What happened to Early's ship?

POSTED BY: Callahan
UPDATED: Saturday, September 30, 2006 00:32
VIEWED: 11190
PAGE 1 of 3

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE

CALLAHAN

Monday, July 24, 2006 3:14 PM

As far as I can see, this hasn't been discussed before...and I haven't watched the commentary for OiS, so if it's in there, just send me on my way. =P

At the end of OiS when River is floating back from Early's ship back to Serenity, you see Early's ship suddenly turn around and fly away.

First of all, why did it just magically fly away?

Secondly, wouldn't the crew want to take the ship? It looks like it would fit in the cargo hold, and it could serve great purpose. If not to use (since that would be a little of an inconvience to store for actual use), then it could be used for parts, or sold. It looks like it was a pretty advanced ship, especially compared to Serenity. They could have got quite a good amount of credits for it, and I don't think anyone would question it since it's not like Early has close ties to the Alliance.

---

"It's a Callahan full-bore auto lock. Customized trigger, double cartridge thorough gauge...
It is my very favourite gun."

DUG

Monday, July 24, 2006 3:55 PM

I always took it that River's push off of the ship caused it to drift away from Serenity. Remember, Serenity is moving fast enough to travel between planetary bodies. Early's ship is matching course; it shouldn't take much at all to shift it off of the exact course.

As to not taking a very fine ship, that bothered me for a while. I explained it to myself in 2 ways. 1, Mal expects that Early has the ship bobby trapped. Wouldn't take much, and the risk is too great. 2, even at our level of space travel we don't do an eva without some method of getting back to the ship if seperated. He may have thought Early might get back into the game if they stuck around too long. That also goes along with all of the theories that Early survived and that you can see a reflection of his ship in his visor at the end.

CALLAHAN

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:02 PM

Hmm..thanks for responding.

As for River pushing off the ship, I don't think that was it, since Early did that himself to get back onto Serenity in the first place. Plus it looks like it deliberately turned around.

About the booby trap...River was in there for quite a while, even playing with some knobs at the distress of Early.

Might have been too difficult to get it on board...especially with it flying off like that.

But why it did...that still confuses me.

---

"It's a Callahan full-bore auto lock. Customized trigger, double cartridge thorough gauge...
It is my very favourite gun."

NANITE1018

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:08 PM

Well it probably was responding to a call on the part of Early to come pick him up. i mean, you'd have to be an idiot not to have someway of getting back to your ship in case something went wrong.

Although i never noticed that it flew away. lol, but i'm not very observant. lol

CALLAHAN

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:30 PM

Yeah, that does make sense.

Especially with you being able to see it the reflection of Early's helmet.

Although his last line makes him seem pretty hopeless...but...who knows.

---

"It's a Callahan full-bore auto lock. Customized trigger, double cartridge thorough gauge...
It is my very favourite gun."

ENGINEANGEL

Monday, July 24, 2006 9:06 PM

Actually this has been dicussed before, but it's probably buried in the archives. The ship does turn around deliberately if you watch it, and it looks like its reflection is in Early's helmet at the end. I think he called it to him, like Nanite1018 said. Also, seeing as all the villians in firefly seemed to appear twice, it would make sense that we would see him again. I remember an interview with Joss that hinted at Early coming back as well. I also don't think his last line is hopeless. I think it's more like "Well...now I get to wait around for my ship..." like it happens all the time.

Another take on the whole sitch can be found in this fan fic, by AintWeJust: http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=5686 It's an interesting take on the whole situation and a good read anyways.

CITIZEN

Monday, July 24, 2006 9:49 PM

I always took it that River programmed the Auto pilot before she left the ship.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

SIGMANUNKI

Monday, July 24, 2006 10:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:

I always took it that River programmed the Auto pilot before she left the ship.

This is my thought as well. She programmed it to go in "that" direction. Maybe somewhere specific, maybe not.

Quote:
Originally posted by Callahan:

Secondly, wouldn't the crew want to take the ship?

Not sure there is a way to explain that one if the feds boarded.

"No officer, it's ours."

"Where'd we get it? Um..."

"Why is it in the hold? Hm..."

"We're under arrest for stolen goods? Huh..."

Not sure I buy the every villain shows up twice. Don't think we have enough eps to make that judgment. Nor the Early will be back thing. Perhaps he called it (later maybe), perhaps not. Just depends on what River did/didn't do.

Sad thing is, we'll never know... *sigh*

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

CITIZEN

Monday, July 24, 2006 10:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
Not sure there is a way to explain that one if the feds boarded.

"No officer, it's ours."

"Where'd we get it? Um..."

"Why is it in the hold? Hm..."

"We're under arrest for stolen goods? Huh..."

Not to mention the whole being to big to fit through the door thing.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

THEMANTHEYCALLMATT

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 1:19 AM

I think River programmed it to fly away. It seems like the only logical explanation, because River and Mal saw it fly away, and they would have shown some indication of surprise at it suddenly veering off if it hadn't been expected.

As for the reflection in Early's visor, I admit that it bears a slight resemblance to his ship, but I think it could just as easily have simply been an accidental reflection of some stuff on the stage he was being filmed on.

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE