Continuity Conflict - 'The Message' vs 'Objects in Space'

POSTED BY: Schism
UPDATED: Friday, March 6, 2009 08:28
VIEWED: 9490
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JEWELSTAITEFAN

Thursday, March 5, 2009 5:25 AM

Wash "But reading minds, isn't that like something out of science fiction?"
Zoe "You live on a spaceship dear"
Wash "so?"
- Objects in Space.

Wash didn't seem to be acknowledging something he had already thought about - he seemed to resist, not believe. Above it was suggested they all were just voicing things they had already figured out to some degree.

06K64

Friday, March 6, 2009 5:13 AM

Fair point- Wash does seem to be a bit oblivious to it all. But you have to concede, looking around that table, that the rest seem to acknowledge that they suspect or even outright believe that River is a reader (or something.) Whether it’s as clear as Book makes it, or more tacitly, it is something that had crossed their minds.

To me, even Jayne’s reaction in the galley squares with what I’m saying with regard to the continuity/sequence: “Back up a sec. You're saying she might really read minds?” (Part of the reason I think we can even have this conversation is that,) these are very well written characters in terms of depth and complexity- you really get a sense of who they are. I think Jayne suspected something as a result of his interactions with River, and his simplistic conclusion was that she could “read minds.” But let’s face it: Jayne’s not really used to people agreeing with him, or giving him all that much credit. When he refers to River as a mind reading genius in The Message, that’s just something that’s kicking around in his head, and, as is often the case, it just comes out his mouth.

When he says, “...she might really read minds?” I think he’s surprised he was right about what he’d thought it in the past. (And a little worried.)

However, as for Wash and Zoe’s exchange (Ah, Wash...ever the foil !) I think a lot of this centers on how much you’re willing to engage in the suspension of disbelief. It’s a big part of being a spectator, for me, and I employ it to feel like I’m present, spectating the “reality” of the fiction. Engrossed in it. I think we can all agree that two of the hallmarks of Whedon’s work are his sense of humor, and the fact that he doesn’t like us to get comfortable- he likes to keep us on our toes. He likes throwing things in that make us blink and say,”wubbahuh?” Whether it’s something drastic like the (unforgivable !) impaling of the aforementioned in the BDM, or something unexpected like Echo’s shake of the head to Sierra, or something comic like an entire episode of Buffy told in song, it’s designed to slap us with a different perspective.

It’s that fine line between the reality of the story as it’s being told, and a small joke, an aside, to the viewers. It’s Ferris Bueller talking to the audience; it’s Han Solo in carbonite.

That’s what I think the exchange between Wash and Zoe is: it’s just a bit of a changeup- one of Whedon’s techniques to keep us thinking. And laughing.

But, I totally take your point, and I see where you’re coming from. And you’re probably right- like I said, I’m happy to defer. All my verbiage above is just to shed a little light on that orbit trajectory. I mean, it did occur to me when I saw it, but it didn’t strike me as an issue as much as some other things have, from a continuity point of view.

And, plus, the day we all agree is the day the ‘verse stops being worth exploring...

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Friday, March 6, 2009 6:15 AM

Oh. No. I didn't think you were following that path.
OiS was after War Stories and HoG. Jayne did not know, had assumed everything River said was buggy. This is when he learns she is, and he is afraid of all he has done, all his thoughts since she has been aboard.

After OiS are Trash, when Simon talks to him about his betrayal on Ariel, and River adds she can kill him with her brain, with him not knowing whether to believe her or not.
Then Message, when he has clearly now understood she is a reader, and openly says it.

Trying to say Message is before OiS in all aspects of all the story arcs is silly, other than the scenes rewritten and reshot after series cancellation.

for Wash, he spends most of his time in the cockpit, doesn't get to interact with most of the crew most of the time, missing out on the funnies and much of the mealtimes even. He hasn't experienced River like almost everybody else. He might be ambivalent, but Jayne doesn't get it because he's thick, Wash because he hasn't been fully exposed to her other than the soup-in-hair stuff.

ANOTHERSKY

Friday, March 6, 2009 8:28 AM

I can't speak to episode order.

But the other issue, River's reader-ness, now that one is clear:

As has been pointed out, she shows it, around various characters (notably Jayne, actually). A LOT. As in every episode.

Also if you really really want to go with 'continuity', I originally took the line in The Message as more of Jayne's way of speech, not an observation or analysis:
("girl's a mind-readin' genius and can't even figure out how to eat an ice planet") He would conflate her sensitivity as being somehow connected to her genius. Neither of which he gets, though he has a pretty good horse sense himself.

Although, Jayne's mouth is talkin', and he might want to look to that, cause this time it's right.

When they give it a bona-fied part-of-the-'verse label, a Reader (not just psychic or empathic or whatever, but something with a title), it means they are Officially Recognizing It as Something That Exists. I foresaw plot points off this, unfortunately F%X did something unspeakable instead.

But Early's ship still has me in stitches, because it goes either way.

Going for a Ride.

Another Sky

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