Firefly 1x8 Reaction | Out of Gas

[@hawke5311]

If you rewatch the show, you notice that Kaylee has been talking about the broken part since episode 1.

[@jasonbeatty831]

When I got the series on dvd, I noticed it too.

[@thoriated]

On the show "Castle", where he dresses as a space cowboy, that part is sitting on the bookshelf. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJKqq6yOiqykmcU

[@heather9857]

@@thoriated that’s hilarious

[@paulfeist]

@@thoriated LOL! Crap! I never noticed that, and I've watched that scene a number of times! (Castle, too, is a great show....)

[@cmorrow74]

She mentions it twice: once when they land on Persephone in the pilot and once in Inara’s shuttle in The Train Job. That kind of attention to detail is what makes this show so great.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

In defense of Jayne’s goodbye, him making practical preparations for Mal is him showing affection. If Jayne does something for you which isn’t self-interested or under orders, then he’s being nice to you. He might still say something awful but, more than anyone else aboard Serenity, Jayne’s actions speak louder than words.

[@Metzwerg74]

thank you for pointing this out... he is no man of words..... but as you said his actions speak....

[@the_shy_man096]

I think that at the end of day, Jayne is the most loyal member of the crew.

[@eXpriest]

@@the_shy_man096 Not most loyal, man is definitely a mercenary, but he's the most experienced spacer, he's the one who's most afraid of reavers, whenever shit goes sideways he's the one jumping up to do damage control and safety checks, whenever they pull out a new piece of tech he's careful to do gear checks and he knows his own equipment intimately. He doesn't have much of a formal education but I think he's actually supposed to be very smart (the interaction with Badger where he randomly pulls out the word pretentious) there's also the congress joke but it's possible given his lack of education he'd literally never heard the word used that way.

[@the_shy_man096]

@eXpriest I agree whole heartedly. There's a difference between Intelligence and intellect. It's also as the old saying goes "no one loves the warrior until the enemy is at their gates". I should probably start rephrasing this. Jayne I feel is the most loyal member OF the crew, but not TO the crew. He has massive amounts of respect for Mal. Which is why when Mal says/does stupid shit, Jayne calls him out on it. I also believe the reason for the gynecologist joke in the first episode is because he is in love with Kaylee but doesn't know how to properly show it. So he shows it the same way a young boy does to a young girl on the playground. He picks on her.

[@the_shy_man096]

@@eXpriest There's a difference between education and intellect.* I was distracted while posting and fucked it up.

[@Ladco77]

"I aim to misbehave" is a line you haven't heard yet. You won't miss it. You will remember it.

[@KevinLockamy]

Another thing about how Mal instinctively knows the crew; right after slamming wash against the wall and giving VERY emphatic orders to motivate him, he then encounters Kaylee and is soft and comforting.

[@memphistim2001]

One of the best episodes of television ever.

[@SoloRenegade]

one of my top 3 favorite Firefly episodes, quite possibly my Favorite.

[@charlie7mason]

Bar none!

[@davidshorb7453]

Indeed

[@cmorrow74]

The flashback transitions are the most creative and seamless I’ve ever seen, before or since. They’re just so tasteful and easy to follow.

[@FeelItRising]

there are many reason to hate Fox, but them cancelling this show is a huge crime

[@theashrook6129]

"Ya'll gonna be here when I wake up?", catches my breath every time. This is such a great episode. The blooper for this episode was when Wash got out from under the console, both Mal and Zoe we wearing mustaches and the same serious looks they had in that scene. This crew joked so much, the bloopers are great to watch after.

[@JakkFrost1]

And yet there you go spoiling one of the bloopers, which I'm sure she will watch afterwards, maybe even react to them. 🤦‍♂️

[@KesinX]

"SUMMER!"

[@paulcurlin2789]

I won't spoil it but yes the bloopers are great. The one from "The Message" is completely High Larious 🙂

[@ronfehr7899]

​@JakkFrost1 Well, hearing about it and actually seeing it for yourself are two different things. Sometimes hearing a spoiler makes a person want to see it too.

[@JakkFrost1]

@@ronfehr7899 and that's fine for a single person in question, but has nothing to do with one person giving someone _else_ unsolicited spoilers. Just because some people like getting spoilers, doesn't mean you should assume everyone does.

[@MsMelyjean]

Obligatory Kaylee redemption statement: Kaylee warned Mal about the danger of the part failing in Episode 1 and Episode 2.

[@martinblevin5587]

I love that every time we see her afterwards playing with a part, it's always that particular part.

[@notchjohnson2540]

Hybris?

[@ShinyAvalon]

@@notchjohnson2540 - Hubris...?

[@raymondamador1487]

"The doctor of the ship", I've never heard a reactor describe Kaylee so perfectly. Great Reaction.

[@Metzwerg74]

serenity is kaylee´s little cuddlebaby...

[@Loki384]

As many have said before me, this is one my top episodes of any television show ever. One small detail that always gets me is that when Mal wakes up in the infirmary, despite being shot and nearly dying of blood loss, one of the first things he does is notice that Wash is "injured" and is immediately concerned for him. Just another example that his love for his crew overrides his concern for himself.

