm a mean old man.
INARA: I gave the boy a free thrust, since he's not long for this world.
SIMON: That man's psychotic.
MAL: Oh... I'm a bad man.
MAL: Well, we may not have parted on the best of terms. I realize certain words were exchanged. Also, certain... bullets.
MAL: I believe that woman's planning to shoot me again.
JAYNE: Here's a little concept I been workin' on. Why don't we shoot her first?
WASH: It is her turn.
ZOE: Nice place for an ambush.
JAYNE: Testing. Testing, Captain, can you hear me?
MAL: I'm standing right here.
JAYNE: You're coming through good and loud.
MAL: 'Cause I'm standing right here.
JAYNE: Sure you don't just wanna piss yourself and back down like you did with Badger?
ZOE: She still has the advantage over us.
MAL: Everyone always does. That's what makes us special.
MAL: Well, you were right about this being a bad idea.
ZOE: Thanks for sayin', sir.
WASH: If everybody could just be quiet a moment...
WASH: I don't mean to alarm anybody... but I think... we're being followed.
ZOE: Sir? I'd like you to take the helm, please. I need this man to tear all my clothes off.
WASH: Work, work, work...
RIVER: I didn't think you'd come for me.
SIMON: Well, you're a dummy.
MAL: How come you didn't turn on me, Jayne?
JAYNE: Money wasn't good enough.
MAL: What happens when it is?
JAYNE: Well... that'll be an interesting day.
MAL: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed.
MAL: We're still flying.
SIMON: That's not much.
MAL: It's enough.
MAL: What? The doctor! Oh. Hey! Is there, is there a reward?
Chinese Phrases
* Te ma de!
"Your Mother!" or "His Mother!" (Mal, on learning of approaching Alliance ship.)
* Bi Zuei {Mal sounds like bih-zway}
"Shut up." or "Shut your Mouth" (Mal, over comms, to Zoe & Jayne as they fret about Alliance ship.)
* Shi ah. {Kaylee sounds like Shoo uh}
"Affirmative." "Yes"(Kaylee, to Wash about going to black.)
* Ai ya! Hwai leh! {Wash sounds like Ai ya! Hoo ah lay!}
"Oh No, it's spoilt!", could also be "oh no, we're ruined" (Wash, as Alliance ship scans them.)
* Bi Zuei {Mal sounds like bih-zway}
"Shut up." (Mal, to Wash as he banters with Jayne in cargo bay.)
* (Joo ta ma ya ming). Zhu Yi
"Watch your back." or "Be careful"(Wash, to Zoe as she & the others go off to meet Badger.)
* Qing jing.
"Come in." (Inara, to Book knocking on shuttle door.)
* Ni de ma de. Tian Xia suo you de ren dou gai si. {Mal sounds like ...soy ya duh ren doh goy swa}
"Yo Mama! Everyone under the sky should die" (Mal, on learning there's a mole on board.)
* mei mei
"little sister" (Inara, addressing wounded Kaylee.)
* Ni men dou Bi Zuei! {Mal sounds like ...bih-zway}
"Everybody shut the hell up!" (Mal, as everyone argues about killing the Fed.)
* kwong-chee duh {Wash sounds like kwing chih duh}
"nuts" (Wash, meaning crazy, about flying without core containment.) #I honestly can't figure this one out
* xiao mei mei {Mal sounds like zao may-may}
"little sister" (Mal, addressing Kaylee.)
* Hoon dan!
Jerk! also "Bad Egg"(Jayne, referring to Patience's man.)
* Ai ya, wo mun wan leh.
"We're finished." (Zoe, as Reaver ship approaches.)
* (DELETED SCENE) Shuh muh?
"I'm sorry?" (Simon, response to Book's comment about Serenity's name not being a joke.)
For more information and a pronunciation guide, see the Firefly Chinese Pinyinary.
from fireflywiki.org, Imdb.com and wikipedia.org
Original air date: 12/20/02
Written by: Joss Whedon
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Summary:
We meet Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe in Serenity Valley, discover how Simon Tam, River Tam, and Shepherd Book joined the crew, deal with a rogue lawman, a tricksy old lady who'd sooner shoot Mal than deal straight, cargo that don't wanna get delivered, and a persistent pack of hungry Reavers. The introduction to the 'verse.
