river's trigger in the BDM

POSTED BY: gohm
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 23:28
VIEWED: 3634
PAGE 1 of 1

GOHM

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:06 PM

We all know that River was triggered by the subliminal code embedded in the Fruity Oaty Bar comercial. What does the code instruct her to do? Go "monkey shit" and clobber everyone in her immediate vicinity? Is that the only coded message she's capable of receiving? Are there a few actions that's she's conditioned for (e.g. 1.go monkey shit, 2.go to sleep, etc., etc.), or can the "coders" send her new instructions through more subliminals? Thanks for your thoughts.

LOOTZEE

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:14 PM

Everybody knows that in brainwashing "monkey Shit" is the factory default setting.

CARTOON

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:18 PM

Yes, I think that was the case.

It's my understanding (as little as that may be) that the powers that be wanted her to go berserk (not as colorful as the way you described it, granted), so that she'd make a scene, and they'd better be able to locate her.

Does this make sense, or am I just rambling insanely again?

"I can't!! Too much hair!"

SIMONISTICSNAFU

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:20 PM

If I had to guess, I'd say that it's one of a whole list of conditioned responses, but that they chose the "go monkey shit" one because that's guaranteed to make a scene and get attention, thus alerting her former controllers to her location.
I'd like to think that since Simon got River out of The Academy (cue intimidating and spooky music), her conditioning was interrupted and she's limited to a relatively few pre-existing commands that can be triggered by subliminals or other conditioned stimuli (safety words et cetera). That's just speculation on my part though.

LOOTZEE

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:23 PM

that i believe is spot on well done

SICKDUDE

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:24 PM

I interpreted it more as "clear the room" than "go Monkey shit". Notice that she acts quite specifically to keep people from leaving. Because of this, I think it was a pre-programmed instruction to kill everyone in the room.

"Don't say 'ka' until you've tried it." Daniel Jackson

CARTOON

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:25 PM

The more I think about it, I believe that River went berserk and tore the bar apart because Joss just likes seeing teenage girls beating the crap out of people.

And, apparently, we do, too.

KLOUD

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:28 PM

I was thinking that it was more kill everyone she can see; the alliance hoping that the crew of Serenity would be near her, which, evidently, occurred.

I'll be in my bunk.

SAMEERTIA

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:28 PM

DUDE! She can kick a guy in the back of the head from around a pole! Who DOESN'T like that?

But that aside, I think it was indeed just an act up and create a scene. Since they knew it was a violent scene, it would attract law enforcement, who would either subdue and hold her until Operative could arrive, or be forced to kill her on the spot, either way solving the problem.