FIREFLY, Season 1 Episode 8, “Out of Gas”

Viewed at home, 10/11 at 10 PM.

It’s weird rereading my blog post from last week on “Jaynestown,” because compared to this episode, that one seems so insignificant. “Out of Gas” took everything to the next level. We learn  so much more about each character and a lot about the history of Serenity. Finally!

The plot was pretty simple. Some part of the ship breaks down, there’s no life support, and Mal sends the crew off in the ship’s two shuttles, in the hopes that they can reach help or survive longer, since the shuttles have more oxygen. Mal (being, as always, the tortured hero) remains with the ship. The brilliance of the episode was not in this, though; it was how the story was structured. The episode opened with a jarring shot of Serenity: empty, abandoned and dimly lit. There’s a crash as Mal falls into the frame, onto the grating on the floor, and the viewer instantly knows that something is wrong with both him and the ship. As Mal’s gaze shifts to the doors, the scene subtly shifts to a flashback, where he and Zoe are entering the ship for the first time, and finally, finally we get some insight into how the crew was assembled.

While the story-line in the present (Mal trying to save the ship) moves slowly, it facilitates a huge amount of information conveyed in flashbacks. The transitions are seamless. We learn that Wash had a mustache when he was hired, and that Zoe didn’t like him at first (probably because of the mustache). We learn that Kaylee was hired after she was found having sex with the original (rather annoying) mechanic on the floor of the engine room, because she singlehandedly solved a problem with the ship that had kept them grounded for a week. Jayne was swayed to Serenity’s side when Mal and Zoe, being held at gunpoint by the mercenary, offered him more money. And we learn, unsurprisingly, that Inara and Mal have never gotten along.

All of this worked because “Out of Gas” wasn’t about Mal or the crew or any one character. It was about the ship. Serenity was almost a character in this episode, and the individual stories of the crew were a backdrop to how the ship has come from then to now, and influenced the lives of those who ride her. This is more than anything proven by the last scene: a flashback featuring Mal standing and smiling at Serenity, knowing he’s found the ship he’s been looking for.

Thoughts:

• It would seem Zoe’s always called Mal “sir,” as evidenced by the flashback where she is no longer serving under him in the war, but still hasn’t joined the crew of the ship. She’s devoted to him. Their relationship is fascinating.
• Mal’s hair looked way better in the past.
• Simon’s a terrible storyteller.
• In the background of Simon’s birthday scene – Mal has to slap Jayne’s hand away from the cake. HA.
• The entire crew was shocked when Zoe got hurt. She always seems so indestructible and strong. It’s jarring to see her lying on the table in the medical ward.
• Inara supported unification (which seems to mean she was a supporter of the Alliance, as opposed to the side Mal was on). Why?
• Zoe is always saving the captain’s ass. If she hadn’t convinced everyone to return to the ship, Mal would probably be dead.
• River yet again shows signs of psychic ability. She muttered “Fire,” an instant before a huge ball of fire cascaded down the hallway towards them.

Quotes:

“You paid money for this? On purpose?” –Zoe, on Serenity
“Sick people are HI-larious.” –Jayne
“I don’t like him.” –Zoe, on Wash
“Always thought the name Serenity had a vaguely funereal sound to it.” –Simon
“You want me. You want me… on your ship.” –Inara
“Everybody dies alone.” –Mal
“You all gonna be here when I wake up?” –Mal

Rating: 5/5. Different enough in tone from the other episodes that it seems like a different show, but that’s hardly a bad thing. Best ‘serious’ episode so far. Pacing and structure made this feel like a feature film. So good I can’t see how the actual feature film could top this.