The episodes on TV were that way because FOX aired them out of order and refused to air the original one-hour pilot, so the "pilot" episode, "The Train Job" had to squeeze in all the exposition and change a couple of characters (making Mal more cheerful and upbeat, for instance.)
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This would explain HEAPS about the frustrating TV series that actually made it through the television set and into my visual cortex. Why the heck would a network... never mind. Juggled episodes? I can sort of see the series making a little sense in that context. Maybe I WILL have to see the movie after all.
When was Mal cheerful and upbeat?