@@funnylilgalreacts Not much info is given for back story about Shepherd Book. The only thing I can think of, which would explain everything we've seen until now... Alliance Special Ops, retired. Just my guess. It would explain his special treatment by the Alliance and his knowledge of crime.
I feel like when she and Morena Baccarin did that scene with "You're good" then "You're amazing" was more than just acting. They both knew they were killing it.
LITERALLY my favorite line from the show...🤣🤣🤣 And, just as with FunnyLilGal's point about what makes this show so special for her, the line subverts expectations...😋 And by doing so, makes the line.
"you're going to burn in a very special level of hell. A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater" my favorite Book moment
Christina Hendricks knocked that role out of the park! That's one of my favorite episodes easily. It still works even after you've seen it over and over again.
Christina Hendricks is amazing, but it was always a hallmark of Whedon’s shows in the early 2000s that the performances and roles of the actors were always top-tier. I know that there has now been a lot of controversy about the behind the scenes at this time, but I still rate this, Angel, and Buffy as some of the best TV ever, frankly.
@Rick King 22 - I'm not going to say anyone was lying; I know from personal experience that personal interactions between different people in a group can be night and day; and sometimes people NOT getting abuse (especially emotional) in a group may not even see the effects of those getting it. None of us here (to my knowledge) have ANY first-hand knowledge, only "people believed" and "people not believed."
"I married me a powerful ugly creature..." "How can you say that? How can you shame me in front of new people??" "If I could make you perttier I would" LOL This scene is hands down my favourite scene of the show. Has me in stitches every time.
A lot of other shows would've made the first line a joke, did the reveal, and that would be it. But Firefly stays with it, plays with it more, shows everyone's comedic reactions, and then in the next scene makes one more joke with it.
@@fakecubed i kind of love it like, it shows that Mal and Jayne DO get along, specifically when on a heist or in the shit. They love to witty banter in high adrenaline situations
"I KNEW you let her kiss you." In terms of punchlines to episodes, it's gotta be an all-timer, especially when paired with the smug confidence of Mal striding out of the room and the pained expression on Inara's face. You can all but hear her think "Oh my God, I'm in love with him and he's an IDIOT" 🤣
The really painful thing, from Inara's perspective, is that she was leaning in/up for a kiss...anyone with an ounce of sense/'perception SHOULD have noticed, but Mal was so busy being smug, that he totally missed it.
Previously I said that "maybe I'm just a good man" was my favorite bit on this show, but honestly, it's probably "how drunk was I last night?" "I don't know I passed out" *nods*
"i'm so upset that there's only one season." less than that. the producers just showed up one day and informed the cast and crew that the episode they were making would be the last. the season wasn't finished.
A lot of other people also guessed the title referred to his mother. Btw, one of my favourite moments was, when Kaylee said to Saffron "He makes everybody cry".
I mentioned this last episode, but the Mandarin that Mal says in response to Jayne's trade offer very roughly translates to "The explosive diarrhea of an elephant!" and it is my very favorite example of the Chinese used in the show.
Funny thing I’ve noticed about reactors on this episode: Men tend to fall for Saffron’s act all the time, while female reactors are usually quicker to catch on that she’s suspicious. It was really fun to see her take you off guard! 😂 Also, I love that look on Inara at the end. “Why’d I have to fall for such an idiot?”
All of the ones I've seen have fallen for it. I've kinda wondered about it because even when watching the first time, I was like yeah that isn't real. Way too good to be true.
@@MultiSweeney1I wouldn't say "too good to be true"... she was creepy intense from the beginning and horribly servile. Can't imagine many self respecting men being into that.
Part of what I adore about this show is watching how these characters interact individually versus how they interact as a group. In this episode, Saffron attempts to seduce three of our crewmembers, and they all respond in ways that perfectly reflect their character's motivation in the scene. As Inara points out, Saffron expertly wields her sexuality to achieve her objectives. Mal isn't stupid, but Saffron had studied him enough to figure out how to use his values and strengths against him. She didn't take Wash seriously, assuming that the most basic seduction strategy would work on him, so it took her by surprise to realize the strength of love and loyalty he has for Zoe. Hence, resorting to violence, which isn't her strong suit, but using the ambush approach meant she acknowledged her own physical disadvantage. Not all writers/ actors take the time to acknowledge those sorts of considerations. Then, her and Inara's interaction is the climactic fight of the episode, and it's a duel between two experts in their field, maneuvering for advantage. Then, when the alarm goes off, all the pretenses just immediately are dropped to reveal that they both had been fully aware of what the other was trying to do. Masterful writing. And Vera being Vera, of course.
