Question: Did Mal sell the cattle at the request of, um, whoever it was that he was transporting them for?
Or did he take a deal to transport cattle from one place to the other, and then double-cross and sell the cattle for himself?
Warrick Harrow. I think he smuggled and sold them as requested. I don’t know if it was on commision or if they bought the cattle and resold them.
If you can fly cattle on a space ship at profit, why not cell phone towers and vehicles?
Do the settlers have no money? Would the cattle have been prohibitively ecpensive if sold through normal channels? Do normal channels include high alliance taxes?
As I understood the previous episode, it was illegal to sell the cattle off-world.
Why such low technology? One of the guys had a cap and ball revolver, for crying out loud.
One thing to remember, is that Fox is showing these episodes out of order. F’rinstance, this episode was filmed before the one where the engineer and the doctor did the deed. That’s why in the “Previously on Firefly…” you saw things you had never seen before.
Supposedly, there is a story arc that will begin at some point, at which time, the episodes will be shown in order.
Maybe we should start a “Save Firefly” movement before they dump it, to let them know people really like the show.
Has the pilot been seen anywhere?
cp: As in the original pilot episode? That’s supposed to air in December. As I understand it, it’ll explain a bit more about what’s up with the doctor’s sister and how he gets her away from the lab; I’ve also heard that we’ll see how the preacher joins the crew.
As far as the latest episode, this show just keeps impressing me, more and more. In addition to what others have noted above:
– The attention to realism in terms of what it would really be like in these circumstances. “You ever see cows stampede when they don’t have anywhere to go? Kind of like a meat grinder.”
– The way the characters don’t make stupid choices and decisions, but that sometimes they’re forced to do things they’d rather not. Taking the preacher to get medical attention despite the overwhelming risk was bang on the money. The captain ordering a departure, leaving the kidnapped doctor and sister behind: Not the easy choice, but under the circumstances, really the right one.
– The silence of the space scenes startles me every time they do it, and then I’m absolutely filled with a sense of rightness. The simplicity of this stylistic choice on the part of the show’s producers should not negate just how ballsy it really is.
– The complexity of the interactions and the writing. In this episode, after the doctor and sister were kidnapped to the workers’ village, the show made a point of humanizing the nurse, and showing that she basically had a good soul, even though she was attempting to rationalize the abduction. The simple calmness of her attitude – “some journeys don’t end where you expect, and that’s where you call home” – was not at all the predictable path; I was wondering, “Okay, so, what’s going to happen?” When a TV show can keep you legitimately in doubt about what will happen next, that’s an amazing achievement.
– And then to have that same sweet-natured nurse turn around and display the worst sort of superstitious judgementalism? Remarkable. An obviously good-hearted person, dressed in white no less, who turns out to be a reservoir of hate and stupidity: When was the last time a TV show like this played with this kind of ambiguity? (And when the doctor climbed up on the pyre, yelling at the crowd about their “ignorance” – a true SDMB rallying cry. Woo hoo!)
“Firefly” clearly respects its audience and gives its viewers credit for intelligence and perception. That, unfortunately, will no doubt spell its demise.
When did this happen? The closest I can think of is in the episode Jaynestown where they got drunk together, confessed a mutual attraction, and then passed out (fully clothed) on a bench in a public bar.
It’s never been aired. It is, however, available via certain illicit file-trading networks.
Count me as another big fan resigned to a relatively short run for the series. 
That’s the episode. It aired a few weeks ago. The next morning, the doctor says something stupid, and the engineer is insulted and mentions something about “when we made love last night” or words to that effect.
Immediately after this, the doctor panics and the engineer snickers, “Boy, you are an easy mark!” I certainly thought she was playing a trick on him, then laughed about how gullible he was.
She was joking. He freaks out, and she says something like “You’re such an easy mark.”
!@#$%^&* dial up…
Yeah, so, in short, * Firefly * rocks . Big time. It rocks like… I dunno, something that rocks. Shoot, I meant to make a clever joke of some sort there. Anyway, you know what I mean.
I find it really encouraging that we have a few newcomers here. Maybe ratings are climbing a bit? Who knows. Hope you all are writing the network (except ** plant **, who refuses, in light of recent electoral mishaps for which he was responsible 
), and telling your friends, and handing out flyers at the bus station, and wearing big hats that say “SAVE FIREFLY” in neon letters. I know I am. My boss thinks it’s weird.
