Firefly 1.5 FAQ
What’s it called?
“Shindig.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to Herc’s second-favorite “Buffy the vampire Slayer” writer, Jane Espenson.
1.5? Isn’t this the sixth hour to air?
It’s the sixth hour to air. Fox is showing them out of order (at least until midseason).
What did Herc say about this one in his Aug. 5 spoiler post?
An episode titled “Shindig” will see Capt. Reynolds, mechanic Kaylee Frye and “companion for hire” Inara attending a lavish ballroom dance on the planet Persephone. Kaylee, dolled up, excited and escorted by Reynolds, proves popular with the local males. Inara, meanwhile, considers settling down with a wealthy and handsome native named Atherton Wing – until Wing grows jealous of Inara’s affection for Reynolds and gets a little rough. Reynolds has to hit Wing very hard. Wing challenges Reynolds to a sword duel. Wing is an expert swordsman; Reynolds isn’t.
What does TV Guide say?
“There's trouble ahead for Mal (Nathan Fillion) after he gets into a dust-up with one of Inara's less-than-noble clients. Making things worse, there's a warlord with an eye on the Serenity.”
The big news?
There’s a new opening, narrated by Mal, which talks about how a “whole new galaxy of Earths” was terraformed, “some rich and flush with the new technologies, some not so much.” It also gives a superquick rundown of the Serenity’s crew and passengers.
What’s else is TV Guide not telling us?
We learned a few episodes ago that Inara likes Mal. This week Mal kinda has to admit he likes Inara right back.
What’s going on with Zoe? Wash? Book? Simon? Jayne?
Zoe and Wash have sex. Book, Simon and Jayne play cards, with chores at stake.
What’s going on with River?
River takes to urgently tearing the labels off of canned goods. We don’t learn why. She also demonstrates a heretofore unseen ability.
Any sign of the blue hand group?
No.
What’s good?
The dialogue. “I think calling him that is an insult to the entire psychotic lowlife community.” “Yeah, I know. It was just funny.” “You also lined up exciting new crime.”
What’s not so good?
No clip package!
How does it end, spoiler-boy?
We get a glimpse at the ship’s new cargo.
Herc’s rating for “Firefly” 1.5?
***1/2
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
8 p.m. Friday. Fox.
