List of characters in the Firefly universe

This article is about characters in the television series "Firefly".

Major characters

Malcolm Reynolds

Captain of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity. Volunteer in the war between the Alliance and the Independents. He got the name for his spaceship from a famous battle he fought and commanded in, the Battle of Serenity Valley. When asked why he named his ship after a lost battle, Zoe comments "Once you're in Serenity, you never leave. You just learn how to live there." He is fiercely loyal to those he calls his crew.

Zoe Washburne

Infobox character
colour = #fc9
colour text =
name = Zoe Washburne
series = Firefly


caption =
first =
last =
cause =
creator = Joss Whedon
portrayer = Gina Torres
episode = 14, 1 movie, 6 comics
nickname =
alias =
species =
gender = Female
age =
born = birth date|2484|2|15|df=y
death =
specialty =
occupation = First mate of "Serenity"
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse = Hoban Washburne
children =
relatives =
residence =
religion =
nationality =
lbl21 = Homeworld
data21 = None
(born aboard a spaceship)
imdb_id = 0003814

Zoe Washburne (née Alleyne) was played by Gina Torres.

Born February 15, 2484, "Vesselside" (given her statements to Wash during an argument in the episode "Heart of Gold," this is clearly an expression meaning "aboard a spaceship"), Zoe served in the Unification War under Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds and continues under his command on his spaceship, "Serenity". A loyal second-in-command and a tough, deadly fighter, Zoe is the only member of Mal's crew to regularly call him "sir" and take orders as if receiving them from a superior officer.

Zoe married "Serenity"'s pilot Wash sometime after he joined the crew, though initially she claimed that something about him "bothered" her—possibly his disturbing moustache (seen in flashback in the episode "Out of Gas"). In the DVD commentary for the episode "Shindig," costume designer Shawna Trpcic mentions that the leather necklace Zoe always wears is a symbol of her marriage bond. However, she is seen wearing the necklace in the flashback sequences of "Out of Gas," well before she has married Wash. In the book "Firefly: The Official Companion - Vol. 1", Torres speculates that the necklace is actually a shoelace from the boots that Zoe wore during the Unification War.

Although Zoe and Wash worked a very dangerous sort of lifestyle, they managed to retain a rather happy marriage with one another. Wash at times grew jealous of Zoe's close relationship with Mal, but later managed to get past it. Zoe and Wash considered having children, but unfortunately, during the events of "Serenity" Wash was killed. Heartbroken, Zoe and the rest of the crew built a memorial for her husband on Mr. Universe's moon.

According to the book "Serenity: The Official Visual Companion", "Firefly" series creator Joss Whedon writes that Zoe's last name was Alleyne (at least at the time of the Unification War), and she took the name Washburne after her marriage to Hoban Washburne. This is confirmed in a deleted scene from "Serenity" where a display lists her military name as Corporal Zoe Alleyne. In the documentary "Re-Lighting the Firefly", her name is given as Zoe Warren, apparently a version of her name which was considered at one time, but changed by the time the film "Serenity" was released.

At the time of the "Battle of Serenity Valley", Zoe had attained the rank of Corporal. She and Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds were the only other survivors of their platoon in that battle.

Unlike Mal, she was career military, and is often more calm in dangerous situations. Mal often thinks with his heart while Zoe usually thinks with her head. Regardless, Zoe follows all orders from Mal, although often with a degree of advice or concern.

Her weapon of choice appears to be identical to the Mare's Leg, a custom Winchester Model 1892 rifle used by Steve McQueen's character Josh Randall in the television series "". Joss Whedon calls the Mare's Leg his "favorite gun of all times"Fact|date=March 2007. The actual gun she uses in the series was originally used in the series "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.". [cite conference | first = Joss | last = Whedon | authorlink = Joss Whedon | title = Have You Ever Been with a Warrior Woman?: Zoe's Pistol and Vest | booktitle = Firefly: Official Companion, Volume One | pages = 104 | publisher = Titan Books | year = 2006]

Hoban Washburne

Infobox character
colour = #fc9
colour text =
name = Hoban Washburne
series = Firefly


caption =
first =
last =
cause =
creator = Joss Whedon
portrayer = Alan Tudyk
episode = 14, 1 movie, 6 comics
nickname = "Wash"
alias =
species =
gender = Male
age =
born = Late 25th century
death = circa 2519
specialty =
occupation = Pilot of "Serenity"
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse = Zoe Washburne
children =
relatives =
residence =
religion =
nationality =
lbl21 = Homeworld
data21 = Unknown
imdb_id = 0003808

Hoban "Wash" Washburne was played by Alan Tudyk. Wash serves as the pilot of "Serenity", and is married to the ship's first mate, Zoe. A laid-back guy with a dry and occasionally laconic sense of humor, Wash tends to represent the pragmatic, cut-and-run opinion in any shipboard debate, and often serves as the calming influence in heated arguments. His actions sometimes appear cowardly (or at least less than heroic), but Wash has proven his resolve and willingness to both put himself in harm's way and do violence on behalf of his friends on many occasions. Tudyk has described Wash as "the Space Xander", referring to the character's similarities with Xander Harris from Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". [Tudyk, "Firefly Companion, Vol 1", p60] The origin of his nickname "Wash" is unknown, likely derived from the first syllable of his surname. When Mal confronts him in the "Serenity" film novelization, Wash's reasoning is "Why would anyone call themselves Hoban?"

Raised on an unnamed polluted planet, Wash became a pilot in part to see the sky beyond his home. Some of his backstory is given in the "Serenity" novelization. After Wash's friend Mr. Universe hacked the records and became top of the class before Wash, Mr. Universe silenced him by offering his services whenever they were needed. On the commentary on "War Stories", Tudyk believed that Wash served in the Unification War as a pilot, although he did not specify which side. Tudyk also jokes that Wash's ship was shot down after a single flight and he was put in a POW camp, where he spent the remainder of the war entertaining the other prisoners with shadow puppets. Later travelling widely, Wash's pilot skills and reputation grew so that he was actively courted by multiple captains when he met Malcolm Reynolds. Wash accepted Mal's offer and eventually fell in love with and married Reynolds' second-in-command, Zoe.

Wash dies near the end of the 2005 film "Serenity" when a harpoon launched by a Reaver ship impales him, killing him instantly. His shipmates erect a memorial to him (it is unclear if this is a tomb, as well) on Mr. Universe's moon. River Tam then takes up his duties as pilot of "Serenity" under the supervision of Mal Reynolds; as a tribute to Wash the collection of toy dinosaurs remains on the pilot's station of the bridge.

