War Stories and Zoe's choice
POSTED BY: usagivindaloo
UPDATED: Friday, August 18, 2006 01:53
VIEWED: 10831
PAGE 4 of 4
I'd go so far as to say we don't really know what Zoe's intentions were. Sure, Wash makes the first steps to going after Mal, but I have a distinct feeling that is what Zoe had in mind. Her 'leave no man behind' mentality that is still prevalent in the movie would certainly have played a role. I'm not so ready to dismiss off hand the fact that she would be going back. I don't even see how someone could seriously suggest that going back for Mal wasn't in her immediate plans. What would be the point of carefully noting the layout to Niska's lair, were she not going back for Rd. 2? Zoe's a smart gal, and I'm positive that she had something that Mal didn't always plan for, a plan B. In fact, I could take it one step further and say that her taking what was part of Mal's ear back to the ship, indicated her intentions. Wash was in an fragile emotional state, she would have wanted him to feel like the hero, even in the tense situation they were in. The bottom line seems to be this: Would Zoe, having just rescued her husband, Wash, have risked his life, and her own, in addition to everyone else's on the ship to go save Mal, even with the idea that wouldn't be succesful, that they would lose the ship, and the crew, and possibly be killed or worse, caught and tortured by Niska? You bet she would, probably wouldn't even give it a second thought.
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I think it was a bit of both, Zoe loved Wash and didn't want to see him harmed, but at the same time, I think she new Mal could handle the torture for a longer period. I think Zoe's decision was based more on her love for Wash than the fact that he's less accustomed to pain.
JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD
Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!
98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.
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Okay, I'm soooo cereal you guys, this is my last ranting about the matter. I think I'm going to break it down even further (IMHO). I think I'm bothered by the fact that the question becomes not who can last longer under Niska's torture, but who does Zoe love more. And I don't know if I think that she loves Wash more. Maybe I'm missing something, but I come away with the distinct impression that while Zoe loves Wash and Mal differently (feelings wise), she loves them both the same (amount wise), not really holding one above the other. I don't really see Zoe forsaking all others for Wash, just as I see her following her heart and romantic love with Wash. So, that changes it back into a temporal thing. Maybe most of you think I'm dead off, but that's what I reckon.
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I was watching Zoe's face the last time I watched this ep, when Wash is saying "Bastard's not going to get days". It occurred to me that Zoe had always intended to go back for Mal militarily if the payment didn't work, but what caught her a little offguard was Wash's determination to do it with her.
I think she originally thought that, having gotten Wash, she would send all of them (except maybe Jayne) off to hide somewhere safe, and try to go in herself (with Jayne, if he was willing). When Wash indicated he wanted to go in, she had a flash of fear of losing him -- he doesn't seem that adept at combat -- but she wasn't going to stop him from doing something he needed to do.
So she really makes two choices. First, to save Wash, and second, to let him risk his life to do something right.
Indigo S.
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I think it was an emotionally, practical and loyal decision for all the reasons my brilliant co-browncoats have mentioned.
Even Wash admitted that he would not have survived, and Mal would not have let her choose him (Mal). Plus OF COURSE she would choose her husband.
We are The Forsaken - We aim to burn! and we don't need no stinkin levels!
one of the Forsaken TM
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Okay, I'm totally buying the Plan B idea. Zoe's casing the joint is a pretty convincing piece of evidence.
Of course, she might have done that even if she was planning for contingencies that might occur on that first visit -- say, if she got a chance to grab Niska himself as a hostage and get them both out that way.
But I concede that it's more likely she had a second assault in the back of her mind all along.
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I'm pointin' right at it!
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It might be that hopeless romantic in me but i think it wsa her love for him.
If I saw my girlfriend beatten to a pulp and (If i had one) army buddy that i trusted and cared for, I'd pick my girlfriend.
I know I would not be able to bear witness to the suffering of my loved one.
But like I said, that might be the hopeless romantic in me.
I am a large, semi-muscular man, I can handle it...
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well, one thing wordslinger, you're not a battle-hardedn commando B*tch. 
Mal and Zoe knew Niska, and with both Mal and Wash kidnapped, I think Zoe anticipated NIska making her choose. so as a way of defeating him, she decided to decide quite beforehand. so there may have been some conflict before she entered, but I doubt it. Mal is a solider, Wash isn't. Wash is her husband, Mal isn't. obvoiusly it wasn't purely practical, she loves Wash, but would ANYONE leave Wash to be tortured and let Mal live?
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"Do what you want to, but know what you should do"
Blarg!
I think Blarg means yes.... does blarg mean yes?
Blarg.
yes! I'm so good! unless blarg means no. I don't think it does... am i right?
Blarg.
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