| Episode No. | Firefly Season 1, Episodes 1-2 |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joss Whedon |
| Written by | Joss Whedon |
0:04 : We begin in the midst of a battle we know nothing about; the Battle of Serenity Valley. We’re not given a location or a time, but it was filmed, in reality, at Lake Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, in next to no lighting.
0:31 : Our first glimpse of Malcolm Reynolds. Named as a Sergeant here. At this point in his career, Nathan Fillion was best known for his work on Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place. Since Firefly, his name has soared from hit to hit with Castle and The Rookie. He still considers Mal his favourite job and has frequently collaborated with his former shipmates. He also appeared in the final five episodes of Buffy as evil preacher Caleb.
0:51 : And from Mal, we have Zoe Alleyne, although her surname will not be mentioned onscreen during the series. Played by Gina Torres, the actress has made an appearance in many a genre show, including Alias, Cleopatra 2525 and The Matrix movies. More recently, she starred as Jessica Pearson in hit legal drama Suits and its ridiculously-cancelled spin-off Pearson. Straight after Firefly, Torres played the villainess Jasmine in five episodes of Angel Season 4.
1:27 : The first mention of the Alliance and who they’re fighting. From the patch on Mal’s sleeves, we get that he’s an Independent fighting against the controlling Government. Sound familiar?
1:49 : Mal pulls a cross out from under his shirt and kisses it. Mal throughout the series is displayed as an atheist of sorts, so this may seem surprising. In a deleted scene showing Mal and Zoe watching the Alliance arrest the Independents, Mal throws his cross away, losing his faith, which explains why his feelings on religion change.
2:54 : You’d have to pause the screen and zoom, but there’s Chinese on the tech screen. The other thing of interest on the display is the Weyland-Yutan logo. Weyland-Yutan is the corrupt corporation in the Alien franchise, the fourth film of which was written by Joss Whedon.
3:28 : Mal and Zoe’s friendship is shown here to great effect with the laughter they share. They are each other’s ‘person’ to use a more modern term.
5:05 : When the series first aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in the UK, the scene ends with Mal’s face as the Alliance comes down. Originally supposed to be seen as a two-hour movie event, the episode was split into two seperate parts. In Part 1, the opening credits appeared here.
5:06 : It’s Six Years Later, according to the onscreen caption. The problem being we don’t have a year to start from. The opening monologue that begins in the next episode claims the year is 2517 A.D., so we’ll take that as read.
5:18 : Unlike most contemporary science-fiction like Star Trek, Firefly, rather effectively, shows that there’s no sound in the vacuum of space. Any scenes shown in space are accompanied by instrumental music rather than any ‘warping’ sound effects.
5:31 : Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton. Played by Adam Baldwin, the actor had appeared on the big screen, in movies like Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Independence Day (1996). Since Firefly, he’s appeared everywhere, from NCIS to Bones and also appeared in the final season of Angel as Marcus Hamilton.
6:09 : The Western-style music, composed by Greg Edmondson, is the first indication that we’re watching a Western in Space, a rather niche genre, one would think. But ‘Westerns-in-Space’ go as far back as the 1950s in pulp magazines. 1981’s Outland with Sean Connery was cited as a ‘Space Western,’ and there are similarities with classic Filmation cartoon Bravestarr (1987-1989).
6:17 : Here we meet Hoban Washburne, also known in the series as ‘Wash’. His full name is not mentioned in the series. He’s played by the multi-talented Alan Tuduk. If you haven’t seen in him series such as Dollhouse and the excellent Resident Alien, then you’ve heard him in Andor or Aladdin (2019) or one of many other voice roles.
6:19 : Dinosaurs. Just because. Ironically, Wash makes a jokey voice using the above quote – which in hindsight is a bad move considering the seat he’s sitting in…
7:14 : Translated into English as ‘Dammit’, this is the first use of Mandarin as the universally-spoken language. This is the first hint that the future powers are both American and Chinese and the culture of the 26th century is a mix of both.
7:34 : Ah… Kaylee Frye. Played by Jewel Staite, Kaylee swiftly became the show’s most empathetic and loveable character. When Kaylee’s in danger, fans riot. Since Firefly, Staite has stayed in her sci-fi roots, appearing as a regular on Stargate: Atlantis, guesting on Warehouse 13 and recurring on one of this writer’s favourite shows, Wonderfalls.
7:56 : Our first glimpse at the technology and power of the Alliance with the I.A.V. Dortmunder. I.A.V. stands for Interstellar Alliance Vessel.
8:06 : The captain of the Dortmunder is played by Andy Umberger, who guest starred in the Angel episode I Fall to Pieces and was a recurring guest on Buffy as D’Hoffryn.
8:49 : Translates to “Something’s wrong.”
9:00 : This is where we learn that their ship is a Firefly-class transport vessel, which gives the show it’s title. Mal is now a Captain.