Inara Serra

Infobox character
colour = #fc9
colour text =
name = Inara Serra
series = Firefly


caption =
first =
last =
cause =
creator = Joss Whedon
portrayer = Morena Baccarin
episode = 14, 1 movie, 6 comics
nickname = "The Ambassador"
alias =
species =
gender = Female
age =
born = Late 25th century
death =
specialty =
occupation = Companion
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Unknown
residence =
religion = Buddhist
nationality =
lbl21 = Homeworld
data21 = Sihnon
imdb_id = 0003813

Inara Serra was played by Morena Baccarin. Born in the late 25th century on Sihnon, Inara is a Companion, a high-society courtesan licensed by the Union of Allied Planets (the "Alliance"). In Alliance society, Companions are part of the social elite, often accompanying the wealthy and powerful. They have considerable ritual and ceremony surrounding their services, which appear to extend beyond sex to nurturing psychological and emotional well-being. Actress Rebecca Gayheart was initially hired to play the part of Inara but was fired after only one day of filming. Joss Whedon said that there was a lack of chemistry between her and the rest of the cast. Morena Baccarin filmed her first scene the very day she was accepted for the role.

As of the end of the original "Firefly" series, ["Serenity", a movie based on the TV series, was released in September 2005.] most of what is known about Companions is derived from Inara herself and incidental discussions with and about other Companions and Companion-trained individuals. These sources suggest that Companion training includes social and physical grace, at least some performing arts, and psychology. Companions choose their own customers, and can have ungracious customers banned from any Companionship. Inara has a number of frequent clients throughout the Allied worlds, and takes both male and female clients, although most of her clients are male.

Inara, a Buddhist, was a rising member of Companion House Madrassa when she suddenly and inexplicably left to travel the outer rim. She has suggested that she "wanted to see the universe", although it is strongly hinted that she has other reasons. Less than a year before the events of the pilot episode, she leased one of the Serenity's shuttles for transportation, living space, and workspace, providing her with some mobility. Though earning Mal's disfavor initially by stating that she supported unification of the Alliance and the Independents (in flashback in the episode "Out of Gas"), she and Mal have developed an unacknowledged attraction to each other which they resist, ostensibly for business reasons, and practically by jesting and sometimes hurtful bickering.

Inara appears to be at least somewhat adept at swordplay ("Shindig"). In the movie "Serenity", it is shown that she also may have been trained somewhat in the martial arts, and is skilled with a bow and arrow, apparently preferring them over firearms. In a proposed extended version of a scene from "Serenity", in Inara's Companion montage, she was to be seen teaching the girls how to use the bow, but this idea was dropped, claiming that she appeared too much like "Wonder Woman". [DVD commentary.]

A subplot for Inara was hinted at throughout the series. [Audio commentaries for the series DVD collection] First, Joss Whedon explained in the DVD audio commentary for the pilot episode that the syringe Inara takes out during the Reaver encounter is not for suicide. Second, when the ship is disabled in the episode "Out of Gas," Simon said, "I don't want to die [on this ship] ," to which Inara replied, "I don't want to die at all." In "Heart of Gold", Nandi mentions that she did not age at all.

Jayne Cobb

Infobox character
colour = #fc9
colour text =
name = Jayne Cobb
series = Firefly


caption =
first =
last =
cause =
creator = Joss Whedon
portrayer = Adam Baldwin
episode = 14, 1 movie, 6 comics
nickname =
alias =
species =
gender = Male
age =
born = late 25th century
death =
specialty =
occupation = Mercenary
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Radiant Cobb (mother, alive)
residence =
religion =
nationality =
lbl21 = Homeworld
data21 = Unknown
imdb_id = 0003807

Jayne Cobb, played by Adam Baldwin, is a tall (6'4"), physically imposing mercenary previously uninvolved with the Unification War. Despite his unsophisticated manner, and contempt for more intellectual characters, Jayne regularly displays cunning and common sense. Adam Baldwin calls Jayne a "practical guy," explaining his character's use of gallows humor by explaining that when in peril, the choice is to "panic and cry and crap your pants, or you make a joke and you try to survive." [cite web| last = Lee | first = Michael J.| date=September 15, 2005 | title = Interviews with Jewel Staite, Adam Baldwin, Sean Maher and Summer Glau| publisher =Radio Free Entertainment | url=http://www.radiofree.com/profiles/jewel_staite/interview01.shtml| accessdate = 2007-07-13 ] Baldwin won the SyFy Genre Awards in 2006 for "Best Supporting Actor/Television". [cite web|url=http://syfyportal.com/news.php?id=2895|title=SyfyPortal Awards|accessdate=2006-10-08]

Originally a member of a gang that ambushes Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe, Jayne switches alliances and joins Mal and Zoe after Mal offers him a larger share of heists and his own bunk. Though he engages in a few one-night stands, Jayne has no long-term love interest, beyond a lingering crush on Kaylee that Joss Whedon pointed out in the Serenity commentary. His feelings for her can be seen in his concern during the pilot episode, when he watched her surgery, as well as in his hostility towards Simon (Kaylee's obvious love-interest). Jayne is openly contemptuous of Simon and River, and sees them as a danger to his safety as they may bring the Alliance down on them. Nevertheless, he shows a measure of concern for River when he and Simon discover that Alliance researchers cut into River's (otherwise healthy) brain to conduct experiments, an act that would be considered mutilation by any ethical physician.

Jayne is regarded as something of a Robin Hood-like folk hero by the people of Canton on Higgins' Moon ("Jaynestown"), who have erected a statue of him in the center of the town and sing a song dedicated to "the hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne" ("The Ballad of Jayne Cobb") in which they tell how "he robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor." The true story is that Jayne was forced to give up the money in order to escape.

Jayne has shown fear at upsetting Malcolm Reynolds and anything to do with Reavers, a subpopulation of feral, cannibalistic humans. Jayne has also demonstrated fear of dying in what he considers an unmanly fashion, notably being "spaced". In "Out of Gas" Jayne is seen on-screen curiously poking at Simon's birthday cake. In the commentaries for episodes "Out of Gas" and "War Stories", it is mentioned that Adam Baldwin added a "tactile" compulsion to the character. Jayne tends to touch, smell and taste things habitually, being constantly in touch with his surroundings. Occasionally hinting at a more complex character, Jayne demonstrates sentimentality in "The Message", sending money earned by his mercenary activities home to his mother. In the same episode, he proudly sports a ridiculous orange knit cap with earflaps (a tuque), simply because his mother made it for him (Wash: "A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything."). There are several knitting patterns of it online, and several filk songs have been written about it, such as "Jayne's Hat" by Stan Peale.

Jayne keeps a large arsenal of weapons in his bunk on "Serenity", the largest and most powerful being a firearm (specifically, a "Callahan full-bore auto lock with customized trigger double cartridge thorough gauge") nicknamed Vera. Jayne frequently carries a handgun based on a LeMat Percussion Revolver, and in the movie "Serenity", carries a machine gun named "Lux".

