Overall: 8.0
It is the excellent - and horrifying - villain who really draws me into this episode.
Plot Synopsis:
"Zombie Elvis" has written a summary here.
The Skinny:
The Alliance has a device that kills you by making you bleed out of your every orifice and a grenade that can be concealed in a harmless apple, but this tech doesn't hold a candle to the government's human weapons. Jubel Early is damned frightening. How could one not be haunted by the abject terror in Kaylee's eyes when Early tells her - in a tone that's completely matter-of-fact - that he intends to rape her if she doesn't cooperate. What Joss has written here is an honest-to-god serial killer - one who has been harnessed to do the Alliance's dirty work. And it makes for pretty compelling television.
It's interesting to compare and contrast Early and River. Both are plagued by psychopathic urges, but while Early has succumbed to his nature and honed his instincts in isolation, River has been surrounded by a family (of sorts) that has both shielded and humanized her. River may be a telepathic ninja assassin, but she is also the girl who is capable of comforting a frightened Kaylee. That speaks to the power of the human connection - of civilization.
Interesting side note: What Early says about Book is yet more evidence for the popular belief - a belief I share - that Book once served as an Operative for the Alliance but had a conversion experience along the way that forced him to radically change his life and his profession. That Book has chosen a stricter Christian order is yet more support for this notion. I only wish I had the time and energy to write that particular story because I think it would be a good one.
Writing: 8.5
Stand-out dialogue is not a feature of this script, but as I noted above, Early is a fantastic - and fascinating - antagonist.
Acting: 8.5
Richard Brooks is very good here - and very creepy. Among the regular cast, Jewel Staite is the stand-out. Her scene with Early keeps me on the edge of my seat -- mainly because (with apologies to a Trek reviewer of yore) my skin crawls there on its own.
Message: 7.0
There isn't much in the way of a message here, but as I remarked above, the differences we see between Early and River suggest one reason why civilization and community are so important to us as human beings.
Highlights:
BOOK: Some orders allow Shepherds to marry, but I follow a narrower path.
JAYNE: But, I mean, you still got the urge. They don't... cut it off, or nothin'?
BOOK: Mm, no, I'm more or less intact. I just... direct my energy elsewhere.
JAYNE: You mean like masturbating? (LOL! No, Jayne, not like that.)
WASH: Little River just gets more colorful by the moment. What'll she do next?
ZOE: Either blow us all up or rub soup in our hair. It's a toss-up. (LOL!)
WASH: I hope she does the soup thing. It's always a hoot, and we don't all die from it. (Indeed.)
ZOE: Where's River at now?
MAL: In her room, which I'm thinking we bolt from the outside from now on.
WASH: That's a little extreme, isn't it?
JAYNE: Anybody remember her comin' at me with a butcher's knife?
WASH: Wacky fun! (Heh.)
KAYLEE: It was when the Captain and Wash got took by Niska.
MAL: Ain't like to forget that anytime soon.
KAYLEE: Well, we all went in. Me, too... I didn't make much account of myself, I'm afraid.
MAL: I got no problem with the notion of you not killing nobody, Kaylee.
SIMON: What's this got to do with River? She wasn't even in that fight.
KAYLEE: Well, no, she was. I got pinned down and there were three guys, and I couldn't... (beat) And then River comes up. She looks out, sees 'em all. And they was spread out, you know, had some cover? She... she didn't only looked for a second, and took my gun, closed her eyes... killed 'em.
SIMON: She shot them?
KAYLEE: All three. Dead in an instant. With her eyes still closed.
JAYNE: Well, that's fay fay d'pian. You saw it wrong.
KAYLEE: Not a jot. And it weren't auto fire... or luck. She just... she just did the math.
ZOE: You understand how that sounds?
JAYNE: What? She killed 'em with mathematics. What else could it have been?
KAYLEE: You couldn't have done it, Jayne. Nor you, Cap'n. Nobody can shoot like that that's a person.
SIMON: So River's not a person.
KAYLEE: Oh, please don't be mad.
