War Stories and Zoe's choice
POSTED BY: usagivindaloo
UPDATED: Friday, August 18, 2006 01:53
VIEWED: 10831
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Apologies if this has been raised before. 
I just watched War Stories with the commentary after having watched it normally a few days before. For me, one of the most powerful moments is when Zoe arrives to barter with Niska and ends up choosing Wash (actually that entire act is very powerful, what with Wash telling her to run and the quiet, gentle comfort she offers him in the shuttle afterwards)
So here's a question for you. Do you think Zoe chose Wash out of romantic reasons or out of practical reasons? Do you think she just automatically chose him because he was her husband, or do you think she chose him because, as Alan suggested in the commentary, he is weak and was likely to die under the torture (ie she knew that Mal could handle it until rescue arrived)?
Alan seems to think the latter, that she made the decision based on who was more likely to survive. And far be it for me to argue with the actor himself. ^_^
I, however, like to think that her reasons were solely emotional and 
. I believe this because in a lot of ways it brings the Wash/Zoe arc full circle. Wash was afraid (with some reason) that Zoe, in a lot of ways, was closer to Mal and cared more for him than her husband. Not that I think he doubts Zoe's love, only that he has reason to believe that Zoe is a soldier, MAL'S soldier, first and foremost. But if Zoe chose him solely out of a wife's desire to save her husband from pain... well, that's damned romantic, and I think it proves to Wash and the viewers that there are, indeed, some things more important to her than being a soldier and being loyal to Mal.
What do you guys think? Do you think she chose Wash to save her husband, or do you think she chose him out of a strategic decision?
"This must be what going mad feels like."
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I think it was both. Zoe knows Mal can handle it; but Wash is her husband. She answers Niska before he even finishes asking...
no way she would leave Wash there.. and there is a chance that Mal could endure.. but even if he could not, I think Zoe would have still chosen Wash. He is her husband. She loves him.
Chindi
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I agree with Chindi.
She knew that Mal could survive and she knew that Wash could not.
She loves Wash, therefore first choice and then she'll come back for the Captain.. and if he doesn't survive.. she still has her husband.
Although, I believe that Zoe knew that Mal could survive.. I think she even knew that if he did die, Niska would revive him over and over.
It's equal parts love and practicality... like a lot of life. 
" You hold. Hold til I get back." Mal
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Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:
I agree with Chindi.
She knew that Mal could survive and she knew that Wash could not.
She loves Wash, therefore first choice and then she'll come back for the Captain.. and if he doesn't survive.. she still has her husband.
Although, I believe that Zoe knew that Mal could survive.. I think she even knew that if he did die, Niska would revive him over and over.
It's equal parts love and practicality... like a lot of life.
" You hold. Hold til I get back." Mal
Heh, I can see that for sure. I suppose I just wish it was more purely emotional, that Zoe made the choice based on her love alone rather than "knowing" that Mal would survive. I dunno, I think it makes it more romantic.
Luckily, of course, she got them both back in the end."This must be what going mad feels like."
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I think it was out of loyalty. Both to Wash and to Mal. It's Mal who made the decision to take the job from Niska, to return the stolen meds, and to put his man through their engine. Mal had Niska's revenge coming, and he surely knew that. It probably rested Mal's conscience a bit, knowing that Wash was brought to safety - not just because Wash wasn't involved in the decision making, but also because of what Wash means to Zoe.
As for this scene bringing the Wash/Zoe arc full circle, I believe it absolutely does, but not in the way you suggested. I think the more significant arc is between Wash and the Mal/Zoe relationship. It's not as much that Wash knows that Zoe chose him over Mal, it's more that Wash now truly understands Zoe's loyalty to Mal. Mal is an integral part of who Zoe is, and for such a long time Wash didn't understand that aspect of his wife and felt threatened by it. Ironically, by enduring the ordeal with Mal, Wash has gained a more fudemental connection with his wife. The issue has been resolved because he realizes not that he won the competition, but that there never really was a competition.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't. We. Just.
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Nosadseven:
I really agree with you...
I think Mal, as Captain, had the responsibility for the situation and the responsibility for his crew (so if Mal had had to choose he would have sent Wash back to the ship too).
Zoe's choice worked perfectly on every level:
as the Captain's second in command she knew that the crew had to be protected,
her husband wasn't strong enough to survive,
and Mal was not to be coddled...he must be allowed to be the leader in this, just as he was in gettng them into the situation in the first place.
I don't think it is necessary to have the scene only work in one way in order for it to be romantic, or funny (because it is such a typical scene...Zoe picking so fast really made me laugh even though it was just a painful and intense scene).
I don't like the torturing thing...but I do love this episode because of this great scene...
and the crew staging a rescue
and Jayne joining at the last moment
and River's shooting
and so many great moments.
**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse
have you checked out this thread?:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=15816
and listen to 'I'm Going To See Serenity':
http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=a0
c814e1229742ce77ed4497cbf4631c
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Niska was not offering a choice - he had no intention of giving up Mal. Zoe's choice was to play Niska's mind games or start one of her own. Of course, she made the right choice, to counter the gambit, just as she did in receiving the severed ear with tenderness.
Embers: I agree that Minear's interpolated scenes of torture as entertainment threaten what is otherwise a pivotal episode.
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Quote:
Originally posted by PurpleBelly:
Niska was not offering a choice - he had no intention of giving up Mal.
this is a really good point, to look at the situation from Niska's POV...
it shows how well the scene was written, because it really works well on so many levels.
Quote:
Originally posted by PurpleBelly:
Of course, she made the right choice, to counter the gambit, just as she did in receiving the severed ear with tenderness.
that is funny, I didn't see her reaction as 'tenderness' as such... I saw her repressing any response because she refused to give Niska the satisfaction.
A lot of people complained about Zoe's response in 'Serenity' (er, are we still worrying about spoilers here? Oh well...just in case):
Select to view spoiler:
When Wash died Zoe didn't respond as emotionally as many fans thought she should, but I saw her reaction as totally consistant with what we had seen before from her, and this scene with Mal's ear was a perfect example, IMO. Zoe is not one to allow her emotions to have the upper hand... but I do think they catch up with her (you can only repress for so long).
man I'm longing for a sequel...
or just the next comic book.
**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse
have you checked out this thread?:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=15816
and listen to 'I'm Going To See Serenity':
http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=a0
c814e1229742ce77ed4497cbf4631c
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It seems to me that Zoe would also feel that it wouldn't be fair to make Wash suffer for Mal's decision to renege on the train job. Even if it were, say, Kaylee who was captured with Mal, I think she might choose to rescue Kaylee first.
Indigo S.
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