Kaylee Frye

Infobox character
colour = #fc9
colour text =
name = Kaylee Frye
series = Firefly


caption =
first =
last =
cause =
creator = Joss Whedon
portrayer = Jewel Staite
episode = 14, 1 movie, 6 comics
nickname =
alias =
species =
gender = Female
age =
born = late 25th century
death =
specialty =
occupation = Mechanic of "Serenity"
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Parents living
residence =
religion =
nationality =
lbl21 = Homeworld
data21 = Unknown
imdb_id = 0003812

Kaywinnit Lee "Kaylee" Frye was portrayed by Jewel Staite. Kaylee has exceptional mechanical aptitude, despite her lack of formal training, and serves as ship's mechanic to "Serenity".cite news |work=Extrapolation |title=Stagecoach in Space: the Legacy of Firefly |date=2006-06-22 |quote= [...] the ship's engineer, Kaylee Frye (Jewel Staite), unschooled but a genius with machines [...] ] cite web |url=http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/006609.html |work=World Changing |title=Stuff: Ooh! Shiny! |first=Ethan |last=Zuckerman |date=2007-04-30 |quote=”Oooh! Shiny!” is one of the most charming lines uttered by Kaylee Frye, the adorable and spunky engine mechanic who keeps the starship Serenity running in Joss Whedon’s late, great series, “Firefly”.] Kaylee is considered by the crew to be exceptionally sweet and chipper, the type who maintains a bright attitude even when others are feeling low.cite book |last=Staite |first=Jewel
editor=Jane Espenson, Glenn Yeffeth |title=Finding Serenity, anti-heroes, lost shepherds and space hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly |year=2004 |publisher=BenBella books |location=Dallas |isbn=1-932100-43-1 |id=PN1992.77.F54F56 2005 |pages=p. 227 |chapter=Kaylee speaks: Jewel Staite on Firefly] cite book |coauthors=Jane Espenson, Abbie Bernstein, Bryan Cairns, Karl Derrick, Tara DiLullo |title=Firefly: the official companion, volume one |url=http://www.titanbooks.com/products/uk/9724-firefly_the_official_companion_volume_one/ |edition=Paperback |year=2006 |month=07 |publisher=Titan books |location=London |isbn=9781845763145 |pages=pp. 112 |chapter=Shindig ] cite web |last=Lee |first=Michael J. |date=2005-09-15 |title=Interview with Jewel Staite |publisher=Radio Free Entertainment |url=http://www.radiofree.com/profiles/jewel_staite/interview02.shtml |accessdate = 2007-07-13] Staite told "Interview" magazine, "She's kind of a floozy who wears her heart on her sleeve."cite news |work=Interview |title=Jewel Staite: Meet the Sci-Fi Set's New Barbarellla |first=Sarah |last=Cristobal |date=2005-10-01 |quote=In the film Staite reprises her role as the titular ship's sexy mechanic Kaylee Frye. "She's kind of a floozy who wears her heart on her sleeve," says the actress.] Kaylee has shown an affinity for strawberries. Despite her mechanical aptitude which allows Kaylee to fix just about anything, she has a desire for girlish things and is annoyed when Mal does not see that she is a woman as well as a mechanic.cite news |work=Austin American-Statesman |title=DVD reviews: 'Serenity' |url=http://www.austin360.com/movies/content/movies/stories/2006/01/14dvds.html |first=Marium F. |last=Mohiuddin |date=2006-01-12] Although most notable in the episode "Shindig"—when he criticized her desire to purchase an elaborate dress on the grounds that she would have no opportunity to wear it in her job—this recurs throughout the series.

The background of the character is revealed in the episode "Out of Gas", showing her joining the crew of "Serenity". The ship's captain, Malcolm Reynolds, interrupted her and Bester, the ship's mechanic at the time, having sex in Serenity's engine room.cite news |url=http://www.moviegids.be/index.cfm/93169 |work=Moviegids de Ogen Wijd Open |title=There's no place, I can be since I found Serenity |first=Werner |last=Peeters |date=2006-01-08] However, when Bester incorrectly informed Mal that the ship could not be fixed, Kaylee quickly proved him wrong by diagnosing the problem and repairing the grounded " Serenity." Impressed with her mechanical ability, Mal immediately offered her Bester's job. Kaylee happily accepted, and left her family (and Bester) behind to join the crew.cite episode | title = Out of Gas | episodelink = Out of Gas | url = | series = Firefly ]

When Kaylee is shot in the stomach in the pilot episode, Simon Tam uses her injury as a bargaining chip to be allowed to remain on "Serenity" with his sister, River.cite news |work=Film Stew |title=Firefly Lights Up Big Screen |url=http://www.filmstew.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ContentID=8088 |first=Lisa |last=Johnson |date=2004-03-05] Jayne Cobb would embarrass her in this and later episodes by making fun of her attraction to Simon, usually right in front of Simon.cite episode | title = Serenity | episodelink = Serenity (Firefly episode) | series = Firefly] The romantic attraction to Simon Tam remains unconsummated during the run of the series, even though it is clear that Simon bears strong feelings for her as well.cite news |work=Sunday Mail (Malay) |title=Another Joss Whedon masterpiece |first=Meor |last=Shariman |date=2004-07-11] (In the novelization of "Serenity", River reveals that the attraction between Simon and Kaylee is not a simple crush or infatuation, but that the two are in fact, in love.) It is often his 'proper' attitude that prevents the two of them from ever engaging in a more meaningful relationship, or his dedication to protecting his sister.Fact|date=December 2007 The problem is compounded by the fact that he sometimes makes comments that hurt Kaylee's feelings, insulting the lifestyle of the crew, "Serenity", and even herself, though he never intentionally means to insult her; a prominent example of his ineptitude at making conversation is in "The Message" when he described her as 'the only girl in the world', on the grounds that all the other women he knew were either married (Zoe), professional (Inara) or related to him (River). Simon himself almost never gets mad at Kaylee, the exception being "Objects in Space" when Kaylee revealed River's disturbing aptitude with a firearm, which placed a dark cloud over River in the eyes of the others.cite episode | title = Objects in Space | episodelink = Objects in Space | url = | series = Firefly ] In the movie "Serenity", Simon Tam confesses his feelings for her, which she reciprocates. The ending depicts the two finally consummating their relationship; a scantily-clad Kaylee and a shirtless Simon kiss each other passionately, then sink to the engine room floor (falling out of frame in the process), with River peeking in wide-eyed from an overhead hatch.

imon Tam

Infobox character
colour = #fc9
colour text =
name = Simon Tam
series = Firefly


caption =
first =
last =
cause =
creator = Joss Whedon
portrayer = Sean Maher
Zac Efron (Young Simon in the episode "Safe")
episode = 14, 1 movie, 6 comics
nickname =
alias =
species =
gender = Male
age =
born = late 25th century
death =
specialty =
occupation = DoctorGiven Simon's status as a fugitive, it is possible he lost his licence to practice. Nevertheless, he serves as "Serenity"'s resident doctor.]
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Gabriel Tam (father)
Regan Tam (mother)
River Tam (sister)
portrayed= Sean Maher
Zac Efron ("Safe")
residence =
religion =
nationality =
lbl21 = Homeworld
data21 = Osiris
imdb_id = 0047177Doctor Simon Tam, played by Sean Maher, appears in all episodes of "Firefly", and more recently has appeared in the comics "" and the feature film "Serenity".