SIMON: I just want to understand what you're saying, here. I thought River was your friend.
KAYLEE: She is. But Simon, the way she -- (beat) Right after, she looked at me and... she smiled, like nothin' was wrong. Like we were playin'.
MAL: Girl knows things. Things she shouldn't. Things she couldn't.
JAYNE: Wha -- are you-are you sayin' she's a witch?
WASH: Yes, Jayne. She's a witch. She has had congress with the beast.
JAYNE: (still confused) She's in Congress?
WASH: How did your brain even learn human speech? I'm just so curious. (LOL!)
WASH: Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction.
ZOE: We live in a space ship, dear. (True, that.)
JAYNE: I don't like the idea of someone hearin' what I'm thinkin'.
INARA: No one likes the idea of hearing what you're thinking. (Heh.)
KAYLEE: What do you want?
EARLY: (re: the engine) That's her beating heart, isn't it? Pull off any one of a thousand parts she'll just die. Such a slender thread.
(beat; casually)
You ever been raped?
KAYLEE: (terrified) Th-the Captain is right down that hallway. He can hear you --
EARLY: The Captain's locked in his quarters. They all are. There's nobody can help you. Say it.
KAYLEE: There's... there's nobody can help me.
EARLY: I'm gonna tie you up now. And you know what I'm gonna do then? I'm gonna give you a present. Get rid of a problem you've got. And I won't touch you in any wrong fashion, nor hurt you at all. Unless you make some kind of ruckus. You throw a monkey wrench into my dealings in any way, your body is forfeit. Ain't nothing but a body to me. And I can find all unseemly manner of use for it. Do you understand? (MEEEEEEEEEEP!)
SIMON: I don't think my last act in this 'verse is gonna be betraying my sister.
EARLY: You're gonna help me. 'Cause every second you're with me is the chance to turn the tables. Get the better of me. Maybe you'll find your moment. Maybe I'll slip. Or, you refuse to help me, I shoot your brain out, then I go upstairs and spend some time violatin' the little mechanic I got trussed-up in the engine room. I take no pleasure in the thought, but she will die weeping if you cross me.
SIMON: You're out of your mind.
EARLY: That's between me and my mind. (HOLY CRAP.)
RIVER (V.O.): Kaylee?
KAYLEE: River?
RIVER (V.O.): You're afraid.
KAYLEE: He tied me up. I don't know where he came from.
RIVER (V.O.): It's okay. It's gonna be okay.
KAYLEE: I told him where you were. I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do. I...
RIVER (V.O.): Shh. I'm fine. But I need you to do something for me. Gotta be brave.
KAYLEE: I'm tied up. I-I can't...
RIVER (V.O.): Got tools. Something sharp. Don't be scared. I'm right here. (Awww.)
RIVER (V.O.): You're not welcome here anymore, Early.
EARLY: You think I'm gonna leave empty-handed?
RIVER (V.O.): I know it.
EARLY: Yeah, well, you know me real well.
RIVER (V.O.): Wish I didn't. You like to hurt folk.
EARLY: It's part of the job.
RIVER (V.O.): It's why you took the job. Power. Control. Pain. (beat) Your mother knew. Sadness in her when she waved good-bye. She's relieved. Saw darkness in you. (beat) You're not well.
EARLY: You'll be wanting to shut up now.
RIVER (V.O.): Big golden retriever sitting on the lawn... Never took to you... smelling you. The neighbors pets -- you did things to 'em. Cleaned up after... shined and polished. Everything in here gleams.
RIVER: It's okay, Early. I'm going with you.
SIMON: River, what are you --
RIVER: Don't belong. Dangerous, like you. Can't be controlled. Can't be trusted. Everyone could just go on without me and not have to worry. People could be what they wanted to be. Could be with the people they wanted. Live simple. No secrets.
SIMON: No...
RIVER: I'll be fine. (to Early) I'll be your bounty, Jubel Early. (And there's something strangely poignant in this moment. I think it has to do with the reactions of the others -- and the fact that there's some truth in what River says.)
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