Serenity • S01E01 • TPN's Firefly Guide

[@cathipalmer8217]

I've been looking for years for someone to say this or for a chance to say it myself. This seems like a good place. In the Battle of Serenity Valley, Mal lost a lot of people he felt he should have protected and saved. He goes out, buys himself a much smaller world, names it Serenuty, and fills it with people whom he protects.

[@thenightowldude]

Even all these years on, it still hurts me this was cancelled. Such a good show.

[@mr.2cents.846]

Same here. What a shame.

[@Matrim42]

On the one hand, yes. But on the other hand I think some of the beauty of the show comes from its brevity.

[@chrissnyder2091]

Truth brother truth

[@RagingRaven88]

Please do an analysis video of Inara. No matter how long that video would be I will watch every damn second of it.

[@hardybryan]

Seconded, just in case all the likes weren't enough encouragement.

[@bethclarke3899]

Thirded

[@iamceilingcatOG]

Fourthed.

[@TeriUktena]

Yes, please. A thousand times Yes!

[@SRosenberg203]

Fifthed.

[@pjtiger10]

One of my favorite things about Firefly is the fact that we know where the characters “fit” almost immediately. Dynamics change and evolve of course but in just a few interactions we kind of sort of know what everyone thinks about everyone else.

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

Yep! It's a show that isn't that high concept. It feels very laid back.

[@Beacuzz]

It is my favorite part of watching a second season or reading a sequel/fanfiction. It feels real! I don't need things explained. I'll catch up!

[@AaronMichaelLong]

"Side note: I've always wondered how many stirring Henry V speeches were delivered to men about to die for the losing side." Utterly sublime, sir.

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

Given Joss Whedon's love of Shakespeare, I am not surprised that there's a Shakespearean feel to this particular show.

[@georgerrorwell2993]

@@AMoniqueOcampo Fairly new here, do you happen to know if TPN has studied Whedon's production of Much Ado about Nothing (iirc)?

[@MANJYOMETHUNDER111]

@@georgerrorwell2993 He hasn't done a review as of yet that I know of, but he did cover Joss' 'In Your Eyes'. It's in his movie review section.

[@georgerrorwell2993]

@@MANJYOMETHUNDER111 Thanks very much! Great review of a movie I hadn't heard of before. Even explains the reluctance to take on Much Ado.

[@ryanhall7607]

Ian, never stop. While all the shows you have covered are all shows I love, I think you could make me love a show I hate just by your thoughts and analysis.

[@dipperjc]

If he does Dollhouse I'll be testing that theory. :)

[@PassionoftheNerd]

@@dipperjc Challenge accepted kind of?

[@paraboo8994]

@@PassionoftheNerd oh please please do Dollhouse. I love this show and it doesn't nearly get enough love. I neeeeed people to discuss it with ❤

[@TheDetailsMatter]

When you finish Firefly, please consider doing an analysis of The Expanse. I would be fascinated to hear your take on it.

[@authorrayrogers]

I'd love for you to tackle a show you don't love, Ian. Not a show you hate, necessarily... but a show you're sort of indifferent towards. I'd love to see your analysis of something that's more cerebral and less emotional at the start... if only to see if you can find the emotion as you progress.

[@victoriaverse415]

My favorite thing about your guides is how you take the smaller moments and bring them into focus so I see something I love so much and have watched so many times in a slightly different light. It's refreshing to get a different perspective on something, especially if your not being clubbed over the head by preachy meta analysis or wild implausible theories. You have this way of spotlighting more subtle elements that really brings them out and makes me appreciate the series a little bit more. I'm looking forward to the rest.

[@mr.2cents.846]

Yes. He must be very smart in order to do that.

[@RagingRaven88]

I don't think any of us can properly express our complete adoration for all the humor and intellect you bring to each of your videos. They are simply amazing.

[@literosexual6541]

I remember reading that James Masters was supposed to have a cameo at one point, he was going to be in a bar and say "nothing ever changes" so I would say Buffy and Firefly are in the same universe or at least it was going to be heavily implied.

