Mal/Zoe - am I alone here?

POSTED BY: TaiShan
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 1, 2006 14:14
VIEWED: 10023
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JAHZARA

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 3:55 PM

Mal and Zoe.

Ironically, when the show first aired in 2002, I felt (and felt like many of the fans felt) that Mal and Zoe were once lovers, until it was spelled out in War Stories.

I was pleasantly suprised that I was wrong, not to hate on your shipping, but I was glad that one show on TV avoided THE BIG SEX.

Perhaps it is more of a possibility now that Wash...is...
Sorry, need a moment.

But I think (and this is just me) that Zoe needed that place of light that she and Wash had. She and Mal could happen eventually, though. I can see them comforting each other, if not on a long term basis.

They are in many ways more likely to ever happen than M/I, though I am a diehard shipper for them.

To each his own!

ITSBROKEN

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 6:13 PM

yeah, i think they have so many similarities and seems like they were made for eachother because of the fact. I think that they are very similar because they've known eachother for so long and are connected in a way that zoe trusts mal, but only as a friend.

I think that if Zoe were a guy then it would be easier to understand my point, but then wash would have to be a girl pilot, and then people would make fics about mal and wash, or wash and jayne, and then zoe and kaylee, and zoe and river... and then it would be like using YOUR easy button to find MY easy button, the universe would tear and thats the worse that could happen. has anyone seen that commercial?

theres a reason i dont write stories or fanfics, lol

EDIT: but i see your point on how they seem made for eachother.
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***someone should make a MMORPG based on the 'verse!***

Geeze i want Firefly to come back!

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AGENTROUKA

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 6:32 PM

Personally, I find that pairing abhorrent. :)

It seems to cheapen their relationship. Adding sex doesn't do anything to bring them closer than they already are, nor does it explore either character in a new way.

Plus, there's that "sir" and the superior/subordinate power dynamic that I can't see them ever shedding without losing something that makes their relationship work so well. I mean... how does THAT work in a romantic context??

"You have lovely eyes, Zoe."

"Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome. Now get the shuttles prepped."

It just seems incestuous and wrong to me. As if a man and a woman can't have a deeply meaningful friendship, can't go through hell together without needing to be attracted to each other sexually.

However, to each their own. :)

I believe Guildsister's series "Blue Sun Job" deals with Mal/Zoe.

http://www.fireflyfans.net/showprofile.asp?un=Guildsister

TAISHAN

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 7:04 PM

Yeah, I agree that Zoe needed Wash (or a Wash-like person), and truthfully I would not rewrite the story any other way. But just like Wash had suspicions about the two, especially considering their clinginess to each other, in the end I can see no other alternative than Mal and Zoe together. And its not just about sex as people seem to think. Its not unusual for best friends to fall in love, in fact I'm sure there are many people worldwide would agree with this. Often times people find they go through half there lives from one relationship to the next only to end up marrying the friend that has been by their side from the start. Why would it be so hard to believe that the same qualities that made a person your friend in the beginning is the same qualities that makes them your soulmate? No, I don't think that it cheapens anything just because it moved to another level. As for the whole sir/subordination thing...well, I think its done more to keep that barrier between, sort of since they are so close its their stopper from keeping them from getting any closer.

Wash couldn’t understand why Zoe would put Mal first before anything, even before him, and I can only wonder that should it come down to her making a final choice between the two who would she choose. I guess in light of recent events I’ll never know, but it has opened doors for my ‘ship to be in the foreground.

Oh, as for Guildsiters fic, I read it. Its a beautiful fic, but it deals more with Mal/Zoe pre-Firefly story.

JAYRO

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 7:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TaiShan:
Wash couldn’t understand why Zoe would put Mal first before anything, even before him, and I can only wonder that should it come down to her making a final choice between the two who would she choose. I guess in light of recent events I’ll never know, but it has opened doors for my ‘ship to be in the foreground.

Note, however, that when Zoe was given a such a choice - in 'War Stories' - she picked Wash before Niska could even finish his sentence.

Her loyalty lies with Mal, her captain, who she would follow to the end of the 'verse, and she knew that he would be able to stand up to Niska's torture... but her love

was and will always be with Wash, her husband, and she knew that he would not.

Need a moment... *wipes away sentimental tear*

----------------------

"I'm sorry. You were going to ask me to choose, right? Would you like to finish?"

AGENTROUKA

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 7:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TaiShan:
Yeah, I agree that Zoe needed Wash (or a Wash-like person), and truthfully I would not rewrite the story any other way. But just like Wash had suspicions about the two, especially considering their clinginess to each other, in the end I can see no other alternative than Mal and Zoe together. And its not just about sex as people seem to think. Its not unusual for best friends to fall in love, in fact I'm sure there are many people worldwide would agree with this. Often times people find they go through half there lives from one relationship to the next only to end up marrying the friend that has been by their side from the start. Why would it be so hard to believe that the same qualities that made a person your friend in the beginning is the same qualities that makes them your soulmate? No, I don't think that it cheapens anything just because it moved to another level. As for the whole sir/subordination thing...well, I think its done more to keep that barrier between, sort of since they are so close its their stopper from keeping them from getting any closer.

Wash couldn’t understand why Zoe would put Mal first before anything, even before him, and I can only wonder that should it come down to her making a final choice between the two who would she choose. I guess in light of recent events I’ll never know, but it has opened doors for my ‘ship to be in the foreground.

Oh, as for Guildsiters fic, I read it. Its a beautiful fic, but it deals more with Mal/Zoe pre-Firefly story.

But what do you make of the power discrepancy in their relationship? The very strict and adhered to superior/subordinate line between them?

In spite of their friendship, Mal never does tolerate very well when Zoe crosses that line. In the pilot episode and still in the movie.. when Zoe questions him, Mal gets downright aggressive, and not in a playful way. How do you erase that in a romantic context?

THEPISTONENGINE

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 8:18 PM

Romance is probably the worst killer of a good series, at least second to Fox. It has to be done RIGHT, or not at all. I like the Zoe/Wash romance, because overall it was subtle, they didn't moon eye each other to death, and when it was the main focus of the scene, it created humor and/or tension. If there is too much "ahhh, they're so cute together..." it gets old.

Any fans of Babylon 5 here? The series was good, but I couldn't stand the fifteen minutes of extra googling eyes between Sheriden and Delenn. It was cute for the first two episodes, and then it dominated the last three seasons.

LOCRAY

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 8:26 PM

thing is, Zoe and Mal are officer and soldier. I don't think anything will ever change that bond. Plus, Mal got his hands full with Inara

TRINCULO

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 8:59 PM

Hello, Taishan - Try this:

http://firefly.populli.org/archive/2/crossingbarriers.shtml

One of the few Mal/Zoe fics I've found, and the premise is actually plausible. Be forewarned - it's pretty explicit (Definite R or NC-17 rating applies).

I'm a newbie, too, by the way. :)

TAISHAN

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 9:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AgentRouka:

But what do you make of the power discrepancy in their relationship? The very strict and adhered to superior/subordinate line between them?

In spite of their friendship, Mal never does tolerate very well when Zoe crosses that line. In the pilot episode and still in the movie.. when Zoe questions him, Mal gets downright aggressive, and not in a playful way. How do you erase that in a romantic context?

The power discrepancy? Like I said before, I see it like a barrier to keep them from getting any closer. Sort of like a line in the sand, keeping their relationship at a certain level, especially sinc ehe is her boss. As for Mal getting aggressive when she questions a command, is because that is work and that should be kept seperate from personal matters (I hope that made sense to you, it did in my head but I'm not sure if I'm explaining it right).

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