Shepard - Former Operative?

POSTED BY: mirak
UPDATED: Monday, February 20, 2006 20:35
VIEWED: 7078
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MIRAK

Monday, February 20, 2006 12:08 AM

After watching Serenity, I have to conclude that Shepherd is a former operative. I watched that last scene with the Operative when he says he is going to disappear and I thought – “that is Shepherd 30 years ago.”

Thoughts? Sorry if this has already been discussed – it’s probably not a very profound theory.

CAPTBAGGYTROUSERS

Monday, February 20, 2006 12:10 AM

That was certainly what I left the theater thinking. Some people have vehemently disagreed with this, but I think it's the impression we're meant to be left with.

I hope The Operative goes and finds something better to believe in.

History repeats the old conceits

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SAZMAN

Monday, February 20, 2006 12:12 AM

I've had this thought as well. Remember the episode "Safe". Book is shot, and when the Alliance sees his ID card, he gets top-notch medical care.

I've had this weird thought that the Operative was indeed Book, and that somehow our Book came from the future, perhaps with the intention of stopping himself from succeeding in the past.

No proof, I know, but I thought this almost immediately, when I saw how it ended with him and Mal talking.

SHINYFLY

Monday, February 20, 2006 12:17 AM

I've pondered this with my brother, and we've come up with two options...1. He was an Operative or 2. He was a bounty hunter sometimes hired by the Alliance to do their dirty work. Remember OIS when Early says,"That's no Shephard." Could be they've crossed paths.Also explains his weapons knowledge...

"Oh,God! I can't know that!"

JOSSISAGOD

Monday, February 20, 2006 1:00 AM

Potential novel spoilers:

I agree with you on the Shepard operative theory. but I'll also pose on of my one, in the novel The Op. comes up to Book after he shoots down "the ship that killed us," and says something about book not deserving the sword in the gut treatment The Op. gives everyone else, something about the stuff Shepard has done in the past. my theory is that Book was involved in the PAX project that engineered the reavers, since the reavers showed up about the same time as the start of the Unification Wars, my theory is that The Alliance engineered the PAX to create docile soliders that felt little pain like the soliders Max from Dark Angel fought that made her put that metal thing in her neck. But, The Alliance screwed up and overdosed the people and made them insane. This, of course made Book repent and find God.

CAPTBAGGYTROUSERS

Monday, February 20, 2006 1:02 AM

Except the Operative knows nothing about the Pax or what happened on Miranda until he sees the broadcast.

History repeats the old conceits

www.projectgreatness.com
Updated! Improved! Shiny!

JOSSISAGOD

Monday, February 20, 2006 1:06 AM

Good point!

GUERILLATHEATRE

Monday, February 20, 2006 2:09 AM

I put two and two together at the end of Serenity. If you'll notice, the Operative is dressed very similar to Book. He even carries himself with a similar posture.

That, to me, combined with the info in "Safe" led me to believe that Book was indeed an Operative.

JONESRA

Monday, February 20, 2006 2:15 AM

Also, the Operative is a believer. Perhaps Book was a believer who found a higher calling and stopped believing in the Alliance. Knowing this, that may be why the Operative didn't give him the old "hold my sword for a sec" treatment.

There's also a good chance I am wrong and way off base

FLAUTISTFIRST

Monday, February 20, 2006 2:41 AM

It does seem that Book was at a minimum involved with the Alliance on a high level before he "retired" and became a Shepherd. Remember what River hears him say in OIS--"I don't give 2 humps if you're innocent. So where does that leave us." And he said it with much anger.

Rather than an Operative, I've been thinking that he was involved with the Unification War and had something to do with the Battle of Serenity. Something that lead to the extended suffering of the Browncoats. And then after witnessing the suffering he caused, he lost his belief in the Alliance. Just a guess.

One thing I've noticed about Book and Mal is that their histories seem to be opposite. Mal clearly believed in what he fought for in the war (still does) and before the Battle of Serenity, Mal was a devote Christian (peptalk to other soldiers, kissing the cross). He lost the belief in God at the BoS, where I think Book found a belief in God at the BoS. The two really do respect each other, which is why Book doesn't push Mal to believe the same as Book does, but rather to believe in what Mal is doing.

Just my .02. I love having these kinds of discussions.

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