10 Huge Unexplained TV Mysteries (That Were Totally Solved)
9. What Was Shepherd Book's Backstory? - Firefly
The Mystery
Firefly’s cancellation is a pain that refuses to go away, and it left many, many questions unanswered. Movie spin-off Serenity answered a few of them, but one thing we never learned was the past of Reverend Book. Despite being a man of peace he clearly had some kind of violent past, but he never revealed what it was.
The Answer
This was ultimately revealed in graphic novel Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale. It turns out he used to be a petty criminal, and that when he needed a new identity to become a mole he killed a man and stole his name. He worked for the Alliance for a time doing their dirty work, but when he fails a mission he’s forced to retire.
He soon becomes homeless and discovers his faith, deciding to redeem himself by becoming a preacher.
The show hinted at these aspects so it’s nice to rewatch the show, and know just how far the character has come.