Simon was born in late November, c. 2490 to Gabriel and Regan Tam, and was born and raised on Osiris, a Core World planet with major Alliance ties. In the original script for the episode "Bushwhacked" it is revealed that Simon supported Unification, the issue that sparked the eponymous War of Unification.

Since he was young, Simon's family had hopes for him to have a future in medicine. Simon was accepted to the best Medical Academy, or "MedAcad," on Osiris. Simon graduated in the top 3% of his class, and promptly moved onto a medical internship, which he completed in a mere eight months (as opposed to a year), and is licensed to practice medicine. From there, he became a resident trauma surgeon on one of the major hospitals in Capital City, Osiris. ["Serenity"]

Around this time, Simon's sister River attended an elite Alliance-sponsored school called "The Academy". Eventually, Simon realized that River was writing to the family in code, and began a quest to find and rescue her from the Academy. After learning about River's abuse at the Academy, he is unable to help her for two more years. However, Simon is eventually contacted by a group of men from an underground movement, and they help him with the rescue. While Simon and River head for Persephone, the Alliance freeze all of Simon's monetary accounts and label Simon and River as fugitives. ["Safe"] "Ariel'"]

After landing on Persephone Simon looks for a ship to take him and a cryogenically stabilized River off-planet. He chooses "Serenity". The ship's mechanic, Kaylee Frye, is immediately infatuated with Simon. Later, the "Serenity" crew learn of the siblings' backstory. Because of the need of Simon and River to stay on the move, Mal Reynolds offers Simon a post as medic on "Serenity", and Simon accepts. Simon soon settles into life on the ship, spending time with River, in attempts to figure out what happened to her at the Academy. The Tams remain below Alliance radar, despite some close calls. ["Bushwhacked"] There is also some tension with Jayne Cobb. After River attacks him with a knife during one of her psychotic outbursts, Jayne attempts to turn them in and collect the reward, although the plan backfires when he is double crossed by his Alliance contact. After an incident in "Safe" involving the absence of River, Simon is clearly more a part of the crew. In "Jaynestown," Simon and Kaylee have their first moment where it's realized that Simon may have more feelings for Kaylee than originally thought. By "Objects in Space," the final episode, Simon has begun to loosen up much more, especially around Kaylee. This process is also underlined by a change in his costume: After the events in Ariel he dresses more casually, wearing pullovers instead of shirts and waistcoats.

In the film "Serenity", Simon has finally become well-adjusted to the crew—to the point where he even stands up to Mal and punches him when Mal puts River in danger during a heist. Mal had sucker punched Simon twice in the pilot "Serenity", so this is a step towards evening things out. Near the end of the film, Simon admits to Kaylee that he would have liked to have had a romantic relationship with her just as they prepare for an apparently hopeless battle with Reavers. The two consummate their relationship in the end.

River Tam

Infobox character
colour = #fc9
colour text =
name = River Tam
series = Firefly


caption = Summer Glau as River Tam in "Serenity".
first =
last =
cause =
creator = Joss Whedon
portrayer = Summer Glau
Skylar Roberge (Young River in the episode "Safe")
Hunter Ansley Wryn (Young River in "Serenity")
episode = 14, 1 movie, 6 comics
nickname =
alias =
species =
gender = Female
age =
born = circa 2500
death =
specialty =
occupation = Fugitive, occasional accomplice to illegal acts, later co-pilot
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Gabriel Tam (father)
Regan Tam (mother)
Simon Tam (brother)
residence =
religion =
nationality =
lbl21 = Homeworld
data21 = Osiris
imdb_id = 0003810

River Tam, played by Summer Glau, first appears in "Firefly", and also appeared in the R. Tam sessions, the comic "", and the feature film "Serenity". River is the teenage sister of Dr. Simon Tam, both of whom take refuge aboard "Serenity". She is considered a child prodigy from a very young age, intelligent beyond her years and athletically gifted. Summer Glau won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as River in "Serenity" in May 2006. [cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/winners.html|title=The 32nd Annual Saturn Awards Honors Genre Entertainment|accessdate=2006-07-11] Glau was also runner up for "Best Actress/Movie" in the SyFy Genre Awards for 2006. [cite web|url=http://syfyportal.com/news.php?id=2895|title=SyfyPortal Awards|accessdate=2006-10-08]

River grew up with her brother Simon, with whom she was very close, as part of the wealthy Tam family on the "core" (Alliance-dominated) planet of Osiris. Having a high intellect and a ready grasp of complex subjects, she was sent to a government learning facility known only as “The Academy” at the age of fourteen. While her parents and Simon believed the Academy was a private school meant to nurture the gifts of the most academically talented children in the Alliance, it was in fact a cover for a government experiment in creating the perfect assassin. While in the hands of the Alliance doctors and scientists, River was secretly and extensively experimented on, including surgery that removed most of her amygdala (which in the show is said to act as a filter for emotions), [“Serenity” and feature film] preventing River from being able to control her emotions. ["Ariel"] She descends into insanity and nurtures psychic and “intuitive” abilities, but although the R. Tam sessions imply that she may have already had some form of latent psychic abilities prior to being recruited, how and when this translated into her apparently full-fledged mind-reading abilities is unknown. [R. Tam sessions]

The Alliance isolates River from her family, though she managed to send a call for help by putting a coded message in a letter to her brother. Simon decoded the message and successfully set out to rescue his then 16-year-old sister, despite his parents' insistence that he was simply being paranoid. [episode “Serenity”] When the Alliance learns of River's rescue, they promptly froze all of Simon's monetary accounts, leaving him with nothing but his medkit, and put out a warrant for the arrest of both Simon and River, labelling them as fugitives. ["Safe" and "Ariel"]

As evidenced in "Serenity", River's skill at hand-to-hand combat is virtually unstoppable. On two separate occasions she ventures into large melees (20–30 opponents against her at the same time), and on both occasions she emerges not only victorious but (apparently) completely uninjured. The fighting style used by River in "Serenity" was a Kung-fu/Kickboxing hybrid, modified to be more "balletic." [stated by Summer Glau in several interviews ( [http://sci-fi-online.50megs.com/2006_Interviews/06-01-30_SummerGlau.htm] , [http://movies.about.com/od/serenity/a/serentysg120604.htm] )] Her skill with firearms is also shown to be near super-human: during a battle in the "Firefly" episode "War Stories" she memorizes the battlefield in one quick glance, then proceeds to take out three advancing soldiers with one shot each, with her eyes closed.

