After a pleasurable visit to a planet, Mal finds he's managed to get himself married to one of the locals.

Simple but effective, this is clearly a Joss Whedon episode. Taking a sillier approach than his opening episode, Mal's – and indeed the crew's – reaction to being suddenly married and out in space with a woman he doesn't know is absolutely hilarious, as he is encountered on all sides by people tutting at him and saying how bad he's been. Book tells him he's going to a very special Hell if he takes advantage of his new bride, Saffron, and Inara and Kaylee insist that he mustn't do anything at all with her if he's going to take her back, which is exactly what Mal intends.

Of course, the fun ends when Saffron decides to knock out Mal, use her charms to get close enough to knock out Wash, then take over the ship and send it hurtling into serious danger. It's a fairly straightforward premise, as you know something has to happen to get this girl off the ship, but it's still great fun getting there, with some superb dialogue, an attractive lady, and a really fantastic point where Inara finds herself falling for Saffron's charms and offers to look after her in a very special way, not realizing one kiss will put her out cold as it did for Mal. Her embarrassment is beautifully played by Morena Baccarin, especially when the crew discovers her lying in her quarters and she desperately tries to pretend she was hit.

****

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