When a drunk patron celebrates the sixth anniversary of the Alliance's victory on Unification Day with a toast, Mal, a former Browncoat soldier, picks a fight.
Another passenger, "Shepherd" (preacher) Book, tells Mal that Simon is brave to sacrifice his life of luxury to go on the run and protect his sister.
On a "skyplex" (an orbiting space city), Mal, Zoe, and Jayne meet crime lord Adelei Niska and his hulking lieutenant, Crow, to arrange a job.
Inara appears and uses her considerable status as a Companion, falsely claiming that Mal is her runaway "indentured man" who persuaded Zoe to leave her husband.
Elsewhere, on an Alliance cruiser, two mysterious men in suits and wearing blue gloves inquire about a girl and show the captain a photo of River Tam.
Within two weeks, series writers Joss Whedon and Tim Minear had created a new pilot to introduce the show's characters, themes, and story elements to new audiences.
As noted by Tim Minear in the DVD commentary, Book's knowledge of underworld dealings (particularly his theory of Niska's reaction to an incarcerated Mal and Zoe) alludes to his cryptic past.
[3][2] Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret News found it "quite entertaining" but advised viewers to "go in looking for a Western with sci-fi touches.
"[4] Steve Johnson of the Chicago Tribune thought it was "intriguing but not compelling, but it least has the promise of a bright fellow at the helm.
"[5] Caryn James of The New York Times was unconvinced by the mix of genres and called the episode "a confusing mess", acknowledging that Fox shelved the original pilot, and said "there's still a possibility that Firefly might be fixed.