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Firefly: Ariel [Ep 9] ✦ Watchalong Reaction & Review (Patreon)

Published:
2025-02-12 17:30:02
Edited:
2025-05-21 17:11:17
Imported:
2026-08
Tags:

Content

Hi everyone! Another banger episode here, especially the end. 😅 Thanks so much for watching and looking forward to your comments! [Direct link here.]

✦ KL

Files

Firefly: Ariel [Ep 9] ✦ Full-Length Watchalong Reaction

Comments

Sean Ellingham

This was originally my favourite episode, for a couple of reasons: firstly, who doesn't love a good heist? Secondly, those last five minutes - that whole sequence with Mal and Jayne is just perfect. We get to see a different side to Simon - while he's gradually becoming more at ease on Serenity, in the hospital he's in his element and markedly more confident as a result. His plan for the heist also makes sense: we know he was working with an underground movement to get River out of the Academy, so he can be expected to have more knowledge of criminal activities than you might initially suspect; also, we know he's very intelligent, and obviously has extensive knowledge of how core hospitals work. All in all, he really gets his chance to shine here. Jayne's actions also make a great deal of sense for him - we saw last episode that he'll follow what benefits him the most, and he outright said in the pilot that when the money was good enough it'd "be an interesting day". Beyond that though, we know he doesn't consider Simon and River part of the crew, so from his point of view there's only upsides to getting rid of them: their status as fugitives makes life difficult for himself; River is now 'dangerous', not just annoying, and threatens his safety; and he'd (in theory) get a reward for turning them in. Plus, in his mind, those three issues would also apply to everyone else on board - he probably thought that the others would be grateful that he got rid of this inconvenient threat. Regarding the previously on, there was one earlier in the season, however the DVDs/Blu-ray's don't have them for any of the episodes. Like the voice-over intro that was added for broadcast (and present when streaming), I imagine it's there because the episodes were aired out of order - though I understand there were gaps in the broadcast schedule as well. One final thing - in a nice little bit of irony, the item Wash casually throws away in the dump is a catalyser - given how critical we found that to be last episode I would think it would be worth holding on to!

MichaelA

I think Mal had decided to leave the door open already, until Jayne asked him to lie about what he did. It showed something different, that he actually cared about what he had done and that is why he got a another chance.

Phalanx

You maaaay have a misread on what they did to River here. Not a spoiler, just reiterating what was said: "...they stripped her amygdala. ... ... ... Your amygdala is what lets you do that, it's a filter in your brain that keeps your feelings in check. She feels everything. She can't not." Beyond the necessities of the plot, Jayne being left with Simon and River could be jusitfied by the fact that he's the least, uhhh, educated, of the bunch (like you said, just the muscle). Can you imagine him trying to find the valuable medication in a timely fashion? Babysitting the siblings was probably the simplest thing for him to do.. he just had to go and complicate it. And just for fun, the transport is actually based on the fuselage of a French Puma transport helicopter dressed up as a Russian Mi-24 gunship (for Hollywood prop purposes) cosplaying as a sci-fi medical transport (at least not where it's a flying CGI render). But that's why it has space inside...

Movies with KL

Suggesting that I may have a misread on what's going on with River means that I do. 😂 I still stand by my thought process in this episode review and I did bring up that quote. Anyway since I'm wrong, I'm looking forward for the show to clear it up for me!

Movies with KL

Yes, a great episode to highlight both Simon and Jayne! Thanks for the explanation about the previously on's. I did NOT recognize that was what Wash threw away hahahah that's hilarious.

Movies with KL

And totally valid point about Jayne trying to find the right medicine hahahaha. But yeah, what a complication he had to add! I think he learned a good lesson (here's hoping). Thanks for the fun fact about the transport!

Nathan Jasper

It's hard for anyone to imagine what River went through, especially someone like Jayne who's all brawn and needs everything explained to him in basic Basic lol But I did like the fact that he showed in what he thought were his final moments that he definitely cared what the crew thought of him. He didn't want to die with the knowledge his friends would hate him. I think ultimately that's why Mal saved him. Jayne had actual remorse. Great episode, looking forward to the rest and the movie of course

Thadman

Every time, at the end of this ep, when Simon says to River, "No, Mei Mei...time to wake up," makes me tear up. About killing main characters, you're right that they didn't really do that, in general, on TV shows at that time. BUT, Joss Whedon sorta pioneered that and people who watched this at the time and had seen other shows by him were like, "Uh oh, he might kill just about anybody." A lot of things said at the time from fans was something like, "He better not kill off (insert favorite character) or WE RIOT!"😁 Joss didn't do it a LOT because it would lose impact, but he would kill beloved characters or characters in the opening credits.

BubblyRainbows

I've seen other opinions in the past, but I maintain that Jayne did change his mind about turning over Simon and River. He pushed them to leave early and everything, and he clearly had at least a little sympathy toward what was done to River, so I think he was INTENDING to try to get them out before the Feds arrived. That's why he was suddenly in a rush. He just got caught in the act and had to try to salvage the situation by trying to cash in the bounty like the Feds expected him to. I really think that if they had managed to get outside without running into security, he would have brought them home safe, not turned them in.

Paul Howard

One thing I love in this episode is the proud smile on River's face when Simon saved the patient. I don't think that Simon knew what had happened with Jayne handing them in. He'd already been dragged from the area before Jayne got into the argument with the Fed. As a note on the device, I don't think it's a case of it affects people who've heard River speak, but more they don't want anyone who has spoken with her to live and so killed them. As for why? Now that is an interesting question.

Movies with KL

Yeah, I'm glad he showed remorse in the end. I truly thought we were about to lose the man. 😅

Movies with KL

Ahh okay so my worry was def legit. 😅 I'm glad we still have our whole crew right now. And yeah the relationship between Simon and River is wonderful. 🥲

Movies with KL

I'll wait for the show to explain it a bit more, if they do. The way I described it is just how I'm understanding it right now, but it seems like I am misunderstanding it, based on what you've said as well as an earlier comment here.