This episode made me CRY 😭Watching Firefly Episode 12 ''The Message'' for the FIRST TIME

[@OneOnOne1162]

16:45 - Fun fact, the music in this scene was actually written by the musician after he heard of the cancellation of the show as a farewell to the show.

[@jeffreypreiss8191]

This episode is so amazing. We learn about Jayne's motivation for being so focused on money. This episode and Ariel are fantastic for deepening his character. I'm glad you devoted some time to the scene where he reads the letter. One of my favorite scenes in this series is the scene between Zoe, Mal and Tracey when he dies. Chokes me up every time. Love Jayne's hat. Look forward to the next episode. 😊

[@Audra1964]

Sophie, I’m glad you took a minute to pause and think about all the implications of Jayne’s letter. It’s amazing how sometimes a little bit of new information can change your whole perspective of something or someone. Also, I love that you didn’t blame Mal for not explaining the plan to Tracey. Tracey didn’t give him a chance to, he just shouted over people and then shot at Wash. The backstory was shown to indicate Sarge and his 2nd in Command carried and protected Tracey all through the war. The tragedy is that even after that history together, Tracey didn’t trust them to help him when things went south with this dangerous scheme. I think it’s important to note that first Mal, then Zoe ordered him off the bridge and out of sight. If he had just obeyed that order he would have been fine. There’s an old hymn called “Trust and Obey”. Of course, that’s talking about a different relationship, but I always think about that phrase after watching this episode.

[@Ernwaldo]

Perfect exposition of some valuable plot points. Well done & thank you.

[@alexthorpe6583]

The story is that when the shot the final scenes, handing the body over to Tracy's family, that they'd just found out the show had been cancelled. It added some extra sadness to the scene.

[@michaelshafer5192]

Also, Joss Whedon was in the funeral with the cast. A sad day for them all, and a funeral for the show.

[@byronabrahams871]

It was their goodbye to the show they loved.

[@Macdelaven]

And before they knew there would be a movie. What a great series.

[@ceji566]

Yep, funeral wasn't just the soldier, it was also our beloved series Firefly. Sofie's reaction to be the movie is gonna be great.

[@Otokichi786]

"The Message": Another "Firefly" episode that Fox didn't broadcast, which I didn't see until I bought the DVD set. Some war veterans "can't come back home." The Jayne Hat: An Internet meme for decades. I find it amazing and sad that "Firefly" is so well written, cast and acted that it makes present day TV look like failed grade school projects, by comparison.

[@oscarluna4268]

It can't possibly get any more sad. *cue violin 😭😭😭

[@hardybryan]

Casey was actually in both Angel and Buffy. He was the vampire psych student Buffy fought in Conversations with Dead People.

[@kaybailey-jones3740]

I’ve met Johnathan he is nuts. He used to do `Sunday Service with whiskey at conventions….

[@natalielang6209]

It's one of the aspects of the storytelling in this show that I love. You get to learn about people in kind of an organic way. With Jayne, you know he didn't go to school from what he said in Ariel "If I'd wanted schooling, I'd have gone to school". Here we learn that he sends money to his family and has a loving mother somewhere.

[@charlesmartinjr3971]

We literally met the guy in this episode, he spent less than thirty minutes on the screen, and most people cry at his death. That is a powerful testimony to the writing and acting.

[@terrystickland219]

This is a speciality of Jonathan M Woodward's, his performance just immediately sucks you in (think Buffy 7x7 Conversations with Dead People).

[@BlackShardStudio]

This is the episode when the cast knew they were canceled. Heartbreaking.

[@kentbarnes1955]

Sometimes the depth of this series surprises.

[@stevep2380]

I think Jayne respects Tracy. He was doing everything he did to help his family have a better life. Similar to Jayne financially supporting his family no matter the cost to himself.

[@trulybtd5396]

If you can hear/feel everyone around you, someone dead/in a coma must be comfortable tranquility indeed.

