Shepherd Book and The Operative (spoliers)

POSTED BY: MikeThatGuy
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 19:29
VIEWED: 9436
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DANTE144

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 1:45 PM

Agreed. I think the Operative character is a 'poetical echo' of book.

I think it would be cool to see him down the road, like the end of the second movie(God willing) or in the third movie. Maybe coming in and saving the crew.

That was an awesome character!

"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -tee shirt some girl was wearing at Megacon.

http://dantedreams.com <-my webcomic

WEICHI

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 3:07 PM

I came away from my first viewing with the conclusion that Book was, in fact, an exoperative.

However, I also concluded, and still maintain after 4 viewings, that the Operative's words - "There is nothing left to see" are a prologue to his falling on his sword - "And there is no shame in this"

So, I would be surprised if we see him again.

See how I'm not punching him, I think I've grown!

JCLAST

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 3:47 PM

The time travel theory was mine, but I like this echo/reflection theory better. It seems less far-fetched.

Select to view spoiler:

I just miss Book. Both my favorite characters got the axe, and I was looking for a way to hang on to one of them.

HIGHWAYMAN

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 4:00 PM

How about a cross between the time travel and the echo ideas.

Maybe operatives are actually clones (or something similar). And The Operative is actually the same as Shepard Book, and will eventually become him. The original person that was cloned had the part of him that sees beyond the Alliance, so each Operaive is destined to 'see the light' as it were.

A bit far-fetched?

GERSHOM

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 4:14 PM

I like the idea of a Shepherd named Pax but I somehow doubt he'd carry the katana still though perhaps, just perhaps, a sword handle with the blade shattered off? Wrapped in a sheet of white cloth from Miranda?

I somehow doubt 'Pax' would kill himself there and then, that being too honorable a death for him at that time - he carries too much shame, shame that has to be worked off in some way... In the service of others.

I think that's also why in 'Gas' Book was fearful of death... He knew he still had too much left undone and felt fear and guilt combined (as well as a little actual fear at the method of dying - suffication 'aint nice folks).

Also re the comments about Book being one of the Operatives involved with Miranda - sorry doesn't scan for me. If he knew about either Miranda or River he'd have felt an obligation to do something positive about it and he never actually did - instead he encouraged others to face up to evil and do something right...

"Every heist, he's gotta start yelling my name..."

MIKETHATGUY

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 4:40 PM

I agree - I doubt Shepherd book was involved with Miranda. But he sure did SOMETHING bad - and that's what led him to his current path.

God, please don't let there be any time travel in this universe. Amusing in the Star Trek universe, true, but also an easily used and kind of annoying plot device.

Also LOVE that there are no aliens in this 'verse. Well, except maybe that upside-down cow fetus in the series... :^)

m i k e

BOOKSWORD

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 6:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gershom:
I like the idea of a Shepherd named Pax but I somehow doubt he'd carry the katana still though perhaps, just perhaps, a sword handle with the blade shattered off? Wrapped in a sheet of white cloth from Miranda?

I somehow doubt 'Pax' would kill himself there and then, that being too honorable a death for him at that time - he carries too much shame, shame that has to be worked off in some way... In the service of others.

I think that's also why in 'Gas' Book was fearful of death... He knew he still had too much left undone and felt fear and guilt combined (as well as a little actual fear at the method of dying - suffication 'aint nice folks).

Also re the comments about Book being one of the Operatives involved with Miranda - sorry doesn't scan for me. If he knew about either Miranda or River he'd have felt an obligation to do something positive about it and he never actually did - instead he encouraged others to face up to evil and do something right...

"Every heist, he's gotta start yelling my name..."

I dont know, I suppose there is symbolisim in him carrying around a broken sword.

Deep and all.

Still the only thing better then a Preacher man with a dead eye and ready rifle is a Preacher man with a steady hand and sword at the ready.

DREAMTROVE

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 6:47 PM

Yeah, I had this thought when I saw the movie. I agree.

THELURKER

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 7:22 PM

Regarding the operative falling on his own sword:

I would agree that he'd fall on his own sword if he'd failed the Parliament. However, I think after seeing the recording from Miranda, he feels it was the Parliament that failed him, rather than the other way around. Instead of "making better worlds" they killed most of the population of a planet and turned the rest into bloodthirsty savages. So it rings true to me that he has become (or is in the process of becoming) another person, so "there is nothing left to see" of the old operative.

I like the "seeing Book's story through the operative" idea quite a bit.

JAYNEANDVERA

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 7:29 PM

I agree that the operative has become a new man. Its indeed possible that Book was an operative at one point in his life, but its hard to be certain. What I think is fairly clear is that he was high up in the alliance before turning to religion. Whether he was an operative or not, he knew about them and many other aspects of the alliance. Hope at some point we learn more of the Book story.

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