"Firefly" Objects in Space (2002)

Director:

Joss Whedon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Joss Whedon (written by)

TV Series:

"Firefly" (2002)

Original Air Date:

13 December 2002 (Season 1, Episode 10)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Alliance has placed a bounty on River Tam's head and a bounty Hunter named Jubal Early sets out...

Plot Keywords:

Bounty Hunter | Eavesdropping | Tied Up | Heroine | Threat

Cast

Nathan Fillion	...	Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds
Gina Torres	...	Zoë Washburne
Alan Tudyk	...	Hoban 'Wash' Washburne
Morena Baccarin	...	Inara Serra
Adam Baldwin	...	Jayne Cobb
Jewel Staite	...	Kaylee Frye
Sean Maher	...	Dr. Simon Tam
Summer Glau	...	River Tam
Ron Glass	...	Shepherd Book
Richard Brooks	...	Jubal Early

Runtime:

44 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

The boots that Jubal Early wears are made by New Rock, a Spanish brand that specializes in metal-plated leather goth boots.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: (At 11:22) While Kaylee is revealing River's extraordinary killing skills in the common area, you can see a crew member on the left side of the screen, bent over the counter reading a binder.

Quotes:

[Mal has just taken one of Jayne's guns from River]
Mal: Fully loaded, safety off. This here is a recipe for unpleasantness.

Serenity, choices and existential Angst

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The visceral quality of Jubal Early's interactions with Firefly remind us with force how important is this ship. It is the tenth actor often neglected and unspoken; firefly makes this crew come together, live together and work together; is the glue that holds them. No wonder that the last shot where we go from one to the other member of the firefly crew we travel most of serenity's inner world...

It is a story of existential angst. Jubal Early goes from knowing who he is in the beginning of the episode into losing his control. River, often lost and confused, by the end of the episode is clearer about herself, who she is and where is her place among the firefly crew.

It is also a story of choices. In the beginning River has insights to the choices the others have made or have to make in their lifes. Then she chooses to see Nature and beauty where there is death. Jubal Early chooses to be a bounty hunter. In the end Malcolm chooses to accept River as one of the crew for better or for worse.

Brilliantly done, peppered with doses of dry humour from Richard Brooks it remains one of my favourite Firefly episodes.