[@charmeddream9518]

I’ve never clicked on anything so fast in my life

[@rodshop5897]

Lucy, I'm right there with you. Browncoats!

[@mr.2cents.846]

I did. But this is good too.

[@4ortytoon]

everytime i spot a video eassy or reaction video i get angry and sad that its been about 14 years since firefly ended with one season (and a movie) under its belt. GOD I MISS THIS SHOW!!!!! imma go watch it now. cya!

[@patrickbuckley7259]

"And Wash, like an agile little leaf on the wind..." Seriously man, SERIOUSLY?

[@melodyclark1944]

I love how each of the characters is an Old West archetype.

[@alysiamerdavid-wasser9165]

Hi, Ian. I loved your opening title for this. It's perfect. Btw, I looked up Kaylee, (no dice for Kaywinnet, Hoban Wash, or Jayne) Kay is Greek for Exultant; rejoicing. Lee is Celtic for physician. She is definitely the joyful doctor of Serenity, her engine, & crew. Thanks for the guide!

[@katherinemorelle7115]

It’s also an anglicisation of Ceilidh (same pronunciation). Which is a revelry, a party in Gaelic (both Irish and Scottish).

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I also want to note that this is where the name comes from originally- Ceilidh - Kayleigh.

[@Kayla-vz5zc]

"like an..agile little leaf on the wind..." how,,,,DARE you make me cry this early in the series guide

[@ZDR-BoyZ]

The moment when Mal just casually delivers headshot was epic, showed his character well - at that point he was like, "ok this is going too far, I won't pretend to care to play those silly games anymore, that's it we are done here" with the emphasis on not giving a sh... Up to that moment it never was clear how good or bad he is with his weapon or in war situations or even how exactly he is managing the crew.

[@virginiamooney4105]

"it never feels like the show is dumping exposition on our heads and telling us how it was." Mal at the beginning of almost every episode: "here's how it is "

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

Supposedly one planned moment from season two would have been the Serenity crew meeting an ancient Spike from buffy in a random rim bar. I would have loved that.

[@GosieKin]

There is a theory that River was actually a Potential Slayer in the future. 😉

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

@@GosieKin That would have been awesome

[@theresechristiansen9769]

I ALWAYS love it when someone explains that clever is actually a good thing. The idea something is "too clever" worries me.

[@keithwortelhock6078]

Very enjoyable, thank you. Speaking as someone who lives next to it, the river Tamar is pronounced Tay-mar (at least these days). Looking forward to the next one!

[@solluna9751]

God bless you for using the term “fiddle” instead of “violin”. As a Kentuckian, I deeply appreciate the distinction!

[@TabbyeLynne]

Yes to the translations video, yes to the video on Inara and absolutely yes please to the video(s) about the comics

[@moodybookworm7856]

Please,please, please do the translations. I've always wondered what they were saying. You can tell from the tone in general, but I always wondered if the words mattered. In a Joss show, of course they do lol.

[@donkey0303]

seconded

[@maggieveach8801]

I third this. Language is always important, especially the way Whedon uses it, as you said.

[@lilykep]

Fourthed!

[@Kayjee17]

Yes, please! I've tried to stop and get the translations from google but the show is so good I give up after one or two episodes and just watch. So we'll let YOU do all the hard work while we just watch. :)

[@RagingRaven88]

Please do it

[@cirrustate8674]

Ok, I did not know about the goddess Inara. That adds a whole new level to this already amazing show. Makes the whole will-they-won't-they about Mal and Inara even more interesting. And yes, please have translations for the Mandarin in the show.

[@mmmk1616]

I didn't know about the goddess either, very interesting!

[@RobynHarris]

“It’s all about the strawberry.” - Joss Whedon

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

The first episode of Firefly is a slow start, but I absolutely love it. And I am loving this guide. You are so right about the music, too. Love the bit about the meaning behind Inara's name. Everyone's names really. 😁

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

@GiRayne I kinda like both.

