View source for Serenity (Firefly episode)

{{Redirect|Serenity (Firefly)|the film based on the series|Serenity (2005 film)|the fictional spacecraft|Serenity (Firefly vessel)|other uses|Serenity (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox television episode
 |series = [[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]
 |image = Fireflyserenitypilot wash.jpg
 |image_size = 250
 |caption = Introduction of [[Hoban Washburne|Wash]] that gives a glimpse into his whimsical personality
 |season = 1
 |episode = 1
 |director = [[Joss Whedon]]
 |writer = Joss Whedon
 |production = 1AGE79
 |airdate = {{Start date|2002|12|20}}
 |length = 86 minutes
 |guests = * [[Carlos Jacott]] as [[Lawrence Dobson]]
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Badger (Firefly)|Badger]]
* [[Andy Umberger]] as the captain of the ''Dortmunder''
* [[Philip Sternberg]] as Inara's client
* Eddie Adams as Bendis
* Colin Patrick Lynch as Radio Operator
* [[Bonnie Bartlett]] as [[Patience (Firefly)|Patience]]
 |prev =
 |next = [[The Train Job]]
 |episode_list = List of Firefly episodes
}}
"'''Serenity'''" is the two-part [[series finale]] and the original intended [[television pilot|pilot]] for the American [[science fiction]] [[television program|television series]] ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' created by [[Joss Whedon]]. It was the first episode produced for the series and premiered on Friday, December 20, 2002 on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]. With studio executives unsatisfied with the episode for the series premiere, the show's second episode, "[[The Train Job]]", was re-written and produced as a second pilot to be aired first. The episode shares its name with the 2005 feature film ''[[Serenity (2005 film)|Serenity]]'', which serves as a continuation to ''Firefly''.

In the early 26th Century, [[Malcolm Reynolds]] ([[Nathan Fillion]]) and [[Zoe Washburne]] ([[Gina Torres]]) are survivors of their rebel unit in the Battle of Serenity Valley during the Unification War, in which their side lost. Six years later, they are eking out an existence on the edges of space in their ''Firefly''-class [[spacecraft|spaceship]] ''[[Serenity (Firefly vessel)|Serenity]]'', taking odd jobs even if they involve petty crime. They also take on passengers to supplement their income, including a man with a secret that will change the path of their lives forever.

In 2003, the episode won the award for "Best Visual Effects in a Television Series" from Visual Effects Society, and was nominated for a [[Hugo Award]] in 2003 for "Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form".

== Plot ==

===Part 1===
In 2511, a squad of "Independents", led by Sergeant Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds and Corporal Zoe Alleyne, fight in the Battle of Serenity Valley during the Unification War. Despite Mal's insistence that the battle can be won with air support, Zoe receives orders to surrender from the leaders of the rebellion. Mal is forced to watch in horror as [[Alliance (Firefly)|Alliance]] ships sweep the battlefield unopposed, destroying the rest of the Independents.

Six years later, Mal is the captain of his own transport ship, an older-model ''Firefly''-class vessel he named [[Serenity (Firefly vessel)|''Serenity'']], with Zoe as his second-in-command. The rest of the ship's crew consists of [[Hoban Washburne|Wash]] ([[Alan Tudyk]]), who is the pilot and Zoe's husband; [[Kaylee Frye|Kaylee]] ([[Jewel Staite]]), the engineer; and [[Jayne Cobb]] ([[Adam Baldwin]]), an untrustworthy gun-for-hire. [[Inara Serra|Inara]] ([[Morena Baccarin]]), a "[[Companion (Firefly)|Companion]]" (a very high-class [[courtesan]]) who rents one of ''Serenity''{{'}}s two shuttles, normally travels with them, but she is currently away on business.

While the crew are illegally salvaging some crates off a derelict Alliance spaceship, they are spotted by an Alliance cruiser. To escape capture, Mal has Wash deploy a fake distress beacon. The Alliance cruiser falls for the deception, but broadcasts a bulletin that a ''Firefly''-class ship is carrying stolen Alliance goods.

The crew of ''Serenity'' travel to Persephone to deliver the stolen goods to [[List of minor characters in the Firefly universe#Badger|Badger]] ([[Mark Sheppard]]), the small-time crime lord who hired them for the heist. However, Badger reneges on their deal after learning that the Alliance has put a bulletin on Mal's crew. He also does not like the way Mal looks down on him. Mal decides to try selling the cargo to [[List of minor characters in the Firefly universe#Patience|Patience]], an old business associate who lives on Whitefall. Zoe has misgivings, since Patience shot Mal the last time they met, but Mal is desperate to get rid of the hot cargo. The crew picks up passengers before leaving Persephone for extra income, and Inara rejoins the ship. The new passengers are a preacher named [[Derrial Book|Shepherd Book]] ([[Ron Glass]]), a bumbling man named [[List of minor characters in Firefly#Lawrence Dobson|Dobson]] ([[Carlos Jacott]]), and a wealthy doctor named [[List of Firefly characters#Simon Tam|Simon Tam]] ([[Sean Maher]]) who brings aboard a mysterious large crate.

