Firefly 1.10: "War Stories"
Written by Cheryl Cain
Directed by James Contner
In which Wash lets his jealousy lead him to accompany Mal on a drop, only to get caught in the snare when Niska finally catches up with Mal and decides to get some payback…
Status Report
Like the previous episode, the plot and character elements introduced earlier in the season begin to intersect. While the crew deals with the consequences of the previous episode (including River’s treatment and their increased monetary resources), a new and exciting problem arises when Mal finds a buyer for the medical supplies they stole from the hospital on Ariel. Wash finally loses his patience with Mal’s hold over Zoe, and he decides to do something about it. His timing, however, leaves much to be desired.
The episode begins with a conversation that reveals more about Book and his mysterious past. Book asks Simon if he’s ever read the works of Shan Yu, a dictator who wrote several books regarding torture and war. While one might expect Simon to have read such works as a part of his highbrow education, it’s less likely for a man with religious leanings, to be sure. It’s interesting that Book would wonder if those who experimented on River were adherents to Shan Yu’s philosophy, since it suggests that Book might have some idea of who in the Alliance authorized and ran the project. It’s not at all surprising that Niska is a fan, but it is surprising to see him return now, since he seemed like a one-off villain created only for the rushed “second pilot” episode, “The Train Job”.
Meanwhile, Inara is seeking something resembling discretion from Mal and the crew for her next appointment, while River and Kaylee run around them like kids before bedtime. This is an interesting image, given the fact that Mal and Inara have been orbiting one another for some time now, and they look positively parental dealing with the two young women. This scene also has some nice continuity with “Shindig” and “Ariel”, which proves the point that all of these plot threads were meant to intersect at this point of the season.
Playful grabbing of apples leads to a rather morbid discussion of trench battle tactics during the civil war involving fruit and mini-grenades. Wash seems to think that he has to sugarcoat Zoe’s tale, but Kaylee and River get the point rather easily. The story about the apples is connected metaphorically to the concepts of the “true self” from Shan Yu: one has to be very careful when cutting into the truth of a thing, or it can have deadly consequences.
In the midst of conversation, Wash discovers that one of his ideas about maximizing profits, shared only with Zoe, made it to Mal, who then dismissed it so Zoe wouldn’t have to do it herself. Wash is not pleased, and he doesn’t hide it for long. He eventually loses his temper, and accuses Zoe of obeying and honoring Mal more than her own husband. Part of it is his incomplete understanding of her role as Mal’s confidante and woman-at-arms, but part of it is quite legitimate, from his point of view.
As one would expect, River has good and bad hours, never mind days, but now she’s more aware of it. She slips from a sense of normalcy to sensory overload as the treatments wear off or stop working altogether. This is important because it pertains to the end of the episode, and a possible plot point that the writers never had time to explore (and might be covered in the feature film).
Inara’s appointment arrives, and the entire crew is stunned to discover that her client is a woman this time around. This should have come as no surprise to the audience, but for some reason, there was much discussion about it during first run. Some thought it was Joss pandering to a certain demographic, ala allegation about the Willow/Tara relationship on “Buffy”, while others felt that it was a ratings stunt. If anything, it was a way to get a good laugh out of Jayne’s reaction and Kaylee’s obvious curiosity.
In a moment of personal desperation, Wash sabotages the shuttle controls so that Zoe can’t pilot and leave with Mal to the drop point. Wash insists on going himself, so he can see first hand what Mal and Zoe do when he’s not around. Mal is not amused, but he has no inclination to argue, so he decides to let Wash sub in, against his better judgment. Wash seems all too pleased with himself, which of course, is doomed to be short-lived. This is definitely one of those “careful what you wish for” moments.
The scene between Inara and the Councilor is straightforward enough, though it does raise a few questions, especially for the male viewers in the audience. Many of them would be asking if this is a common activity between female friends, when behind closed doors, but others would be wondering if it’s true that women simply cannot feel relaxed “in the company of men”. It’s a line with plenty of implication, because it sounds so negative, yet Inara feels a rather positive tension when around Mal.
To Mal’s credit, he makes it very clear to Wash that the situation is a one-time deal, and only because the job is simple and shouldn’t be a problem. Apparently, Mal is unaware that Niska controls the station on the other side of the planet, or his belief in Murphy’s Law would have kicked in. Wash, for his part, doesn’t want to hear it. He listens to Mal and doesn’t hear the logic, but rather, someone trying to get one over on him. Not surprisingly, things go wrong almost immediately.
