Book: Hero or Villain?

POSTED BY: Lofwyrr
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 06:26
VIEWED: 10738
PAGE 3 of 4

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 4 NEXT PAGE

BOOKSWORD

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 12:40 PM

I dont think there was a memo out. I think Book past lies in intelligence. His knowledge about the more underworldly aspects of the universe does point to this.

I think that he got the special treatment because he flashed his ident card and they read it. If he had some sort of intelligence past the card whould be useful to get what he needs (ie treatment or alliance intel ) but still retain his cover.

I think in bushwhacked if he flashed his card he would have been the one doing the questions.

JUSTME

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 1:21 PM

Regarding Book's possible "secret agent card": I would think the Feds would find it on him, as I imagine that prisoners accused of so heinous a crime would be essentially strip-searched (although maybe in high-tech, scanner-like way. If he was Intellgence, they would know.

Of course, that assumes that high-tech doesn't cut both ways, as anyone who has seen a Bond movie knows is untrue. Maybe his secret agent card *itself* has a secret identity, looking like and reading as belonging to "Brother Book, Southdown Abbey" in normal times, and reverting to "Agent Book, 003.5" when the proper code is traced on its surface or something like that?

Its also possible the purple bellies *did* know he was intelligence, just not *military* intelligence, so the usual inter-service rivalry was applied and he therefore got interrogated like the rest of them, just to be annoying. Fiction (and probably real life) is filled with scenes of FBies interrogating CIA/NSA/DIA/etc spys and vice versa.

JustMe

BOOKSWORD

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 8:02 PM

Hmmm, I never thought of that. That is entirely possible.

A whole Pissing contest between agencies.

Some of their questions where leaning towards ' What is your current mission' kind of vein.

Dam Fox for cancelling the show before we could get any answers!!!

Still , theory is fun.

LUNAKITTY

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 10:28 PM

Hero. I think he's a character looking for some redemption after a career/philosophy change. Maybe things just got too out of hand and he finally scared himself enough to go a new direction. Plus Kaylee picked him out of the crowd, and he found a quick respect for her and her respect for Serenity (and therefore the crew). Then again, there is the whole evil Kaylee theory and they could be in cahoots. Nah i just find them too sincere. I am sick of people being evil , it's getting too easy--maybe now Joss will surprise us by keeping a whole crew non-evil (besides Jayne's straying that was quickly reigned in), wouldn't that be shocking!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
River: Is it time to go to sleep again?
Simon: No, mei-mei, it's time to wake up.

THERON

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 10:46 PM

Hi everyone, I have my own personal theory about who Book was before he became a preacher. I believe he went by the name of Shaun Yu the psychotic dictator. (not sure of the spelling)
This fits the argument of him being a reformed person trying to make his way in the world and test the strength of his faith. I will not reiterate the rest of the argument here but link to it on another thread on this site if anyone would be interested in reading it. It is to long to try writing out again.

http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=7257&m=94108#94108

I will say this, I do not believe he was a soilder on either side of the war, an intelligence officer for either side, or a federal marshall. Those answers seem a little to trite and pat for me to believe.

FENRIS357

Wednesday, October 6, 2004 12:06 AM

I think hero or villian is VERY fluid in all of wedons work. people swap side alot. as for his past I'm thinking ex- military intel or specail forces for the alliance. he knows too much about tactics and weapons to be basic infantry or a staff officer, both are specailists in other feilds.
using preacher garb as a disguise is has impressive historical presidence, english intel did during both world wars, soviet agents used preist vestments extensivly during the cold war and the hala (not sure on thte spelling arabic female dress) has been used upto the prestent day by isreali intel.

I dont belive he still is think hes on the lame just like the rest of the crew. he realized he was in a peck of gut shot trouble and hopped his ident wouldn't through up any flags when he used it to get treatment. intell types DONT like to have others know there buiness

still maybe hes just a wandering missionary that reads military tactics and weapons books in his spare time and likes old ships. So hes not who he seems to be, but then again who really is?

no matter where you go there you are. enjoy the sites, the sounds and the mint julip and if you meet someone you like let em know.