[@carlossoto222]

Jayne's comment about how Inara's shuttle smelled funny reminded me about how Mal told her before they left to not trust Jayne or let him take over. To this day I believe she lit something intentionally that she knew would keep Jayne calm and docile.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

HAH! Never thought of that. It’s a perfect theory.

[@Lannisen]

Love that theory!

[@Sinewmire]

I thought it was Jayne just trying to give a tough-guy reason to come back. He wasn't worried about Mal, it was, uh, the shuttle smelled funny. Yeah. I like your idea too, though!

[@atlasisshrugging]

Well, there might be something to that theory. ("Not a spoiler" alert:) Remember the line (yet to be spoken) from Inara: "And that's not incense!" The Companion Guild probably has MANY types of "not incense" that they can use in different situations when the need arises.

[@Trepanation21]

@@atlasisshrugging Oh, that comment about the Companion Guild employing some defensive concepts like that is a theory I really like. It regards the nature of what they do and how the privacy/intimacy of it opens up the Companions to potentially dangerous situations with clients. I really don't like that it makes sense though, you know? 😟

[@jasonrd316]

I always look at "gas" in the title as a double entendre - The actual gas they're out of is Oxygen, the metaphorical gas is Mal fighting for the ship and crew until he literally had no gas left in the tank. 😂 Kaylee, at first, does seem like a surprise, but that's mainly because we see her cheeriness and mistake it for innocence. She's really a character that's less naive than people think, is always up for an adventure, and always having a good time, so that would surely extend to all aspects of her life. Great reaction to one of the best episodes! Thanks for letting us revisit it with ya.

[@this.is.a.username]

The smile and compassion on Book's face... RIP Ron Glass

[@Blazingstoke]

That final flashback has me choking up every single time. If that's not love at first sight, I don't know what is.

[@solongdentahlplaan7975]

Isn't the firefly older but faster and sturdier? Kinda like buying a beat up muscle car? That's how I take it. Plus the net guys thought it was valuable, a classic ship.

[@brucebieberly4166]

That line was so spot on: that ship will be with you the rest of your life.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@solongdentahlplaan7975 That’s how I’ve always looked at it.

[@larrystuder8543]

@@solongdentahlplaan7975 It's kinda like the way flyers feel about certain airplanes, like the B-17 and DC-3- those planes have a reputation as durable or successful or indestructable or reliable or "lucky". And once they get that passengers will pay extra to ride in one, feeling safer or more secure.

[@martinholt8168]

'Y'all gonna be here when I wake up?' Goddammit, Whedon, quit putting water in my eyes!

[@epetrich]

Kaylee said the ship needed a new compression coil all the way back in episode 1. Mal needs to take preventative maintenance more seriously.

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

-"You told me it would last another week!" -"That was six months ago!"

[@TheGoIsWin21]

I don't think it's that he doesn't take it seriously. I think it's supposed to show how truly thin things are for them. He genuinely has to push his luck on serious mechanical concerns to keep everyone fed and fueled and flying, and sometimes all that stretch stretches too thin. Speaking as someone who grew up poor, that's always how I saw it. He just plays it flippant to try to keep everyone a little more calm about what he knows is a serious issue, but also knows they can't really do anything about right now. It's even shown in the first line we hear in the episode. "You by this ship, and treat her right..." Mal KNOWS he didn't treat her right, and knows this is the consequence.

[@TheGoIsWin21]

@@leesweets4110 oh they'd be so, so very dead lmao

[@cmorrow74]

Can we just take a moment and recognize one of the unsung heroes of this series? Greg Edmondson's score in every episode is phenomenal, but it's particularly perfect in this episode, especially in the beginning. The somber, beautiful strings in the opening gives me chills every time I hear it. He really is a world class composer.

[@NickB5882]

I agree. I actually sent an email to Mr Edmondson more than a decade ago just to let him know how much I think his music complement to show and he actually responded. He’s probably a Browncoat as well😊.

[@davidbourgeois6101]

I just noticed for the first time, when Mal looks at the ship in the flashback at the end, sitting there on the ground it look like an horse with the raised cockpit being the head, the perfect ship for a cowboy in space.

[@frnknstndrgqn]

Joss whedon always said that serenity was the 10th character of the show. I love mal's look when he first sees the ship. Always makes me teary eyed. And "You all gonna be here when I wake up?" Zoe also gets me she forced them to come back because she wouldn't leave mal behind. such a wonderful episode of television. The fact that its only episode 8 and it can make you feel so many emotions for the characters just shows how great the writing and characters are.

[@Smido83]

9th? Mal, Wash, Zoe, Jayne, Inara, Kaylee, Book, Simon, River ... Serenity So you mean 10th... right?

[@KesinX]

And how much we lost when it got cancelled.... 😥

[@artboymoy]

Much like the Enterprise on Star Trek. It was so beautiful to see her get her due in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. And the Millennium Falcon. And the Rocinante... If you don't treat the ship that takes us on our journeys as special, then there's something wrong with the writing on your show...

