1.05: Safe

[Lonewolf89]

I really liked this episode. The flashbacks were great and not as confusing as some shows make them.

I really liked seeing more about Simon an River's relationship. He seems to really care about her and she cares a lot about him. One of my favorite scenes was when she said he had given up everything for her and he said maybe everything I have is right here.

This ep. also gave some depth to Book's character, who, up until now, was rather boring in my opinion.

I loved Jayne's paranoia! It was funny when he threw all of the stuff he had stolen back on Simon's bed.

Mal and Zoe had some good lines too. When Simon asked why the Captain came back for him and Mal replied, you're part of my crew.

All in all this is one of the best episodes so far. It's funny, each week I say that was my favorite episodes and then next time around it gets even better.

[chipotle72]

Hello there. Guess I'm a total newbie to this board, but watching Firefly has gotten me back into Scifi. Hope I handle the spoilers alright.

"Safe" wasn't my favorite Firefly epi so far (that title still goes to "Out of Gas") but it was close. I'm glad to see the show starting to pick up some kind of season-long story arc. What is up with the shepherd after all? There were also some great moments of classic Whedon humor... Simon saying to his sister "Don't worry, they won't leave us here," just as Serenity takes off into the atmosphere.

There were a couple cringeworthy moments of bad acting; the nurse in the settlement hospital stands out particularly. But for such a young show it's a good sign that the majority of the bad acting comes from walkons and not the regular cast.

But my favorite character is and continues to be Jayne. He wasn't given too much to do in this episode, but seeing him not-so-furtively go through Simon's stuff (wearing a stethoscope and reading his diary) was for me the most memorable scene of the whole episode.

I sure hope this show doesn't get cancelled. If it can survive the corporate hacks & bean counters I think it's destined to become a classic.

[Lonewolf89]

I second that, it has a good cast and good writing. I look forward to watching future episodes.

[Tabitha]

From www.fox.com/firefly

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“Safe”

1AGE04
Writer: Drew Z. Greenberg
Director: Michael Grossman
Airdate: 11/8/02

We open on the Tam estate of the past, and are introduced to Simon and River as children. River demonstrates her amazing mental abilities, and Simon’s father promises Simon a gift in exchange for him growing up to be a successful doctor.

In the present, Serenity touches down on Jiangyin. Judging from the locals, it seems to be fairly primitive. And they're not happy to see a "fancy vessel" like Serenity coming in. The locals figure the ship is only looking to sell something.

After landing, the crew unloads the cattle cargo from their most recent job. River talks to the cattle as they mill about their new pen. She says they remember where they are now that they see sky. Mal orders Simon to take River for a walk so he can wrap up his cattle-smuggling business. Simon is reluctant since the Alliance considers he and his sister fugitives, but Mal says go. He says the Magellan is a thousand miles away, so they shouldn't worry about the Alliance.

In town, Inara and Kaylee go supply shopping. Simon and River walk in. Simon isn't enjoying looking after River. He also doesn't enjoy being on a junky ship schlepping across the galaxy, which Kaylee takes offense to. River wanders off during their conversation and Simon can't find her.

At Serenity, the men show up for their cattle. Heavy negotiation ensues, but a price is finally met and a deal is struck. Unfortunately, as the men are paying, the law shows up looking to arrest Marcus and Nathaniel Grange, the would-be cattle buyers. They're wanted for a murder.

Simon finds River as she wanders into a dance and music performance. River joins right in as Simon nervously looks on. Back at Serenity, a shootout ensues. One Grange boy is shot down and the other is tackled from behind by Mal. In the aftermath, Mal sees that Shepherd Book has been shot in the chest.

Over at the dance, three men - local boys - throw a sack over Simon's head and drag him away. The men walk Simon through the forest. We flash back to Simon’s past, and see him arguing with his parents over hidden meanings in River’s letters to him from the Academy. He suspects that something is wrong, but his parents attempt to convince him otherwise. In the present, River comes across Simon and the kidnappers and figures they're playing a game.

On Serenity, Wash returns from town. He says there's no sign of Simon and River in town. Wash thinks they were kidnapped because of some warning signs he saw in town. It seems to be a problem on this planet. Mal gets ready to lift off in order to rush Shepherd to medical help. He's not worried about leaving River and Simon behind.

