Firefly: Ranking Episodes From Worst To Best

11. Episode 9: Ariel

Mal: "You turn on any of my crew, you turn on me!"

When Simon organizes the crew to break into an Alliance hospital so he can diagnose River, it's really the first time we see him in his element. While previously he was awkward and out of place during Mal's dealings in the criminal underworld, in the hospital we can see just how brilliant of a doctor Simon is and what a successful and respectable life he's given up to save River. His skills are especially evident when he saves a man's life when River tells him a patient is dying; he revives and stabilizes him so quickly and efficiently that even Jayne is impressed.

Jayne's part in the episode turns out to be quite revealing for the character. When Mal figures out that Jayne initially tried to hand Simon and River over to the authorities, he traps Jayne in the airlock and threatens to kill him by opening the airlock door as the ship leaves Ariel's atmosphere.When Jayne realizes that Mal is serious, the formerly merciless mercenary reveals a surprising change of heart:

Jayne: "What are you going to tell the others?"

Mal: "About what?"

Jayne: "About why I'm dead."

Mal: "I hadn't thought about it."

Jayne: "Make something up. Don't tell 'em what I did."

Jayne may still have wanted the reward money, but he feels guilt and shame for what he did, which is a whole new set of emotions for someone with his occupation. Fortunately, this is enough for Mal to shut the airlock door and spare Jayne's life.

On a side note, I just have to bring up River's strange attention towards Jayne. Her interest in him is portrayed in bizarre ways - for example, when she says "He looks better in red" when she slashes at his chest with a knife, and when she asks him "Copper for a kiss?" at the hospital. If the show had been allowed to continue, I'm curious as to what they were planning to do with this odd dynamic!