Episode Cast:
Nathan Fillion ... Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds
Gina Torres ... Zoë Washburne
Alan Tudyk ... Hoban 'Wash' Washburne
Morena Baccarin ... Inara Serra
Adam Baldwin ... Jayne Cobb
Jewel Staite ... Kaylee Frye
Sean Maher ... Dr. Simon Tam
Summer Glau ... River Tam
Ron Glass ... Shepherd Book
Carlos Jacott ... Lawrence Dobson
Mark Sheppard ... Badger (as Mark A. Sheppard)
Andy Umberger ... Dortmunder Captain
Phillip Sternborg ... Inara's Client (as Philip Sternberg)
Eddie Adams ... Bendis
Colin Patrick Lynch ... Radio Operator
Bonnie Bartlett ... Patience
Domingo Vara ... Ensign
Stephen O'Mahoney ... Man #1 (Dortmunder)
Jamie McShane ... Man #2
John F. Kearney ... Old Man
Gabrielle Wagner ... Slave
Greg Wendell Reid ... Crying Soldier (uncredited)
Plot
The series opens with Sgt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds and Corporal Zoe Alleyne fighting in the Battle of Serenity Valley during the Unification War. Without air support, the Browncoats are defeated (and massacred) by the Alliance, leaving Zoe and a disheartened Mal as survivors of their unit. Six years later, Mal is the captain of his own transport ship, the Firefly-class vessel Serenity, and Zoe is his second-in-command. While he, Zoe, and their gun-for-hire cohort Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin) are attempting to steal goods from an abandoned wreck in space, they are discovered by an Alliance cruiser. To escape capture, they deploy a decoy distress beacon. The Alliance cruiser falls for the diversion, but posts a bulletin that a Firefly-class ship is carrying stolen Alliance goods.
Introduction of Wash that gives a glimpse into his whimsical personality
Several other crew members are introduced at this point: Wash (Alan Tudyk) the pilot, Kaylee (Jewel Staite) the engineer, and Inara (Morena Baccarin), a "Companion" who docks with Serenity at Persephone, where the crew intends to deliver the goods before moving on to Boros.
On Persephone, the crew attempts to close their deal with the employer for the heist, Badger (Mark Sheppard), but word of their encounter with the Alliance, and the fact that the goods are government-stamped, makes Badger unwilling. Meanwhile, to supplement their income, they take on passengers, which adds to the tension, since now their passengers will be sitting on top of a quantity of government-stamped, illegal salvage goods.
Their new passengers are a preacher named Shepherd Book (Ron Glass), Dobson (Carlos Jacott), and a wealthy doctor named Simon Tam (Sean Maher). Having decided to try their luck with an old adversary, Patience, to sell their goods, they change their flight plan and head for Whitefall, telling the passengers they need to detour to the moon to drop off Alliance medical supplies.
En route, however, Wash discovers that someone on board sent a message to an Alliance cruiser, which he managed to scramble in transmission. Suspecting the wealthy doctor Simon is the mole, Mal confronts him only to discover that Dobson is the "Fed" and that the object of his pursuit is Simon, not Mal and the stolen cargo. In Dobson's attempt to arrest Simon, he shoots Kaylee in the stomach before being overpowered by Book. An Alliance cruiser then hails them and Simon threatens not to treat Kaylee if Mal does not flee. Torn between the threat of capture and Kaylee's safety, Mal reluctantly agrees.
Curious as to why the Alliance wants Simon, Mal goes to the cargo bay, opens Simon's crate, and finds a young nude woman inside in a cryonic sleep. It is revealed to be River Tam (Summer Glau), Simon's sister. Simon explains that she was born with a gifted intellect in diverse fields and that at the age of fourteen she was sent to an Alliance-funded academy where she was subjected to some unspecified experiments on her brain. Simon rescued her from the Alliance and is on the run trying to protect her from them. Mal decides to leave them at Whitefall. Inara threatens that if he expels Simon and River from the ship, she'll leave too. Mal decides to proceed to Whitefall as planned, dropping off both the goods and the Tam siblings.
