Can’t stop the signal.|Sep. 03, 2005|United States|119 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Action;Adventure;Science;Fiction;Thriller
Description: In the 26th century, humanity has colonized a new solar system. The central planets formed the Alliance, which won a war against the outer planet Independents who resisted joining. River Tam, conditioned by Alliance scientists to become a psychic assassin, is rescued by her brother, Dr. Simon Tam. During her training, River unintentionally accessed the minds of top government officials, uncovering their secrets. As a result, the Alliance sends an agent known as the Operative to recapture her.
The siblings find refuge aboard the spaceship Serenity, led by Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds, along with first mate Zoe Washburne, pilot Hoban “Wash” Washburne, mercenary Jayne Cobb, and mechanic Kaylee Frye. Despite Simon’s objections, Mal takes River on a bank heist, where she warns the crew of approaching Reavers—savage, cannibalistic beings. They escape, but Simon decides to leave Serenity at the next port. Instead, a subliminal message in a commercial triggers River’s conditioning, leading to chaos, and Mal takes the siblings back onboard.
The crew enlists the help of hacker Mr. Universe, who deciphers the message and notes River whispered “Miranda” before the attack. Mal later confronts the Operative, who offers to spare him in exchange for River. Mal narrowly escapes and discovers that Miranda is a planet beyond Reaver-infested space. Upon reaching Haven, they find it destroyed and their friend Shepherd Book mortally wounded. The Operative vows to kill anyone aiding them until River is handed over.
Disguising Serenity as a Reaver ship, the crew travels to Miranda and discovers its 30 million colonists dead. A recording reveals that the Alliance introduced a chemical to suppress aggression, which backfired. Most of the population became so passive they stopped all activities and died, while a small fraction turned violently aggressive, becoming the Reavers. This was the secret hidden in River’s mind.
Mr. Universe agrees to broadcast the recording, but the Operative kills him and sets an ambush. Knowing this, the crew lures the Reaver fleet into a battle with the Alliance armada, navigating Serenity through the crossfire. Wash crashes the ship near the broadcast tower but is killed by a Reaver spear. The truth about the Alliance’s actions is finally revealed to the galaxy.
Cast director: Joss Whedon
Cast actor: Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Ron Glass, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Original name: Serenity