Random River Moment

POSTED BY: Petaline
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 20:53
VIEWED: 14424
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TRISTAN

Friday, July 14, 2006 8:54 PM

Mine is still "The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuuming systems..."

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MSG

Friday, July 14, 2006 9:09 PM

OK I am realizing in Objects in Space I don't think River is hearing what they actually think. I think she is hearing what she is afraid they think about her. I could be bonkers, but I honestly think if you look at each statement....they are all negative, unkind, and in many cases not at all like the character. I mean " I would still be there ( unspoken if it wasn't for you)- Simon" I don't give half a hump if you're guilty" -Book "None of it means a damn thing"-Mal and then after she hears all this she says to herself it doesn't mean what you think...She's projecting her fears not their thoughts

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

ORMAYBEMIDGETS

Friday, July 14, 2006 9:39 PM

I don't think that's right. Simon's, yes; Book's, yes, maybe. They apply to her.

But Jayne's: I got stupid. The money was too good.
Isn't really something she'd fear. It's already been done. He already got stupid when the money was too good, and she knows that.

Inara: I'm a big girl. Just tell me.
Doesn't seem to have anything at all to do with River. River wouldn't really have any feelings about this statement, except concern for what Mal and Inara feel about their situation.

Mal: None of it means a damn thing.
This, you could probably say applied to River. As in; her recovery doesn't mean anything, he still doesn't like her; or her and Simon's contributions are meaningless, they still aren't part of his crew; or, as referenced, apply later to River's "it doesn't mean what you think." But in the context, it seems obvious that he's talking about his relationship with Inara.

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DB: Doesn't exactly fit the thug in the profile alley. Wait, what?

DONCOAT

Friday, July 14, 2006 11:37 PM

I caught the end of the marathon on SciFi today, and I noticed something in Objects In Space that I never noticed before.

In the scene where River picks up the gun, just as all the commotion breaks out and everyone is shouting at her, River's voice calls out, "Kaylee?!!" We don't really see her lips move.

I think it's fascinating that in that moment of tension, it was to Kaylee she called, rather than Simon.

I wonder if she finds Kaylee to be the most kindred spirit. Her sunny personality, openness, and lack of pretension may make her very comforting to a "reader". Kaylee has no secrets to hide, none of the jarring revelations she gets from the others (even Simon). So when River's in trouble, she turns to Kaylee for support.

The "speaking without moving her lips" thing foreshadows the escape scene in the BDM. There it's explicit: River's very much in the frame when she calls out to Simon and her mouth definitely doesn't move. In OiS, it could be coincidence; the camera is moving and her mouth is visible only at the very start of the call to Kaylee. Still, it was one of those thrilling little moments of discovery when I noticed it.

Will they never stop? Me loves Firefly...

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I'm pointin' right at it!

ORMAYBEMIDGETS

Saturday, July 15, 2006 4:32 AM

I think it's interesting that she called to Kaylee, too. The reason I always gave was that Kaylee was probably the most scared of her. Mal wouldn't be too scared, because he knows he can deal with her. Inara wouldn't be too scared, either, because she's way up above them, and the gun isn't even pointed in her direction. Simon, I would imagine, would be more scared for River. If you go with the movie theory, this would be because he knows that she can handle herself with a weapon, and she was trained well. It could also just be because in most situations, he's more scared for River than he is of her. But Kaylee has seen her using a weapon to kill, and she's understandably scared of River. Kaylee is the only one who's seen her hold a weapon. And now she's seeing it again, and I think River's trying to explain. The way she says Kaylee's name, it's with desperation, and it's definitely a question. It's the way you'd start a sentence like, "Kaylee? No, don't. No, Kaylee, I didn't... it was a branch and... I just got confused."

Anyway, it's just my theory. Yours is also very good. I would think that Kaylee would be the nicest person to read. Like earlier, when River was hearing things. Kaylee had nothing to say. She gave a pretty scary look, but she didn't say anything to River, least of all anything mean or hurtful.