So another great week. I was a little mixed up by the screwy order they’re showing the episodes in, but try as they might, Fox just can’t seem to destroy a show that is just innately so good. More interesting character development, this week. I’m interested to learn what the Shepherd’s deal is.
Simon’s hot. And he’s a snob. He’s well meaning, but he’s a snob. And you know what? That’s fine. In some shows, he’d be quickly assimilated into some simpering PC machine (possibly with a Pentium processor), but not on Firefly, because they actually have some sense about human psychology. Yes, he likes Kaylee. But his world is so different from hers that he somehow keeps insulting her. And as others here have pointed out, that’s a dynamic that doesn’t - and shouldn’t - get resolved by a kiss-and-make-it-better at the end of the episode. That’s not how things work in real life.
I love Jayne : “Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today we got snatched up by hill folk, never to be seen again. It was the best day ever!” Laughed my * ass * off. Really. Laughed it right off my body and across the room. Had to go get it before I could sit down again. Eww. Sorry about that.
Right. I’m going to leave now, before I say something even more stupid. But, yeah, more * Firefly * greatness.
And in addition Kn*ckers, for every poster there are a few people like me who love the show, but don’t post. I just lurk in these threads, reading the comments of others.
I also think the show will be canceled. And I will be sad.
Oh, one more thing. I have to say that this comment by Cervaise expresses my own thoughts precisely.
I think it says something that even though this episode was chock full of the crazy girl (who I can’t stand and think is far and away the weakest character on the show) I still enjoyed it a lot. I think the show is finding its feet and it’s very enjoyable. I really disliked Jayne at first but now that he’s been able to develop a little I enjoy him a lot.
I really hope Fox doesn’t chop this down. I know the outlook isn’t too good, but I think that if they do nothing except give it a chance to run it’ll soon come into its own. Unfortunately, they need a slot for their mid-season replacement, “Women in Bikinis Eat Bugs For the Right to Hit Rich Guys In The Crotch With Midget Cops.”
What I can’t figure out is with all the chinese lanterns and tapestries all over the place, and everybody speaking chinese phrases for cuss words & such, where’s all the chinese PEOPLE?
If you ever get curious about a show’s ratings, cruise on over to the Zap2It Daily Nielsons page.
From there, we learn that this is what the ratings were on Friday night in Firefly’s time slot:
Providence" 8.0/14.
“48 Hours Investigates,” 6.7/12.
“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (no number listed - probably about 5.5)
“Firefly” 2.9/5.
The week before, Firefly was at 2.8. The week before that, 3.0. And the week before that, 2.7.
So essentially, Firefly is at the bottom of the pile, getting only a little more than half the viewers of the next-worst show, competing against fairly weak shows, and its ratings haven’t moved an inch since it aired.
Doesn’t look very promising to me. But I sure hope Fox gives this show a chance and promotes it better. It’s worth it.
It seems to me that on Friday nights, lots of 18-30-year-olds are going to be out with friends: going to movies, going to bars and clubs, doing other group-oriented activities. Or else they’re going to be staying home with their young children.
OTOH, older folks are likelier to be staying at home on Friday night.
Since this show is geared toward younger folks (I think), it seems an especially terrible time slot for it. Cop dramas, hospital dramas, and Funny Clips shows seem to appeal to an older demographic in general; it’s not surprising that the other shows seem to do better.
Switch the show to Tuesday night at nine, or Sunday night at 8, and watch it take off!
Daniel
“We put it on in the death slot, didn’t air the pilot, and ran the episodes out of order. What more could we possibly do for it?” - Fox Executive.
Wanna know why there are crappy ratings? As I said in the OP, until two weeks ago, I had never heard of this show. The only reason I watched was because of the SDMB. Not Fox, not advertisements, the SDMB.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen any advertisements for it anywhere. Or, at least none that I can recall.
To compare, I’ve been deluded with so many advertisements for the Simpsons and Boston Public I’ve been dreaming of Homer getting on Jeri Ryan at the Rolling Stones fantasy rock camp.
My point is that I’m already a fan of the Simpsons. I know when it’s going to air. I’m going to watch it.
Firefly? What’s that?