I've always said that a show that could be this good in its first season would have probably given us an amazing second season.  I've mostly gotten over it by now, but I still think it's true.

@The Hero of Akron-Canton, you may be on to something.  Wash certainly doesn't come across as a serious person, and I can imagine Zoe not being thrilled about placing her life in his hands until she'd seen firsthand how good a pilot he was.  She definitely enjoys his sense of humor once they are together, but I could…

@The Hero of Akron-Canton, you may be on to something.  Wash certainly doesn't come across as a serious person, and I can imagine Zoe not being thrilled about placing her life in his hands until she'd seen firsthand how good a pilot he was.  She definitely enjoys his sense of humor once they are together, but I could…

I read somewhere that Firefly-class ships were sometimes refitted as gunships by the Independents.  While not primary canon as far as I know, I like the idea.  It makes sense on its own, and provides a reason why Mal would be attracted to that ship in particular.  He'd have reason both to know the class' reputation as…

I read somewhere that Firefly-class ships were sometimes refitted as gunships by the Independents.  While not primary canon as far as I know, I like the idea.  It makes sense on its own, and provides a reason why Mal would be attracted to that ship in particular.  He'd have reason both to know the class' reputation as…

Agreed completely.  I just enjoy the superficial silliness of the "mustache theory."  And, honestly, they could both be true.

Agreed completely.  I just enjoy the superficial silliness of the "mustache theory."  And, honestly, they could both be true.

The scene that "introduces" Wash was funny to me on the face of it (see what I did there?), but what really puts it over the top for me is imagining that what bothers Zoe is just the mustache, and she either made him shave it, or only started taking him seriously after he did.

The scene that "introduces" Wash was funny to me on the face of it (see what I did there?), but what really puts it over the top for me is imagining that what bothers Zoe is just the mustache, and she either made him shave it, or only started taking him seriously after he did.

Concert on an aircraft carrier?  Sigh.  When is Stephen Colbert going to stop copying Dethklok?

Concert on an aircraft carrier?  Sigh.  When is Stephen Colbert going to stop copying Dethklok?

And of course, another reason Mal would be uncomfortable being called a hero: A hero would have won.  While Mal has stated he still believes in what he was fighting for, it must do a number on a fella to stand up for what you believe and have the universe seem to disagree.  Mal's obviously still conflicted as to what…

And of course, another reason Mal would be uncomfortable being called a hero: A hero would have won.  While Mal has stated he still believes in what he was fighting for, it must do a number on a fella to stand up for what you believe and have the universe seem to disagree.  Mal's obviously still conflicted as to what…

One of my favorite details from this episode is how ugly and brief Jayne's fight with Stitch is, and how the witnesses are clearly disturbed by their hero's brutishness.  That always seemed as important to me as Stitch telling the crowd the truth about what happened that day.  They hear about what kind of man Jayne…

One of my favorite details from this episode is how ugly and brief Jayne's fight with Stitch is, and how the witnesses are clearly disturbed by their hero's brutishness.  That always seemed as important to me as Stitch telling the crowd the truth about what happened that day.  They hear about what kind of man Jayne…

If I were going for a No-Prize, I'd speculate that quality ammo is probably scarce out on the fringes.  Jayne probably wouldn't risk using such a high-quality weapon with ammo he wasn't at least somewhat confident in, but in a situation with little room for error maybe the spacesuit was just insurance that the rounds…

Well, the gunpowder would need oxygen to combust.  However, my understanding is that modern cartridges are probably airtight enough to fire from the air trapped inside.  For me, the scene is cool enough and seems clever enough to not get hung up on it.

Well, the gunpowder would need oxygen to combust.  However, my understanding is that modern cartridges are probably airtight enough to fire from the air trapped inside.  For me, the scene is cool enough and seems clever enough to not get hung up on it.

The moment when Jayne, having already crippled the net, fires again just to space the guys in the control room - unnecessarily, but they were gonna kill us, so fuck those guys - may be the moment I went from liking the show to loving it.  It's one little moment, but it says so much about the character and the setting,…

The moment when Jayne, having already crippled the net, fires again just to space the guys in the control room - unnecessarily, but they were gonna kill us, so fuck those guys - may be the moment I went from liking the show to loving it.  It's one little moment, but it says so much about the character and the setting,…