Derrial Book

A "shepherd", or preacher, who provides frequent spiritual advice and perspectives for the crew of "Serenity". He appears to be some sort of Christian. He has a mysterious past, and on numerous occasions has demonstrated a depth of knowledge in a number of fields one would not expect a clergyman to be familiar with, including space travel, firearms, hand-to-hand combat, and criminal activity.

Minor characters

Minor characters are defined as any character who is not a part of the crew of the fictional ship "Serenity" including any who appear in the R. Tam sessions, the television show itself, the comic book series "", or the film "Serenity".

Badger

One of the crew's contacts on the moon-planet Persephone, Badger, portrayed by Mark Sheppard, first appears in the pilot episode of the series, "Serenity". Badger, an "honest businessman" refuses to pay for cargo that he has commissioned the crew to retrieve after finding out it had the stamp of the Alliance forces. At the time, Badger threatened to provide information to the Alliance about Malcolm Reynolds and his salvage operation. Although Badger can't be trusted, he apparently is consistent enough that Reynolds is willing to do business with him. Badger is clearly a criminal, but views himself as a business man and "better than" Mal and other smugglers who don't have a base of operations.

Badger reappears in the episode "Shindig", and hires the crew again to collect some cargo (in truth a herd of cattle) from a "fancy reception" where he is unwelcome. In the comic book series "", Badger sets events in motion by providing Reynolds with his initial contract. Badger speaks with a cockney accent, identified and imitated by River Tam. Joss Whedon mentions in the commentary on "Serenity" that he originally wrote the character with the intention of playing the role himself.

Bester

Bester was "Serenity"'s original engine mechanic, portrayed by Dax Griffin. At some point before the events of "Firefly" (as shown in a flashback in "Out of Gas"), Malcolm Reynolds caught him having sex with a local girl, soon identified as Kaylee Frye, in the engine room. Mal demands to know what's taking Bester so long to fix the engine, and Kaylee then demonstrates that she has more knowledge of ship engine workings than Bester, whom Mal immediately fires in favor of Kaylee.

heriff Bourne

Sheriff Bourne is the sheriff of Paradiso, a mining town on Regina featured in "The Train Job". When Mal, Zoe, and Jayne rob the train between Hancock and Paradiso, Sheriff Bourne questions Mal and Zoe, who are pretending to be newlyweds, coming to Paradiso to find work in the mines. Bourne realizes there is something questionable about their story, but when Inara arrives claiming Mal as her escaped indentured servant, he thinks that is the problem. Later, as Mal was preparing to return the stolen medicine to Paradiso, Bourne and a posse tracked him down. However, he accepts that Mal has done the right thing by bringing the medicine back, and lets the crew go free. Sheriff Bourne is played by Gregg Henry.

Rance Burgess

Rance Burgess, played by Fredric Lehne in "Heart of Gold", is a rancher who runs afoul of the crew of "Serenity" when he decides to wage war against a brothel run by Nandi, a former Companion and friend of Inara Serra. According to Nandi, Burgess was the richest man on the planet, and kept everyone else poor so he could play at being a "cowboy in his own gorram theme park". Malcolm Reynolds and his crew help lay out the defense of the brothel when Burgess and his cronies attack to try to take the son he begat on one of the prostitutes, Petaline. Eventually he loses the battle and is killed by Petaline herself.

Dr. Caron

Dr. Caron, played by Sarah Paulson in the film "Serenity", was a member of the rescue team that investigated the strange happenings on Miranda. Her recording of the event, noting the Alliance's inadvertent creation of what would become the Reavers, is pivotal in the film's climax. She, along with the rest of her team, is killed by the Reavers after their ship crashed.

Lawrence Dobson

Lawrence Dobson, played by Carlos Jacott, is an undercover Alliance agent in pursuit of Simon and River Tam. When he suspects to have found Simon on the planet Persephone, he joins him and the Shepherd Derrial Book as a passenger on board "Serenity".

Soon after leaving the planet he attempts to contact the Alliance to report his discovery. When the crew discovers the transmission, they find Dobson in the cargo bay with his gun aimed at Simon. After a moment of panic, he shoots Kaylee and is knocked out by Book. He is locked up for a while, and when interrogated by Jayne, he attempts to bribe him for his freedom.

By the time the ship arrives at the moon Whitefall, Dobson escapes his quarters, beats up Shepherd Book and attempts again, unsuccessfully, to contact the Alliance. He reveals a more sadistic side of himself as he beats Book unnecessarily in a fit of anger. Up to this point Book had been protecting him from harm, mainly by Jayne. He then finds River and tries to leave the ship while holding her at gunpoint. Malcolm Reynolds, returning from his mission, sizes up the situation and without hesitation shoots Dobson in the head. Mal and Jayne then toss him from the ship, leaving him for dead.

Joss Whedon intended for Dobson to survive the shooting and return for vengeance."Firefly: The Official Companion - Volume One", p. 13] The series was cancelled before this could occur, but the idea continued as a key part of the plot in the three-issue comic book miniseries "", which takes place between the TV series and the film "Serenity". In the comics, Dobson, still alive, sports an ocular implant where Mal had shot him in the eye. Obsessed with seeking revenge on Reynolds, Dobson joins the "Blue Gloves" in finding "Serenity", its captain and the Tam siblings. When the two finally meet again, Mal shoots the former agent first (in his good eye), and kills him for good.

In the "Serenity" episode, Lawrence Dobson's initial clumsiness and common appearance contrasts him to the viewer (and the other characters) with the more suspicious-looking Simon Tam, to conceal Dobson's role as villain on the ship. This is an effect shared by other Joss Whedon characters portrayed by actor Carlos Jacott, where he also switches from seeming innocent, clumsy and unimportant to being someone with more malicious intentions.

Jubal Early

Jubal Early is a bounty hunter who appears in the finale episode "Objects in Space". Early, played by Richard Brooks, boards "Serenity" with the intention to kidnap River Tam in return for a bounty. Joss Whedon's DVD commentary for this episode reveals that Early was partly inspired by the "Star Wars" character Boba Fett. He shares his name with the Confederate Civil War General Jubal Anderson Early.

