Inara's Needle?

POSTED BY: SouthernSlayer
UPDATED: Monday, January 10, 2005 09:20
VIEWED: 10807
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KIRINA

Friday, January 7, 2005 9:04 AM

That is an interesting theory. After all, with Joss- with sci-fi in general for that matter- you've got to be wary of assuming that any line is a throwaway line, or that it can be taken at face value. I don't know though, the more I think about this the more I have to grudgingly admit that it would make sense. Inara's decision to leave after th4e Nandi incident (Heart of Gold) would make sense by this explanation, because if she's trying to be immortal or stop aging/stay young looking, then she can't stay in one place or with one group of people for too long or they'd start to notice- like in Tuck Everlasting if anyobne here's ever read that (great book btw). But I don't know, for some reason it doesn't sit right with me.
I came up with an explanation last night to explain everything I think needed explaining about Inara- why she left Zenon, why she left the Companions when she wanted to be head Companion or whatever and was looking like she was going to make it, why she chose Serenity of all ships, why she came to the decision to leave when she did, what the needle was all about, what her line about not wanting to die really meant- the whole shebang. It's kinda like the illness that everyone's suggesting- I'm not saying it's the most original of explanations, but I don't think I've read the exact same thing anywhere else, and it's what I think fits best. My theory is that Inara has a hereditary disease- non-infectious, and one of these ones that make the body weaker over time, and is terminal and incurable. The drug in the needle is the nearest thing to a treatment that exists- it holds the disease at bay and helps her keep functioning at a normal level when it gets bad- it's not something that has to be taken regularly, just on 'bad days', a bit like an asthma inhaler. She left the Companions when it was diagnosed as terminal to travel, make the most of however long she has left, and went with Serenity because of the independence she could have there- the fact that she wouldn't be constantly under someone's watch or anything- and that she'd get to see a lot of places she probably wouldn't otherwise visit. She decided to leave because she couldn't have that sort of restriction on her, and she couldn't let anyone get too close because she was going to die and didn't want to put them through that or whatever. Then the dealio with whatshisface, the guy who sword-fights with Mal- I'm so annoyed I can't remember his name! It's right on the tip of my tongue. Never mind. Anyway, why she considers staying with him- she's travelled, it's a reasonably nice life, and it'd be a temptation to stay in that sort of luxurious life for the last of her time. And I think she left Zenon because of her family- either they lost their money, or one of her parents was diagnosed with the illness and they were evicted from the planet when it was found incurable (it's the Core, they probably don't want the general populace exposed to such things? I don't know! It's a theory! It makes sense if you're me, and hopefully also if you're not).

What are anyone's thoughts? Fundamentally flawed? Just doesn't sit right? Actually makes sense?

REEQUEEN

Friday, January 7, 2005 4:16 PM

Interesting theories - to be honest, I hadn't given it that much thought, but now that I have:

I really like the "Inara is dying" theory. It explains a lot of her behaviour, her rectitude about her own secrets, why she left Sihnon, and so forth. Nicely ties up some stuff. I also like the idea of her chasing immortality (something I'm inclined to do myself), it explains the same things in a similar way.

My own theory about the syringe? It's poison. Not to kill herself, but since the reavers are cannibals, if she was poisoned, she'd be killing them when they "partook" of her flesh. Or even something that killed them as they raped her. Not pleasant things to think about, but taking someone with you as they're killing you is a nice vengeance trope.

Since she is obviously the prettiest, sexiest, or may perceived as such by reavers, the chances that she'd be the first victim are good. Maybe she thought by poisoning them, killing them off with their violation of her body, she'd have a chance of saving the others.

Just an idea.

"There is no grace under pressure for a cat on fire." Cosi

ZEEK

Friday, January 7, 2005 6:08 PM

I think the problem with the immortality or terminal illness theories is the way she looks at the syringe. It's a look of loss. Like she was ready to kill herself (which was the red herring apparently). The only other thing that fits the bill for me is that the syringe contains a child that she had removed and placed in some sort of statis in the syringe. Perhaps she couldn't have the child due to guild rules or something. Perhaps her feelings for Mal remind her of those she felt for the father of the baby. Perhaps Heart of Gold was just too much for her. What with her feelings for Mal and then him sleeping with Nandi. Then the baby being born. Maybe she just had to get away from all the memories being stirred up.

The problem with that theory is that it has nothing to do with the line "I don't want to die at all".

I don't know...maybe all the theories are off to some extent. Nothing seems to fit perfectly with the evidence.

REEQUEEN

Friday, January 7, 2005 6:15 PM

If we ever find out what the meaning of the syringe is, I'm sure we'll all be surprised. Pleasantly or unpleasantly, who knows?

But it is amusing to speculate.

