I, Danielle Zimmerman, am watching Firefly for the very first time and am exactly halfway through the season. I just finished the seventh episode (“Jaynestown”) and thought I’d share some of my predictions for the rest of the season and the movie.

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I like to consider myself a bit of a pop culture junkie, but there are some definite gaps in my pop culture education. For the longest time, Firefly was one of the largest.

All of my fellow Hypable writers and staff members reference Firefly nonstop no matter what we’re discussing or reporting on because it’s easily in our general staff’s list of top five favorite shows. In tenure on our ReWatchable podcast, I had to sit through them comparing themes and characters in Veronica Mars and Pushing Daisies to Firefly.

It wasn’t that I had no interest in watching Firefly. It was just (confession) that I actually hadn’t heard of it until joining Hypable and I’ve had other things on my list to watch before getting to it.

But now, I’m not only crossing it off of my list but I’m binge-watching it as much as my work (and social) schedule will allow. I thought it would be fun to share some of my theories and predictions that I have for the rest of the season (and the movie).

Warning: If you’re like me and you’re watching Firefly for the first time, there will be purposeful as well as accidental spoilers here. Read at your own risk.

Prediction #1: It’s a Joss Whedon production, so someone (or multiple someones) is going to die.

I’ve been really surprised so far in the series that both of the characters that have been seriously injured (Kaylee and Book) didn’t die. I know Joss Whedon to be the man who takes advantage of main characters’ deaths, so I’ve been really surprised that all of the people on board Serenity are still alive and well. It’s only a matter of time before a character departs the show (or movie) in an emotionally gut-wrenching scene. It just has better not be Kaylee.

Prediction #2: River will inadvertently start another rebellion/war.

In the last episode that I watched, “Jaynestown,” River is left on the ship with Shepherd Book. She tries to “fix” his Bible so that it makes sense, demonstrating her need and drive for logic and reason. The Alliance government is hunting her because they believe her to be a powerful weapon that they could use. I think that their experiments were a form of brainwashing that they would’ve used to reprogram her slightly to see The Alliance’s side as being the most logical. However, now that she’s loose in the galaxy, she could very well unite Browncoats with her reasoning.

Prediction #3: Shepherd Book is running away from something. Or someone.

A man of the cloth doesn’t just go looking of a ship to ride around in for a few months. He should’ve had too many responsibilities to do so. Plus, he knows an awful lot about criminals and illegal activities for someone who’s cooped up in a church. I’m also curious why The Alliance was so swift with giving him medical attention for his gunshot wound. The Alliance officer looked downright intimidated by Book’s record and the response from the Alliance on Book’s behalf. There’s gotta be something more there. If there’s anything I’ve learned from Firefly so far, it’s that nothing is ever what it seems, especially when it comes to characters.

Prediction #4: Something from Mal’s past will come back to haunt him.

At this point, the Captain is still somewhat a mystery. While I’ve gotten accustomed to his personality and quirks, I still don’t really know what influenced them beyond the Unification War. I understand that he has a moral code and cares for his ship, crew, and independence. However, I’m really interested to find out what events really made him who he is. What events cause him to be sometimes callous and distrusting. Given that Whedon is a master at character development through plot, I believe that I’ll learn more about Mal when something (potentially from the past) puts him to the test.

Prediction #5: Both potential on-screen couples will get together but one will be broken apart by tragedy (aka death).

Kaylee and Simon, Mal and Inara. I’m on board. I ship ’em. At this point, I could see potential strengths and weaknesses for both couples, but I could see them both working relatively well. However, while I do think that they’ll get together (mainly because the show has kind of beaten me over the head with their relationships so far), I don’t think it’ll be without some kind of tragedy. Again, this is mainly because Whedon likes to keep his dramas realistic and has no problem with killing off main characters. After all, the ship’s crew are in danger non-stop. Someone’s going to die and I have a hunch it’ll be one half of a couple whose development I’ve been following for seven episodes.

Prediction #6: Regardless of what ends up happening, Kaylee will be the one to save them all (possibly with some help from Simon).

Full confession: I love Kaylee. A lot. She’s a very well-rounded character who has the perfect balance of intelligence and humor. While she may not be as skilled in battle as Mal or Zoe, she has a lot of heart. It’s her heart that I believe will overcome some large obstacle or threat at the end of the season or movie and save the ship’s crew. Since she has a budding relationship with Simon (who’s also posed as a less battle-skilled character), I definitely think he’ll have a hand in it as well.

Prediction #7: More of Joss Whedon’s ‘regulars’ will show up on ‘Firefly.’

Joss Whedon likes to pick favorites and, lucky for us, he has pretty good taste. The show already stars Nathan Fillion who’s definitely one of Whedon’s favorites. We’ve already seen Mark Sheppard and a handful of others, so who else are we going to encounter, I wonder? I’m predicting Alexis Denisof or David Boreanaz. Just because that would be awesome.

Prediction #8: I will never see Alan Tudyk as anyone but Steve the Pirate from ‘Dodgeball.’

I’ve tried. So hard. Really, I have. I’ve tried to see him as anyone but Steve the Pirate but it’s not happening. I even set it as my main goal before I started watching Firefly.

Also, my big question that I have for myself is will I ever see the guy who's Steve the PIrate in Dodgeball as anyone BUT Steve the Pirate? — Danielle Zimmerman (@Zimm102090) July 28, 2014

Hell, I even have to look up his real name because all I’ve ever known the actor as is Steve the Pirate (even when he was in A Knight’s Tale). The funny thing is that I don’t even love Dodgeball all that much! I wish I could stop seeing him this way, but as of right now, I don’t think I’ll be seeing his Firefly character as anything other than Steve the Pirate in space.

Got any questions/comments/concerns for me about my first go-round with ‘Firefly’? Leave them in the comments and let’s chat!

(And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to watch more Firefly.)