En route to Whitefall, Wash discovers that someone on board sent a message hailing the nearest Alliance cruiser. Suspecting that Simon is the mole, Mal confronts him, only to discover that Dobson is actually an undercover Alliance lawman. Dobson surprises Mal by telling them it's Simon he wants to arrest, not Mal. During the tense confrontation, a nervous Dobson accidentally shoots Kaylee in the stomach before being overpowered by Book, who manages to easily disarm and subdue him. When an Alliance cruiser orders them to dock for prisoner transfer, Simon threatens not to treat Kaylee if they do not flee. Mal reluctantly agrees (after being prodded by Inara to do so), but then has Jayne restrain Simon while he opens Simon's mysterious crate, only to be surprised to find a naked young woman inside in [[Cryonics|cryonic]] sleep.

===Part 2===
The woman in the crate is [[River Tam]] ([[Summer Glau]]), Simon's younger sister. Simon explains that his sister was a brilliant child prodigy who was sent to an elite, but secretive Alliance academy when she was fourteen. After River sent him an encoded letter for help, he discovered that the Alliance was experimenting on the academy students. Simon abandoned his career as a successful trauma surgeon to rescue her and spent all of his money to get her smuggled out of the academy. The Alliance wants River back very badly. Mal decides to proceed to Whitefall as planned and drop off both the goods and the Tam siblings.

Mal tells Jayne to interrogate Dobson to find out what he told the Alliance about them. Once Jayne finds out that the Alliance knows nothing, Dobson tries to bribe him, offering him enough money to buy his own ship.

Soon after, they discover that a [[Reaver (Firefly)|Reaver]] ship is approaching. Zoe explains to Simon that "If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh and sew our skins into their clothing. And if we're very very lucky, they'll do it in that order." Luckily, the Reaver ship passes by without incident.

''Serenity'' lands on Whitefall. Not trusting Patience, Mal sends Jayne to take out her hidden [[sniper]] while he and Zoe meet Patience and some of her henchmen in a barren valley. Mal gives Patience a sample of the cargo. As expected, Patience tries to kill them after learning where they have buried the rest, but Mal, Zoe and Jayne gun down Patience's men. Mal leaves Patience alive, but takes the money he was promised. Jayne is warned by Wash that the Reavers turned around and followed them to Whitefall.

Meanwhile, back on the ship Dobson escapes, knocking out Book and grabbing River. Mal returns and calmly shoots Dobson in the head, dumping his body off the ship as they start to lift off, the Reavers hot on their tail.

Mal orders Inara, Book, Simon and River to go to Inara's shuttle, just in case the ship is boarded. Jayne carries the still-convalescing Kaylee to the engine room, and Book offers to help her. With Jayne and Book carrying out Kaylee's instructions, Wash is able to pull off a "[[Crazy Ivan]]" ([[Vectoring in forward flight|VIFF]]), and ''Serenity'' manages to shake the pursuing Reavers.

Jayne tells Mal that they should dump the siblings since Dobson had told him that the Alliance will keep coming after River. Mal asks Jayne why he did not turn against him. Jayne responds that the money Dobson offered was not enough. Mal suggests to Simon that he and River might be safer on the move, and points out that ''Serenity'' is always moving, and in need of a qualified ship's [[medic]]. Simon reluctantly accepts his offer.

== Deleted scenes ==
This episode has two deleted scenes.
* An alternate opening scene showing the aftermath of the Battle of Serenity Valley. Most of the Independent soldiers are dead. Mal and the survivors witness the long-awaited arrival of the medships; when Zoe says "Thank God" for the ships' arrival, Mal bitterly asks whose side God is on. This scene was deleted because the studio wanted a more action-packed opening scene. This scene would have explained why Mal, who is seen kissing a cross on his neck during the battle, lost his faith in God.
* A scene where Simon is taking care of the wounded Kaylee. Book asks why Simon chose to come aboard Serenity and Simon replies that it seemed disreputable. Book suggests that Simon lacks a knowledge of history. Simon researches the Battle of Serenity Valley on his encyclopedia and Zoe tells him about how many soldiers died during the battle and its aftermath. She tells Simon that Mal will not kill him unless he's got no other option. When Simon asks why Mal named the ship after such a horrible battle, Zoe replies that "once you've been in Serenity, you never leave."

== Arc significance ==
This episode introduces a major story arc of the short-lived series: that of River and Simon. It reveals Simon's deep, selfless love for his sister and that his life is now defined by her.<ref name="pilotcommentary">*{{Cite AV media |title=The Complete Series: Commentary for "Serenity" |date=December 9, 2003 |last=Whedon |first=Joss |publisher=20th Century Fox |medium=DVD}}{{when|reason="at" what point in the commentary|date=June 2022}}</ref>

Despite the script stating that Dobson is killed by Mal, Joss Whedon had planned to bring the character back.<ref name="compone13">''Firefly: The Official Companion - Volume One'', pg 13</ref> Although the series was cancelled, Dobson coming back for revenge was a key part of the plot in ''[[Serenity: Those Left Behind]]'', a three-issue comic book miniseries intended to bridge the television series and the movie ''[[Serenity (2005 film)|Serenity]]''.<ref name=compone13/>