Soon after, they discover that a Reaver ship is approaching. It is explained that if boarded, everyone on Serenity will be raped to death, eaten, and have their skin sewn into the Reavers' clothing (in that order, hopefully). Luckily, the Reaver ship passes by.
Mal tells Jayne to interrogate Dobson and find out what he told the Alliance about them. Once Jayne finds out that the Alliance knows nothing, Dobson attempts to bribe him.
Serenity lands on Whitefall and Mal, Zoe, and Jayne walk out into a valley to meet Patience and her henchmen. Mal gives Patience a sample of the cargo, which turns out to be nutritional/immunization bars, each one of which can feed an entire family for a month. Patience attempts to renege on the deal, but Mal and Zoe, with the help of Jayne taking a sniper position, dispatch Patience and her gang, taking the money they were promised. Jayne then joins the others, having been contacted by Wash with bad news: the Reavers followed them to Whitefall.
Meanwhile back on the ship Dobson escapes, knocking out Book and grabbing River. Simon attacks Dobson and tries to stop him leaving with River, when Mal arrives and shoots Dobson. Mal and Jayne dump him off the ship as they prepare to leave, the Reavers on their tail. Mal orders the passengers to Inara's shuttle as Jayne carries the still-convalescing Kaylee to the engine room. With Jayne carrying out Kaylee's instructions and Wash's flying, Serenity escapes.
Book goes to Inara and, in essence, confesses that he's terribly lost and might be on the wrong ship. Inara tells him he just might be exactly where he ought to be.
On the bridge, Jayne tells Mal that River's in danger and that Dobson had told him the Alliance will keep after her. Mal asks if Dobson tried to bribe him, to which Jayne lets him know it wasn't enough of a bribe, and that it'll be an interesting day if the bribe is ever big enough. Jayne leaves as Simon enters. Mal suggests to Simon that he and River might be safer on the move than hiding in one place, and points out that Serenity is always moving, and in need of a medic. Simon accepts his offer.
TRIVIA
In 2003, the episode won the award for "Best visual effects in a television series" from Visual Effects Society, and was nominated for a Hugo Award in 2003 for "Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form".
The gun that Mal is seen manning in the opening flashback, sports the very distinctive Weyland-Yutani logo at the top of its display. Weyland Yutani is the "Company" from the Alien movies, and is also, like the Alliance, a Sino-American operation.
At the very beginning of the actual pilot episode ("Serenity"), the Alliance ship that comes upon the Serenity is named the "Dortmunder". In several of Donald E. Westlake's comic crime novels, the leader and planner of the group is named Dortmunder. The captain of the Serenity is referred to as a "genius planner," as is Dortmunder. And, as in Westlake's novels, the best-laid plans nearly always go astray.
On Persephone, as Inara docks her shuttle with Serenity, none other than an Imperial Shuttle a la "Star Wars" can be seen in the background sky, left of center.
"Cry baby cry, make your mother sigh" is an actual song lyric from the Beatles(approve sites).
This episode was broken in two parts for showing on the Sci-Fi Channel. The last scene before the split is when Mal first sees River and looks up and merely says "Huh".
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GOOFS
* Revealing mistakes: At the end of the episode after they complete the full burn procedure to escape the Reavers, Wash is clearly miming the actions for steering the ship as he has no controls in his hands. My understanding is that he had to sit back from the controls so the angle could be shot with the confines of the set.
* Crew or equipment visible: Shortly after Serenity arrives at the Eavesdown Docks, Wash drives the mule down the ramp, stops at the bottom, has a few words with Zoe, then drive off. You can see a crew member push the mule down the ramp and jump away from the camera (too late), and then when he drives off you can again see a crew member's hand grab onto the front bumper of the mule to pull it out of the shot.
* Revealing mistakes: In pre-credits sequence the "sticky" Mal uses to melt the lock on the derelict ship is visible several seconds before he applies it.
* Audio/visual unsynchronized: In episode #1.1, "Serenity, Part 1", Simon removes a bullet from Kaylee and drops it in a metal tray. The bullet hits the side of the tray and bounces to the bottom, yet only one metallic "clink" is heard, rather than two.
