368:'s lives before River's abduction: Simon studying to fulfill his family's expectations, River engaging in flights of imagination while correcting his textbooks, and their father encouraging Simon to become a "brilliant doctor". Simon's relationship with his parents begins to sour when River is sent to an elite, though secretive, academy. Simon does not hear from her in a while, then becomes concerned when she sends him a letter referring to events which never happened. Their parents are untroubled by River's letter, believing she is just playing games again. Simon believes it to be a coded message asking for help. When Simon gets arrested for trespassing while trying to find River, his father bails him out, but warns him that he will be disowned if he gets in trouble again.
576:
1132:
560:
312:
22:
421:; its captain refuses to help until Book tells them to check his identification card, at which point the captain orders immediate assistance. Mal and the rest of the crew wonder what kind of connections with the Alliance Book has to receive such treatment, but a recovering Book dodges Mal's questions, stating merely that "it's good to be home."
424:
The hill folk initially welcome Simon and his sister, and Simon quickly takes up his new responsibilities as the town doctor. Doralee, the village teacher assigned to work as his nurse, merely suggests that Simon may well be in the place he is fated to be. Simon and River share a memory of their
412:
to stabilize him. When Wash is unable to find Simon to help Book, Mal realizes that Simon and River have probably been taken by local hill-folk, who are known to kidnap people, especially skilled workers, when they need their talents. He makes the decision to abandon the Tams in order to seek
383:
in unloading and penning their cattle and meeting with the Grange brothers, their disreputable buyers. Just as they come to an agreement on price, the local marshals arrive to arrest the brothers for murder, and Book is seriously wounded in the ensuing gunfight.
441:
leaves
Jiangyin, Simon asks Mal why he came back for them, and Mal explains off-handedly that Simon is part of his crew. "But you don't even like me," Simon reminds him. "Why'd you do it?" "You're on my crew," Mal repeats. "Why are we still talking about this?"
405:, and Simon watches his sister enjoy herself for a change. River's ecstatic dancing suddenly falters when Book is shot, but before Simon can react to his sister's distress, he is kidnapped by three shabbily-dressed men. River follows and is seized as well.
429:
and summons the town leader, who orders River to be burned alive when she reveals that he murdered his predecessor. Simon tries to talk the villagers down, but when these efforts fail, he instead chooses to stand beside her as the fire is lit.
425:
childhood, and River despairs of how her plight has cost Simon everything he worked for. When River tells
Doralee about the cause of a young mute girl's silence, the devout woman believes her to be a
1166:
455:
43:
785:
1156:
401:
with his complaints about their predicament, and the Tams are left to their own devices. Simon quickly discovers River has wandered off. She finds a
434:
then swoops over the village, and with Jayne positioned above with a sniper rifle, Mal and Zoe force the villagers at gunpoint to release the Tams.
395:
in town as the women are shopping. Although Kaylee contemplates buying something nice for Simon, the doctor proceeds to insult her and her beloved
954:
1161:
723:
704:
685:
662:
322:
778:
643:
619:
597:
347:
61:
655:
Investigating
Firefly and Serenity: Joss Whedon's Worlds Beyond: Science Fiction on the Frontier (Investigating Cult TV Series)
32:
1016:
509:
1135:
1008:
771:
994:
375:
demands that they stay out of the way while he conducts business. Upon arriving at the backwater colony of
Jiangyin,
1040:
830:
361:
284:
1096:
1033:
397:
590:
584:
240:
170:
914:
886:
601:
1060:
1001:
907:
893:
844:
283:
forced to choose which crew members to save when one is gravely wounded and two others are kidnapped.
1116:
942:
879:
1054:
812:
795:
260:
90:
535:
1086:
414:
256:
988:
865:
851:
752:
719:
700:
681:
658:
639:
540:
272:
228:
216:
125:
1091:
1047:
962:
921:
451:
413:
urgently needed medical help off-planet for Book. On Inara's insistence, they dock with the
372:
280:
276:
164:
115:
900:
636:
Finding
Serenity: Anti-heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's "Firefly"
489:
253:
1069:
674:
1150:
972:
837:
402:
376:
559:
513:
371:
In the present day, Simon continues to try and diagnose River's condition, while
476:
392:
388:
265:
191:
872:
380:
967:
467:
365:
295:
288:
185:
757:
464:
Gary Werntz as Patron, the leader of the township the Tams are brought to.
268:. It premiered as the show's seventh episode on November 8, 2002 on Fox.
748:
279:, the episode originally aired on November 8, 2002. The episode sees
763:
492:
for the episode were 2.9/5. It was watched by 4.68 million viewers.
426:
470:
as young Simon Tam. This episode marks Efron's television debut.
767:
479:
as
Doralee, the township's village teacher and informal doctor.
461:
John
Thaddeus as Stark, the bandit who kidnaps Simon and River.
569:
305:
291:'s uncanny perceptions jeopardize the Tams' temporary safety.
15:
332:
by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise.
360:
The episode is interspersed with flashbacks, detailing
329:
39:
634:
Espenson, Jane; Glenn
Yeffeth, eds. (11 March 2005).
1108:
1079:
1025:
981:
953:
935:
822:
804:
298:, who appears in flashback as the young Simon Tam.
200:
154:
139:
131:
121:
111:
98:
79:
673:
1167:Television episodes written by Drew Z. Greenberg
653:Rhonda V. Wilcox; Tanya Cochran (20 May 2008).
458:, the mother and father of Simon and River Tam.
287:finds an uneasy haven in a remote village, but
735:The Complete Series: Commentary for "Serenity"
779:
294:The episode is the television debut of actor
8:
510:"Firefly - Series - Episode List - TV Tango"
716:Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume Two
714:Joss Whedon; et al. (25 August 2006).
697:Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume One
695:Joss Whedon; et al. (25 August 2006).
819:
786:
772:
764:
76:
620:Learn how and when to remove this message
536:"National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 4–10)"
348:Learn how and when to remove this message
62:Learn how and when to remove this message
583:This article includes a list of general
74:5th episode of the 1st season of Firefly
676:Serenity: The Official Visual Companion
501:
408:Mal and Zoe manage to get Book back to
252:" is the fifth produced episode of the
7:
204:
589:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
1157:2002 American television episodes
638:. Dallas, Texas: Benbella Books.
473:Skylar Roberge as young River Tam
1131:
1130:
733:Joss Whedon (December 9, 2003).
574:
558:
454:and William Converse-Roberts as
387:Meanwhile, Simon and River join
323:too long or excessively detailed
310:
20:
100:
31:consists almost entirely of a
1:
182:Skylar Roberge as Young River
1162:Firefly (TV series) episodes
552:– via Newspapers.com.
319:This article's plot summary
657:. I B Tauris & Co Ltd.
1183:
1041:Serenity Role Playing Game
672:Joss Whedon (1 Sep 2005).
512:. TV Tango. Archived from
143:November 8, 2002
1126:
1034:Firefly Role-Playing Game
239:
205:
161:
88:
737:(DVD). 20th Century Fox.
171:William Converse-Roberts
604:more precise citations.
176:John Thaddeus as Stark
456:Regan and Gabriel Tam
179:Gary Werntz as Patron
1017:Boom! Studios comics
1055:Done the Impossible
718:. Titan Books Ltd.
699:. Titan Books Ltd.
680:. Titan Books Ltd.