[@davidterhune8277]

"Is there someone you ARE good at talking to?"

[@irrelevant_noob]

2:31

[@steventagawa6959]

12:10 The line is actually "Gorram it, Mal!" Whoever was doing the captions obviously didn't quite catch that. 😂

[@Asehpe]

One of the good things about an episodic show like this one is that you get to (if you have enough talent) design episodes that are completely different in tone and style. Some were action pieces, others were horror stories, some were more like comedies. This one is a little personal tragedy. A guy who, all things considered, isn't all that bad ends up dead... because he couldn't trust Mal enough. Plus the different meaning the note takes when read again at the end... Yeah, this is definitely the tear-up episode. 😢

[@yourfluffyvegancinnamonrol2772]

We love you Sophie!!! 😍😍😍😍😍

[@CvSp22]

I just noticed during this reaction, the episode has some "Is that it? Am i done?" vibes. The reprise of the message reminds on the Hero tape of Doyle in Angel.

[@rnbnatl]

Book knows much more than a shepherd ought to know.

[@trulybtd5396]

Yes. Jayne became a mercenary to support his family and there is sickness. Edit: and we also see he can hardly read, so the options were probably limited

[@notoriouslybratty]

My favourite episode as it captures so much. Probably also because I watched a lot of war movies with my dad (Band of Brothers etc) and I really felt they captures the sense of understanding and compassion vets have each other. Despite him putting them in danger, they understood he was messed up after the war and stayed with him as he passed and took him home afterwards.

[@menachemsalomon]

As jump scares go, Tracy waking up is one of the best. Your face, Miss Sofie, did not disappoint.

[@rromano158]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Finally, someone gets the reason why Jayne is so "hell-bent" on acquiring money. Yeah, his methods at times are questionable, but it is for a "noble" cause. And, as other have said, this is the infamous episode in which, while filming, the cast found out that the show had been cancelled. So, at the end where you see how dejected and sad the "crew" was because it was real.

[@Blackd0nuts]

Yeah seriously SoFie is up there as reactions go. She's very attentive, smart, empathetic and gets characters and the humour. It's a pleasure to watch!

[@deltablaze77]

As a Vet, I think the saddest part is he made all those poor decisions because of how lost he was after the war, one day they just say "We thank you for your honorable service, but it is no longer required, pack your things and go somewhere else."

[@ernesthakey3396]

Didn't serve, but my dad was in the USMC at the tail end of Korea, my next younger brother spent 6 years in the Navy with most of it underwater on the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, and my next younger brother after that in the Coast Guard. The VA was helpful to my Dad for some things late in life, but he was always kind of bothered by loud noises, especially fireworks...

[@deltablaze77]

@@ernesthakey3396 There is a special place in hell for the guy who invented the mortar sound simulator style firework.

[@ernesthakey3396]

@@deltablaze77 absolutely. When us boys were young my dad would take us to the 4th of July fireworks, and we didn't realize he stood behind us in part so we wouldn't see him jump every time. When we got a bit older we figured it out and decided we didn't need to go see them, we could just watch them on TV instead.

[@matthewfowler133]

Once again really impressed with your insights on a first watch. You really seem to "get" this awesome show. Welcome to the Browncoats!

[@evatesche]

Love this episode and one of the biggest reasons is Jayne's HAT 🤩

[@natalielang6209]

😂 "Yeah, that was the plan, stupid!" Love that.

[@ThePharaz]

When Simon talks to Kaylee for romantic purposes, it's like verbally his shoes are tied together while he's trying to run. One of my 3 saddest episodes of Firefly.

[@boqndimitrov8693]

another high quality episode. i will always regret that we didn't meet jane's mother..

[@filton12]

The actor playing Tracy was in Buffy 7/7 "Conversations With Dead People. Buffy's old classmate in the cemetery.

[@Ernwaldo]

Great reaction. Your comprehension of all the plot points never ceases to amaze. Thank you for sharing.

