- "You can't stop the signal."
- ―Mr. Universe
Mr. Universe was a reclusive techno-geek. He lived (apparently) alone on a moon with his love-bot "wife", Lenore. He had a great affinity for data and was capable of intercepting nearly any transmission or recording in the system. He was seen stepping on a cloth-wrapped glass (as well as wearing a yarmulke) in a video clip of his wedding, indicating that he may be Jewish.
He was killed by the Operative as part of a trap the Operative set to capture the crew, but had set plans in motion for Malcolm Reynolds to broadcast a report from a Union of Allied Planets scientist that revealed the origins of the Reavers.
Trivia[]
- Before he is killed, he says "Give me my 30 pieces of coin." This is a reference to Judas Iscariot and the thirty pieces of silver he received for betraying Jesus to the authorities.
Memorable quotes[]
Mr. U.: "There is no news. There's the truth of the signal. What l see. And, there's the puppet theater. . . the Parliament jesters foist on the somnambulant public."
Mal: "Well, what about this? Did this make the puppet theater?"
Mr. U.: "No, sir. And no lawforce flags, either. I had to go into the security feed direct."
Mal: "You can do that?"
"Zoe, you sultry minx. Stop falling in love with me."
Mr. U.: "Can't stop the signal, Mal. Everything goes somewhere, and I go everywhere."
Behind the scenes[]
Mr. Universe appeared only in the movie Serenity. He was portrayed by David Krumholtz.
In the novelization for the movie Serenity, Mr. Universe is revealed to have been a student at the same flight school as Wash, achieving the highest possible grades by manipulating the school's software; Wash, knowing that he was a better pilot than Mr. Universe, was able to arrange for Mr. Universe to provide him with information in the future in return for keeping the truth secret.