Firefly - Episode 2 - The Train Job - REACTION - First Time Watching

[@victorluke5816]

I sent my first fan letter to the show asking Nathan Fillion for an autograph. I said that I wasn't sure I was going to follow the show until you kicked that guy into the engine but that scene guaranteed I was going to watch the show. His wrote back on an 8x10 photo that he was going to throw my letter away until I said I would continue to watch the show. I've been following his work ever since.

[@sherrysink3177]

Haaa! That's awesome. 😆🤣

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Lol, that’s hilarious

[@jeffthompson9622]

Until or unless?

[@RamblersInc]

🤣👏

[@mark-be9mq]

That's fantastic

[@feudist]

Companions are sort of a combination of psychological/sex therapist, life coach, exemplars of social behavior, taste and refinement, as glamorous as movie stars, confidants of rich movers and shakers in politics and business and...hookers. They're highly trained and licensed. Think Geisha and Courtesan with a PhD.

[@adamwells9352]

In ancient Greece, courtesans had a lot of control over whether sex was part of their job. Their social skills at making wherever they were into a glittering social scene was the first reason they were valued. I think Inara's position is like that.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

Excellent analogy. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

[@Aeroldoth3]

@@adamwells9352 "glittering social scene " Love it !

[@tenchraven]

@@adamwells9352 And the geisha of pre-industrialization Japan. I'm not sure these two muppets understand.

[@thomashiggins9320]

@@tenchraven If you don't like these guys, why are you here?

[@Kris-wp3fm]

"The more I know, the faster you'll get better." Second time today I've seen someone confused by this line. Remember that he's a brilliant doctor. He's not talking about sharing being good for the soul... he's saying symptoms and details about the neurological trauma will help him to devise a treatment plan.

[@jaives]

did somebody just also watch Ashleigh's reaction?! and yes, i too was surprised that both channels didn't get what simon was saying.

[@migmit]

OMG, how is it possible to misunderstand it?

[@tenchraven]

The failure to comprehend is telling. I'm not sure how you misunderstand Simon's statement without being an idiot.

[@RamblersInc]

It was so obvious that we missed it 😂. I overthought this line because in the only episode we know of him, he's a trauma surgeon and her symptoms seemed neurological which would be a different specialty. We should have just kept it as simple as he's a doctor and he can fix her if he knows more about her symptoms. Sorry for the frustration.

[@ruth2141]

An indentured servant is someone who has signed a contract to work for someone for a specific amount of time with no salary, usually to pay off a debt or as a result of a court judgement. In early America it was a common thing used for new immigrants to pay off their passage to the country.

[@Otokichi786]

Maggie Delaney: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKKymIqknLFol7s

[@ciaranconlon84]

It was also common in early mining settlements. The company would pay employees in vouchers that can only be used at the businesses they own in the town they built for the miners, but their cost of living was always higher than their wage and they would be stuck there chasing their debts, effectively slaves. There's a great song called The Fine Print by The Stupendium, based on an RPG called The Outer Worlds which is about a distant planet being mined by a future corporation by this exact same method.

[@Yarovrat]

@@ciaranconlon84 ну и говоря о песнях и кредитной системе оплаты шахтёров нельзя не вспомнить о "Sixteen Tons" которая тоже как раз об этом.

[@cmlemmus494]

Worth noting that indentured servitude isn't just an early American thing, it's been around since the middle ages everywhere in Europe, the Middle East, and colonized areas (eg, India). Any time someone couldn't pay a court judgement they were sent to a Debtor's Prison to work it off. It was common in some time periods for a man's wife and children to live with him in the prison. Any children old enough to be separated from their mother were left with family or friends. This happened to Charles Dickens when he was 12 years old and helps to explain why he was such a proponent of reform.

[@xeno-andrew]

@@Yarovrat😂, just typed this before I hit translate.

[@sherrysink3177]

P.S. The game they were playing in the opening scene is Chinese Checkers.

[@FenixNade]

which is one thing they failed at when researching this show. There's nothing Chinese about it, it was a marketing ploy. It's actually a German game called Sternhalma.

[@cmlemmus494]

@@FenixNade Yeah, but if they'd been playing Xiangqi no one would have recognized it and Mahjong wouldn't be likely for these characters.