Speaking of which, they see Serenity lift off as they're walked through the woods by their captors. On board, Mal and Wash check galactic charts for the nearest medical help. Inara comes on the bridge and suggests “certain nearby facilities.” Mal doesn't want to discuss that as an idea.

On Jiangyin, the kidnappers march Simon into town and show him off as a doctor. The filthy masses straggle out to see him. The captors take Simon to a sickhouse. They want him to help heal their residents. Simon realizes the situation and begins to aid people.

In space, Serenity glides next to the Alliance cruiser Magellan and requests permission for docking.

Mal and Jayne carry Shepherd onto the Magellan. Armed guards are there to meet them. The ship's security chief seems reluctant until Shepherd begins mumbling about an ID card. His card is fetched from his pocket and scanned. The security chief orders Shepherd taken into the emergency room immediately.

In the sickhouse, River bonds with a girl named Ruby. The nurse doesn't think River will get much out of Ruby because she's a mute - at least for the past few years. Later, River says Ruby explained what happened to her, but not through speaking. The nurse thinks River is a witch and must be killed.

The nurse rings the old town bell, rallying the citizenry. The town patron slaps River after she explains that the old patron was sick and died. The patron thinks she's a witch because she can read minds. The townsfolk tie her to a pole for a good, old-fashioned witch burning.

On the Magellan, Shepherd comes to. Mal wonders why the Alliance allowed a wanted ship to dock, then took care of Shepherd. Shepherd doesn't offer any answers, but says it's good to be home.

Simon tries to save River from the mob. He attacks their ignorance and says this is not God's will. He hugs River and tells the people to light the post if this is what they want. At that moment, Serenity hovers over the people. The cargo door opens, and there's Jayne, gun trained on the townspeople.

Mal and Zoe walk toward the crowd, guns also drawn. They take back River and Simon without much fuss from the patron or anybody else.

Back on Serenity, Mal says he came back for Simon simply because he's on his crew. That's all that matters. The crew shares a nice dinner and all is well on Serenity once again.
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[Tabitha]

Poll added.

[Dave]

It was a little corny the way that they got rescued just as the fire was about to be lit, very Star Trek

I hadn't realised that Simon had gone against his parents wishes to free River. Even if he had been unable to free her, how could he go back and live as he had before, knowing his parents didn't care what happened to her. Or, were they just trying to fool themselves nothing was happening to her, because the truth was too awful to contemplate.

I think Shepherd has become the most interesting character after this.

[ray gower]

Not the best of the episodes, it managed to blemish its record for making things exciting. It left things a little thin.

Where it scored:-

Much backstory to explain what Simon gave up to rescue his sister, not just risking the wrath of the Alliance, but being excommunicated by his parents. Interesting the way he largely forgot his plight to settle to treat the locals.

River is becoming interesting, not nearly as interesting as Book mind, speculation for the preachers past is now rife.
But River can't half reel!

The sight of Serenity disappearing into space must have been disconcerting for Simon and I'm not entirely sure if Mal had an intention to return, but it would have been more of a surprise if he hadn't.

[Status]

The plot thickens, Book is fast becoming quite the mystery for someone who was mostly low profile before. I suspected something strange about him, but not any link to the Alliance. Something is amiss here.

Most of what happened seemed to be easily detectable, but the part about Mal going to the Alliance came as quite a surprise to me. Somehow I thought he would go back to get Simon and River to do the medical work.

Most of this one had the feel of an old fashioned western. Think it might have been the cows? :lol:

The best think I can say about this episode (though it was ok) is it does help set some more background for several of the characters. Including Jayne’s greedy attempt at scavenging Simon’s possessions when he thought he wouldn’t be back and his hasty return of said possessions after his return. I didn’t notice him returning the money though! And in the end at the table when River takes his bread, instead of taking it back (as you would expect), he instead gets another from the bowl. I don’t think he’s quite the rogue he pretends to be.

I’m having to force myself from watching the next episode too soon, I want to make it last a while.

[ray gower]

I think Jayne was not being chivalrous at all in collecting more bread. Simply trying to avoid catching whatever it is he thinks River has.

[Dave]

The diary reading part by Jayne was funny. I can't remember the exact words he said but it was something like 'Today I was pompous and my sister is crazy!'

I'll have to rewatch all the flashback parts because I'm sure they are full of more clues to River that we haven't found yet.