The Grand Arena?

POSTED BY: daveshayne
UPDATED: Thursday, February 23, 2006 16:35
VIEWED: 4574
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DAVESHAYNE

Friday, February 10, 2006 9:57 PM

Allright this has been bugging since the first time I saw Serenity. In the training house the Operative says, "Things are not what they appear. He is not the plucky hero, the Alliance isn't an evil empire, and this is not the grand arena." Now the plucky hero and the evil empire bits seem fairly obviously to be Star Wars references but I can't place the grand arena. Was that in one of the prequels that I missed (I gave up on the series after Phantom Menace) or is there some other source for that that I am missing? It seems like it has got to be a reference to something but I'm drawing a blank. Any help tracking this down will be greatly apreciated.

And on an unrelated note. Is it just me or would a Summer Glau - Jackie Chan buddy film totally rock.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace nice with candle light.

OIAMSLAIN

Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:41 AM

I doubt anything he said was actually a Star Wars reference. "The Grand Arena" meant a hypothetical place where two enemies would do battle, which is what the Operative (incorrectly) assumed Mal wanted.

SINGATE

Saturday, February 11, 2006 8:28 AM

There is a big arena battle sequence at the end of Episode II but I thought the Operative was making reference to the Roman Colosseum.

_________________________________________________

We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

DAVESHAYNE

Saturday, February 11, 2006 4:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oiamslain:
I doubt anything he said was actually a Star Wars reference. "The Grand Arena" meant a hypothetical place where two enemies would do battle, which is what the Operative (incorrectly) assumed Mal wanted.

Well plucky heroes could refer to almost any adventure fiction so not Star Wars specific. The evil empire is a Star Wars reference via Reagan who in the early 80s likened the Soviet Union to the Evil Empire of Star Wars.

As I said I don't have any specific recolection to a literary reference to "The Grand Arena" but I do have a very strong nagging feeling that it is one. Some dim recolection from my childhood perhaps or maybe just cognitive dissonance I'm not really sure.

Thanks for the reply though.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace nice with candle light.

DAVESHAYNE

Saturday, February 11, 2006 4:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by singate:
There is a big arena battle sequence at the end of Episode II but I thought the Operative was making reference to the Roman Colosseum.

That could be it. It does come up in google but checking the text it looks like a peripheral connection at best. Anyway this could be a possibility.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace nice with candle light.

NUCLEARDAY

Saturday, February 11, 2006 10:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by daveshayne:
And on an unrelated note. Is it just me or would a Summer Glau - Jackie Chan buddy film totally rock.

I'll buy that for a dollar! :P

LUVMYVERA

Sunday, February 12, 2006 4:59 AM

It is definately a reference to the Roman Empire, what with the Operative's obsession with history.

THEONETRUEBIX

Sunday, February 12, 2006 5:10 AM

I think it's inescapable that the first two are chosen by Joss specifically to be coy references to Star Wars.

ATRAMUS

Sunday, February 12, 2006 5:32 AM

Hi.

I'm new here, but a big fan.

If they are references to anything (shrugging) might the Grand Arena be From Star Trek? Where kirk and spock have to go at it. you know.

dadada da da da da da dada da........

"There is nothingsadder than seeing your family torn apart by something as simple as a pack of wolves."

DAVESHAYNE

Sunday, February 12, 2006 5:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by atramus:
Hi.

I'm new here, but a big fan.

If they are references to anything (shrugging) might the Grand Arena be From Star Trek? Where kirk and spock have to go at it. you know.

dadada da da da da da dada da........

I doubt it. It doesn't look like Mal is going through Pon Far to me.

I think I have narrowed down what I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of a reference to politics being the grand arena. I still haven't been able to pin down an actuall quote or who might have said it (if in fact I'm not just making it up myself.)

The Roman angle is also coming up alot in my googlings. As are tickets to concerts being held at the arena at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Hey maybe Joss is refering to seeing U2 there.

Anyway thanks all for posting and keep it up please. No theory is to wacky to entertain.

Edit: Oh, um, hi backatcha. I'm prety new around here myself. So welcome.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace with candle light.

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