FIREFLY, Season 1 Episode 13, “Heart of Gold”

Viewed in the school cafeteria, 10/26 at 4 PM.

A lot happened in this episode, but it was really about Inara and her relationship with Mal, and in my opinion, this was long overdue. In short, a Companion-trained acquaintance of Inara’s, Nandi, calls for her help when a customer demands his as-yet unborn child from the woman he impregnated. The crew barricade the house and put up a good defense, while Simon tries to deliver the woman’s baby. Mal’s willingness to help Inara out for no pay shows the extent of his feelings for her, but it’s clear when she emphasizes the importance of keeping to their “strictly business arrangement” that that will be a central plot in the episode. Everything that occurred this episode affected their relationship in some way.

Most significant of the aforementioned events: Mal bonds with Nandi and subsequently sleeps with her. There is so much to read from that scene. Personally, I don’t think Nandi’s resemblance to Inara is accidental, and I don’t think Mal was being entirely truthful when he reassured her, “The only people in this room are you and me.” That being said, I also think that they were just two unhappy, frightened people coming together in a time of need. Additionally, if what he said in “Our Mrs. Reynolds” still holds true, Mal hasn’t slept with anyone in a really, really long time.  Nandi was aware of his feelings for Inara, but just before she dies hints that she may not have slept with him had she known that Inara felt the same about him.

Morena Baccarin gets some fantastic material here, and she delivers. It’s the most emotion we’ve seen from Inara all season. Most notable would be her remarkably touching reaction to encountering Mal emerging from Nandi’s room hastily buttoning his shirt. I’ve noticed that Inara tends to get this glazed look in her eyes when she is hiding something, and when she is hurt she always lashes out at Mal. The same holds true here. It is very, very obvious that she does not mean what she says about being entirely comfortable about Mal sleeping with Nandi– she is holding her true feelings back. Thus, it is doubly as heartbreaking to see such a marked difference in her attitude once she is alone, two minutes later. She sinks to the floor, sobbing, and I think it is the first time we ever see her break down and just succumb to her feelings. It’s a fantastic contrast to her composed manner just a few minutes before. And later, of course, in a move that made my mouth drop open, she informs Mal that she’s decided to leave, insinuating that she’s grown too attached to him to remain on the ship. The episode ends with a beautiful shot of her face crumbling as she turns to walk away from him with another wonderfully tragic solo violin piece in the background. Mal is left stunned.

I learned something from Nandi, not just from what happened, but from her. The family she made, the strength of her love for them, it’s what kept them together. When you live with that kind of strength, you get tied to it. You can’t break away, and you never want to. There’s something – there’s something I should’ve done a long while ago. And I’m sorry, for both of us, that it took me this long. I’m leaving.

–Inara

The fact that there’s only one episode left does not give me much hope for resolution to this storyline, and that bothers me. I really want to know what happens. THANKS A LOT, FOX. YOU SUCK.

Thoughts:

• More continuity awesomeness– a callback to my favorite episode thus far, “Our Mrs. Reynolds.” Pausing after kissing Nandi, Mal says, “I’m just waiting to see if I pass out,” referencing, of course, him passing out after kissing Saffron.
• Jayne served as the comic relief for much of the episode. His glee at being surrounded by whores was hilarious. As was the shot that revealed that he sleeps with his guns, even when in bed with a girl.
• Crazy psychic River moment of the week– she says, “It’s starting!” a moment before everyone notices that the pregnant woman is going into labor.
• Speaking of River, her avid peering between the legs of the woman giving birth had me cracking up. She was so curious. “Who do you think is in there?”
• Zoe wants a baby. Wash doesn’t. If this isn’t expanded upon next episode, it’s going to be something I’ll forever wish had developed further.

 

Quotes:

“This distress wouldn’t happen to be taking place in anyone’s pants, would it?” –Mal
“Any friend of Inara’s is a strictly business-like relationship of mine.” –Mal
“Were I unwed, I would take you in a manly fashion. ‘Cause you’re pretty.” Wash, reassuring Kaylee
“You’re my kinda stupid.” –Mal
“This is just a moment in time. Step aside and let it happen.” –Inara

Jayne: Don’t much know these folk, don’t much care to.
Mal: They’re whores.
Jayne: I’m in.

Mal: This is my first mate, Zoë. I’ll introduce you to the rest later. They’re good folk.
Jayne: Can I start gettin’ sexed already?
Mal: Well, that one’s kinda horrific.

Jayne: Whoo! My John Thomas is about to pop off and fly around the room, there’s so much tasty in here.
Wash: Would be you get your most poetical about your pecker.

Mal: Inara? Think you can stoop to being on my arm?
Inara: Will you wash it first?

Rating: 4/5. Loads of character development, and Morena Baccarin gives her best performance of the season (due at least in part to the great writing for Inara). Enjoyed the guest stars as well.

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