River's Brain Scan

POSTED BY: zoid
UPDATED: Sunday, June 6, 2004 02:11
VIEWED: 14062
PAGE 1 of 6

1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT PAGE

ZOID

Sunday, May 2, 2004 3:00 AM

Howdy 'coats:

So, I'm doing the whole proselytization thing at work on a dead Saturday (break room) and we're watching "Ariel". Gets to the part where they're scanning River's gourd and Jayne tells Simon the plan changed, gotta go now, ya-da, ya-da, distracts Simon while River's scan goes all kaleidoscopic. River arches her back, lets out a bloodcurdling scream, and they all scurry out of the theatre to the pitter-patter of little feet shod in combat boots. We all remember the scene right?

Well, here's the deal: I know I'm slower'n molasses in January but I never noticed this one little detail before: River starts screaming when she opens her eyes and sees her own brain scan. (Oooh, two colons in one sentence). I mean, she looks up at it, it's a rainbow of fruity colors -- I swear there's a look of recognition -- and then she screams while still looking at it. In the upper peripheral of the cinematic frame, the scan derezzes as she screams, and Simon turns to look at her, just missing seeing River's brainstorm.

Given that River knows a little something about medicine (proof: she spits terminology when Simon says he's going to put her to sleep), did she see her scan and diagnose herself? Did she recognize the patterns she saw in the scan?

I always thought she was just screaming because she sensed the Blue Hands entering the facility, or otherwise 'having a moment'. Like I said, I've been known to miss the simplest stuff.

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

(Of River) "Little Sis? I could see big things for her all along. Her and her brother both. I always knew they'd be worth something, y'know?"

- Jayne Cobb, Game Warden and co-proprietor, "Cretaceous Park", Hera; from A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

NEROLI

Sunday, May 2, 2004 3:55 AM

My word, you are correct...at least, in the fact that she is, indeed, looking at her brain scan when she starts screaming. Not that there was any doubt you'd be right, just needed the excuse to go watch that scene before responding.

I think the diagnosed herself theory is possible, and from the sound of that scream it would not be good.

But I think it is more likely that she's had a brain scan before, at the Blue Hands...hands...and is reacting to the familiar stimuli.

TOOMANYMEMORIES

Sunday, May 2, 2004 4:31 AM

If she had seen something about herself I think she would have at least made some effort to tell Simon what it was she saw. Especially if it was as distressing as her scream implied. After they escape, the next time we see her she is drawing and she makes no mention of it.

DELIA

Sunday, May 2, 2004 4:35 AM

I guess I was never clear as to the cause and the effect. Did she start screaming because she saw the brain scan, or did whatever made her start screaming also trigger the changes in the brain scan?

NEROLI

Sunday, May 2, 2004 4:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Delia:
I guess I was never clear as to the cause and the effect. Did she start screaming because she saw the brain scan, or did whatever made her start screaming also trigger the changes in the brain scan?

I always thought that what triggered the changes in the brain scan were what started her screaming. Something like she sensed the Blue Hands getting closer.

But she actually looks at the lit up brain scan for a moment before she starts screaming. If you watch it closely it really does seem it is the scan that starts her off.

GUNHAND

Sunday, May 2, 2004 4:49 AM

I actually thought the scan went crazy and then she screamed too, but for some weird reason I think that the whole scream/psychic activity went off for two reasons that happened almost simultaneously.

These being Jayne saying,"The plan changed" which is a lie, and the Blue Hands showing up at almost the same moment. I think River can read minds, but she doesn't just do what I'd call a "deep scan" reflexively. So Jayne lies, reflexively she knows it's a lie, probes a bit deeper, finds out that he betrayed them and then sends her senses out and sees Blue Hands arriving.

Combination of all this happening very quickly which causes her to panic and scream.

That's just my theory though.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
"Oh hey, I got an idea. Instead of us hanging
around playing art critic till I get pinched by
the Man, how's about we move away from this
eerie-ass piece of work and get on with our
increasingly eerie-ass day, how's that?"

My eerie-ass website:
http://gunhandsfirefly.homestead.com/Index.html

NEROLI

Sunday, May 2, 2004 5:04 AM

But she already knew Jayne betrayed them, IMO...when she first woke up and said "copper for a kiss", at first she's almost teasing...but after she said it she gives him a probing look. And the Blue Hands did not actually arrive till after they were in custidy.

Though it is likely that that could be the moment the Fed contacted them. He probably wouldn't have till he was sure Jayne was going to turn them over.

I think Jayne's saying the plan changed is a part of what sets the brain waves off. But after re-watching it, it really seems the scream is set off by the brain scan.

GUNHAND

Sunday, May 2, 2004 5:07 AM

You're probably right, even though I watched it tonight as part of the marathon, my mind is sorta mush.

I never did get the "copper for a kiss" line, I mean I heard it, just never understood what it was all about.

River just plain creepifies me so I don't pay attention to her as much as I should.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
"Oh hey, I got an idea. Instead of us hanging
around playing art critic till I get pinched by
the Man, how's about we move away from this
eerie-ass piece of work and get on with our
increasingly eerie-ass day, how's that?"

My eerie-ass website:
http://gunhandsfirefly.homestead.com/Index.html

NEROLI

Sunday, May 2, 2004 5:12 AM

Well, in Biblical terms it can be seen as a referance to Judas. Though the "feel" of it when she says it is more flirty to my mind. It's like even she doesn't understand why she says it at first, it's not till Jayne reacts to the comment that she "see's" what it really means.

GUNHAND

Sunday, May 2, 2004 5:19 AM

Hmm, never saw the Judas thing there. Although I did in 2 other places; when Mal pulls the sack of coins from his pocket and there is blood on it in "Safe" I got a Judas-y vibe and a big old obvious one in "Heart of Gold" when he tells the traitor girl she earned her bag of silver.

That one I didn't connect, may have to watch that part again real closelike.

Interesting though, it definately would make sense to a point.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
"Oh hey, I got an idea. Instead of us hanging
around playing art critic till I get pinched by
the Man, how's about we move away from this
eerie-ass piece of work and get on with our
increasingly eerie-ass day, how's that?"

My eerie-ass website:
http://gunhandsfirefly.homestead.com/Index.html

1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT PAGE