[@kirkdarling4120]

I've always felt the sheriff must have also been a Browncoat. He didn't blink when Mal insulted the Alliance, and he seemed to share Mal's idea of frontier ethics. Companions (somewhat similar to Japanese Geishas) have intimate involvement with some of the most powerful people in the system. Over time, that has resulted in them having a respected position in society.

[@migmit]

He could be, but, on the other hand, he has every reason to dislike the central government even if he didn't fight against them.

[@jenssylvesterwesemann7980]

I love that thought about the sheriff! Also, I was so happy to see Clark Gregg in that role. I only knew him playing bad guy characters before, so, his presence added a little more unpredictability as to where his story would be going.

[@migmit]

@@jenssylvesterwesemann7980 Given that Clark Gregg was nowhere near this episode though...

[@jenssylvesterwesemann7980]

@@migmit Right! Gregg Henry!

[@Aeroldoth3]

I thnk whether he was a browncoat or not is irrelevant. The real issue is that he and Mal share the same, as you said, "frontier ethics". The same conditions that led people to BE independents, the same concerns, is what Mal, the sheriff and others share. They're kindred spirits.

[@sherrysink3177]

This is the first episode I ever saw of Firefly, which I watched because I loved Joss Whedon's previous shows and wanted to see his newest project. I remember thinking it was a generally fine episode but at the same time I was a little confused, because it felt like we were missing something. Like maybe I'd missed an episode because it started right in the middle of things as if we already knew the characters. Of course, I learned later that they never aired the real pilot episode first, and when I finally saw that pilot, I was like, "Oh, now things make much more sense! Why on earth didn't they show this pilot first?? It's so good! And really gives you a strong sense of all the characters and story to unfold." I will never understand the network handling this show the way they did. It was completely ridiculous.

[@tenchraven]

It was the first episode any of us saw- the pilot was aired a week later. Fox did their best to screw this show.

[@thomashiggins9320]

I'm fairly certain I had the same look of delight on my face as you guys did, when Mal kicked Crow through the engine. It was the deadpan "Darn" that really did it for me, though. 😆

[@RamblersInc]

😂

[@stue2298]

Mal is very like a Robin Hood character, he didn't mind stealing from the Alliance but when he found out that he was really stealing medicine from the towns people he gave it back to them.

[@RamblersInc]

I'm glad he has that conscience.

[@ernesthakey3396]

"How does that make sense?" Simon is a doctor, trying to diagnose what was done to his sister/patient so he can treat her. The more he knows about what was done to her, the more chance he has of figuring out how to make her better. That's basic medicine, guys!

[@RamblersInc]

Yep. We definitely overthought that one 🤦‍♂️ Like it had a hidden meaning or something 😂

[@ernesthakey3396]

@@RamblersInc no worries, it happens!

[@stgermain1074]

This is the episode that aired as the pilot. Joss and Tim Minear wrote it over a weekend when Fox execs demanded a new pilot. The pilot, "Serenity" (from last week) was the last ep aired. Now you can see why people are angry over 20 years later. Joss had a 7 season arc planned.

[@RamblersInc]

No wonder it caused confusion.

[@gailseatonhumbert]

It's all character studies and quite fun by Josh Whedon who also wrote Buffy the Vampire Slayer . Indentured was the word Indentured servitude is a form of labor where an individual is under contract to work without a salary to repay an indenture or loan within a certain timeframe. Indentured servitude was popular in the United States in the 1600s as many European immigrants worked in exchange for the price of passage to America. Keep going and more will be revealed as if you were traveling with them and finding out about your companions over time.

[@Otokichi786]

Maggie Delaney: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKKymIqknLFol7s

[@RamblersInc]

Damn. This was heartbreaking

[@boqndimitrov8693]

the uniforms from the movie starship troopers used here give us an idea of what a tight budget the series was made on. they are recognizable as hell! it would only be weirder if they had used imperial stormtrooper uniforms from star wars.

[@ernesthakey3396]

Indentured man - used to be a lot of indentured servants in olden days. "Indentured servitude is a form of labor where an individual is under contract to work without a salary to repay an indenture or loan within a certain timeframe. Indentured servitude was popular in the United States in the 1600s as many European immigrants worked in exchange for the price of passage to America."

