things I wish they hadn't said

POSTED BY: meleaux
UPDATED: Saturday, April 17, 2004 10:20
VIEWED: 14297
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MELEAUX

Saturday, April 10, 2004 10:31 PM

There are a few quotes from different crew members that just dont feel right to me. For instance, I really wish Mal wouldn't call Inara a whore. It's just too mean.
Also Book's half a hump line, it's sooo out of charcter for him that I feel quite jarred. Then there's Jayne's getting poetic about his privates in HoG. Wash's planets up his rear end line gives a very weird visual.
Just wondering who else out there might have thought along these lines.

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

ZOID

Saturday, April 10, 2004 10:52 PM

Hey, Meleaux, comment ca-va?

Yeah, come to think of it, Mal's use of derogatory terminology for Inara would seem to be out of character for his chivalric code, wouldn't it?

At least he redeems himself, and JW may explicate his dialogue, in "Shindig" when he comes to the defense of Inara's honor. She then asks him (paraphrased), "Why are you the only one who gets to call me whore?" Mal looks sufficiently abashed in unspoken reply.

As for the rest of your examples, I didn't have much problem with those, or any of Joss' 'lyrics' for that matter. He and his team of writers are brilliant. The term "genius" gets overused, but if the shoe fits...

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"River didn't fix faith. Faith fixed River."

- Senator Richard 'Book' Wilkins, Independent Congress
author of A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence

SIGMANUNKI

Sunday, April 11, 2004 12:37 AM

I don't see a problem with whore from Mal to Inara. I believe in Shindig he mentioned that he respects her but not her job.

And in Jaynestown when she thought that the boy she was servicing was referring to Mal and not Jayne she started to say that he had a strange sense of honour. I think what happened at the Battle of Serenity Valley gave him an interesting set of morals.

Can't remember anything about those other quotes though.

----
"If you truly love the memory, you must set it free()!" -Me
"Also, I can kill you with my brain." -River

VETERAN

Sunday, April 11, 2004 12:50 AM

SigmaNunki is right, Mal calling Inara, whore is a commentary on her line of work, not what she thinks of hime. Besides she gets her shots in calling him a petty thief 'n all.

SPIKEANDJEZEBEL

Sunday, April 11, 2004 1:07 AM

Book's "half a hump" line that River overhears in his head is supposed to be jarring and out-of-character. At least, out of the character that WE know as Book. It seems to be something about his mysterious past, and the person he was before Serenity.

What the heck it means, that's anyone's guess!

"I like smackin' 'em!" - Jayne Cobb

ZOID

Sunday, April 11, 2004 1:45 AM

SigmaNunki and Veteran:

As politely as I can, I think y'all are off on this one. Mal could give a rat's ass about somebody else's idea of the law; but, he's a chivalrous man. If he ever kills you, you'll be facing him and armed. He'll risk life, limb and reputation to return stolen drugs to the townspeople who require them. When Atherton started to call Inara a whore, he got Mal's fist as a gob-stopper.

Figuratively speaking, Mal's a Southern boy. According to that code of chivalry, it's an abuse of masculine power to call a female a whore, even if she is one.

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"River didn't fix faith. Faith fixed River."

- Senator Richard 'Book' Wilkins, Independent Congress
author of A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence

EMBERS

Sunday, April 11, 2004 2:04 AM

I didn't think that Mal calling Inara a whore was insult to her or her profession but instead a comment on his own feelings: he is attracted to her and admires her and he resents that she isn't available to him, but is to other (rich powerful) people... It is a sign of his own feelings of inadequacy IMO.

Also Book's 'half a hump' was clearly in reference to his secret past, it is like a clue to the kind of man he was (not a Godly one).

I forgot what the other problem lines were...but myself I don't think Joss has made any mistakes

he is perfect
always
(LOL)

VETERAN

Sunday, April 11, 2004 2:25 AM

That's an interesting point of view. Does the reverse apply to Inara. After all she set the ground rules.

ZOID

Sunday, April 11, 2004 2:50 AM

Veteran:

Mal and Inara... Whew! Mal's a man of honor, a man with a code; but, he let's it slip with Inara, because -- I think -- he longs for her, desperately.

She in turn, longs for him. She's a prostitute, geisha, whore, however you'd like to say it; but she struggles with her profession. One young man offers her a 'permanent position', then accuses her of having a rigged clock; following, there is an awkward moment as he retreats ungracefully. She is clearly upset by that interaction.

Then in HoG, she tells Mal with a straight face that she's glad that he and Nandi had sex, that she's only disappointed in Nandi's lack of taste. That's a slap at Mal; but, in the next scene she's alone in a room crying bitter tears over Mal being with another woman. Later, in an unconcluded conversation with Mal, Nandi is clearly about to disclose to him that Inara's in love with him, when they are interrupted by gunfire.

Yet, she sleeps with many men, while Mal's heart must suffer it. My argument is not that Mal is not justified to refer to her profession by coarse names, rather that Mal's chivalry should preclude it, even if it's true. If he lets it slip, perhaps it's the truest indication of his deep feelings for her, his longing to make her his own.

But I still agree with Meleaux that maybe 'whore' didn't need saying.

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"River didn't fix faith. Faith fixed River."

- Senator Richard 'Book' Wilkins, Independent Congress
author of A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence

KINGOFTHEMUDDERS

Sunday, April 11, 2004 4:30 AM

"Space Monkeys" by Mal. Why is Mal talking about Space Monkeys? Too cutish for Mal.

When Jayne and Book are talking after Early gets booted off the ship and are about to work out, Jaynes dialogue is too dry for my taste. Sounds too "written"; too Kevin Smithy. I mean, I love the convo, but it doesn't fit Jayne's "That's why I don't kiss'em on the mouth" style.

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