When did Mal get Serenity?

POSTED BY: ncbrowncoat
UPDATED: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 06:28
VIEWED: 4828
PAGE 1 of 1

NCBROWNCOAT

Monday, June 16, 2008 10:41 PM

I have looked in several places and I cannot find out when Mal acquired Serenity. I'm trying to write a fic about how Mal gets Serenity and I need a general idea how long after the war he purchases her.

In the pilot, it's 7 years after the end of the war, but there is not indication when Mal bought the Firefly. Inara has only been on board for a few months in "Bushwacked" and there aren't any time clues in "Out of Gas", just the order in which the crew came aboard.

Any thought on the question?

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

CHARLIEBZ

Monday, June 16, 2008 10:50 PM

I think Tim Minear stated in one of the commentaries that it was very soon after the war. That doesn't really sound right to me because a spaceship, even one as old as Serenity, would cost a fair amount. Furthermore, Mal would have been flat broke after the war. I can't see the losing Independents retaining funds to pay their soldiers. Shadow's gone and I certainly can't see the Alliance providing any sort of compensation for property owners.

There's plenty of room for some good story ideas for how Mal got Serenity...

NCBROWNCOAT

Monday, June 16, 2008 10:54 PM

Oh, I've got one but you're going to have to wait until I write it down.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

CHARLIEBZ

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:05 PM

Well, what are you doing here??!!

I'm looking forward to your fic. I love "fill in the blank" fics. There is so much we don't know about Mal (and everyone else for that matter!!) - what his life was like before the war, during the war, immediately after the war, etc.

WYTCHCROFT

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:09 PM

have you checked this time-line thread - it's very helpful:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=4&t=32184

and you have to gel that with the revalations in Better Days about (potentially) pre-Serenity owning activity...

RALLEM

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:16 PM

It is possible that Mal had money from his mother's ranch.

http://swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

WAKEUPSOON

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:17 PM

I know theres a time line at http://www.fireflywiki.org

It might not have when Mal bought Serenity on there, but its as good a place as any to start your search.

Good Luck, and I look forward to the fic!

WAKEUPSOON

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:17 PM

I know theres a time line at http://www.fireflywiki.org

It might not have when Mal bought Serenity on there, but its as good a place as any to start your search.

Good Luck, and I look forward to the fic!

WAKEUPSOON

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:17 PM

I know theres a time line at http://www.fireflywiki.org

It might not have when Mal bought Serenity on there, but its as good a place as any to start your search.

Good Luck, and I look forward to the fic!

WAKEUPSOON

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:17 PM

I know theres a time line at http://www.fireflywiki.org

It might not have when Mal bought Serenity on there, but its as good a place as any to start your search.

Good Luck, and I look forward to the fic!

EDIT: Just checked, and yes, it does!

Quote:
2512 - Malcolm Reynolds buys a used Firefly-class medium transport and begins to assemble a crew for the ship he has named Serenity.

WYTCHCROFT

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:18 PM

ai ya! morbid and creepyfying de ja voodoo!

WAKEUPSOON

Monday, June 16, 2008 11:21 PM

Lol. My computer froze as it was sending.

So it sent about 4 instead of 1.

Oops.

TRAVELER

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:28 AM

The Timeline makes it about a year. But no dates are given. It may be much less than a year.

There has been some speculation as to back pay being given to prisoners after being released at the end of the war. Mal could have worked for Badger and stashed money aside for the day he could buy his own ship. It would explain haow he knew Badger and others who would require the services of a smuggler.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

NCBROWNCOAT

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:58 AM

Thanks a lot. A year or so fits into what I'm thinking about. It may be a little bit before you see the fic as I'm just in the thinking stage and I needed the date to help form things in my mind.

And Mal didn't get Serenity with back pay. Mal drank the pittance given him when he was released from the POW camp away in less than a day. That's all I'm going to say.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

SPACEANJL

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 8:30 AM

I think a year would be about right. Mal was probably used in show trials or the like for a while after the war, then released in a public and magnanimous gesture (cue rude gesture on national tv, hastily suppressed but a favourite on the underground channels) His working for other folks for a while would tie in, too - perhaps he shipped out with Monty or someone?

But he then tracks down his old war buddy, and talks her out of that particular way of life, persuades her to come and see the sweet ride he's just bought...

TRAVELER

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 1:16 AM

I just love Zoe's reaction to Serenity when Mal is showing it off to her. It is hard to imagine just what finally persuaded her to join up with him.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 6:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wytchcroft:
have you checked this time-line thread - it's very helpful:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=4&t=32184

and you have to gel that with the revalations in Better Days about (potentially) pre-Serenity owning activity...

As listed in the above thread, around late Nov - early Dec 2512. Commentary by David Solomon and Tim Minear for Out of Gas stated "about 5 years" ago. Out of Gas occurred late Nov - early Dec 2517.