Best Firefly Episode?

[Quorny]

What is your favourite episode of Firefly, and why?

I think mine would probably be Out of Gas, but in general I love the episodes in which there is some further background on River. Her small scenes in Serenity ("I'm a space-cockney"), and in the infamous hair scene in Jaynestown are just hysterical. Her scary talents displayed in War Stories make me want to learn so much more about her.

Out of Gas it is for me, even though it isn't a River ep, although there haven't really been any River eps yet, have there?

[Tabitha]

I guess it will be hard to keep this one spoiler free, but hopefully people that come in here will read this and know to run away if they don't want spoiled!


You've been warned!



I think I might need some time to think on this one. I have watched the entire series once, and a few eps twice, but I feel I should try them again, with Serenity at the top, to see if my opinion changes any. Right now I tend to agree with your glowing recommendation of Out of Gas, but Ariel was also excellent, and I am still fond of Serenity, even if it did lose something in being aired last.

will update you when I make a decision.

Shall I add a poll?

[obcooke]

[Tabitha: I guess it will be hard to keep this one spoiler free]

I guess, with the show having finished its run - at least for the forseeable future - the only place where its appropriate to use spoilers is in the specific epsiode threads.

[Tabitha: Shall I add a poll?]

There are a maximum of 10 possible choices to a poll right? Sadly for this series you can fit all the episodes into one poll.

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As to the best episode - "Objects in Space" - no contest.

- This is a River-episode and she is the best character for interesting storyline. (Although Kaylee is the cutest.)

- From the beginning, River wandering the ship drinking in the scenes of the crew off-duty together, as well as, their inner-most thoughts about the enigmatic girl.

- The dynamics of the crew meeting, sparked by concern about River's actions. Jayne's petulance and slim grasp of the conversation - Wash's baiting of Jayne - Kaylee's worry about her friend's scary abilities - Wash's concern about potential danger to the crew, etc.

- And River able to hear them through the walls of the ship.

- The whimsical and deadly dialogue of Jubal Early. For example:
=======================
EARLY: "So, is it still her room when it's empty? Does the room - the thing - have purpose? Or do we... what's the word?"
SIMON: "I really can't help you."
EARLY: "The plan is to take your sister, get the reward, which is substantial. Imbue... that's the word."
------------------------
EARLY: "The plan is not to shoot you. The plan is to get the girl. If there's no girl, then the plan, well... is like the room."
=======================

- The mysterious disappearance of River and her contention that she and Serenity had somehow metaphysically merged (which I totally believed).
=====
INTERCOM: "I'm not on the ship, I'm in the ship... I am the ship."
SIMON: "River..."
INTERCOM: "River's gone."
EARLY: "Than who exactly are we talking to?"
INTERCOM: "You're talking to Serenity. And Early? Serenity is very unhappy."
=====

- The disturbing psychological battle between Jubal and River over how he was self-deluded that his nature was "noble".

- The rallying of the crew to save River and their ship from the intruder, with the comical exception of Jayne.

- The surprise ending. River being totally in control of the situation from the start.

- The role-reversal of her brother messing things up while playing his eternal role as her protector.
=====
MAL: "Go on, get in there. Give your brother a thrashing for messing up your plan."
RIVER: "He takes so much looking after."
=====

- The most quotable episode of the series - for proof I offer the long list of memorable lines in the Favorite Firefly Quotes thread.


From start to finish [EARLY (floating head-over-heels in deep space): "Well, here I am."] - This is the finest episode they made and an unfortunate but fitting end to the series.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case.

[Quorny]

Originally posted by Tabitha

Shall I add a poll?

Can you do that? I forgot to add one when I was making the thread.


Obcooke: lovely review of Objects in Space. I forgot how crucial River is to that episode I loved how we were kept guessing for most of the episode as to what was actually going on. I think that I was much more focussed on Simon, Kaylee and Early. And Simon was quite irritating IMO.
I don't know what it was, but there was just something missing in Objects in Space, maybe it was the way the crew seemed to accept her again so quickly after their negative discussion at the beginning. I think I might have thought Objects in Space was better had I seen the episodes that were suppsosed to come after.

[Tabitha]

Adding Poll.


Also, I think I need to rewatch Objects in Space. I liked it an awful lot as an episode, but it has drawbacks for me personally. Perhaps it is because I am female, but I found Jubal's threatening of Kaylee very difficult to deal with. In fact, although I can acknowledge that it is an excellent episode (River's Pov intro is incredible), it is somewhat difficult to watch for that reason. You know, like how Schindler's List is an excellent film, but you wouldn't necessarily describe it as enjoyable.

[Dave]

Again, like the least enjoyable poll, hard for me to choose, but 'Objects in Space', 'Out of Gas' and 'Jaynestown' would be my nominations.

[Hatshepsut]

I'd love to vote, but you don't have my favourite episode.

That's 'Trash' which was hysterically funny from start to finish. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Best wishes,
Hatshepsut :wave:
--

[Lonewolf89]

I vote War Stories. Wash got a lot of screen time in that one, and he and Zoe were great together.

[Dave]

I've added the three other episodes to the poll. Still not seen those myself. So 'Trash' is a good one?

[Lonewolf89]

The last episode that aired in my area was Serenity. I'm looking forward to catching those other three on the Firefly DVDs if they're ever released.

[Hatshepsut]

'Serenity' was the last episode you saw?

Geez, you must have wondered what was going on at the beginning then! In the U.K. we saw that first as a double ep. It was a great intro. ep.

And yes, 'War Stories' was a brilliant ep. too. Loved the bit where

Mal was fighting the guard over the balcony rail overlooking the shaft and the rest of the crew want to rescue him.

Zoë says, "This is something the Captain has
to do for himself."

And Mal, half-strangled yells, "No! No, it's not!"

:lol: :lol: :lol:


Is 'Trash' good? Ohhhh, yeah! Watched every repeat.

Best wishes,
Hatshepsut :wave:
--

[Lonewolf89]

Mal knows when he needs help.

Here in the US they aired Train Job first. Serenity counted as the 11 and 12th episodes. That's as much as they've released here. I don't know about other places, but in my neck of the woods they don't show repeats either. Lucky for me, I've taped all but 'Our Mrs Reynolds.'

[Maria8475]

I am so much behind everyone else but i finally got the DVD set and watched the whole thing in 2 sittings so it's quite difficult to pick a fave right now.

But it would be one of
Objects in Space - for all the reasons mentioned
Out of Gas - loved having some background on the characters and Kaylee was so great.
Ariel - generally just a good story. Especially liked that fact that Jayne betrayed Simon and River, but Simon is so naive he couldn't stop thanking him for getting them outta there!
Jaynestown was just hysterical. Loved the "Hero Of Canton"

[Dave]

I bought the boxed set last year and got to see them all. I must watch them all again before 'Serenity' comes out, but don't know where I'll find the time.

"Watched the whole thing in two sittings" - Maria - Wow! It took me a week!

And not seeing the episode 'Serenity' first. It's like the studio were deliberately trying to kill it off.

[Maria8475]

Originally posted by Dave

"Watched the whole thing in two sittings" - Maria - Wow! It took me a week!

Yeah, i couldn't get myself to stop watching. Helps that i have nothing better to do right now. I think i might get to watch it again before Serenity.

No, i don't see the point in seeing the "Train Job" first either but didn't Tim Minear say that the studio wanted something more fast paced then "Serenity". Silly mistake.