On Atherton Wing & Companion-ism

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Friday, June 13, 2008 16:50
VIEWED: 10879
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CHRISISALL

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 3:59 PM

A Companion can choose their clientele, so why Atherton? Was he a different guy in private with Inara? Seems like a worlds-class loser to me...

And is the whole Companion thing believable to you? Is it a worthy trade or just an added titillation in the show? What dramatic purpose does Inara's vocation serve in Firefly?

Discussion-minded Chrisisall

JONGSSTRAW

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 5:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
A Companion can choose their clientele, so why Atherton? Was he a different guy in private with Inara? Seems like a worlds-class loser to me...

And is the whole Companion thing believable to you? Is it a worthy trade or just an added titillation in the show? What dramatic purpose does Inara's vocation serve in Firefly?

I've written before that I thought the whole episode of Shindig is quite silly...not that I don't love the episode, just that life on Persephone is rather strange, to say the least.

They have slaves to make rich people's clothes ( no doubt slaves are supplied by Badger )
They duel to the death over a punch
They announce Lords & Ladies at the ball as if there was a monarchy in place, when we all know the Alliance rules. Wonder what the Alliance authorities think of Wing killing a dozen people for no reason?

As far as Inara....I think the other women at the ball ( she calls them friends ) look at her and think " Christ, there's that whore again!"). They don't like her or respect her; they're likely afraid that their men will want to be with a companion too.

PLATONIST

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 5:36 PM

Not only Atherton, what about that creepy guy in the new comics who uses her to get to Mal and Zoe? Or that weasel in the Pilot, that accuses her of cheating him, or the hypocritical Councilor that chastises her for coming to her home when Inara needs help in saving Mal's ear.

I think Companionship was a way to legitimize prostitution, in the core, and make it safe and honorable for those practicing, but as civilization moves out to the rim, its euphemism and stature is sorely tested (they are regulated to whores), much like Geishas were during WW2. They didn't weather the storm of Western influence and a changing culture.

Inara is still practicing the vocation SHE values, in the old traditions, and it does have merit and beauty, but not relevance in this newly explored world. It will change or disappear.

And, I think that's at the crux of the dramatic presentation of her persona, beyond creating romantic obstacles for her and Mal. Because in a lot of ways the things that she represents, nature, love, and beauty, are sorely missing from the rugged rim and of course Mal's life, hence, the lynchpin of his undeniable attraction to her.

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 5:39 PM

Wow, thanks Platonist, very well thought out.

Really was curiousisall

PENTHOS

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 6:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

... or the hypocritical Councilor that chastises her for coming to her home when Inara needs help in saving Mal's ear...

Hey, I never saw that, and I've seen War Stories at least a dozen times. Is that a deeted seen you saw somehwere? If so, where?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoe: Don't think its a good spot sir, she still has the advantage over us.
Mal: Everyone always does; that's what makes us special.

PENTHOS

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 6:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

... or the hypocritical Councilor that chastises her for coming to her home when Inara needs help in saving Mal's ear...

Hey, I never saw that, and I've seen War Stories at least a dozen times. Is that a deeted seen you saw somehwere? If so, where?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoe: Don't think its a good spot sir, she still has the advantage over us.
Mal: Everyone always does; that's what makes us special.

PLATONIST

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:01 AM

Thanks, chrisisall! Yeah, Inara, one of Joss's most interesting complex characters. I'm still waiting on her story and... Who knows? The Guild and the Companion thingy maybe a red herring and have nothing to do what's really going on with her and its impact on Serenity.

From the new comics, it looks as if there is something medically wrong with her. Is she Simon's patient? And, can Simon save her for Mal? Like Mal saved River for Simon? Where's our sequel?

Penthos, the deleted scene is in the shooting script from "Firefly Companion II". I'm pretty sure that's where I remember reading it.

RIVERGIRL

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:04 AM

what about that "ambassadorship"

she certainly walked in and saved mal and zoe in the train job

Also, I can kill you with my brain.

WAKEUPSOON

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Penthos:
Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

... or the hypocritical Councilor that chastises her for coming to her home when Inara needs help in saving Mal's ear...

Hey, I never saw that, and I've seen War Stories at least a dozen times. Is that a deeted seen you saw somehwere? If so, where?

It's in the DVD extras. It was a deleted scene.

And don't think Companionship is just about sex, I do think its like old-fashioned Geishas. Its not just a job, its a lifestyle choice.

PLATONIST

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rivergirl:
what about that "ambassadorship"

she certainly walked in and saved mal and zoe in the train job

The sheriff stupidly believed her story, based on her credentials checking out, "they ran them twice", and her cleverly manipulating the situation. He probably had never even seen a Companion before, not being from the core. The Operative certainly didn't give her "Ambassador" status, when he occupied her Training House and coerced her into waving. It's a tenuous assumption at best that her clout is revered everywhere.

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