Firefly/Bushwhacked

Bushwhacked
Season 1, Episode 2
Airdate	September 27, 2002
Production Number	1AGE02
Written by	Tim Minear
Directed by	Tim Minear
← 1x01 The Train Job	1x03 → Our Mrs. Reynolds
Firefly — Season One

Bushwhacked is the second episode of the first season of Firefly.

Starring: Nathan Fillion (Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds), Gina Torres (Zoe Washburne), Alan Tudyk (Hoban "Wash" Washburne), Morena Baccarin (Inara Serra), Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb), Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye), Sean Maher (Dr. Simon Tam), Summer Glau (River Tam), Ron Glass (Shepherd Book)

Guest Starring: Doug Savant (Alliance Captain Harken)

Co-Starring: Branden Morgan (Survivor), Jared Poe (Ensign), Lancer Dean Shull (Radio Operator)

Plot Overview

On a salvage mission aboard a drifting colony ship, the Serenity crew find signs that the crew were killed by the cannibalistic Reavers. They find one survivor, but things take a turn for the worse when an Alliance ship looking for an unspecified Firefly-class ship with brother-and-sister stowaways shows up and takes them in.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Reavers: The mysterious reavers appear again (or, going by the FOX airing order, for the first time) in this episode. Several victims of reaver attacks are shown as well, including one live one.

• Blue Sun: The Blue Sun corporate logo can be seen on Jayne's shirt.

Characters

• Inara: According to her files, Inara has been with the crew of Serenity for little under a year by the time the events of this episode occur.

Trivia

Behind the Scenes

• Ratings: On its first airing, this episode scored a 3.6/7 in the Nielsen overnight ratings.

Quotes

• Kaylee: So I guess that makes us one man short.

Jayne: Yeah, little Kaylee's always one man short.

• Mal: (about removing a booby-trap) You tell me right now, little Kaylee. You really think you can?

Kaylee: Sure. Yea. (pause) I think so. Besides, if I mess it up, it's not like you'll be able to yell at me.

• Jayne: Tell you what I think. I figure that fella we ran into did everyone on board. Killed 'em all. Then he decided to take a swim, see how fast his blood would boil out his ears.

Wash: You're a very "up" person.

• Simon: It's a wonder you're still alive.

Jayne: He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

• Jayne: (to Simon) That's what space trash does, you know. Kind of latches onto the first big something that stops long enough. Hey, that'd be a bit like you and your sister, wouldn't it?

• Wash: Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing? Oh right, that would be me.

• Inara: Who's winning?

Simon: I can't really tell. They don't seem to be playing by any civilized rules that I know.

Inara: Well, we're a long way from civilization.