Firefly - Episode 9: 'Ariel'
Recap: Serenity visits the Core Planet Ariel so that Inara can get her official medical checkup. With River's condition worsening, Simon proposes breaking into the hospital to use their diagnostic equipment. The mission to check out River is successful, but Jayne sells Simon and River out, and the Alliance captures them all, including Jayne. The trio is rescued by Mal's reinforcement, after which he confronts Jayne. Real talk - this might be the most important Jayne episode yet, even more so than the eponymous 'Jaynestown.' Simon's decision to break in to the hospital provides the plot of the episode, but there's no meaningful conflict without Jayne's decision. One of my favorite scenes from the first half of the episode is Jayne's dedication to learning medical jargon. Zoe, Mal, and Jayne partake in a good-old-fashioned training montage, which is actually a little cringe-worthy. But then, we go to the actual mission - and Jayne is dead serious abou...