[@ThePharaz]

Companions are like a blend of a geisha and a courtesan. They are highly educated in a variety of areas. Indentured servants occurred frequently among those who came to America early on. Someone pays to move them to America and then spends an agreed-upon number of years paying that debt off in servitude such as a maid, cook, farmhand, etc.

[@Iymarra]

God, it stings that there's so little of firefly. Such, such an untapped setting.

[@minkalampinen9519]

This level of worldbuilding deserves more story, so much more story. I'd love to see a completely new show in this setting. Perhaps a few decades after Firefly?

[@JAYWALKER1000]

Inara is more like a Geisha or hetaira (a courtesan in ancient Greece, who served as an artist, entertainer and conversationalist in addition to providing sexual service). Respectable, trained in psychology - among other things - and is licensed by the government.

[@Mischiefdemonuk]

I don’t know if anyone else told you yet (I couldn’t see it in the comments), the kids cartoon you were thinking of last episode was ‘BraveStarr’ about cowboys in space. He had a metal horse. I used to love that show! There was also ‘Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers’ which was also cowboys in space and had one of the most awesome theme songs ever!

[@RamblersInc]

It was Bravestarr 👏 There were so many space western animations in the 80s

[@kevinjohnson613]

When Mal was walking in, talking to Book and looking for Kaylee, he was carrying a compression coil. That's why he told her to go put everything to right.

[@RamblersInc]

Is that the thing she told him they needed replacing in the first episode?

[@kevinjohnson613]

@@RamblersInc I believe so. There is a bit of argument in the browncoat community that this comes up again later. That's why I pointed it out.

[@philipturner9087]

High end escort is her roll the have a training academy and it’s all legal and anyone registered with the an academy as a Companion is very well respected.

[@sgtgizmo1]

I love the actors that played Niska and the sheriff

[@RamblersInc]

Niska was definitely menacing. I've seen the sheriff in other things but not sure what.

[@Tampahop]

I really enjoy your banter during your reactions. You got me. Subscribed.

[@RamblersInc]

Thanks for joining us 🙌

[@pierrevaillancourt1803]

So happy you guys are enjoying this gem of a show...are you guys old enough to remember The Barney Miller show? One of the cast members was a detective on that show

[@RamblersInc]

That is a VERY young Shephard Book

[@hartjohnson2975]

She was claiming Mal was indentured, which means she paid for something for him to be paid back though labor. It was super common in 18th century America. Many people funded their Passage to the Americas that way.

[@corgiluver9718]

Glad you both are enjoying. Enjoyed the reaction.

[@dalesharp9953]

Enjoyed the reactions. The TV executives didn't like the pilot, so they wanted another episode. This episode was written over a weekend and aired first. My favorite scene was the final scene with Craw.

[@Otokichi786]

"Craw"? I heard him introduced as "Crow." ("Craw" sounds like Zoidberg-on-the-beach.;)

[@Garryck-1]

It's 'Crow'.

[@ernesthakey3396]

And he literally has a crow tattoo on his face!

[@jonhoge153]

Its not that there are places that wont let you dock without a companion aboard, its that there are places that woudnt wouldnt let them dock without a companion aboard. Gives the impression of respectability to a crew that would have a bad record otherwise.

[@user-kg7co9vi5r]

Glad you guys are enjoying the show. Before long you will be cursing, and rightly, Fox for not standing behind it. Most of the fans will try to answer questions without giving spoilers.

[@djcowell91]

Great excuse to watch the series again! I appreciate how quickly you guys pick up on the little details. Looking forward to the rest of the run!

[@JAYWALKER1000]

Indunture - is a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. As in "I'll pay for your passsage to America if you indenture yourself to me for 3 years."

[@sherrysink3177]

Regarding the indentured service comment by Inara, she was making that up to help Mal and Zoe get out of the sheriff's crosshairs. Mal doesn't actually owe Inara a debt. (Except maybe an apology, for his continual use of the word "whore" which is not cool, Mal.)

[@kevinmassey1164]

Such a great show

[@flynngames4703]

The world of Firefly is so wonderful. Enjoy your ride. By the end you will just as mad as the rest of us at Fox for canceling it. 😂

[@thomas8853]

This is all based on American westerns. Meaning the confederates that survived went west. The brown coats are the conventinal southernees.

