Sexual tension between Mal and Inara

POSTED BY: thirdmonkey
UPDATED: Friday, January 13, 2006 20:44
VIEWED: 12317
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THIRDMONKEY

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 6:30 PM

Sexual tension between Mal and Inara

My wife and I just got into the Firefly series. We saw the movie and liked it enough to catch the 12 episodes of the series that were on the air last week. (Actually we have seen 4 so far).

I found this site so I can get more information as to where I can find more episodes. Sadly I find that the 4-year-old series is cancelled. But I also saw a few posts that confused me to no end. A few posters were commenting on the sexual tension between Mal and Inara.

I for one don't get it. Believe me when I say I am no prude. I just don't get a prostitute as a "goal" for a permanent partner. I find the whole thing "icky." I am sure the writer wants me to feel the tension between those two the way I feel it between Simon and Kaylee, but it just doesn't work for me.

Inara is no catch! Who want to be romantically involved with a WORKING prostitute? That whole prostitute with the heart of gold only works for ex-prostitutes. Heck, throw me a bone. At least pretend like Inara wants to quit her job before looking longingly into Mal's eyes. And Mal, at least wait for her to get back from the client's bed and take a shower (washing the client's cooties off) before wishing you could kiss her.

It must be just me. My wife digs them too.

PS. I also hate River. Never liked uber-powerful heroes that can kill 20 trained professionals with a toothpick, but I love everything else about the show enough to be really sad it is over. Here is to Serenity 2...

EMPXENU

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 7:33 PM

Love doesn't take into account trivialities like profession. The way I see it, Inara's trade is the biggest reason for why they don't get together, despite their mutual attraction.

I'm new here, by the way. My story of discovering Firefly is probably similar to what you've heard a lot of recently (being a devoted sci-fi fan, I saw Serenity and became interested. Got boxset, fell in love). It really brightened the holidays.

SMAUG

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:00 PM

There is no comparison between Mal/Inara and Simon/Kaylee. Mal and Inara's relationship revolves around pain and need.

I have written long rambling posts about Mal and Inara in the past so I won't repeat it all here... but briefly.. we don't know yet what Inara was running from (why she left her home world to go out into the black). Whatever it was.. I do believe her to be running from something.. yet when she found Mal.. and the longer she is around him she finds herself more and more running TOWARDS something.. and that is Mal. Many a man may be attracted/want/love Inara the companion.. but it is the mystery of Mal.. a man who wants/needs/is attracted to/loves? Inara the WOMAN... the real her.. the one that can let down all her guards and be herself.. who can truely feel.. where her feelings matter.. that she is uncontrollably drawn to.

And their attraction towards each other.. is not based upon physical.. not even at the beginning.. it's much deeper. Inara is what will make Mal complete again... and able to feel pleasure. To let go of pain, bitterness and lonliness.. and feel joy and pleasure again. But they are both waiting... Mal is waiting for Inara to quit being a compainion.. and Inara is waiting for Mal to simply claim her as his... which I believe she would then willingly give up being a companion. I have said this before.. but I beleve that Mal will not end up in Inara's bed.. it will be she that ends up in his. She leaves men breatless with her "wiles".. but it is Mal that will leave her breathless..

As far as I can tell.. after the series and before the movie when Inara left.. she DID NOT continue to be a companion.. at least not still seeing clients. From what we saw in the movie and the deleted scenes.. she was just at a companion training house teaching other girls to be companions.. but it didn't appear she was seeing any more clients. I believe that after she felt the pain of what it felt like for the man she wantes.. and loves.. to willingly sleep with another (which is what Mal feels when she goes to a client).. she couldn't bring herself to see any more clients.. even as her and Mal are apart. Which will be the first step to bring them together.. although I believe it will take some kind of tragedy to finlally get them both to drop all their gards..

Ok.. beter stop there... before I write another thesis.. lol..

Smaug..

ANDRE83

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:08 PM

River is not a hero. You really didnt get it apparently. Maybe you should watch the remaining 10 episodes ;)

And a compaion is of very high statue. You cant compare it to nowadays.

edit: And when did river kill 20 trained professionals?

