Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: Firefly‘s “The Train Job”

Tread Perilously draws a line in the sand and courts controversy with its first — and possibly only — trip to Joss Whedon’s Firefly.

When Captain Malcolm Reynolds agrees to steal an unspecified cargo from a mag-lev train on its way to Paradiso, he introduces his crew to the audience and reconsiders his moral flexibility when he learns the cargo is medicine for the townsfolk and sick orphans. Firefly was cancelled eight weeks later.

Erik immediately Godwins the Browncoats and discovers the core concept of the series is deeply troubling. Justin points out the lack of Alan Tudyk in the episode and the exposition anvil on display for much of its runtime. He also identifies the moment Firefly lost him. The presence of Creepy Foreigner stereotypes and the lack of Asian faces leads to a protracted discussion of the creeping segregation on television. Erik reveals his extended Dune-inspired philosophy. Noted political commentator Adam Baldwin gets name-checked, and the loadstone of the show’s Civil War allegory becomes an unavoidable truth about the show: It is poison.

Yeah, we’re surprised by this revelation, too.

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