10:05 : We get out first glorious look at the ship, silently soaring through space as it’s engines burn.
10:29 : Interpol, the World Peacekeeping Police force is still operating, in the 26th century.
10:37 : Jayne describes something as ‘shiny’ for the first time. In the Firefly Verse it’s a colloquialism for ‘excellent’ or ‘cool’.
11:00 : The gorgeous opening credits appear here in the two-hour version on streaming and DVD. It never changes over the course of the series, so there’s only one version. We defy you to not sing along anytime you hear it. In fact, you’re humming it now. The theme, The Ballad of Serenity, was written by Whedon and performed by Sonny Rhodes.
I don’t care, I’m still free – You can’t take the sky from me.
Take me out into the black, tell ’em 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 found Serenity…
You can’t take the sky from me…
The Ballad of Serenity
13:10 : Kaylee uses ‘Shiny’ in the more familiar way. It’s a word frequently associated with her as a character.
13:33 : The tracking shot leads from the corridor of the ship up to the bridge in one fluid shot. Most of the set was practically built on levels, so the cast had the feel of the cramped ship. A similar shot, used by the same director, opens the movie Serenity.
14:11 : Wash shows insecurities about his marriage to Zoe here, with her needing permission from the Captain to have time out. This will come to a head in War Stories.
14:50 : And here we meet Inara Serra, played by Morena Baccarin, who’s gone on to many genre roles, included Adria in Stargate SG-1, Doctor Leslie Thompkins in Batman prequel Gotham and Masters of the Universe (2026) as the Sorceress of Grayskull. Morena was not the original actress hired for the role. More on that in a bit…
16:46 : When Inara reaches for the controls of the shuttle, she’s holding them upside down.
16:53 : Our first glimpse of the wealthy, uptown part of Persephone’s main city…
17:00 : …compared to the poverty of the Eavestown Docks. If you haven’t got the culture in your head by now, a long sweeping shot by crane shows us the market place from above.
17:43 : Kaylee tells a seemingly uninterested Mal that she needs a new compression coil for the ship. She also tells him of the catastrophe that will happen if it’s not replaced soon. She’s shrugged off due to the trade they’re doing, but this very thing happens in Out of Gas.
17:57 : Last translation or we’d be here forever. Wash tells Zoe to ‘watch her back’.
18:18 : The much missed Ron Glass makes his first appearance as the mysterious Book. Glass appeared in many a television show such as Mr. Rhodes, Friends and Teen Angel. He was a voice artist on the Rugrats and it’s sequel All Grown Up! and appeared on Star Trek: Voyager, The Division and Agents of SHIELD.
18:44 : Book mentions that he never married. Neither did actor Ron Glass. He passed away from respiratory issues in 2016. He was 71.
19:08 : The first of (not many) recurring characters, the less-than-honest Badger first appears. He’s played by prolific actor Mark A. Sheppard, who apart from many a sci-fi role in Doctor Who, Star Trek, The X-Files, Bionic Woman and Battlestar Galactica, also, notably, played the demon Crowley on Supernatural for eight seasons.
23:00 : Book’s mysterious past was never confirmed during the series run, but would be covered afterwards in the graphic novel A Shepherd’s Tale.
23:20 : Kaylee introduces Book to herself and the ship, which is named for the first time as Serenity, named after the Battle of Serenity Valley seen at the start of the episode.
23:52 : Behind Mal, Zoe and Jayne as they walk back to the ship, numerous logos for the mysterious and shadowy Blue Sun Corporation can be seen…
25:03 : Jayne says he’s not going anywhere near Reaver territory. It’s the first mention of the Reavers. Jayne doesn’t manage to keep his rule.
25:30 : Guest star Carlos Jacott plays Lawrence Dobson. Like Umberger before him, Jacott guest starred on Buffy in Season Three’s Anne and Angel in The Batchelor Party.
25:39 : Native New Yorker Sean Maher had already been a recurring guest on Party of Five and a regular on the short-lived The $treet, alongside Giancarlo Esposito and Jennifer Connelly. Since Firefly, he’s guest starred all over television on shows like The Mentalist, CSI: Miami, Arrow and reunited with Nathan Fillion on The Rookie.
27:03 : An Imperial Shuttle, as seen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, can be seen lifting off from the docks.
28:03 : Mal’s obvious reluctance to have a Shepherd aboard his ship is a reference back to that earlier cut scene.
29:53 : Inara makes her entrance. This scene was filmed twice, first with actress Rebecca Gayheart, who had originally been cast. When the producers decided the right chemistry wasn’t quite there, Whedon brought in Morena Baccarin. The show had already started shooting.
31:24 : The reveal of what was in Book’s box: strawberries, obviously a delicacy by the way Kaylee reacts.
