Safe
Alright. I'll once again preface this episode with the following statement. I love all the firefly episodes. I just happen to like the other ones more than this one. Because this really is a great episode. Infact, as I watch it right now, I'm regretting picking it. But what else can I do?
For one thing, more than any other, this episode deals with the one question that I think we might never know the answer to. What's the deal with Shepherd Book? I mean really, the seeds were planted right from the Pilot, but Safe comes right out and says it. Shepherd's got one hell of a backstory. The kind of backstory you don't learn till season 2 at the earliest. the kind of story that Serenity straight out told us we're never going to know... That makes me both sad and really really curious.
Alright. Here's the plot.
Landing on a backwoods planet to sell the cattle they picked up in Shindig, things go bad. Simon and River get kidnapped by crazy hick forest people, and Shepherd Book is accidentally shot when the deal goes unsmooth. And the crew is forced to leave Simon and River behind to find Book medical attention. That's pretty much the most of it story wise, except for a rather interesting revelation into the state of River's mind. She might just be a witch...
Once again, Joss shows that he's mastered the art of combining single episode stories with the larger arch of the series (an art he mastered during Buffy) Even the flashbacks to Simon and River's youth work perfectly (Although I guess it does create a flaw in that young River in Safe is different from young River in Serenity, but I think we can let that one go)
One thing I really liked about the episode was the nature of the job. They were selling cattle. Oh sure it was smuggled cattle, but it's still the kind of job that you'd expect them to have, what being a crew that hasn't been killed during their dangerous heists and all. They're not a band of super criminals, they're a crew looking for work, and it's nice to see them get that kind of work. I'm sure if the series had gone on we'd have seen more of that kind of job. The semi-reputable one.
Of course, just like every single episode in the series, this one has some of the funniest lines in the series.
Jane: Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today, we were kidnapped by hill folk never to be seen again. It was the best day ever!
also, just like every other episode, Kaylee's so sincere in her emotions that it makes you want to give her a hug. She was the perfect cast... ah hell they all are.
Ultimately, the episode does a great job. We learn a lot about River and what they did to her, her relationship with Simon, and Shepherd Book, while at the same time delivering plenty of exciting moments (though perhaps slightly less than other episodes), and Mal and his crew get a chance to be BIG DAMN HEROES!
Yup, I sure do love this least favourite episode.