== Themes ==
As Joss Whedon points out in the commentary for this episode, every show he does is "about creating family".<ref name="pilotcommentary" /> To achieve the sense of family, he centers some action around a dinner scene at a table, and directs warm light into the faces of the characters.<ref name="pilotcommentary" /> Strengthening this theme is the interaction between Simon and his sister River. Simon has done a selfless act in rescuing his sister, and his life is now defined by it. Whedon wanted to show a relationship like that that was not a parent-child relationship.<ref name="pilotcommentary" />

Another theme is the fusion of Asian and frontier culture. As [[Brett Matthews]] said, you couldn't ask for a better mission statement for the show than the shot of Mal with a Western tin cup and chopsticks.<ref name="pilotcommentary" /> He then contrasts this to the tall, vertical Alliance cruiser that detects them, as he wanted to show how inefficient the Alliance government was.<ref name="pilotcommentary" />

He also wanted to show a lifestyle that was very tactile and physical, and contrast it to the lifestyle of the contemporary audience where things "fall in your lap."<ref name="pilotcommentary" />

== Production ==
Production on the pilot episode began on March 20, 2002. The episode's beginning sequence was reshot before it did air, to provide more of the "action" that Fox wanted.<ref name="pilotcommentary" /> The pilot reportedly cost more than $8 million.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=23 September 2002 |last1=Poniewozik |first1=James |title=Firefly |url=http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1003321,00.html |magazine=Time }}</ref>

[[Rebecca Gayheart]] initially played the role of [[Inara Serra]], but was replaced by Baccarin early in the episode's filming. In anticipation of the role being recast, Whedon shot scenes of the character interacting with the crew in singles, so the only portions that would have to be reshot would be the shots of Inara.<ref name="pilotcommentary" />

After the Reavers are introduced, the screen goes to near black to end the act. Whedon wanted to give the audience time to "breathe" before the beginning of commercials, but a true black would automatically cue the ads, so he went with a color that was as close to black as possible without causing this.<ref name="pilotcommentary" />

== Guest cast ==
* [[Carlos Jacott]] as [[List of minor characters in the Firefly universe#Lawrence Dobson|Lawrence Dobson]], an [[Alliance (Firefly)|Alliance]] "Fed." This is also one of Whedon's "hat tricks" for the episode: an actor that has appeared on [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'']] and [[Angel (1999 TV series)|''Angel'']], as well as ''Firefly''.
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[List of minor characters in the Firefly universe#Badger|Badger]], the crime boss located on Persephone.
* [[Andy Umberger]] as the captain of the Alliance cruiser ''Dortmunder.'' He is also a "hat trick." In [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|''Buffy'']], though, he wore the heavy makeup of an important recurring character, the demon [[D'Hoffryn]], Anyanka's boss, so he's barely recognizable, as Fillion notes in the DVD commentary.
* Philip Sternberg as Inara's client.
* Eddie Adams as Bendis, one of the members of Mal and Zoe's unit in the Battle of Serenity Valley.
* Colin Patrick Lynch as Radio Operator.
* [[Bonnie Bartlett]] as [[List of minor characters in the Firefly universe#Patience|Patience]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

* {{Cite book |title=Finding Serenity: Anti-heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's "Firefly" |url=https://archive.org/details/findingserenitya0000unse |publisher=Benbella Books |others=Glenn Yeffeth |year=2005 |isbn=1-932100-43-1 |editor-last=Espenson |editor-first=Jane |location=Dallas, Texas |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url-access=registration }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Wilcox |first1=Rhonda V.  |title=Investigating Firefly and Serenity: Joss Whedon's Worlds Beyond: Science Fiction on the Frontier (Investigating Cult TV Series) |last2=Cochran |first2=Tanya |date=20 May 2008 |publisher=I B Tauris & Co Ltd |isbn=978-1-84511-654-5 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Whedon |first=Joss |url=https://archive.org/details/serenityofficial0000whed |title=Serenity: The Official Visual Companion |date=1 Sep 2005 |publisher=Titan Books Ltd |isbn=978-1-84576-082-3 |url-access=registration }}
* {{Cite book |last=Whedon |first=Joss |title=Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume One |date=25 August 2006 |publisher=Titan Books Ltd |isbn=978-1-84576-314-5 |display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite book |last=Whedon |first=Joss |title=Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume Two |date=25 August 2006 |publisher=Titan Books Ltd |isbn=978-1-84576-372-5 |display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |title=The Complete Series: Commentary for "Serenity" |date=December 9, 2003 |last=Whedon |first=Joss |publisher=20th Century Fox |medium=DVD}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote|Firefly_(TV_series)#Serenity (pilot)|Serenity}}
* {{IMDb episode|0579535|Serenity}}
* [http://www.fireflywiki.net/Firefly/SerenityPilot "Serenity"] at Firefly Wiki

{{Firefly}}

[[Category:2002 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Firefly (TV series) episodes]]
[[Category:Television pilots within series]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Joss Whedon]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Joss Whedon]]