Why is Jayne Afraid of Mal?
POSTED BY: milford
UPDATED: Wednesday, May 3, 2006 13:42
VIEWED: 12656
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I realize that this is the third thread I've started about Jayne and Mal's relationship, but to me it's the most interesting one. We know where Simon and Kaylee are headed ("You mean, like, sex?"), and we can understand Mal and Inara's issues. Simon and River are fairly obvious and Zoe and Wash (sniff, sniff, sob) are also fairly clear cut. The only relationship that remains unresolved is Jayne and Mal.
I mentioned in another thread how I though Jayne might eventually betray the crew, or something similar, and it got me thinking: Why is Jayne afraid of Mal? he could snap him like a twig, but he doesn't, he always backs down. See the pilot's scene at the dinner table for example. He actually leaves the table when Mal orders him to. Also, after Ariel, he makes nice.
This seems a little inconsistent. Not that the characterization is inconsistent, or that Adam or Joss made a mistake, but the character's behavior is clearly demonstrating something that was left unsaid. It seems at first glance that after the Ariel incident, Jayne would have killed Mal in his sleep. We know from The Train Job that he wanted to take over. He has no problem standing up to, and trampling over, anyone, except Mal, and Zoe, sort of. Why? What makes Jayne so fearful of Mal that he actually takes his abuse (at least, abuse in Jayne's eyes). The only time he really stands up to him is in the BDM, but even then he gives up. Something else is going on here, Browncoats, explain it to me.
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Leaning into the wind that used to carry me-Stavesacre
That's why I don't kiss'em on the mouth- Jayne Cobb
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Mal is the captain.
Jayne respects Mal and accepts his leadership. Mal gave him a better position than he had before (Out of Gas). Jayne also recognizes that Mal will fight for ANY of his crew. This includes Jayne. (Jaynestown). And Jayne respects this. You have to recognize the charisma that Malcolm Reynolds has. Lets face it, any of his crew could find better positions. But they all respect him and most, especially Zoe, would follow him into hell. Look at the scene between Simon and Mal at the end of 'Safe'
Simon: "Why did you come back for us?"
Mal: "Because you're part of my crew. . . why are we still discussing this?"
In short, the answer to your question "Why doesn't Jayne just kill Mal?" would be because Mal is fiercely loyal to his crew and inspires that same loyalty. Jayne isn't afraid of Mal, he respects him.
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I think maybe it is also because Jayne is smart enough to know his limitations. He knows the captain is sharper by far than he is, and he has a better chance of living long enough to enjoy his money if he sticks by Mal. If he were on his own, how long until another job like the Canton heist got him killed? Or would he end up working for another 7% comission (& a shared bunk)? I think he knows he's better off under Mal's wing than on his own.
Plus, if he killed the captain, Zoe would inflict some serious reciprocity right quickly 
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I think there are a couple of scenes that show the Mal and Jayne relationship well.
Train Job - I do think that this episode shows a bit of a discrepancy in the Jayne/Mal relationship but it was very early in the series and the actors/writers may not have had their handle on Jayne's character yet. I think I read somewhere that Joss had not originally intended for Jayne to be as charismatic but Adam's portrayal added magnetism to the character.
Bushwhacked (and Ariel) - The team that plays together, stays together.
Shindig - "Are they mad at us?" They are both clueless about how to deal with women.
Out of Gas - Jayne backs away when Mal shoves Wash up against the wall. Jayne respects how just plain tough Mal is. Watch Jayne's good-bye scene with Mal. He speaks volumes with the one word, "Well...". In Jayne's eyes, Mal is tougher than nails and someone like Jayne respects that in a man....(Did I mention that this is my favorite episode - I could watch Mal close doors all day!)
Ariel - The first time I watched this, I was out of the room and didn't realize that Jayne had, in fact, called the feds. The ending, therefore, came as a shock to me. Upon rewatching it, I didn't really like this episode until that final confrontation. Now, I think it is one of the best. Even as he is arguing for his life, Jayne knows that Mal will not back down...and what changes Mal's mind? "Make something up. Don't tell them what I did." With those words, Jayne is back as a member of the crew and Mal's "don't stab me in the back" pride can take a back seat to keeping the crew together.
