Book vs Wash (Spoilers for those that haven't seen the Movie)

POSTED BY: ICEHQS
UPDATED: Monday, October 24, 2005 02:53
VIEWED: 8790
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ICEHQS

Friday, October 21, 2005 11:28 AM

Any particular reasons why you folks like Wash moreso than Book? As i read these threads, there's a feel that Wash is loved more often than the Shepard. Granted Wash was the pilot of the ship, however Book had a story, a hidden past yet untold, that is what drives me somewhat bonkers Book feels incomplete, everyone here can guess at what Book was in his past. However, none of you can tell me that Joss have Book's past reviewed in literature.

Disheartened by Shepard's death.

MITHEL

Friday, October 21, 2005 11:38 AM

I think the relative reaction is due to the manner in which they were killed.

Book died fighting (and successfully destroyed the ship that destroyed his home).

Wash died suddenly and without a chance. Many have made a great argument that Wash died heroically as the pilot with a fantastic landing saving everyone else. But it wasn't his bravery or piloting skills that were involved in his death. He just plain simply was unlucky. Wash's death was more of a shock tactic to make the viewers more tense and sad.

Thus myself (and many others) view Wash's death as completely unnecessary (and are thus outraged).

ONETRANSMISSION

Friday, October 21, 2005 1:47 PM

Personally, I was more slightly more upset about Book's death. I wanted SO BADLY to have him in the movie more, and for him to live on so that one day he might reveal his secrets.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Wash as well and was totally shocked that he died.

This movie made me have an emotional breakdown on the drive home. I don't think I've ever been affected in such a way by a film. Damn you Joss! (Love you too!)

DONCOAT

Friday, October 21, 2005 1:54 PM

There's no doubt that Wash was more popular than Book even before the events in the movie.

Wash is an everyman, a guy we can all empathize with. He's funny. He's a great pilot who never gets rattled at the helm. He's cute (or so I suspect -- I'm not an expert on male beauty). He wooed and won Zoe. And there's that mustache...

Book is less lovable. He's a man of the cloth, which makes some people uncomfortable to start with. There's definitely a dark past to him that we don't know much about. He can be a bit on the judgemental side (that special hell...) and he's a passenger, not an official member of the crew. I'm thinking he's not quite as attractive as Wash. He's older. And the hair is still there... waiting.

I'd say it's pretty understandable that Wash's death had more impact on many people than Book's. There are exceptions, no doubt. We loved all our friends aboard Serenity... but not all equally.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need.

FRAY101

Friday, October 21, 2005 2:17 PM

I've actually found it sad that all the outraged threads, on this forum and others, concentrate on Wash. Yes, he was a wonderful character and will be sorely missed (or not, depending on how Joss handles the sequel) but Book played a great part in Firefly too.

I'd been spoiled about Wash beforehand but not Book so that came as somewhat of a shock - I was also upset that he had so little screentime that non-Firefly fans wouldn't appreciate what an important part he'd previously played in the story.

But yes, I can appreciate that Book at least had a nobler death - which is elaborated on in the novel.

_____________________________________

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MER

Friday, October 21, 2005 2:24 PM

I'm not sure why. I also like Book. With the Serenity crew, I like them all about the same even though I'm more concentrated on Jayne. I think the reason why I'm not too hung up on Book is that led a long life. Wash should be in his early 30's, late 20's. He just got his wife and started his life.

I did cry the 2nd time I saw Book's death, so I actually felt something there.

I really don't want any of the crew members to die, but Joss holds that power, not me.

GAMBIT3

Friday, October 21, 2005 2:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:
There's no doubt that Wash was more popular than Book even before the events in the movie.

Wash is an everyman, a guy we can all empathize with. He's funny. He's a great pilot who never gets rattled at the helm. He's cute (or so I suspect -- I'm not an expert on male beauty). He wooed and won Zoe. And there's that mustache...

Book is less lovable. He's a man of the cloth, which makes some people uncomfortable to start with. There's definitely a dark past to him that we don't know much about. He can be a bit on the judgemental side (that special hell...) and he's a passenger, not an official member of the crew. I'm thinking he's not quite as attractive as Wash. He's older. And the hair is still there... waiting.

I'd say it's pretty understandable that Wash's death had more impact on many people than Book's. There are exceptions, no doubt. We loved all our friends aboard Serenity... but not all equally.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need.

I'd take exception to the whole "there's no doubt that Wash was more popular than Book" line. I personally liked Book more than Wash. I was never uncomfortable with him at all, and was always interested in his backstory.

I second, though, the poster who said that it was the WAY they died that made the difference, at least for me: Book died fighting, he died heroically. Plus, it was necessary to advance the plot to give Mal that "belief" that he had lost and that Book insisted Mal needed to regain to survive the current ordeal.
Wash died because well, take your pick:
-It's Joss' movie, and he can do what we wants.
-You had to be led to believe that people were going to die in this movie (I guess Book, the entire population of Haven, and all the crew's "hiding places" weren't enough).
-If you don't like it, you need to get over it.
-If you don't get it, you just ain't too smart...

ok, so those are just a FEW of the many things I've been told because I was unhappy with Wash's death.
I have no problem with his death, nor with Book's death. I have a problem with the way it was done for Wash. There was just no reason for it.

__________________________
http://www.gambit3.com

FRAY101

Friday, October 21, 2005 2:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MER:

I really don't want any of the crew members to die, but Joss holds that power, not me.

I think that should be posted in all the "I hate you Joss, my life is over" threads! Because when it comes down it, it really is that simple.

_____________________________________

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PURPLEPIRATE

Friday, October 21, 2005 3:16 PM

I also preferred Shepherd Book. I like Wash fine, along with the rest of the crew, but I think that having a preacher are on board is one of the genre-breaking elements that makes Firefly so special.

Gambit3, I must disagree.

Whether or not a "man of the cloth" makes people nervous, you can't hardly call Shepherd Book judgmental for the 'special hell' remark. He said that to keep Mal's hands off of (who appeared to be) an innocent, confused young girl. Sexual predation and child molestation are wrong. People who get nervous being told that should probably stop molesting!

Also, Book IS a member of the crew; Mal said so, just too late. While feeling truthsome, Mal even admits that Simon and River are members of the crew. Remember Jayne on the outside of the air lock on Ariel? They're all crew.

DONCOAT

Friday, October 21, 2005 3:39 PM

Yup, I figured we'd be hearing from the "I liked Book better than Wash" crowd after my post. Please note that I did say there were exceptions. I was describing what I still believe to be the majority opinion, not every individual's.

In fact, I liked both those characters about equally. I too enjoyed the mystery about his past, and Book was pretty low-key about his faith, usually.

But not always. Many people who are not child molesters might take offense when someone suggests they might be (by, say, warning them about special hells).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need.

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