Since Fox had already screwed up the airing order of Firefly, it’s no surprise that despite Shindig being the fifth episode aired sixth after episodes that would come later in the timeline.

Morons.

Written by the talented Jane Espenson, this episode was broadcast on 1 November, 2002.

Mal (Nathan Fillion) and company need a job. They are close to securing a cargo run, but in order to secure it, he’ll have to attend a soiree. One that Companion Inara (Morena Baccarin) is a with a client. And despite all the digs he may make about Inara’s profession, he won’t have anyone else disrespect her. And that is going to lead to a duel, when he crosses Atherton Wing (Edward Atterton).

There are some great bits in the episode, not the least of which is the duel. There’s Kaylee (Jewel Staite), her dress, and the buffet table. There’s an appearance by Larry Drake. Badger (Mark Sheppard) shows up.

This one is full all around. Kaylee talking engines at the shindig, not to be confused with a hootenany, the opening bar brawl, and the banter between Mal and Inara. Simon (Sean Maher), Jayne (Adam Baldwin) and Book (Ron Glass) playing cards using chores as bets. And, of course, there’s some stuff with River (Summer Glau). And Wash (Alan Tudyk) and Zoe (Gina Torres) have a party of their own.

The whole thing with Badger holding the crew at bay, and River showing up in the middle of everything.

And, of course, this is where the title Captain Tightpants came from. The use of Mandarin works well, you may not know what they mean, but can infer from context. We also learn that, despite the setting, there are bound servants and there are slaves. And the Alliance allows it. Those purple bellies need to be stopped.

The series has been great to this point, this punts it up to fantastic.

Safe followed right on the tail of Shindig in broadcast order. It debuted on 8 November, 2002. Written by Drew Z. Greenberg, the episode sees the Serenity dropping off the cargo it picked up last episode, and delivering it – cattle.

But things go badly, rather quickly. Simon is kidnapped by some locals, they need a doctor. River comes along, and the town slowly turns against her, and what’s been done to her. They want to burn her as a witch.

And at the same time, things happen to the rest of the crew. There are some fun things with Kaylee and Inara. And we see how Kaylee crushes on Simon, and how he has no clue, and how his statements hurt her.

When the deal goes sour with some lawmen showing up, and in the ensuing gun battle, Book is shot. And Simon isn’t around to tend to him. Will they be able to find Simon in time to save Book’s life? Or does Mal have a more dangerous plan? They take Book to the Alliance, and that just makes the mystery of who Book is/was that much more intriguing.

And this is where we get some big damn heroes. We also get to see the Tams as children and what their home life was like. And Jayne pillages (and returns) Simon’s things.

We’re seeing the characters develop, their backstories filling out, and we’re seeing the way the crew is becoming family, with all that means in terms of the good and the bad.

Shindig is by far the best episode so far, but all of them are great.