The Train Job
"The Train Job" | |
---|---|
Firefly episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 2 |
Directed by | Joss Whedon |
Written by |
|
Production code | 1AGE01 |
Original air date | September 20, 2002 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Train Job" is the original
The crew of Serenity take on a hovertrain robbery commissioned by a sinister crime lord. However, the cargo is worth more than they realize.
Synopsis
This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (June 2022) |
Captain
In the ship's infirmary, Dr.
On a "skyplex" (an
During the heist, Mal and Zoe must sneak past an entire squad of Alliance troops who are coincidentally on the train. They break into the locked train car and find the crates, while Serenity flies over the speeding train and lowers Jayne on a winch to collect the cargo. Meanwhile, a curious trooper sets off a
Wash parks Serenity in a nearby canyon. Jayne wants to get to the rendezvous point and finish the job, but Wash refuses to leave without Mal and Zoe. Shepherd Book urges caution, and Jayne tries to take the ship by force, but Simon sedates him.
Meanwhile, Mal learns that the stolen cargo is desperately needed medicine. The nearby mining town is afflicted with "Bowden's Malady", a degenerative disease caused by mining activity. The local sheriff is suspicious of Mal's cover story that he and Zoe are a married couple looking for work. Inara appears and uses her considerable status as a Companion, falsely claiming that Mal is her runaway "indentured man" who persuaded Zoe to leave her husband. The impressed sheriff lets her take the "runaways" back into her own custody.
Mal decides they will deliver the medicine to the townspeople and return Niska's money. Niska's
Mal tries to negotiate with Crow but he says Niska will refuse, and promises to hunt down and kill him. Mal casually kills Crow and next henchman agrees to cooperate. Elsewhere, on an Alliance cruiser, two mysterious men in suits and wearing blue gloves inquire about a girl and show the captain a photo of River Tam.
Production
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2022) |
On May 3, 2002, Fox rejected the original two-part pilot episode "Serenity". Within two weeks, series writers Joss Whedon and Tim Minear had created a new pilot to introduce the show's characters, themes, and story elements to new audiences. The duo completed the script on May 16. Production on "The Train Job" began on July 8, 2002.
The ominous "
As noted by Tim Minear in the DVD commentary, Book's knowledge of underworld dealings (particularly his theory of Niska's reaction to an incarcerated Mal and Zoe) alludes to his cryptic past.
Guest cast
- Tom Towles as Lund, a thug at the bar Mal, Zoe, and Jayne drink at, who takes a disliking to Mal
- Andrew Bryniarski as Crow
- Adelai Niska
- Sheriff Bourne
- Blue Glove Man #1
- Blue Glove Man #2
Reception
"The Train Job" was first aired in the United States on Fox on Friday September 20, 2002. It was followed directly by the premiere of another series, John Doe.[1] According to Nielsen Media Research, it had an average of 6.20 million viewers and was ranked 66th overall for the week.[2] The premiere of John Doe had an average of 9.79 million viewers and was ranked 28th overall.[3][2]
Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret News found it "quite entertaining" but advised viewers to "go in looking for a Western with sci-fi touches."[4] Steve Johnson of the Chicago Tribune thought it was "intriguing but not compelling, but it least has the promise of a bright fellow at the helm."[5] Caryn James of The New York Times was unconvinced by the mix of genres and called the episode "a confusing mess", acknowledging that Fox shelved the original pilot, and said "there's still a possibility that Firefly might be fixed."[6]
References
- ^ "NBC Wins, but FOX Knows 'Doe' on Friday". Zap2it.com. 21 September 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-09-26.
- ^
- ^ Kissell, Rick (23 September 2002). "'Survivor' thriving in ratings". Variety.
Firefly posted only so-so numbers in its bow.
- ^ Pierce, Scott D. (19 September 2002). "Fox's 'Firefly' takes flight". Deseret News.
- ^ Johnson, Steve (Sep 20, 2002). "'Firefly' has chance to fly; 'Doe' is DOA". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ James, Caryn (20 September 2002). "TV WEEKEND; Fantasy of Future and the Here and Now". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-11-08.
- Espenson, Jane, ed. (2005). Finding Serenity: Anti-heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's "Firefly". Glenn Yeffeth. Dallas, Texas: Benbella Books. ISBN 1-932100-43-1.
- Wilcox, Rhonda V.; Cochran, Tanya (20 May 2008). Investigating Firefly and Serenity: Joss Whedon's Worlds Beyond: Science Fiction on the Frontier (Investigating Cult TV Series). I B Tauris & Co Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84511-654-5.
- Whedon, Joss (1 Sep 2005). Serenity: The Official Visual Companion. Titan Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84576-082-3.
- Whedon, Joss; et al. (25 August 2006). Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume One. Titan Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84576-314-5.
- Whedon, Joss; et al. (25 August 2006). Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume Two. Titan Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84576-372-5.
- Whedon, Joss (December 9, 2003). The Complete Series: Commentary for "Serenity" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
External links
- "The Train Job" at IMDb
- "The Train Job" at Firefly Wiki