Malcolm Reynolds Part 22: Serenity: Those Left Behind #3 (September, 2005)

 Remember the name of the guy Mal shot in “Serenity”? Me either, but he sure remembers Mal....

I have this issue in the Serenity: Those Left Behind Trade Paperback.

Mal, Zoe and Jayne enter the room of the ship where the money is stashed, and instead of finding money they find Agent Dobson…the guy Mal shot in “Serenity”. Dobson’s there for revenge, because after Mal and Jayne dumped his body off Serenity the law saw him as dead. He decided not to correct the mistake, and has been itchin’ for payback.

Zoe makes a move, and Mal gets the draw on Dobson and shoots out his other eye. After the rest of Dobson’s men are dead, Mal shoots him one more time – just to be sure.

Mal contacts Wash to tell him the trio are heading back to Serenity, but it’s not where it’s supposed to be. Wash brings the ship back to them and they have to grab onto the side because another ship is on their tail. Once Mal and the others are inside, he tells Wash to “step on it” and they get away safely.

Serenity finally arrives on New Melbourne and everyone says their goodbyes. Back on the ship, Mal’s caught talking to himself by Book, who tells him the shepherd is also planning on leaving. Mal admits that he didn’t care about Book hitting him, but the preacher explains that if he doesn’t leave soon he wouldn’t care either.

Later on, Mal’s sitting in his room when Zoe calls down to him asking what course Wash should set.

Mal’s reply?

“The same as always. Forward.”

Notes of Interest:

1) Well, for one thing, Mal learns Dobson wasn’t dead.

WTF? Moment: Mal (sort of) says goodbye to Inara, learns Book is leaving, has very little money at the moment and no longer trusts Badger enough to ever take a job from him again. Yet he continues. This really says a lot about the guy. He never gives up.

WTF? Moment #2: We never learn what Mal says to Inara, only what he wanted to say to her. Makes me wonder if he said anything at all.

Malcolm Reynolds Part 21: Serenity: Those Left Behind #2 (August, 2005)

Mal and company revisit the past as another job comes their way.

I have this issue in the Serenity: Those Left Behind Trade Paperback.

The crew are at a station somewhere for fuel and supplies when Badger arrives and tells Mal and the others about the Battle of Sturges, a browncoats defeat during the war. He tells them that the battle took place over money…money that’s never been recovered.  He offers Mal the job of retrieving the money and even provides the exact coordinates of its location. Mal takes the job, and Inara sees it as yet another excuse for keeping her on board. Book speaks up and calls Mal on the value of his promise to her, and Mal fires back about his recent un-preacher-like actions. Book responds by punching Mal in the face.

They reach the Battle of Sturges and find the location of the money - a derelict vessel floating amongst hundreds of abandoned spacewrecks. Mal, Zoe and Jayne suit up and board it.

Notes of Interest:

1) Mal clearly doesn’t trust Badger by this point, which makes sense given their relationship throughout the series.

2) We learn that both Mal and Zoe fought at the Battle of Sturges.

3) Despite the battle’s reputation of being the bloodiest of the war, Mal calls it a distant second.

4) Mal is one tough hombre to take a shot like that from Book without missing a beat…even after he got up off the floor.

5) He also doesn’t seem the least surprised Book hit him.

6) Wash makes it clear that he knows Mal’s doing everything he can to keep Inara around.

WTF? Moment: What’s the deal with Mal and Book? Why are they on each other’s nerves?

WTF? Moment #2: Mal never says what the Battle of Sturges is second in bloodiness to, but my money’s on Serenity Valley. 

Malcolm Reynolds Part 20: Serenity: Those Left Behind #1 (July, 2005)

Mal loses a job and his patience, but keeps his gun.

I have this issue in the Serenity: Those Left Behind Trade Paperback.

Mal, Zoe and Jayne find themselves in a bank vault standoff against another gang of thieves. Outgunned, Mal lets the other group take the money. But when their leader also asks for Mal’s gun, he kicks it in the man’s face, causing all kinds of disruption.

The other group gets away clean, and Mal’s crew are left behind to take the blame by the locals. Not wanting to get shot, killed or captured, they make a run for it in a vehicle Book – who was leading a sermon/causing a diversion at the time – provides. Mal calls Wash to bring Serenity in for a much needed rescue, and after some dampening heroics, everyone gets aboard safely.

Mal retires to the mess hall for a beverage and to lick his wounds when he finds River hiding under the table. Inara comes in and tells him she’s been keeping an eye on the girl. She also mentions…again…that she’s trying to schedule her leaving and Mal walks off in a huff.

Notes of Interest:

1) The other group is led by Ott, a man Mal shares some history with.

2) Mal acknowledges that there are only two things that got him through the war and stuck with him afterwards…his gun, and Zoe.

3) He’s obviously taking his time in getting Inara to where she wants to go.

WTF? Moment: I’ll mention it again – when will we learn how he met Zoe and what made her stay with him after the war?

WTF? Moment #2: He seems to like pushing Book’s buttons and I have no idea why.