Yet again we question Mal's morality, and yet again he is confronted--and contrasted--with the infamous Niska. Once more, this is because one of his crew members has challenged Mal's goodness. Wash has become offended by the close working relationship Mal shares with his wife, Zoe, and wants to put himself in Zoe's place during upcoming missions to separate the two.
This venture goes sour when Niska kidnaps Mal and Wash and begins torturing them as punishment for not completing his earlier mission for them. Although tormented, Mal and Wash find time to argue about the danger Zoe is consistently exposed to by Mal, as well as her continued faithful obedience to him. Here I see the first theme raised, though it seems to be more personal than general.
What is the appropriate degree of intimacy between two adults of the opposite sex, one or more of whom may be in relationships with others? Certainly every adult and couple must come to this conclusion on their own, so Firefly's discussion of the topic, though thoughtful and weight-bearing, was subjective. However relative, I would argue that this discussion was enacted effectively, bringing up the topic in a clear manner, showcasing the bitterness and discomfort that a bad solution can bring, and closing the conversation with a graceful resolution.
Towards the end of the episode, before their daring rescue of Mal from Niska's ship, we see that every member of the crew is willing to sacrifice themself for the captain, secure in the knowledge that he would do the same for them. Though I commend this behavior and fully believe it clears Mal's name and honor well, a second personal issue was raised for me here.
This high stakes, high tension shootout was by far the most entertaining and thrilling part of the episode. That being said, it was also the most morally challenging for me because it was so violent. Again, this issue is personal, but it seems that Dr. Tam had some problems shooting others as well. (He had never done so before, and as Shepherd Book mentioned, he didn't even succeed when he tried.) I am personally conflicted by the issues of violence and pacifism, and this shootout was anything but peaceful. Simon's conflict seemed to mirror mine, though, and I'm sure that others watching the show may have been mollified by that fact, as well.
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