Inara: more bad ass than she seems?

POSTED BY: Bytemite
UPDATED: Saturday, August 15, 2009 18:37
VIEWED: 17936
PAGE 1 of 11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NEXT PAGE

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 6:33 PM

I see a lot of interpretation of Inara as the princess who awaits rescue, lets other people do all the violence/action for her if it comes to that.

But is that really the case?

She knows how to use a bow and swords, and in her profession, it would make sense if she could handle herself in hand-to-hand combat.

Saffron, who is said to have companion training, clearly knows hand to hand combat (and other self-defense techniques). In Our Mrs. Reynolds, I interpret Inara as having dodged Saffron's kick rather than stopping Saffron not because she wasn't skilled in hand to hand combat, but because Saffron caught her off guard (Malcolm Reynold's widow) and because she wanted to make sure Mal was okay.

Also, I see Inara as having been a bit of a rough and tumble little girl, before she began Companion training. She seems very at home in an old trampy freighter, and in a low-class dive watching Mal and Jayne shoot billiards. Simon, who has an upper class upbringing, is often NOT comfortable (at least at first) in these settings. I think that suggests she may have come from a different social class than Simon.

Lastly, sometimes I wonder if she doesn't enjoy some of the thrill and adventure of the crew's law-breaking. Like at the end of Trash, she loved that, and I also wonder if she didn't enjoy it in Shindig when Mal basically mugs the slavers.

Reference/Inspiration:
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5200581/1/Play_The_Part

^Fanfiction by jackwabbit, recently posted. Not mine, but definitely enjoyed it!

Discuss?

FOLLOWMAL

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 6:36 PM

Oooo, wabbity wabbit is one of the best fic writers out there.
She is awesome!
Haven't read this one yet, will give it a go soon. :)

http://www.kidsneedtoread.org/

BYTEMITE

Thursday, July 9, 2009 12:09 AM

Anyone want to nibble on the conversation bait? I'm always interested in talking characterization, and since Inara's my co-favourite character, I'm curious how people see her and her possible past.

STEWIEJ84

Thursday, July 9, 2009 7:59 AM

I think the theory about Inara having grown up in a lower social class could hold alot of water. she also did seem pretty snarky at the end of trash, whatwith that shiteating grin on her face as she pointed that gun at yo-saf-bridge. I, for one, would be very interested to know what her story is.

first things first, though, lets get books story told! daaaamn you dark horse!!!!!

Zoë: Sir, we don't want to deal with Patience again.
Mal: Why not?
Zoë: She shot you.
Mal: Well, yeah, she did a bit.

AGENTROUKA

Thursday, July 9, 2009 9:39 AM

Considering that River is extremely comfortable on Serenity, I don't think Inara needs to be originally lower-class to appreciate the life on the ship. She DOES have her luxuries around her, after all. And while she's comfortable enough with the more civilized elements, like Mal, Zoe and Kaylee's sweetness, we don't really see her interact with "normal" folk at all when she doesn't have to. Ad look at her distaste for the "simple" art in the shop in "Safe".

I don't really see it.

As for her "wild side"... sure it's very porbable that she has some experience with weapons and self-defense, both through Guild training and/or personal interest. I also think she genuinely loves a thrill, as long as it's generally safe and not violent.

In the bar scene in Shindig, she enjoys the rough bar but once Mal starts stealing, she starts frowning and making snide remarks. She doesn't look impressed.

I definitely think that she is NOT a damsel. But I don't agree with the fic. I don't see Inara as hiding violent aggression, enjoying violence or, you know, having had an Evil Controlling Violent Mother.