[@coyotej4895]

The shows concept is one Josh happily copied from the Epic Star wars saga. The Spaghetti Western SiFy is a tried-and-true style that many feel shows the rough and tumble of a universe where expansion is too fast for law and order to be established, not unlike the old west. :) Enjoying the content and thanks for sharing your journey with us.

[@dudieb]

Basically in this future people got wise to the fact that one of the oldest professions is not going away so they legalized it. Now it is a controlled and a highly respected profession. I don’t think that it is so much that Mal doesn’t respedt the profession as much as he just doesn’t like Inara being in that profession. Because he obviously has feelings for her. Basically he is jealous and lashes out the only way he knows how without giving his feelings away, although everyone has it figured out. Just an FYI, Fox aired this episode as the pilot because they did not like the original Pilot, Serenity. Episode one Serenity was aired last. They basically sabotaged this series by airing episodes out of order or not at all. It was doomed from the beginning to be cancelled thanks to Fox.

[@RamblersInc]

And it still sounds crazy that she holds a higher status. It's such a good concept in the show. Yeh, he's definitely got a thing for her (who wouldn't). I can't wait to see if it develops into anything.

[@natalielang6209]

I think also he has a more puritanical view of sex from his lost religion. You lose your faith, but not the views that were instilled by it.

[@xConundrumx]

Ah good, I was having withdrawal symptoms

[@Otokichi786]

"Don't be sad that it's over, be happy/thankful that it happened/existed." ("Gravity Falls" fans know your Pain.)

[@Yarovrat]

Ещё одна отличная реакция)) Говоря о компаньонках. Здесь уже писали, но я немного дополню. Чаще всего обсуждая компаньонок и их социальный статус вспоминают японских гейш, но гораздо близкая аналогия это именно греческие гетеры или, если говорить о Японии то не гейши, а ойран. И социальный статус был действительно высок, во всяком случае у их элитной части. Фактически это были те немногие женщины, которые воспринимались как самостоятельные личности, отдельные от мужа. Так же можно вспомнить, например известную гетеру Таис из Афин, которая была спутницей Александра Великого, а потом матерью троих детей у Птолемея, основавшего династию царей Египта. Нам, конечно, такое понять труднее, в современном обществе эскортницы, даже самые дорогие и интеллектуальные, всё равно воспринимаются как проститутки, только элитные. В этом отношении взгляды Мэла и современного общества совпадают😁

[@foobee2]

Inara is geisha. Not exactly accurate, but close. She's very literally a companion for hire, she provides companionship up to and including sex. It's considered a high art in this shows world, regulated and exclusive, not just anyone can be a companion. So in a lot of ways, very much a geisha.

[@becca1189]

❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@Sinewmire]

It's not a weird way to offer a job for Crime Lords!

[@RamblersInc]

Good point

[@williamberry9013]

companion = space geisha (more or less)

[@Otokichi786]

"The Train Job": The demanded-by-Fox TV "second pilot" that introduced a psychotic crime boss!

[@brauliob]

Written over the weekend.

[@RamblersInc]

🤦‍♂️ This would definitely make a poor pilot

[@christinadiridoni263]

They mostly deal with the outer moons and planets which are mostly settlers because there's less Alliance around but there are planets that are far more advanced which you can see Lenora leaving in the first episode planets like that one won't let Mel land on them because there's literally no legitimate purpose for them to be there they're literally too poor to get legitimate work there the only way they'd let them in would be if they had a real reason to be there Lenora is a companion a companion is isn't just a hooker she's more like a courtesan they are trained from childhood in art music politics dancing and how to behave in polite Society they are a somewhat respected legitimate career her being on the ship gives them a legitimate reason to enter planets that would otherwise think Mel was there to do criminal activity and not let him in all of her clients are super wealthy like members of the government CEOs of companies diplomats not just any person

[@Garryck-1]

Who the hell is "Lenora"? The name you're looking for is "Inara"...

[@tenchraven]

"The more I know, the faster you'll get better" coming from a doctor is hard to understand? Really?

[@RamblersInc]

Honestly, we overthought it. It's such a simple obvious thing for any doctor to say. We'll do better.

[@fullmoonprepping4024]

I hate the word "campy", it does a disservice. And back then camp or cheesiness were not a thing. Those are modern terms, usually unfair or cynical. The book this was based on is very serious. This is a serious movie. You should watch the remaining 5 films. You would love them. Especially in the context of the newer movies.