simon tam is the most underrated firefly character

—tamsiblings 💖💜

Bestie I am SO glad you asked. I am going to break a lot of hearts by not including the iconic Extremely Inconspicuous Suit and Orange Glasses combo, but I am here to discuss Simon's everyday outfits, not his Human Smuggling Fit™️. Third Place: Light-Blue Shirt (Ep5: Safe)

As Simon feels more at home on Serenity, he begins to wear blue-tones to match the infirmary. This literal blending in with the ship is used throughout the show (along with his transition to casual clothing) to visually demonstrate how Simon feels about his place within the crew. This is also why I will fight anyone who says that Simon's costume design isn't the best in the show.

Among the first times we see this is in Episode 5: Safe, in which Simon is wearing his usual white shirt + warm-toned waistcoat. When he's back on Serenity after being rescued by Mal, this white shirt has been replaced with a light blue one. I've always loved how subtle this change was, and how it sets things in motion for the rest of his costume development.

Second Place: Blue Sweater (Ep9: Ariel)

In Episode 9: Ariel, we see Simon in casual clothing for the fist time. By this point in the show, he hasn't fully abandoned the formality (hence the collared shirt), but the sweater he wears in this episode is a major shift. It's no coincidence that Ariel is also the episode in which Simon finally feels safe enough to both directly involve the crew with River's protection and to show them what he's capable of.

Honourable Mention: Colour-Block Sweater (Ep14: Objects in Space)

An honourable mention to highlight the journey Simon goes on with sweaters in particular. He begins with the one in Episode 9: Ariel, then by Episode 12: The Message, he loses the collared shirt underneath and opts for a turtleneck instead. This sweater from Episode 14: Objects in Space is extremely similar to the one worn in Episode 12: The Message, but the slightly-formal turtleneck has disappeared.

First Place: Pyjamas (Ep14: Objects in Space)

As the show comes to an end, Simon has no doubt that Serenity is his home. He has no one to impress there, and no one to convince of his worth or personhood. The formal clothing he wore almost as protection is completely gone. He's casual enough to fit in with the crew, and the colours he wears make him blend in with his infirmary.

To drive home the point, Simon spends almost the entire final episode in his pyjamas. It can't get more casual than that.