* Revealing mistakes: When the camera follows a man through a curtain to reveal the town of Persephone to us, we can clearly see an extra standing to the left, waiting for the director to tell him to start walking.
* Crew or equipment visible: After Simon asks Mal "What business is that" (he's a dead man he can't know), Mal punches Simon in the face. When Simon falls down, you can see at the bottom left of the screen, hands catching Simon (after 50:13 minutes).
* Continuity: When prepping the ship for the Crazy Ivan, Kaylee tells Jayne to cut the hydraulics on the port jet control. But the exterior shot shows the left (port) engine moving while the right one is stationary.
* Continuity: When Mal inspects the seal prior to asking Jayne for the "sticky", the ring around the seal from the "sticky" is already visible.
* Revealing mistakes: During a scene involving Wash interacting with other characters on the bridge of Serenity, his seat was moved back away from the console to keep him in the shot (as per the director's commentary). Visible in the widescreen DVD, as a result, is the fact that he's not actually holding the control yoke of the ship - he only has his hands held up in that position, miming the actions.
* Continuity: The "sticky" (the goo used to burn open the hatch of the derelict carrier) is present in the first shot of the hatch, over Mal's shoulder, before he applies it.
Deleted Scenes
This episode has two deleted scenes.
* An alternate opening scene showing the aftermath of the Battle of Serenity Valley. Most of the Independent soldiers are dead. Mal and the survivors witness the long-awaited arrival of the medships; when one soldier says "Thank God" for the ships' arrival, Mal bitterly asks whose side God is on. This scene was deleted because the studio wanted a more action-packed opening scene.
* A scene where Simon is taking care of the wounded Kaylee. Book asks why Simon chose to come aboard Serenity and he replies that it seemed disreputable. Book suggests that Simon lacks a knowledge of history. Simon researches the Battle of Serenity Valley on his encyclopedia and Zoe tells him about how many soldiers died during the battle and its aftermath. She tells Simon that Mal won't kill him unless he's got no other option. When Simon asks why Mal named the ship after such a horrible battle, Zoe replies that "once you've been in Serenity, you never leave".
Arc significance
This episode introduces a major story arc of the short-lived series: that of River and Simon. It reveals Simon's deep, selfless love for his sister and that his life is now defined by her.[1]
Despite the script stating that Dobson is killed by Mal, Joss Whedon had planned to bring the character back.[2] Although the series was cancelled, Dobson coming back for revenge was a key part of the plot in Serenity: Those Left Behind, a three-issue comic book miniseries intended to bridge the television series and the movie Serenity.[2]
Foreshadowing
* Kaylee fruitlessly asks Mal for a new compression coil for the engine, warning that they'll be adrift in space if it breaks. This foreshadows the failure of the "catalyzer on the port compression coil" that cripples the ship in "Out of Gas". In the original rough-cut of the episode (known in Browncoat circles as "The Tube") Mal actually orders Wash to attempt to locate a compression coil.
* Mal and Jayne talk about Dobson's attempt to bribe Jayne into betraying his employer. In "Out of Gas", we see that this is exactly how Jayne first joined the Serenity crew. It also foreshadows "Ariel" when Jayne betrays Mal by turning in the Tams to the feds for the large reward.
* Book's feelings that his experiences on Serenity have corrupted him foreshadows his later decision to leave the ship for this very reason in the comic book series Serenity: Those Left Behind.
* The same Reaver ship that chases Serenity in this episode later appears in the film Serenity as part of the Reaver fleet which emerges from an ion storm in pursuit of Mal and his crew.
Themes
As Joss Whedon points out in the commentary for this episode, every show he does is "about creating family".[1] To achieve the sense of family, he centers some action around a dinner scene at a table, and directs warm light into the faces of the characters.[1] Strengthening this theme is the interaction between Simon and his sister River. Simon has done a selfless act in rescuing his sister, and his life is now defined by it. Whedon wanted to show a relationship like that that was not a parent-child relationship.[1]
Another theme is the fusion of Asian and frontier culture. As Brett Matthews said, you couldn't ask for a better mission statement for the show than the shot of Mal with a Western tin cup and chopsticks.[1] He then contrasts this to the tall, vertical Alliance cruiser that detects them, as he wanted to show how inefficient the Alliance government was.[1]
He also wanted to show a lifestyle that was very tactile and physical, and contrast it to the lifestyle of the contemporary audience where things "fall in your lap".[1]
Production details
This episode was originally intended as the pilot, but since the original version didn't suit Fox, it did not air. The beginning sequence was reshot before it did air, to give more of the "action" that Fox wanted.[1] Instead, "The Train Job" aired as the pilot - "Serenity" was the last episode to air.
