Nandi or Inara?

POSTED BY: Wishimay
UPDATED: Saturday, June 1, 2013 05:32
VIEWED: 12590
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WISHIMAY

Monday, March 28, 2011 9:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

Inara doesn’t go back on her word, she keeps things professional...

Nandi does whatever she wants without thinking of the consequences, she trades help, for desire and sex, she hurts her friend who has come to her aide, and she really mucks things up for Mal

Ahh, opposing council...

I dunno about professional, I seem to recall a "come to my shuttle moment" with Yo-saff... and a moment of advantage when Mal weren't conscious. I just think her rigidity was a mask for the job. The lady hath many layers, I hope we get to find out about 'em someday.

Also, Nandi said she didn't know about Mal and Inara, and appologized. Don't think she woulda gone there if she had known...And after all she is a glorified hooker on a border planet, with little else of real trade value, and Mal is a big boy who coulda said no and has no problem with that any other time...

PLATONIST

Monday, March 28, 2011 9:17 PM

Inara baits Saffron to come back to her shuttle to expose her con; she kisses Mal while he's unconscious because she's worried he's dead. I don’t consider either one of these servicing, under a Companion contract.

Nandi knew Mal had feelings for Inara, that’s what the first part of their conversation is about, and she still went there, based on an assumption that Inara had absolutely no feelings for Mal, if it even crossed her mind to ask, its impulsive behavior, which usually ends with disastrous results, which it does.

Inara displays a lot of personal integrity, in this circumstance, which seems to be missing from Nandi’s character.

MAL4PREZ

Monday, March 28, 2011 10:27 PM

It always bothered me about Nandi that she "learned how to say 'ain't'". I mean, come on, she was faking that whole border world accent! It makes me wonder if she was faking that whole border world tough and independent thing.

I have to admit, it bugs me enough that from day 1 I just assumed it was a quirk of the writers more than a real facet of the character. Joss wanted a tough Companion/whore who fit the Wild West, and she had to sound the part. Then he threw in the line about learning to say "ain't" to explain how someone who talks like that was once in Companion school.

Which, (sorry Joss, I'm really not worthy but I'm going to say it anyway) was just not good writing. Because if I'm going to take that line seriously, the women is a poser and a fake. I mean, she didn't just say "ain't." She played it all up! It's like walking into Southie and faking the talk. Just not cool. You'll get more respect by being who you are, then trying to convince people that you grew up rough and tumble when you didn't.

Also, Bytemite brings up a good point. It's easy to idolize the fling you've known for one day. Know her long enough, and the warts and the old underwear will come out. I'm sure Nandi had as many flaws as Inara, if only we'd had time to get to know her.

ETA: I don't really dislike Nandi, and I don't think she was intended to be a poser. But I have to defend poor Inara. OK, perhaps I need a separate post about Inara...

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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left

PLATONIST

Monday, March 28, 2011 10:37 PM

Also, Bytemite brings up a good point. It's easy to idolize the fling you've known for one day. Know her long enough, and the warts and the old underwear will come out. I'm sure Nandi had as many flaws as Inara, if only we'd had time to get to know her.

Exactly, both characters have their level of pretense, so I can only judge them by their actions we see in the episode. In this episode, they all lose, but Inara’s integrity is intact…I just love what she says about, “what she learned,” it says a lot about what kind of person she is.

WISHIMAY

Monday, March 28, 2011 10:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
It always bothered me about Nandi that she "learned how to say 'ain't'". I mean, come on, she was faking that whole border world accent! It makes me wonder if she was faking that whole border world tough and independent thing.

I have to admit, it bugs me enough that from day 1 I just assumed it was a quirk of the writers more than a real facet of the character. Joss wanted a tough Companion/whore who fit the Wild West, and she had to sound the part. Then he threw in the line about learning to say "ain't" to explain how someone who talks like that was once in Companion school.

What about the whole "I didn't fit in at Companion House -it was too restricting- Dulcimer playing incident?"

I think she may have started out companion, but she liked simple life better...

BTW I love 'em both- such rich characters that we can have an argument over just one episode!

PLATONIST

Monday, March 28, 2011 11:14 PM

Dulcimer playing incident?"

Or the former owner of the Heart of Gold, did she kill him his sleep, after servicing him?

