Official Discussion: 1x02 The Train Job

[Hollywood Heidi]

1x02 The Train Job

Original Air Date: September 20, 2002
Written by: Joss Whedon and Tim Minear
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Summary: Serenity continues to travel through space conducting illegal runs across the star system, which is under the control of The Alliance. A powerful and fearsome mobster named Adelei Niska demands that the crew of Serenity pull a train robbery. The train is carrying medical supplies for a community, and Reynolds and Zoe get held on suspicion. They get free with Inara's help but realize they were tricked and try to return Niska's money. His henchman isn't too happy, but Mal "persuades" the next guy to take the money back. Meanwhile, two blue-handed, black-suited operatives close in on River. (tv.com)
Trailer: (I cannot find the trailer so here's a very short but funny clip)

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Discuss the episode!  Below are some ideas of discussion points to get you started.  Feel free to simply copy and paste and insert your thoughts or write out your thoughts however you like.  Constructive comments make for better and more interesting conversations so feel free to elaborate and explain your thoughts, conclusions, and opinions.  Repeat Viewers, answer these as if watching for the first time or what your original answers would have been when you first watched:

What did you think of the episode?

What expectations or theories did you have that either ended up right or wrong? 

Who was your favorite character in this episode and why?  Least favorite?

What scenes or situations did you like best?  Least? 

What were some of your favorite quotes?

How do you rate this episode compared to the rest? (Not really applicable to very first ep but feel free to compare to show trailer)

 
Repeat viewers
Be mindful of the first-time viewers and give fair warning of spoiler comments by putting spoiler tags (directions below) or at the very least keep them at the bottom of your post with a big texted SPOILER before it.

[spoiler]spoiler text[/spoiler]
What do you think of the episode now that you've seen the whole series? 

Did you find anything new you didn't catch the previous time(s) watching?

[Hollywood Heidi]

What did you think of the episode?

Definitely 5 stars from me!  I just can't get over how great the characters are, the dialogue, and the writing overall.  So great and so fun!


What expectations or theories did you have that either ended up right or wrong?

Well, again, I have to say that I can't answer this question.  I've watched this entire series so many times that I lost count!


Who was your favorite character in this episode and why? Least favorite?

Gosh, Zoe and Inara, probably.  They both had some great lines and Inara had some great scenes.  She got to smack Mal, lmao!!  Least favorite, I don't think there's any characters in this entire show that I don't like.  Even the bad guys are freakin' awesome!


What scenes or situations did you like best? Least?

Inara's whole scene of slapping Mal and her whole indentured servant explanation, including some hilarious jabs at Mal that he wasn't able to defend himself from in their situation and she knew it.  It was so hilarious!  And then Zoe attempting to act weak when she said "I was weak" was equally hilarious!

Mal kicking Crow into the engine was so great!  Then the next guy like, "I got it, I got it!"

Least favorite, like the characters, I don't think there's ever been a scene in the entire show that I didn't really like.


What were some of your favorite quotes?

Jayne: You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til ya understand who's in ruttin' command here.

Inara: What did I say to you about barging in to my shuttle?

Mal: That it was manly and impulsive?

Inara: Yes, precisely. Only the exact phrase I used was "don't."

Zoë: Sir, I think you have a problem with your brain being missing.

Zoë: Then can I have your share?

Mal: No.

Zoë: If you die can I have your share?

Mal: Yes.

Jayne: Time for some thrilling heroics.

Mal: I'm thinking you weren't burdened with an overabundance of schooling.

Niska: Oh, you do not like I kill this man?

Mal: Oh no, I'm sure he was a... very bad person.

Niska: My wife's nephew. At dinner I am getting earful.

Sheriff Bourne: It's funny your Uncle never went to mentioning the Bowden's problem. Or that Joey Bloggs ate his own gun 'bout eight months back.

Mal: Did he?

Sheriff Bourne: Yep. Blew the back of his head right off.

Mal: So... would his job be open?

Sheriff Bourne: We had some, uh, unrelated trouble. His story had kind of an odor to it.

Inara: Yes, it's not the only thing about him that does.

Zoë: I just have an image in my head of a guy hanging from the ceiling.

Mal: I've got an image of it not being me. Let's do the thing.

Mal: Nice shot!

Jayne: [sitting on the floor, drugged] I was aiming for his head.

Inara: I've been on the ship eight months now. I'm not certain I'll ever actually know the captain.

Mal: You're servicing crew now.?
Inara: In your lonely pathetic dreams.


How do you rate this episode compared to the rest?

They ALL get 5 stars from me!  It's hard to compare them, really.  I have two favorites though, so I guess there are two other eps that I like more than this one.


What do you think of the episode now that you've seen the whole series?

The episodes are even better each time you view them.  The writing and the characters are so rich that you don't pick up on all the nuances the first time around.


Did you find anything new you didn't catch the previous time(s) watching?

Nope!  I think I know this entire series like the back of my hand.  I'd be pretty gorram surprised if I ever noticed something I haven't already!