Hindsight Shepherd Book and Inara

POSTED BY: Ty
UPDATED: Thursday, January 22, 2004 22:17
VIEWED: 11704
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TY

Monday, October 6, 2003 10:21 PM

I was re-watching Serenity last night and I noticed this: The scene with Shepherd and Inara; 'when he was questioning whether or not it was a good decision to be on Serenity and Inara comforted him by nursing the bruise on his head and a few kind words'
I think that we know certain things about Shepherd Book, now that we've seen or are aware of the first season...so as I re-watched that scene, I began to wonder, "what is Shepherd Book up to?"
Why did he pretend to be so at a loss and so innocent to Inara? How can Inara be used as a pawn by him? What did his little act spark in Inara's mind or in her heart? I need someone to help me with this thought.
Book knows a lot, we've found that out as the series progressed but what would his lying about his uncertainty of traveling with the crew of Serenity as a "simple preacher" serve to him or any of his colleagues?

LIVINGIMPAIRED

Monday, October 6, 2003 11:04 PM

I recently re-watched “Serenity” as well, and I had similar thoughts. My theory is that Book used to work for the Alliance, but eventually he couldn't live with the immoral things he had and was doing, so he became a Shepard. After a few years in the monastery, he decides to re-enter the world to help those that are like the man he used to be. What I get out of that Inara-Book scene is not innocence, but a fear that he crawled out of one moral sinkhole only to fall back into it again.

________________

Brought you some supper, but if you'd prefer a lecture, I've a few very catchy ones prepped. Sin and hellfire... one has lepers.

LINDYCAT

Monday, October 6, 2003 11:46 PM

Hi,

I concur with LivingImpaired, I feel Book was honest in his words in that scene.

LC

Just as the War Against Drugs would make some kind of sense if they honestly called it a War Against Some Drugs, I regard Dubya's current Kampf as a War Against Some Terrorists. I may remain wed to that horrid heresy until he bombs CIA headquarters in Langrty. - RAW

DRAKON

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 8:37 AM

Quote:
Why did he pretend to be so at a loss and so innocent to Inara?

I don't think it whas pretense. I think he was lost. He'd been in the abbey for what, 6 years or so? And now, with his faith, he was out in the world just a couple days, got involved in a gun fight, nearly beaten to death by a guy whose life he swore to protect and defend, only to see that person shot dead. And was not all that sure it was a bad thing.

I gotta go back to my "hot house" faith idea from earlier. Its one thing to have all the answers in a nice safe environment like an abbey. But in the real world ain't like the abbey. So are the answers wrong, does the faith not work at fixing you? Did God lie to Book?

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

TY

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 1:19 PM

Thank you all for your responses, however, why is 'anyone' believing what came out of his mouth? To merely speculate, Book himself could be a reader and let's not forget, he has a vast amount of knowledge in that brain of his. What type of information it is, Joss will inform us of that gradually.
To my thinking, it is virtually impossible for him to be feeling exactly as his words suggest. The 'particular' ship he finds himself on just happens to be carrying 2 of the MOST WANTED Alliance fugitives in the galaxy AND per "Book's" unexpected and highly relevant "reception" by the Alliance cruiser after having his ident card scanned in 'Safe', I feel he is much the 'man about town' and should I really believe, knowing Joss' previous works that Shepherd really did just get out of a monastery? I mean-Huh? I think that the monastery thing is a cover and when this show flies again, we'll find out everything....by the way, it will begin again, it's too good not to.

SUCCATASH

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 3:21 PM

TY, I think it is quite possible that either Inara or Book (or both) is lying during that scene.

A while back I made a thread called "Inara knows about Book the whole time." You might enjoy reading it.

http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=4&t=2072

CHANNAIN

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 3:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ty:
To my thinking, it is virtually impossible for him to be feeling exactly as his words suggest. The 'particular' ship he finds himself on just happens to be carrying 2 of the MOST WANTED Alliance fugitives in the galaxy AND per "Book's" unexpected and highly relevant "reception" by the Alliance cruiser after having his ident card scanned in 'Safe', I feel he is much the 'man about town' and should I really believe, knowing Joss' previous works that Shepherd really did just get out of a monastery?

Knowing Joss' previous works, I think it's safe to say that you really can't predict a gorram thing. Joss has never done anything the same way twice, and just when you think you've got him pegged, he pulls a green demon rabbit out of his hat and we get to be completely blown away all over again.

That said, I believe Book is exactly what he says he is - A Shepherd bringing the word to them as need it told, with a few extra elements in his background that give him a very unique perspective on the world he's walking around in. The bare fact is we don't know yet what his position was in the Alliance. Until we do, we won't know for sure what that scene in Inara's quarters was all about.

TY

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 4:46 PM

This show has got to come back to the air. The speculations on 1 character alone are like Lays potato chips...'you can't have just one.'

I LOVE FIREFLY!!!!

CHANNAIN

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 4:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ty:
This show has got to come back to the air. The speculations on 1 character alone are like Lays potato chips...'you can't have just one.'

I LOVE FIREFLY!!!!

Now THAT I'm totally in agreement with.

You'd ask, "Which one? The show has to come back, the speculations or Loving Firefly?"

My answer would be, "YES!"

PAUSTARK

Friday, December 19, 2003 8:38 PM

I just watched Objects in Space for the first time. When Simon criticized the Bounty Hunter for knocking out Book the Bounty Hunter looked at Book and Said "He's no Shepherd", what did he mean by that? Ok, before you answer, I have not seen the rest of the EPs so Book could be exactly who he is. Did anynone else pick up on that?

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