Theory about Inara

POSTED BY: MsBigPileofDust
UPDATED: Thursday, May 14, 2009 19:56
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SAINT JAYNE

Friday, January 23, 2004 4:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Shiny:
That's assuming Inara wasn't lying about the exam

I think the exams are real and I think everyone knows that being a registered Companion means they receive the health minister's seal of approval. Well, maybe "seal" isn't the right word here.

So if she lied, then she's either not registered any longer, or Companions standards aren't as high as I think they are.

BROWNCOAT1

Friday, January 23, 2004 4:50 PM

Some really interesting theories being argued in regards to Inara.

Not sure I agree w/ the youth drug thing. Seems to me something like that would be something every Companion would take, and it does not explain her opening the box to look at the syringe when the Reaper ship is closing with them.

It could be some sort of drug for an addiction, and the stress of an encounter w/ the Reavers could cause her to contemplate taking it.

I had forgotten the parcel she received in "The Message". I will have to go back and rewatch the episode as I do not remember the size of the box, but it is possible it could be a "resupply" of the drug, if that is in fact a drug.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

MRPRESIDENT

Friday, January 23, 2004 4:52 PM

In "Train Job", the local sheriff's deputy checked Inara's status and confirmed that everything was in order at that time, so she must still be registered.

PHLEBOTININ

Friday, January 23, 2004 5:59 PM

You know, I've wondered about that comment the sheriff made to his assistant? deputy? in Train Job about Inara's Companion papers being in order. As I recall, the sheriff asks his assistant if Inara's papers are in order, and she says, "I checked three times." Or something to that effect.

Now, somethiing about that interchange screamed MEANINGFUL to me. Perhaps this apparently matter of fact interchange was meant to interject an almost subconscious kernel of doubt about Inara's Companion status into viewers' minds? I mean, why make such a point about her papers being in order at all? I know, when The Train Job was written, it was meant to be the new pilot, and thus you could argue that this interchange about Inara's papers was a way to establish Inara's exalted status as Companion and to tell viewers that in the Fireflyverse, Companions are perfectly legal.

But I don't know. Here's some thoughts: Inara is no longer a "real" Companion....her papers have been expertly faked to allow her to continue doing her Companion's job. Her Companion's job is a cover for something else -- maybe she's been hired by the Alliance to spy on Mal or Browncoat activities in the far reaches of the 'verse? Or maybe she works for someone else altogether? Maybe the syringe she looks at in Serenity is a weapon of some kind. Or something that will make her super-strong.

Or, she IS terminally ill or has some other weird condition and has her Companion's papers faked to avoid being kicked out of the profession. Maybe she paid the doctor in Ariel to fake her yearly health exam results.

Just some thoughts. I'm probably wrong, but if there is one scenario I don't want to be correct is that Inara is dying. That's a little corny to me. And even if corny, sad. I want that character around for a good long while.

As I think I've said somewhere before, probably the best way to figure out what the heck Inara's backstory is is to concentrate on exactly why she would be contemplating the syringe under threat of Reaver attack. The terminally ill theory here just doesn't hold water, especially if Joss is telling the truth that the syringe is not a suicide kit.

DAKION

Friday, January 23, 2004 6:26 PM

Based on Joss's comments, I definitely think it's a drug addiction issue. I think that indeed she left before she was found out. I think the reason she was shown with the kit in the pilot is to suggest the notion of a suicide kit (which someone so tied to doing what she does for a living would not want to meet the reavers fate) but actually could be her thinking of causing herself to OD on her drug of choice (thus becoming a suicide means) or at least put herself in a state where she would be oblivious to what they would do to her but I think she chooses instead to not take the drug and remain in her top form mentally to resist them. Maybe she is working on breaking her habit or maybe she is "on the wagon" and contemplates going offf it at that moment.

RAVENWHYTEWING

Friday, January 23, 2004 6:33 PM

Just would like to remind you all that in "Out of Gas", when mal asked Inara what she was running from, he assumed it was the Alliance. If she was an addict, it might explain what she was running from.

I do the job, (click) and then I get paid.

RAVENWHYTEWING

Friday, January 23, 2004 6:34 PM

if she was caught, perhaps

I do the job, (click) and then I get paid.

ROBSTHELL

Friday, January 23, 2004 7:13 PM

From what I remember of Serenity, and I only watched it the other night, when Inara pulls that box off the shelf (or whatever it is) there aren't a whole lot of other boxes like that there, plus it seems a bit strange for each individual syringe to come in one box, doesn't it? I'd have thought there'd have been quite a few around if she were addicted to something rather than just having one box around.

Just my thoughts.

VETERAN

Saturday, January 24, 2004 3:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by phlebotinin:
You know, I've wondered about that comment the sheriff made to his assistant? deputy? ...As I recall, the sheriff asks his assistant if Inara's papers are in order, and she says, "I checked three times." Or something to that effect.

...Perhaps this apparently matter of fact interchange was meant to interject an almost subconscious kernel of doubt about Inara's Companion status into viewers' minds? I mean, why make such a point about her papers being in order at all? ...you could argue that this interchange ...was a way to establish Inara's exalted status as Companion

They emphasize a Companion's elevated social status several times in the show. Remember the agrument Inara uses to convince Mal to rent her the shuttle in OoG, the references to Inara as Ambassador in Serenity. I don't think they're planting any doubt about her credentials. What they're doing is establishing the difference between the 'verse and today's society.

Quote:
..maybe she's been hired by the Alliance to spy on Mal or Browncoat activities in the far reaches of the 'verse? Or maybe she works for someone else altogether?

That doesn't make much sense, the War has been over for six years. Mal isn't a threat to the government. He's trying to stay under Alliance radar as much as possible.

ENDERSPAWN

Saturday, January 24, 2004 4:24 AM

Hey hey, I wanted to comment on some stuff and to throw some kinks into the cogworks, as they say.

First, Drug Addiction? Very nice. I think it is possible even when all of the evidence is put together. HOWEVER: Youth drug? No way. First, Joss is trying to make a science fiction show without too much sci-fi. No teleporters, no clones, and so on. It's too easy. So is making Inara a spy for Mal. Mal isn't planning an insurrection. He wants to be left alone.

The doctor's visits? I mean, Doctors can be men and these companions are trained sexperts. Even if it was a woman...who knows? Very likely it would be easy to quiet up an addiction.

Also, this would undermine all the work the show has put into showing us "how it is", which to me seems very much like Joss. All the high and mighty references to Inara as a companion are IRONIC!!

Tell me it doesn't make a little bit of sense!

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