Jayne: All those years of preacher training, getting knocked out by one bounty hunter
Book: Oh, dont get me wrong. I gave him a hell of a fight
Jayne: Epic i'm guessing

WILDHARE

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:36 PM

Thirdmonkey,

first I would like to say Welcome,

Ok so you can either go to Bestbuy and get the box set of Firefly and finish watching or you can try to catch it on Sci-fi. Assuming you don't already have it.

Inara and Mal is a complex deal. I believe under todays standards you would be correct. I would want nothing to do with a prostitute. But in the show Prostitutes are elivated to some sort of level most normal men can not afford and likely don't cary the negatives that todays prostitutes do. Also Mal is no saint. Good/bad guy depending on the situation.

River, well she is a bad a$$. Not a natural born killer but something created. As you are well aware even today the super power governments have been trying to build a better soldier a super soldier so to speak. Assuming that progression continues in this field. I do not believe it is completely out of bound to see in 500 years our super soldiers will be quite remarkable killers.

My two cents...

Keep flyin'

CAPERCAILLIE

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:50 PM

Welcome Third Monkey

Interesting to hear a guy's point of view. Me, I love the Mal and Inara relationship. His line, smug smile, and her "you knocked my wind out" look at the end of "Our Mrs. Reynolds", "I knew you kissed her" just kills me every time. Rewatch "Trash" for some more fun banter. But to "see the love", "Serenity-the Pilot" (when Mal tells Inara to take the passengers on the shuttle), "Shindig" ("don't take the job")and Objects in Space (the near touch at the end)show what is there beneath the fighting.

Warning - here comes the sacrilege - I like Mal and Inara the way I like (adore, reread a million times) Elizabeth and Darcy. I just hope that if there is a sequel out there, that Joss lets them finally come together at the end and doesn't pull a Wuthering Heights-type resolution on us. Isn't there a Lady Catherine figure (mistress of the Companion House perhaps) out there who could bring them together?

THIRDMONKEY

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:10 PM

Well I appreciate the welcomes. Thanks.

Is this a man/woman thing?

I mean you ladies would not accept the following line from a cheating husband: "Honey, I just slept with her...It's you I love"

Why should men accept that attitude from a prostitute? "Sleeping with others" is just my job and does not involve any emotions would not work for a man. Why is it OK for her? Inara needs to quit her job first and then see if she has a chance with Mal. It can't work the other way around.

For the record, my wife is on your side ladies. I just don't see how you can be on both sides of the sexual liberation front depending on which sexes are involved.

Am I the only one? Any guys out there agree with me?

I'll be back after I see more episodes. We are seeing them at a rate of 2 a day.

WILDHARE

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:15 PM

No I see your point Thirdmonkey perhaps it is a guy/girl thing.

Enjoy the rest of the series.

GRUUL

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:29 PM

I love it. I think it fits into Mal's world and Mal's luck perfectly. Here's a man whose life is nothing but one complication, battle, and struggle after another. It seems only appropriate that the love of his life is a holier-than-thou space geisha that can't get around the politics of her chosen profession.

Select to view spoiler:

For what its worth, I think they did the Mal/Inara/Nandi triangle a real diservice by killing one of its members of before it ever got juicy.

LILKRISTY

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:31 PM

I think the fact that she's a companion is a problem for Mal. Notice how many times he calls her "whore." He's not ok with her profession. He dosen't get why she does it. But, he's attracted to her and cares for her. To paraphrase Inara, he'll lay a man out (and refuse to run from a fight he knows he'll lose) for implying she's a whore. But he keeps calling her one to her face.

Inara identifies herself as a Companion. It's not just a job. It's who she's spent a great deal of her life training to become. (since she was 12 according to BDM deleted scenes) And she's attracted to this man who constantly degrades her work, but also tells her he respects her. He confuses and frightens her.

Watch Shindig. They talk a lot about her job.

Oh and welcome.

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