What exactly did Mal do to the Operative after the throat-punch?

[Orrex]

The Operative closed in for the kill with the sword, Mal sidestepped and caught him in the throat, then did something that looked and sounded like a neck-breaker move, but then we see the Operative ambulatory not too long thereafter.

What was that bone-crunching maneuver?

[DarkTirade]

1. Popped his shoulders out of their socket.

Hence the icky crunch noise and the upper body immobility.

[Orrex]

2. Ouch! I hate that!

Well, that would certainly take the zip out of his swordsmanship.

Thanks for the info. I've never seen even five minutes of the series, but I love the movie.

[DarkTirade]

3. I saw the movie first, then the series.

But when I saw the movie again after watching the series it hit me a LOT harder. Probably just because I'd connected to the characters more after seeing the series. :)