554:89 Firefly FOX 4.68
544:. November 13, 2002
40:improve the article
1009:Leaves on the Wind
275:, and directed by
201:Episode chronology
44:real-world context
1144:
1143:
995:Those Left Behind
931:
930:
866:Our Mrs. Reynolds
725:978-1-84576-372-5
706:978-1-84576-314-5
687:978-1-84576-082-3
664:978-1-84511-654-5
630:
629:
622:
541:Los Angeles Times
358:
357:
350:
273:Drew Z. Greenberg
257:television series
246:
245:
235:
234:
229:Our Mrs. Reynolds
156:Guest appearances
140:Original air date
126:Drew Z. Greenberg
72:
71:
64:
1174:
1134:
1133:
1048:Finding Serenity
963:Malcolm Reynolds
922:Objects in Space
820:
788:
781:
774:
765:
738:
729:
710:
691:
679:
668:
649:
625:
618:
614:
611:
605:
600:this article by
591:inline citations
578:
577:
570:
564:
563:
562:
556:
551:
549:
532:
526:
525:
523:
521:
506:
452:Isabella Hofmann
353:
346:
342:
339:
333:
314:
313:
306:
281:Malcolm Reynolds
277:Michael Grossman
241:List of episodes
207:
206:
165:Isabella Hofmann
157:
150:
148:
116:Michael Grossman
102:
77:
67:
60:
56:
53:
47:
24:
23:
16:
1182:
1181:
1177:
1176:
1175:
1173:
1172:
1171:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1140:
1122:
1104:
1075:
1021:
989:Serenity comics
977:
949:
927:
818:
800:
792:
760:at Firefly Wiki
745:
732:
726:
713:
707:
694:
688:
671:
665:
652:
646:
633:
626:
615:
609:
606:
596:Please help to
595:
579:
575:
568:
567:
557:
547:
545:
534:
533:
529:
519:
517:
508:
507:
503:
498:
490:Nielsen ratings
486:
448:
354:
343:
337:
334:
330:help improve it
327:
315:
311:
304:
254:science fiction
226:
214:
155:
146:
144:
132:Production code
106:
75:
68:
57:
51:
48:
42:by adding more
37:
25:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1180:
1178:
1170:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1149:
1148:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1138:
1127:
1124:
1123:
1121:
1120:
1112:
1110:
1106:
1105:
1103:
1102:
1094:
1089:
1083:
1081:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1073:
1070:Firefly Online
1066:
1058:
1051:
1044:
1037:
1029:
1027:
1023:
1022:
1020:
1019:
1014:
1013:
1012:
1005:
998:
985:
983:
979:
978:
976:
975:
970:
965:
959:
957:
951:
950:
948:
947:
939:
937:
933:
932:
929:
928:
926:
925:
918:
911:
904:
897:
890:
883:
876:
869:
862:
855:
848:
841:
834:
826:
824:
817:
816:
808:
806:
802:
801:
793:
791:
790:
783:
776:
768:
762:
761:
755:
744:
743:External links
741:
740:
739:
730:
724:
711:
705:
692:
686:
669:
663:
650:
644:
628:
627:
582:
580:
573:
566:
565:
527:
500:
499:
497:
494:
485:
482:
481:
480:
474:
471:
465:
462:
459:
447:
444:
356:
355:
318:
316:
309:
303:
300:
244:
243:
237:
236:
233:
232:
220:
203:
202:
198:
197:
196:
195:
189:
188:as Young Simon
183:
180:
177:
174:
173:as Gabriel Tam
168:
159:
158:
152:
151:
141:
137:
136:
133:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
113:
109:
108:
103:
96:
95:
86:
85:
73:
70:
69:
28:
26:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1179:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1137:
1129:
1128:
1125:
1119:
1118:
1114:
1113:
1111:
1107:
1101:
1099:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1084:
1082:
1078:
1072:
1071:
1067:
1065:
1063:
1059:
1057:
1056:
1052:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1043:
1042:
1038:
1036:
1035:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1024:
1018:
1015:
1011:
1010:
1006:
1004:
1003:
999:
997:
996:
992:
991:
990:
987:
986:
984:
980:
974:
973:Shepherd Book