Early is very athletic and is clearly adept at unarmed combat. He is also intelligent and incredibly eccentric, given to rambling on philosophic matters in the middle of tense situations, frequently asking "Does that seem right to you?" He may be hard of hearing or easily distracted, as he repeatedly mishears what others are saying to him, but that could also be a method to not answer the questions. When River is on his ship, she is able to deduce that he is/was a sadist, who tortured his neighbors' pets, cleaning up afterward, "shined and polished", as River says. But his mother's dog could smell it on him and "never took a liking to you", again River. She continues that his mother was relieved to see him go because she felt a darkness in him. He also threatened to rape Kaylee if she did not do as he told her, and used the same threat of raping Kaylee when he dealt with Simon. At the end of "Objects in Space", Mal leaves him floating through space. His fate is unknown. Early has the distinction of uttering the last lines in the "Firefly" television series as he floats through space: "Well... here I am."

Fanty and Mingo

Fanty and Mingo are twin brothers who appear in the "Serenity" comic as well as the film. They are seen as fences for goods acquired by Mal Reynolds and the crew of "Serenity". Although identical twins, Mal is able to tell the two of them apart (he claims "Fanty's prettier"). Their full names are Mingojerry and Fantastic Rample. The novelization states that they were named at birth by their mother – Mingojerry as a mis-remembered Mungojerrie from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, and Fantastic for what she said when she realized that she was carrying twins, meaning she had to give birth "again". They are portrayed in the film by twin brothers Yan and Rafael Feldman. The characters are named after the characters played by Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman in the film The Big Combo (1955).

Blue Gloves

The "Blue Gloves" are a pair of mysterious men, portrayed by Dennis Cockrum and Jeff Ricketts, who wear suits and what appear to be blue gloves. (In the "Serenity: Those Left Behind" comics, the blue "gloves" are shown to extend to and cover the upper body as well.) They work for the Blue Sun Corporation, a contractor to the Alliance, and are in pursuit of River and Simon Tam.

They will not hesitate to kill anyone who has had contact with River, even Alliance personnel, using a handheld device that induces fatal bleeding to anyone near it (except themselves).

The pair are never officially named in either "Firefly" or "Serenity". In the DVD commentary for the episode "The Train Job", Joss Whedon refers to them as "the men with blue hands" and "the blue-hands men". IMDb and the script refer to them as "Blue Gloves". However, "Hands of Blue" seems to have become a fanon name for the otherwise unnamed pair, and comes from River's "two by two, hands of blue" litany.

The men are eventually killed when "Serenity"'s thrust incinerates their ship. The Alliance then passes the assignment to retrieve the Tams to the Operative. In the comic, they are posthumously referred to as "Independent Contractors".

ir Warwick Harrow

Sir Warwick Harrow, played by Larry Drake in "Shindig", is a nobleman on Persephone who owns some "property" that he needs moved off-planet. Although he refuses to deal with Badger, Badger sends Malcolm Reynolds to talk to him. Harrow then served as Reynolds' second when Reynolds inadvertently challenges Atherton Wing to a duel after Atherton insulted Inara. The manner in which Reynolds handles himself, in the time leading up to and during the duel, convinces Harrow of Mal's character and decides to trust him with his "property", finally revealed to be cattle.

titch Hessian

Stitch Hessian was a one-time comrade of Jayne Cobb. The two of them carried off a raid on Higgins' Moon, but when their craft was tagged by anti-aircraft fire, Jayne pushed Stitch off. Stitch claims that he would never have done that to Jayne. Stitch was captured by Boss Higgins's men and put into solitary confinement until released when the crew of "Serenity" return to Higgins' Moon in "Jaynestown". He then confronts and tries to kill Jayne in revenge, revealing the truth about the heist to the people of Higgins' Moon, who thought that Jayne dropped the money out of benevolent, rather than selfish, motives. He ultimately tries to shoot and kill Jayne, but an unidentifed man of Higgins' Moon leaps in front of the shotgun blast, giving Jayne the opening to throw a knife into Stitch's chest. The two fight, and Jayne smashes his head into the plinth of his statue, killing him. He is portrayed by Kevin Gage.

Fess Higgins

Fess Higgins is the former virgin son of the magistrate of Higgins' Moon. His father, known only as Magistrate Higgins or Boss Higgins, contracts with Inara Serra for her to usher Fess into manhood. Inara talks Fess through some of his insecurities with his father and makes him look upon himself as his own man. As a result, Fess is able to stand up to his father when Boss Higgins tries to stop "Serenity" from leaving Higgins Moon with Jayne Cobb on board at the end of "Jaynestown". Fess Higgins is portrayed by Zachary Kranzler.

Magistrate Higgins

Magistrate Higgins is the final word of law on Higgins' Moon, a small moon that has a primary export of mud. Higgins is a man who looks out only for himself. He treats his workers, known as mudders, harshly, almost as slaves, and metes out strict punishment to any who cross him, as evidenced by the confinement cage in which he imprisons Stitch Hessian after he and Jayne Cobb robbed him. Concern over his son Fess's virginity causes him to hire Inara Serra to turn Fess into a 'man', but the attempt is more successful than he'd expected; Fess openly defies his father and allows "Serenity" to lift off. Boss Higgins is portrayed by Gregory Itzin.

"The Interviewer"

"The Interviewer" is a man at the Academy who interviews River Tam in the R. Tam sessions. He is killed when River stabs him in the neck with his pen. He is portrayed by Joss Whedon. His face is never shown.

Dr. Mathias

Dr. Mathias is the doctor who headed the research project which resulted in River Tam's psychosis and increased abilities. He is very proud of his achievements and the importance it brought to him. Mathias is present when Simon Tam manages to free River from the medical center. Following questioning by the Operative about River's escape, the Operative kills Mathias for his failure. Dr. Mathias is portrayed by Michael Hitchcock.

Mathias is mentioned in the R. Tam sessions, and is seen, but not named, in the film "Serenity", although he is named in the shooting script and novelization.

Mr. Universe

Mr. Universe, a reclusive techno-geek, appears only in the movie "Serenity", portrayed by David Krumholtz. He lives (apparently) alone on a moon with his love-bot "wife", Lenore (portrayed by Nectar Rose). He has a great affinity for data, and is capable of intercepting nearly any transmission or signal in the system. He boasts, "There's the truth of the signal. Everything goes somewhere and I go everywhere."

He is seen stepping on a cloth-wrapped glass while wearing a yarmulka in a video clip of his wedding, implying that he is Jewish (or a member of a Judaism-influenced religion), and making him the second Jew seen within the "Firefly" universeFact|date=June 2008. In the novelization for the movie "Serenity", he is alleged to have been a student at the same flight school as Wash, achieving the highest possible grades by manipulating the school's software, and providing Wash with information in exchange for Wash keeping quiet about what he did.