FLATTOP

Thursday, July 9, 2009 12:21 PM

Inara's back story would be interesting, 'tis true, but I don't think that she had all that much exposure to whatever her roots were. Companion training starts at about five or six doesn't it Young enough that whatever rough & tumble she may have started out as is remember (if at all) as a romanticized version of itself. I think her acceptance of, and ease in various situations is due to her training (perhaps the occasional client enjoys 'slumming' for the thrill of it).
As to her martial abilities; I do not doubt that Inara has received traditional training (open hand & some weapons; has watched enough professional fights to know talent when she sees it), but in the words of Han Solo, "Good against a remote is one thing kid, good against the living is another." Inara may have been a gifted student, who can incapacitate most run of the mill clients (very wealthy people that spend their time working, not working out) should it be necessary, but every time she's gone up against a professional (Yo-Saf-Bridg (who seems to have much more practical experience), Operative), she is shown to be way out of her league. Shooting reavers is a matter of remaining calm (lots of professional training at that), and not thinking of them as people (easy as lyin'); but even at that, she was on the 'clean up crew' just taking out the stragglers that got past Jayne & Zoe.
If she were to train more, and be willing to take a few serious hits (yes, you're fast & can hit me, but I'm big enough to let you hit me a few times so that I can whomp you - Jayne) she could be dangerous at & below her weight class & even a bit heavier while unarmed, and if trained with a 'proper' weapon (high capacity pistol or perhaps a sub-machine gun (largest caliber she can reliably handle)) she could hold her own any time she was outside of kicking distance.
For character balance reasons though I don't see it happening. An Inara/Zoe blend?

----------

AGENTROUKA

Thursday, July 9, 2009 12:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by FlatTop:
Companion training starts at about five or six doesn't it Young enough that whatever rough & tumble she may have started out as is remember (if at all) as a romanticized version of itself.

Actually, it starts at 12, as per the deleted scene in the movie. Where do you get the age five number from?

Otherwise, I agree with your post. She's no proficient by any means and I doubt she'd care to be.

FLATTOP

Thursday, July 9, 2009 12:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AgentRouka:
Quote:
Originally posted by FlatTop:
Companion training starts at about five or six doesn't it Young enough that whatever rough & tumble she may have started out as is remember (if at all) as a romanticized version of itself.

Actually, it starts at 12, as per the deleted scene in the movie. Where do you get the age five number from?

Otherwise, I agree with your post. She's no proficient by any means and I doubt she'd care to be.

Hang on, I'll watch it again...
Ah! Right you are. I confused the lines, and thought it was the at twelve the, "... Physical act of pleasure was first mentioned, after years of training ..." My mistake.
So she could remember quite a bit of her childhood outside the guild.

----------

JONGSSTRAW

Thursday, July 9, 2009 1:55 PM

I think Inara is a normal woman. Although she is loyal to the Guild and their rules, she also has an independent and adventurous spirit. She is proud of her career, she enjoys the fringe benefits it provides in terms of being able to associate with the upper class. But she gets bored, and like many women, she has an attraction to the "bad boy". On Serenity, with Mal and the gang, she has the best of both worlds.

BYTEMITE

Thursday, July 9, 2009 2:13 PM

Well, no, agreed, the abusive rim upbringing thing I'm not sold on myself.

But I don't think the point was that Inara is really really VIOLENT deep down. I mean she is Buddhist. They frown on that, and I think she's as spiritual and has as much faith as Book.

But I think that, if the situation calls for it, she can handle herself. In fact, in Shindig, during the duel, after Atherton beat Mal, I actually would've liked to see Inara step in and turn the tables on Atherton. And I think she would have had the ability and the motive to do so.

And I think when she slapped Mal in the Train Job, she enjoyed that. Not because it really hurt him, because it didn't, or because she's violent, but because it's Mal, in an awkward position, and she got to rescue him. And because she slapped him, and she's probably wanted to do so for a while. And because it's funny.

For her background, I see her as being the daughter of a practicing companion, but the long term client of her mother dropped her after her mother became pregnant. Stuff happens (you all probably know what I mean), and she becomes a ward of the guild.

I picture the companions and companions-in-training as having a whole lot of opulence in their dorms, but prior to Inara being accepted for training, I imagine her growing up in a guild-run orphanage with friendly affectionate guild priestesses kind of like the orphanages that used to be run by convents; not overly rich except for being in something like a church, but they provide food, clothing, and education for the children. I can picture her running around like bit of a street urchin for a couple years with other girls her age.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NEXT PAGE