I think a lot of folks are missing the point and trying to place the episode and the universe surrounding it into perspective using modern morality as a guide. This is a mistake as it is not intended to be taken that way.
Firefly takes place in a universe that is more like that of the old west than the modern era especially on the outer planets and to try to assign modern morality to what takes place is wrongheaded. There are so many good things about this episode, so many things that when I watch it only make me wish the show had gone on for at least one more season.
Mal- (Inara)-Nandi- Some have suggested that the relationship was rushed, others questioned the morality of Mal for taking "trade," still others tried to say that Nandi was a substitute for Inara, none could be further from the truth.
Given the fact that we have the entire crew of Serenity to deal with as well as at least 15 ladies at the ranch, the field for screen time is certainly crowded but the relationship between the two "leaders" of their perspective groups is in my opinion, the reason for this episode. Not that everything surrounding them is unimportant, but without the Mal/Nandi relationship, this episode has no reason for existing. Not that it is a bad thing at all, that relationship owns the heart of this segment and as Mal is the primary character and in many ways the heart of the show, it serves this purpose well.
Despite what might seem to be, Nandi is no stand in for Inara. Towards the end of the episode it is made obvious that although he may carry a torch for her he clearly does not know those feelings are reciprocated. We have a clue as the audience, but we've also seen this before countless times (Dave and Maddie, Sam and Diane etc.) but Mal is not that bright as far as matters of the heart are concerned he's focused more on staying ahead of the alliance and keeping his crew alive and employed. So to me that argument holds no weight.
Nandi is as much like Mal as anyone we've met at this point and although opposites may attract over the long term, short term two straight talking leaders seem like a more likely hook up. Plus, Nandi is just incredibly beautiful, cultured, smart and open where Inara is closed off. There may be similarities but these are two different women Mal meets under vastly different circumstances. I believed him when he said that there were only two people in that room.
There is so much more to love about this episode especially considering the fact that there should have been more, it establishes the relationships between key crew members (Wash and Zoe and Mal and Inara especially) gives Jayne, Kaylee and Book a little room to be silly.
In my opinion, this is probably the best character-driven episode of all the 14.
It's emotional, action packed and at times, brutal. I didn't get the "all men are bad all women, even whores are virtuous" nonsense another reviewer mentioned. In this episode it just so happened that some men were good some bad and everyone who does their job just wants to be left alone to do it and live in peace. The bad guys weren't bad because they were guys, they were just bad, power hungry jerks.
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