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
960:
958:
956:
952:
946:
945:
941:
940:
938:
934:
923:
919:
916:
915:Heart of Gold
912:
909:
905:
902:
898:
895:
891:
888:
884:
881:
877:
874:
870:
867:
863:
860:
856:
853:
849:
846:
842:
839:
838:The Train Job
835:
832:
828:
827:
825:
821:
815:
814:
810:
809:
807:
803:
798:
797:
789:
784:
782:
777:
775:
770:
769:
766:
759:
756:
754:
750:
747:
746:
742:
736:
731:
727:
721:
717:
712:
708:
702:
698:
693:
689:
683:
678:
677:
670:
666:
660:
656:
651:
647:
645:1-932100-43-1
641:
637:
632:
631:
624:
621:
613:
603:
599:
593:
592:
586:
581:
572:
571:
561:
555:
543:
542:
537:
531:
528:
516:on 2020-09-20
515:
511:
505:
502:
495:
493:
491:
483:
478:
475:
472:
469:
466:
463:
460:
457:
453:
450:
449:
445:
443:
440:
435:
433:
428:
422:
420:
416:
411:
406:
404:
403:maypole dance
400:
399:
394:
390:
385:
382:
379:aids Mal and
378:
377:Shepherd Book
374:
369:
367:
363:
352:
349:
341:
331:
326:
324:
317:
308:
307:
301:
299:
297:
292:
290:
286:
282:
278:
274:
269:
267:
263:
262:
258:
255:
251:
242:
238:
230:
224:
221:
218:
213:
209:
208:
199:
193:
190:
187:
184:
181:
178:
175:
172:
169:
166:
163:
162:
160:
153:
142:
138:
134:
130:
127:
124:
120:
117:
114:
110:
105:Season 1
104:
97:
93:
92:
87:
83:
78:
66:
63:
55:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
18:
17:
1115:
1097:
1068:
1061:
1053:
1046:
1039:
1032:
1007:
1000:
993:
943:
858:
811:
794:
734:
715:
696:
675:
654:
635:
616:
607:
588:
553:
546:. Retrieved
539:
530:
518:. Retrieved
514:the original
504:
487:
438:
436:
431:
423:
418:
409:
407:
396:
386:
370:
359:
344:
335:
320:
293:
270:
259:
249:
247:
222:
211:
167:as Regan Tam
89:
81:
58:
49:
38:Please help
33:plot summary
30:
1026:Other media
1002:Better Days
908:The Message
894:War Stories
845:Bushwhacked
602:introducing
477:Erica Tazel
271:Written by
266:Joss Whedon
264:created by
192:Erica Tazel
112:Directed by
1151:Categories
1064:soundtrack
955:Characters
880:Out of Gas
873:Jaynestown
585:references
496:References
446:Guest cast
194:as Doralee
147:2002-11-08
122:Written by
968:River Tam
805:TV series
799:franchise
610:June 2009
484:Reception
468:Zac Efron
338:June 2022
296:Zac Efron
285:Simon Tam
186:Zac Efron
107:Episode 5
52:June 2014
1136:Category
1100:(vessel)
1098:Serenity
1087:Alliance
1080:Universe
1062:Serenity
944:Serenity
831:Serenity
823:Episodes
548:April 1,
439:Serenity
432:Serenity
419:Magellan
417:cruiser
415:Alliance
410:Serenity
398:Serenity
212:Previous
99:Episode
1117:Con Man
1109:Related
1092:Reavers
852:Shindig
813:Firefly
796:Firefly
598:improve
520:1 April
328:Please
321:may be
261:Firefly
225: →
217:Shindig
210:←
145: (
94:episode
91:Firefly
982:Comics
758:"Safe"
749:"Safe"
722:
703:
684:
661:
642:
587:, but
393:Kaylee
135:1AGE04
901:Trash
887:Ariel
427:witch
389:Inara
381:Jayne
366:River
362:Simon
289:River
936:Film
859:Safe
753:IMDb
720:ISBN
701:ISBN
682:ISBN
659:ISBN
640:ISBN
550:2022
522:2022
488:The
391:and
364:and
302:Plot
250:Safe
223:Next
82:Safe
751:at
437:As
373:Mal
101:no.
1153::
538:.
231:"
219:"
924:"
920:"
917:"
913:"
910:"
906:"
903:"
899:"
896:"
892:"
889:"
885:"
882:"
878:"
875:"
871:"
868:"
864:"
861:"
857:"
854:"
850:"
847:"
843:"
840:"
836:"
833:"
829:"
787:e
780:t
773:v
728:.
709:.
690:.
667:.
648:.
623:)
617:(
612:)
608:(
594:.
524:.
351:)
345:(
340:)
336:(
325:.
248:"
227:"
215:"
149:)
84:"
80:"
65:)
59:(
54:)
50:(
46:.
36:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.