After the successful theft of Alliance medical supplies in 'Ariel' Mal has a buyer lined up to buy them; as Wash is getting fed up with his wife going off on all such missions so he gets to take her place... after all it is just a routine job. Well it would have been routine if Niska, who still hasn't forgiven Mal for what he did in 'Train Job', didn't turn up and capture Mal and Wash so he could have fun torturing them to death! When Zoë realises what has happened she goes to buy them back but Niska only allows her to take one of them back... plus an ear! Determined that nobody is getting left behind she organises a rescue mission; one where all of the crew will play their part. Away from the torture and excitement Inara is entertaining a client on board her shuttle; one that causes quite a lot of interest amongst the rest of the crew when they realise the client is a woman.
This is another great episode where once again the entire cast do great jobs; this is especially true of Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk who are convincing in their rather gruelling torture scene; managing to appear in genuine pain yet still being funny. This episode is notable as it features significant character development for two characters; we learn that Shepherd Book is clearly experienced with firearms in a way that suggests he was in a less peaceful profession before he became a man of God and River displays a skill that makes her potentially dangerous. Having watched this episode I'm rather surprised that the series was granted a '12' certificate; the torture scenes are quite long and far more intense than I'd expect at that rating and unlike the infamous scene in 'Reservoir Dogs' the camera doesn't turn away from the year cutting until just after the slice. Thankfully the serious moments are somewhat countered by the humour that manages to lighten the mood.
This is another great episode where once again the entire cast do great jobs; this is especially true of Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk who are convincing in their rather gruelling torture scene; managing to appear in genuine pain yet still being funny. This episode is notable as it features significant character development for two characters; we learn that Shepherd Book is clearly experienced with firearms in a way that suggests he was in a less peaceful profession before he became a man of God and River displays a skill that makes her potentially dangerous. Having watched this episode I'm rather surprised that the series was granted a '12' certificate; the torture scenes are quite long and far more intense than I'd expect at that rating and unlike the infamous scene in 'Reservoir Dogs' the camera doesn't turn away from the year cutting until just after the slice. Thankfully the serious moments are somewhat countered by the humour that manages to lighten the mood.
