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''Serenity'' begins with an opening narration reminiscent of those used in the ''[[Firefly]]'' series; when it finishes, it is revealed to be a history/politics lesson at an open-air Alliance school; a young River Tam is among the students. Though the teacher asks why the Independents fought the Unification War against the Alliance, the discussion turns to horror stories about Reavers, until River comments that the Alliance "meddles" and that people yearn for freedom.
The scene snaps to River strapped in a chair in what veteran ''Firefly'' fans know is the Academy, while scientists work on and observe her. One of them, evidently a visiting official of some sort, questions the project head about her condition and the experiments he's run. When the visitor has enough information, he triggers a device that renders the (standing) scientists unconscious, with himself (kneeling) and River (sitting) unaffected. He unstraps her from the medical equipment and chair, and tells her it's her brother, Simon, here to rescue her.
A chase ensues, but the Tams are able to duck into an air shaft and are picked up by unknown accomplices. While they are being raised to their escape, the scene freezes, and a man walks through it - the entire scene is on display as a security recording. The administrator from the recording enters, with two bodyguards, and demands the visitor's ID. He complies, and his ID marks him as an unnamed "Operative of Parliament". He lectures the administrator over the other's failure to secure River and executes him and his bodyguards by sword.
A funeral is held on Haven for Shepherd Book, Wash, and Mr. Universe, with the surviving Serenity crew in attendance. Then they proceed with the more hopeful task of rebuilding ''Serenity'' - replacing lost parts, removing the fake signs of Reaver ownership, even repainting the ship's sigil. Simon and Kaylee even find some private time in the works. The ship finally receives its green light, and though the Operative warns that Parliament is not forgiving, Mal is confident they'll be able to make it.
Tropes Featured Include:
* [[Apocalyptic Log]]: The Miranda Recording.
* [[Big Damn Villains]]: the Reavers coming in behind ''Serenity'' against The Operative's fleet.
* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: Book, Wash, and a couple of tons of innocent people all die, but word gets out about Miranda. And Simon and Kaylee are together. So... take it how you will.
** The movie's existence itself could be considered one. Yes, it exists, but its low box office turnout makes it unlikely we'll ever see our Big Damn Heroes on the silver screen (or on the air) again.
* [[Bring News Back]] / [[Epic Hail]]: the plot from Miranda onwards.
* [[Coming in Hot]]: ''Serenity'' into Mr. Universe's complex.
* [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]]: Mal sparing The Operative, Wash's "leaf on the wind" landing, River's [[You Shall Not Pass]] moment.
* [[Crowning Moment of Funny]]: Just about anything with Wash, excepting the bit with the harpoon. Also, at the very end when a panel flies off ''Serenity''.
* [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]: A whole string of them at the end, from the funeral right on through to takeoff.
* [[Determinator]]: Mal for ''Serenity'', The Operative for the Alliance.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Wash, for one.
** Wash: This landing is gonna get pretty interesting. Mal: Define "interesting." Wash: Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die?
* [[Foot Focus]]: Three instances.
*** When Simon approaches River laying on top of the catwalk, the first thing the camera pans by is her bare feet.
*** During the heist the camera follows her bare feet as she's sensing the thoughts of citizens.
*** River has a brief hallucination regarding Miranda. She's dressed in the outfit the Blue Sun groups put her in, no shoes. The camera again follows her feet a little.
* [[Gone Horribly Right]]: The Pax, in 99.9% of cases.
* [[Gone Horribly Wrong]]: The Pax, in 0.1% of cases.
* [[Heel Realization]]: The Operative when he views the Miranda recording.
* [[Hold the Line]]: the defense in Mr. Universe's complex against the Reavers.
* [[The Horde]] : The Reavers
* [[Inspector Javert]] : The Operative
* [[It Got Worse]]: The Operative's "tracking". ''[[Kick the Dog|And how]]''.
* [[Kick the Dog]]: Haven and the other safehouses.
* [[Manchurian Agent]]: River's activation at the Maidenhead.
* [[My Fist Forgives You]]: Simon slugs Mal for (What else?) putting River in danger. Interestingly he is the only one of the crew that ever dared do that-- it's a [[Call Back]] to the series, where Mal punched Simon (twice!) in the "real" pilot for putting his ship in danger.
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|Nice Job Breaking It, Villains]]: In order: the Academy directors saw fit to put their heads of state in a room with a crazy psychic; The Operative's broadwave attempts to trigger River prevented Mal from turning the Tams off ''Serenity''; The Operative's assault on Haven and the other safeholds just makes Mal more determined to figure out what Miranda holds. So... yeah.
* [[No One Could Survive That]]: River's [[Heroic Sacrifice]]. Except... she does.
* [[No Place for Me There]]: The Operative is the [[Trope Namer]].
* [[Offscreen Villain Dark Matter]]: Not a villain, but ''where'' did Mr. Universe find the money for that complex?
* [[Playful Hacker]]: Mr. Universe. He even has a [[Sex Bot|lovebot]].
* [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner]]: "Yes, she always did love to dance," for Simon. "Do you know what your sin is?" for The Operative. "...right now I'll go with Wrath", for Mal.
* [[Tear Jerker]]: The second landing at Haven, when Wash died, and those ten minutes when ''nobody'' believes River could possibly survive.
* [[Telepathy]]
* [[Touch of Death]]: The Operator has one of these, though it's not precisely the touch itself which is deadly.
* [[Sex Bot]]: Turns out to be useful for other things, too, like messages.
* [[Voice of the Resistance]]: the broadwave of the Miranda recording might qualify.
* [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]: The Operative. The Alliance.
* [[You Shall Not Pass]]: [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|River's Turn]].
''(Mod note: the trope list that was here has been moved to the main ''[[Serenity]]'' page. Please add additional tropes there, not here.)''
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