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Date Posted: 12:45:32 11/03/02 Sun
Author: matching mole
Subject: A mixed bag (spoilers for 1.6)
In reply to: Darby 's message, ""Shindig" Impressions, with spoilers." on 09:48:10 11/02/02 Sat

If I was to attempt a ranking of the 6 Firefly episodes to date I'd have to say that I'd rank Shindig 5th (above The Train Job and below all the rest). Having said that I will agree with Rob that it was quite enjoyable, just enjoyable in a fairly predictable way. I didn't catch that it was written by Jane Espenson which is surprising to me because the humour in this episode seemed very straightforward.

The good points - The most interesting parts of the episode (for me) were the under-developed sub-plot about the cockney trader and his capturing most of the crew while Mal is fighting his duel and the conversation between Inara and Mal while his is preparing for his duel. The first showed some good potential for showing the crew and passengers interacting and solving a problem in a non-standard (for TV) way but nothing ever came of it.

Mal and Inara's conversation gets at what I think a central theme of the show will be - the relationship between individual freedom and society. The opening credits clearly equate Mal's ownership of Firefly with freedom ('They can't take the sky from me'). To Mal the Alliance represents a loss of freedom, something he wants to avoid. But this leads to a deep seated contradiction in his character - he doesn't believe in rules, except when he thinks that there ought to be rules. This isn't necessarily self-serving on his part (although it frequently is). He just carries around a particular set of ideals and doesn't really consider that other people may have different (and also valid) rules of conduct. Inara accuses him of this and he brushes her off, returning to a discussion of right and wrong which really means that his rules are the ones that matter.

The disappointing thing about the way that this played out in the episode is that we are all too clearly 'told' that we should approve of Mal's conduct. Inara made a mistake - she was considering making a permanent partnership with a man who a) didn't respect her profession and b) was a real creep. As mentioned by someone else the attitude towards Inara's profession seems somewhat inconsistent with other episodes and Inara seems very uncharacteristically unperceptive about the people around her.

I have mixed feelings about Kaylee. I really like the fact that she has what seems to be a very rare combination in the Jossverse - a healthy sexuality and an innocent enthusiasm for life. I'm not sure if this interesting combination is being carried off very well though - the presentation of her character could use a bit more subtlety.

I do look forward to more about the cows in space.

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Replies:

  • Re: "Shindig" Impressions, with spoilers. -- fresne, 23:27:35 11/03/02 Sun
  • Re: "Shindig" Impressions, with spoilers. -- CW, 05:37:11 11/04/02 Mon
  • Re: "Shindig" fencing Impressions, with spoilers. -- Darby, 07:23:00 11/04/02 Mon
  • Re: "Shindig" Impressions, with spoilers. -- Rattletrap, 20:41:34 11/04/02 Mon
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