Questions about Inara
POSTED BY: Wulfhawk
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 06:13
VIEWED: 8542
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Mal and Inara are an interesting couple. Mal wants Inara, but knows that she is well above his social standing. She is an honest businesswoman, he a thief and rebel, not much beloved by the jet set. And he cannot offer her the kind of world she lives in.
Plus, there is another reason (I think) Inara's job bugs Mal. Sex is not love, but it can be pretty darn close, and in a pinch, just as good. But, Inara is a professional. Mal will never know if Inara is playing him, manipulating him, or not. He can't have her, because even if he gets her, he won't know if its her, or just her performance. Does she really love him? Or is it all an act.
Mal is very touchy about someone using their femine whiles on him.
So we have this strange dynamic. Inara can't have Mal, because she don't want to get tied to people or family. Mal can't have Inara because he'll never trust that it is her he gets, and not her training. Inara is well respected, Mal would be "slumming"
Why not we grab Lorne, deprive him of sleep for a few days, and have him tell them to get a room. Then maybe Wash and Mal can talk about something else next time they get tortured. 
"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"
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SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I always thought that Inara had this glorified picture of Mal in her head, and so when he finally did fall off the horse Inara had put him, it was a betrayal of what Inara thought she knew about him.
In essence, in was Mal who being hypocritical, not Inara. Inara never said she was against "whorin" sex, she just believed that Mal was from his attitude towards her... so when he did Nandi, he was the hypocrit. No doubt about it in my warped little mind.
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Inara: Who's winning?
Simon: I can't really tell, they don't seem to be playing by any civilized rules that I know.
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That's...just plain crazy. Mal the hypocrite? Come on!
First of all, Mal didn't go whoring. His sex with Nandi was based on mutual attraction and admiration. She seduced him, after all. It was man/woman sex, not WHORIN'.
Inara's just a wacked out female, let's face it.
If Mal didn't live up to her expectations, that's Inara's fault, not Mal's.
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I'm not saying Inara doesn't have her problems too, but Nandi did wonder when Mal was gonna take advantage of his position there. So, Nandi was the one goin' whorin and Mal just gave in. Even though he wasn't spoken for, Inara feels betrayed.
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How would Inara react if Mal had started power sexing Kaylee? I bet Inara would be pissed off and then go cry in her shuttle.
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I think the difference is that although Inara has plenty of sex, she doesn't have any romantic feelings for her clients. It just a job, it has no meaning for her. When Mal and Nandi slept together it was because Mal had formed a romantic attachment (however short-lived) with her. The sex part isn't a problem for Inara, she admits as much in the hall to Mal. The reason she's crying later is because it hurts that Mal has formed a romantic attachment to someone else. The sex is incidental.
Also,
Power sexing!
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You may not be far from wrong, Maniac. Which is why Inara had such a problem doing what Inara suggested he do, take advantage of her friend.
But I am willing to bet that Mal never calls Inara a whore ever again, now he understands that whores are independent.
"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"
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Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:
That's...just plain crazy. Mal the hypocrite? Come on!
I believe that the original poster was speaking about Inara's perception, not whether that perception coincided with reality or not.
Quote:
If Mal didn't live up to her expectations, that's Inara's fault, not Mal's.
Bingo. Now she has to realize that.
"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"
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Quote:
Originally posted by maguinan:
I think the difference is that although Inara has plenty of sex, she doesn't have any romantic feelings for her clients. It just a job, it has no meaning for her. When Mal and Nandi slept together it was because Mal had formed a romantic attachment (however short-lived) with her. The sex part isn't a problem for Inara, she admits as much in the hall to Mal. The reason she's crying later is because it hurts that Mal has formed a romantic attachment to someone else. The sex is incidental.
Also,
Power sexing!
I think this is a good point Maguinan. I love the whole Mal and Inara thing because it is just plain romantic. I think they are two people who have been through difficult times and are at a place in their lives where romance is the last thing on their minds. Then they meet and both have to fight an overwhelming attraction to each other. Neither of them are prepared for dealing with strong emotions other than the desire to survive. I think thats why the anomosity exists, but when they are faced with danger and one or other might be hurt you see their concern for each other. Its not something anyone can analyse - it happens in real life if you are lucky - you meet someone that takes your breath away and makes your heart pound.
I know this is a simplistic way of seeing it and it breaks my heart that we will never see the relationship develop.
All the characters in this series are so great and so well portrayed.
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