Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Firefly

The Message

  • Episode aired Jul 28, 2003
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 44m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
S1.E14
  • S1
  • E14
All episodes
All
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Adam Baldwin in Firefly (2002)
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
A dying request from an old army buddy turns treacherous for Mal, Zoë, and the rest of the crew.A dying request from an old army buddy turns treacherous for Mal, Zoë, and the rest of the crew.A dying request from an old army buddy turns treacherous for Mal, Zoë, and the rest of the crew.
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Tim Minear
  • Writers
    • Joss Whedon
    • Tim Minear
  • Stars
    • Nathan Fillion
    • Gina Torres
    • Alan Tudyk
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tim Minear
  • Writers
    • Joss Whedon
    • Tim Minear
  • Stars
    • Nathan Fillion
    • Gina Torres
    • Alan Tudyk
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    Adam Baldwin in Firefly (2002)
    Nathan Fillion in Firefly (2002)
    Jonathan M. Woodward in Firefly (2002)
    Adam Baldwin in Firefly (2002)
    Nathan Fillion and Jonathan M. Woodward in Firefly (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nathan Fillion
    Nathan Fillion
    • Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynoldsas Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds
    Gina Torres
    Gina Torres
    • Zoë Washburneas Zoë Washburne
    Alan Tudyk
    Alan Tudyk
    • Hoban 'Wash' Washburneas Hoban 'Wash' Washburne
    Morena Baccarin
    Morena Baccarin
    • Inara Serraas Inara Serra
    Adam Baldwin
    Adam Baldwin
    • Jayne Cobbas Jayne Cobb
    Jewel Staite
    Jewel Staite
    • Kaylee Fryeas Kaylee Frye
    Sean Maher
    Sean Maher
    • Dr. Simon Tamas Dr. Simon Tam
    Summer Glau
    Summer Glau
    • River Tamas River Tam
    Ron Glass
    Ron Glass
    • Shepherd Derrial Bookas Shepherd Derrial Book
    Jonathan M. Woodward
    Jonathan M. Woodward
    • Tracey Smithas Tracey Smith
    Richard Burgi
    Richard Burgi
    • Lieutenant Womackas Lieutenant Womack
    Al Pugliese
    • Amnonas Amnon
    Tod Nakamura
    Tod Nakamura
    • Fendrisas Fendris
    Craig Vincent
    Craig Vincent
    • Skunkas Skunk
    Morgan Rusler
    Morgan Rusler
    • Barkeras Barker
    Danny Nero
    Danny Nero
    • Browncoat Soldieras Browncoat Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Gerard J. Reyes
    • Bodyguardas Bodyguard
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Joss Whedon
    Joss Whedon
    • Man at Funeralas Man at Funeral
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Tim Minear
    • Writers
      • Joss Whedon
      • Tim Minear
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Storyline

    Edit
    Mal and his crew are having entertainment in a space station and Mal goes to the post office to check and he receives a big trunk addressed to Zoe and him. When he opens the box, he finds the corpse of their army pal Private Tracey. They also find a message from Tracey asking Mal and Zoe to deliver his boy to his parents in a planet. The Serenity heads to the planet and out of the blue, she is attacked by another spaceship. Ml asks Simon to make an autopsy in Tracey and they discover that the man is alive. What has happened to Tracey? —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • weightlifting
    • dying request
    • old army buddy
    • faked death
    • death scene
    • 38 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The hat Jayne's mother made for her son became a fan favorite, with people creating their own knit and crochet versions and one fan even writing a song about it ("Jayne's Hat" by Stan Peal).
    • Goofs
      When Tracey is threatening Mal on the bridge a hand can be seen behind Mal through the ship's window reaching for a chunk of snow. Visible at 35:17.
    • Quotes

      Tracey: When you can't run, you crawl, and when you can't crawl - when you can't do that...

      Zoë: You find someone to carry you.

    • Connections
      References Doctor Who (1963)
    • Soundtracks
      The Ballad of Serenity
      Written by Joss Whedon

      Performed by Sonny Rhodes

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Absolutely Underrated- Chekhov's Gun x4
    This episode has the perfect ending.

    During a certain scene there are 4 Chekov's guns, aka 4 lines that pay off at the end literally and thematically via foreshadowing.

    It takes at least two viewings and some skill at analyzing art to spot all four of these "guns." Once you recognize how every single line and even movement was selected as foreshadowing for the end, then you will appreciate this as one of if not the very best Firefly episode. There is a real reason this episode almost won a Hugo.

    Unfortunately, most people today will not catch the well-hidden subtleties that Whedon and Minear injected into the script, and so this episode shall forever endure the tragedy of under-appreciation.
    helpful•14
    9
    • Dexter099
    • Sep 17, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 28, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Mandarin
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Mutant Enemy
      • 20th Century Fox Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.