BB Firefly Rewatch Day One: The Train Job

[Buffy Summers]

The crew of Serenity takes on a train heist commissioned by a crime lord. They steal the goods, only to find it is medicine that is desperately needed by the town.

Source: Wikipedia

I can see why they chose this episode to air first - it does get right into the meat of things without a lot of exposition. Zoe is so badass, and Mal is awesome, Jayne is hilarious.

Anyone have any comments?

 

[Taake]

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?" - Always loved that line!

Lol. I thought the opposite of this episode than you B, I though it was all exposition - from explaining the war, to Jayne's not being in the war, introducing the passengers and stressing that companions are of high value now... it was all like really clunky in delivery. I never really cared for this episode that much, and now I think I realized that that's why. Since I've never watched it first before, I don't think I've thought of how stiffly they go about making sure we know exactly who everyone is, in the shortest time possible.

I'm looking forward to the next episode, one that might be less about establishing the verse.

 

[GwenRaiden]

Buffy Summers: Mal is such a great character. And they did establish it quickly.

Yeah, Mal was definitely the appeal for me straight off the bat.

I liked everything we seen from the characters in this episode -- beginning with the brief explanation of the war and what part they played in it, to the choice made to give the medicine back once they learned what it was and who it was for.

Drugged Jayne is funny, and his "I was aiming for his head" line. Mal showing no mercy to Crow was a good moment.

Overall, one of the good ones. A great set of actors and very likeable characters, fast pace, funny, some looming danger from Niska and the realisation that the good guys from the war are the minority, living hand to mouth on the edges of the system, seemingly doing any job for money to keep Serenity flying, and yet in the end, making the right choice.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Lol. I thought the opposite of this episode than you B, I though it was all exposition

I thought the opposite of you T... and you B. And that's the point that I find interesting. Bare in mind this was literally the first time I have rewatched it. When I first watched it, with divided attention, during the day I thought it was terrible at the exposition. But when I had my comfies on, and relaxed and watched it again that night, I didn't seem to notice or mind what irritated me before. In fact, it didnt seem so blatant and obvious.

Next time though I will be more aware of what I say as I did not realize I was being 'recorded'

 

[GwenRaiden]

Next time though I will be more aware of what I say as I did not realize I was being 'recorded'

LOL same.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Duh! He was the grandfather in Guardians of the Galaxy! But Scandal and the Killing.

 

[Buffy Summers]

I took off the transcript. Though, it's still in the chat box and I'm not sure why it's a big deal to continue the conversation from it in a thread...

I thought the opposite of this episode than you B, I though it was all exposition

Well, I guess I meant more in the sense that they didn't spend the episode with how they assembled this crew of people; they were all together and doing a caper and we very quickly saw who they were and how different they were.

But if the intention is to get people up to speed quickly, it works. I mean, to take The Vampire Diaries for example, it takes a couple episodes to get going. So if you only watch the pilot, you might not watch any more.

Mr. Pole: Are you implying I did not watch MSR!?! Yes, it was 24 I think.

No, I'm saying *I* didn't watch 24. But a lot of other people did. Which is where I would assume a lot of people saw the Sheriff.

🙂

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I took off the transcript. Though, it's still in the chat box and I'm not sure why it's a big deal to continue the conversation from it in a thread...

I think it's because on the chatbox you think no one actually sees it, or it's forgotten.. You didn't have to take it off, it was just an unexpected shock, is all.

 

[Taake]

I liked reading the transcript since I wasn't there for that viewing! 🙁

Yes, I guess that's true. I felt a bit disappointed in the introduction of River and Simon that way though. I felt confused (even knowing the story).

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I felt a bit disappointed in the introduction of River and Simon that way though. I felt confused (even knowing the story).

But how else would they be introduced? I have never seen the Serenity episode.

 

[Buffy Summers]

I was trying to pay attention to how they introduced those two, whether it would be confusing etc. I'm not sure if I feel like it adds to the mystery of River or not.

But how else would they be introduced? I have never seen the Serenity episode.

It shows how they came to be on the ship.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I'm not sure if I feel like it adds to the mystery of River or not.

I think it was a much better set-up. It's the tease of more.

 

[Taake]

I was trying to pay attention to how they introduced those two, whether it would be confusing etc. I'm not sure if I feel like it adds to the mystery of River or not.

I felt like it didn't. Lol

It was just like - oh here's this girl. She seems kind of unwell. And some government dudes want her. But there's no intrigue there.
Meanwhile half of the cast are either going "oh my, Simon's so great to have RESCUED HIS SISTER! HE RESCUED HER!" and the other half of them are like "Yeah, who cares if he RESCUED HIS SISTER!"

It was underwhelming to me. Made their story seem very contrived and uninteresting.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

It was just like - oh here's this girl. She seems kind of unwell. And some government dudes want her. But there's no intrigue there.

No intrigue? Why do the government guys want her? What was she dreaming about? What was she going on about them coming in pairs. There was plenty of intrigue there. I think it adds interest to the story but without making her the focal point.

Just as the scene in the bar with Mal. You know there is a backstory and a history, you just dont know what.

 

[Taake]

No intrigue? Why do the government guys want her? What was she dreaming about? What was she going on about them coming in pairs. There was plenty of intrigue there. I think it adds interest to the story but without making her the focal point.

Just as the scene in the bar with Mal. You know there is a backstory and a history, you just dont know what.

Guess we'll just have to disagree. To me it was underwhelming.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Guess we'll just have to disagree. To me it was underwhelming.

But I wonder if that is because you are viewing it with knowledge of the events, versus viewing it, for what essentially is your first time.

 

[Taake]

But I wonder if that is because you are viewing it with knowledge of the events, versus viewing it, for what essentially is your first time.

Possibly, but it's been years since I watched Serenity. I just like a different tactic is all, I suspect.

 

[Jules]

This is only the second time I've watched the episode, the first being years ago.

I love the opening scene, it's action packed straight away and I feel it shows Mal 's feelings of betrayal towards the Alliance very well. It shatters his loyalties that they leave him there to die.

I also think that the fast forward 6 years is well done, it introduces the characters expertly and I love Wash.

The scene were Simon and Mal are introduced to each other shows how different they are, in my opinion. On one side of the screen you've got Mal all layed back and on the other Simon is all stiff and proper.

I love Mal 's protectiveness of Kaylee. The way he tells Jayne to leave the table after his comments about her and Simon. I wonder if Simon would have let Kaylee die if they hadn't changed their destination. Again, I thought Mal was sweet not taking the chance when it came to kaylee.

I didn't really have any sympathy for Simon in the scene were he threatened not to help Kaylee but then when you see him with River and how much he cares for her and tries to protect her my opinion changed.

It's a great opening to the show.
 
Sorry for the double post, but Netflix has this as the second episode and I didn't check the titles before I posted. So please ignore the above post 🙂

Now that I've watched this as an 'episode 2' I cant imagine this being a good season opener. In my opinion there's no real introduction to the characters, everything is already established like you've already been introduced to them. It does have good character interaction though and it does give the audience a lot to keep tuned in for: Why does Mal not like the Alliance (if the other episode hadnt aired first then you wouldn't know) and what's wrong with River?