Why did Joss?

POSTED BY: Gilove2dance
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 06:09
VIEWED: 8319
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AURAPTOR

Friday, October 17, 2008 11:43 PM

Not to hijack the thread, but still Jayne related....

We saw from OoG that Jayne impresses Mal w/ his ability to track two crafty war vets down, but after that, what does Jayne ever do that even hints at some extraordinary skill or ability ???

( Other than an alleged neck shot w/ a bent scope from 500 yards , that is )

As Simon said...I'm trying to think ...but nothings comin'

It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

TRAVELER

Saturday, October 18, 2008 12:51 AM

Jayne is the only person stupid enough to jump onto a moving train. He looks great in orange knit caps. The Mudders made a statue of him for his heroics. He has a good sense of smell, which told him there was something wrong with Inara's shuttle.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

WENDYPOPS

Saturday, October 18, 2008 11:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by traveler:
But this is a man's name. Jane is the spelling for a woman.
Edit: Just went to Wikipedia and found two women with this spelling.

I know 2 women with the name Jayne.

Also, babynames.com tells me it's a girl's name: http://www.babynames.com/Names/name_display.php?id=8200

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AGENTROUKA

Saturday, October 18, 2008 11:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Not to hijack the thread, but still Jayne related....

We saw from OoG that Jayne impresses Mal w/ his ability to track two crafty war vets down, but after that, what does Jayne ever do that even hints at some extraordinary skill or ability ???

( Other than an alleged neck shot w/ a bent scope from 500 yards , that is )

As Simon said...I'm trying to think ...but nothings comin'

It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

In "War Stories" he analyses the scene of Mal and Wash's abduction, which helps them reach the conclusion that Niska nabbed them.

He is quite useful in getting them out in that same episode, too.

While he doesn't quite do it as Mal wished, Jayne is also not completely bad at intimidating Dobson in the pilot episode.

He is extremely useful in "Heart of Gold".

In the movie, he does an incredible job defending the crew from the Reavers (much as I hate the movie otherwise, Jayne has some amazing moments there).

I'm sure there is more.

GWEK

Saturday, October 18, 2008 2:00 PM

Can't speak to the specifics of "Jayne," but I'm pretty sure Joss gave the big strong guy a girl's name because of the irony. He already used the same basic trick in "Alien: Resurrection," with one of the mercenary crew that serves as sort of the "rough draft" of our Big Damn Heroes (I think that guy's name is Carol, but it's been a while since I've seen the movie).

Joss has a habit of using "ironic" names: Buffy (for the mighty slayer) and Spike (why not just call him "Stake"?) also come to mind.

www.stillflying.net: "Here's how it might have been..."

BORIS

Sunday, October 19, 2008 1:17 AM

I don't see Jayne as complex. I see him as having Aspergic tendencies...incredibly smart but essentially driven by primal considerations which may mask his intelligence...He's completely baffled by social conventions, but still craves that connection to others, and never quite gets it right...and to his credit generally doesn't let that phase him...also to his credit he willingly learns from those around him, who in their own way break things down into little chunks so he can understand them. This ultimately leads to him actually caring about the rest of the crew, and understanding how to show that...he still has a long way to go, but he's getting there.

AGENTROUKA

Sunday, October 19, 2008 6:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by boris:
I don't see Jayne as complex. I see him as having Aspergic tendencies...incredibly smart but essentially driven by primal considerations which may mask his intelligence...He's completely baffled by social conventions, but still craves that connection to others, and never quite gets it right...and to his credit generally doesn't let that phase him...also to his credit he willingly learns from those around him, who in their own way break things down into little chunks so he can understand them. This ultimately leads to him actually caring about the rest of the crew, and understanding how to show that...he still has a long way to go, but he's getting there.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Jayne is incredibly smart. He is highly skilled through natural talent and experience - like many people working in a certain trade often are impressive experts on all things pertaining to it if they have any talent for it at all.

I don't see any evidence for incredible smarts, though. Mal has an agile, strategic mind, Zoe's use of verbal wit and her subtle social navigation between Mal and Wash shows a great deal of abstract thinking in both, something we do NOT really see in Jayne at all. Sometimes he has trouble following reasonable conversation and then right on jumps to ridiculous conclusions ("She's in Congress?") without trying to think towards a less ridiculous one. Kaylee is similar in that it's always a now-or-never situation for her, without trying to understand complex motivations.

I am not saying he is stupid. But he hasn't really shown any evidence for being considered especially intelligent, or talented beyond his particular special field.

I think most of what makes Jayne so brutish has to do with upbringing. Lack of education, for one. A scrappy, survival-oriented attitude toward money and morals. Strict rules by an authority figure (His Ma?), that can be secretly avoided, rather than starting negotionations over structural changes.

Jayne strikes me as a child who learned a great deal through observation, about skills and about human interaction. Observsation, not communication. He simply has no picture in his head for educated chatter or self-search. I don't think it's a disorder.

JADEHAND

Sunday, October 19, 2008 1:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Not to hijack the thread, but still Jayne related....

We saw from OoG that Jayne impresses Mal w/ his ability to track two crafty war vets down, but after that, what does Jayne ever do that even hints at some extraordinary skill or ability ???

Our Mrs. Reynolds.
His skill with Vera is pretty impressive, considering the range, the fact that Vera is in a suit so he's not using a scope. He gets the intended target and manages to "kill a few folk" just for S&Gs.

"It's all so clear. We can see the madness perfectly from here." - Asylum Satellite 1 - Happiness is the Road - Marillion
"Our forefathers died for the pursuit of happiness, not the sit around and wait for happiness." -Barney -HIMYM

NCBROWNCOAT

Sunday, October 19, 2008 3:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by boris:
I don't see Jayne as complex. I see him as having Aspergic tendencies...incredibly smart but essentially driven by primal considerations which may mask his intelligence...He's completely baffled by social conventions, but still craves that connection to others, and never quite gets it right...and to his credit generally doesn't let that phase him...also to his credit he willingly learns from those around him, who in their own way break things down into little chunks so he can understand them. This ultimately leads to him actually caring about the rest of the crew, and understanding how to show that...he still has a long way to go, but he's getting there.

I have to disagree some what as a mother of an Aspie. He definately has a tendency toward ADHD with the constant interrupting, distractability and the need to constantly touch and feel, but the rest of the things you describe are likely the result of a lack of formal education.

Granted Jayne has the most "street smarts" and more practical criminal experience than most of the crew. He does grow during the series and especially the BDM, but he's still Jayne, the Merc.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

BORIS

Sunday, October 19, 2008 11:15 PM

I see where you are coming from,and I sincerely hope my comment wasn't offensive, but I see alot of me in Jayne ( as do many of my friends who are Firefly devotees...they also see alot of me in Mal...I don't know how this works no one can explain it to me) so I think of him as having aspergic tendencies. As you know, Aspergers has many interesting manifestations ...I have Aspergers, had a formal education and Apart from the killing and violence, I am not that different from Jayne socially ( much as it pains me to admit that).It takes a lot of work and a lot of direction/suport for me to soften the edges and not be so primally driven. As for Jayne's intelligence: apparently my highish IQ suggests I am very intelligent, but that doesn't stop me from communicating stupidly and in a bimbo like fashion if I don't give myself time to think...(I hope I have given myself time to think in this response)no offense to anyone who identifies proudly as a bimbo.

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