In earnest, Mal: why’d you bring her back on?
POSTED BY: Romanceguru
UPDATED: Sunday, December 16, 2007 08:17
VIEWED: 4944
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In re-watching Serenity (for the umpteenth time) I found myself wondering the above as well.
It’s odd that Mal and crew (with the exception of Kaylee) didn’t even blink an eye when Simon and River left of their own accord, but after Mal witnesses that damage River does first hand, he picks her up without hesitation and brings her back to Serenity.
When Jayne asks, “In earnest, Mal, why’d you bring her back on?” We get only a look.
I’m curious to know, what do you think Mal was thinking at that moment, or even in the Maidenhead? Or was he simply not thinking at all?
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I think he was shocked, I think he realized in that moment that something was really wrong, and I think he cared for River. He'd always known the Alliance had messed her up, played with her brain, and then he sees her go monkeyshit and goes "Ooooh... I should help her." Even though she was ready to kill him, even though he didn't really know what was going on, he knew that something was terribly wrong. And looking at her passed out at a few simple words, while the shock was still basically fresh, had to have touched something in him.
I am selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control. And sometimes I'm a little hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.
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I wondered about this for the longest time too.
Mal gives Zoe a look after Jayne's comment.
In an odd way River has become crew, even if Mal is in denial and doesn't on the surface seem to care.
She needed help and Mal doesn't leave crew behind.
And by the end, they've become family.
Anyone else? on this one?
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Mals deep glance at Zoe when that question is asked references the conversation they had about the man Mal pushed off the mule and shot before the Reavers could violate him. Yes...Mal gave Zoe a snappy little answer to no man being left behind, but I think it bothered him plenty. He was not about to leave another person behind in a dangerous situation.
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Doesn't Joss talk about this in the original DVD commentary? I recall him saying that he kind of overlooked that moment, the one when Mal picks River up in the Maidenhead. I think Joss's take was that it's just how it is: Mal wouldn't leave River behind in that situation. It's not in his nature. He likely didn't even think about it himself, not till he got to the ship.
And that's what Mal talked to Book about - he said he had an out. Said he could have left her behind. I think he's a little shocked himself that he didn't, that his instinct was the opposite.
I think it's part of his arc, discovering that he is a decent man after all.
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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left
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I figure that at some level, Mal knew that River represented everything that's wrong with the Alliance.
Take a person, seduce them with the promise of fulfilling their greatest desire; education for River, for a planet it might be... health care, irrigation, whatever. Then take away everything that makes that person a person, an individual capable of making their own way, and force them to be an admittedly very capable tool to be used when where and how they see fit.
That ain't right.
The Alliance did far worse than break River. They made her wrong, and I figure Mal'd be damned before he let the Alliance get her back to do who knows what further damage to her.
There's been speculation that River had already been on a few covert missions (other threads), but perhaps not. Imagine the damage to her psyche if she'd actually carried out multiple cold blooded assinations? Gain trust, act all nice and as if she cares, and then *snap*... Mal, Zoey & Jayne have killed plenty, but not folk they were pretending to like. Sure, Mal killed Tracey, but let's face it, he had it comin' and everyone knew it.
Mal's reason for dropping them was an argument with Simon. If River had asked to stay, I've no doubt that Mal would have dropped Simon & kept her. Seeing River in such deep trouble trumped his feelings against Simon.
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One reason why I love the series more than the BDM is precisely that this seemed contrived to me. Of course, if Mal hadn't brought her back, there would be no movie.
However, I bet *River* wasn't surprised when he did.
I also felt that the Operative's change of heart at the end was unmotivated and not very credible. At my first viewing, I thought that Mal paralyzed the Operative and left him in front of the Signal to watch it for eternity (...which would have been ironic if it kept the Operative from rescuing Mal...) and the Operative sure was in better shape than someone who lost a fight that drastic should have been.
But even if the Operative had been prepared to be such a good sport when defeated by an honorable enemy I find it hard to believe that the Alliance would say, sure, check into the hospital, guys, and we'll give you the stuff you need to fix your ship (which you couldn't afford to fix when it was just, y'know, broken and not smashed to bits).
And, unless they plan to spend the rest of their lives doing strictly legit jobs, painting "Serenity" on the side is heartwarming but not terribly practical.
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Quote:Yes, much contrived. Although, I can see that such a strong believer as the Operative may have a change of heart that goes 100%. Have you read Malcolm X's autobiography? One thing I got out of that was how this man was so fully and completely into whatever he was into at each stage of his life, even though he shifted greatly when he had reason to reconsider his beliefs. It been my experience in my life too, that strong believers can have that kind of swing.
Originally posted by shinyseven2:
One reason why I love the series more than the BDM is precisely that this seemed contrived to me.
Quote:Hey, Mal got run through by a sword! That kinda thing killed Mr U, but barely slowed Mal down. Gotta love Hollywood.
Operative sure was in better shape than someone who lost a fight that drastic should have been.
Quote:I don't think the Alliance had anything to with it. As I interpret it, the Operative did that all on his own authority, not even telling his superiors what he was up to.
I find it hard to believe that the Alliance would say, sure, check into the hospital, guys, and we'll give you the stuff you need to fix your ship (which you couldn't afford to fix when it was just, y'know, broken and not smashed to bits).
Quote:Very true. But hey, with some details it's best just to let it be a movie and not reality. A movie called Serenity. Gotta finish it how it started, with a shot of the ship's logo, just for closure.
And, unless they plan to spend the rest of their lives doing strictly legit jobs, painting "Serenity" on the side is heartwarming but not terribly practical.
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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left
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Mal4Prez:
I have read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and wonder if it had some influence on the naming of "our" Malcolm.
And our captain looks in pretty rocky shape when he stumbles back to his crew, so I allow some leeway for "survival of non-survivable injuries."
I thought about the Operative doing it on his own initiative but I couldn't believe that he had *that* much power all on his own.
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When the Operative asked Mal if he was prepared to die for his beliefs, I freaked- Mal didn't fully expect to live through that one, but his best shot proved to be enough, much to Mal's surprise, I conjure.
It's why I love it Chrisisall
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