[@CarmenJonnes06]

I remember reading somewhere that there were planning to have James Marsters make a cameo as Spike in a Firefly episode to make cannon this Whedonverse, so maybe that is the same cross Angel give Buffy.

[@BadWolf739]

I believe he said that if Firefly reached Season 5 (probably a random number and he just meant a later season) he would have Spike at a bar that Mal happened to be drinking at. After a run of the mill bar fight Spike would say something along the lines of "the more things change, the more they stay the same". No overt reference to the supernatural or his vampireness but enough to codify Buffy and Firefly as being in the same universe. Though that kind of makes me assume that River is a Slayer. There were apparently a lot of students like her at "the academy" and I don't remember any reference to any of them being male.

[@mukorgalaxies7766]

Kinda makes sense, Firefly could be the halfway point between Buffy and Fray.

[@RagingRaven88]

Ugh, lost opportunity. BIG TIME

[@BadWolf739]

@@mukorgalaxies7766 Alternatively Fray could be what's left of Earth that the humans shipped out to the stars to get away from.

[@elvisoneil]

You madman! Your vids might as well be an addictive substance that I can’t get enough of. Preciate your work.

[@Perryt84]

The wait for the next episode is starting to damage my calm.

[@PassionoftheNerd]

Mine too. Unfortunately my writing partner for that series has been both sick and busy with a fulltime.

[@Perryt84]

@@PassionoftheNerd Glad to hear it's not just cancelled too early.

[@menachemsalomon]

Thanks, Ian, for showing me what I missed by not having a classical higher education. All the mythological references went right over my head, as did most of the religious references. (I grew up on a different set of stories.) Amazingly, _Firefly_ (and _Buffy_ and _Angel)_ is enjoyable on both levels, simple storytelling and the deeper meaning. It's part of Joss Whedon's art, and thank you for helping me understand it.

[@punkinholler]

Don't feel bad. I do have a classical higher education and I don't pick up on a fraction of the things Ian talks about. The man is good at what he does.

[@Egilhelmson]

A *Hittite* goddess is far more obscure than any mere Classical reference could be.

[@kczkmmne]

you really didn't have to do it to us with that leaf graphic but you DID

[@samgonzalez8662]

Another beautifully crafted guide, Ian! You brought up a lot of stuff that never had occurred to me, mostly the mythological parallels between the characters. Definitely something I’ll have to consider on my next rewatch of the series

[@pondersong5525]

Hi Ian, I love your channel. I think I spotted an error when you said Serenity Valley was Mal's home. That's not true; Mal was from a planet called Shadow which the Alliance laid waste to earlier in the war. Serenity Valley was the place the Browncoats chose to make their last stand. And they lost. Mal named his ship for the pivotal battle his side lost during the Unification War.

[@cirrustate8674]

It did kind of become his home, though, in the sense that part of him never left that valley.

[@UloPe]

@@cirrustate8674 As the wormhole aliens would have said: Then why do you exist here?

[@cirrustate8674]

@@UloPe Exactly.

[@rjonboy7608]

You're right about where he was born, but the purpose of his life ended at Serenity Valley.

[@Sylvi3D]

It does still work as a metaphor for his spiritual home. It was the last place he was wholly himself, and he can't go back there.

[@paraboo8994]

Ah, the music at the end, goosebumps! I'm so happy you're doing Firefly. I remember watching this after having finished Buffy and feeling gutted and it was both a blessing and a curse, because it was so great and yet so short. And I still have the biggest girl crush on Morena Baccarin - she is unearthly beautiful! So much for the male gaze in that particular scene, I wouldn't have been able to help myself either 😂

[@JosephAyrtonHam]

One reason I love Firefly is because its Whedon style "clever dialogue", while still very present, is much tamer and more grounded than a lot of Whedon's other work. They have witty one-liners, but a lot of the dialogue, along with the performances, are much more human.

[@Gwenhwyfar7]

I've been waiting for the right time to watch Firefly. You've convinced me just by uploading.

[@mmmk1616]

You won't regret it! Well, other than the fact that there's only one gorram season! It will leave you wanting more, but it is so worth it even so.

