Malcolm Reynolds Part 10: “War Stories” – Firefly, Episode 1:10 (December 6, 2002)

We (finally) get to meet the real Malcolm Reynolds.

I have this episode in the Firefly 4-Disc DVD set.

Mal’s having a discussion with Inara about a client that prefers to visit her shuttle while still docked to Serenity. Mal isn’t against the idea, he just insists on meeting everyone that boards his ship. She relents, but reminds him that her client is a high standing member of the planet’s government and expects privacy while aboard.

He grabs an apple from the basket that Jayne was nice enough to buy for everyone and tells Wash that his idea of delivering the last of the medical supplies they stole in “Ariel” directly to the local MD’s would cause more problems than solve. He wants to play nice with the local fences, even if it means the crew’s cut is a little smaller.

Mal waits patiently enough for Inara’s guest to arrive, and introduces himself when he does…only the man entering Serenity isn’t the client, it’s the client’s security guard who gives the all clear for the client to come aboard. Mal’s struck speechless as Inara sweeps the woman away before he can wrap his head around it.

He and Zoe then prep the other shuttle to take the remaining supplies to the rendezvous when she tells him that the controls are all switched around. Wash comes in and admits to the task, saying he’d rather go with the captain on this run. Mal senses something’s up but doesn’t have the time or patience to deal with it, so he leaves Zoe in charge of Serenity while he and Wash make the drop. Along the way, he tells Wash that while this is a quick and easy exchange, Mal’s taking Zoe on every job is standard procedure.As payback, Wash is made to carry the goods to the site.

The deal goes south (as usual) and their contacts are killed. Armed men pop up out of nowhere and take Mal and Wash off-planet.

They’re blindfolded and taken to a room where Mal tries to get their bearings. Wash is freaking out and even accuses him of endangering Zoe. They get into an argument, but are interrupted when someone enters the room. Mal’s blindfold is removed and he finds himself facing Niska, who’s after revenge since Mal reneged on “The Train Job”.

Mal and Wash are electrocuted…repeatedly…and all the while Mal keeps arguing with Wash. Most of the discussion is about Zoe, and Wash tells him that the sexual tension between his wife and his captain should be resolved so everyone can get on with their lives. Mal tells him that he’ll take Zoe to his bed when they get out of their current situation.

The door opens and Zoe comes in, with all the money the crew had so she could buy both men back. Niska tells her that there’s only enough money for one man, and she immediately chooses Wash. Mal stays behind as Zoe makes her way out with her husband but Niska stops them, and offers to make change…with Mal’s left ear.

The torture continues until Mal makes them stop - by dying. Niska and his man resuscitate Mal’s heart and continue their fun until alarms go off. Making the most of the distraction, Mal uses one of the devices on Niska’s man and hunts Niska through his office. But before he can get his hands on the cause of his distress, Niska’s man grabs him from behind. They struggle until Jayne, Wash and Zoe enter an adjacent room. Mal tells Zoe this ain’t the time for him to finish this alone, so all three of them shoot his opponent dead.

Back on board Serenity, Mal thanks Simon for reattaching his ear and asks the doctor how he felt about taking up arms for his rescue. Simon tells him he’s never shot anyone before, and Book comments that he still holds that record. Mal gets to the mess hall and finds both Wash and Zoe there. He tells his second-in-command that her husband requested that they sleep together to get rid of the sexual tension between them. Obviously uncomfortable as they try to kiss, Mal and Zoe are interrupted by Wash, who takes his wife to their room. Mal is left with the bowl of soup Wash left behind when Jayne enters and digs in.

Notes of Interest:

1) Mal doesn’t have a problem with Kaylee and River running around his ship…unless they fall and hurt themselves.

2) Nice sword-fighting reference to “Shindig” by the way.

3) His time growing up on Shadow must have influenced his concern for the “blue-collar working man” since he’s willing to share his fortune with the local middlemen.

4) Mal admits to ordering Zoe not to marry Wash.

5) It seems that Mal has issues with members of his crew having relations. He isn’t against love, but sees it as a potential problem should it conflict with the chain of command.

6) Mal deals through the torture with humor, which tells me he’s been tortured before.

7) It’s established here that while Mal and Zoe have a long-standing relationship – to the point of trusting each other with their lives – they’ve never had, nor will they ever have, sexual relations.

8) Mal cuts his apples before he eats them.

WTF? Moment: He does everything he can to keep Wash awake while they’re tortured. Could something have happened during the war that compels Mal to do that? Or is it simply that he cares about his crew (and Zoe especially) to keep Wash with it until help arrives?

WTF? Moment #2: The gesture Mal has with Kaylee as he walks past her on the stairs shows his casual comfort with her once again. It’s obvious that Mal is supposed to end up with Inara, but he seems more affectionate with his mechanic. What was his opinion about crew members having relationships?