Another great episode, featuring some of my very favorite Firefly moments. “She’s our witch” comes to mind – among others.
“What’s that make us?”
“Big Damn Heroes, sir”
“Ain’t we just”
“Man’s lookin’ to kill some folk”
You know, it’s Mal’s last line there that really makes that scene, and is one of the things I love about Whedon’s dialog. Any number of people could have come up with something very close to “Big Damn Heroes”, but Mal’s emphasis of it with his line just adds a little something extra to it. It’s hard for me to say exactly what, but it just makes the whole thing a little better. It’s like the bay leaf in soup; it would be perfectly fine if it wasn’t there, but with it, you get a little something special.
River seems to be a girl after Wash’s heart, with her imagination getting the idea of a dino ambush.
Morbid and creepifying are things Mal doesn’t have a problem with? THAT’s why I LOVE Mal… just as long as it’s quiet.
Simon does have a way with the ladies, too bad for him, his way is to insult their pride and joy ship.
Hmm, medical elect or his sister’s well being? It’s no surprise that he’d give up a job to save his sister’s life, especially with clueless or in denial parents.
It’s so funny watching Jayne pilfer Simon’s belongings with a stethoscope around his neck and sucking on a tongue depressor… only to frantically dump it all back into a big mess once they go back to save the doc and his sis.
A little piece of the puzzle is revealed, we at least know that the Alliance regards Book as a VIP, of some sort, or at least a former VIP.
I’m starting to really like the soundtrack, I wish there was more of it.
A good old-fashioned witch burning? Hm. Don’t know what to make of it. Sometimes I feel very much at home in this universe and then a witch burning comes up - I don’t know… one would think that people who are familiar with space travel don’t believe in witches anymore. I mean, they didn’t think that Serenity was the chariot of the gods, either.
Just saw this ep for the first time last night. Between Kaylee taking offense at Simon’s griping in this episode and her taking offense at Mal’s practicality regarding the need for frilly dresses on a spaceship in the previous ep (Shindig) I’m beginning to think Kaylee is one of those women who always has to generate needless drama.
CountIblis - I always thought the dress was horrendous, but I can definitely understand the griping in this episode. I mean, look at it from her point of view - she likes this guy, wants to get him something pretty and nice, and he sees the thing and calls it crap. I don’t think that I’ll be giving too much away if I say that there is a pattern with Kaylee and the good doctor - She likes something, says something, expresses something, and he screws it up inadvertently.
If she’s annoying you, send her over to mine, I’d let her generate some drama in my bunk any day.
I never thought about it that way but it does seem that Kaylee is forever dealing with Simon’s bad case of foot-in-mouth syndrome. Makes you wonder why she keeps pursuing him. Well, he IS kinda cute.
I just watched ‘The Message’ and I think by that point she’s had it about up to her eyeballs with Simon’s bonehead moves. lol
this is the episode i have watched more than any other according to my itunes playlist count…then out of gas so not sure what camp this puts me in…safe has all the elements of why i fell in love wtih this show…the relationship between simon and river…one person loving someone so much that they are willing to die for them…we get to see river dance and the cool one liners and the out and out hatred i feel for them hillfolk kidnapping simon & river bringing them someplace they didn’t want to be then deciding to kill them…finding yourself in unjust circumstances and someone standing up for you…i LOVE the line “you see the man hangin outta the spaceship with the really big gun??” still can’t figure out what the hell mal says to simon that simon responds “yes, i’m very proud!” so if anyone can tell me what he says there i’d be indebted! 
Here 'tis:
MAL: Gotta say, doctor, your talent for alienatin’ folks is near miraculous.
SIMON: Yes, I’m very proud.
OMG!! ROFL…yep yep!! it’s lines like THAT that make me LOVE this show!!! thanks cami’s mom!!