Also, at the time they were shooting this, Rebecca Gayheart was playing the role of Inara Serra, but Whedon knew that it was not going to work out and so shot scenes with her interacting with the crew in singles, so that the only part that would have to be reshot would be the shots of Inara.[1]
After the Reavers are introduced, the screen goes to near black before cutting to commercials. Whedon wanted to give the audience time to "breathe" before being hit with commercials, but a true black would automatically cue the ads. Instead, he went with a color that was as close to black as he could go without causing this.[1]
Cultural and literary allusions
There were several references to popular culture in this episode. The character Bendis, the soldier that fought in Serenity Valley, was named after comic book writer and artist, Brian Michael Bendis. Also, when deploying the decoy called the "Cry Baby", Malcolm Reynolds says "Cry baby cry" and Wash responds with: "Make your mother sigh", which is a quote from The Beatles' song "Cry Baby Cry".
The logo of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation from the Alien series can be seen at the top of the interface screen on the anti-aircraft gun during the battle sequence at the beginning of the episode. (Joss Whedon wrote the script for the fourth movie in the Alien series.)
As part of the effort to have props serve as meaning, the Chinese character for "Short Interval" is visible on an hourglass in Inara's shuttle when she is with her client during the character's introduction.
Quotes
MAL: Ready?
ZOE: Always.
MAL: We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so very pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die. Huh? Look at that chiseled jaw.
WASH: This is a Fertile land and we will thrive...
WASH (as stegosaurus): We will rule over all this land, and we will call it... This Land.
WASH (as T-Rex): I think we should call it... your grave!
WASH (as stegosaurus): Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
WASH (as T-Rex): Ha HA! Mine is an evil laugh! Now die!
WASH: I'd say worth a little risk.
JAYNE: Yeah, that was some pretty risky sittin' you did there.
WASH: I can always say I was flying the ship by accident.
JAYNE: Captain, can you stop her from bein' cheerful, please?
MAL: I don't believe there is a power in the 'verse that can stop Kaylee from being cheerful. Sometimes you just wanna duct tape her mouth and dump her in the hold for a month.
ZOE: I know something ain't right.
WASH: Sweetie, we're crooks. If everything were right, we'd be in jail.
WASH: Just a couple of days lying around, you with the bathing. Me with the watching you bathe.
MAL: And I'd like to be king of all Londinum and wear a shiny hat.
KAYLEE: Compression coil busts, we're drifting...
MAL: Best not bust, then.
MAL: Well, maybe I'm not a fancy gentleman like you with your... very fine hat.
JAYNE: I don't understand why we didn't leave that sumpregnant dog in a pool of his own blood.
MAL: We'd be dead. Can't get paid if you're dead.
JAYNE: Ten percent of nothing is -- let me do the math here -- nothing into nothing, carry the --
MAL: We got protein in all the colors of the rainbow.
MAL: Jayne, your mouth is talking. You might wanna look to that.
MAL: Been a long time since Patience shot me and that was due to a perfectly legitimate conflict of interest. I got no grudge.
MAL: If anyone gets nosy, just, you know... shoot 'em.
ZOE: Shoot 'em?
MAL: Politely.
JAYNE: Little Kaylee here just wishes you was a gynecologist.
BOOK: brought you some supper, but if you'd prefer a lecture, I've a few very catchy ones prepped. Sin and hellfire... one has lepers.
MAL: This is not my best day ever.
SIMON: Can you move your feet? Kaylee. Stay with me. Can you move your feet?
KAYLEE: Are you asking me to dance...?
MAL: This is over, you and me are gonna have a personal chat.
SIMON: Won't that be fun.
MAL: Huh.
SIMON: I need to check her vitals.
MAL: Oh, is that what they call it?
