Still, I did enjoy them, and I may not have been critiquing them, because after a few months of drought, I was seeing the characters again, and I was still happier with seeing them than watching other shows.

Actually, I agree with that for the most part. I enjoyed two of the three. It's just that HoG really left me cold.

On the other hand, HoG had this priceless exchange:

Kaylee: "Wash. tell me I'm pretty."

Wash: "Were I not wed, I would take you in a manly fashion."

Kaylee: "Because I'm pretty?"

Wash: "Because you're pretty."

It made me happy.

Huh. I actually liked HoG. It wasn't anything spectacular but it was enjoyable all the way through.

The Message was my least favorite of the three, with the over-the-top evil cop, the implausible "Let me sell these high-tech body parts when my own are stored elsewhere" scheme and Kaylee's far-too-quick interest in Tracy. Her actions with the recorder made me expect a flashback or some mention of her having known him before. I mean, I realize she was upset with Simon, but still. That said, I still enjoyed the episode.

I read the Dead or Alive script last night. Now there's an episode I really wouldn't have cared to watch. Very little humor, and the storyline is fairly generic. The only real twist was Simon's doubts at the end. Of course, the cast probably could have added more to it with their perfomances to make it enjoyable.

I assumed that Simon spoke to River more in depth after the scene >where she said what she said, and before the injury later in the ep.

Plus? River's been a threat since she stabbed jayne in "Aiel"

But remember, until OiS, Simon saw River as intuitive, but delusional. I'm not sure he would have had an in-depth discussion of Jayne's behavor with her before that.

And Jayne sees her as a physical threat because of Ariel, he doesn't see her as a "supernatural" threat until after OiS.

OIS was ment to be at the end, and then it was re-shot to change some scenes. I do not know if any of this was in the changes.

the implausible "Let me sell these high-tech body parts when my own are stored elsewhere"

I think "The Message" would've worked better if Tracy had found out that the organleggers weren't actually planning to reunite him with his own organs once the job was done. Would've made more sense from their point of view, one less witness, all they'd need to do is dispose of the body, and they wouldn't have to smuggle Tracy's organs anywhere. Because as written, Tracy's plan was pretty stupid. (Not that Tracy was exactly Einstein.)

Right. Selling the contents of your thorax only works for you if you have access to the original contents of your thorax. He should have been carrying his own guts around in a jar. Which, on the whole, is kind of cool imagery.

Moral of this story: let nobody else hold your own guts, especially if there's the chance they'll stiff you (heh) on the deal.

He seemed pretty fatalistic about the organ selling. I got the impression, that as he told them, they seemed to react in realization of what that meant. That he was selling them to spite the original people, and that he knew that meant death.

His family would have gotten the money, too, I bet.

So Trash talk goes in here, right? Only, not with the trash talk, cos boyo, I love this show.

I have to close my eyes up real tight and put my hands over my ears and sing La La La though, because I don't want to be spoiled for the next couple of episodes. Objects in Space is a lost cause by this stage, spoiler whore that I am. I have a system, you see. I spoil myself horrid like an only child with rich neglectful parents until the show in question starts to air over here, at which point I'm getting the Good Shit, and no longer crave the dirty spoils.

Anyhoo. If I could only say one thing about this episode, it would be "Captain No-pants!" Shout it from the rooftops people. I will most definitely be in my bunk. Hoo boy. What an opening shot.

Naked Mal should really overshadow the whole damn episode, but for some reason, there are many other faberoony moments. Yo-Saff-Bridge, for instance, who is just stunning, and gorgeous, and hot, and has she had some work done in the interim? Brilliant performance, anyway.

And colour me a Zoe fan these days, for there may have been whooping when she popped Saffron one. Not me, of course! It was...erm... oh shut up, she's great, is all.

And I loved Wash when (paraphrasing madly, 'scuse I) "How did she get here? We're in space! I don't remember pulling over!"

Of course, not an episode goes by without my love for Simon growng exponentially. I loved his Dr.Evil bit. And then his Dr. Love bit. Oh, wait, that was just in my brain. Disregard. You know what I mean. River's line was fabulous, too.

Gorram it, but I love this show.

Trash good, Saffron pretty.

What Jars said. Should I move my Trash review here, then? But having watched Trash utterly unspoiled I'm all the more loath to be spoiled for any of the other eps, so I kind of don't want to be here. But have skipped as much as I can.

I'm having this whole Doris Day thing, actually, wrt spoilage. Suddenly I want to be a virgin again. Huh.

Short version of Trash review - nekkid Mal! Excellent opening sequence crammed with lovely nekkid Mal and then the Saffron-meeting sequence was brilliant. Oh, just loved everything. Loved the Tams to pieces, really really did. And Zoe's wonderful response to the whole 'Here's the plan' thing was just - damn, that was some good Zoe. All with the eloquent silence and the punching. And Wash! Wash I loved. Yes, I'm grocking the Wash/Zoe love more and more, I have to say. Saffron's wicked cool, and it was great to see her back. And, damn, some fine FX in this ep, I have to say. Really really some fine FX.

Also? I still like Inara. I don't care if I'm alone. I like her. And she has great frocks. Granted the tea sequence was so-so, but I loved the "Ha Ha! I have a big gun and I look pretty" sequence at the end.

Captain No Pants. DAMN, that was good. With the no pants. Heh. And I loved how Fillion played it - so bloody cool and funny. Great stuff.

Sorry there wasn't more Book, 'cause I did love Book in War Stories, but there just isn't time in one ep for everyone to get a chance to shine. Fair enough.