36:10 : Mal has a latrine in his bunk room. Again, this is something you never see in Star Trek. Have you ever seen the bathroom on the Enterprise?
37:08 : Mal throws a punch at Simon and floors him. This is not the last time either of these things happen.
39:00 : Kaylee is shot and that riot we talked about? It begins. In all seriousness though, it’s Kaylee’s plight that brings the entire crew together – even Jayne looks concerned.
40:30 : Judging by the costumes the cast are wearing in this scene, several promo shots for the series were taken during shooting.
43:09 : River Tam actress Summer Glau received her first on screen credit on a third-season episode of Angel, before moving straight into work as a series regular on Firefly. Since the show, she’s been a hit onscreen, with shows like The Big Bang Theory and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. She’s also had recurring roles on The 4400 and Dollhouse. She also reunited with Fillion on Castle.
43:20 : In the syndicated version, this is where the first part of the pilot ends, straight after Mal’s ‘Huh’.
43:44 : A personal favourite moment: Mal’s reaction when River screams. Priceless.
43:50 : Summer Glau did this scene in the nude on a locked down set.
44:44 : And cue the credits for Part 2, placed here when separated.
44:56 : Simon gives the crew some of his backstory with River and his family, some of which we’ll see in Safe and learn more about in Ariel.
47:25 : Simon evidently isn’t telling the crew the whole truth in this moment. As seen in the movie, he didn’t just fund the expedition to break River out from her Academy, but was actually a part of it in person, suggesting he’s more of an action man than he’s presenting himself as here.
49:26 : Inara threatens to leave the ship. She’ll do so again in Heart of Gold, but remain aboard until just after the series. By the time of the movie, she has left.
50:14 : And another punch from Mal to Simon’s handsome face.
53:54 : Our first glimpse of a Reaver ship and she is a shark. We see more of them as the series continues.
55:00 : Simon, being from one of the inner worlds has always assumed the stories he’s heard about the Reavers are myths, but he’s proven wrong. Sadistic and savage, the Reavers are cannibals, living on the edge of known space. They rape, pillage and kill their way through the neighbouring star systems, targeting as they please. We discover their origin in the feature film.
55:45 : Inara pulls a vial from her belongings in her shuttle. According to producer Tim Minear, the vial contained a fast acting poison that would not only kill her, but the people attacking her as well.
57:37 : Kaylee’s crush on Simon is brought up by Kaylee herself here, when she refers to him as ‘nice’. Their flirtation will last throughout the series.
1:02:15 : Bonnie Bartlett‘s career has run an impressive seven decades! She and her husband Dr. William Daniels famously each won an Emmy on the same night in 1986. Her career began with soap opera Love for Life (1955-1959) and she had roles on everything from Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons and Gunsmoke, all massive American hits. From 1982-1988, she played Ellen Craig on St. Elsewhere, a role that began as a guest star and ballooned. The Golden Girls, LA Law, Stargate SG-1, Boston Legal, ER and Touched by an Angel were just a few of the shows she appeared in before her retirement in 2017.
1:04:40 : The scenes on Whitefall are filmed on location, on the Alabama Hills, in Lone Pine, California and in parts of the Mojave Desert.
1:09:08 : The first hint that River might be psychic or partial to empathic powers comes here when she senses Dobson’s approach – before he arrives at the infirmary.
1:13:09 : The exact moment the Reaver ship approaches Whitefall, a sound effect can be heard, unlike other space scenes, due to the ship hitting the atmosphere.
1:15:45 : Mal doesn’t hesitate and shoots Dobson in the head. He doesn’t check to make sure he’s dead though before he and Jayne throw his body overboard. He’ll return in Those Left Behind.
1:16:14 : As he’s concentrating on piloting, Wash asks the people around him for calm, as he’ll do again in the movie whilst again being chased by Reavers.
1:17:17 : Although Inara doesn’t end up using her shuttle to evacuate the crew in this episode, she will end up doing so in Out of Gas.
1:19:00 : Serenity, with Wash and Kaylee in control, escape the Reavers by using a manoeuvre they call a Crazy Ivan, which in reality is essentially a U-turn.
1:22:55 : Jayne is indeed correct. People will come after River and Simon, starting with Ariel.
1:23:31 : Mal, Jayne and the audience finds out what happens when the ‘money isn’t enough’ for Jayne in Ariel.
1:24:25 : Mal offers Simon a position as the ship’s medic, an invitation he will revoke at the start of the feature film.
1:25:50 : The producers credit at the end of the episodes was added to the show when it was released on DVD and then streaming. When broadcast in the UK on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2002, FOX did not traditionally credit it’s producers in this fashion, and an outline in gold of Serenity flashed by instead.
1:26:33 : As traditional, and fully-expected by the fandom at this point, is an appearance from the Mutant Enemy Mutant in his usual spot.
The Watcher's Guide 