Our Mrs. Reynolds

After a village celebration Mal wakes up married. His bride Saffron seems shy and devoted – but she isn’t who she appears to be.

To thank them for a job, a village throws a big celebration for the crew. The next morning a young woman is on board: Saffron. Mal has unwittingly married her by accepting a wreath and dancing with her.

Saffron plays the shy, devoted wife who wants to serve Mal in every way, giving the crew plenty to tease him about. Book warns Mal not to take advantage, and Jayne even offers his beloved gun Vera in exchange for her.

But Saffron is a con artist. Her lipstick is laced with a drug; with a kiss she knocks Mal out, flattens Wash and steers Serenity into a huge salvager’s net. Mal comes to, Inara finds him – and kisses him, after which she drops too. Together they get Serenity free, and Mal runs into Saffron once more at the end.

Written by Joss Whedon. Saffron is played by Christina Hendricks, who later became famous with “Mad Men”.