About not seeing River's lips move, I think that's not right. Like you said, it's a quick cut and I don't think it's enough to be sure.

Quote:
The "speaking without moving her lips" thing foreshadows the escape scene in the BDM.

When is this? I asked someone else before, but I didn't get an answer. Is it during the escape from the Academy, or from the Reaver attack?

Edit: Do you mean in the beginning, at about 4:02? Simon is over at the door and he takes off his jacket and River says, "Simon. They know you've come"? I do see what you mean, but I don't know what I think about it. If River had that power, to implant thoughts and whatnot, that's pretty important. I don't know why it wouldn't have been mentioned in the movie, or by Joss or whoever. Maybe if it was a plot for the BDS, but I wouldn't think that they would be counting on that so much.

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DB: Doesn't exactly fit the thug in the profile alley. Wait, what?

DONCOAT

Saturday, July 15, 2006 11:09 PM

Yes, that's the moment.

I'm not sure if I accept the "writing" (as opposed to "reading") notion either. I think it's more likely to be a bit of cinematic trickery, something that most first-time viewers don't quite catch consciously but that's intended to make you a little edgy and confused.

Of course, once we addicts watch our DVDs a hundred times and tear the movie apart down to the last frame, we start doing some reading of our own -- namely, reading things into the scene that were never intended to be taken literally.

Or, I could be wrong and River can project thoughts into people, at least during moments of intense stress. Time will tell (I hope).

Quote:
Originally posted by ormaybemidgets:
About not seeing River's lips move, I think that's not right. Like you said, it's a quick cut and I don't think it's enough to be sure.

Agreed. Her mouth does seem to move, just a tiny bit. And "Kaylee" is a word that doesn't require much lip movement. As I said, it could well be coincidence.

Along the lines of your original idea, maybe River has picked up that the incident will lead Kaylee to tell the others about the War Stories incident. Maybe "Kaylee?" is a plea to keep her secret.

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I'm pointin' right at it!

ORMAYBEMIDGETS

Saturday, July 15, 2006 11:41 PM

Quote:
Along the lines of your original idea, maybe River has picked up that the incident will lead Kaylee to tell the others about the War Stories incident. Maybe "Kaylee?" is a plea to keep her secret.

Ooh, good idea. Especially considering how bad it got for River after they all knew about the War Stories incident. Well, not bad situation-wise, but they did say some things about her, which she heard.

Only semi-related: the scene with River in Early's ship, "Dangerous, like you..." kills me every time. It's heartbreaking.

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DB: Doesn't exactly fit the thug in the profile alley. Wait, what?

SHAMANXIA

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 1:58 AM

I loved the scene where book is washing his face... and River is looking for him to apologise for ripping apart his bible.

Book head pops out from his quarters his hair pointing in all sorts of directions.

Space... It's so wonderful!

CAUSAL

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 2:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by silence:
how can someone with such a sweet smile kill people with her brain?

Hate to say, but this issue is not closed for me. Psychic River may be; lethal with hands, feet and sundry weapons, yes. But that line was more a scare tactic than an accurate statement of capability.

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I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

METTASUTRA

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 2:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:
In the scene where River picks up the gun, just as all the commotion breaks out and everyone is shouting at her, River's voice calls out, "Kaylee?!!" We don't really see her lips move.

The shooting script* was written like this:

Quote:
River looks confused at the sudden cacophony. Looks down in her hand -- and there is a BIG DAMN GUN in it. Pointed at Simon and Kaylee, the latter of whom looks shit-scared.

River lowers the gun, looking grouchily confused, as Simon comes to take it from her. She looks over at Kaylee, who fades out to the passenger dorm, unable to deal.

RIVER
Kaylee...?

SIMON
What were you thinking? Where did
you get ahold of this?

Sorta makes it seem like River notices Kaylee is "unable to deal" and is responding to her leaving.

* http://www.fireflywiki.org/113.html

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