Mal is strange: there's a lot of things I like about him, but then there are other things that make it impossible for me to like the character as a whole. And yes to Jayne being "easier" because the show recognizes the problems with his character.

Zoe & Wash! I just watched "War Stories" (haven't watched "Ariel" yet, the order on the DVD menu is confusing) and they were just adorable in it. ...that word feels very weird to use for an episode with so much torture in it.