DEBBIEBUK1

Thursday, October 7, 2004 6:28 PM

Reading this thread made me go back and watch OiS again over my lunch break - I think Early recognises Book as not just a preacher from the time he spends attached to the outside of the ship listening to Kaylee tell the crew about River. I think Ealry might be able to see them too, hard to tell. If you watch Book there he doesn't seem surprised by Kaylee's tale, just thoughtful. Almost resigned.

Also reading the script for Safe there's a comment about the ident card reader overriding some security or something can't remember the exact words.

My feeling is still that Book was some sort of senior intelligence field agent or policeman, thoroughly believed in the status quo and was actively enforcing it (hence the "I don't give a hump" comment). Then he found out something, possibly about the sort of programme River was on, or maybe that the Reavers started as a deliberate attempt to provide special combat teams (not a theory, just thought I'd mention them as something gone wrong with the world), and he had a change of heart. Went to the Abbey to get his head together, retiring with some sort of honour, but really he's a man of action and his heart is in the outside world. I don't believe he knew anything about River specifically which made him join Serenity, he just liked the ship and Kaylee's enthusiasm. One of those serendipitous (? spelling) coincidences which makes for a good story.

DUEY

Friday, October 8, 2004 3:24 AM

'Book' is definitely a hero. The person Book was before he became Book- well, that's the question.

His knowledge of tactics, weaponry and marksmanship identify him as having played the game before (and remarkably well). In what capacity, we don't know, but there's no doubt he was a player (energy net, Alliance jurisdiction, kneecaps, rabbits for stew, etc.).

I personally subscribe to the common major Alliance bad guy theory who became so disgusted he withdrew and converted. It makes the most sense.

Unlike some other opinions, however, I DO believe that Book is now genuinely seeking repentance and has become a new person. We've seen too many scenes of him by himself praying or reading the Bible by himself for it to be just an act.

I think River's glimpse of his thoughts was a glimmer of his past life coming through- he's tortured by the dark things he's done in his past, and that was bubbling through. He wasn't looking at HER as he said it, after all, as Simon did when directing his thoughts at River. He was snarling down, but not at her direction. I have no doubt that the man he was thought or did something like that, but not Book.

Faith became real enough to him to change him. I love him because of his nuances, his kindness, his faith, and the fact that he's a legitimate Christian badass, in all senses of the word. :)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." --John 14:27

BROWNCOAT1

Friday, October 8, 2004 12:59 PM

See I have always seen Book as kind of the man w/ a past that haunts him. Maybe he was Alliance (Officer or Operative) or maybe he was something else entirely. Whatever or whoever Book was in his past, it haunts him. To find redemption, Book took on the mantle of a Shephard and went into the abbey.

I see Book kind of similar to Clint Eastwood's Preacher character in "Pale Rider".

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

BOOKSWORD

Wednesday, December 29, 2004 10:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Theron:
Hi everyone, I have my own personal theory about who Book was before he became a preacher. I believe he went by the name of Shaun Yu the psychotic dictator. (not sure of the spelling)
This fits the argument of him being a reformed person trying to make his way in the world and test the strength of his faith. I will not reiterate the rest of the argument here but link to it on another thread on this site if anyone would be interested in reading it. It is to long to try writing out again.

http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=7257&m=94108#94108

I will say this, I do not believe he was a soilder on either side of the war, an intelligence officer for either side, or a federal marshall. Those answers seem a little to trite and pat for me to believe.

Theron took a look. Have to say that your thoery holds more then a little water. The Serenity could have its own Angelus ( whould that make him Bookulus...never mind)

What I would have loved (besides the whole cancelling issue ) whould have been a flashback at a younger and more morally darker Book.

Oh, thats what fanfic is for.

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 4 NEXT PAGE