Inara's syringe: What's the big mystery?

POSTED BY: DigificWriter
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 6, 2004 19:13
VIEWED: 14739
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DIGIFICWRITER

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 5:18 PM

Hi all. I've watched all the episodes of Firefly at least twice, and can't for the life of me figure out what this whole mystery surrounding the syringe Inara is prepping in the montage sequence of 'Bushwhacked' is all about. Anyone care to explain/help me out on this issue?

Take my love
Take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care
I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell 'em I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I've found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me

ECGORDON

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 5:30 PM

Well, the mystery is that we do not know what the syringe contained. The most obvious assumption was that it was a suicide kit so that she did not have to suffer at the hands of the Reavers. But, Joss mentions in the commentary for "Serenity" that that is not it, he had something else in mind, but that if nothing ever came of continuing the story, that would be an acceptable notion for viewers to infer.

Possibly it is medicine for her terminal illness, which many Browncoats have speculated is the reason she went out to the Black, to see a bit of the 'verse before she died. Looking at the syringe at that time, she could have been thinking, "Well, don't have to do that anymore."

Others have speculated it could have been a potion which would have given her extra stength and stamina to battle the Reavers.

Actually, anyone's guess is about as good as any other at this time.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

DIGIFICWRITER

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 5:52 PM

I'm almost totally sure there's another ep where Inara gives Simon (or somone else) a case that looks very similar to the one from which she pulls the syringe in 'Bushwhacked'. I always figured that the explanation she gives before handing said case to said person of it being a standard Companion medkit covered the syringe (since, like I said, the case she hands over looks like the one she takes the syringe from) as well. The only thing I can concretely remember about the ep (despite having recently finished watching the series over again on DVD) is that Mal barges into Inara's shuttle and demands what Simon's doing there, and Inara says that she's servicing him cause he's 'not long for this world'. Of course, I could be screwing up my eps, but I don't think I am.

Take my love
Take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care
I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell 'em I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I've found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me

THATWEIRDGIRL

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 6:42 PM

The syringe is not in bushwhacked. The medkits Inara gives Simon look like ration packets. They are in sliver pouches not engraved rosewood cases. This all happens in Serenity.

www.thatweirdgirl.com

DIGIFICWRITER

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 7:06 PM

Okay. Stupid me.

Take my love
Take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care
I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell 'em I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I've found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me

THATWEIRDGIRL

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 7:15 PM

not stupid. I've just watched Serenity more times than I should.

btw I think it's her medicine.

www.thatweirdgirl.com

RHUTTNER

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 7:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thatweirdgirl:
not stupid. I've just watched Serenity more times than I should.

btw I think it's her medicine.

www.thatweirdgirl.com

There is no limit to the number of times a person SHOULD watch Serenity.

Are you an official Browncoat? If not, go sign up gorram it! http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?u=rhuttner

DOUBLESHINY

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:27 PM

This is the exchange in Serenity :

Inara
This is just a standard Companion immunisation package,I'm not sure it'll help in this...

Simon
It won't hurt, supplies down there are pretty rudimentary

This suggests to me that anti-biotics are in the syringe. It could well be a drug to combat infection in Kaylee's wound.

Curse your sudden yet inevitable betrayal!

QUIXOTICONE

Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:28 PM

After many repeated viewings of the series (which never seems to get old), I've come to believe the syringe is medicine, of sorts...

Let's look at some possibly connected info: Note her supposedly routine medical check-ups, and when questioned about, replied "Same as last time." instead of 'Fine' or 'Clean bill of health'... Also, the line where she turns away, saying "I don't want to die at all" seems to play at something beyond the threat of the moment...
Factor in that she voluntarily left the Companion Guild to head out to the Black...

My theory: Inara has a terminal illness, and the syringe is her pain-killing medicine. Something that might help her endure a brutal slaying at the hands of the Reavers. Her illness pushed her to leave the Guild before her time... Her journey echoes the theme of many others on Serenity: the search for something lost. Consider: Mal - lost his faith & seeking something to fill the void, Book - lost his compassion & seeking forgiveness, Simon/River - lost her sanity & seeking what happened to her / how to correct it... Inara would seem to be running to embrace what life she has left by taking to the Black with Serenity & crew... It's all about the theme, people - it's a Whedon show, after all

POLGARA

Thursday, July 1, 2004 3:22 AM

Hello there! my first post yay!

About the terminal illness:
Wouldnt she be fired or disabled from being a Companion if she had a terminal illness?
I just thought about this because I remembered that in one episode she went to have a "Companion Inspection" where she had a medical check-up, and I think she wouldnt be allowed to continue being a Companion if she was sick.

Just a general thought, maybe we will find out in the movie!

Polgara

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