| Episode No. | Firefly Season 1, Episode 6 |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vondie Curtis-Hall |
| Written by | Joss Whedon |
0:02 : This episode has Book’s version of the narration at the beginning.
1:06 : Alex Stemkovsky plays the unnamed Bandit in this scene. He also had a small role on Alias.
1:10 : We later find out that this planet is named Triumph. It also has some strange laws, as we’ll discover.
2:16 : This marks the first mention of Beaumonde. We never actually go there in the series, but we do see it in the feature film.
2:54 : Elder Gommen is played by Bob Fimiani, who had previously appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s fourth season as Mr. Ward, a chairman on the board of the Initiative in The Yoko Factor and Primeval. He’s also a Mutant Enemy hattrick, appearing in two episodes of Angel in different roles.
3:35 : Christina Hendricks makes her debut as Saffron in this episode and is instantly memorable. More from Saffron would have been so much fun. Hendricks had previously appeared, in an early television role, as a barmaid seduced by a pre-vampire Angel in The Prodigal. She would go on to critical acclaim and success with her role as Joan Harris on Mad Men.
4:00 : Composer Greg Edmondson has done a wonderful job with the folk music playing throughout this scene.
6:24 : Summer Glau appears in this episode (briefly, in one scene), but her lines were cut.
7:45 : Whoa! If looks could kill. Inara isn’t even trying to hide her jealousy in this scene.
8:03 : We’re treated to some fantastic dialogue: Wash’s “You brute!” and Kaylee’s “He makes everyone cry. He’s a monster!” Zoe finds the whole situation hysterically funny and chuckles throughout.
9:04 : Honestly, if you’re ever tempted to find the funniest episode of anything Mutant Enemy created, this episode is up there. The best bit is Mal turning to Jayne: “How drunk was I last night?” / “I don’t know. I passed out.”
9:43 : Kaylee tells Mal that “you don’t deserve her, you fink,” while Mal’s response translates to “mind your own business”.
12:14 : “My name is Saffron.” It’s not, as we’ll see, but we never find out specifically which alias is her real name, if any.
13:10 : Book’s hilarious moment when he pops back and reminds Mal about the special Hell is a particularly stand-out moment. You mention it to any Browncoat and they’ll know exactly what you’re referring to.
17:40 : Mal’s shock when he realises what Jayne is offering him translates to the rather colourful ‘explosive diarrhoea of an elephant!’
17:58 : Jayne presents Mal with his very favourite gun. Hilariously, he’s named it Vera!
18:55 : This is one of the few things we learn about Mal’s childhood, which he admits he doesn’t think about. His mother raised him single-handedly, with about ‘forty farmhands’ on her ranch. He’s from a planet named Shadow.
20:06 : Bree and his unnamed ally enter the episode. Bree is played by Erick Passoja, who’s prominence as a voice artist has led to work on Star Wars and DC’s Doom Patrol. While his companion is not named in the episode, he’s called Corbin in the script. Actor Benito Martinez played David Aceveda on all seven seasons of The Shield and was on 9-1-1: Lone Star.
26:04 : Wash’s dinosaurs can once again be seen on the console.
28:00 : Wash’s phrase translates to ‘Mother of God and all her wacky nephews!’
29:08 : It’s clear now that Saffron has been lying about her technological prowess. She is clearly a skilled mechanic, pilot and saboteur, who’s not as naïve and unknowledgeable as she comes across as.
30:11 : Now she tries her seduction trick on Inara, where Inara realises that she’s dealing with a professional. She’s even impressed.
31:57 : Inara kisses Mal in relief when she learns he’s alive – and promptly drops unconscious due to the residue on his lips. Hilarious.
32:27 : Another worthy Mal moment in an episode full of them: “Is it Christmas?”
35:26 : Inara confirms that Saffron has had some formal Academy training as a Companion, which would seem to narrow her identity and past down somewhat.
37:15 : Mal recognises the net as a Carrion House – a trap designed to steal technology by trapping ships, killing the crew and taking their loot. Strangely, he looks to Book for confirmation. Maybe they’ve had a chat since Safe, because a Shepherd wouldn’t be your expert…
38:07 : …which Jayne is quick to point out, already suspicious after Book was shot. He’s not as stupid as he presents himself, our Jayne.
42:22 : Saffron will return in Trash, with another new name or two and a new scheme.
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