What does 'TightPants' stand for?

POSTED BY: Esther
UPDATED: Saturday, August 26, 2006 16:05
VIEWED: 6757
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ESTHER

Thursday, August 24, 2006 12:56 PM

Would you people please help a poor German:

I have the feeling that the "Captain Tight Pants" saying is more than just about clothing. Seems to me, that it's also about attitude (being all rigid and awkward). Is that true, or am I missunderstanding something (or missing something altogether?)

Esther

Love my captain!

ODDSBODSKINS

Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:01 PM

i'd kind of assumed it was a referance to his attitude, more so then his pants, hadn't really given them all that much thought in the context.

_______
jailbait.

PENGUIN

Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:03 PM

Considering Kaylee looks at Mal's backside when she says it, I would assume it's just his tight pants!

DEWRASTLER

Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:25 PM

Nathan actually split the seams of a couple of pairs of pants while filming the show, so I think the joke originally came from that and was incorporated in 'Shindig'.

MAVOURNEEN

Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:29 PM

I do believe it is a combination of all of the above.
I remember hearing that Nathan was teased on set as to how tight his pants were, and he split several pairs during filming.
Perhaps Jewel improvised the line?
She is looking at his behind when she says it.

"Have you ever been with a Warrior Woman?"

BIGWOLF18

Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:39 PM

she does say just before, that his pants show off his butt, and mal said that his fancy pants were too tight, and there you go! captain tightpants.

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the summer is hot normally but in england its more like winter!

ROCKETJOCK

Thursday, August 24, 2006 2:19 PM

What does Tightpants stand for?

Tightpants stand because his pants too tight.

If Tightpants sit, Tightpants' pants rip.

That what Tightpants stand for.

Why us talk like this?

"Hermanos! The Devil has built a Robot! Andale!" -- Numero Cinco

JSUSAGI

Thursday, August 24, 2006 2:43 PM

Oooo!!! Back story!! Actually, the term was coined during the scene where Kaylee got shot. During rehearsal, Nathan bent over Jewel and his pants ripped, so Jewel started calling him Cap'n Tightpants! Joss decided to use it in "Shindig" as an inside joke. I got this from a book I bought for Tristan... I think its called "Finding Serenity"

That is all. The oracle has spoken...

ESTHER

Thursday, August 24, 2006 3:28 PM

Thanks for your comments, but my problem is merely a language problem.

is there a second meaning to "tight pants"? Like if you say, somebody has to "tighten his belt" that might be litterally true (because he visited the weight watchers), but in most cases, you mean that he needs to spend less money.

The "Tightpants" can be taken literally (which I noticed by looking at Mal ), but what would be the exact meaning, if it's taken figuratively. Or is there no figurative meaning in general about this? 'cause I can't find it in the dictionary (neither under "tight" nor under "pants").

Sorry, if I'm too nagy about this.
Esther

Love my captain!

RUGBUG

Thursday, August 24, 2006 4:01 PM

It's literal only. There is no colloquial phrase dealing with tight pants...as far as I know.

The phrase came about sometime during the filming of the pilot episode "Serenity." When Mal bends down to check on Kaylee who's just been shot, Nathan's pants ripped. He subsequentally ripped a few more pairs of pants (in other eps). At some point, they began calling him Captain Tightpants.

Jane Espenson was the first to use the phrase in an episode, Shindig. On the commentary for Shindig, she seems to think she coined it, but Morena thought they had been calling Nathan/Mal that at an earlier date.

There is no other meaning, IMO.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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