[@rayharley597]

That look between Mal & Zoe? That's when, for me, they finally know they lost the war. All they have left is what they can salvage in surviving. We blithely send our youth off to war; ask them to do monstrous things for us and then abandon them when they return broken and traumatised. I recall an interview with a Vietnam vet from a programme about the My Lai massacres; was speaking about a friend, I don't recall whether he was a school friend or someone who was drafted at the same time he was, but he remarked that he hated 'them'; not their friend, and said, "They turned my friend into a murdered. Tracey is the character I am most broken up about from Firefly; he got so lost, and never made it out. Even Jayne can see that about him, kerk

[@DanielOrme]

"When you can't run, you crawl. And when you can't crawl, you find someone to carry you." 😢😢That might be the theme to the whole series.

[@rudewalrus5636]

I just love that quote. And somehow, it makes Tracey's pointless death all the more heart-wrenching.

[@ernesthakey3396]

"Gorrammit, Mal" - Gorram is "goddamn" but lets the show get past the censors. They were cops alright - dirty cops.

[@UpLateGeek]

Yeah, this one gets me every time as well.

[@stephaniesayer7191]

"Gor-amit, Mal" the slang they use to replace the GDit words.

[@jimdetry9420]

I enjoy hearing you laugh.

[@RyanESmail]

Omg you’re getting closer and closer to the movie and I’m so excited for you to see it!

[@stonecoldku4161]

They knew the show was cancelled when they were filming that last scene and the music at the end was written by the show's composer as his goodbye to the show.

[@BranCormac]

Another thoughtful and perceptive reaction. You see all the subtleties , well done. And one more thing , I hope you’re not tired of hearing how attractive you are. Keep up the great work. Thanks.

[@slaaneshhedonite7068]

I have a Jayne hat. 😁 Yes, I’m a big damn dork.

[@bill.godwin-austen]

You nailed it! "What does that make us?" "Big damn dorks, sir!" 🤣

[@VerMaarte]

The funeral scene is so poignant (with Mal looking in the camera f.i.) because they shot that after they knew Firefly would stop soon.

[@paulcurlin2789]

I think Maddie is Jayne's sister and that is why he is always looking after Kaylee and teasing the crap out of her. It's a brother/sister type thing ♥

[@Ernwaldo]

The name is actually “Matty” in the script. I would assume that’s short for Mathew and thus, a brother. Who knows, though? 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Packratjay]

I’ve seen this so many times and just now realized Kaylee is wearing the same dress from the flashback in “Out of Gas.”

[@sandwiched]

For a long while, I couldn't decide on a favorite episode between Our Mrs. Reynolds, Out of Gas, or The Message. I think I've settled on Out of Gas, but I'll be gorram if this one don't bring forth tears _every_ dang time!

[@evatesche]

Those are my top 3 as well closely followed by Ariel and Janestown - and, well, all the other epsidoes, cause all of them are amazing. My ranking changes though, depending on my current mood.

[@michaelhoward142]

Every episode is so gorram good in its own way, I've never been able to choose a best one. So now my favorite is whichever one I happen to be watching. 😉

[@rayharley597]

The Message; Out of Gas; Serenity for me personally. Train Job evades consideration because the circumstances of it's creation necessitated so much redundant exposition, and Safe ~ for entirely personal reasons is too painful to be a favourite. Personally speaking again, I think this would have made a much better finale than the one we got, kerk

[@dalesharp9953]

Great reaction. I wish they had to explore the story of Jane's mother and brother.

[@davidbergfors6820]

That funeral ain't for the kid, it's for the show, that's why we cry. at lunch just before filming that funeral the cast learned that the show was being cancelled, and the music was composed with that in mind. at least, that's what I have heard.