War Stories - Why does Jayne join in the rescue plan that even he admits is a short run to suicide? Because Mal is his chosen leader. Yes, Jayne could kill Mal in his sleep but Jayne seems to realize that his life is better when Mal (and not Jayne) is calling the shots.
The Message - Tracy's death scene. Jayne watches the whole thing. Even after everything that Tracy has put him through, Mal is still right there, ready to be Tracy's sergeant. Not my favorite episode but....what a scene!
Actually, I think the title of this thread is wrong. I don't think Jayne is afraid of Mal. I just think that in Jayne's life, Mal is the alpha dog. It works for me to visualize Jayne as part of a wolf pack.
Okay - enough for me today - have fun!
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I also think that some part of Jayne recognizes that the whole crew, and not just Zoe, would side with Mal. He also has some sort of feelings towards Kaylee, as evidenced by the scene in the pilot episode where he is looking in the window of the infirmary while she is being operated on, and the jealous way he picks on Simon.
The only other thing I would point out is that after "Trash" and the BDM, he's probably afraid that River really can "kill him with her brain".
So who is he?
He's my husband.
Well who in the damn galaxy ain't!
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I don't think Jayne is afraid of Mal.
I think he's afraid of losing a good thing. I doubt he's had anything close to resembling a family since leaving home, and Serenity is as good as it gets- his own room, decent food (most of the time), a cute girl to look at, (even if she IS a mite too cheery)- I think he's well aware that it all hinges on Mal.
Mal decides he's out and he's out- possibly even out the airlock.
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The preceeding posts have all explored interesting perspectives on this question, but I want to offer something I see in Jayne that no one has addressed yet, other than some of us in our fanfic.
I've worked extensively in therapeutic situtions with adults who have been emotionally and physically abused as kids. Such trauima leaves life-long scars and can significantly shape adult behavior.
This being said, what I see reflected in Jayne is the behavior of a man who experienced significant abuse from a father who was probably alcoholic and frequently absent and/or unavailable to provide guidance.
Jayne has no real self-esteem and has survived a very hard life by doing whatever he has had to to stay alive. What we see is his emotional "tough-guy" armor, the attitude he puts out to bluff his way through on bravado.
I do not see him as stupid (that's too simplistic). Rather, I see a guy who has no education, no upbringing that would have taught him any tact or social graces. Given his impulsivity, fidgetiness, touch-feely behavior, he's almost certainly very ADHD, too.
I find it interesting that Jayne, the ship "bad ass", is the most overtly respectful of religion, while Mal rejects God for having failed him in the war. Jayne looks to Book as a surrogate father figure, because Book and he respect one another and Book does not judge him.
I would suspect that Serenity may offer Jayne the first sense of belonging he's known apart from his mom and brothers, and that began slowly changing his values, priorities and loyalties.
Jayne takes his job as a mercenary very seriously and it is something he takes pride in and does with diligence. While he tests Mal's authority, Mal is unquestionably the Alpha Wolf on Serenity, and deep down, Jayne knows he cannot command the loyalty that Mal can.
Keep your eyes peeled for my next story, "Leaps of Faith", which explores this further.
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I'm with Eric on this one; I think Jayne recognises his limitations. There are times when you look at him, and he's like a kid who just doesn't quite understand what's going on. Shoot first and don't even bother trying to ask questions. Aw, he's gorgeous.
The end of 'Ariel' kills me. When he's nearly crying because he has really stabbed Mal in the back...and the bit earlier, when he apes Mal on the 'You're on my crew' response to Simon (oh, the irony!). Mal's the cooler, smarter (and just ever so slightly better looking) big brother he never had. Like Francis!!!
And Jayne needs looking after. Hell, I'd make him soup anytime.
x
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the thing the guy above me said before and the fact that even jayne has the balls to bring it on whith mal, has not the brain to do this...
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I agree with the previous posts and would also like to add that it might have to do with the fact that Jayne knows that Mal isn't afraid of him. Most people Jayne meets are intimidated by him, but Mal just sees him as another person.
"Pain is scary." -Jayne
Mal=Hotness on an unknown level
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