[@frnknstndrgqn]

@@Smido83 yeah apparently I just can't count hahahaha

[@jcorbett9620]

@@Smido83 Techincally the OP was correct. River doesn't become a 'true' member of the crew until "Objects in Space" when she asks Mal for "Permission to come aboard". It's a throwback to an old naval tradition, where someone planning to be a member of the crew (as opposed to just being a passenger) was expected to be invited to "come aboard" a vessel by the Captain, so he knows who is onboard his ship. Until OiS, River is technically a stowaway, as Simon smuggled her aboard in a crate without the Capains' knowledge. So Serenity IS the 9th member of the crew until OiS, when River is granted permission to be a member of Serenitys crew and makes it 10.

[@joshlammaslehto6603]

This comment section is huge for 2 hours after the upload! We Browncoats really do love coming back and watching someone take the journey all over again. It changes on you as the years go by. So much water under the bridge, but we keep coming back to relive it.

[@SquiresIsle]

I really love the way Kaylee says "I'm pointin' right at it." Just a genius who is so frustrated with telling the so-called experts what to do. Such a perfect line delivery.

[@dcplunkett]

Yep. Similar to her line to Jayne in the first episode.

[@EvilTongue420]

Talking Shakespeare to a Hershey bar.

[@atlasisshrugging]

The real humor of that line is that it is what thousands of MEN have said to their WIVES/GIRLFRIENDS while trying to explain some BASIC mechanical principal by the example of the ACTUAL thing they are talking about, but their significant other just gives that blank stare: 😳 "I don't get it." 🤦😮‍💨 "Okay; I'll explain it ONE MORE TIME...." Putting KAYLEE in the same position as many mechanically inclined men have been in naturally leads those types of men to have a good laugh at Mal's expense: "What a dope! You just got schooled by a woman!"😂

[@jackal59]

@@atlasisshrugging You have a mind like a sewer.

[@firefly5677]

My favorite episode of the show. That final shot with Mal looking at Serenity always makes me emotional

[@Metzwerg74]

this and war stories...

[@SoloRenegade]

I love that this episode shows Mal being tough on Wash. in a situation like this the crew is relying on Wash to help them solve it and survive it, and sitting uselessly by Zoe was not going to help anyone. He needed to be working to solve the problem, and to keep himself distracted. If they don't survive, neither would Zoe. The crew is depending upon Wash, and he needs to be doing his part. It's an important lesson few ever actually learn for real, as they'll never face a comparable situation in their life.

[@Audra1964]

One of my favorite scenes because you could tell Mal didn’t want to do that, but he did what had to be done in the moment. This is why, 20 years later, I still think of Nathan Fillion as Captain. His performance was so believable as the leader you come to respect and ultimately love and trust.

[@kevincachia1977]

I, for one, am glad I've never had to learn it. IMO this particular bit, while ringing true on its own, really gets elevated later when Mal tells Wash to go see to his wife. That's where we see Mal's not a heartless bully, but a caring individual who will be hard when it's necessary, not because he likes it.

[@KSilverlode]

This is Mal in Sergeant mode and treating Wash like a recruit who needs to be sorted out quick for the good of the unit. The sergeant leads his people and he looks after them. In crisis, you do the job, and you do what you need to do to motivate your squad/crew to do theirs. Zoe has the military mentality, and Jayne also is very practical in tight spots. Book has some sort of serious high-level background, and even Simon has crisis training from the medical point of view. Wash does not have that discipline, and needs a little extra "tough love" to get him functioning. Mal knows when to be compassionate (for instance, sitting and listening to Jayne work through things last episode) and when to take a hard line. He's a very good officer, and this is a consistent character trait he displays throughout the series.

[@primarybufferpanel4468]

I love that if you pay attention, you notice Mal is doing some serious triage with the crew in this episode. He's rude to Wash because he needs him focused and if he's angry at Mal he's not dwelling on Zoey being injured, same reason he starts the shouting match with him later. Kaylee was on the verge of panic and he needed to be gentle and steer her because she'd have shutdown had he given her the Wash treatment, and he leaves Jayne be because his priority is to save his own life and thus everyone elses meaning Mal doesnt have to keep an eye on him like he normally would. He gives the crew a full breakdown on the situation once theres nothing else he can do with the ship and gives the shuttles a broader chance while midigating the risks by him staying behind and saving more oxygen for the others. Not to mention the infodump he drops on Inara and the warning/praise of Jayne. He does an excellent jop of captaining here and its likely the crew doesnt realize the actual care and thought that goes into Mals actions in dangerous situations as we saw when he took off to save Sheperd Booke rather than go looking for Simon and River who were in less pressing danger as kidnappers tend to like to take their victims alive for a reason.

[@user-kg7co9vi5r]

Kaylee and Serenity are in most import ways, girlfriends. They speak to one another in a way that others cannot understand. I think a great detail is the way Inara also has feelings for the ship as a character, as seen in the end of "Shindig". Serenity is really a part of the crew.