Honestly, there was one detail I saw coming. "Chekhov's Gun." I knew, when Vera was introduced, that she'd play a pivotal role in resolving the episode's conundrum. That was it. Everything else was completely out of the blue and I LOVED it. The ending with Mal and Inara was BEAUTIFULLY scripted and acted. We see the pull between them. They're finally going to face the truth with each other. Inara is ready to bear her soul... and Mal COMPLETELY misreads the situation, leaving Inara with no choice but to swallow her feelings back down again. Morena Baccarin NAILED Inara's facial expressions.
For all the great quotes in this episode, it also has my two favorite silent takes in the entire series: Mal, after Saffron offers to wash his feet, and Inara, after Mal says "I knew you let her kiss you."
The human brain is many things, one of them is pattern recognition. This is why you can predict what's going to happen or what they will say before they say it. Our brains do it automatically.
I love the part where Mal asks Zoe to page Wash to come to the cargo bay, and instead she pages everybody so that they can hear the news. Golden moment.
My friends are making characters in Transformers rpg. I intend to introduce a new one: Vera Callahan. There was a Robert De Niro buddy cop movie where 'Vera' was turned into a different configuration. A Hollywood weapon prop warehouse showed it in a RU-vid video.
@@jordanpeterson5140 I love that since several of the Firefly cast got to do voices in the Halo games (namely Halo 3 and ODST), there's a few references to Firefly in those games. Adam Baldwin's marine sometimes refers to his rifle as Vera
this episode is so fun to watch reactions of, especially when it's african reactors like nigerians. When she offers the wine, they catch on fast with "did he just get married or something..." I think you are the non african that I've heard express something in the line of that notion at that scene. This is one of my all time favorite episode, great fun.
This episode is just so perfect. Loads of comedy, action, character development... and amazing performances by Fillion and Hendricks. One of my favorites, for sure!
I used to do a salt rub and wash for feet, for my late wife. She caught me sleeping in frontnof the TV, and did the same for me. And it was Holy Moly, that feels awesome. Just the one time...
Fun fact: that long string of Mandarin that Wash spits out when Saffron comes onto him translates roughly as, "Holy Mother of God and all her wacky nephews"
Those shots of Inara towards the end of the episode, damn I forget just how beautiful Morena Baccarin is, she's all eye and lips. This episode is, like, 75% sexual tension, but props to Wash for his devotion to Zoe. I love how playful book is on this episode, he's clearly starting to feel at home. I feel for Wash in this episode, I tend to think the best of people. I think Zoe's wartime danger instincts are kicking in, but I think there's also a tiny nugget of jealousy. She's only human, after all.
Nathan Fillion (Mal) also starred in a show called CASTLE. During a Halloween episode he dressed up in his firefly costume and called himself a Space Cowboy. There's several pther references to Firefly on that show but that was by far my favourite. He's also a buddy of James Gunn's so he was TDK in The Suicide Squad
I am a screenwriter and I can see the twist at the start of a film, or show. My family and friends are always flabbergasted by this, but I tell them that it is just pattern recognition. To be honest it is a real drag and that is why I watch reaction channels, because I feel I miss out on so much of the joy of finding out big reveals. It's fun to watch what surprised others. Tell the haters to go read Joseph Campbell's; Hero with a Thousand Faces, maybe it will drop some knowledge on their heads. But chances are haters will still hate, they are addicted to it.
Firefly is one of those rare shows that was clearly something special from the start. My better half and I still quote it to eachother all the time. Related note, if you haven't seen them then both Buffy and its spin off show are worth diving into for more of this kind of character driven story telling. They take a little longer than Firefly did to come together, being much earlier in the careers of many people that eventually worked on this show, but they are classics of genre tv for a reason.
I think this show had all the qualities to actually become better and better for multiple seasons. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel both shows got better and better for many seasons. Buffy was great 6 seasons and dipped a little in the last season, Angel dipped in 4th season but the final season was again amazing. If the characters and the world is amazing, the stories write themselves. Firefly had absolutely amazing characters and the world would have allowed almost infinite different interesting stories. Probably the worst cancellation of all time.
Whedon was creating extended scene breaks by intent. He learned that was being bypassed by the automatic editing, as soon as a full black frame was registered, the network would cut to advertising. He worked with the craftsmen to find the very limit shy of the margin, then applied for legal control of that new shade, to get the longer break that he intended.
What’s amazing (especially for an American series) is that the firefly team hit the ground running, there’s no time wasted with the show needing to find its feet and figure out what it wants to be - it was the just the network execs that didn’t “get” it
I’d say, back in the day, that introduction to Christina Hendricks was not only particularly memorable, but throughly unforgettable. Wow!!! That Saffron puts the spice in the chili!!!
Mal: If somebody tries to kill you, you try to kill them right back. Jayne & Vera: Okay! Jayne didn't have to take those shots at the window of the station, but those guys had made the mistake of trying.
