Controversial Mal characterization

POSTED BY: SpaceAnJL
UPDATED: Saturday, January 3, 2009 06:12
VIEWED: 42749
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WYTCHCROFT

Thursday, August 23, 2007 5:28 PM

well i hear pretty much agree here -
but what is interesting is speculating on the moments of choice

(something we know joss is keen on emphasising)

when did the lines first get blurred etc etc -
who or what influenced him...

lotta plot potential!

THESOMNAMBULIST

Thursday, August 23, 2007 5:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAnJL:
I know Mal is probably short for 'maladjusted' rather than Malcolm, but could we maybe see a way forward for him that doesn't end in misery and angst? (Yeah, I know it's Joss - puppy sandwiches all round.)

I'm not advocating instant bounceback from the trauma of war. I'm not in favour of any fic that sweeps every human reaction under the carpet in favour of fluffy bunnies. But could there possibly be a glimmer of hope for these people? That maybe this little group could put the 'fun' back in dysfunctional, and have something approaching a normal existance, emotionally speaking. And no, I am not advocating spacespawn and wedding bells. This is me.

Maybe I'm just trying to find a balance between drama and humour that feels like real people to me. I just think more could be made of NF's gift for comic timing - I know Joss hoped to take advantage of it. And any guy that will let it all hang out ('Trash') deserves some laughs.

So, a Mal who doesn't end up married to Inara and knee-deep in brats, but equally doesn't end up eating his pistol on some lonely asteroid? Any takers?

Now that is interesting. I actually regard Mal as very hopefull character. I certainly couldn't imagine him eating a bullet. He thrives off the misery too much. But it'll never get the better of him.
I sort of regard Mal as a similar character to Humphrey Bogart's character Rick Blaine in Casablanca... Always fighting for the losing side, but remains defiant in spite of it.

www.cirqus.com

NVGHOSTRIDER

Thursday, August 23, 2007 5:49 PM

For me Platonist really summed up the point about grown folk having to adjust and be happy for themselves before any Marry-making or child rearing should occur. But there are always reversions to the former self on occasion. It isn't interesting entertainment. It is human nature to go back to the familiar.

And the fact that I cannot see Mal simlpy dropping a bunch of puppies with Inara or chewin' on a bullet out in the black should be pretty appearant. I see the wit and humor of so much in him that IMHO is the hope springing forth from him that we all want to see. The humor is his contribution to the world, no matter how strange or dry or twisted (the whole "Kaylee's dead" thing to Simon broke me in two).

OLDGUY

Thursday, August 23, 2007 6:53 PM

you kids are gettin close to it...and dancing around all the same... a guy like Mal has already met his highest point. He stood his ground and with all he had he looked into the face of the enenmy and lost. He lost so much that he has no desire to exist in the world of "normal society".
He lost, among other things, that little line in the sand that most folks will not step across..mainly because we live in fear of loosing something.. our freedom, our finances, our public image...
Mal said it himself..."he has no rudder" and likewise, no anchor. He will make a decision for the moment of survival and to keep himself powered in the direction..whatever direction it is...that he is going. He won't always like it, but he will do it. However, this doesn't mean he won't take up action for a cause. He is not taking up the cause, but the action required at the moment. He'll fight for the whore house, he'll pick up an unconcious River from a bar floor. Not because he has a goal, or a financial strategy for lasting wealth and power, or some duty to a community or government. in Firefly and Serenity we are able to look at the most basic element of man with his strengths and weaknesses, his cunning and stupidity. We can relate when he comes up short or takes a bad turn, and we cheer when he gets it right..and smile deep inside when he makes that last little turn, after starting out wrong, messing up, falling deep into the pile, and yet at the last moment, right after the last commercial (grin), he pulls it out with the help of those he cares for, or has tried to do right by, or just because some higher power might have decided that tommorrow might be a better place if Mal is allowed to live, and fight, and love again.

Old Guy

NVGHOSTRIDER

Thursday, August 23, 2007 7:17 PM

That is pretty much what I said but I seem to lack the motivation to put alot down today. That and I have been posting waay too much on the whole Mal characterization thing and haven't posted one bit of Mal fic. Seems I might have to now. What's the saying? Put up or shut up? I guess I better man up or quit debating on the fine points of our shiny captain.

WYTCHCROFT

Thursday, August 23, 2007 8:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oldguy:
you kids are gettin close to it...and dancing around all the same... a guy like Mal has already met his highest point. He stood his ground and with all he had he looked into the face of the enenmy and lost.