[@martinblevin5587]

There is a delightful out-take from this episode when Alan turns back from inspecting the console, both Gina and Nathan are sporting fake moustaches.

[@whoarocket]

I was browsing other stuff on KZbin and then went back to the main screen and... posted 10 minutes ago. YESSSS! More than one person probably mentioned this in the chat on your Patreon, but this is my favorite trivia thing because it's so deep and gut wrenching: when the show was unceremoniously killed, Alan Tudyk went to the bridge set and took that red callback button off the console. And he gave that to Joss Whedon. He said if you are able to find another network or some way to save this show, you can call us back, and we will be here for you.

[@meltorme-ntor2933]

This is an awesome episode. I love the flashbacks. The way Kaylee is hired still cracks me up and makes me slightly uncomfortable all at the same time. 😆

[@stonecoldku4161]

The fact that it was cold on the ship could've what saved Mal life. When it's cold, your heart rate slows, and so you bleed slower.

[@dah-knee-low2799]

1. It is so funny, that the most wholesome person (Kaylee) was introduced this way. 2. You can say about Whedon what you want, but I feel like he always had believable strong female characters in his shows and Zoe is maybe the best example for it (I mean Gina Torres played a couple of really strong women like Cleopatra in Xena, Zoe in Firefly, Jasmine in Angel and Jessica Pearson in Suits). I mean even when she fights, she uses either the surprise or fights not more than a single opponent at the same time, because she has no superpowers. 3. I was alway impressed how Alan Tudyk and Gina Torres were able to portray a believable loving couple (including their struggles), I think she said once he was her favourite on-screen husband.

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

oh... so THAT is where they got the idea for a black Cleopatra.

[@StevenIngram]

I feel that. His female characters are strong, but still feminine and they have flaws. They're more human than many of their modern day counterparts. More, I dunno, possible? But yeah, I love all of the female characters on this show. Innara, love her. Zoe, love her. Kaylee, love her. River, love her. Who am I kidding? I love all the characters on this show. hehehe :)

[@LoreMerchant]

Don't forget her lead role on Cleopatra 2525 (another Raimi/Tapert production)!

[@jeffthompson9622]

I first noticed and was impressed by Gina Torres as an adversary to Jennifer Garner's character in "Alias."

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

@@jeffthompson9622 ALIAS, love it or hate it (I love it … so much) helped launch or propel so many careers. It’s creeping into ‘forgotten show’ territory these days but it was a springboard for many of its cast and crew. Obligatory: Spy Daddy is the second-best daddy on TV. He’s the best daddy if we get technical about _Uncle_ Phil.

[@RakkiXIII]

I love how everyone has the same reaction to seeing Fester for the first time. I also love Mals callback from "Everybody dies alone" to "You all gonna be here when I wake up"

[@KS-xk2so]

Inara: "I love this ship. I have since the second I saw it." *Mal at the end of the episode Those two are so much more alike than they'd ever admit lol

[@MrHws5mp]

I love Zoey's deadpan drawl: "Had a kinda poetry to it, Sir..." After you've watched the Serenity movie, you can get another video out of Firefly by watching the combined Firefly and Serenity gag reels. It'll give you a sense of what Nathan Fillion is like to work with, and there's a prank from Out Of Gas that you mustn't miss.

[@pablom-f8762]

- "Decision saved your life." - "Won't happen again, sir." That line is also magic.

[@fullmoonprepping4024]

Man, love at first sight when Mal saw Serenity. This episode is beautiful in every way.

[@dez6529]

I borrowed the DVDs from a friend who was hounding me to watch this show and somehow got the discs out of order. This ended up being the first episode of firefly I watched and I actually love that little whoops! I feel like I immediately fell in love with all the characters.

[@masamune2984]

“She is the SHIP’S doctor, and he is the ship’s DOCTOR.” I LOVE that analogy, and somehow never made that specific connection 🙂

[@JakkFrost1]

Except you got the emphasis right, she accidentally reversed it. 😜

[@kainlettern]

If people are not tearing up at the end of this episode they need to stop watching. This was one of my favorite!

[@urdaanglospey6666]

"We need to rethink how Firefly's are built." They mentioned in Episode 6 that they're obsolete by this point. I hadn't thought about it 'til now but that might be a contributing factor ;)

[@edwardlublow7577]

When the dinner table scenes happened in The Expanse, it brought me back to this show.❤️

[@funnylilgalreacts]

The family dynamic is the best part

[@thequarteryearman9305]

I know there's only 14 episodes, but this is possibly my #1 of top 3 episodes. Every facet of the episode hits me square in the heart and when the dealer is trying to sell him the other ship and you see Mal has been looking at the Firefly the entire time. . . "tears"

[@KevinDPomeroy]

I never made the connection about Kaylee being the ship's 'doctor' and something that she and Simon have in common. I love that observation!

[@brucecsnell]

This is tied for my favorite episode. When you put them together 8, 9, and 10 are an example of the very best that TV has to offer. Watching them will forever reinforce what we all lost when FOX killed this show. Watching Mal with both Kaylee and Wash after the sh!t hit the fan really points out how good a leader he is. Kaylee needed comforting and encouragement and she got it. Wash needed to be pushed out of his comfort zone -- he needed to be pissed off so that he could deal with the problem rather than wallowing in Zoe's problems.