[@MsGloomyLamp]

Guess it's finally time to start watching Firefly.

[@willowflame13]

Sad that this will be a short series. Much like the show, I could watch your content forever

[@LiamE69]

"We could probably spend several videos alone just talking about Inara" Oh please feel free to do so. With lots of nice close ups.

[@kristavaillancourt6313]

Perv ;)

[@Philbert-s2c]

@@kristavaillancourt6313 You say that as if it were a bad thing :)

[@kristavaillancourt6313]

@@Philbert-s2c Do I? Kinda thought I wasn't.

[@severindrax]

i'll be in my bunk

[@guyr3618]

Who let Jayne into the comment section?

[@galactic85]

One thought I've had about the show I would be curious to hear your thoughts about. River is in many ways almost like a human representation of the Serenity itself. Worn down and damaged. Constantly at risk of breaking completely. Coming through for the characters when they need her the most. This is further emphasized by (minor potential spoilers) the fact that in the movie she is capable of piloting the ship with ease, and how she claims to have merged with the ship in the episode "objects in space." River is the personification of the ship. Also RE: The Dinosaurs I viewed the scene as more of a representation of what happened with humanity once they found the new planets to colonize and the alliance formed but your interpretation that it hints at Jayne's treachery is a really cool idea!

[@bryanburton6087]

Or it's just Wash playing with dinosaurs. 'Cuz, you know, he's Wash.

[@chrisdufresne9359]

It also could have been a way to show the difference between Wash and Zoe regarding personality. Zoe is normally serious where Wash is the Goofy and Semi-Childish.

[@rebelndirt8830]

Your commentary here is exactly why this one one of the absolute best sci-fi shows ever. You pretty much summed it all up eloquently.

[@laotasurfs1110]

Ian: *Mentions the ing of the underworld and flashes up a few frames of Mark Sheppard* Me: I see what you did there

[@mkarabinos]

River was a potential. The initiative and Wolf Ram and Hart formed the Alliance after fleeing Earth when the Sr Partners rose. There were no new slayers since Buffy’s activation. The school was looking for new potentials. Their efforts finally worked and activated River as the new Slayer in The movie.

[@scottbilger9294]

The last moment, when Inara effectively blesses Sheppard Book, absolutely blew me away. There are many such moments in the series, but that one stings the eyes.

[@russellward4624]

I think another idea during the bathing scene is shes probably contemplating her mortality. She's dying and that s the reason she left her "cushy job".

[@PainCausingSamurai]

I am 100% okay with you putting all other projects on hold indefinitely in order to rewrite Hamlet.

[@ryandecraene6432]

This is absolutely incredible. I am so glad that this exists. Thank you so very much. I am a broke ass college student, but I hope to be able to add to the ramen fund soon.

[@jareth45373]

Wow, I just stumbled onto your videos. I can NOT seem to ingest enough material about Firefly and that universe. Thank you for giving me so much more to think about. This first episode is beautifully written and very well thought out and gives so many wonderful layers to a show that succeeded in doing what only a very few other programs did for me. It grew to become part of my DNA and continues to help me define myself and grow as an individual.

[@kalventure]

This guide is magnificent, and I am so excited for this series guide! I'm not sure if you knew this, but there are some new novels set between the series and the movie that Joss was consulting editor on that are amazing. Firefly: Big Damn Hero gives a lot of backstory and depth to Mal's character and the Battle for Serenity Valley, and Firefly: The Magnificent Nine is a Jayne-centric novel. There's a third one coming out in the fall.

