During a smuggling run, Jayne is anxious when the crew are due to collect goods from Canton, a company town he'd pulled off a heist in four years earlier. To the surprise of the crew, they discover that Jayne is hailed as a hero by the "mudders", Canton's community of labourers who toil in the world's clay pits. Which includes a statue of him in the town square, and a folk song depicting him as a Robin Hood figure. Mal tries devising a plan to move the contraband they've come to collect by using the people's hero worship as a diversion. Meanwhile, word of Jayne's return reaches Magistrate Higgins - whom Jayne had robbed on his previous visit - and he plans to get even while also hiring Inara to sleep with his son, Fess.
The notion of an amoral mercenary like Jayne being hailed as a hero is just hilarious. It's also nice to give him some depth. He's intially reluctant to draw attention to himself, especially as he's recognised by some of the mudders, but he does warm up to the idea when he gets special treatment like the local saloon's finest whiskey. He actually gets teary-eyed and emotional when he learns that the mudders rioted after the Magistrate tried to take the statue down, and even expresses doubts about using his status for Mal's plan. The whole scenario is similar to concepts explored in Unforgiven, about how myths surrounding people often emerge from more complicated truths. This gets discussed deeply near the end of the episode, so I won't spoil it here.
In a subplot, Book volunteers to look after River as Simon joins the crew on their adventure (growing closer to Kaylee in the process). There's a brief discussion about the concept of faith after River tries to "fix" the bible, but a funnier moment occurs when River discovers Book's Einstein-style hair (which he normally keeps in a tight bun). She ends up hiding in the smuggler's compartment, and the normally stoic Zoe can't help but crack up over it. While that moment is hilarious, it doesn't seem to add much to the main story.
I think my favourite moment has to be a discussion between Inara and Fess. When Fess mentions he's due to attend the hearing of a Robin Hood figure who crossed his father, she assumes he's talking about Mal. She begins speaking of how she knows this man and his sense of honour. When Fess interrupts by asking if she really knows Jayne, her expression is priceless. The musical build-up during her monologue even abruptly stops.
That song is great too.
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