[@jrmarcus]

Been waiting for this reaction. This and the last episode are my favorite. Can't wait for the Serenity movie reaction too.

[@danielolsen3514]

A cool behind the scenes info is on the commentary track for this episode, Joss said that the idea of the final scene is that "love at first sight" of seeing someone across the dance floor. He want to show that Mal fell for Serenity immediately.

[@PrinceIMC]

It’s been 8 episodes and already you feel for these characters like you’ve known them for years. This is an absolute perfect example of what makes Firefly special and why people are still talking about it 20 years later.

[@QQKowzar]

This is often regarded as the strongest episode of Firefly, and it's easy to see why. Really a masterclass of writing the way everything is woven together. Inara's backstory is always the one I wish we had gotten more of.

[@iainmcdonalds4018]

This is not just my favourite episode of Firefly, it's legitimately one of my favourite pieces of media. It just shows so much about Mal through relationships, and it also shows his fantastic leadership skills in a crisis.

[@Ladco77]

As for Jayne at the end of Jaynestown, it is character growth. He not the kind of person to change overnight, but it hit home for him.

[@erod19969]

When the show was canceled, Alan Tuydk stole the red "call back" button. It was symbolic of how much he wanted to come back to the show.

[@Reece_Hart]

Showing everyone's introductions the way this episode does was so clever. I've always loved the way the shots cut from the past to Mal's present

[@crescentmethod]

In the official blueprint/cutaway of Serenity, you can see that there are 2 large sized bedrooms. One was labeled Wash and Zoe's quarters, and Jayne had the other. Perks of the job.

[@WingManFang1]

This episode was the first one I saw on Sci-fi one day and I loved it so much I hunted down the whole series and binge watched it.

[@LoreMerchant]

I love, *love*, LOVE the direction/camera work on this episode. The transitions between times -- like the early one where Zoe and Mal are first entering Serenity in the past, go through the door at the back of the hold, and then the lights shift and it pans down to Mal on the floor... it's wonderful.

[@roreddick9235]

Indeed. The camera work and editing is a work of art.

[@christopherdeangelis2954]

The scene where mal is trying to sell zoe in serenity cemented for me that Zoe is the “Marcie” to Mal’s “Peppermint Patty”

[@LordNelsonkm]

Also, when Mal says, "oh, something must've been living in here" is the same spot where Mal falls over and we see that he's been shot. Whole ep has circular references. Excellent writing and I love a backstory.

[@christopherdeangelis2954]

@@LordNelsonkm this may be one of the top ten televised sci fi stories period

[@DracoSolon]

That scene at the end brings tears to my eyes everytime I watch it. The Serenity is the only other ship besides the Enterprise that has a soul.

[@paellaking9007]

Lolz "Worster" 🤣

[@funnylilgalreacts]

😂

[@Yggdrasil42]

Did you notice that the engine part that failed is the one Kaley has been warning Mal about for multiple episodes? I love that callback for people who've been paying attention.

[@paulfeist]

About the big red button.... in the DVD commentary track, Joss told the story of the "final wrap" after they found out they were not renewed. Alan Tudyk (I think) STOLE the button they used in this episode, and gave it to Joss with a note.... "If your miracle comes, just pound this button, and we'll all come running". When I heard that (on my second watch of the whole series, with that Commentary track on), there were real tears when I heard that. I can highly recommend watching the DVD set with the commentary track...there is SO much inside stuff! Like one of the lenses they used to shoot "Out of Gas" was one used mostly in the 70's, and hadn't been used since then... they used it because it gave JUST the right "look" for some of the flashbacks.

[@karkajouautomaton4882]

They were also worried the flashback effect would make Inara and Zoe look bad, but they look amazing as always instead.

[@corybishop3084]

This might be my favorite episode of television. Of course Firefly is my favorite series, but that doesn’t guarantee it. One thing I love about the interactions in this episode is that it perfectly demonstrates Mal’s quality as a leader. Note how in the middle of this crisis, he deals with each crew differently. With Wash he has to be forceful, aggressive, even, to break him out of his own personal concerns. But with Kaylee, she would never respond well to that approach. With her he’s gentle and calm. Good leaders know how to get those they lead to respond because not everyone will respond well to the same approach.

[@ernesthakey3396]

Bonus points for proper use of "verklempt" in a sentence! I love reactors' reaction to seeing Kaylee's origin story. Kaylee seems so innocent during the show, but there are hints to her earthy sexuality earlier in the show. To her, sex is just natural, not something to get all twisted up about. Hence "have good sex!" to Inara, and her frustration with Simon's obtuseness.

[@alancrofoot]

BINGO - few people connect 'Gas with 'Air' so quickly. Thank you

[@JakkFrost1]

Possibly because most sci-fi shows separate the propulsion fuel from the power source for the rest of the ship's systems. Serenity is more in line with modern day technology, I believe. If there's no fuel to make the mechanical parts go, especially the alternator, then the alternator can't generate electricity to power the other components.

