Children on Serenity - practicable?

POSTED BY: AgentRouka
UPDATED: Thursday, April 26, 2007 02:10
VIEWED: 11786
PAGE 1 of 5

1 2 3 4 5 NEXT PAGE

AGENTROUKA

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 10:34 AM

It's a popular theme in fanfiction - not the kind I read, mind you - and it always confounds me, but I don't want to discuss it in the context of just fic, but rather in general.

Children on Serenity.

I just don't see it.

Babies. Toddlers. Primary school children. Pre-teens.

Sharp edges, steep drops, constant danger of the ship falling apart, buttons to push, ladders upon stairs upon rail-less catwalks.

Not to mention the crime and shooting and enemies and Reavers. Lack of solid education.

Everyone on that ship has an essential job that they can't just abandon to baby-watch 24/7, nor are they exactly flowing in cash in a way that would allow them to hire a nanny. Or a replacement for whoever turned parent.

Considering all that, WHAT is Zoe thinking??

Did she really grow up on a ship just like Serenity, or is she letting her desire for children cloud her mind to reality (and Wash's very reasonable objections)?

I can imagine ships with more settled lifestyles and less dangerous layout, with people who actually have the capacity to raise children - I imagine Zoe grew up on one like that. But Serenity? Just no.

Anyone less completely opposed to the idea than me?

SUPERFLUOUS

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:32 AM

I think if the season were to continue (and we ignored the unfortunate events that occurred in the ‘Serenity’ movie), the prospect of a child or baby on the ship would have been inevitable.
After all, it was an adult show; and regardless of all the OH&S restraints on the ship, it would have added a new dimension to the series: Parenthood. I could just imagine it… ‘Five men, three women, a crazy girl and a baby’. We could ask Tom Selleck to guest star.
In addition it had already been done before on ‘Angel’ anyway with Connor (and Angel wasn’t exactly my first candidate for a father).

What ‘really’ would have been fun was if Jayne somehow got a whore pregnant and was left with the bastard (I’m not being mean with the language - its in the dictionary...really). That would have been a match made in heaven.

(Back to my point) True, it’s not exactly the greatest environment to raise a child in, but who are we to judge. Even in today’s modern times, people chose to bear and raise children through war, starvation and other monstrosities against humanity. As horrible and unimaginable the true world can be, there is never really an adequate time to have children. And if Mal had allowed it, events that followed would have been interesting (for the viewers sake).
BTW, Serenity is a cargo ship too, so it’s plausible to assume that the ship is capable of bearing toddlers.

But when all's said and done, my opinion is that: it’s not the manner of ‘where’ they were raised that’s truly important… but in the manner ‘how’.

__________________________________________________________________

AGENTROUKA

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 12:25 PM

But even in places that have war, famine and disease, there is generally a physical environment that is "Earth Norm".

Serenity is closer to a jungle gym than that, and while you can carry around an infant in a sling all the time (theoretically), when a baby learns to crawl and walk, the environment really starts to matter.

"Angel", for all the craziness, took place in a city, a big roomy hotel, a home base, while all the action took place elsewhere, with people who had the time to take care of the kid.

Not to mention, it still ended badly.

Serenity, on the other hand, is often enough in the middle of the action, with no conveniently available babysitters at hand.

It's not that I hate babies or think that the show would necessarily suffer from exploring that aspect, but I do think that the lifestyle of the characters and the show itself would have to go a quite dramatic change in order to keep things "honest", without denying all the little practical problems that the ship itself and their lifestyle would pose.

KANEMAN

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 12:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Superfluous:
I think if the season were to continue (and we ignored the unfortunate events that occurred in the ‘Serenity’ movie), the prospect of a child or baby on the ship would have been inevitable.
After all, it was an adult show; and regardless of all the OH&S restraints on the ship, it would have added a new dimension to the series: Parenthood. I could just imagine it… ‘Five men, three women, a crazy girl and a baby’. We could ask Tom Selleck to guest star.
In addition it had already been done before on ‘Angel’ anyway with Connor (and Angel wasn’t exactly my first candidate for a father).

What ‘really’ would have been fun was if Jayne somehow got a whore pregnant and was left with the bastard (I’m not being mean with the language - its in the dictionary...really). That would have been a match made in heaven.

(Back to my point) True, it’s not exactly the greatest environment to raise a child in, but who are we to judge. Even in today’s modern times, people chose to bear and raise children through war, starvation and other monstrosities against humanity. As horrible and unimaginable the true world can be, there is never really an adequate time to have children. And if Mal had allowed it, events that followed would have been interesting (for the viewers sake).
BTW, Serenity is a cargo ship too, so it’s plausible to assume that the ship is capable of bearing toddlers.

But when all's said and done, my opinion is that: it’s not the manner of ‘where’ they were raised that’s truly important… but in the manner ‘how’.

__________________________________________________________________

Superf.......That is the coolest banner....EVER!!!

SPACEANJL

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 2:54 PM

This was the fun thing Joss set out to explore with Wash and Zoe, though. The impractical nature of the undertaking, given their lifestyle. But a cargo ship that just did legal transport jobs...that could have families aboard. There are probably whole ships run with a family crew (I have a picture of some of the river transports in China here, the ones with the kids all tied to a central post on the deck so they can't fall overboard.)