[@dunringill1747]

A nice genuine reaction. On the surface we have an all too real story about how a war vet struggles with civilized life. This episode we have to speculate that Tracey's ordinary original organs are completely legal to ship (or it's legal to create ordinary new organs?) where as those synthesized organs must be illegally smuggled. There was mention of Tracey being not just an organ carrier, but an incubator. This suggests those illegal organs were developing into something more. Perhaps once developed they will grant super human metabolism in their host? Unnaturally long life? Other superhuman abilities? Who knows? *Comparing Tracey to Jayne:* Both are mercs that live the dangerous life to support their families - not for themselves. They are also both attracted to Kaylee (that is why Jayne was always so mean to Simon - jealousy). Both men have been under the leadership of Mal. The only difference being Jayne is learning the value of loyalty and belonging. Tracey only saw Mal as a sap to be used. *Comparing Tracey to Simon:* Both men are attracted to Kaylee. Kaylee is attracted to both of them. Tracey knows how to flirt to appease Kaylee's romance fantasies but being 'a nice guy' is not the same as being 'a good man'. Simon may be awkwardly terrible in romantic banter, but he is a genuinely good man.

[@jeffkoenig7402]

Joss knows you can emotionally manipulate an audience by introducing a recording of a character at the start of an episode and playing it again after they die. He used it here and he used it in season 1 of Angel. We should start calling it a character the Doyle.

[@larrystuder6378]

In my opinion, this episode is practically a classic tragedy, an Oedipus, a Hamlet, a Romeo & Juliet, a Willie Loman. Tracey is brought down by his own intetnal flaws, his lack of trust, and his belief that he's smarter, quicker on his feet, than everybody else. His defeat brings about an emotional response in the audience. And that's what tragedy has always been for. Excelkent writing.

[@johng482]

2:50 My dad did something very similarto that in Paris. He was carrying his wallet in his jacket pocket, but suddenly felt someone reaching into his hip pocket. He quickly reached back and grabbed the wrist on the teenage boy trying to pickpocket him. My dad was >6’ and about 250# at the time, much larger and stronger than this boy and his eyes were the size of saucers. Dad felt bad for him and let him go, but we always found that story funny. 7:17 there a long sad tradition of police officers using their positions to further their own illegal interests (not saying this is the norm, but it does happen). For example, in the country where my wife grew up, the biggest drug distributor was also the county sheriff. In a strongly authoritarian society such as what’s portrayed here, the likelihood of corruption is higher because there’s more power for the police.

[@hereticmoses]

As strange as It seems, with a dead body River could finally have a human connection without being bombarded with their thoughts. Seems like a vampire would be a perfect companion for her.

[@user-kg7co9vi5r]

Am I the only one that loves Sophie's laugh

[@MrHws5mp]

Nope...🤣😊👍

[@TommygunNG]

“Your rabbit” is actually “gorramit,” which is the shows euphemism for the G-dammit profanity.

[@evatesche]

"It is grotesk!! ... Oh and there is something in a jar!

[@Ernwaldo]

*grotesque

[@evatesche]

@@Ernwaldo Sorry, not my first language ☺

[@Ernwaldo]

@@evatesche No apology necessary! I only speak/write one language and just barely. Hope I didn’t offend. Sorry. And I always thought Wash’s line that you quoted was one of the funniest from the show, by the way! 🙂

[@jeffkoenig7402]

@@evatesche it's also spelled really weirdly (blame the French) and fwiw like your spelling of it better.

[@treystone9464]

Jayne's brother is sick, and his family is poor and very close. They could probably use a doctor like Simon, but Jayne's misguided mode of operations is to betray his friends to be loyal to family; money is most important to Jayne, not because he's greedy, but he's selfless. Tracy is a juxtaposition to Simon; he talks smooth but he is really shallow.

[@rodlepine233]

he meant in the jobs Mal took since the war that because Mal does illegal jobs that Mal must have killed people during them

[@jimmilligan5407]

Everything makes you cry. lol

[@originallegacy7353]

I think you will really like the TV Show “Castle” (2009). It’s in my Top 3 Crime TV Shows. IT’S WORTH IT! Nathan Fillion is in it.