[@garylogan3640]

I am a a Firefly fan from the beginning, and I have enjoyed your reactions from the start. I have not even watched this one yet and I want to say that you get it. You are a true Browncoat. I have watched many reactions to the series/universe and while they all seem to enjoy it, you are one of the few that truly "Get It"! I look forward to your future reactions! Thank you from the bottom of my Browncoat heart. This episode is the one that truly showed the Serenity as a character in the series.

[@Sillydogification]

This episode was another quick re-write. Gina Torres (Zoey) needed time off to marry Lawrence Fishburne. (they divorced in 2018) So they wrote this episode over a weekend. Gina filmed her scenes when she got back. Also, did you notice how the different times were lit differently - the bright optimistic past, the dark and foreboding present... People are funny no matter were they are...Monastery or not. Mal gives each crew member the leadership they need to perform. He's gentle with Kaylee and rough with Walsh. Its what each crewman needed from him... Its a masterpiece because there are only 14 episodes .. The more episodes you give any show - the more good ideas dialogue and plots become more of a premium. While I wish that Firefly got more, or a reboot. I also realize that there is a decent probability that the new content might not live up to my expectations. Also Disney owns Firefly now... So you know a Disney Firefly - would be pretty bad...

[@steriopticon2687]

Matt finish.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

ANDOR and WANDAVISION are also Disney+ shows. So, we don’t ‘know’ anything about how a FIREFLY reboot would turn out. Setting aside how the SW & MCU brands are run under their own stewardship, Disney is like any studio or network. They greenlight shows or movies, assign showrunners and producers (before or after), and let those people do what they do. Sometimes things are well-received. Sometimes they aren’t. But there’s no one rule for things run under their brand or their corporate oversight. That’s entertainment! Always has been. Always will be. Anyway, the reactionary internet pushback against ‘Disney overlords’ is largely a, heh, phantom menace.

[@Sillydogification]

@@AngeloBarovierSD OK. Fair points. BUT those arent the only reboots Disney has been doing. The animated to live action movies, the race swapped mermaids and princess. These movies have also been broadly considered terrible...Have you seen Pinocchio (2022) with Tom Hanks? Fortunately for Tom Hanks very few have... LucasFilm has to be the worst managed studio in Hollywood. I think Disney exerts a lot of control over the shows that it produces for Disney+ - these subsidiary studios have only 1 customer. When Disney sends back a note on scripts for upcoming shows - those changes get implemented. Why do you think Grogu came back so quickly on the Mandalorian? Because Disney was terrified that toy sales would drop if the character was written off the show...

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

@@Sillydogification Everything in your second paragraph (thank for using them, because paragraphs are becoming a threatened species on KZbin) is sheer conjecture. However, I’m quite sure you’re right about the copious notes Disney corporate must give for the D+ shows. The thing is, this is often cited as a sign of their tyranny and interference compared to other networks, platforms, and umbrella ent. congloms but, in truth, it’s probably roughly the same as everyone else’s notes. SW, the MCU, and other marquee franchises have orders of magnitude more eyeballs and coverage than the average broadcast show or non-franchise movie but I positively absolutely guarantee you all the home offices give copious notes to the shows in their care. And y’all should know this because you’re FIREFLY fans. Our show wasn’t marquee property but just think about all the stories we now know about the network’s notes and decisions. The Malcolm Reynolds we know and love is a direct product of where the show creator compromised with the network’s notes. The lead character of the very show we’re discussing is a product of Fox’s input and control. Where’s the angry mob grousing about that so-called interference? The people who pay for the product have a vested interest in its oversight. That’s just the nature of the business and Disney is no more and no less ‘guilty’ of it, friend-o. The people in the cottage industry of fan outrage videos would have us believe otherwise but I’ll let those chips fall where they may. Nuthin’ I say ain’t ever gonna change the allure of profiteering from manufactured outrage. Alls I can do I give my head a good shake and maybe change one mind ev’ry now’n then.

[@Sillydogification]

@@AngeloBarovierSD Yes. Sheer? Look at what Disney did to Star Wars. An IP that they paid 4.5 Billion for. Firefly is basically a crackerjack prize by comparison. A bonus they got from the FOX acquisition. Sheer speculation? Observational forecasting?

[@Dularr]

If Mal had left the ship. The Serenity would be open for salvage.

[@neverend3r]

My favorite episode! but it takes all the others before it to make it as good as it is.

[@Icypenguigo]

River saying to Simon "I didn't get you anything" is totally me and my brother on our birthdays. XD I remember this is the episode that made me truly fall in love with this show. I watched it in its first run on TV with my parents, and, infamously, they aired the episodes out of order. So we were all a little confused about the story, but we still loved it. And this is the episode in that messed-up order where all the characters finally 'clicked' for me. Also, Mal's line at the end of the episode, "Y'all gonna be here when I wake up?" brings me to tears every time. It doesn't matter how many times I see it.

