Inara's Jedi mind tricks
POSTED BY: SergeantX
UPDATED: Monday, May 31, 2004 22:10
VIEWED: 16625
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I've been thinking about starting this thread for awhile now. After recently reviewing all the episodes, I'm more convinced than ever that Inara has abilities/skills/training that allow her certain powers of persuasion and perhaps subtle types of mental reading or control. The most obvious example happened in Heart of Gold when she is consoling the woman in the grasp of intense labor pains. Inara's voice assumes a commanding tone and she seems to more or less take control of Petaline's mental focus. With that in mind I've looked back through the episodes and noticed several interchanges involving Inara that could be further examples.
Another example occured in Out of Gas, during the flashback showing Mal firsting renting the shuttle to Inara. The dialog beginning when Inara tells Mal that he wants her on the ship. When I first watched I interpreted this as sexual tension, but it had a certain strangeness to it that fits the "mind tricks" explanation.
I could go on, but most of the other examples are very subtle, most involving Inara manipulating or reading the emotions and perceptions of other characters in the show.
What do you think? Am I out to lunch on this, or is there more to Companion training than the Kama Sutra?
SergeantX
"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith
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That's interesting, Sarge. I don't think it's a Jedi-like thing. I thing it's an especially acute empathy/reading the situation. This is no doubt enhanced by Companion training, but they must only accept women who are already capable.
It seems like a mild version of that "perfect mate" in ST:TNG, played by Famke Janssen, who could "read" any male and accomodate to him. It also seems to be what Simon THINKS River can do in Objects in Space, not admitting at first the actual psychic skills that Mal and Book suspect.
I haven't seen Heart of Gold, but trained therapists can use tone of voice and word choice to hypnotize a willing subject, calm a patient, and so forth. That could be handy for a Companion.
Good topic.
Ying/
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I'm also thinking this might be some of Inara's fascination with Mal. Maybe this is a guy that she can't 'read' and might not be as susceptible to her 'wiles'. Anyway, I'm betting there's a lot more to the whole Companion thing than just a high class escort.
SergeantX
"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith
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Quote:
I'm more convinced than ever that Inara has abilities/skills/training that allow her certain powers of persuasion and perhaps subtle types of mental reading or control.
the biggest one for me was when Jubal slapped her..
I dont remember the exact quote but didnt he say something about "dont try those companion wiles/tricks on me?"
.
Having some sort of special training or skill would also explain why companions are so highly regarded..
Just my 2 Cents.
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Yeah that's right. Like he knew exactly what she was up to. I think he said something like "Don't go visiting my intentions, don't ever." Given his knowledge about Book and River, he may very well know what the real deal is with Companions.
SergeantX
"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith
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Quote:
Posted by Hippydog: "don’t try those companion wiles/tricks on me?"
It was, "Don't go visiting my intentions. Don't ever."
I don’t think there are any Jedi mind tricks, just that the academy taught companions to read body language, the tones in a persons voice, things like that so that they would be more inviting, more comfortable and enjoyable to be around.
Also, spoiler for HoG...
Select to view spoiler:
In HoG, after Nandi slept with Mal, Inara and Nandi only had to share a look for Nandi to realize that Inara also had feelings for Mal.
That might of helped the argument for some mind reading but, oh well.
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It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
Aristotle
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The whole line between ESP type mind reading and just being acutely sensitive/intuitive is kind of fuzzy in the 'verse. Pretty much everything River has done is conceivably explained as extra acute senses combined with extreme mental ability. I'm guessing Joss wants to stay away from superpowers and magic.
SergeantX
"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith
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Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
What do you think? Am I out to lunch on this, or is there more to Companion training than the Kama Sutra?
Not out to lunch, although I think the empathic emphasis also plays into this. Inara's been trained to perceive people on more than one level of intimacy. She can tell what their intentions are by reading body language, observing the muscles around the eyes, or measuring the tone of voice. One has to think that she has an instinct for it, and that some sort of test had to be performed to determine if she had that instinct before the Academy would even consider training her. In that way, she's very Jedi-like. Not to mention when she and Saffron got into fisticuffs in Our Mrs. Reynolds, Inara showed she has the reflexes of a cat. That, to me, indicated she's had martial arts training as well. Not all clients are the kind benevolent type and as she's not a large woman, she'd have to be able to defend herself if she had to. Again, very Jedi-like.
On the other hand, I don't think she'd be able to trick an Alliance thumper into letting her, an old man, a kid and two androids through a check point either...whoops. I think I set my blender on high when I mixed the metaphor there. Sorry
“We three are the only ones in this place wearing brown.
Means we’ve found something worth fighting for.
Something worth being more than alive for.”
Sarahetc
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It ain't Jedi Mind tricks.
It's them Feminine Wiles.
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