He is killed by the Operative, but set plans in motion for Malcolm Reynolds to broadcast a report from Dr. Caron that reveals the origins of the Reavers, leaving the message with his LoveBot bride before he dies.

Monty

Monty is a long-time colleague of Mal Reynolds who also fought on the side of the Independents in the Unification War. An extremely large (Zoe refers to him as a "sasquatch") and mostly genial man, he is known among his friends for wearing a thick beard and mustache. However, he shaved off his beard for his wife, Bridget, who turns out to be the con woman Saffron. Monty is portrayed by Franc Ross in the episode "Trash". Monty apparently has a formidable reputation as a brawler; when Kaylee asks if Mal got into a fight with him (due to wounds from his scuffle with Saffron/Bridget), Zoe notes that if he had, the crew would be down in the dirt picking up Mal's teeth.

Nandi

Nandi, played by Melinda Clarke in "Heart of Gold", is a former Companion who knew Inara on Sihnon before they both left the planet. Nandi gave up her life as a Companion - having concluded that it was too restrictive - to become a brothel madam, overseeing common whores on one of the outer planets. When Petaline, one of her girls, becomes pregnant with the son of a local landowner, the richest, most powerful man on the small planet, she calls Inara to see if the crew of "Serenity" can help against the baby's father, Rance Burgess. Nandi and Mal have a brief affair, which upsets Inara deeply, before Nandi is killed during a gunfight with Burgess and his men, and Petaline takes over the brothel.

Adelei Niska

Adelei Niska is a major crime lord of the "Firefly" universe, played by Michael Fairman and first seen in "The Train Job". Thoroughly ruthless in his business practices, he is dedicated to maintaining his reputation for exacting terrible reprisals on those who cross him — a reputation well-deserved, as Malcolm Reynolds and Wash discover in "War Stories". In that episode, he espouses admiration for the brutal philosophy of (fictional) dictator Shan Yu. In his first appearance, he hired "Serenity" to steal medicines being sent to a town where they were badly needed, but when Mal and Zoe learned what they'd done, Mal sent the medicine back to the town and returned Niska's money to his henchmen. Refusing to allow this slur on his reputation to pass, Niska returned to capture and torture Mal and Wash in revenge, only releasing Wash after Zoe paid him ransom money. (However, he claimed that she'd given him slightly too much, and so cut off Mal's left ear and gives it to her as a 'small refund'.) As a result, the entire crew of "Serenity" invades his satellite headquarters, allowing Mal to break free and forcing Niska to flee.

Throughout both episodes in which he appears ("The Train Job" and "War Stories"), the instrument associated with him in the soundtrack (i. e., providing his leitmotif) is the duduk.

The Operative

Appearing briefly in the comic book miniseries ' and then "Serenity", the nameless and rankless Operative"' is the principal antagonist of the film. He is portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

In the "Firefly" universe, an operative is an agent of the Alliance government. Similar to a black ops agent, an operative does work that is not specifically acknowledged by the government. Operatives figuratively don't exist; they give up their names upon attaining the position, and they have no official rank. However, their status as an operative can get them access to most Alliance facilities as well as deference from those who know what an operative is. Operatives are highly trained in close combat, both armed and unarmed. They are extremely devoted to their cause; they carry out even the most distasteful and morally repugnant tasks without asking questions.

Working directly for the Parliament of the Alliance, the Operative single-mindedly hunts down River Tam because he believes that his actions "make the world a better place". He is shown to have little problem with killing as part of his job, murdering several people using his sword and also ordering the attacks that are responsible for the death of, among others, Derrial Book. While the Operative may find the killing of an innocent girl wrong, he believes that he is serving a greater good by killing her. Despite the brutal nature of his work, the Operative is courteous in all his dealings, even with his intended victims. He dreams of "a world without sin", and the only way to attain that world is by doing whatever the Alliance asks him to do.

The Operative's weapon of choice is a sword. He sees it as being more of a civilized and classic method of killing, and prefers to use it as opposed to guns. He often tries to paralyze his targets by taking out a nerve cluster near their waist, and then stabs them; on some occasions, he has his enemies fall forward on to his sword, much like disgraced Roman generals used to do. He will use firearms when he has to, but they tend to be a last resort. In addition to his weapon and hand-to-hand training, the Operative is dangerous due to his resolve. He truly believes that what he is doing is right, and yet he has no delusions about the evils of it. He admits to Malcolm Reynolds that he is a monster and he can never live in the world he is helping to create.

Eventually, the Operative discovers that the secret River Tam possesses, which he is trying to protect, has been passed to Mal. In an attempt to end the problem, the Operative fights Mal atop a large suspended computer terminal. Mal emerges victorious from the fight thanks to an old war-wound that caused the nerve cluster the Operative normally attacks to have been moved, rendering the Operative's traditional attack useless. He then manages to give the Operative doubts about his mission by forcing him to watch a report by another Alliance officer, revealing that the Alliance itself was responsible for accidentally creating the Reavers in the course of mass mind control experiments on the planet of Miranda. When Mal broadcasts this secret to the universe, the Operative admits defeat and decides to leave the Alliance, helping the crew piece "Serenity" back together after the damage sustained in the crash. In a deleted scene, he asks Mal how he went on after the Battle of Serenity Valley, where he lost everything, but Mal simply tells him that the Operative would need to learn that for himself, muttering to himself loudly, "What a "whiner".

Ott

Introduced in , Ott and his gang steal the "coin" (a large sum of money) from Mal and crew in the town of Constance. There are Chinese characters tattooed along the right side of his face, and his personality is depicted as very greedy (he even tries to take Mal's gun from the war).

Patience

Patience, an elderly woman, is the leader of the backwater moon Whitefall and notorious in the backstory of the crew of "Serenity" for having previously shot Mal due to a "legitimate conflict of interests". Despite this, Mal takes the crew to her in order to shift some troubling cargo in the pilot episode, "Serenity", and despite her treachery successfully sells the cargo. She is portrayed by Bonnie Bartlett.

affron

"Saffron" is one of several known aliases of a character played by Christina Hendricks. She is a very crafty and apparently amoral con artist who assumes convenient identities to commit grand thefts. She is also known to use her feminine wiles on — and occasionally marry — her marks.

Malcolm Reynolds and the crew of "Serenity" have encountered her twice as of the close of the original "Firefly" series.

In "Our Mrs. Reynolds", Mal finds himself married to her in an obscure native ceremony, as she pretends to be a demure, compliant girl trained to be a subservient wife. Saffron overtakes the crew with stealth and guile, and sends the ship off to be scrapped by pirates, but they manage to escape.