[@znachkiznachki5352]

Absolutely my favorite episode of the show. The folding flashbacks were genius, and note the use of color, yellow for past, blue for the scenes when Mal is alone, and the natural tones in the other scenes. That last flashback, when you see Mal fall in love with Serenity, notice the high color in his cheeks? Nathan was sick that day and had a fever.

[@Wrzlprnft]

To be honest, "Jane thinking" is somewhat him becoming a deeper person, given that he, uhm, was the most proficient crewmember in that department.

[@Maalstrom]

Mal is still fighting that battle in Serenity valley. He was prepared to die there, for that crew. Same here.

[@heinleinreader]

Don't forget that he also knew who Niska was.

[@christophercurtis4131]

This is absolutely my favorite episode of the whole series. My favorite flashback was Kaylee's(she is my second favorite character after Mal). But my two favorite parts of the episode are: 1. Mal asking if everyone is still going to be there when he wakes up. That brought tears to my eyes. 2. The very end of the episode, when Mal sees Serenity for the first time. Just the look on his face when he sees her; it was a beautiful moment.

[@CobraJoe7]

Out of Gas was actually my first firefly episode; and coincidentally my favorite episode. It was a Friday night, I was in high school, and I was in marching band. It was raining too much so they canceled our performance, so me and my buddy went to his house and caught this episode. Absolutely blew me away! We tried to find more information on it, but Fox hated good shows...Wasn't until a couple years later when I started work at a movie theater that a coworker recommended a space western and the ensuing conversating unlocked that random episode memory. Borrowed his box set, watched it in one sitting including special features. Then went and bought it for myself and made my family watch it. It's still my moms favorite Nathan Fillion project.

[@jennipherlewis3221]

Same here. I caught it live on TV and was blown away. It was difficult to catch it live (stupid network), and reruns wouldn't have been around for months. At that time the only way to see it was to download it from a torrent. I would watch the hours wind down so I could watch one episode.

[@paulcurlin2789]

OK ♥ This and Objects in Space are my two favorite episodes. Flash backs and so much to learn from this one 🙂

[@jthomascruz4890]

The moment of this episode that is the most emotional for me is the final one when the guy is talking to him about the one ship and he is staring off in the distance at Serenity. But that final shot would not have been as emotionally or impactful if we did not see all the other flashbacks first. Those other flashbacks helped us understand just what Serenity meant to each of them as well as their individual parts in relation to each other. This episode is the one that solidified Serenity as as a character in and of herself so when she was hurting it struck a nerve just as much as any of the other characters on the crew getting hurt.

[@McBeelzebub]

With your love of character development and exploration this episode was practically hand tailored to your tastes.

[@bpora01]

The origin stories. See why we wanted more seasons?

[@mattreid8098]

God it doesn’t matter how many times I watch this episode, it always tears me up every time, I mean every episode almost gives me a teary moment but this one always gets me. Yes it is my favourite episode 😂

[@BraveSpy]

The thing I noticed in Firefly is the local villains are pretty well casted. Because idk, this guy 21:42 , he's really charismatic and his little bow at the end it just works. Well acted. It's a side thing, but it adds to the whole series.

[@roreddick9235]

Honor among thieves?

[@1170althor]

Great reactions. I'm impressed how quickly you predicted that oxygen would be an issue. It's impossible for me to pick a favorite episode, but this one is certainly up at the top.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

She train in da Belt! Any gute rockhoppa know you need air and akwa more than food. First thing when everything go sideways is make sure you have air and awka, or else you for quick to die in da black, bossmang.

[@ernesthakey3396]

​@@AngeloBarovierSD ya, you right!

[@k.p.p.192]

Don’t forget about the “River Tam sessions”!!! So good. Only about 8 minutes long.

[@TheLyleB]

This is the first episode I saw when it aired. I was sold.

[@jksgameshelf3378]

Yeah, definitely my fav, followed by "Our Mrs. Reynolds". So well written and the flashbacks are perfectly integrated. Counting down to the last episode, and can't wait for you to see "Serenity".

[@LightningRaven42]

This episode is right about when the sadness hits me. I realize it's ending soon and up until the end I always watch the episodes more slowly.

[@twoolf01]

Real appreciation for the character development in this episode. Despite what he may want us to think, Mal is actually a great man... :)

[@ashleytuchin7693]

Maybe he's just a good one. Well, he's alright.

[@BubblyRainbows]

He's all right...

[@tvix6737]

In your first reaction video to Firefly, you made mention of character development, and this episode immediately came to mind. This is the episode I have been waiting for your reaction to because it is so pivotal and nuanced. Worth rewatching to catch the foreshadowing.

[@lentrax2991]

The one where the family comes together. Never fails to draw tears. "When you get your miracle, just hit this."

[@mikeycham3643]

This one is my favourite of the ones you've seen so far. His line at the end, "Y'all gonna be here when I wake up?" always gets me right in the feels.

[@Ylyrra]

Alan Tudyk acted his heart out in this role, you can tell he's angry with Mal not just because he's forced him to leave Zoe's side, but because once it's pointed out to him he can't ignore that Mal is right and that he needs to be doing his job if Zoe is to be saved, and that means not being by her side. He's mad at Mal for making him see that, more than he is at anything else.