I think she may have started out companion, but she liked simple life better...

Or the Guild shunned her, instead of offering her retirement, cause she’s nuts, like Saffron.

MAL4PREZ

Monday, March 28, 2011 11:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wishimay:
What about the whole "I didn't fit in at Companion House -it was too restricting- Dulcimer playing incident?"

That has nothing to do with it - a poor rich girl with an attitude would do the same. Anyhow, if Nandi's that much of a wild spirit, why does she have to fake a whole accent just so she can fit into her new world? Nothing says *insecure* like a fake accent!

OK, but really, I think the writers meant her to be the free spirit that most people on this thread take her to be, and love so much. And I like that too. Which is why I'd rather accuse Joss of poor writing (Lord Joss forgive me LOL!) than really believe this of Nandi. I'd rather think that she faked the "proper" accent while in Companion school, then gave it up. Doesn't agree with the lines in the episode, but fits her character better.

Getting back to Inara - she was my least favorite character the first one or two (or five or ten) times I watched the series. Just plastic and flat. I really didn't like her.

Then I got into writing fanfic, and watched the series again looking for hints as to who Inara might really be under all that training. There are a few short moments that clue in to what she would have been if we'd had a few more seasons. I sincerely believe that the fakeness was carefully constructed, as something to be broken through. I think she has as much humor and spice as Nandi could hope to have, plus, as Platonist has spelled out, a whole lot more honor. Inara is deep. Sure, she has baggage, but...

Wait, are we saying whether we like Inara or Nandi better as pals we'd hang out with, or is the question Inara or Nandi as a better partners for Mal? Because Mal is Mr. Baggage himself. A healthy, well-adjusted woman shouldn't be within shooting distance of a relationship with that man. Inara is a better fit for him, imho. Not that I dislike Nandi, but I don't think she'd ever have really cut through his shell. Takes one to know one.

If it's the other question (ignoring Mal and 'ships) Inara's baggage just makes her more interesting to me, and her genuine kindness and gentleness would make me feel safe with her. She is "grace"-ful, in terms of accepting people for who they are. I'd hang out with her. I'd drink with Nandi, but I'd tell my darkest secrets to Inara.

-----------------------------------------------
hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left

WISHIMAY

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
That has nothing to do with it - a poor rich girl with an attitude would do the same. Anyhow, if Nandi's that much of a wild spirit, why does she have to fake a whole accent just so she can fit into her new world? Nothing says *insecure* like a fake accent!

Wait, are we saying whether we like Inara or Nandi better as pals we'd hang out with, or is the question Inara or Nandi as a better partners for Mal?

Boy, are you arguing THAT with the wrong person... I use a dozen accents a day, especially when walking through the ethnic grocery store with my husband

I occaisionally use them with people I don't know just to have fun! I like to play that I come from many places and I'm good enough to fool alot of people. My husband does too... HE DOES A SPOT ON MAKO!!!,Aku,Mr Crabs, and several others...I am in no way insecure. I just love the way they roll off my tongue

<
This thread was intentionally intended as a pick one...din't much care about why at the time...

WISHIMAY

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

Or the Guild shunned her, instead of offering her retirement, cause she’s nuts, like Saffron.

To be a woman, ya have to be just a little nuts... Its a job rquirement

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 2:22 AM

Quote:

Getting back to Inara - she was my least favorite character the first one or two (or five or ten) times I watched the series. Just plastic and flat. I really didn't like her.

It's funny. When I first watched the series, I liked Mal best, possibly because everyone kinda sees themselves as Mal a little, with me no exception. (little more neurotic than Mal is, but before fireflyfans I used to be pretty emotionally stunted, which if you can believe it writing fanfic helped)

But I always respected Inara right from that scene with her descending the stairs in the pilot. Anyone who can take that kind of abuse from someone like Mal has some serious backbone. So I was always looking for the deeper with Inara from that point on. And Joss similarly constructed the earlier scenes, with Inara's reactions to talking about Sihnon to raise even more questions about her depth.

I started trying to read mostly Mal focused fics, which is how I found yours, M4P, but then I began a long slow decline until I found myself really only reading Mal/Inara fics. To this day I am shamed, but there it is. I am a shipper. Maybe there are help support groups.

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