In "Trash", she convinces Mal to steal a priceless antiquity owned by a man who turns out to be another former husband of hers; she apparently manages to steal the artifact from them, but the crew were secretly playing her from the beginning and take the artifact back for themselves.

When last seen, Saffron is trapped in a trash bin, awaiting release by the authorities who are en route to her location.

Saffron's real name is unknown to the "Serenity" crew: she poses as "Bridget" for Mal's smuggler friend Monty, and as "Yolanda" to Durran, the wealthy owner of the priceless antiquity, both of whom had also married her. Mal quips on this name confusion in "Trash" by calling her "Yo-Saff-Bridge". Mal refers to Durran as her "real" husband, in that Durran is the only one of her husbands she seems to have genuine feelings for and regrets having lied to.

quotation|Durran: How long have you been with him?
Mal: Oh— pfft! We are "not" together.
Saffron: He's my husband.
Mal: Well, "who" in the damn galaxy "ain't"?!|"Trash"

According to "Serenity" crew member and Companion Inara Serra, Saffron has had some Companion training. This organization of legal, high-society courtesans appears to provide its members with psychological education to enable them to establish more than a merely sexual relationship with their clients. Saffron uses these skills to help her seduce her marks, even attempting to seduce Inara herself.

Both Mal and Durran suspect Saffron is mentally unbalanced, because she reverts to feminine wiles when caught or trapped. This usually follows events of aggression and/or utter contempt for her victims. Her continued survival suggests that this is actually a successful strategy. She seems unable to trust anyone, telling Mal that everyone plays everybody else.

Tracey Smith

Tracey Smith was a war buddy of Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Alleyne from the war against the Alliance. Mal helped get Tracey through the war, but after the war Tracey became something of a drifter, eventually falling in with organ smugglers. When he runs afoul of them, he arranges to have his apparently dead body shipped to Reynolds for transportation back home. In reality, Tracey is drugged into a deep coma to simulate this post-mortem state, trying to doublecross the organ smugglers. Cornered by Tracey's enemies, the crew of "Serenity" plan their escape, but Tracey misunderstands their intentions and takes Kaylee hostage, thinking that they intend to hand him over to the soldiers. He informs Mal that he sought out Mal and Zoe because they were saps. In the ensuing conflict, Tracey is shot by Zoe, then again by Malcolm, and dies shortly after learning that the soldiers hunting them were there illegally and would not be missed if they were killed. He is portrayed in "The Message" by Jonathan M. Woodward.

Gabriel and Regan Tam

Gabriel and Regan Tam are River and Simon's parents. Well-to-do, they take great pride in their social position and Simon's achievement. They support the Alliance and do not believe it could or would do anything to harm their daughter, River, who was in their care in a special school. In the episode "Safe", Simon expresses both his concern that River is in danger and his belief that River's nonsensical letters are a code to his parents, who scoff at the idea, saying that the letters are one of River and Simon's "games" and that Simon is just "lost" without his sister. Later on in the same episode Simon is apparently jailed for his actions involving trying to gain access to River. His father is seen getting him out of jail through legal means, but warns Simon that if he gets into trouble a second time he will no longer be part of the family. In "Safe", Gabriel Tam is played by William Converse-Roberts and Regan Tam is played by Isabella Hofmann.

Lenore

Introduced in Serenity, Lenore is Mr. Universe's LoveBot and wife. As he dies, she is used to record a warning message for Mal. She is portrayed by Nectar Rose

Atherton Wing

Atherton Wing is a young nobleman on Persephone who has hired Inara Serra on multiple occasions. On some of these occasions, he has proposed a more permanent arrangement with her. In "Shindig", at a fancy ball to which he has taken Inara as his partner, he refers to Inara in terms which reflect his regard for her as a valuable slave or piece of property, causing Mal (also in attendance) to strike him. In Atherton's social circle (and unbeknownst to Mal), such an attack is regarded as an invitation to a duel, which he accepts. Wing is known on Persephone as a master swordsman and duelist (which Mal is definitely not), but he is defeated due to Inara's intervention. In anger, he threatens her with physical and professional harm, but Inara tells him that in reality, he is the one in trouble: Wing now has a black mark in the Companion books, and will be henceforth unable to hire any Companions. The character is played by Edward Atterton.

References

Further reading

*"More Than a Marriage of Convenience" Michelle Sagara West, "Finding Serenity", ed. Jane Espensen, BenBella Press 2005, pp.97-103, ISBN 1932100431.
* "Firefly — The Complete Series" DVD set ASIN|B0000AQS0F
** specific episodes: "Serenity", "Out of Gas"
** "Here's How It Was: The Making of "Firefly": a 28-minute making-of featurette.
* cite journal
title= 'Tis Pity She's a Whore: Postfeminist Prostitution in Joss Whedon's "Firefly"?
url= http://slayageonline.com/Mr_Pointy/Amy-Chinn_Tis%20Pity%20She's%20a%20Whore.pdf
accessdate= 2007-11-20
last= Amy-Chinn
first= Dee
journal= Feminist Media Studies
month= June | year= 2006
volume= 6
issue= 2
pages= pp. 175–190
format=PDF
*cite book | title=Serenity: The Official Visual Companion | publisher=Titan Books | location=UK | year=2005 | author=Joss Whedon | id=ISBN 1-84576-082-4
*cite book | title=Firefly Official Companion, Volume One | publisher=Titan Books | location=UK | year=2006 | author=Joss Whedon | id=ISBN 1-84576-314-9
*cite book | title=Serenity: The Role Playing Game | publisher=Margaret Weis Productions, LTD | location=US | year=2005 | author=Jamie Chambers | id=ISBN 1-931567-50-6
*Cite visual |title= Serenity |director= Joss Whedon |medium=DVD |distributor=Universal
*Cite visual |title= Firefly: The Complete Series | director= Joss Whedon | medium=DVD | distributor=20th Century Fox
*cite book | last = Whedon | first = Joss | authorlink = Joss Whedon | title = Serenity: Those Left Behind | publisher = Dark Horse Books| year= 2006 | location = Milwaukie, OR| isbn = 1-59307-449-2
*cite book | title=Serenity | publisher=Pocket Books | location=US | year=2005 | author=Keith R.A. DeCandido | id=ISBN 1-4165-0755-8
*cite journal | last = Greene | first = Eric | authorlink = Eric Greene | title = The Good Book | journal = Serenity Found | pages = 79–94 | publisher = BenBella Press | location = Dallas, TX | year= 2007 | id=ISBN 978-1-933771-21-2
*cite visual|date=2003-12-09|title=Train Job:Director's Commentary|medium=DVD|distributor=20th Century Fox