[@RyanESmail]

Are you coming to VidCon this year?

[@becca1189]

❤‍🩹🧡💛💚💙💜

[@ryanclark6402]

I feel so conflicted. This is the one episode I think is a bit overwrought and heavy-handed, and I don’t like it as much as the rest of the series… but I can’t deny my schadenfreude instincts when watching someone else get wrecked by the melodrama. I’m a baddie…

[@jamestate5059]

And you finally learn what drives Jayne for money. Not selfishness but for sick family back home

[@Senio6667]

never understood why they didnt just tell him the plan

[@tvdroid22]

He was saying gorram it Mal, not you're a rabbit now.

[@eldritch5058]

My least favorite Firefly episode, but it produced the single funniest blooper/outtake.

[@rodlepine233]

Maddie is a girls name

[@thomasbeauchamp3781]

The only thing I didn't like about this show. All Mal had to do was say, "Tracy, put the gun down. We have a plan." Instead, it led to Tracy's death and they came a millimeter from losing Wash.

[@kirkdarling4120]

That's a highly unpopular opinion that I share.

[@TimL-nr4hr]

This episode is so dumb if you think about it. They were going to bully the fake cops into going away. They knew they weren't in danger but Instead of telling their friend they just shoot him many times instead.

[@magnusreynhamar35]

To me it seems he did not give them much of a chance to explain. At least that is what I think the writers of this episode wants to convey. His way of acting recklessly and not making things work after the war, makes me think the war resulted in him having PTSD. Having him hyper-react to things potentially life-threatening, because that is how he survived war. It can be hard to shed these reflexes for some when peace (or at least not-war) arrives.. That is what I read in to it.

[@evatesche]

I love the episode but I still find it rather dumb how the smuggeling of the organs work. They can only carry it in a person, so Tracy has them implanted. But if they can carry his original organs outside the body (he was supposed to meet up with the original buyer, take the organs out and get his own back in), why can't they carry the newly grown? And if Tracy would have met with his new buyer and gave him the organs, how was he supposed to get his old organs back?? The people that were after him still had his old ones, they would not give them back.... That whole plan is completely confusing.

[@Ernwaldo]

@@magnusreynhamar35Agree. Tracey even explains it in his monologue as he’s dying.

[@elvwood]

I agree: Tracey was panicking but saying "wait, we have a plan" should have slowed things down enough to avoid shooting while they explained further - and even if Mal expects to be obeyed without question, there's three other people there, so at least one should have done so. But although it's my least favourite Firely episode largely because of this plot stupidity, it's still better than most TV!

[@wendyheatherwood]

​@evatesche They don't need to put his original organs in, just any set that are compatible and the kind of people that could afford to buy the special artificial organs could afford to get hold of suitable donor organs, one way or another.

[@migmit]

Ugh. One of the episodes I don't like. Mostly because the problem Mal is solving here is the one of his own making. When somebody dares to question his orders, Mal goes ballistic. He could resolve the situation simply by saying "no, calm down, I have a different plan". Pretty much what Book did in "Bushwacked", you know. Control the situation. Instead he doubles down on "I'm the captain here and you do what I say", and, as a result, endangered the lives of his crew. That's pretty much why I would not like to fly on Serenity.

[@notoriouslybratty]

You aren’t wrong about Mal but I think that is from being in the war where orders are not questioned and you had to trust your crew as there isn’t time to discuss plans or calls. People had to be willing to blindly follow orders. Not saying it is right, but I understand the mentality of Mal as a character for the first season of a show. I am sure they may have addressed it later if the series continued.

[@migmit]

@@notoriouslybratty I do think they'd address it later, and, in fact, Mal's military background is what I would also blame for this until recently, when I made a similar comment elsewhere, and somebody in the replies said something like "I was a military commander, and I was trained to always try explaining the plan to my people".