Psychic though?

POSTED BY: SerenityValley
UPDATED: Saturday, November 12, 2005 13:40
VIEWED: 2878
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SERENITYVALLEY

Monday, November 7, 2005 10:50 PM

So, I was watching Objects in Space yet again, except this time it was on sci-fi channel, and after seeing the movie, it's totally changed my perspective on Simon.

(Very small movie spoilers, hardly even.)

So, you know the scene in Objects where Mal says, "I think she's a reader." Simon starts to object like he thinks that's a stretch, like he's never thought about it like that before. He knew they played with her brain, but didn't know what they did, quite. He never mentions her being a psychic before or after the proceedure so I just assumed he didn't know.

But! In the movie, in the flash back scene, we KNOW Simon knows she's psychic. He even says, "What good is a psychic if she's crazy?" or something to that effect. And this takes place before the pilot episode. At first, I thought it was a continuity error that Simon didn't know in Objects, but does in the flashback scene of Serenity(movie). However, upon watching the episode again, he never actually denies anything and he certainly could just be covering for it. Whether Joss and friends had this in mind when they shot the episode, I don't know, but as far as the character goes, I'm watching Simon play innocent, now knowing he does know everything.

SHINYGEEKET

Wednesday, November 9, 2005 6:31 AM

Totally agree with you. I think Simon definatly was playing innocent in OiS. If you watch the River Tam Sessions, River even mentions herself that her brother knows about her abilities and hates that she can tell which girls he likes. So yeah Simon, big fat faker, lol.

"We will rule over all this land, and we will call it... 'This Land'."

REDREAVER

Saturday, November 12, 2005 12:57 PM

possible he just doesn't want to believe they could twist her brain that hard? despite all eveidence?

or maybe he just doesn't want Mal to get ideas. such as brgining River along on heists to "read" for trouble. like Reavers....

that would be my guess.

_______________________________________________

now all i need is a big gun and a "very fine hat"...

Reavers ate my homework

JACQUI

Saturday, November 12, 2005 1:40 PM

Oh, I think it's pretty clear that Simon at least strongly suspects, if not knows that River has psychic abilities.

For one, like you point out, there was the scene in the movie with Dr. Mathias, where he expressly mentions River being trained as a psychic.

Secondly, in the episode "Safe" when Doralee arcs up about River knowing Ruby's secrets, Simon makes that little hand gesture as if to quieten River and doesn't actually seem surprised that she read Ruby's mind, just tries to cover for her, ("my sister's... she's... she's very good at... *pause*... what's wrong?") because he knows what's going to happen. They're going to burn her for it.

Third, he doesn't seem at all surprised that she knows what Jayne is thinking in 'Trash' when she mentions Ariel.

In "OiS", I think he's covering for her. He always covers for her. Given his strong reaction to Mal using River for the heist, I think we can figure out *why* he wanted to keep her abilities quiet from the crew. He didn't want them using her as a tool or weapon, such as the Alliance would have done.

*~*~*
"He's hurting a woman, he really *is* a bad guy... and I wouldn't call him a gentleman."
- Kyle, 9, watching 'Serenity'.