Firefly: The Train Job

September 9th, 2008

Episode 1

Synopsis

Mal, Jayne, and Zoe are in a bar when a drunk calls for a toast to the Alliance. Offended, Zoe punches him and a bar fight ensues, eventually backing Mal and his accomplices to the edge of a cliff. Luckily, the Serenity appears from behind the ledge to save them. Safely aboard their ship, Mal announces a new job lead.

Simon comforts River after she remembers some Alliance experiments on her. Mal tells Shepherd that protecting Simon and River is the right thing to do

The Serenity docks with a space station, and Mal, Jayne, and Zoe are invited into the criminal Niska’s office. He reveals a secret torture chamber featuring a prisoner who was unable to complete a job. Mal is hired to steal a precious train cargo.

Mal and Zoe, posing as train passengers, pass through a car filled with Alliance soldiers. The Serenity flies alongside the train. Zoe finds the box to be stolen as Mal opens a top hatch. Jayne jumps from Serenity to attach a tow cable, and the Serenity takes off with the cargo. As Jayne escapes, a soldier shoots him in the leg. While getting off the train in Paradisio, Mal overhears that the stolen cargo was medical supplies, en route to sick civilians.

As Simon works on Jayne’s wounded leg, the crew disagrees about how long to wait for Mal and Zoe. Meanwhile, Mal and Zoe are questioned by the Paradisio sheriff, looking for the thieves. They pretend to be husband and wife.

Jayne argues with Wash about who’s in charge when he suddenly passes out — Simon injected him with a sedative. Inara retrieves Mal and Zoe by telling the sherrif Mal is her “indentured man.”

Back aboard Serenity, Mal decides to return the stolen cargo. Just then, a group of Niska’s henchmen arrive, looking for the goods. After a tense struggle, they are taken captive by the Serentiy crew.

Zoe and Mal return the cargo to the sheriff. Mal tries to give Niska’s money back to the head henchman, who is unreceptive — so Mal kicks him into the ship’s engine. Mal repeats the story to another henchman, who is much more receptive the proposition.

Meanwhile, aboard an Alliance ship, two agents tell an officer they’re looking for someone, and produce a picture of River.

Thoughts

• This episode flew by, and was over before I realized. Much tighter than the Serenity Pilot.
• The opening bar scene presents some useful history — the Alliance united several planets but met resistance, resulting in a war. The drunk refers to “independents” and “browncoats” of which Mal and the crew are a part of. We also learn the Alliance incorporates really terrible hats in their uniforms.
• Despite his gruff exterior and annoyed disposition, Mal displays a moral sense through the return of medicine. He’ll take many distasteful jobs for money out of circumstance, but this job hurt innocent people to whom he feels allegiance to, likely due to his past history of fighting the Alliance as a browncoat.
• River has a secret — not sure what that is at this point.
• Jayne continues his insubordinate behavior from the pilot. Surely he’ll do something treacherous in the future.
• Subplot of Kaylee liking Simon –well, I suppose a little bit of cheesy soap opera romance is always to be expected.

Next Episode: Bushwhacked
Previous Episode: Serenity Pilot