JayneCobb: obtuse and in-appropriate.
POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 22:17
VIEWED: 18522
PAGE 5 of 8
"They're whores.""I'm in!"
Fivver
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Here's the progression:
Cordelia = Spike = Jayne
in the following sense...
Joss uses each character as a stylistic device, and they all perform the same function it their respective ensembles. They are the characters who will tell you the truth as they see it to your face no matter how uncomfortable it makes you. Although each character has different reasons for their blunt speech, each of them is the character who isn't afraid to say the things that everyone else is too polite, too sensitive, too much in denial, too stoic, or too afraid to say. In this way, Joss is able to use this character to call attention to issues which none of the other characters would come right out and talk about. In addition, he often does this under the guise of humor. Like the trickster gods of mythology, this character makes you laugh at the same time that they are revealing something important to you. They shake you out of your comfort zone.
At the same time, each is a unique character, with a different personality and a different reason for their unconventional manners. I think both the similarities and the differences between these characters which have been posted it this thread are evidence of Joss's skill at his craft. He's found a device that works for the kind storytelling he wants to do: the character who ignores the boundaries of polite speech, and in each series he reinvents that character to be appropriate for the setting and ensemble around him/her.
In summary: Cordelia, Spike and Jayne perform the same function and share many characteristics, although they are very different characters. 
Thus we can see the marvelous hand of Joss within his creation. Praise to thee, Joss, in thy works!
*** *** ***
The woods are the only place where I can see a clear path.
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I would have to agree about Joss's use of Jayne, Cordelia, and Spike (and would have to add Anya in that catagory also)...they are great for when a writer needs someone to say the wrong thing....stuff no real person would come out N say. Now, I will make some enemies by sayin it ...but its kinda like Treks use of androids and those pointy ear fellas...
...but i think one big and very important element is that Spike and Jayne bring to their respective shows is that they are "Bad guys" who you like.
Its kinda obvious to say...but
This is especially important for selling the whole concept of Firefly. Buffy and Angel work fine as a good guys vs the evils of the world. But to sell a crew of smugglers & criminals trying to make money and stay ahead of the law...having a dumb criminal type on board is kinda vital for getting the right atmosphere.
Jayne gives credibility to Serenity. Without him it'd be just another missfit crew of crusaders like Andromeda (only better written..better FX...and better acting...but othewise the same-ish).
I think the line that sums Jayne up best is "little Kaylee is always one man short"
Crude, rude, and blunt. But almost brotherly and endearing..
He is trecherous, greedy, and selfish...but he is one of the crew.
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Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. (:~D
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I always laugh out loud when I come to the scene in "Shindig" where Mal and Jayne are talking to Badger and Badger is trying to find the right word.
Jayne didn't even seem to have listened to the conversation but to be more interested in the booze and the sandwich and suddenly says: "Pretentious?"
Mal's and Badger's look at him at that very moment, priceless.
And Jayne just keeps on stuffing something into his mouth as if nothing happened 
Gavida
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I believe I have determined the best Jayne Cobb line:
"We applied the cordical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient"
I think it's the smartest thing he's ever said.
Do not fear me. Ours is a peaceful race, and we must live in harmony.
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Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
I told thatweirdgirl that when I read her posts I always hear River's voice; and when I read your posts, I always hear Jayne's (but with a good deal more brain cells). I in NO way see you as Oz, unless you stare (in person) as a reaction to a question...I can't tell here.
Aren't we a little likeness demon Chrisisall
I'm so screwed up that the character you hear when I post is River. You do know that she's a bit touched? I've never once thought of Finn as Jayne.
Anywho...in my opinion the best jayne moments are the nonverbal ones: the worry for Kaylee, the determination in a fight, the resignation when he has to back down, the joy when he's brushin a woman's hair...stuff like that.
*in her River voice*
When the balloon pops, don't let him put sand in my eyes.
www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
"...turn right at the corner then skip two blocks...no, SKIP, the hopping-like thing kids do...Why? Why not?"
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"...it's my very favorite gun" *holds out Vera to be offered in trade for Saffran*. (I couldn't quote all that gun talk before that line)
I also love the, few, times you see the softer side of Jayne. Like when he is crouched watching to see if Kaylee will get better after she is shot and when he is trying to understand why someone would take a bullet for HIM.
Then we could start on all the lines ABOUT Jayne. Like someone had started to do and got corrected. But all those lines about him are great too and are appropriate, yes they are.
"my days of taking you seriously are finally comming to a middle"
"He's like a trained ape, without the training"
"Jayne, your mouth is talking, you might want to see to that"
"What DO you pay him for?"
...man I had a great one when I started this response.... what was it?
"His eyes keep following me" well, any of those lines and the looks of complete unbelief, awe, and shock during the statue scene
"Jayne?!" *when Inara realizes that the magistrates son is talking about Jayne being the hero of Canton
...man, can't remember what I forgot....y'all will think of it, I am sure.
No, it's shiny! I like to meet new people; they've all got stories.
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....OH, and I love the way he says "very" in "very favorite gun"......
and all the other moments thay y'all have mentioned... but.... you ... all ready mentioned them.
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Many people have referenced the "I was gonna get me a ear" line. Apparently, Adam dumbed it down a bit. A line that I always thought should have been "dumbed down" was the *huge* line in Ariel when Jayne was about to be shot out the air lock. When he says to Mal, "Don't tell them what I did." it always sounds wrong to me. I'm insistant that he should have said, "Don't tell them what I done." It just seemed to fit better.
Besides dumbing down lines, Adam also added a bit of compusiveness to Jayne that no other actor could have done well. If you'll notice, Jayne is always touching or picking at things. This was intentional on Adam's part.
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Gotta say my favorite is still this one
"There's nothing as deceivin' as a low down, diry... deceiver."
Though I love the eloquence of this speech.
Uh...I'm no good with words. Don't...don't use
'em much, myself.
(crowd chuckles)
But I want to thank you all for being here, and
for thinking so much of me... Far as I see it,
you people been given the shortest end of the
stick ever been offered a human soul in this
crap-hill 'verse....But you took that end...
well, you took it. And that's... well, I guess
that's something.
especially when followed by these two lines
KAYLEE
Wow. That didn't sound half-bad.
MAL
I'm shocked my own self.
Because in his own "dumb" way Jayne really said something profound.
"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion
Stillshiny's Shop - I'm thinkin we rose again
http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=4728
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