Not exactly like, but be able to forgive it and still find him lovable? My conclusion was that aside from this issue, Mal was ultimately presented as a "slightly flawed" or "realistic" hero, who would do petty wrongs, but not serious wrongs. So I think the explanation there is that we are supposed to think it's slightly bad behavior, but not *inexcusable* behavior, and certainly not supposed to think it's expressing a deep, fundamental problem with him that would make him altogether unsuitable as even a wayward hero. That was my interpretation, anyway!