Incidentally, I am no fan of 'space-spawn'fic. But I can see the potential for some mighty fine rowing over the subject. As you say, the lifestyle would have to change dramatically...

INDIGOSTARBLASTER

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 6:32 PM

Assuming we're talking about the practicality of raising children, as opposed to whether it would make for good TV storytelling...

I'm guessing if someone on the ship were to have a baby and wanted to keep it, they would make it work, one way or another. Babies can be slung, playpens could be scattered throughout the work areas if mom or other caregiver needed to put baby/toddler down for a bit, and any non-grating floor could be fenced in for crawling practice until baby turned into a toddler (a matter of maybe six months).

The unfenced catwalks give me (mom of a 3-year-old) the heebie-jeebies, but I assume they could string cargo net or chicken wire or something against along all of them and teach the child good and early to be careful.

They're all pretty busy people, but I think they have off and on times of busyness, and they might even be able to pick up a nanny just for room and board and the chance to travel the 'Verse for free.

The whole getting-shot-at is also scary, but I guess baby could stay with Inara in her shuttle, ready to take off at moment's notice if the job goes bad.

Just my two cents,

Indigo S.

DONCOAT

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 6:51 PM

As the fellow said in Jurassic Park, life will find a way.

Nomadic humans have been traveling with their kids (of all ages) since the dawn of time. There are plenty of ways to manage -- papooses and such-like for infants, barriers on the stairs to block toddlers from dangerous areas... there's always a way.

Pre-BDM, both Book and Inara had little to do during the travel times, and might have been willing to baby-sit. Serenity has some automation, so either Wash or Zoe would be available most of the time.

I like the idea of Inara's shuttle as a safe haven / escape pod during dangerous operations. Though it might take some 'splainin' when Inara's clients find the cookie crumbs and spit-up around the place.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm pointin' right at it!

NBZ

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 6:55 PM

While I am not a fan of this, it is possible.

But first you have to go back before you can go forward.

Mal and crew travel alot, going where the work takes them. most of the work is dangerous.

They live a futuristic version of what is essentially a bedouin/nomadic lifestyle. Bedouins and Nomads did have kids.

Using them as a template I would assume that a wetnurse/nanny would be used for a few years. The kid is dropped off with some trustworthy folk who give a proper upbringing in a healthsome environment. Not a city environment, but probably a ranch of some sort or other located in a clean countryside like place. There would be payment ofcourse.

A few years later when the kid has reached an age of say 6 or seven, he is returned to the real parents. The kid would already have some life experiences that would be useful, and more importantly, would be healthy.

Not what we expect nowadays, but if the future is going back, maybe it can go further back. A paradign shift is needed as things will be different.

Now to counter this argument, Mal has now encountered atleast three worlds that have been potentially destroyed/extinguished (shadow, Haven and Miranda). Would he still consider land a safer option? would he have any say in the kids of others?

Also who would bear the child? Kaylee has been gutshot. What other damage was done there? Inara a Companion, and Zoe a widow.

CAUSAL

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 7:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AgentRouka:
It's a popular theme in fanfiction - not the kind I read, mind you - and it always confounds me, but I don't want to discuss it in the context of just fic, but rather in general.

Children on Serenity.

I just don't see it.

Babies. Toddlers. Primary school children. Pre-teens.

Sharp edges, steep drops, constant danger of the ship falling apart, buttons to push, ladders upon stairs upon rail-less catwalks.

Not to mention the crime and shooting and enemies and Reavers. Lack of solid education.

Everyone on that ship has an essential job that they can't just abandon to baby-watch 24/7, nor are they exactly flowing in cash in a way that would allow them to hire a nanny. Or a replacement for whoever turned parent.

Considering all that, WHAT is Zoe thinking??

Did she really grow up on a ship just like Serenity, or is she letting her desire for children cloud her mind to reality (and Wash's very reasonable objections)?

I can imagine ships with more settled lifestyles and less dangerous layout, with people who actually have the capacity to raise children - I imagine Zoe grew up on one like that. But Serenity? Just no.

Anyone less completely opposed to the idea than me?

Seems to me that biology will always trump common sense. You get that biological clock ticking, and baby is on the way, period. I reckon Zoe would have found a way to make it work. I don't know how, but I'm thinking that the animal urge to procreate would have over-ruled the practical concerns of an environment full of sharp, hard things.

________________________________________________________________________
Grand High Poobah of the Mythical Land of Iowa, and Keeper of State Secrets

Captain, FFF.net Grammar Police

AGENTROUKA

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:
Seems to me that biology will always trump common sense. You get that biological clock ticking, and baby is on the way, period. I reckon Zoe would have found a way to make it work. I don't know how, but I'm thinking that the animal urge to procreate would have over-ruled the practical concerns of an environment full of sharp, hard things.

You mean to say she would have gone against Wash's wishes in making that baby?

Whoa, creepy.

Not that she isn't already a little creepy in that scene (and I say this as someone who loves Zoe madly), all dismissing his logical counter-arguments as if his opinion doesn't matter, but that's an interesting theory you have there! Oy.

1 2 3 4 5 NEXT PAGE