| Episode No. | Firefly Season 1, Episode 4 |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vern Gillum |
| Written by | Jane Espenson |
0:01 : Mal now provides the opening narration. There are two different versions of this one, each with slightly different footage and wording. This one is as follows:
Here’s how it is: Earth got used up, so we terraformed a whole new galaxy of Earths, some rich and flush with the new technologies, some not so much. Central Planets, them was formed the Alliance, waged war to bring everyone under their rule; a few idiots tried to fight it, among them myself. I’m Malcolm Reynolds, captain of Serenity. Got a good crew: fighters, pilot, mechanic. We even picked up a preacher, and a bona fide companion. There’s a doctor, too, took his genius sister out of some Alliance camp, so they’re keeping a low profile. You got a job, we can do it, don’t much care what it is.
0:50 : The player in the bar is played by Carl Bresk. He’s not named on screen, but called Wright in the script. He appeared later on Veronica Mars.
2:22 : Yes, it’s the second time in three episodes that Mal has started a bar fight. It seems to be either his personal hobby or the man needs an outlet.
4:10 : Mal tells Zoe and Wash that though it may feel like it, Persephone isn’t home. It may not be where they hang their hats, but it is the planet Serenity most frequently returns to in the series.
5:00 : Actor Michael McMillian portrays Inara’s potential younger suitor on her comm channel. He’s perhaps better known as Steve Newlin in HBO’s’ True Blood.
5:11 : British actor Edward Atterton had previously appeared as Sydney’s doomed fiancé Danny in Alias‘s pilot. He also appeared in Charmed.
5:44 : He’s being presumptuous, as he is throughout the episode, here, but Atherton’s term of endearment to Inara translates as ‘Sweetheart.’
7:53 : Zoe mentions wanting a slinky dress, which Wash dutifully asks permission to buy her. In the final scenes of the movie Serenity, Zoe finally wears a slinky dress.
9:02 : And when you land on Persephone, there’s always a friendly face. Or a familiar one anyway, as Mark A. Sheppard makes his second appearance as criminal Badger. Of course, to people originally watching in the US, it was his first appearance and viewers would have missed the references to the pilot…
Michael McMillian
9:23 : …such as Badgers lair, the same lair we saw then.
10:18 : Translates as “smelled a dog fart,” as in Harrow’s nose is so far up in the air he wouldn’t recognise the smell.
10:38 : Again, viewers have a right to be confused with what Mal and Badger are referring to here. It’s the argument Badger had about Mal looking down on him in Serenity, which he reiterates here. You could argue that it’s only repeated here because FOX delayed the pilot, which in logic makes even less sense.
11:54 : We learn Inara’s surname is Serra, but it’s never referred to again on the series.
12:16 : Inara’s paying the older man a compliment: it translates as “Old friend, you look very energetic!”
14:13 : Another reveal: Kaylee is a nickname: her full name is revealed to be Kaywinnit Lee Frye.
14:42 : Just a personal moment. Kaylee’s look as she descends the steps into the ball, the big smile on her face – it’s so cute!
15:36 : Kaylee refers to Mal as ‘Captain Tight Pants’ an affectionate nickname that the fans also adopted for their favourite captain.
15:51 : Kaylee is distracted by a server carrying a tray of strawberries. She previously showed her affection for the fruit in the pilot.
16:10 : Kaylee’s line translates as “Thank you, Captain!”
17:07 : River starts tearing all the labels from the food cans. The ones she removes have the Blue Sun Corp. logo on them and River again mentions the Blue Handed Men.
20:09 : Banning, the cruel courtesan who derides Kaylee, is played by Kim Onasch, who portrayed Jenifer Munson on As the World Turns. Her fellow lady is named Cabott and she’s played by Janora McDuffie, who had a recurring role as social worker Janet on Grey’s Anatomy.
21:15 : The late Larry Pennell played Murphy, the gentleman who saves Kaylee from Banning’s derision. Pennell made a name for himself in Westerns when he started his career in 1955, passing away in 2013.
21:37 : Our final guest star of the episode: Warrick Harrow, the Lord who agrees to deal with Mal, is played by Larry Drake, perhaps best known for his role as Benny Stulwicz in LA Law, a role which he won an Emmy for two years in a row in 1988-89. He passed in 2016.
26:04 : A rather meaningful gesture on Mal’s part – at least he was defending Inara’s honour and rights. If it wasn’t clear before, as of this episode it’s now obvious that Mal’s interest in Inara is more than a Captain looking after his crew. In fact, that’s why he’s not crossing the line. Please note, despite his gallantry, that Inara wields a sword better than him.
32:51v: River is truly remarkable: within hearing twenty words from Badger from afar, she’s able to imitate his accent, his mannerisms and flatter him with his own language! And then walks out the room without a care in the world! It’s also the most the crew have heard her talk, so they are completely surprised! They will be more weary around River following this episode.
41:05 : Badger and his men move out, their work completed. Unfortunately, it’s Badger’s last appearance on the series, although both actor and character would have returned again had the series continued.
43:42 : Harrow’s cargo, the one he needs moving, happens to be a very much alive herd of cows. They’ll still be in the hold at the start of the next episode. Which actually followed this one, for a change!
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