Back on the ship, despite the distraction of the Councilor’s exit (in which Jayne nearly lets Book kill himself with free weights), Zoe’s instincts tell her that too much time has elapsed, and the fun begins. Book helps Zoe and Jayne scout the drop point, and once again, the Shepherd displays quite the knowledge of sniper weaponry. Taken along with the previous information revealed about Book, it certainly supports the theory that he was once involved in Alliance military intelligence.
On the space station, Wash panics like crazy while Mal tries to feel his way around. It takes him a little while to realize that this is exactly the situation that Zoe would be caught up in, had she gone in his place, and Mal doesn’t seem to understand why that would upset him. Wash accuses Mal of controlling Zoe’s every thought, so Mal counters with the best possible example of Zoe’s free will: the fact that she married Wash in the first place. This adds an interesting angle to Mal’s loyalty to his own crew, given that he wouldn’t hesitate to defend and protect Wash, despite not wanting him to marry Zoe and complicate the crew dynamic.
While Zoe gathers all the money that the crew had accumulated from the medicine sales prior to this particular mess, Niska has his minion torture the hell out of Mal and Wash. This is one of the most brutal scenes in the episode, and not just because of the physical pain involved. Mal explains his apparent point of view regarding shipboard romance, and on the surface of it, he’s right on the money.
But Wash sees right through it, and recognizes that Mal has serious intimacy issues. Indeed, Mal has lost his faith in humanity, and part of that is lack of trust in anything beyond a pseudo-military loyalty. Even so, people like Kaylee and Inara have gotten under his skin, which makes his life somewhat complicated. Even faced with Wash’s insight, Mal finds a way to keep the conversation going, entirely due to his concern for Wash’s welfare. He needs to keep Wash awake and aware, and so he has to keep Wash talking.
Niska is more than happy to let Zoe pay him off, but he’s not willing to let his reputation for violence slacken in the process. He forces Zoe to make a choice, but Zoe beats him to the punch. As soon as she realizes what Niska has in mind, she immediately chooses Wash over Mal. For his own part, Mal understands perfectly, and makes it clear to Wash that this is exactly the way it should be. Niska, not one to lose the last word, gives Zoe a piece of Mal’s ear as a parting gift. As always, reputation is Niska’s primary concern!
Wash has seen Mal’s sacrifice and loyalty in the past, but never under that kind of situation. It’s suddenly rather clear why Zoe is willing to follow Mal’s lead, and it has nothing to do with matters of the heart. Wash is inspired to do for Mal what Mal was willing to do for him: lay his life on the line. There’s definitely a certain black comedy to Wash’s sudden warrior persona, but it’s kept to a subtle undertone. It’s almost hard to notice once the rest of the crew joins in the assault.
Back on the station, Mal dies, but of course, that’s too simple for Niska, so he’s quickly revived. Niska reminds Mal that a lot of people know both of them by reputation, and Niska isn’t wiling to let Mal’s fame rise at his expense. Niska wants to use his payback against Mal as a means of increasing his own already formidable legend. Ironically, one must then assume that Mal’s reputation ultimately benefits from this ordeal, because when all is said and done, Mal comes out on top.
The assault is one of the more impressive action sequences of the series to date, especially on the small scale. It doesn’t hurt that Zoe, Jayne, and Wash make a pretty good first wave. Of course, if Zoe knew anything about Book’s background, or even paid attention to his obvious skill, she might have taken him instead of Jayne. Whatever the case, as the assault moves forward and Mal gets his pound of flesh, it all comes down to Kaylee and her defense of the docking port.
In keeping with her character, Kaylee is completely unable to deal with something like armed combat, especially under the frantic circumstances. This provides a perfect opportunity for River to show “the real her”. After a single glance, River takes three quick shots with her eyes closed, and all three targets are dead where they were standing. Since this came after River began having one of her bad moments, it begs the question: is this what River is capable of when she’s in the condition desired by the Alliance?
Perhaps that was their goal, but she demonstrated none of those skills while still suffering the effects of the experiment. Another possibility emerges, and it is not pretty: what if Simon’s various attempts at a treatment are actually completing the job that the Alliance started, turning River into a success rather than another failure? The Alliance appears to have been creating the perfect assassin, complete with psychic ability, and if so, then River’s right…no power in the ‘verse could stop someone who can predict every move, counter every defense.
