Mal's word no good?

POSTED BY: jewelstaitefan
UPDATED: Sunday, October 14, 2007 03:26
VIEWED: 18720
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WYTCHCROFT

Friday, October 12, 2007 9:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

And Yeah, I think he would have left those that chose to stay behind, on Haven. He provides them with an out. Something worse? Probably not, I think that was a fairly empty threat. Shoot, Inara, please, he pretends like she's not even there, so he can go about being the "Nasty Monster Leader" without her seeing him that way.

interestingly, in the novel (just re-read it)) Mal says to the crew, on Haven, "I will f--king shoot you." A much more forceful threat!

PLATONIST

Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:32 AM

I read that too, wytchcroft. I'm glad Joss took "F**king" out. I do believe it is in the shooting script, also. It doesn't sound very much like Mal and I don't think Joss wanted to endanger the PG13 rating over one misplaced word.

Hard to believe, but in Hollywood, vulgar language will get you a higher rating than graphic violence.

I think the shooting threat is probably intended for Jayne more so than the others. Mal just canvases the group to avoid singling Jayne out. Mal doesn't play favorites.

When I taught Middle School, I threatened the whole group all the time to maintain control of the three unruly students in the front row. They may or may not have known. It worked and kept everyone on their toes and I didn't really care. LOL

Speaking of reading, I finished "Serenity Found", the latest set of essays on the Firefly verse. There are a few interesting essays on Mal's character through the series and movie you may find helpful in your fic writing.

WYTCHCROFT

Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:
I read that too, wytchcroft. I'm glad Joss took "F**king" out. I do believe it is in the shooting script, also. It doesn't sound very much like Mal

yeah - it seems off somehow.

Quote:

I think the shooting threat is probably intended for Jayne more so than the others. Mal just canvases the group to avoid singling Jayne out.

again, the novel actually states quite boldy "Mal didn't like Jayne very much" - and views him (and his possible betrayal) accordingly. but i can feel the canon/not canon argument-hounds baying off in the distance so... i'll drop that there:)

Quote:
Mal doesn't play favorites.

weirdly, true - not even zoe... guess his huge 'family' back on shadow helped stamp that into his character.

Quote:
When I taught Middle School, I threatened the whole group all the time to maintain control of the three unruly students in the front row. They may or may not have known. It worked and kept everyone on their toes and I didn't really care. LOL

tut tut

Quote:
Speaking of reading, I finished "Serenity Found", the latest set of essays on the Firefly verse. There are a few interesting essays on Mal's character through the series and movie you may find helpful in your fic writing.

thanks P (as always)

BORIS

Saturday, October 13, 2007 2:32 AM

Sorry if I repeat anyone's sentiments here, was too lazy to read all replies. It's about expendibility levels. Simon and River are more expendable than Book. therefore his needs come first, and if there are time and resources left over, Mal will organise saving the other two. and Hey! lucky them, they get saved. point is they don't get left behind permanently, so he didn't technically break his word. Mal is a deeply flawed fellow...that's why we like him/hate him etc.

WYTCHCROFT

Saturday, October 13, 2007 6:23 AM

Quote:
boris wrote:
Friday, October 12, 2007 16:32
It's about expendibility levels. Simon and River are more expendable than Book. therefore his needs come first,

HUH??
even at the bottom-line saving two is preferable to saving one.

Simon is a DOCTOR - highly skilled.
Book is a... shepherd.

the expendibility factor is NOT in his favour.

BORIS

Saturday, October 13, 2007 7:02 AM

let me simplify it in a Mal like pragmatic way...he cares about Book. he doesn't like Simon as much.Add to that the fact that he may be intuitive enough to know that Book is more highly skilled than Simon in more beneficial ways. Either way he rescues Simon and River, and they all live on for a few more adventures. Mal is an Ass, and deeply conflicted so we are not always,going to understand his decision making process, but what we do know is that love always comes first with him. (and no I do not spend hours annalysing characters).

ASARIAN

Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by boris:
Sorry if I repeat anyone's sentiments here, was too lazy to read all replies. It's about expendibility levels. Simon and River are more expendable than Book. therefore his needs come first, and if there are time and resources left over, Mal will organise saving the other two.

Unless you're repeating yourself, I doubt many others have shared that sentiment. :)

Mal considers Simon and River under his personal care. Book, too, after a fashion; but Book is far from helpless; and Mal's a sucker for helping out the oppressed. It's hard-wired into his psychology, as it were: the drive for independence; and, thus, the natural instinct to help others who seek that same independence. Especially if those others seek to get out from under the heel of the Alliance.

When it comes down to it, Mal will choose Simon and River over Book. Like don't play into it. Mal thinks of Book as a good friend, but one who basically just came along for the ride -- for whatever reasons that be. He will of course try and save him, if possible; but he's not 'parentally' invested in him, the way he is in Simon and River. Would he really lose Simon or River, it would no doubt leave him devastated, akin to losing his men in the Battle of Serenity Valley.

Simon is not exactly helpless, either. In his own world (Ariel) he's a bright star, brimming with justified confidence. But in Mal's world, he's as lost in the woods as everyone else, and much in need of Mal's help. Also, in a superficial way, Mal does perhaps not really like the doctor. Or rather, he can't really relate to his world; and the doc's fancy shmancy mannerism may rub Mal the wrong way, at times. But Mal respects Simon. Mal knows, only all too well, what it means to having people to look out for. In that sense, he understands the doc perhaps better than he does Inara.

And River? She has, unbeknownst to himself, given Mal a renewed raison d'etre. No, in terms of expendability, the odds are not stacked in Book's favor.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

BORIS

Sunday, October 14, 2007 3:26 AM

Um ...and yet Book's needs are tended to FIRST and there's the whole close contact with the Alliance to have his needs met. So I'm thinking he must be pretty important for such a risk to be taken.(see how stubbornly I cling to my opinion?) ...actually refreshing to know we can all look at the same material in diverse ways. I suppose that's the reason I like what Firefly has achieved in terms of bringing together a wide circle of people with different perceptions.

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