Firefly Ep 12 The Message (2002) Full Length Reaction
Added 2022-02-05 17:49:21 +0000 UTCWhen you can't run anymore, you crawl. And when you can't do that, you find someone to carry you.
This is the saddest episode so far with the most somber ending and I think it was good to show the emotional range of the show like this, and it helps us connect with the characters more. This show is more than just witty quips and fun, adventurous style and I'm glad they leaned into that in this episode. Looking forward to the next!
Thanks for hanging out and watching with me :)
⭐ Special thanks to Producers: Baldielox, Todd Preble, CBonius, MattN, Ronny Boss, Tyler Gorash
Comments
Yep I was about 10 years late to the original party (2011 or '12) and I am on my umpteenth rewatch now (I've lost count). lol Jen, you are the sixth creator I have rewatched this with. Loving every minute of your reactions; just wish I'd gotten to know you sooner. ;*
MertzRocks
2023-10-09 14:38:11 +0000 UTCNot a good hat?!?!?? That, my dear, is the SHINIEST hat in the 'Verse! ;* <3 (edit:) Okay you said you love it. YAY! ;* ;*
MertzRocks
2023-10-09 13:28:51 +0000 UTCI'm almost envious of people late to the party, getting to watch it in order making sense of what's going on and not having to wait 5 years for the movie
Bubba Fett
2022-11-01 20:17:40 +0000 UTCOhh yes I think the cancellation was definitely a factor in the tone of the end of this episode. I really wonder where they were planning to take the story if they had been given the fill 22-24 episodes to finish the season.
Jen M
2022-02-12 22:28:03 +0000 UTCSad to say, I think this episode is the weakest episode of the entire series for me. A new character (Tracey) is introduced who has a history with Mal and Zoe, having served with them in the war. He’s shown to be a total screw up (and those of us who have been in the service have known more than a few people just like him), and in the end, doesn’t learn a damn thing from his mentors. After the war, by his own words, he’s just as big a screw up and tries to get Mal and Zoe to get him out of a fix entirely of his own making. Tries to use their loyalty to an old comrade-in-arms to fix his mess. And by the way, after he gets to the “new buyer” who will pay him three times what he’s getting paid to transport the organs, just HOW is he going to live after they scoop the organs out? This “new buyer” doesn’t have access to his old organs, so they can't be put back in. Nobody ever seems to catch, or wonder about that. Anyway, he puts everyone on the ship at risk, and tries to force them to try to run to get away from the hunters. Instead of trusting the people who got him through the war alive, he forces, at gunpoint, Zoe and Mal to shoot him. And we’re supposed to feel sad he died? The universe is a much better place without him. The only reason the episode carries any weight is, according to the Special Features in the set, the cast and crew found out the show was cancelled prior to shooting the scene where they brought the casket out into the falling snow. Knowing that, and the music, symbolically represented the death of the show in that final scene. Again, just my opinion. Just as an FYI, at the time, a normal season’s run of episodes was around 22 to 24 episodes. So, they were expecting to make a full run. The 14 episodes means the plan for the first season was truncated significantly. In the US, only the first ten episodes were ever aired. I believe the last 3, “The Message”, “Heart of Gold”, and “Objects in Space” were aired in the UK. No season finale. No cliffhanger episode. It just, stopped. People of my age are used to a TV show ending that way. It has only been recently where things like season finales and show finales have become important. So, closure was never achieved.
Miles E Coburn
2022-02-12 19:39:07 +0000 UTCI mean, why isn't the Doc good for Kaylee? Because he's not good at expressing himself? Sure, communication is important, but it's not like he's closed off, unwilling to talk to her; he's not the stoic and uncommunicative type. He's just, you know... he puts his foot in his mouth sometimes. Don't judge the guy who stumbles over his words sometimes, makes a bad joke because he likes you and is in his head too much; the guy you need to worry about is the guy who's smooth and always knows what to say. It's easy for him to say the right thing because he doesn't care one way or another, he's getting by on looks and charm rather than, you know... substance. Character. A genuine connection.
Eric
2022-02-07 09:32:21 +0000 UTCThanks Matt! Ya I agree about people needing more support after they've gone through something traumatic, like a war. I don't know how you could ever just go back to 'normal' after. I agree too I think he felt he had to make those decisions, not that he's inherently a bad person. Liked this ep a lot 👍 Looking forward to the next!
Jen M
2022-02-06 15:19:42 +0000 UTCI don't care how many times I see this series, every time I see this episode I always get emotional at the end. This isn't my favorite episode but I still love it because of Tracey. I am always very sympathetic to his character because I identify with the idea of how flawed he is. Is he a good guy? No, I don't think so but is he inherently a bad person? Or is he just someone who is trying to dig himself out the cascade of bad situations he's been in by making choices *he* thinks are his only option? It is easy to say we will make the truly noble choice in every situation when we have the luxury of hindsight, we aren't in the situation, and we can pretend we would always be the hero. But, the truth of the matter is, life is scary. While we try to brave and smart, often times we aren't, and we are just trying to survive. It's easy to condemn someone when are in a good place in life, especially when we've always been in a good place. But, sometimes people start off in a bad spot. They don't have a lot of opportunities or resources, or support systems, or even choices, and are just trying to survive. I really empathize with Tracey because I have definitely made decisions in my life like that, where I didn't think I had any other option, and I have definitely, unintentionally hurt people I love. And like Tracey, I don't think I am a bad guy... just dumb sometimes :) One thing I really like about this episode that they just touch on, but not really explore, is the damage war does to someone even after they leave. People aren't designed to do be in situations like that, so to make someone do that then just throw them back into "normal" society with zero support and expect them to carry on like nothing happened should be criminal. Society shouldn't treat people like that, and I am glad they touched on it in a pretty nuanced way(in my opinion). Amazing reaction Jen!! I am really looking forward to the next one!!
MattN
2022-02-06 00:29:50 +0000 UTCLolll nice 😉 I was wondering when they found out about the cancellation, interesting!
Jen M
2022-02-05 19:09:04 +0000 UTC"Fun" fact, it was around this episode that the cast and crew found out about the show's cancellation. The closing music score in particular was written as a sort of send-off. Just another masterclass in top tier TV storytelling. Now the first shift just needs to leave my work so I can low-key watch your reaction and get paid for it🤫😆
Absolute0
2022-02-05 17:57:59 +0000 UTC
