Overall Rating: 8.9
This episode does suffer a bit from multiple-plot-thread-syndrome (it keeps you from spending a lot of time deepening any of the individual stories too much when you've got four stories going at the same time), but I very much enjoyed all of the plots and they all had very strong moral points that made me smile. And you know what...this episode was just too damned funny not to love!
Plot Synopsis:
A plot synopsis may be found here.
Writing: 9.0
This episode is smashingly funny and yet filled with poignant moments, many of which speak to greater truths that will please regular readers here at Right Fans greatly. I know Whedon and his band of merry writers are skilled with comedy, but this one might actually be funnier than any one Buffy or Angel episode ever written and is most likely the funniest Firefly script as well. It really was a stroke of genius to make Jayne the hero on oh so many levels. The juxtaposition of Jayne the barbarian with Jayne the Robinhood figure is just so perfect for comedy and for real character growth on Jayne's part. Meanwhile, River being terrified of Book's huge hair...yes that really was as hilarious as it sounds, especially when Zoe got involved. And Simon and Kaylee getting drunk off their asses on horrible beer...OK that was a bit cliche, but it worked so well, I do not care one iota. :) I think the thing that is most impressive about this script is that very little time is wasted...four plots going...all of which were worth watching...and very little boring dialogue. That takes skill.
Acting: 8.2
Adam Baldwin kicks some serious comedic booty in this episode and still leaves room for dramatic chops at the end. We won't get too many deep looks at Jayne, so I enjoyed proving to myself that Mr. Baldwin was a good actor this one time. Jewel Staite and Sean Maher continued to build their solid chemistry here as well...Maher attempting to be a mud buyer was pretty classic comedy, as was seeing Simon's head explode at the thought of Jayne as a hero. The romantic sparks could perhaps have been a little more palpable than they were, but on the whole, their plot was marked by solid acting. I'm liking Summer Glau more and more as I rewatch these episodes, BTW.
Message: 9.5
Four different messages, and all of them positive and uplifting in some way or another. We've got:
1) Sex doesn't make you a man...building a strong identity and doing right by the world does - courtesy of the high class call girl (!).
2) Heroes are where you find them...they're just people like the rest of us who happened to make a difference in someone's life. Jayne is an unlikely choice, but when faced with the reality that he did something that helped thousands of people, even Jayne felt the glow of God filling him...if only for a short time.
3) Civility, as demonstrated by Simon, is not meaningless society nonsense in the face of a rougher existence...it's a means to show respect. Kaylee may be confused from time to time, but Simon's polite 'easy mark' mentality does have a purpose, and I think it's noble one.
and
4) The Bible is not supposed to make literal sense...we are supposed to have faith in the moral messages and basic truths therein and let that faith change us and make us better people. Faith is the great healer...not logic.
All of this is a mountain of positive goodness that deserves praise.
Highlights:
KAYLEE: You never swear, Doc!
SIMON: What are you talking about? I swear!
KAYLEE: I've never heard a single foul word come out of your mouth. When do you do all this cussin'? When I'm asleep?
SIMON: I swear, Kaylee! When it's appropriate.
KAYLEE: Simon, the whole point of cussin' is that it ain't appropriate! (They see Jayne tearing up the infirmary)
SIMON: Huuhhh?!?!!
KAYLEE: See, now this would be a perfect opportunity for a swear. (LOL)
MAL: We're not goin' that far, Simon. I figure you can make yourself useful.
SIMON: Oh, really (unconvinced).
MAL: This here's a business kind of town. That's why we're posing as buyers. And you...well now you certainly look the part. Clothes fit all perfect and nice...soft hands of a surgeon...obviously a man of money...skin all pasty white and lily-fresh...
SIMON: Alright, alright! I'll go. Just, please...stop describing me. (ROTFL)
WASH: You haven't been here in years, Jayne...no one's gonna remember you. (They see the statue of Jayne)
MAL: I think it's possible they might.
SIMON: Son of a bitch! (There's your swear!)
BOOK: River, you don't fix the Bible.
RIVER: It's broken. It doesn't make sense.
BOOK: It's not about making sense. It's about believing in something...and letting that belief be strong enough to change your life. It's about faith. You don't fix faith. It fixes you. (that made me smile)
JAYNE: (singing his own theme) Our love for me ain't too hard to explain! The hero of Canton the man they call...me! (I very nearly died laughing at this)
RIVER: Too much weight! His brains are in danger!
BOOK: River? Come out of there, no one's gonna hurt you.
RIVER: No! Too much hair!
BOOK: Is that it?
ZOE: Whoo boy, yes! If I didn't have things to do, I'd be in there with her. (LOL!)
BOOK: River? It a requirement of my order...
RIVER: Go away!
ZOE: River...he's putting his hair away now.
RIVER: Doesn't matter...it'll still be there...waiting...(LOL!!)
JAYNE: I don't know, Mal...should we really be using my fame to hoodwink these people?
MAL: Bit surprising to hear that comin' from the hero of Canton.
JAYNE: I don't know...I just...I think I really made a difference in these peoples' lives. Me! Jayne Cobb! (see...inside that gruff exterior is a good person waiting to get out if only he could believe in his ability to do right by someone...kinda cool...well if you ignore the whole part where he took advantage of a local girl before this...LOL)
FES: I'm sorry...I just thought I'd feel different. I'm supposed to be a man now, right?
INARA: Fes...our time together...it's a ritual. It means something to people like your father. And I'm hoping it wasn't an entirely forgettable experience for you.
FES: No...it wasn't...
INARA: But it doesn't make you a man, Fes. You do that.
JAYNE: Get up! Get up, you stupid piece of...(realizes the mudder is dead on his behalf) All of you!! Why would you do this?! Didn't you hear a single word that man said?! Do you think there's people out there'd just drop money on you?! Money they can use?!?! Well there ain't! There's just people like me. (and he topples the Jayne statue...ouch)
KAYLEE: You gotta stop lettin' men toss you around.
SIMON: That wasn't exactly a plan.
KAYLEE: You couldn't beat him back? Or what that just not be appropriate?
SIMON: You are never going to let that go, are you?
KAYLEE: Well, you confuse me something fierce is all. I mean...you like me well enough...we get along just fine...and then you go all stiff!
SIMON: Well I...I didn't...I don't...
KAYLEE: See...you're doin' it right now! What's so damned important about bein' polite! That don't mean nothin' now that you're in the black.
SIMON: It means more out here.
KAYLEE: What?
SIMON: It's all I have. My way of being...polite or whatever you want to call it out here...that's the only way I have of telling you that I like you. I'm respecting you. (I can *SO* relate to Simon here...good for you for hanging on to your dignity and civility, lad!)
KAYLEE: So...when we made love last night...
SIMON: When we WHAT?!
KAYLEE: You really are such an easy mark. (LOL)
JAYNE: It don't make no sense, Mal. Why he have to go and do that? It was crazy...jumpin' in front of that shotgun blast. Ain't a one of them understand what happened down there...they're probably puttin' damned statue right back up.
MAL: Most likely.
JAYNE: But why?
MAL: It's my estimation that just about every man ever got made into a statue was some kind of son'bitch or another. It ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need. (very cool)
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