serenity

This is the last episode of the series.  It is almost painful to watch because it deals with many different aspects of existence, relationships, and how people perceive their own reality.  I won't get into the details about the influence of Jean-Paul Sartre in the writing of this episode but, if you like, read about it here.

For me, this episode reminds me of the times I feel detached from the world around me.  I don't feel like I fit into the world much like a square peg trying to squeeze into a round hole.  I think everyone feels like this from time to time but, for me, it is all about the internal re-evaluation of the physical world.

Have you ever taken a close look at the objects, space, and people around you?  I mean really looked at them?  Ever mulled over a piece of wood, a marble, or your big toe?  Sometimes I am fascinated by such things.  I can stare at objects and see them in entirely new ways.  I remember a time when I was exploring a new part of my childhood neighbourhood.  I saw my street from a new direction.  When I came home everything looked different.  Lighting fixtures were glowly more brightly.  Surfaces felt different.  It was like I was seeing these common objects for the first time.

It was a powerful experience that I remember to this day.  Being able to see things all over again sounds quite simple but it isn't.

Ah, yes, Ariel.  There are two things I think of when I watch this episode: hands of blue, and the Ariel Ambulance. 

If you've dipped feet into the world of the Browncoat, you'll know that the hands of blue villians are underused.  They are scary, methodical, and have the coolest and goriest brain melting weapons - ever.  These villians appear in two episodes and are scary as hell.  They are very terminator like and feature blue gloves which, by itself, isn't all that scary but just watching them work makes my skin crawl.  Unfortunately, we don't see them at all after this episode (unless you've read the comics) and we learn what happens to them afterwards.

The Ariel Ambulance from this episode also has an interesting story as a prop.  A guy who was driving by a junk yard stopped to take a look around.  He saw some common aircraft frames and one frame he couldn't identify.

He answer came from Firefly.

The craft he has found at a junk yard in the desert was what remained of the ambulance prop from this episode.  To make a long story short, a bunch of Firefly fanatics pooled their money together and paid for the prop to be shipped to them to be refurbished.

Crazy?  Nah.  Cool?  Yes.  I gather that the ambulance has been fixed up and is making a few appearances at different conventions.

Out of Gas is the "pivotal episode" of the series.  We learn how everyone managed to find their way onto Serenity.  I like this point in the series because the show has "found itself".  As we learn about how each character found their way onto Serenity it is also as if the writers, directors, and the performers have settled into the production.  Everyone knows their roles now.  Everyone knows what to do without thinking.  A well oiled machine of a show has finally surfaced.  What makes this even more interesting is that the show was like that from the very first episode.

When I think if Out Of Gas, I think of the many times I have imbued an object with affection.  Sometimes it has been my car while other times it is something like a favourite t-shirt.  For myself, there is a level of comfort I feel for certain objects.  I like to keep them close or, at the very least, know where they are and that they are safe.  Sounds weird, doesn't it?  But, don't you have favourite "thing"?  It could be a book, a night light, cookie jar, teddy bear - just about anything.  For me it is my old security blanket.  I have sealed my blanket in a plastic bag and keep it in a drawer.  I don't take it out daily for a cuddle or anything - I have pugs for that.  The majority of the time I don't think of my security blanket.  But when I need a little pick-me-up when life is getting me down all I need to do is think about my blanket and remember all of the times I used it to keep me positive.  It makes me feel better.  I think of Mal's instant love for a derelict spacecraft as the same as I love my derelict security blanket.

The very last scene of the epiosde hurts my heart each time I view it.  I just want to cry because I know what it is like to "find yourself" in something.  To see the same qualities you have in something.  It is hard to explain but when you feel it for the first time, you never forget it.

What can I say about Jaynestown other than:

The Ballad of Jayne

Jayne, the man they call Jayne

He robbed from the rich
And he gave to the poor
Stood up to the man
And gave him what for
Our love for him now
Ain't hard to explain
The hero of Canton
The man they call Jayne

Our Jayne saw the mudders' backs breakin'
He saw the mudders' lament
And he saw the magistrate takin'
Every dollar and leavin' five cents
So he said "you can't do that to my people"
He said "you can't crush them under your heel"
So Jayne strapped on his hat
And in 5 seconds flat
Stole everythin' Boss Higgins had to steal

He robbed from the rich
And he gave to the poor
Stood up to the man
And gave him what for
Our love for him now
Ain't hard to explain
The hero of Canton
The man they call Jayne

Now here is what separates heroes
From common folk like you and I
The man they call Jayne
He turned 'round his plane
And let that money hit sky
He dropped it onto our houses
He dropped it into our yards
The man they called Jayne
He stole away our pain
And headed out for the stars

He robbed from the rich
And he gave to the poor
Stood up to the man
And gave him what for
Our love for him now
Ain't hard to explain
The hero of Canton
The man they call Jayne.

Come on, let's face it, guys.  This episode is a wet dream for most men.  We have all the elements here:  

• the blushing, innocent bride who needs a man to take care of her
• the blushing, hot innocent bride who needs a man to take care of her
• the blushing, ever-so-willing bride who needs a man to take care of her
• did I mention hot?

Also, this is the same bride who wants to do nothing but please her man in any way she can - even at the expense of her freedom to choose!  Oh, wait, that's bad.

What I really like about this episode is the true strength in the character of Saffron or whatever her real name is.  I cheer for Yo/Saff/Bridge when she proves that she is not what she seems.  She turns the tables on all men (sure, Mal is a nice guy but he is rare in this Verse).  She is a survivor.  I only wish we had learned more about this character.  Her past must be very interesting.  I suppose it doesn't really matter because Joss Whedon writes women characters that can kick ass.  Only this time, she is a woman who kicks ass for her own survival.

Of all the episodes of Firefly, Safe is probably the one I watch the least.  I don't know why since there are cows in this episode and, really, who can resist cows on television?  This episode has two the the most interesting moments (for me) of the entire series:

• Jayne stealing all of River and Simon's stuff and mocking Simon's diary.
• Shepherd Book has an identification card that can help him whenever he wants.

I think this episode is where we really begin to wonder about Shepherd Book.  And, don't we all want to want to have a secret just like that?