Question regarding the Tams(Gabriel and Regan) Did they know...

POSTED BY: KrelleK
UPDATED: Saturday, April 3, 2010 01:58
VIEWED: 8100
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KRELLEK

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 3:32 PM

Question regarding the Tams(Gabriel and Regan) Did they know what was happening to there little girl, at this government run academy? was they happy about it, or was they affraid to fight for there daughters life? or was they just a familly that saw there children for the prestige, that atleast Simon would probably had given the Tam name, as a young medical elect(what ever that is)and was completely unaware of it

IMNOTHERE

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 8:23 PM

I think this one has been discussed here before.

My 0.5c worth: I don't think they did know (although they might have been in denial). Mr Tam comes over as a highly law abiding type obsessed about his reputation - when he bails out Simon he's mostly worried about the stigma of having to visit a police station... He's not going to run around making wild accusations about government conspiracies to kidnap and torture kids.

...and we also see from the show that River is prone to making up stories. Simon (who is clearly closer to River than her parents) would be better placed to intuit when she is telling the truth.

So why didn't they suspect after River was gone for several years with no vacations?

Well, remember the verse is big. Its not like good ol' Earth that Was where anywhere with a major airport is within 24 hours travel.

I don't think we're told where the Academy is but it seems common sense that the Alliance would locate their black ops bases a long way from anywhere - so it could easily be a fortnight's travel away. Letters can be censored and video mail faked.

Its more like Earth before affordable air travel: if a middle class US family shipped their sprog off to school in England, they wouldn't be popping back for Easter break.

Anyway, River's a nerd, so nobody is going to be too surprised if she purportedly opts for the summer school in relativistic quantum chromodynamics rather than popping home for the hols.

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:14 PM

According to a scene in the shooting script that didn't make it to the episode Safe, they knew and were scared shitless. That, plus Gabriel Tam's "it's our LIVES" speech makes me think there may have been some coercion involved on the side of the Alliance/Blue Sun.

ANOTHERSKY

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:04 PM

I'm with Byte on this one. Although, I am not sure at what point they knew, or even if they knew what was happening to their daughter at all, other than her having been co-opted somehow by the Alliance mucky mucks. At this point I think they were either threatened after making tentative inquiries, or were given some kind of a bribe or cheery notice--and put two and two together.

Coincidentally, I started almost this exact thread elsewhere nearly a year ago. If I can find it I'll post and you may find the discussion interesting and/or helpful.

__

Going for a ride.

KRELLEK

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:24 PM

1 did not know it was posted before, mostly been reading the stories, in the beginning and be happy with that, but now i also look at the threads that i have found, and startet a few myself, and happen to pretty much restart one was not my goal,

I would really be happy if you direct me to that shooting script of Safe that indicated they knew something. and if you know of scripts to the other eps where there are indications, i would be happy for them too :Smile :biggrin

and would bee happy for a link for the old thread too :-)

KRELLEK

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:28 PM

strange they did not try to contact simon after Simon had gotten himself and river out, they had gotten away, perhaps under cover taking a second/third re-honeymoon, or perhaps considerations of starting something new on the rim worlds. some sort of buisness of somekind(transport company or something else)

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:29 PM

Quote:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. ;

The impressive grades your child has earned in school has attracted the attention of the Cryptoneurological, Public Relations, and Research and Development divisions of the Osirius Branch of Blue Sun, Inc.

At Blue Sun, we care about our future. Your child has been selected to receive a prestigious scholarship to one of our special Academies, where we unlock the true potential of gifted children and teenagers.

At the Academy, we offer such amenities as a personal 4 foot by 8 foot room that locks from outside complete with bed and toilet, an indefinite duration meal plan, strict discipline measures, and unsurpassed education and training in technical skill. Your child will go farther than she has ever dreamed, but as you can see, space is quite limited, so please fill out the surgical release forms attached and wave your positive response to the given cortex address as soon as possible.

This is a full scholarship, so no tuition payments are necessary, however, Blue Sun has accessed your banking accounts in the event of any financial difficulties. Blue Sun strongly and firmly encourages you to accept this great opportunity for your child. Regardless, Blue Sun agents will arrive to take your child safely into our custody for enrollment in 60 days time after you have received this letter, and will easily find you should you happen to be off-world at the time.

We recommend that you do not try to contact your child once they begin at the Academy, they will be very busy.

Thank you, and have a nice day.

Dr. Mathias
Director of Special Programs, Cryptonuerological Research and Development Division.

Enclosed

Attachments

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:33 PM

Well, in the visual companion, I believe Tim Minear says that the point of the episode is that ultimately, where it counts, the Tams are ineffectual as parents. Mal, being more of an actor sort, much like Simon was an actor sort freeing his sister, is shown as a better parent figure, and cements the nature of Serenity's crew as family.

KRELLEK

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
Quote:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. ;

The impressive grades your child has earned in school has attracted the attention of the Cryptoneurological, Public Relations, and Research and Development divisions of the Osirius Branch of Blue Sun, Inc.

At Blue Sun, we care about our future. Your child has been selected to receive a prestigious scholarship to one of our special Academies, where we unlock the true potential of gifted children and teenagers.

At the Academy, we offer such amenities as a personal 4 foot by 8 foot room that locks from outside complete with bed and toilet, an indefinite duration meal plan, strict discipline measures, and unsurpassed education and training in technical skill. Your child will go farther than she has ever dreamed, but as you can see, space is quite limited, so please fill out the surgical release forms attached and wave your positive response to the given cortex address as soon as possible.

This is a full scholarship, so no tuition payments are necessary, however, Blue Sun has accessed your banking accounts in the event of any financial difficulties. Blue Sun strongly and firmly encourages you to accept this great opportunity for your child. Regardless, Blue Sun agents will arrive to take your child safely into our custody for enrollment in 60 days time after you have received this letter.

We recommend that you do not try to contact your child once they begin at the Academy, they will be very busy.

Thank you, and have a nice day.

Dr. Mathias
Director of Special Programs, Cryptonuerological Research and Development Division.

Enclosed

Attachments

OOOKKKAAAYYYY!!!, that was something else, at first, seemingly okay, yet with some rather interesting wishes, like surgical release forms(what shall a school with them? I ask:-) (but as you can see, space is quite limited, so please fill out the surgical release forms attached)so the thing with not much space, does describe her pretty little head, that it needs surgery for removing non vital parts, like perhaps the amygdala, and then at first it seemeed voluntary, complete with wishes that they choose it, but then end up with the regardless, we come and pick her up if we do not hear from you.

that certainly suggest something is way wrong

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:50 PM

You'll also notice that the "room" they describe is basically a cell. Which makes the "space is limited" a seriously dark joke.

EDIT: Just wanna clarify, it seems like maybe I wasn't obvious. That's not an official letter, just something I typed up as a possibility.

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