This was a relatively simple episode, and I think that’s what makes it work. They continue to build up the mystique of the Reavers, this time by showing us the aftermath of one of their attacks, but not showing the Reavers themselves. It’s wise, and it’s one of the reasons I do think the cancellation might have kept the show’s quality up. If they’d tried to keep the Reavers interesting for several seasons, it would likely have failed, but right now they are still seemingly dangerous killers who leave behind ghost ships and mentally-scarred survivors.

The episode also does a thing that shows do a lot where they have someone interviewing the group, one at a time, so we get different bits with the characters giving answers. I suppose that, as ways to get character exposition out go, it’s one of the more fun ways.

I don’t have many deeper thoughts about it, beyond thinking that the whole “ghost ship” narrative doesn’t really feel very Western, especially since I am trying not to think of the Reavers as Hollywood-style “Injuns” at this point, though I can definitely understand that reading.

I dunno, I thought it was a fine episode.