Old Guy

yeah... but - are you taking the BDM of Serenity into account? Firefly the show is about the aftermath of defeat... anything post-BDM has to show the aftermath of 'victory'. Both personal and social. this is why i see links with Buffy 8 where joss has to follow the big victory of Chosen...

this is what drew to me try a post BDM fic - else i would not have put my toe in such deep waters!

NBZ

Thursday, August 23, 2007 9:46 PM

Ok, my thoughts. Not really specific to one side or the other.

Firefly is no fairy tale. The equivalent of happily ever after is living to the next day/crisis/whatever. Just like in reality. But with spaceships. And Reavers. Even if you win, you still have to live, and that always has its pitfalls, even if they are small.

If you want a pretty positive fic series, you can try the sushi_fic community over at livejournal. They have a single multi author tale where things after the BDM fall into place in a good manner (You will need to find a page listing them in the right order, as they are written out of order). While not boring, I found it depressing. It was just too hunky dory. (Or the fact that it went too far into the future. I dislike that as well.)

One thing to avoid though is over analysing the situation/character. Mal is not miserable by any standards.

(However this is something that can be explored by a writer. get a situation where he becomes miserable. Finds the ship as a prison, no longer freedom. Should be easy as one thing that he finds incredibly grating is the loss of authority, or people questioning his orders. Which do happen regularly.)

I think we have seen Mal happy on a few occasions. Like at the end of Serenity, the Pilot. He says it's enough, and is pretty relaxed. (At the BDM he is relaxed too, but that is not the same IMO.)

There are a few of these (End of Trash), and it's these small times that probably make it all worth it.

I don't think he needs to confront his issues before being "ready for commitment". he has and hasn't already. There is only so much that can be fixed. I would assume he is pretty well adjusted for what he has gone through.

As a comparison - Zoe. Yes, she got married. But apart from that she has moved on a lot less than Mal has. She still sees herself as a soldier. In an army that was dismantled over seven years ago.

And why does someone need to be in a relationship to be considered happy? While Zoe may be happy to put her arm round Simon in The Message as gesture of camaraderie, Mal more or less freezes both times it happens to him ( Wash in OMR puts his hand on Mals shoulder and the deal guy in Jaynestown grips his arm).

Happyness != relationship.
Mysery != no relationship.

(Also, while the BDM can be taken as a victory, I doubt it is one. The main thing it changes is that the crew are probably no longer anonymous to some segments of the Alliance, making it a lot harder to hide. Though there was nothing in the shown segment of the broadwave connecting the crew to it, so to the ordinary person there is no connection.)

JETFLAIR

Thursday, August 23, 2007 10:34 PM

I don't neccessarily see the portrayal of Mal as happy as unrealistic. I find a *stable* Mal unrealistic, but at least in Firefly, I don't think Mal is unhappy with his life.

He has enough baggage to fill a cargo ship, but he seems content enough. As with any life, his is filled with upsets and hurts and problems, but also joy and his own version of love.

He's chosen a life he can live with. I think that given said baggage, he needs both constant challanges and the task of leading other people to keep him sane, keep his mind off the past and keep him from brooding about himself. Mal, financially secure on a peaceful little homestead somewhere farming tomatoes, would probably go insane.

If as fic writers we want to write Mal as happy (and please do so - I love the man and enjoy reading realistic scenarios where he experiences joy in life), we need to keep in mind that what makes Mal happy may well not be what makes the average person happy. Mal may not enjoy parts of it, but he *likes* his rabble-rousing life.

So finding the things within Mal that bring him joy, and writing a story focused on that, or with that outcome? Not controversial at all, to me. In fact, if well done, it would be a joy to behold.

The problem arises when an author takes a steriotypical, average-person view on what constitutes a happy story or a happy ending for him. That's where we get Mal, Inara, 2.5 kids, and a ranch.

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

NBZ

Thursday, August 23, 2007 10:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jetflair:
He has enough baggage to fill a cargo ship, but he seems content enough. As with any life, his is filled with upsets and hurts and problems, but also joy and his own version of love.

I agree (with all your post).

One thing about firefly is that it does not always accept notions from our 'verse.

Maybe he is happiest when he is screaming across his ship to get hold of Kaylee instead of using the Comms like any sane captain would.

ZONER

Thursday, August 23, 2007 11:49 PM

"i really agree with these last two posts.

i don't understand the need to brush issues or dilemnas under the carpet - on the other hand too much wallowing and you lose the flavour of Firefly

which thrived onquirky juxtapositions and mood swings...
(did i say thrived? i meant cancelled.)

...and risk inventing basically 'new' characters. as a writer i wanna explore all avenues - as a reader? hell, i just want more FireFly!" wytchcroft

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