Mal's crew is hired by a ruthless crime boss named Adelei Niska to steal a consignment of Alliance goods off a moving train. Eager to steal from the Alliance, Mal takes the job. Travelling as a passenger with Zoe, they break in to the baggage car and open the roof, allowing the goods to be airlifted out on Serenity. Unfortunately, they're surprised by an Alliance soldier who triggers a smoke trap. Jayne is wounded in the scuffle, while Mal and Zoe are left behind. While being detained at the station, they learn that the cargo they had stolen is actually a supply of medicine used to treat a degenerative disease which afflicts most of the townspeople.
Because this was written as another pilot episode, we're introduced to most of the main cast again. Instead of a battle scene, we open with Mal, Zoe, and Jayne sitting in a bar when another patron calls a toast to celebrate the anniversary of the end of the civil war between the Alliance and the Independants. Mal, who had fought for the Independants, goes to get another drink when the patron confronts him for his brown coat (a symbol of the Independants) and not joining in the toast. Mal cheerfully baits him, allowing his old war buddy Zoe to get the drop on the belligerent drunk. When the other patrons begin to stand, Jayne, who hadn't fought in the war, puts his feet up and wishes them look. And is later seen joining the fight for the fun of it.
One major difference is that they make Mal slightly more moral in this episode. Mal was quite ruthless in the previous one, threatening to kill Simon if he didn't treat Kaylee, and even planning on leaving him and River on Whitefall. Although he did eventually let them stay on board Serenity, realising that the crew could use a medic. That said, he gets his ruthless moments in this episode too; after learning about the cargo, Mal decides to return it to the local sheriff, but they're met by Niska's henchman, Crow. A shootout ensues in the cargo hold, and Crow is subdued. Mal gives him back the advance payment, and tells him to return it to Niska. When Crow threatens his life, Mal simply says "Darn" and kicks him into the engine intake. He then repeats his speech to one of Crow's goons, who cuts him off by agreeing. As sick as that sounds, it's probably one of the funniest moments in the episode. Either that or the part when Simon dopes Jayne after treating him so he can't take over the ship.
The episode also maintains some of the continuity of the previous one:
- Kaylee reminds Malcolm about trying to replace a compression coil, warning that it will cause them trouble if it blows.
- Shepherd Book, who previously demonstrated an unusual proficiency in hand-to-hand combat for a Christian preacher, also seems to know about ruthless crime lords like Adelei Niska
Furthermore, River has a moment where she raves about "Hands of Blue". The episode ends with two mysterious men in suits with blue gloves quizzing an Alliance officer about River's whereabouts.
All in all, it's pretty good.
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