FIREFLY, Season 1 Episode 12, “The Message”

Viewed at home, 10/25 at 3 PM.

Interesting story this time around, though rather complicated. An former soldier who had served in the war with Mal and Zoe ships his own dead body to them along with a recording asking them to return his body to his home planet. After supposed Alliance men begin pursuing Serenity, Simon begins an autopsy in an effort to find out what is so important about the body that they’d be followed, but a very much alive Tracy jumps off the table and reveals that he is smuggling internal organs. The crew formulate a plan to escape from their pursuers, but Tracy is unaware of this, grabs a gun and threatens various crew members’ lives in an effort to blackmail them into not contacting the Alliance officers. This plan miserably backfires when he gets himself shot and dies (for real this time).

I love flashbacks and so I was happy to see another one in this episode, featuring Mal, Zoe, and Tracy. While Zoe appeared just as calm, collected and badass as she is now, Mal seemed markedly different in that he was more exuberant and less disillusioned than we’ve ever seen him. The relationship between these two is one of the best on the show (I say that too much but it’s true every time!) and I love the little significant glances they stole at each other throughout the episode. It’s so refreshing to see a loving, loyal male-female relationship with no romantic overtones whatsoever. It is possible, after all!

Further progress on the Kaylee front this episode with Simon accidentally insulting her again and her brief relationship with Tracy before he dies.  Don’t know what she saw in him though– seemed to me (and the captain and Zoe, who is ALWAYS right; see last episode) he was self-centered and annoying. Either way, it served as a tidy way to make Simon jealous and to bring them together at the end (him comforting her at the funeral during the last scene was adorable). Simon’s awkward efforts at romance are so endearing, and it’s getting to be repetitive when Kaylee takes everything he says so seriously. I’m ready for something more to happen between them other than his blundering and her retreating.

Fantastic last scene– the funeral montage set to a replay of Tracy’s recording with a solo violin melody in the background was just perfect, and however much I disliked Tracy, I did feel some sadness for him. All of the characters were on point here; Mal and Zoe’s gazes never wavered; Simon was holding hands with Kaylee (a sign that they are back on good terms); even Jayne looked sad. Also, I spotted Joss Whedon playing one of the relatives! This was one of the last scenes ever shot for the series; knowing that the cast knew about the show’s cancellation made the farewell and the music even more poignant.

Thoughts:

• Jayne’s attitude towards the wonderfully absurd hat sent him by his mother was adorable. I don’t think he took it off all episode. And him struggling to read her letter was so sweet – his comment in one of the earlier episodes about never having gone to school was true, apparently. I’d love a deeper insight into his childhood.
• This episode’s obligatory weird River scene: she sprawls over the casket with her ear to the cover, apparently listening. She’s definitely psychic, but I’m ready for some real answers.
• Love the episode continuity– this one starts off with Mal arguing with Inara over her helping to fence the gadget thing they stole in the last episode.
• While usually TV special effects aren’t much good, particularly on sci-fi shows (see: Heroes), the shots of Serenity being chased by the Alliance vessel were breathtaking.
• Wash’s piloting is a wonder to behold.
• Jayne was so frightened by Tracy appearing to come back from the dead– even after things had calmed down, he didn’t even want to go near the guy. He looked genuinely disturbed.

Quotes:

“Oh my god it’s grotesque! Oh, and there’s something in a jar.” –Wash
“My food is problematic.” –River (must remember to incorporate this one in regular conversation)
“How’s it sit? Pretty cunning, dontcha think?” –Jayne, on his hat
“What’d y’all order a dead guy for?” –Jayne
“Don’t strain your brain trying. You might break something.” –Mal, to Jayne
“Zoe got married? Next you’ll be telling me she smiles…. has emotions.” –Tracy

Tracy: When you can’t run, you crawl. And when you can’t crawl–
Zoe: You find someone to carry you.

Zoe: First rule of battle, little one? Don’t let ‘em know where you are. [Mal comes running in, firing wildly and yelling at the top of his lungs] ….Of course, there are other schools of thought.

Rating: 4/5. Great story, good character development. Not much wrong with this one except I couldn’t stand Tracy, and I’m pretty sure that was intentional. The music especially stood out here. Will definitely be downloading the soundtrack.

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