![Firefly: Objects in Space [Ep 14] ✦ Watchalong Reaction & Review](https://img5.nokimo.com/storage/12/id/ny/fb3178-019e7b8e-d4fd-7b8e-927f-2c61f4edc539.jpg)
Firefly: Objects in Space [Ep 14] ✦ Watchalong Reaction & Review
Added 2025-03-21 16:30:03 +0000 UTCHappy Friday everyone! Welcome in to the last episode of Firefly. 🥲 I'm stoked for the movie next week, to see how they conclude this wonderful story! [Direct link here.]
Please enjoy! 😊
✦ KL
Comments
So many stand out acting performances in this episode. Richard Brooks bounced so quickly between intense and distracted, but in a brilliantly disturbing way. It was also interesting that he said "That ain't a Shepard" when referring to Book. Jewel portrayed Kaylee's terror so well. Summer really got a chance to show so much more of River and was fantastic doing so. I also love how she asked for permission to come on board, perhaps for the first time seeing as she was originally smuggled on.
Paul Howard
2025-03-24 11:43:28 +0000 UTCHeh, that line about the book club is one of my favorites in the series. Makes me chuckle every time I even think about it.
Thadman
2025-03-23 04:20:57 +0000 UTCAs a veteran, my favorite episodes are (1) War Stories (2) Serenity/Pilot (3) Out of Gas Niska calls Mal an "extraordinary man", and in War Stories we get to see why -- he has always looked out for his crew under normal circumstances, but even under maximum duress, he's still the same person (that's the real him, to his core). He inspires loyalty -- even from Jayne -- because of his compassion, mettle, and astute pragmatism. And as a leader**, he's willing to make the hard choices, even if that means slamming Wash against a wall so that he leaves his wife's side to ensure the survivability of everyone. Wash hates it in the moment, but he learns the importance of it later. And like Deadpool, Mal's got quips for days because he's subtly crazy, too (he's seen and lost so much that he's crazy unbreakable). Wash comes to respect that in this episode, also. Niska: "Tell me, have you studied the works of Shan Yu?" Mal: "Are you starting a book club? What are you trying to do, torture me?" I put the pilot over Out of Gas because that's the episode that instantly makes everyone fall in love with the show. It's a special pleasure to see the joy on everyone's faces when they finish the first episode and to see that they are already beaming with anticipation for the 2nd episode. And then Out of Gas capitalizes on that built-up investment to hit you in all the feels. But the pilot episode is what does the heavy lifting from early on, IMHO. ** This part resonates with me because, on a submarine, the engineering reflects our leadership philosophy. Your household electrical equipment is grounded to avoid human electrocution... but, on a submarine, the equipment is actually essential to keep all 150 people alive. Thus, our equipment is un-grounded, which means the risk of electric shock to an individual is greater, but that is preferable to any situation where a person's body completes a circuit that bypasses or destroys equipment that allows the other 149 people to return home. You always want everyone to return safely, but whenever you're faced with a trolley problem, you need to have a clear mind to flip the switch that maximizes the survival of the maximum number of people. You have to learn to be both cold and compassionate at the same time. Mal is that duality, personified.
Dan
2025-03-22 17:07:18 +0000 UTCYeah, I agree about Early. Given the number of times he muses about completely unrelated subjects and asks, "Does that seem right to you?", you could almost say he's like a misguided part-time philosopher, which could be somewhat admirable if we didn't know more about his actions, persona, and intent. And while his conclusions are clearly disagreeable, it's kind of refreshing to see a villain with intrusive, introspective thoughts that don't just overtly move the plot along as a form of exposition for the villain (e.g. "I am Thanos, and this is why I'm doing bad things"). It's like he actually has a life outside of his role in this particular story and outside of the influence of these characters that we care about. And at the same time, it's also unsettling that he's this unstable and still has a gun -- you get the sense he might shoot you over a miscommunication or because he misheard you. And these are elements you don't normally get from a villain, either (in screenplays, sentences are always enunciated perfectly and people never mishear each other unless it's convenient for a punchline, so the anomalous dialog raises questions and causes us to hang on Early's every word) ... And, on a darker note... even as a guy, I have mixed feelings about Early's dreadful question. On one hand, I feel terrible every time a woman has to hear him ask it, and on the other hand there's some morbid respect for guts to pointedly include that in the script. Like, holy fuck my guy (referring to Joss), way to scare the bejeezus out of everyone (also, way to be an asshole...). You have to admit it's effective, but also wtf. I'm glad this is the only place I've ever heard that question asked onscreen.
