“Can I start getting sexed already?”
By Matt Fowler
We’re doing the impossible, and that makes us mighty. IGN wasn’t covering TV back when Joss Whedon’s beloved space western Firefly was airing on FOX (infamously out of order, incomplete, and with little fanfare/support), so we’re spending this summer taking a loving look back at the 14 shiny episodes. We’ll be reviewing Firefly episodes on Thursdays; follow along with us by watching the episodes on Netflix, Amazon, Blu-ray, DVD or on iTunes.
For more on IGN TV’s summer flashback reviews, click here.
“Looks like we got some imminent violence!”
Of the three unaired-by-FOX Firefly episodes, I’d have to say that “Heart of Gold” is my favorite. Is it a perfect chapter? Nah. I never did buy Mal not killing Rance after Nandi got gunned/lasered down. Especially after he so casually killed Niska’s goon back at the end of “The Train Job.” Also, considering the lethal predicament they were all in, it sure was a fine time for River not to turn into an expert killing machine. Once you pull that card, which the show did back in “War Stories,” it’s hard to put the cork back in the bottle. Now whenever there’s trouble and she doesn’t chip in, it’s basically the show choosing to add another hurdle to the race.
Plus, as we saw with both “Trash” and “The Message,” Firefly, by this point, had basically morphed into a great guest star platform. So as with the return Saffron and the introduction of (and farewell to) Tracey, “Heart of Gold” gave us Melinda Clarke’s Nandi and used her as a catalyst for a very moving, vital Mal/Inara arc. Without making Nandi feel superfluous, mind you. As brief a spell as she was with us, she came off great. Again, on occasion Firefly would service these one-off characters a lot better than some members of its own ensemble.
So Nandi, and Mal’s night with her, really resonated. I felt like they truly had a connection and that it wasn’t just run-of-the-mill TV talk time. And I think that was important because it’s clear that Mal really had no intention on taking advantage of Nandi’s “trade” due to his feelings for Inara. So for it to happen, for us to buy it, there had to be a spark. And Nandi, for lack of a better term, had to feel like she was worth the small betrayal.
And…NOOOOOOOOO. NOOOOOOO INARA! DON’T BE CRY!
What a heartbreaking scene. Inara secretly breaking down in tears over Mal sleeping with Nandi, despite all the sexual freedom her own profession and calling entails, was immensely moving. And it was the first real big moment for Mal and Inara, who’d only shared passing moments of fancy, and residual passive aggressiveness, up until this point. And you just know too that Inara was weeping because Nandi was a good woman who she respected and could understand being someone who Mal would like. If Mal had slept with Saffron, Inara would have just probably rolled her eyes. Well, a sad eye roll, sure, but she wouldn’t have taken it as hard as it being with a woman she respected.
“Heart of Gold” was bare bones Western. A town in trouble from a local bully of a land owner – in this case the “town” being an outskirts whorehouse. “Big Damn” heroes come in to even the odds and protect the powerless. Hell, spaceship-wise, Wash didn’t even get to do his fly over support during the end battle due to Rance’s men being on board Serenity. So aside from the occasional laser beam, this was a cowboy shoot ’em up. And a nice follow-up to Shindig actually, if we’re to tie it to the last big Mal/Inara relationship episode. Though this one ended with a big, show-changing shift when Ianra, before Mal could get his feelings out, said she’d be leaving. So points awarded here for the status quo getting a shake up.
The rest of the episode had some good moments peppered in. The pregnant whore giving Zoe a bit of baby fever, Book warming to the girls after discovering they were genuinely interested in scripture, and – of course – Jayne taking full advantage of the establishment’s particular payment plan. Him getting dressed up all fancy, with a nice hat an all, was a nice touch considering how blatant he was about taking his share once inside. River also got some funny beats, though her being stuck with Simon while delivering the baby was a bit of a cheat so as to prevent her from having to take up arms.
“Heart of Gold” gave us a simple, exciting story, laced with heart and humor, while also acting as a remarkable follow-up to “Shindig.” Offering more proof that A: Rich land barons who attend fancy events are often horrible people, and B: Mal and Inara are two of the most stubborn people in the ‘Verse. Adorably so. Though here, Mal was about to crack right at the end and offer up his heart. So this particular fallout’s on Inara, I’m afraid.
And Melinda Clarke, who would go on to both The OC and Nikita, did a great turn here as Nandi, the leader of the titular hookers with hearts o’ gold. A capable, defiant woman who was not only able to recognize Mal and Inara’s feelings for one another but also come between them in a rather respectable, sultry way.
