The Train Job

Overview: Mal has second thoughts after disocering that two boxed of Alliance goods his crew has been hired to steal are full of badly needed medical supplies haeaded for the mining town of Paradiso.

Airdate: 09/20/2002

Directed by: Joss Whedon

Guest Stars: Gregg Henry (Bourne), tom Towles (Lund), Andrew Bryniarski (Crow), Michael Fairman (Niska), Jeff Ricketts (Blue-Hand Man #1), Valerie Red-Horse (Deputy), Kevin Will (Officer), Lina Patel (Ensign), David Reynolds (Henchman), Dennis Cockrum (Blue-Hand Man #2), Eric Lange (Fed), Tawny Rene Hamilton (Immigrant Woman #1), Michelle Ferrara (Immigrant Woman #2), Drew Goddard (Guy on planet).

Of Note:
Joss planned to have Mal keep the cargo from the train to show that Mal puts the needs of his crew above the needs of others. However, executives at Fox told Joss to have Mal return the cargo to the town folk in order to make Mal more likeable to the audience.

This was originally supposed to be episode number 3 (or number 2 if we count Serenity as the two-hour pilot episode it was supposed to be).

The Arabic music playing as the bellydancer dances in the opening bar scene of "The Train Job," is used again in "The Message" as the crew enter the space station to pick up their mail.

The uniforms which the marines on the train are wearing are from the movie Starship Troopers, by Paul Verhoeven. These reappear throughout the series.

In the overhead shot of the train, just before Serenity comes into the shot, the wheels on the train that are F/X'd out elsewhere can be seen in the shadow next to the track.

Quotes:
Bar Patron: Hey, you gonna drink the Alliance with me? Six years today, the Alliance sent the Browcoats runnin', pissin' their pants...you know, your coat is kinda a brownish color.

Review By: Jason James Rating:

A futuristic train heist, what more can you ask for. This was a very good episode. You get to learn more about the crew and how they think. One of the important things we learn is that Mal does the right thing, even when it puts him at risk. The idea of having a train robbery in a futuristic western was a brilliant idea. This might not be my favorite episode but it ranks pretty high.