"Firefly" War Stories (2002)

Director:

James A. Contner

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Cheryl Cain (writer)

TV Series:

"Firefly" (2002)

Original Air Date:

6 December 2002 (Season 1, Episode 9)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Wash begins to feel threatened by the bond between Mal and Zoe. In order to see for himself how the two work together...

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Revenge | Torture | Gunfight | Jealousy

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
Michael Fairman	...	Adelai Niska
Katherine Kendall	...	The Councillor
Rolando Molina	...	Bolles
John Dunn	...	Torturer
Michael Bentt	...	Viktor (as Michael A. Bentt)
Adam Pilver	...	Vanilla Husband (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

43 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:TV-14 | Australia:M

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

On the DVD commentary, Alan Tudyk pointed out that despite the way Zoe and Wash were constantly portrayed, with Zoe being taller than her husband, Alan is in fact taller than Gina Torres. He is 6', she is 5'10''.

Goofs:

Continuity: Niska's henchman is shown cutting off Mal's left ear. Later, Mal is shown with a bloody wound instead of a right ear. It switches back a few frames later.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Hoban 'Wash' Washburne: Mmmm. Wife soup. I must have done good.
Zoë Washburne: Yes dear. You done good.
Mal: Ow.
[sighs]
Mal: Did you tell her?
Hoban 'Wash' Washburne: Tell her what?
Mal: Your husband has demanded that we sleep together.
Zoë Washburne: Really?
Hoban 'Wash' Washburne: What? Mal, come on.
[...]

Gritty-Action Packed-Kick Butt Style

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

We start out with the crew ready to enjoy the fruits of their stolen loot from the episode of Ariel. But Niska is back with revenge from the Train Job. A sub plot of the day to day ills of the marriage of Zoe and Wash. Wash's insecurity of Zoe and Mal's relationship comes to the surface. Captain Reynolds takes Wash along with him on a job usually Zoe's place when they are ambushed by Niska's men and taken prisoner. This episode has action with purpose that we won't see till the Big Damn Movie. The trademark action sequences of this show are in full bloom. Zoe, Jayne, and Sherpherd Book track their love ones back to Niska's skyplex. The whole crew chips in all their cash from their stolen loot. More than enough Zoe offers a deal to Niska to get them back. Wash is returned but only a piece of flesh from Mal his given to her. Wash back on the ship distraught over the abandonment of Captain Reynolds musters up the resolve to mount a rescue mission. Zoe backing her man knowing the odds are not good. She knows Mal will be tortured to death. The crew rallies together to assault the skyplex in Magnificent Seven style. A great climax. Non stop action in rescuing Mal from Niska's henchmen. We see the Shepherd Book's knowledge in the use of firearms meets more than the eye. Kaylee a sweet dear is about to be gunned down by 3 mercks when of all else River takes them out. We now see the experiment of the Blue Sun Corp. come to light. An extremely powerful episode, well written and shot. Thumbs up all the way.