[Firefly] "The Message"

[hermionesviolin]

For (I think) the first time I did NOT get teary at the voiceover.

Mal in that halo of light when Tracey's dying (and then leaning on the railing when Womack comes) reminds me so much of some of the shots from Serenity when he's taking charge. And yes, not telling Tracey the plan was STUPID, but as has been discussed: Mal gives orders and expects people to follow them, and does not appreciate having to explain himself to people.

*

I had heard talk of how "The Message" was like a funeral/farewell to the show for Joss&co. but had not known until today -- via teh Internet, of course -- that it was the last episode filmed (at which point they knew the show had been canceled).

Comments

[paper-crystals.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I watch that episode when I want to tear up and media generally can't make me tear on cue.

I didn't know it was the last episode filmed either.

I haven't seen that episode in awhile. Mal didn't tell Tracy what plan?

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

I don't like Tracey at all, but I'd seen this episode two or three times before today and I think I teared up at the voiceover both at the beginning and the end of the episode, but not tdoay.

Tracey comes to the bridge in time to hear Mal agreeing to Book's suggestion that they turn themselves in (since the alternative is certain death) at which point Tracey grabs a gun and tells Wash not make the call. Zoe shoots Tracey, Tracey takes Kaylee as a hostage trying to make a getaway on one of the shuttles, Jayne shoots Tracey, Womack and his gang show up, Book shows off his distinctly un-Shepherd-like knowledge again, and Tracey realizes that Mal+Zoe were never going to turn him in. While all this is happening, however, there are plenty of opportunities for Mal to say "Tracey, we're not gonna turn you over; they're clearly operating outside of official perameters and we'll call them on it and wiggle our way out of this jam like we always do" and he never does. [How exactly Mal knows -- in the sense of having a real plan, rather than just winging it -- they'll be able to finagle their way out is unclear to me. Though there is a scene where Book is looking at a map and comments that their pursuers haven't made a transmission since they hit atmo even though there's a fed station very nearby, and I think Mal was present for that scene.]