I really don't like the "it's a baby" theory, though. Don't know why, maybe it's something to do with the assumption that all women must want children, therefore Inara must want a child. Not that I'm arguing against it, I just don't like it very much.

"There is no grace under pressure for a cat on fire." Cosi

ZEEK

Friday, January 7, 2005 7:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ReeQueen:
If we ever find out what the meaning of the syringe is, I'm sure we'll all be surprised. Pleasantly or unpleasantly, who knows?

But it is amusing to speculate.

I really don't like the "it's a baby" theory, though. Don't know why, maybe it's something to do with the assumption that all women must want children, therefore Inara must want a child. Not that I'm arguing against it, I just don't like it very much.

"There is no grace under pressure for a cat on fire." Cosi

Where do you get that theory from? By that logic wouldn't every woman want to be a prostitute? Just because her character does one thing doesn't mean it's a reflection on every woman.

oh yeah and on another note I still like the baby thing because she flips out in Our Mrs. Reynolds after wishing Mal hundreds of fat children. Granted it's probably just because she doesn't want Mal to be with anyone else, but I've always thought there was more to that scene than meets the eye.

SLGN

Friday, January 7, 2005 8:57 PM

When I heard Joss' commentary that it wasn't a suicide kit - I then assumed it was a drug kit (as someone posted above), and Inara is addicted to something like opium. My guess, she was debating a 'fix.' An addiction would explain leaving the order (Shinnon) and not tying herself to others (who may eventually find out such a secret). Surely it would be against Guild Law to companion [can I use 'companion' as a verb? ] while addicted.

I like the illness/dying and the poision ideas a lot that folks posted above. But you're right, it doesn't make sense to be concerned for your health (disease-wise) if you're about to be boarded by Reavers.

(note: I didn't and won't be reading spoiler note)

RAT

Friday, January 7, 2005 9:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by slgn:
Surely it would be against Guild Law to companion [can I use 'companion' as a verb? ] while addicted.

All in favor of using companion as a verb say aye!!

ZEEK

Friday, January 7, 2005 9:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by slgn:
When I heard Joss' commentary that it wasn't a suicide kit - I then assumed it was a drug kit (as someone posted above), and Inara is addicted to something like opium. My guess, she was debating a 'fix.' An addiction would explain leaving the order (Shinnon) and not tying herself to others (who may eventually find out such a secret). Surely it would be against Guild Law to companion [can I use 'companion' as a verb? ] while addicted.

I like the illness/dying and the poision ideas a lot that folks posted above. But you're right, it doesn't make sense to be concerned for your health (disease-wise) if you're about to be boarded by Reavers.

(note: I didn't and won't be reading spoiler note)

That doesn't explain the "I don't want to die at all" comment that is also supposed to have something to do with Inara's secret.

I wonder if it would be against guild law to use drugs though. If this future is so accepting of a companion's work doesn't it seem likely that they aren't as strict about recreational drug use?

REEQUEEN

Friday, January 7, 2005 11:29 PM

Zeek:

Quote:
Where do you get that theory from? By that logic wouldn't every woman want to be a prostitute? Just because her character does one thing doesn't mean it's a reflection on every woman.

Um, because it's a widely-held stereotype? I was merely extrapolating from the obvious - although how anybody could have a baby or DNA in a syringe is a bit beyond what I know about in vitro fertilization and genetics, or even what I can extapolate from the science. The syringe did not look like something one would jam up one's ying-yang (needle? Ouch!). I don't think, even five hundred years into the future, one could make oneself pregnant by injecting genetic material into one's blood-stream.

As I said, that's just my little hangup. I don't like the theory and I explained why.

I also think prostitution is a really bad career path for anyone, although I firmly believe it should be legalized, with some sort of health screen put in place a la the Companion's Guild. In several close-up shots of Inara during the series, after a particularly dense male has made some inept comment or another (and vividly expressed by Atherton Wing in Shindig), it is clear Inara has doubts about her own profession as well.

Probably part of the reason she left Sihnon and took to travelling.

Of course, my favourite theory is still the poison one, partly because I came up with it, but mostly because it ties up a bunch of things quite nicely. For me.

"There is no grace under pressure for a cat on fire." Cosi

ZEEK

Friday, January 7, 2005 11:42 PM

I don't see it as an offensive stereotype. I think it's more of a factual stereotype anyway. It's a genetic urge to want to reproduce. Everyone has it programmed into their DNA. So I don't see what the problem is.

That's true I don't remember the needle being very long so I'm not sure if she could really insert it all the way into her womb without going the painful route you suggest. Maybe I'll have to watch Serenity again and check it out.

Another point I'm not sure anyone has really mentioned is that Morena might not even have known at the time what the syringe was. Maybe they just told her to look concerned. So the look on her face might not be the best evidence for us to use.

Just spittin out thoughts as the come to me.

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