https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=76.104.210.208explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-07-10T01:24:32ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=581:_The_Race:_Part_5&diff=37971581: The Race: Part 52013-05-20T06:02:18Z<p>76.104.210.208: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 581<br />
| date = May 8, 2009<br />
| title = The Race: Part 5<br />
| image = the_race_part_5.png<br />
| imagesize = <br />
| titletext = It was actually canceled because they just noticed he's been naked under that coat the whole time. There's a petition on Facebook to get Fox to un-cancel it, and one on Livejournal to get him to take off the coat.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is a continuation of the previous comic in "[[The Race]]" series,<br />
[[580: The Race: Part 4]].<br />
<br />
In panel 6 (2nd panel in the 2nd row), {{w|Nathan Fillion}} line is<br />
reminiscent of a similar quote from the 2nd episode of {{w|Firefly (TV series)|Firefly}}, <br />
{{w|The Train Job}}: "I just wanted you to face me<br />
so she could get behind ya." In the show, {{w|Malcolm Reynolds}} is<br />
aided by {{w|Zoë Washburne}}, his second in command, who gets behind<br />
the bar thug he is speaking to. In the comic, Nathan Fillion is using<br />
the line on a fan, but {{w|Gina Torres}} is not standing behind<br />
[[Cueball]] this time.<br />
<br />
Summer's statement in the 10th panel about swallowing a bug is a reference to the movie Serenity, made in 2005 to conclude Firefly's storyline. While on the run from the Reavers, Summer's character accidentally swallows a bug while sitting in the open seated hovercraft.<br />
<br />
The final panel is a reference to {{w|Fox TelevisionTV}}'s treatment<br />
of Firefly. Firefly was cancelled after only 11 episodes of the 14<br />
made were aired, leaving 3 episodes unaired.<br />
<br />
Internet petitions, contrary to the sarcastic suggestion in the final<br />
panel, rarely, if ever, work.<br />
<br />
All comics in "[[The Race]]" series:<br />
* [[577: The Race: Part 1]]<br />
* [[578: The Race: Part 2]]<br />
* [[579: The Race: Part 3]]<br />
* [[580: The Race: Part 4]]<br />
* [[581: The Race: Part 5]]<br />
<br />
This series was released on 5 consecutive days(Monday-Friday) and not over the usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
'''Note: The transcript below comes from the xkcd website itself,<br />
'''however it appears to be the transcript for [[582: Brakes]], not this<br />
'''comic. If and when [[Randall]] updates the transcript for this comic<br />
'''this transcript will be updated.'''<br />
<br />
Of the potential responses to my brakes' failure, I did not choose the best.<br />
<br />
[A car, in silhouette, is sailing off the edge of a cliff. The voice comes from a phone inside the car.]<br />
<br />
Voice: Hello, you're on Car talk.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Nathan Fillion]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Summer Glau]]<br />
[[Category:Firefly]]<br />
[[Category:The Race| 5]]</div>76.104.210.208https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=581:_The_Race:_Part_5&diff=37970581: The Race: Part 52013-05-20T06:01:12Z<p>76.104.210.208: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 581<br />
| date = May 8, 2009<br />
| title = The Race: Part 5<br />
| image = the_race_part_5.png<br />
| imagesize = <br />
| titletext = It was actually canceled because they just noticed he's been naked under that coat the whole time. There's a petition on Facebook to get Fox to un-cancel it, and one on Livejournal to get him to take off the coat.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is a continuation of the previous comic in "[[The Race]]" series,<br />
[[580: The Race: Part 4]].<br />
<br />
In panel 6 (2nd panel in the 2nd row), {{w|Nathan Fillion}} line is<br />
reminiscent of a similar quote from the 2nd episode of {{w|Firefly (TV series)|Firefly}}, <br />
{{w|The Train Job}}: "I just wanted you to face me<br />
so she could get behind ya." In the show, {{w|Malcolm Reynolds}} is<br />
aided by {{w|Zoë Washburne}}, his second in command, who gets behind<br />
the bar thug he is speaking to. In the comic, Nathan Fillion is using<br />
the line on a fan, but {{w|Gina Torres}} is not standing behind<br />
[[Cueball]] this time.<br />
<br />
Summer's statement in the 10th panel about swallowing a bug is a reference to the movie [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_(film)|Serenity]], made in 2005 to conclude [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series)|Firefly's]] storyline. While on the run from the Reavers, Summer's character accidentally swallows a bug while sitting in the open seated hovercraft.<br />
<br />
The final panel is a reference to {{w|Fox TelevisionTV}}'s treatment<br />
of Firefly. Firefly was cancelled after only 11 episodes of the 14<br />
made were aired, leaving 3 episodes unaired.<br />
<br />
Internet petitions, contrary to the sarcastic suggestion in the final<br />
panel, rarely, if ever, work.<br />
<br />
All comics in "[[The Race]]" series:<br />
* [[577: The Race: Part 1]]<br />
* [[578: The Race: Part 2]]<br />
* [[579: The Race: Part 3]]<br />
* [[580: The Race: Part 4]]<br />
* [[581: The Race: Part 5]]<br />
<br />
This series was released on 5 consecutive days(Monday-Friday) and not over the usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
'''Note: The transcript below comes from the xkcd website itself,<br />
'''however it appears to be the transcript for [[582: Brakes]], not this<br />
'''comic. If and when [[Randall]] updates the transcript for this comic<br />
'''this transcript will be updated.'''<br />
<br />
Of the potential responses to my brakes' failure, I did not choose the best.<br />
<br />
[A car, in silhouette, is sailing off the edge of a cliff. The voice comes from a phone inside the car.]<br />
<br />
Voice: Hello, you're on Car talk.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Nathan Fillion]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Summer Glau]]<br />
[[Category:Firefly]]<br />
[[Category:The Race| 5]]</div>76.104.210.208