In the end, the ordeal has dome much to reveal new information about the motivations and abilities of those on Serenity. Wash comes to understand Zoe’s loyalty to Mal, and even finds some grit of his own, surprising everyone but Zoe in the process. Book demonstrates his proficiency with weapons and military forensics. River might have revealed what the Alliance was trying to create during their experiments.
All in all, Shan Yu would be proud.
Memorable Quotes
MAL: “Ah, the pitter-patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots…shut up!”
ZOE: “Is there any way I’m gonna get out of this with honor and dignity?”
WASH: “You’re pretty much down to ritual suicide, lamby-toes…”
ZOE: “Right…because what this marriage needs is one more shouting match.”
WASH: “No, what this marriage needs is one less husband!”
JAYNE: “I’ll be in my bunk!”
WASH: “Thought I might take this run instead, me and the captain.”
MAL: “The Captain who’s standing right here, telling you that’s not gonna happen?”
MAL: “OK, I’m lost, I’m angry, and I’m armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out…”
WASH: “I’m the one she swore to love, honor, and obey!”
MAL: “Listen…she swore to obey?”
WASH: “Well, no, not…”
SIMON: “Well, it’s a clean cut. With the right equipment, I should be able to reattach it. That’s assuming there’s a head…”
NISKA: “Do you know the writings of Shan Yu?”
MAL: “We’re starting a book club?”
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…”
MAL: “Looks like business ain’t running so much as crawlin’ away…you want to meet the real me now?”
RIVER: “No power in the ‘verse can stop me.”
ZOE: “Jayne, this is something the captain has to do for himself.”
MAL: “No! No, it’s not!”
ZOE: “Oh!”
MAL: “I know it’s a difficult mission, but you and I…have to get it on.”
ZOE: “I understand. We have no choice. Take me, sir. Take me hard.”
JAYNE: “Now something about that is just downright unsettling…”
Final Analysis
Overall, this episode is another excellent example of character development, once again spinning out of the plot and character elements established in the first several episodes of the season. The brutal and honest nature of the story is never obscured, and the characters reveal important depths in the process. This is a highlight for the character of Wash, who finally gets some real development, becoming much more than the comic relief.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 4/4
Original Rating: 9/10
Final DVD Rating: 10/10
Directed by James Contner
In which Wash lets his jealousy lead him to accompany Mal on a drop, only to get caught in the snare when Niska finally catches up with Mal and decides to get some payback…
Status Report
Like the previous episode, the plot and character elements introduced earlier in the season begin to intersect. While the crew deals with the consequences of the previous episode (including River’s treatment and their increased monetary resources), a new and exciting problem arises when Mal finds a buyer for the medical supplies they stole from the hospital on Ariel. Wash finally loses his patience with Mal’s hold over Zoe, and he decides to do something about it. His timing, however, leaves much to be desired.
The episode begins with a conversation that reveals more about Book and his mysterious past. Book asks Simon if he’s ever read the works of Shan Yu, a dictator who wrote several books regarding torture and war. While one might expect Simon to have read such works as a part of his highbrow education, it’s less likely for a man with religious leanings, to be sure. It’s interesting that Book would wonder if those who experimented on River were adherents to Shan Yu’s philosophy, since it suggests that Book might have some idea of who in the Alliance authorized and ran the project. It’s not at all surprising that Niska is a fan, but it is surprising to see him return now, since he seemed like a one-off villain created only for the rushed “second pilot” episode, “The Train Job”.
Meanwhile, Inara is seeking something resembling discretion from Mal and the crew for her next appointment, while River and Kaylee run around them like kids before bedtime. This is an interesting image, given the fact that Mal and Inara have been orbiting one another for some time now, and they look positively parental dealing with the two young women. This scene also has some nice continuity with “Shindig” and “Ariel”, which proves the point that all of these plot threads were meant to intersect at this point of the season.
Playful grabbing of apples leads to a rather morbid discussion of trench battle tactics during the civil war involving fruit and mini-grenades. Wash seems to think that he has to sugarcoat Zoe’s tale, but Kaylee and River get the point rather easily. The story about the apples is connected metaphorically to the concepts of the “true self” from Shan Yu: one has to be very careful when cutting into the truth of a thing, or it can have deadly consequences.
