new theory on shepherd book

POSTED BY: humble
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 13:03
VIEWED: 9894
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EPRESSMAN617

Friday, March 19, 2004 9:40 PM

If he was some kind of judge or alliance official, then he mighthave experienced violence before, but beating up a cop is new. He might have done all kinds of things to people the alliance considered criminals, but fighting a cop is different. This might be why he is so distraught.

Book: I'd forgotten - you're moonlighting as a criminal mastermind now.
Simon: No, but I'm thinking about growing a big black mustache. I'm a traditionalist.

ITSALLSHINY

Friday, March 19, 2004 9:52 PM

According to the commentary by Joss on OiS, Early doesn't 'know' anything about Book -- it's just he has a viceral intuition that Book has to be taken out physically and quickly -- nothing more.

Here's my theory -- Once upon a time, Book was an Alliance Enforcer. (See The Train Job, Safe, War Stories and Our Mrs. Reynolds for information about weapons, crime and military tactics.) He also did some very bad things and was a very bad man. (See Objects in Space: his 'angst' moment as seen through River's mind.) He obviously held a position of some rank or influence. (See Safe: his welcome aboard the Alliance cruiser for medical treatment.) But he's also obviously a Shepherd and hasn't been 'in the world' for a while. (See Serenity, moment of absolution in Inara's shuttle.)

My guess is that something happened to Book, some life-changing moment, after which he decided to go into the monestary, turn his back on the world and find absolution in God. Now he's out in the world, testing his faith and his resolve to be a good man. However, his angst still exists deep in his soul and he still thinks of himself as a bad person (as seen by River) and he is still seeking absolution.

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Book: "I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not, so where does that leave you?"

DUKE

Friday, March 19, 2004 9:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:
he cries in front of Inara because he had a bad day.
"Oh God, I punched a man senseless, it's so terrible, waah waah..."

Well, what Book actually says is that he watched a man die that he had sworn to protect. We all assume that he made that oath on Serenity. But what if he had sworn to protact this man, BEFORE he boarded the ship?

"I'll be in my bunk..."

ITSALLSHINY

Friday, March 19, 2004 10:38 PM

It is possible, that Book swore to protect the lawman before he got on the ship, but it isn't likely and it only unnecessarily complicates the story. Remember the showdown between Book and Jayne after Book took down the lawman? It was intense -- Jayne was determined to kill the lawman, and Book says, "Not gonna happen!" as he tried to stare Jayne down. That's Book swearing to protect the lawman -- it is his stance in that scene.

Also, why would Book beat the lawman senseless if he intended to protect him before they got on the ship? That just doesn't make any sense at all.

--------------
"The man seems a mite twitchy, Son. Best do as he says." -- Mal

KALIMEERI

Saturday, March 20, 2004 12:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ItsAllShiny:

Here's my theory -- Once upon a time, Book was an Alliance Enforcer. (See The Train Job, Safe, War Stories and Our Mrs. Reynolds for information about weapons, crime and military tactics.) He also did some very bad things and was a very bad man. (See Objects in Space: his 'angst' moment as seen through River's mind.) He obviously held a position of some rank or influence. (See Safe: his welcome aboard the Alliance cruiser for medical treatment.) But he's also obviously a Shepherd and hasn't been 'in the world' for a while. (See Serenity, moment of absolution in Inara's shuttle.)

My guess is that something happened to Book, some life-changing moment, after which he decided to go into the monestary, turn his back on the world and find absolution in God. Now he's out in the world, testing his faith and his resolve to be a good man. However, his angst still exists deep in his soul and he still thinks of himself as a bad person (as seen by River) and he is still seeking absolution.

------------------------------------------
Book: "I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not, so where does that leave you?"

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This is similar to what I believe--that he was a highly respected Alliance cop who one day looked at himself and his people and was sickened. I believe the thought that River 'overheard' was a statement he might have made during an interrogation. I think a Judge would be a "respectable" core planet position, not field-level.

It's obvious that he was in a position to make decisions, because even if Mal doesn't realize it, he respects Book's input and strategy, as in "The Message". Almost like an equal.

In this scenario, both Mal and Book are similar in that they rejected society. Book embraced religion, but his faith is tested right quick; and by the time of "The Message" he is almost back in his old persona. Definitely in control, and somebody to contend with.

I think there were a couple lines in one of the scripts that were not included in the eps: something where Jayne says Book "knows a lot about either good cops, or bad ones", and Book responds, "both."

Jen dao mei.

LINDYCAT

Saturday, March 20, 2004 4:03 AM

Way back when I posted in another thread before this one I came up with a few theories. Now I am pretty damn sure Book was a bounty hunter like Juble, only Book was bad enough to be known by the rest of the brotherhood of bounty hunters. Then he had a brush with the divine and he went to religion. This is why he knows so much about crime, and is always questioning Simon on becoming more and more part of it. I'm 95% sure this is his story, IMHO.

Lindy

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ECGORDON

Saturday, March 20, 2004 1:05 PM

I don't think bounty hunter is a position that would get that much respect from the Alliance, as we saw in "Safe." My theory is he was an Alliance officer, possibly serving opposite Mal at the Battle of Serenity.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

LURKINGHORROR

Saturday, March 20, 2004 6:37 PM

Over at the Prospero Firefly Forum, fan Lux Lucre spent an evening with Adam Baldwin and Alan Tudyk. He reported thusly:

Quote:
So, Adam told me a few cool things about Book!

First of all, he was NOT a commander in the war, at Serenity Valley or anywhere else.

He IS Alliance though, and possibly connected to the Blue Hand Group.

He is a real preacher too, it's not just a cover story. His entry into the priesthood could have been a form of penance for the acts he commited while in the employ of the Alliance.

Whereas, AB may NOT really know Book's backstory, it all sounds logically possible to me...

The Horror that Lurks
...and waits for the movie...

NEROLI

Saturday, March 20, 2004 9:18 PM

Well, that does seem to fit with the hints dropped about Book. Thanks for sharing lurkinghorror!

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Saturday, March 20, 2004 9:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:
Why would he cry like a virgin old man? He's faking that scene with Inara in Serenity, I bet ya!

Speaking of epiphanies, as the thread began, I just had one of my own. May be wind though.

Having just rewatched Passing Through Gethsemane, its fresh in my mind, but in that you have Brad Dourif playing a murderer who was mind-wiped and ended up joining the priesthood - only for the families of his victims to track him down and gain their revenge. Brother Edward finds out about his past, and is in tears over it, and goes to his own garden of Gethsemane to meet his fate. Stunning episode, leaves me in tears every time.

Back to FF - Book is trying to escape something, and I'm betting that involves direct or indirect dealing of death. In his very first step, he fails. A darker view is that Book is on a recovery programme - he's running from temptation and has landed right in it - would tie in with his line in objects in space.

"I threw up on your bed"

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