Serenity (20 Dec. 2002)

In the first half of the original pilot episode, the crew of Serenity takes on several passengers and make their way to another planet to try and sell goods they salvaged from a wrecked ... See full summary »

Director:

Joss Whedon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator), Joss Whedon

Stars:

Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Nathan Fillion	...	Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds
Gina Torres	...	Zoë Washburne
Alan Tudyk	...	Hoban 'Wash' Washburne
Morena Baccarin	...	Inara Serra
Adam Baldwin	...	Jayne Cobb
Jewel Staite	...	Kaylee Frye
Sean Maher	...	Dr. Simon Tam
Summer Glau	...	River Tam
Ron Glass	...	Shepherd Book
Carlos Jacott	...	Lawrence Dobson
Mark Sheppard	...	Badger (as Mark A. Sheppard)
Andy Umberger	...	Dortmunder Captain
Philip Sternberg	...	Inara's Client
Eddie Adams	...	Bendis
Colin Patrick Lynch	...	Radio Operator

Storyline

In the first half of the original pilot episode, the crew of Serenity takes on several passengers and make their way to another planet to try and sell goods they salvaged from a wrecked ship. Their efforts are impeded, though, when Wash and Mal realize that there is an undercover alliance fed on board. In the second half of the original pilot, Simon struggles to save Kaylee, and in turn River and himself while Mal, Zoe, and Jayne attempt to unload the cargo from the salvage to a trigger-happy mayor of a border moon.

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Plot Keywords:

26th century | cockney accent | brother sister relationship | faith | heroine | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Mandarin

Release Date:

20 December 2002 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For some reason, Jayne can be seen wearing an old-style German police jacket from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

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Goofs

After Simon asks Mal "What business is that?", Mal punches Simon in the face. When Simon falls down, hands are visible at the bottom left of the screen catching Simon (after 50:13 minutes).

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Quotes

Patience: I have to say, I didn't look to be hearin' from you any time soon.
Mal: Well, we may not have parted on best o' terms. I realize certain words were exchanged. Also, certain... bullets.

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

User Reviews

aka Joss Whedon's Space Cowboys

This is a bad-ass science-fiction/fantasy show that combines riveting melodrama, gritty action, surprisingly good visual effects (for TV at any rate), excellently drawn-out characters and story lines layers with apropos complexity without contrivance, and a quasi-Western theme. The music, not to mention the theme song, is explicitly Western in genre homage, and right off the bat in the pilot one sees that this will be something like a Western story. If one could make a comparison, the Sgt. Reynolds character played by Nathan Fillion becomes a rogue Captain of the ship Firefly after losing in war (i.e. Civil War, turned gunslinger, pirate, whatever). And, as the episode goes on, that a motif of scavengers having to deal with total scum business people- first the shyster in the Mos Eisley-esquire space port, then later with the old-lady gunslinger- one sees it beefed up more-so.

It should be kinda strange, but the 'different' attitude doesn't feel at all out of place. On the contrary, as Whedon probably knows from the lineage of Star Wars, a Western backdrop out in space is just what's needed to keep the drama fresh. Whedon also has a strong knack at getting humorous moments, if not any real comedy, out of scenes and situations that could in other hands be total trash (i.e. mixing together a hooker character and a Shepherd character). On top of this, as just evidenced in the pilot episode that came first in chronology if not in original release date, Whedon is a really spot-on storyteller in getting the intended audience ready for more and more servings. Aside from the obvious- what will happen with that doctor and her fragile sister brought out of near hibernation (if you haven't seen the movie I won't say anything more)- all the characters, put on by actors like Alan Tudyk and Adam Baldwin and Gina Torres with brilliant ease- are perfectly relatable and interesting.

Can't wait to see more! That's the bottom line, folks.