"We're all running from something, I suppose." Inara to Simon
This episode focuses on a young man who was running from his own memories after he witnessed an attack by Reavers, people who have wandered the edges of space and become horribly gruesome rapists and murderers. After watching his family and thirteen others be brutalized and killed, his own mind turned on him. During this episode, his whole demeanor changes from that of a frightened child to a purely evil creature. He becomes the darkness and hatred that he was forced to witness.
I don't necessarily think that this concept parallels a modern issue, but it certainly presents an interesting psychological and perhaps even theological dilemma. Does exposure to evil and darkness somehow taint us? Some claim that violent video games can warp minds and turn children into killers who perpetrate school shootings. Whether or not this claim is accurate (evidence varies on the topic), it does seem clear that as Christians, we should use caution in choosing what we see and hear.
Tyler Joseph of the popular music group twenty one pilots commented on the topic on his Twitter account, saying, "Evil is really 'in' right now. I'm all for darkness. But a shred of hope is vital." As a follower of Christ, I can experience and learn about dark things, but I should not allow myself to be ensconced in those things. Some exposure to light, some hope in the darkness, must always be including in the media that I partake of. Thankfully, this show itself is not all dark and hopeless.
An interesting note that furthers the character development and plot is that River Tam clearly had a psychological or mental question with the man who became a Reaver. Her emotions were heavily connected to his and you could see pain, suffering, and fear in her reactions.
As far as entertainment value in this episode, I was holding my breath near the end. It built a lot of suspense and though it was not my favorite episode so far, it was very interesting.
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