WASH: Can we maybe vote on the whole murdering people issue?
MAL: Now you only gotta scare him.
JAYNE: Pain is scary.
JAYNE: Was gonna get me an ear, too.
ZOE: 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.
MAL: Gettin' awful crowded in my sky.
KAYLEE: You're nice, too.
MAL: No, I'm not. I'm a mean old man.
INARA: I gave the boy a free thrust, since he's not long for this world.
SIMON: That man's psychotic.
MAL: Oh... I'm a bad man.
MAL: Well, we may not have parted on the best of terms. I realize certain words were exchanged. Also, certain... bullets.
MAL: I believe that woman's planning to shoot me again.
JAYNE: Here's a little concept I been workin' on. Why don't we shoot her first?
WASH: It is her turn.
ZOE: Nice place for an ambush.
JAYNE: Testing. Testing, Captain, can you hear me?
MAL: I'm standing right here.
JAYNE: You're coming through good and loud.
MAL: 'Cause I'm standing right here.
JAYNE: Sure you don't just wanna piss yourself and back down like you did with Badger?
ZOE: She still has the advantage over us.
MAL: Everyone always does. That's what makes us special.
MAL: Well, you were right about this being a bad idea.
ZOE: Thanks for sayin', sir.
WASH: If everybody could just be quiet a moment...
WASH: I don't mean to alarm anybody... but I think... we're being followed.
ZOE: Sir? I'd like you to take the helm, please. I need this man to tear all my clothes off.
WASH: Work, work, work...
RIVER: I didn't think you'd come for me.
SIMON: Well, you're a dummy.
MAL: How come you didn't turn on me, Jayne?
JAYNE: Money wasn't good enough.
MAL: What happens when it is?
JAYNE: Well... that'll be an interesting day.
MAL: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed.
MAL: We're still flying.
SIMON: That's not much.
MAL: It's enough.
MAL: What? The doctor! Oh. Hey! Is there, is there a reward?
Chinese Phrases
* Te ma de!
"Your Mother!" or "His Mother!" (Mal, on learning of approaching Alliance ship.)
* Bi Zuei {Mal sounds like bih-zway}
"Shut up." or "Shut your Mouth" (Mal, over comms, to Zoe & Jayne as they fret about Alliance ship.)
* Shi ah. {Kaylee sounds like Shoo uh}
"Affirmative." "Yes"(Kaylee, to Wash about going to black.)
* Ai ya! Hwai leh! {Wash sounds like Ai ya! Hoo ah lay!}
"Oh No, it's spoilt!", could also be "oh no, we're ruined" (Wash, as Alliance ship scans them.)
* Bi Zuei {Mal sounds like bih-zway}
"Shut up." (Mal, to Wash as he banters with Jayne in cargo bay.)
* (Joo ta ma ya ming). Zhu Yi
"Watch your back." or "Be careful"(Wash, to Zoe as she & the others go off to meet Badger.)
* Qing jing.
"Come in." (Inara, to Book knocking on shuttle door.)
* Ni de ma de. Tian Xia suo you de ren dou gai si. {Mal sounds like ...soy ya duh ren doh goy swa}
"Yo Mama! Everyone under the sky should die" (Mal, on learning there's a mole on board.)
* mei mei
"little sister" (Inara, addressing wounded Kaylee.)
* Ni men dou Bi Zuei! {Mal sounds like ...bih-zway}
"Everybody shut the hell up!" (Mal, as everyone argues about killing the Fed.)
* kwong-chee duh {Wash sounds like kwing chih duh}
"nuts" (Wash, meaning crazy, about flying without core containment.) #I honestly can't figure this one out
* xiao mei mei {Mal sounds like zao may-may}
"little sister" (Mal, addressing Kaylee.)
* Hoon dan!
Jerk! also "Bad Egg"(Jayne, referring to Patience's man.)
* Ai ya, wo mun wan leh.
"We're finished." (Zoe, as Reaver ship approaches.)
* (DELETED SCENE) Shuh muh?
"I'm sorry?" (Simon, response to Book's comment about Serenity's name not being a joke.)
For more information and a pronunciation guide, see the Firefly Chinese Pinyinary.