436 – Firefly – Jaynestown

One of the Serenity’s crew turns out to be a local Robin Hood-type hero.  Who could it possibly be? Simon and Eugene discuss Jaynestown. Episode Synopsis:  The crew of the Serenity arrive on Canton, where they are to pick up some illicit merchandise.  Canton exports mud for high-tech ceramic production and costs are kept low by the use of indentured servitude and low regard for the conditions of the workers, who are known as “Mudders” [expand title=”More…” swaptitle=”Less” tag=”strong”] Jayne is nervous and adopts a disguise because four years earlier, he was involved in a robbery gone wrong against the local magistrate. All are amazed to learn that his botched robbery was a windfall for the Mudders and now they have turned him into a local Robin Hood type hero, believing that he stole the money and gave it to the Mudders.  They have even erected a statue of him in town square. Mal concocts a plan to use Jayne’s fame to distract the town while the move the merchandise to the ship. Not everyone is happy with Jayne’s return, including the local magistrate who does not appreciate Jayne stealing his money and Jayne’s former partner, who he betrayed, and has been imprisoned by the magistrate in a hotbox for the past four years. Inara, meanwhile, has a client – the local Magistrate, or more specifically, his son.  The Magistrate wants to make a man out of his son and has hired Inara to end his virginity.  Inara is sympathetic and teaches him how to be a man. In front of the entire town, Jayne and his former partner have a confrontation.  The later spells out to everyone what Jayne really did four years ago and prepares to kill him.  A Mudder saves Jayne’s life at the cost of his own and Jayne dispatches his formal partner.  He tears down the statue of him erected in the town square. Unbeknownst to the crew, the Serenity was locked down by the port authority so they could not get away, but, behind the scenes, Inara arranged for the lock down to be lifted. [/expand]