Dan
2025-03-22 16:25:45 +0000 UTCThere are no bad episodes of this series. The worst you can say is "my least favorite episode" and that's not that bad a thing to say. I'd say "Out of Gas" is my favorite, but this might be my 2nd favorite. As despicable as Early is, he also is weirdly likeable. Probably because he is so unconventional and oddly detached from things around him, but doesn't completely lose sight of the task at hand, unlike Niska who is despicable but is very locked in on the atrocities he's doing and wants to concentrate solely on the task at hand, which is to cause others pain. For Early, as River lets us know, the pain is a bonus for him. It's a job that pays well, but allows for him to get his ya-yas out in a measured way and that's why he seems to be enjoying himself. Niska, I just wanted him to get his comeuppance, but with Early, I chuckled at him more than a few times. He's scary, but fun to watch. IF he had've laid a hand on Kaylee in a wrong fashion, he wouldn't be funny anymore and his "life would've been forfeit," as he might've said.
Thadman
2025-03-22 05:30:39 +0000 UTCI do love the irony, or perhaps the fate, that a River heavy episode ended up being the final episode of the season, whether it was written to be the finale or not. The season started with her being smuggled and the season ended with her "sort-of" liberation. Also love how River just casually balances on handrails 😆
Nathan Jasper, the Artist Formerly Known as Primary
2025-03-22 05:27:57 +0000 UTCOther than the pilot, I think this is my favorite episode. It's just so goddamn good, and singular, and character driven. From Simon, of course, who is a somewhat arrogant, good-hearted, nerdy fucking bad-ass (with abs)...but more so from River, which is what everyone who's watched this show has been waiting for. She's the catalyst to everything here, and it's great to finally see her take control, and find her element. There's also some really interesting stuff going on within the subtext of the episode that deals with existentialist thought, and the relationship of space and things. The show-co-creator-who-will-not-be-named goes into it in detail on the DVD/Blu-Ray commentary; but, it's all right there on the screen as well. The idea of being self-aware in relation to--but also completely separate from--other people, and other things. Of finding yourself within those relationships, but also from within. River is a perfect vessel for this idea, both in how she deals with Jubal Early--a most despicable, but vastly fascinating antagonist--and how she deals with the rest of the crew, making them all a fluid part of her plan (well...everyone but Jayne--love his wall of weapons reveal, only to grab his blanket). I also love that Mal officially welcomes River onto the ship before she re-enters. Also, this exchange: "Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science-fiction." "We live in a spaceship, dear." "So?" Can't wait for the movie--it's fucking good. I will say no more.
Steve Mercier
2025-03-21 20:58:50 +0000 UTCKL: "Gosh, trying to rank these episodes is tough... maybe I'll do that... at least a top three or top five..." Looking forward to your upcoming top ten Firefly episodes video ;)
Dan
2025-03-21 18:38:47 +0000 UTCSo Firefly was on the bubble from the get go - Fox didn't like the show and actively sabotaged it - and by The Message everyone knew the show was cancelled. I don't know for sure if this is correct, but inferring from comments from Joss et al and the fact that this should have been a full-length (20-22 episode) season, my belief is that no allowances were made story-wise for this being the final episode - especially since this episode was IIRC one of the episodes that didn't air (Serenity - the pilot - was the final aired episode). Instead I believe this was intended to be the 'end of the beginning' of the show, with River being accepted as part of the crew - her "permission to come aboard" is notable in that she was originally smuggled aboard, so she is in a way the only one who hadn't been expressly allowed on the ship. There's also a number of hints about other storylines - those about Book being the ones that stand out the most - which support the idea this wasn't in any way intended to be a finale.
Sean Ellingham
2025-03-21 18:03:23 +0000 UTCI love this episode because we see things from River's point of view. Also when I think Firefly, the first image that pops in my head is River wandering around in her bare feet.
Brandon Pierce
2025-03-21 17:50:27 +0000 UTCEnjoy the binge-watch!
kaiielle
2025-03-21 16:36:05 +0000 UTCI watch the dvd's so I have been waiting for this to watch the last three episodes at once.
Brian Leonard
2025-03-21 16:35:00 +0000 UTC