[@ET-gh4qv]

Yay! I'm so excited for this guide! And yes, there is so much to unpack in these episodes, but for my part, I think the introduction of the Reavers was one of the most breathtaking things I had ever seen, and introduced a villain in a way I don't remember seeing before. Zoe's deadpan explanation - 'if they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh and sew our skins into their clothing. And if we're very lucky? They'll do it in that order' sets up the scene, but Simon's look of pure horror seals it. It is the reactions of the characters that drive home the true terror the Reavers inspire in the people of the 'Verse. Inara pulling out the syringe, Jayne's hands shaking as he's trying to re-load Vera, Book clutching his Bible, Zoe twisting Wash's shirt as she's gripping his shoulder, and so on. Cut to the Reaver ship calmly flying overhead... and then nothing. We actually never *see* the Reavers themselves, only signs of their presence.. And the contrast between encountering the Alliance and the Reavers are striking - with the Alliance, Mal has plans and tactics to engage and/or escape. With the Reavers? They freeze, hiding under the blankets, hoping the monster won't notice them. The Alliance is the enemy. The Reavers are the horrors watching from the closet, and under the bed.

[@blodstrm]

Bravo, just discovered this channel and immediately could tell that quality commentary is as natural as breathing for a man of culture like yourself. You've got a lifetime subscribe from me.

[@imkluu]

Joss Whedon once jokingly said that he had plans to have Spike show up in an episode sitting in a bar and saying some one liner when the Firefly group was dealing with some kind of trouble there. This implies that they are all in the same universe.

[@channitalksabout]

Firefly was so great off the bat. OMG I was hooked immediately

[@jediavatar]

I have always been very impressed by this episode, and I am very thankful for your analysis of it. There are a great many new things I have learned from just your very first video (about the episodes) and now have a richer and more nuanced understanding of how good writing truly is an art. I am definitely looking forward to learning a whole lot more about my favorite television show.

[@borednow5838]

Great work. I think the pilot of Firefly has to be up there for one of the best ever. Having recently watched the show all the way through for the first time its pretty fresh in my mind so I am primed for your reviews. I think Kaylee getting shot in the first episode is Whedon playing with the audience considering Jesse was unexpectedly killed off at the start of Buffy.

[@julietmolz8839]

I stumbled on this series like I couldn't believe I've lived the past 15+ years without it. THANK YOU! And oh my god, do Dollhouse.

[@AaronW-Techsceptre43]

Man, to much to comment on, not enough time!! Ian, thank you for this. Truly. I love this show, it is my very favorite show, ever. I have evangalized this show to more people than any other. Your observation of the "symmetry" of Wash's dinosaurs and Mal and Jayne gave me chills... I'd never connected those dots. Brilliant. No power in the verse can stop you.

[@mykashg]

Firefly has always been the Whedon show I've struggled to get into and I'm hoping the guide gives me a fresh perspective!!

[@kinagrill]

Kaylee is adorable - I love the actress and she is one of the reasons the later seasons of Stargate Atlantis was still very much enjoyable to me.

[@brycevo]

Just this first episode helps make the world feel lived in and alive

[@johnbevino8687]

Bravo ... celebrate accordingly.... I’ll be in my bunk ...

[@edwarmulfo363]

Ironically, I sat down to watch this episode tonight, only for it to end and me get a notification about this video. What a great trip to go down. Thanks for the video

[@abdulmismail]

Never heard of the show before I watched "Serenity" (the movie) so went back to watch "Firefly", in the correct order, and it ended up as a prequel for me. Of course, I was totally distraught when I found out there was only ever one series. Problem is, you can't ever make a new series (even if they wanted to) without Ron Glass - even if you ignore the fact that they did what they did in the movie.

[@nuttmeg20]

This video has sent me into a rewatch spiral. My god I love these characters SO MUCH

[@michaelcain9324]

As usual you see so much more than I ever did. Male wearing a cross, being faithful. I missed that completely. Thanks for this great episode guide.

[@ThePoolIsAbstract]

Thank you for using the David Tennant Hamlet as your Shakespeare example footage! You are in my good Shepherd Book.

[@suppiechan369]

This was so beautifully done! The quality of your videos never ceases to amaze me. The music is especially fitting - it gave me a sense of home, as a fandom :) So excited to watch the rest of the series!

[@lorneoliver3632]

I've seen the episode many times, but I just learned so much about the show and characters just now.

[@abevamp]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful, beautiful work in all of these videos. Analysis can be art, and you sir, are an artist. However long you take to finish, I'll be here. "How you get there is the worthier part".