[@ronfehr7899]

When Mal was finally able to restart the ship's engine, he was near the rear of the ship. He had to walk all the way to the front of the ship to press the button and signal to the two shuttles that it was safe to return. The reason for the opening shots, display the ship's major areas, was intended to basically show how far injured Mal would have to go.

[@brucebieberly4166]

One of my happiest memories is binge watching the DVDs with my friends and talking about the episodes afterwards. Thank you for bringing that experience back.

[@SoloRenegade]

In Afghanistan, guys in my unit joked I was married to my truck. it was a special one-man vehicle, that I took special care of and modified heavily. Kept it clean, kept it fixed, kept the AC working, and only let people drive it very rarely. but it was also the best truck and people who got to drive it always complimented on how nice and clean it was, and the fact that Everything actually worked and wasn't broken. But my life was dependent on that truck, and i couldn't do my job as well without it due to all the modifications it had that no other trucks had. And as a pilot, you grow attached to your aircraft. It becomes very personal. Same your personal car. The better you take care of it, the better it will take care of you.

[@Tigerhawk30]

Your observation of Simon being the ship's doctor and Kaylee being the SHIP'S doctor is pretty apt. And, yeah...every time I watch this episode brings a small tear here as well. Mal's immediate love that crosses his face when he first sees Serenity just adds to the emotion.

[@itsregal]

"Y'all gonna be here when i get up?" ENDED ME, he cares so much more than he lets on.

[@shamanicmerf]

12:30 "I don't think I could even give myself Insulin if I was a Diabetic." Says the dentist. I can't even bring myself to make an appointment with my local dentist.

[@rudewalrus5636]

What makes this episode so great is not just the fantastic story, and all of the terrific backstories on how the crew joined Serenity (we saw Simon, River, & Book join in Ep.1), but how masterfully it is constructed. There's how each of the three time-lines is lit differently. And the way the three time-lines fit seamlessly together in a way that always advances the plot is top-tier story-telling. This episode is just a masterpiece of television, IMHO. Mal and Wash: others have already mentioned how Mal as a leader knows what needs to get done, and the best way he needs to communicate to get others to do what they need to do. He needed to get Wash on the bridge, working to help them. _But_ _note_ : after the beacon is set, Mal tells Wash: "Go see to your wife." He does understand Wash's love for Zoe, he's just a master at triaging a situation. BTW: I love the rings you are wearing in this reaction Angela. :)

[@davidcorriveau8615]

'You are going to do it to yourself?!' Kinda one of the defining traits of Mal. He does what needs doing.

[@LordSephleon]

I knew about Firefly when it was first about to start airing on TV, but I completely missed it since I stopped following television regularly around 1999-2000. It wasn't until several years later when a close friend of mine from college sat me down and had me watch this specific episode to show me what I had missed. I am still hooked on the show to this day (owning the DVDs and even as digital goods), and will forever love the stories and the crew of the Firefly-class ship known as Serenity.

[@ZippyFL1]

One of the things this episode brought to the fore for me was the scene introducing Kaylee. Here she is getting some from the engineer already hired and afterward tells Mal exactly what is wrong with Serenity. So, being the smart guy that he is, he offers her a job on the spot. But, then she says, "I have to ask my folks." That is the essence of Kaylee wrapped up in 60 seconds of screen time. Absolute genius with anything mechanical & does what she wants in life (having fun with her dimwitted dude), but still has to get Mom & Dad's permission to go off on this adventure. Pure Kaylee.

[@SeanBlader]

Everyone on board is a master at some level. Every single character, even Jayne. They all have a role, and each of them is the top of their game. Jayne is the unstoppable muscle. Wash is the best pilot in the 'verse. Simon is one of the top doctors in the capitol city. Kaylee is literally an engine prodigy. Inara is one of the top companions from the guild. Book is honestly the soul of the show. You couldn't ask for a better generalist and first officer than Zoe. Mal is the heart, who binds them all together. And River, she's the wildcard, who has the potential to do all of that, assuming she can emerge from her damaged shell.

[@latitude24]

Aside from being interested in the same things, it was you looking thoughtfully into the distance while saying "Why finger guns?? It's Star Wars day, I'm in a Firefly t-shirt, and I have Draco Malfoy on my socks", then a pensive pause as you contemplate the situation. THIS is what I come here for!

[@VerticalBlank]

Alan Tudyk loves to recount how, when the show was cancelled and the set was being torn down, various actors "liberated" various props and *he* took that big red button. He gave it to Whedon saying something like, "when you get your miracle, push it and we will come." And that is how we got the movie.

[@Nomaleth]

Every tuesday morning during breakfast-break at work I see that a new episode is out and I get so excited to go home and watch it! I'm so glad you enjoyed this as much as the rest of us, and even though many consider this their favourite there are still some great episodes left :) Ahhh your reactions make me so happy 😄 I just wish I could watch Ted Lasso so I could watch your reactions to that as well because I always want more 🥰