Objects in Space Are Closer Than They Appear

Not a wholly original title for this particular entry on the blog (certainly because I'm sure this is what he had in mind,) but an appropriate one nonetheless. This was a dynamite episode, and ever so bittersweet given the fresh knowledge that the show has been cancelled. It is this sort of rare moment which truly serves to underscore the tragedy that is the loss of this show.

It has been my experience that when I hear that a show that I watch is cancelled, the news is usually accompanied by the kind of low brow, insipid fare that the show has become known for, and which has prompted it's cancellation. This was not the case for FIREFLY. "Objects in Space" written by Joe.., no that's not it.....Josh?.......That's not right.........Well anyway, that episode which was written and directed by whatever his name is, was the sort of slam dunk that television viewers are starving for.

The episode served to keep us guessing from moment one. Just what was up with River in the beginning, walking from crewmember to crewmember hearing their conversations, underscored by "their thoughts." And then, to see her holding a loaded weapon at Simon, after last episode's shoot-out, I was worried for her future on that ship.

But then, just as you think things are going to go seriously south, they go disastrously south. With a bounty hunter on board, systematically taking out the crew with the greatest of ease, what else could possibly go wrong?

The bounty hunter was an especially great character for the story, simply because you didn't quite know where he was going. I mean, he came on board, all ninja/kung-fu, kicking everyone's butt, and yet you knew he wasn't quite all there mentally. (He was repeating what Simon was saying as if he wasn't hearing it.) And what he did to Kaylee was just inexcusable. I mean, yeah he didn't officially do anything (that we know of) other than to tie her upo, but HASN'T SHE GONE THROUGH ENOUGH LATELY! What he did cemented in my mind that endlessly drifting through space until his air supply ran out is justifyable punishment for him (although there's no guarantee that that's the last we'll see of him.)

Wonderful comic use of Jayne in this episode, with him sleeping through the action. Misdirection was key in his moments, as this Josh guy had us thinking that Jayne was going to go kick some butt, and then he just passes back out.

And now, let's hear it for River. The altogether coolest and yet weakest part of this entire episode. I love River to death, I really do. She's a wonderful character and she kicked some serious butt in this episode. And I guess that's the problem. I still don't quite know what to think of her. For the majority of the episode she was acting like a rational, quick thinking and strategizing human being. Even at the end. Hell, at the end she was downright adorable. And yet, it seems a bit too convenient. Don't get me wrong. It makes sense to me that she was being forged into a perfect tactical weapon. And that this programming could kick in and she would be unstoppable. Again, it just seems to convenient.

Especially because she becomes so rational when it happens. One would guess that the reason for her erratic behavior is that Simon busted her before they were finished. As such, I just keep thinking that this is just working too perfectly. I don't know. It's hard to put into words right now. Need to brainstorm on it more. I just get a weird, wacky vibe about it. It was cool. AGAIN, it was DAMNED COOL! Just a little too convenient.

  posted by J @ 09:14