[@kimberlyterasaki4843]

4:22 "Wheel never stops turning, Badger." / "That only matters to the people on the Rim." Looking back, I realize that this is also probably a reference to the Medieval concept of "Fortune's Wheel." Yes, at any point, there will always be someone on top, but being on top of Fortune's wheel means that there's only one way to go: down. If Fortune is a wheel, then it stands that it is constantly moving and changing who it favors. It only takes half a turn for the one on top to be crushed at the bottom again. If we apply it to the geography of the Verse, then the core planets, being the center of the wheel, arguably never really feel the change of movement in the wheel, as being closest to the center, they never get crushed. The Border Planets (aka the spokes) are pretty steady but feel more pressure from being the spokes of the wheel. The Rim is constantly full of people living paycheck to paycheck, job to job, getting crushed or crushing each other to get paid.

[@stevenw.miguel]

I never really went into this much depth with symbolism (I tend to enjoy stories as just stories), but you do make a lot of cool observations

[@Hunpecked]

1:33 My wife generally dislikes science fiction, and this series was no exception. I asked her to watch a little, though, because she's originally from China and her first language is Mandarin. She easily translated the characters on the ship for me ("extreme peace", close enough to "serenity" in English). She had some difficulty translating dialogue, however, because she said the pronunciation was atrocious (no doubt the language evolves in the future?). I could hear it myself sometimes, as for example when Kaylee pronounced "thank you" as "shay shay"; it's actually closer to "shih shih", though that's not exactly it either. From this video (thanks, Passion of the Nerd), it's apparent that Whedon took great pains in naming his characters, choosing their roles and personalities, writing flowery dialogue, and creating a colorful setting for his show. Unfortunately such niceties are wasted on me; flatlander clod that I am, I'd rather he explained how Mal makes a living transporting meat on the hoof over interstellar distances, or why the super-technically advanced Alliance would transport billions (?) of people to a new star system (at great expense) and terraform (also at great expense) dozens/hundreds of worlds so large segments of the population can be dirt poor, herd cattle, ride horses, and fight with swords.

[@Duy-Metal]

Ohh man!! tihs is the best video about my favorite tv series ever, and you got more, thank you man, a lot!!

[@firiel2366]

Two days late because I've been without internet but heckin dang I love this. Thank you. Your episode guides always leave me with stuff to think about.

[@BrieannaKeogh]

I'm so glad you're doing this! Love the Buffy and Angel stuff but this show will always be special. Love seeing all the little things I've missed even after multiple viewings.

[@Scorpionwitch]

Very well done video and that scene with Kaylee and the strawberry I could watch over and over...

[@EternallyThankful-os6pz]

That was a well thought out and explained analysis - detailed insight on a great many aspects of the characters I missed whilst enjoying the show - I applaud your work for this video - thanks very kindly !!

[@monovision566]

Wonderful out of the gate, just like Firefly. Thank you, Ian.

[@NTWoo95]

7:58 “Wash like an agile little leaf on the wind..” Not. Cool.

[@pintpullinggeek]

And that intro too! Much too soon.

[@andrewmurphy1367]

I'm not crying... You're crying. Shut up 😢

[@Crazael]

You know, Shepard Book buying his way into Serenity with fresh fruit and vegetables is one of my favorite bits of what I like to call "background world building" (ie, world building that happens either in the background, or is not a part of dialogue).

[@sylverarow]

I have loved this show for years, but this analysis was deep and I personally think it was awesome.

[@sibylyao3788]

Even though this show has only one season and one movie,Serenity still makes me feel like a second home.

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

Dude. The breakdown of the character's names...I just...how did you earn goosebumps just by explaining names?!?! SUBBED.

[@AaronLockman]

Aw man, are you trying to do a season of Buffy, a season of Angel, and a season of Firefly all at the same time? Look at Joss Whedon circa 2002 over here!