@@josefhorndl3469 It's sadly very clear at this point that he was/is a giant ass. And I don't say that lightly Buffy/Angel and Firefly are one of my all-time favorites. They way he treated Charisma Carpenter, he fired the female stunt woman on S03 in Buffy because she was in relationship with another crew member. There was a rule on set that he wasn't allowed to be alone with the underage M. Trachtenberg. He slammed J. Marsters against the wall and screamed in his face because he didn't like that the audience loved Spike so much, etc etc. He is an asshole, which is really a shame ...
Christina Hendricks is incredibly beautiful, with a face and a body to die for. Her acting skills are wonderful, too. It is one of the great mysteries of present day life why she hasn't starred in a dozen or so major hit movies by now. The only reason I can think of why that isn't true is she is too beautiful to be believable in most roles.
I love the part where Mal tends to have a personal moment of reflection with each of the crew in various episodes in the cargo bay on the catwalk. This show is about family, and that's why I think everyone loves it so much. The cast got along famously and it came across on teh screen too. Every episode has some character development.
Great reaction for a great episode. Saffron is a great character and Christina is a great actress. In most shows, the first season is slow and a lot of world building. Firefly is not a typical first season. I would of loved to see season 3
“…If your touches metal, I swear, by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you.” Still get me every time… btw: not the hat I was referring to in an earlier comment. 😏
"I swear by my pretty floral bonnet" remains a common phrase for me, after all these years. Also, we had a lovely dog who lived to be so very old, and she was named Vera, after Jayne's gun. She was a very good girl. This show has done more for me than I realized.
One of the great things about Fillion's next major show, Castle, is that they make quite a few allusions to Firefly. Richard Castle even wears a Mal costume one Halloween.
So many topics/themes that had a lot potential to carry them out / come back to once in a while over multiple episodes/seasons, so many interesting side-characters that could be brought back now and then. That in combination with the raw talent of the writers make me 100% convinced the show would not only kept up with the quality, but raised the bar even higher. At least for 2-3 more seasons.
Christina and Nathan played off each other so well that I can see how she could show up in later seasons (I’ve seen all of the episodes) and become a rival for Mal’s affection. Wouldn’t that put Inara in a pickle since she won’t admit her own affection for him? I think Saffron actually crushes on him a little bit in this one because she respects the way he was different than most men she toys with. When he had her pinned down at the end she said, “I’ve been waiting a long time for a man who could take me down.” I think she meant that. And since he was a worthy opponent, he might one day be worthy of her sincere love too. In Season 2, Inara better watch out; she could loose out to an articulate redhead! 😅
Book is a former "Operative" for the Alliance, which only really becomes relevant in the movie Serenity. They never come out and say it, but that's what it is.
Book's back story was covered in a comic called "A Shepard's Tale" and it is canon. He was an alliance military officer during the war he made a mistake that cost the lives of alot of Alliance troops he was forced to step down and went to the abby in actuality he was a double agent working for the Independents and that "mistake" he made was on purpose
There’s quite a long deleted scene in this episode where River and Saffron interact. River keeps messing up the room Book is trying to make up up for Saffron and River looks straight at her and says, “You’re a thief!!”. I suppose it would’ve given the game away too soon to have it in the episode though.
One of my favorite exchanges between Kaylee and Mal happens right after Saffron runs off, when Kaylee says "You don't deserve her, you fink." and Mal says "Mind your own business."
Regarding the intros, as I understand it, the network insisted on them against Whedon's wishes because they thought people couldn't understand what was happening in the series. In one respect that was probably true because in it's initial run the show was so frequently preempted by other programming that frequently it was several weeks between episodes aired, so a quick recap of what the series was about might have made sense. However, Whedon did not want the intros and prefered that viewers be introduced to how the universe worked organically. When Whedon released the show on DVD and later on BluRay, he removed the intros, so fans like myself who were introduced to Firefly that way never saw them. By the time the show came out on streaming, the production company released the original aired footage that included the intros.
Great reaction! I loved your Expanse coverage and this is filling the singularity sized hole left in its absence. And apparently you will be diving into BSG after Firefly? Frak yes! If you loved Firefly I think you’d love Cowboy Bebop, another great space saga. Whedon had to have been inspired by it yet still made Firefly his own. Also Bebop is one one of the best English dubs for anime I’ve encountered.
Inara has never looked more beautiful than that moment after Mal missed his chance with her. .... "I'll be in my bunk" ❤ 😆 🎥 LOL That drop off you talked about for some series shows, I noticed that for TWD myself.... "Supernatural" is another series that, I felt, was played out by the end of season three..... IDK if you ever watched "Westworld" , but it only last four seasons, and as awesome as the storyline and acting was, it was definitely time to be done by the end of four...heck two seasons would've been enough to conclude.
There's a comic book dealing with Shepherd Book's backstory called "Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale" that was released by Dark Horse. The story is considered in-canon and written by Joss Whedon.
