Firefly - "Safe" (TV Episode Review #36)

Serenity has stopped by on a sparsely populated desert planet for a routine trade deal.  This planet seems remote enough, so Simon and River should be at low risk right here.  Both of the Tam siblings are advised to take a walk to a nearby town; and although Simon expresses concern that he and his sister could run into danger as fugitives, he’s rest assured that nothing bad will happen out here.

This episode is mainly about Simon and River, and it serves as a vehicle to reveal more about their personalities and background.  For one, it reveals a lot about each of the Tam siblings as individuals.  Take the scene where River participates in a folk dance, for example.  How often does she get a chance to be happy?  Given how often this young girl has traumatic episodes, it’s very cathartic to see her finally have her moment of joy.  Later in the episode, at the remote village, River is shown to be really good at drawing conclusions very easily—further proof of just how much of her remains even after enduring so much torture at the Academy.  This plot point raises further questions regarding what exactly the Academy did to her, and why?

The episode also utilizes several flashback sequences, which feel like a prototype for the flashback format of Lost and shed some light on Simon and River’s background.  River is shown in her prior mental state—our first glimpse at the girl she used to be.  Even as a child she was brighter than Simon, and that intellectual part of her still survives in the present.  Simon, however, is the real focus of these flashbacks, as shown in a series of vignettes that span several years.  The most important aspect of Simon’s character that is presented is his selfless heart as a good doctor who shows greater concern for his sister than their parents do.  This plays importantly into Simon in the present; he hasn’t changed a bit since saving his sister, who is all he has left to live for.  After all, more than anything else in the universe, Simon has always wanted to make sure she was safe.

One notable character introduced in these flashbacks is Simon and River’s father.  It is easy to tell this guy loved Simon so much he really pushed him to succeed in life.  He meant well and cared so much about his own family, but he also shows the flaws of coming from a high place of privilege as a loyalist to the Alliance.  For instance, one standout scene is Simon trying to tell his parents he thinks River is in danger, but their father tells him not to worry about it.  From a writing standpoint, Mr. Tam had so much potential and there was plenty of room for growth with his character.  Joss Whedon could have explored this character a lot more, had the first season ever been given a second half.

“Safe” does a great job at fleshing out Simon and River’s relationship so much more.  Their main story is mostly quiet and meditative, but it slowly builds up to a climax where both siblings are placed in a chilling life-or-death situation where they can bring the best out of each other.  It makes the characters easier to connect to, and reveals their true relationship as siblings.