[@guitarzero1836]

This episode contains my absolute favourite exchange in the entire series, the little chat between Mal and Kaylee in the med bay. Mal's line about being a 'mean old man' struck me so hard the first time I saw the episode, it might have been said as a joke but in reality this is who Mal is or at least how he sees himself. Serenity Valley broke him, he lost so much and let's be honest if it wasn't for Zoe he'd have fallen a lot further then he scrapped together enough to buy a ship and build a new family and the Mal we see now would do anything to keep them together. He calls Kaylee mei mei, which I believe means little sister but the way Fillion plays it always put me in mind of a father looking after his youngest daughter, the way he gives her an extra blanket, holds her hand and that small smile so full of love, respect and sorrow that he gives when asking who would fix the ship without Kaylee. He's a mean old man to the world at large because he values his crew that much and would fight tooth and nail for each and every one of them (even Jayne, Simon and River), this is what he needs to be to protect what he values most and the crew are the only ones who see Mal's true self as they were the ones who brought it out after a broken man stumbled away from war and into a world where he has no place. Serenity obviously represents freedom but more than that to Mal and the crew, she offers an escape to a world beyond the pain and loss that the grounded world became. The Verse is FAR too massive for the alliance to control in totality and its size exposes them as a bumbling, bureaucratic symbol of pomposity clinging to past glories while the surviving browncoats and rebels thumb their noses at them and live their true, realised lives and as the theme song says 'you can't take the sky from me'. I hope this made sense, keep up the fantastic work!

[@Philbert-s2c]

Yeah, these episode guides are the highlight of my KZbin experience every month or so. There's very little to add to this. I watched the series on its first run so I didn't get to see these two episodes until after the show had already been cancelled. Damn you FOX, just....damn you.

[@kathynavarro-sochel755]

Loved the information about the names of the characters. Makes sense. Appreciate your time, thoughtfulness and intellectual discussion about my favorite show of all time! Keep it up, dude! P.S. So glad that is recent - July 2019. Don't see a lot of "new" stuff about Firefly. Thank you! Thank you!

[@DagothWit]

I always giggle when I see Inara hold the flight stick upside down.

[@Stayfnay42]

this has me craving a watch through of firefly all over again. You never disappoint! Thank you for another great video

[@ms_scribbles]

Yay for the nod to Tennant's Hamlet. :D

[@georgerrorwell2993]

My favourite Hamlet.

[@jaycievictory8461]

Go se, this show was amazing. It still hurts. But I am *painfully* excited about your amazing analysis skills, Ian. This was amazing!

[@fightscrimewhilesleeping4024]

Badger's line about "people on the rim" was always one of my favorite. I think it can have another meaning than the one you pointed out though: the "rim" is metaphorically the people on extreme ends of society, whether that be extreme affluence or poverty, powerful or powerless. But Badger is a "middle man." No matter who's at the top of the wheel, he's always in the basic spot--the middle, where there's less risk...and less reward. And the whole idea of "middle men" is a recurring one in the world of Firefly. They're refereed to explicitly in War Stories, when Mal rejects Wash's idea of "cutting out the middle man." I don't think Badger is just taking it literally here, and discounting the people who live on the edge of the galaxy. I think that line is indicating that Badger is more aware of the shifting wheel that it might appear--and that he knows the safest way not lose big, is not to really play in the first place.

[@guyr3618]

Wow, I... I *really* didn't understand Inara at all, until this guide. Amazing work here, Ian. I need to rewatch the whole show now...

[@michaelmayes8154]

I have discovered this channel because this video popped up on my recommended and I just love it. More interested in the second half than the first but never one to shy away from reliving Firefly. I eagerly await the next instalment! - A new subscriber :)

[@jediknight131]

great review! love the show! ended far too soon. best realized group characters. great actors. RIP Ron Glass.

[@HenryRex7]

This show was special, nothing else like it.

[@amberrosefaye7016]

So so so good!!! I am so excited that you are doing Firefly now!!

[@cheeseclark]

Thanks Ian, another excellent video.

[@lazybookworm]

Absolutely love your take on this episode, and look forward to seeing more of your thoughts on this series!

[@JordanDC87]

Omg that was amazing. I cant wait to see the next video.