49? Hell no, I do not buy that. 40, at best. Seriously.

(Unless people in the future live an extra hundred years or something.)

I always pictured Mal in his late twenties or early thirties for the war, but never any specific age. Certainly not his forties, that's for sure.

Also, I LOVE your icon, and I so agree about Out of Gas. What a fantastic episode. (Also, that quote cracks me up every time. I love Zoe and Mal's banter.♥)