Did Inara know?

POSTED BY: Causal
UPDATED: Wednesday, December 7, 2005 18:15
VIEWED: 6966
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CAUSAL

Monday, December 5, 2005 11:19 PM

So I was at the pub with a mate last night, and we got to talking about the future of the ‘verse. Of course, both of us would prefer a series: lots more screen time, slower and deeper character development. But we admitted of the possibility that we wouldn’t get that, and so turned to the topic of possible movie sequels.

The possibility that we both agreed on had something to do with Inara’s background. A brief review of some of things (note: some of the things) that we know:

1) We know that Inara is running from something (EDIT: Bushwhacked)
2) We know that she was successful on Sihnon (Heart of Gold)—even in line to be the house priestess (or whatever the title was)—so evidently she is from something, but she is leaving something pretty significant behind.
3) She didn’t get fed up with the lifestyle of a companion, like Nandi did. Not only did she still companion (to use it as a verb), she even said that she could still belong in high society (Shindig).
4) Although she could have shipped out with a luxury liner or some such, she didn’t—she chose a disreputable ship, just like Simon.

We concluded that although Inara enjoyed the life of a companion and high society, something—and something horrible and dangerous—drove her to run, and not just to another location, but to a place where she would always be on the run: Serenity.

My friend mulled this over and rather excited suggested that Inara had been on Miranda when all the bad things happened. She knew the truth, and was running from Parliament. Of course, I rejected this because: 1) Nandi and Inara were together on Sihnon (and Inara grew up there), so Inara couldn’t have been on Miranda; 2) Inara obviously did die and she didn’t become a Reaver, either; the disaster on Miranda was being settled right before the war (which on my reading is about 10-12 years in the past) which would have made Inara much too young.

But this got me thinking: what if, instead of being on Miranda, Inara knew about Miranda. Maybe a “key member of parliament” availed himself of her services and, in the throes of passion (or perhaps shortly thereafter), said something like, “We killed a planet-full of folk and made the Reavers in the process” and then prompted fell asleep. Well, now. That would be something.

Perhaps Inara knew (if not the specifics) at least the general outline of what happened. Somehow she got spooked and started running. Hence, Serenity. Hence, Firefly.

What do you fine folks think of that one?

________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

CAUSAL

Monday, December 5, 2005 11:54 PM

Come on, doesn't anyone have a thought about this?

________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

DANTE144

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 12:08 AM

I t hink that she was not running from something, but rather running to something.

I think as much was mentioned in the commentary, I think by Tim Minear.

I think she liked the ship. Maybe she was on one when she was kid.

Maybe the life she was living(successful or not) was unfulfilling and something on Serenity provided that?

Perhaps Mal? or maybe it was just Freedom that life on that boat would provide?

Maybe it was just my imagination but did she seem nostalgic for the Firefly class ship?

"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -tee shirt some girl was wearing at Megacon.

http://dantedreams.com <-my webcomic

PSYCHICRIVER

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 12:15 AM

My friend has a theory that Inara is actually a lot older than she is. That she takes something, to keep her young and beautiful. And that the non-suicide syringe...was something to stop the process.

There is evidence. It would explain why Inara left Sihnon. She'd been living there a long time...and if she stayed for another ten years then people would really start to catch on. Thats why she moves about.

When Nandi greets her in "Heart Of Gold" she says "You haven't aged a bit."

In "Out Of Gas" Inara says to Simon "I don't wanna die at all."

I'm not sure why Inara would want to do this...but hey, its a theory with evidence.

PsychicRiver

"Two by two, hands of blue."
"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."

SAMEERTIA

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 12:20 AM

In the directors commentary for "Out of Gas" Joss says that there's a big clue to what is going on to Inara during her conversation with Simon.
Inara says she loves the ship, has since she first saw it. (Which would tie to your idea that perhaps she was on a Firefly in her childhood.)
Simon says "I just don't want to die on it."
Inara: "I don't want to die at all."

I think perhaps Inara is dying, and that her "Required companion medical exam" during 'Ariel' was actually a cover for some kind of treatment. This would also help explain her insistence in "Our Mrs. Reynolds" that she doesn't need to be examined when she passes out.

I don't think she knew about Miranda. I just don't see how it would be possible.

ETHAN

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 12:21 AM

I think Inara owned Serenity before Mal. Of course then it was called something else.

The ship symbolizes something so significant to her, she gave up everything she'd come to know just to be close to it. Her choice is known to others familiar of her history...hence Atherting Wing's disdainful reference to it as
doggy poop.

NCBROWNCOAT

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 12:28 AM

Another tantilizing tidbit. In Ariel when Kaylee asks Inarra how her exam went, Inarra says "same as last year."

CHINDI

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 12:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SameErtia:
This would also help explain her insistence in "Our Mrs. Reynolds" that she doesn't need to be examined when she passes out.

I always assumed this was because she did not want them to know she had succumbed to the same drug as Mal.. she knew she kissed Mal, and might assume and the others would think that.. of course Mal assumes Inara kissed Saffron (clueless man...lol)

All of these are interesting tho.. I WANT that other series (agree slower and deeper character devlopment) or I want a movie about Inara and I definitely want one about Book...

Chindi

COME BACK FIREFLY.. gone too soon!!!

GIANTEVILHEAD

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 1:32 AM

I think there are secrets and practices within the guild which drove Inara away. We know that the Companion Guild is powerful but how did it become so powerful? Courtesans and prostitutes have been used as spies for as long as espionage has existed. I think that certain Companions, the ones who service more powerful clients, are trained to acquire secrets from these clients which the guild could then use to blackmail people. It is entirely possible that the guild became so socially, economically, and possibly politically powerful through extortion.

There’s also the issue how the guild acquires girls. We know that the Companions are partially based on the Geisha. The Geisha houses bought girls and trained them from a young age. It is reasonable to assume that the Companion Guild also buys girls in order to train them as Companions. Now what if the parents don’t want child to be a Companion? Is the guild going to give up? Maybe, if they don’t think the girl is worth it but what if they think that the girl has the potential to become a great Companion? The guild might have other ways of acquiring the girl, perhaps through some dishonorable or insidious methods.

"I swallowed a bug." -River Tam

CHINDI

Tuesday, December 6, 2005 1:57 AM

Would the guild be a part of Blue Sun in some way? Who knows...

Inara has secrets.. lots of them...remember in the pilot when the suitor says to Inara it must have been hard to leave her world.. the camera holds on her as she looks away and she does not look happy...

Chindi

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