Mal lost his faith...

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Monday, May 16, 2005 21:36
VIEWED: 6993
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CHRISISALL

Friday, March 25, 2005 8:30 PM

In Serenity we see Mal kiss his crucifix just as he is about to be left hanging in the wind by his own side. Now I'm not sayin' he had a literal belief in God, but faith in goodness, in his fellow man, civilization or whatever...
Just how wounded is he?
He's not as bad as, say, Hawke from Airwolf("Damn you!" " You're too late,Gabrielle, God already has.") but he's hurtin'.("nothing matters...")
What would it take make him right with the 'verse?

Would you want to see this resolved in upcoming movies, or does Mal need his pain to remain as interesting a character as he is?

uh-oh, I'm thinkin' I started somethin'....

Chrisisall

MANWITHPEZ

Friday, March 25, 2005 8:47 PM

I think that Mal losing his faith is evident in some episodes of the show, but not as evident as it would've been if Fox hadn't tried to tinker with the show to make Mal lighter. Its still there, though...specifically in "The Train Job" (You're welcome on my boat...God ain't). But, to say that Mal has lost his faith in his fellow man is not right. Its is Mal's faith in his crew that is his saving grace sometimes. I think that part of the great job of this show is showing that someone who has had their faith crushed can begin to regain it when he is surrounded by the right people. Mal's crew has a very humanizing effect on him, as do the passengers, right on down to Simon and River. Mal has demonstrated that he is more than willing to go out on a limb for these siblings that he doesn't know (doesn't even seem to like, sometimes), and to me, that seems almost like the actions of a father, or a big brother. Mal's belief that his crew and his ship are the most important things in the 'verse are what make him such a watchable and likeable character.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

MANWITHPEZ

Friday, March 25, 2005 8:50 PM

And, to further reiterate the idea, (and be annoying at the same time) If Mal were to lose any of his crew, he would be crushed, I think. He evens see redemption in Jayne, a character whose morality seems to go wherever the wind blows it. Mal has faith in Jayne, not necessarily that Jayne will always do the right thing, but that he can be steered to do so. Let's say that Jayne had tried to cross...I don't know...Zoe, the way he did Mal when he tried to turn over the Tams. she wouldn't have hesistated to blow him out the airlock. Mal didn't, and shows (again, I think) that Mal believes that Jayne can and will be saved and safe to be around.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

CHRISISALL

Friday, March 25, 2005 9:48 PM

Excellent points, all. Especially about the humanizing effects of his crew. But he seems just a mite more fragil to me than you seem to indicate. Inara deciding to leave the ship might brought back that feeling of abandonment from the battle of Serenity in a bigger way than Mal can handle. Like nothin' you do matters, things will be lost anyway.
Good point about Jayne, seems Mal wants to see the good (or the possibility thereof)in him, sorta makes him more a man of the cloth than Book (but we know about him...)
Personally, I think the moment Inara tells him she loves him is the moment his life will regain true meaning (blagh, blagh, I'm a mushy idiot at heart)
But then isn't Firefly really a story about family?

Chrisisall

ZEEK

Friday, March 25, 2005 11:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Excellent points, all. Especially about the humanizing effects of his crew. But he seems just a mite more fragil to me than you seem to indicate. Inara deciding to leave the ship might brought back that feeling of abandonment from the battle of Serenity in a bigger way than Mal can handle. Like nothin' you do matters, things will be lost anyway.
Good point about Jayne, seems Mal wants to see the good (or the possibility thereof)in him, sorta makes him more a man of the cloth than Book (but we know about him...)
Personally, I think the moment Inara tells him she loves him is the moment his life will regain true meaning (blagh, blagh, I'm a mushy idiot at heart)
But then isn't Firefly really a story about family?

Chrisisall

Good point. I think that Inara leaving may have been a huge plot point with Mal. We do have the scene where River reads him in Objects In Space where he says, "None of it means a damn thing". Fits pretty well with your theory. I don't know about the Inara telling him she loves him thing but the rest of it seems good.

I think Mal really hasn't lost his faith. He's trying his hardest to close himself off so he won't have anything to lose but he just can't stop being who he is. He cares about people whether he wants to or not. As much as he tries to push them away, he really does want some companionship. Probably why he's in love with the companion. Eh? Eh? Oh come on, that's funny stuff.

COVINGTON

Friday, March 25, 2005 11:21 PM

This brings up a point I'm not sure of myself. Mal turns back and let's Jayne live after Jayne demonstrates a conscience and shame by asking not to be remembered by the others as a traitor in Ariel. If Jayne hadn't, do you think Mal really would have let him die right there, or would he have dumped him off alive at the next stop?

CHRISISALL

Friday, March 25, 2005 11:57 PM

I like your take on all this. Mine is maybe a little too dramatic.
Damn do I love these characters!

By the way, who do you think has less trouble throwin' a man off the deep end, Jayne...or Book?

P.S. you have a singular wit

Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Saturday, March 26, 2005 12:02 AM

He would have dumped him at the next stop. Mal could only kill one of his own crew (regardless of how much they deserved it) to prevent an innocent gettin' killed or in self defence.
One great moment of the series, no doubt.

Chrisisall

MANWITHPEZ

Saturday, March 26, 2005 3:32 AM

I think Jayne is the kind of man that, once you cross, its better to kill than leave him to his own devices...Because his own devices are always going to tell him to come after you. I think Mal knows this...I believe that Mal would have let Jayne blow out the lock, and good riddance. When Mal says he is protective of his crew, he means it. Even if the threat comes from within. Sometimes, especially if the threat comes from within.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

CHRISISALL

Saturday, March 26, 2005 5:12 PM

When you put it that way, then lettin' Jayne die would be preventing a killin'.

Okay, you're possibly not incorrect.

You know, this is the hardest question I've come across. I have to watch the ep again right now to see Mals face.

Later.

Chrisisall

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