Three episodes of Firefly in a row.

[dangermousie]

Ergo, good day!

Also, you know how I said I didn't think I could love Mal any better? I was wrong.

Sigh...Mal. *fangirls*

I. Love. This. Show.



Ariel

This was a wonderful episode. I was creeped out by the blue-gloved men, and their idea of liquefying the brains of the flunkies just because they talked to Simon and River. They really scared me. Also, I found it interesting that they wanted Simon as well. I wonder why.

I was amused by Simon as a criminal mastermind, and that man really is both a talented doctor and a truly caring gentle person. I love the scene where he stops to help that dying patient even though it could totally blow his cover and how he unconsciously slips back into his surgeon role. You can see then what he gave up for River, as he clearly loves his work so much and must really miss it. And I loved his quiet strength when they got captured and he refused to move until he knew where they were taking them, and his horror when he saw what they did to River (poor girl). The thing is, he is such an overwhelmingly nurturing and decent person, this is an extra layer to his horror. I love the bit at the end, when she asks him if it's time to sleep and he replies that it's time to wake up.

But my favorite scene in Firefly so far has to be the tag with Mal and Jayne. When Mal, who is no dummy and certainly a cynic, figures out that Jayne (who really is scum) tried to sell Simon and River and almost spaces Jayne because betraying his crew is betraying him, wow. It truly hit me for the first time that Mal is dangerous and not one to cross, ever. It was more stark because it was so contained and controlled. No shouting at all, but you just wanted to take a step back. And it made me want to jump him so hard he'd have bruises.

War Stories

Otherwise known as "Mal gets severely tortured and Dangermousie loves it" episode. I must admit I was peeking through my fingers a bit in this episode.

I love River playing with Kaylee. Kaylee seems to know what River needs. And that scene where River talks to Simon and tells him how when she is better, she knows it will get worse...and he is so gentle nd amazingly patient with her. Simon, Simon, Simon.

Wash and Zoe cracked me up. But seriously, Wash needed to get over it before the torture. The end, with Mal and Zoe trying to pretend to have sex on Wash's suggestion was sheerly hilarious (because they have NO chemistry. "Take me hard" indeed).

But now we get to Mal. Mal, Mal, Mal, Mal....Oh, have I mentioned Mal????? I loved that he kept his head when he and Wash were captured and blindfolded (and that he tried to save the dealer). I loved the fact that he kept talking all through the torture, trying to get Wash riled up so he wouldn't break, keeping him alive. Niska is severely severely sick, and Mal knows what he does to people (visual evidence), but he still doesn't crack.

All the torture was horrible, horrible, horrible. Lots of screaming and misery and being brought back from the dead in order to be tortured some more? Argh! (Btw, is it wrong I was ogling his chest when he was being prodded with things?) I also love how he manages to get up when his team breaks in and goes "You want to meet the real me?" and you just go "Watch out Niska!" I love the fact that he regrets not being able to kill Niska. Guuuuh. I love how the whole crew freaks out with worry over him. This show is crack for a hurt/comfort whore.

I love when Zoe comes for Mal and Wash, but Niska says there is only enough money for one, so she takes Wash and Niska cuts off Mal's ear and throws it to her and she tucks it away. And the crew decides to go in and rescue him.

I also loved how the writers turned the cliche "two sides make up in lull of war" story on its head. Alliance troops threw apples to the Independents during a ceasefire period? They had grenades in them.

Also, loved Book's "kneecaps" comment. Though I am getting more and more curious about his background.

I think that is why Mal isn't scared by most things any more. He's seen true hell during the war, and nothing much can phase him after that.

Trash

It was my least favorite of the three. Not that it wasn't good, it was. It just I adored Ariel and War Stories so much.

First off, naked Mal. Heeeee. First we had dangerous Mal, then we had tortured Mal, and now naked Mal. Joss Whedon loves me. I loved how he wouldn't let his lack of clothes at the end phase him (and Inara was totally ogling him). I loved the Mal/Inara scene in the beginning, where you can once again sense their mutual attraction and jealosy (I love how she says she hasn't been able to pick up clients for 3 months and is he doing it on purpose), and how she does end up hurting him and that is why he takes Saffron's job. She can actually get through to him the way no one else can. Come on people, sex already!

It's neat to see that Wash is a lot less jittery a person since the torture (you could see it in second half of WS, too). I guess he lost his violence virginity.

I loved seeing a bit more of Saffron's inner ticking. Ugh.

And I as deeply impressed by Simon's scene with Jayne. He knows Jayne tried to sell him and River out, but he still won't do anything to hurt him because he is his patient.

Comments

[danceswithwords.livejournal.com]

"Ariel" is flat-out my favorite episode of Firefly. And I really loved the way the Jayne betrayal was handled--that it was so Jayne to do it, that his qualms are not as big as his greed; the way the penny dropped and you could just see the ripples of realization spreading; and the cover comes off of Mal and we see what a very hard man he is, how he's someone who is infinitely exhausted by all the ways people can suck and is willing to be stone cold about meting out consequences. It was awesome.

"Trash" is not a super episode, but I really enjoyed the interaction between Saffron and Mal, the games within games, the con artist and the outlaw. (I was very annoyed by "Our Mrs. Reynolds," and this episode really redeemed Saffron in my eyes.) And because I'm sometimes incredibly easily taken by odd details, I adored the way Mal called her "YoSaffBridge." Heh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I loved OMR because I found it hilarious. Saffron, however, I wanted to throw out of the airlock both episodes she appeared in.

the cover comes off of Mal and we see what a very hard man he is

Unlike Simon, he lost any patience and forgiveness about betrayal a long time ago. You mainly see him with the crew, whom he likes, but here you really see his edge, and it's a great great scene!

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Yaaaaay!! "Ariel" is my favorite too! I don't run across too many people who share that assessment.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's just such a brilliant, tightly written, unsettling ep.

[grace-om.livejournal.com]

It really is so delightful to see someone enjoying these for the first time :-) So much to love in these eps.

And I as deeply impressed by Simon's scene with Jayne. He knows Jayne tried to sell him and River out, but he still won't do anything to hurt him because he is his patient.

I love this bit too. He actually scares Jayne, which is great fun and totally deserved. But my recollection of why he says he won't harm him is because they're crewmates, which harks back to Simon's conversation with Mal at the end of "Safe." Or maybe I'm just wanking away here ;->

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

He says he won't hurt him on the operating table because he is the patient, and everywhere else because they are crewmates.

I guess what Mal said really sunk in. I love Simon's goodness, really.

[rawles.livejournal.com]

It's awesome to watch you react as you go through the series.

Ariel is probably my absolute favorite episode of the series, followed extremely, extremely closely (and sometimes overtaken depending on how the wind's blwoing) by Objects in Space, which is, in turn, followed extremely closely by Out of Gas.

I still hold my breath through the airlock scene every single time. Incredible, incredible work by bother Adam Baldwin and Nathan Fillion.

Plus, since you've watched it I get to use my favorite Firefly icon ever freely on your journal now!

Of course, now you have immediately coming up my least favorite episode of the series, The Message. Bah.

Then, Heart of Gold...which...yeah. I cannot speak on it just now.

I can't wait until you finish.

[rawles.livejournal.com]

And, uhm, ignore the fact that I apparently cannot type.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heee, icon! *dies*

I guess my order would be, but it changes all the time:

Out of Gas
Safe
Shindig (cause, Mal!)
Ariel
War Stories
Jaynetown
Our Mrs Reynolds
Serenity Pilot
Bushwacked
Train Job
Trash