(Recorded on September 29, 2024) This week we’re discussing episode twelve of Firefly, “The Message.” While at the local mall, the crew stops by the post office (convenient!) to see if any of their Amazon orders came in. Jayne gets a letter from his mom (that he either struggles to read or she struggled to write) and a homemade hat. Mal and Zoe get a crate a with a body inside! We flashback to seven years prior and learn that the body is of a former independence soldier named Tracey that fought alongside them. Once they're done reminiscing, the post master reminds them that it’s illegal to transport a body through the mail (still!?) and they need to GTFO. Back on Serenity the crew discover an ancient device called a sony minidisc player containing a message (or THE message) in Tracey’s crate. Now, if you think this message is going to lead into sensitive discussions about readjusting to life after war, you’re going to be disappointed! The message is good, but the follow through is bad. Tracey fell in with some bad folk and now other bad folk are looking for him; like some alliance feds at the post office threatening to light the post master on fire (the best of the threats, seriously) if he tells Mal they're looking for that crate. They track Serenity down and Mal figures this a good time to cut Tracey open to see what’s inside - but guess what! Tracey’s actually alive and just smuggling lab grown organs in his own body that will then be removed and replaced with his own (we’re not kidding). Mal has Tracey hide—Kaylee volunteers her room because she’s got a crush and is very mad at Simon! Shepherd sniffs out some sneaky behavior on the alliance officer’s part and helps devise a plan. Unfortunately, Tracey only hears half that plan and goes off the rails and tries to take down everyone with him.

Plus, Meaghan talks about her love for Tropic Thunder; George comes close to getting canceled; and we discuss the perils of tripping on the sidewalk at our advanced ages. (Original network air date July 15, 2003)

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