In the midst of conversation, Wash discovers that one of his ideas about maximizing profits, shared only with Zoe, made it to Mal, who then dismissed it so Zoe wouldn’t have to do it herself. Wash is not pleased, and he doesn’t hide it for long. He eventually loses his temper, and accuses Zoe of obeying and honoring Mal more than her own husband. Part of it is his incomplete understanding of her role as Mal’s confidante and woman-at-arms, but part of it is quite legitimate, from his point of view.
As one would expect, River has good and bad hours, never mind days, but now she’s more aware of it. She slips from a sense of normalcy to sensory overload as the treatments wear off or stop working altogether. This is important because it pertains to the end of the episode, and a possible plot point that the writers never had time to explore (and might be covered in the feature film).
Inara’s appointment arrives, and the entire crew is stunned to discover that her client is a woman this time around. This should have come as no surprise to the audience, but for some reason, there was much discussion about it during first run. Some thought it was Joss pandering to a certain demographic, ala allegation about the Willow/Tara relationship on “Buffy”, while others felt that it was a ratings stunt. If anything, it was a way to get a good laugh out of Jayne’s reaction and Kaylee’s obvious curiosity.
In a moment of personal desperation, Wash sabotages the shuttle controls so that Zoe can’t pilot and leave with Mal to the drop point. Wash insists on going himself, so he can see first hand what Mal and Zoe do when he’s not around. Mal is not amused, but he has no inclination to argue, so he decides to let Wash sub in, against his better judgment. Wash seems all too pleased with himself, which of course, is doomed to be short-lived. This is definitely one of those “careful what you wish for” moments.
The scene between Inara and the Councilor is straightforward enough, though it does raise a few questions, especially for the male viewers in the audience. Many of them would be asking if this is a common activity between female friends, when behind closed doors, but others would be wondering if it’s true that women simply cannot feel relaxed “in the company of men”. It’s a line with plenty of implication, because it sounds so negative, yet Inara feels a rather positive tension when around Mal.
To Mal’s credit, he makes it very clear to Wash that the situation is a one-time deal, and only because the job is simple and shouldn’t be a problem. Apparently, Mal is unaware that Niska controls the station on the other side of the planet, or his belief in Murphy’s Law would have kicked in. Wash, for his part, doesn’t want to hear it. He listens to Mal and doesn’t hear the logic, but rather, someone trying to get one over on him. Not surprisingly, things go wrong almost immediately.
Back on the ship, despite the distraction of the Councilor’s exit (in which Jayne nearly lets Book kill himself with free weights), Zoe’s instincts tell her that too much time has elapsed, and the fun begins. Book helps Zoe and Jayne scout the drop point, and once again, the Shepherd displays quite the knowledge of sniper weaponry. Taken along with the previous information revealed about Book, it certainly supports the theory that he was once involved in Alliance military intelligence.
On the space station, Wash panics like crazy while Mal tries to feel his way around. It takes him a little while to realize that this is exactly the situation that Zoe would be caught up in, had she gone in his place, and Mal doesn’t seem to understand why that would upset him. Wash accuses Mal of controlling Zoe’s every thought, so Mal counters with the best possible example of Zoe’s free will: the fact that she married Wash in the first place. This adds an interesting angle to Mal’s loyalty to his own crew, given that he wouldn’t hesitate to defend and protect Wash, despite not wanting him to marry Zoe and complicate the crew dynamic.
While Zoe gathers all the money that the crew had accumulated from the medicine sales prior to this particular mess, Niska has his minion torture the hell out of Mal and Wash. This is one of the most brutal scenes in the episode, and not just because of the physical pain involved. Mal explains his apparent point of view regarding shipboard romance, and on the surface of it, he’s right on the money.
But Wash sees right through it, and recognizes that Mal has serious intimacy issues. Indeed, Mal has lost his faith in humanity, and part of that is lack of trust in anything beyond a pseudo-military loyalty. Even so, people like Kaylee and Inara have gotten under his skin, which makes his life somewhat complicated. Even faced with Wash’s insight, Mal finds a way to keep the conversation going, entirely due to his concern for Wash’s welfare. He needs to keep Wash awake and aware, and so he has to keep Wash talking.
Niska is more than happy to let Zoe pay him off, but he’s not willing to let his reputation for violence slacken in the process. He forces Zoe to make a choice, but Zoe beats him to the punch. As soon as she realizes what Niska has in mind, she immediately chooses Wash over Mal. For his own part, Mal understands perfectly, and makes it clear to Wash that this is exactly the way it should be. Niska, not one to lose the last word, gives Zoe a piece of Mal’s ear as a parting gift. As always, reputation is Niska’s primary concern!
Wash has seen Mal’s sacrifice and loyalty in the past, but never under that kind of situation. It’s suddenly rather clear why Zoe is willing to follow Mal’s lead, and it has nothing to do with matters of the heart. Wash is inspired to do for Mal what Mal was willing to do for him: lay his life on the line. There’s definitely a certain black comedy to Wash’s sudden warrior persona, but it’s kept to a subtle undertone. It’s almost hard to notice once the rest of the crew joins in the assault.
Back on the station, Mal dies, but of course, that’s too simple for Niska, so he’s quickly revived. Niska reminds Mal that a lot of people know both of them by reputation, and Niska isn’t wiling to let Mal’s fame rise at his expense. Niska wants to use his payback against Mal as a means of increasing his own already formidable legend. Ironically, one must then assume that Mal’s reputation ultimately benefits from this ordeal, because when all is said and done, Mal comes out on top.
The assault is one of the more impressive action sequences of the series to date, especially on the small scale. It doesn’t hurt that Zoe, Jayne, and Wash make a pretty good first wave. Of course, if Zoe knew anything about Book’s background, or even paid attention to his obvious skill, she might have taken him instead of Jayne. Whatever the case, as the assault moves forward and Mal gets his pound of flesh, it all comes down to Kaylee and her defense of the docking port.
In keeping with her character, Kaylee is completely unable to deal with something like armed combat, especially under the frantic circumstances. This provides a perfect opportunity for River to show “the real her”. After a single glance, River takes three quick shots with her eyes closed, and all three targets are dead where they were standing. Since this came after River began having one of her bad moments, it begs the question: is this what River is capable of when she’s in the condition desired by the Alliance?
Perhaps that was their goal, but she demonstrated none of those skills while still suffering the effects of the experiment. Another possibility emerges, and it is not pretty: what if Simon’s various attempts at a treatment are actually completing the job that the Alliance started, turning River into a success rather than another failure? The Alliance appears to have been creating the perfect assassin, complete with psychic ability, and if so, then River’s right…no power in the ‘verse could stop someone who can predict every move, counter every defense.
In the end, the ordeal has dome much to reveal new information about the motivations and abilities of those on Serenity. Wash comes to understand Zoe’s loyalty to Mal, and even finds some grit of his own, surprising everyone but Zoe in the process. Book demonstrates his proficiency with weapons and military forensics. River might have revealed what the Alliance was trying to create during their experiments.
All in all, Shan Yu would be proud.
Memorable Quotes
MAL: “Ah, the pitter-patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots…shut up!”
ZOE: “Is there any way I’m gonna get out of this with honor and dignity?”
WASH: “You’re pretty much down to ritual suicide, lamby-toes…”
ZOE: “Right…because what this marriage needs is one more shouting match.”
WASH: “No, what this marriage needs is one less husband!”
JAYNE: “I’ll be in my bunk!”
WASH: “Thought I might take this run instead, me and the captain.”
MAL: “The Captain who’s standing right here, telling you that’s not gonna happen?”
MAL: “OK, I’m lost, I’m angry, and I’m armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out…”
WASH: “I’m the one she swore to love, honor, and obey!”
MAL: “Listen…she swore to obey?”
WASH: “Well, no, not…”
SIMON: “Well, it’s a clean cut. With the right equipment, I should be able to reattach it. That’s assuming there’s a head…”
NISKA: “Do you know the writings of Shan Yu?”
MAL: “We’re starting a book club?”
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…”
MAL: “Looks like business ain’t running so much as crawlin’ away…you want to meet the real me now?”
RIVER: “No power in the ‘verse can stop me.”
ZOE: “Jayne, this is something the captain has to do for himself.”
MAL: “No! No, it’s not!”
ZOE: “Oh!”
MAL: “I know it’s a difficult mission, but you and I…have to get it on.”
ZOE: “I understand. We have no choice. Take me, sir. Take me hard.”
JAYNE: “Now something about that is just downright unsettling…”
Final Analysis
Overall, this episode is another excellent example of character development, once again spinning out of the plot and character elements established in the first several episodes of the season. The brutal and honest nature of the story is never obscured, and the characters reveal important depths in the process. This is a highlight for the character of Wash, who finally gets some real development, becoming much more than the comic relief.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 4/4
Original Rating: 9/10
Final DVD Rating: 10/10
posted by John Keegan | 08:05
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