Firefly actor Nathan Fillion has explained the decision to set the new animated series after the end of the live-action show but before the events of its follow-up movie, Serenity, and confirmed plans to bring back a fan-favorite character.
The opening scene is a flashback. Simon states he got outside help to help her escape in the first episode of firefly. The opening scene shows directly that it was a recorded video. Simon clearly states he gave up his entire life to rescue her, meaning that he could only do this trick once to get that deep into the labs. In another episode, Simon uses his doctor training to look at her brain being horrified at what they did to her. And finally, the bad ass fight scene in the bar where river decimated everyone. Simon again makes it clear that the trigger words were given to him by the same people who rescued her.
I rest my case that it is a flashback to showcase the lengths Simon went through to save her.
The opening scene is a flashback. Simon states he got outside help to help her escape in the first episode of firefly. The opening scene shows directly that it was a recorded video. Simon clearly states he gave up his entire life to rescue her, meaning that he could only do this trick once to get that deep into the labs. In another episode, Simon uses his doctor training to look at her brain being horrified at what they did to her. And finally, the bad ass fight scene in the bar where river decimated everyone. Simon again makes it clear that the trigger words were given to him by the same people who rescued her.
I rest my case that it is a flashback to showcase the lengths Simon went through to save her.