Firefly: Out Of Gas

October 21st, 2008

Episode 7

Firefly: Out Of Gas

Synopsis

Mal passes out and hits the floor, bleeding. He struggles to get back on his feet, holding something in his right hand. He has a flashback to he and Zoe checking out Serenity for the first time. To Mal, Serenity represents freedom.

The crew laughs after dinner as Kaylee brings out a birthday cake for Simon. As he blows out the candles, there is a huge explosion, knocking everyone on the ground, and Zoe unconscious and paralyzing the ship. Simon tries to save Zoe’s life, and Mal orders Wash to the bridge, forcing him to leave Zoe’s side.

Flashback to Mal and Zoe hiring Wash (with a mustache) as the ship’s pilot.

Kaylee tells Mal that the life support was damaged, leaving them with limited oxygen. Mal and Wash argue about the low chances of anybody hearing their distress signal.

Flashback to a previous crew member named Fester having sex with Kaylee in the engine room. Mal is impressed with her engineering knowledge, fires Fester, and hires Kaylee as ship’s engineer.

Kaylee apologizes for the ship’s fire. She says the broken engine needs a replacement part.

Mal briefs the crew on their lack of options and decides the crew should evacuate in the two shuttles while he stays behind on Serenity.

Flashback to Mal bringing Inara aboard the Serenity for the first time, to rent a shuttle for her profession. She asks for complete autonomy, and supported unification. There is roughness between them.

As Mal sets up a shuttle, Inara begs him to join them, saying he doesn’t have to die alone. He resists, and the crew boards the shuttles and leave Serenity. Alone, Mal puts on a blanket to protect himself from the cold. Just then, a ship pulls up alongside Serenity. The other ship captain is skeptical of an ambush but offers Mal the needed engine part - a catalyzer. The other crew boards Serenity well-armed.

Flashback to a gang of marauders - including Jayne - holding up Mal and Zoe. Mal offers to pay Jayne extra and thereby gets him to change sides in the middle of the confrontation.

The criminal shoots Mal, intending to steal the Serenity. Mal pulls a gun and orders them to leave the catalyzer behind. They relent, leaving Mal wounded and bleeding.

Mal plugs the catalyzer into the engine. He tries to call the crew back but passes out on the bridge floor. He awakens in the sick bay to find the crew has returned on their own.

Last flashback of Mal deciding to buy Serenity from a used spaceship salesman.

Thoughts

This episode is initially confusing as Mal’s injured trip taking the tool through the ship is mixed with flashbacks to show the back story of how the characters we’ve come to know initially came aboard Serenity. Luckily the “present day bits” are lit in blue, the first timeline normally, and the “long ago” timeline in green, which helps keep each plot line straight. The neat part is where overlaps occur to highlight plot elements - Kaylee talking about a broken engine part explains what Mal is carrying in another thread.

This episode also emphasizes the familial nature of the Serenity crew - the characters resemble a dysfunctional family that sticks together to keep the ship moving forward.

I also enjoyed the reminder of the inherent dangers of space travel - running out of air, being stranded, and the crappy, ramshackle nature of Serenity that keeps them on the edge of survival. The danger also serves to bring the Serenity “family” closer together.

Mal is portrayed as a skilled captain who remains calm under pressure, makes decisions to save the crew before him, and fights to keep things together.

One nit pick - when Mal pulls the one gun on the leader, all the other bandits have way more guns yet the follow Mal’s orders pretty passively and leave Serenity.

Otherwise, this was yet another great episode.

Next Episode: Ariel
Previous Episode: Jaynestown

TV Shows: Firefly

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