447 – Firefly – War Stories

Wash just wants some male bonding time with Mal.  He gets more than he bargained for in War Stories.  Simon and Eugene discuss. Episode Synopsis:  Following the success of their raid on Ariel, the crew of the Firefly are sitting pretty with cash in their pockets.  Simon and River are especially buoyed because he has been able to devise new treatment regimes and River is showing signs of improvement.  But all that ends as they prepare to sell off the last of their ill-gotten gains.  The little green monster of jealousy rears his ugly head when Wash, tired of listening to Zoe and Mal’s endless war stories about the times they’ve had together, decides it’s time for him to start building a few stories with Mal, too. [expand title=”More…” swaptitle=”Less” tag=”strong”] Wait, did I say “with Mal?”  – Come to think of it, wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to want to build stories with Zoe instead?  Ok, never mind, back to the story. Wash sabotages the launch sequence of the shuttle, blackmailing Mal into taking him along instead of Zoe.  Little does he know, Niska, whom Mal upset all the way back in the Train Job when Mal failed to turn over the stolen goods as promised, has located them and sends a team to bring Mal in.  Wash gets picked up, too. Not only does Niska like to make an example of people who cross him, but he likes to torture them and keep them alive several days beforehand.  It’s this character-flaw that allows Zoe time to attempt to trade all their recent monetary gains to Niska in exchange for Mal and Wash.  Niska accepts a partial offer, all the money but one Wash is released.  Only Wash and Mal’s severed ear.  Zoe and the gang now lead an assault on Niska’s space station and rescue Mal.  Niska escapes to cause havoc again some other day. Simon reattaches Mal’s ear and they head off, leaving the crew to wonder, why is Shepard Book such an expert with weapons and assault tactics? And leaving Kaylee troubled by how lethal River was during the assault. [/expand]