“War Stories”

Building a fictional universe. It’s key to any long running saga. But even more importantly in a saga that has no overlying epic quality. After awhile, things have to be tied in together.

What’s great about “War Stories” is how things start to interrelate. Even if it’s with just a little mention here or there, the series has started to feel less like an analogy and more like a continuous tale. These aren’t just episodes anymore. It has gotten to the point where it seems like one big movie.

We start with the crew munching on some fresh fruit Jayne bought with his cut of the medical scam. Feeling a little guilty Jayne? But secondly…don’t we always open with the crew eating it seems?

What’s Firefly without a little humor though? Jayne delivers. Inara meets with a special client aboard the shuttle, a Counselor. Everyone wants a peek at this special man…and are surprised to learn it’s a woman…

Jayne’s response? “I’ll be in my bunk”

We see that River is having more moments of clarity now under treatment and she plays with Kaylee, running around the deck.

The sexual tension between Mal and Zoe had long been buried since the first episode when Wash first questioned how loyal she was to “the captain”. Beyond sexual, he is also just jealous of all the war stories they come home with, and feels left out. Buried but not forgotten, and it was good to see it brought up again.

When Wash and Zoe fight over it, Wash makes it so that it is he and not Zoe who is going to go on the next drop. Mal is pissed, but can’t really stop them. Given that it is a supposed cakewalk drop, no one argues too hard.

Of course, no one counts on the return of Niska from “The Train Job”. Still harboring resentment from those courses of events, he sends out men to kidnap both Mal and Wash.

The next bit comes straight out of a made-for-tv version of Saw as Niska begins to torture them both.

In a unique way of showing character, we see Wash and Mal fighting, but we realize before too long that Mal is just trying to provoke Wash so that Wash doesn’t break.

In an interesting sidebar way we see Book’s character advanced in a subtle fashion during this episode. He goes with Jayne and Zoe to recon what is going on and seems to have an awful lot of information about guns, weapons, and military tactics, that a preacher should probably not have.

After Zoe realizes that it’s Niska who’s got them, they pool their money together hoping to buy Wash and Mal back.

When Zoe makes the offer, she gets one back and has to choose. She immediately chooses Wash, and gets him back to Serenity.

Wash has a new respect for Zoe and Mal’s relationship and realizes that Mal saved his life by needling him.

Zoe and Wash plan to go in an armed assault to get Mal out. Jayne thinks it’s suicide, but soon enough they are all going in.

Like always, Firefly has great dialogue:

ZOE: Preacher, don’t the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killing?
BOOK: Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps.

They all decide to go on the mission, with Zoe, Jayne, and Wash going in to get Mal, while Simon, Kaylee, and Book hold the Serenity open.

Book turns out to be quite gifted at this kind of mission proving there is more to Book than we know.

As there is to River. When Kaylee backs into the ship and can’t fire the gun, River takes it and kills 3 men in 3 shots without looking. Kaylee, rightfully becomes a little scared of her.

It’s the biggest action sequence we’ve seen in Firefly, and it’s handled fairly well, save for some cheesy effects when Niska’s torturer is thrown over a balcony.

Solid episode that starts tying things together and hints of storylines to come.

B+

Previous – 1.08

Next – 1.10