Jayne and Mal

POSTED BY: bladeachilles
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 20:38
VIEWED: 5412
PAGE 1 of 2

1 2 NEXT PAGE

BLADEACHILLES

Monday, January 30, 2006 7:01 AM

I love the character Jayne, and I really feel that there's a lot more to him then a stereotyped thug. I'm new to the 'Verse, so I don't know if this question has been discussed elsewhere, but here goes.

Why is Jayne still on Serenity? From what we saw in Out of Gas, Jayne does not seem like the kinda guy that Mal would want to keep on his beloved Serenity, and around people like Kaylee. Any thoughts out there on why Mal didn't just pay Jayne and send him on his merry way, seeing as he was so willing to switch sides for some money, free graze of the kitchen, and his own bunk?

"Man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything."

DRAGONFEAR987

Monday, January 30, 2006 7:25 AM

while mal and zoe both have combat experience and are seasoned fighters, never hurts to have another strong arm on board the help out. as for why mal never booted him, he considers him part of his crew i guess. hes got a soft spot for him, much as he can be a pain in the rear. and on top of that, hes comic relief i mean cmon....who doesnt love classic jayne scenes like the one with vera and the hat from his mom? and theres god only knows how many great jayne quotes. "we applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient" do i really need to say nething else?

J6NGO1977

Monday, January 30, 2006 8:38 AM

I agree he's extra muscle. Mal knows Jayne has a mutinous streak however Mal knows how to keep that under control. It's obvious Jayne comes from a background where nobody cared about him and he cared about nobody. So Jayne gets that sense of family from the rest of the crew and he is also treated pretty well.

Remember at the end of Ariel when Mal was going to space Jayne? What stopped Mal from opening that airlock door was when Jayne asked Mal to make something up to the rest of the crew and not to tell them the truth about Jayne betraying Simon and River to the Feds for a lump of cash.

To Mal that showed Jayne, for all his flaws, cares what the crew think of him and so therefore cares about them in turn. Also after Ariel Jayne has more than likely learnt his lesson and knows Mal will 'get rid' of Jayne if he betrays Mal or his crew again.

SHINYTALENT

Monday, January 30, 2006 10:05 AM

I think there is more to Jayne then just comic-relief or muscle or him being sexy beyond words.
You can't really say that one person's place on the show is more or less important than another person's place.

Jayne belongs on Serenity- just like they all do I think that Jayne's reason is that aside from being a damn good merc and tracker he needs a family.
He may not seem the type for warm and fuzzies but the crew, even Simon and River are family and he feels at home.

I think that Mal didn't kick Jayne off Serenity for the same reason he hasn't turned Simon and River into the Feds, he needs his crew around him not just to keep the ship running but to keep him fighting on.

But they are just my ideas folks. Joss may have different reasons.

The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuuming systems.

PURPLEBELLY

Monday, January 30, 2006 10:06 AM

It's so hard to quit your main squeeze

Which is my way of saying that tenacity, sometimes bloody-mindless and self-destructive, is the hallmark of Reynolds' character -- very Irish, very Whedon.

MAL4PREZ

Monday, January 30, 2006 1:45 PM

My take on it is that Jayne's really just a big ole dog. (I mean that lovingly!) It's instinct for him to try to be the top dog, even though he knows it's not really his thing. So, Mal beat him out and Jayne accepts that. Like most dogs, he's quite happy to be part of the pack.

Of course, Mal's had to rough him up a few times to teach him how to play nice, but Jayne respects that. He knows that Mal's the better dog.

And I think Mal gets this about Jayne. Jayne may play rough sometimes, but he's a good boy as long as he knows who's in charge.

that's just my .02.

Ask Dr. Science ... he knows more than you do.
"I have a Master's degree ... in science!"

ILLUMINIX

Monday, January 30, 2006 2:02 PM

Very well put! I think you nailed it.

KIZYR

Monday, January 30, 2006 3:44 PM

Jayne really redeemed himself in the movie for me. Until then, I still couldn't forgive him for what he did on Ariel.

A lot of it was those little things you don't notice so much. One thing you gotta remember is that, for all his brashness, Jayne really does care about Kaylee. Not in any romantic way, but in a big-brother sort of way. He might make mean jokes about her, but if someone laid an unkind hand on her, he'd send them to their grave. Then, he was likely just as upset about what happened to Book. He and the Shepherd were best friends while on that boat; he even saved a boxload of Cuban cigars to bring to Book when they landed on Haven (Cubans are Book's favorite, and that's what he was smoking while speaking with Mal).

More of those little things... You remember when Serenity was spinning out of control? Jayne ran and made sure everyone was fastened in tight--and there wasn't a seat left for him. But, he tugged at their belts and made sure they were safe, then grabbed onto something else for himself.

So yeah, Jayne might be greedy, but he's not selfish. At least, not when it comes to family; and the crew of the Serenity's the closest thing to family he's ever really known. KF

~KF

Lord, I'm walking your way. Let me in, for my feet are sore, my clothes are ragged.
Look in my eyes, Lord, and my sins will play out on them as on a screen. Read them all.
Forgive what you can and send me on my path. I will walk on until you bid me rest.
~Haven Prayer

BLADEACHILLES

Monday, January 30, 2006 6:15 PM

Thank you all for weighing in! Like I said before, I'm a newbie and I am interested in the rest of the 'Verse's reaction to this question.

I find it very interesting that in the airlock scene in Ariel, Mal stressed the fact that Jayne had turned in crew when he turned in the Tams. Obviously this crew meant a lot to Jayne. (remember he was willing to turn on his 'crew' in Out of Gas and on Stitch from Jaynestown.) Another point of interest was the fact that Mal tried to get Jayne to switch sides in the first place. He's never done that before that we've seen.

Anyway, thanks for responding to my post, y'all.

"Dear Diary: Today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Dear Diary: Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again. It was the best day ever."

GRIZWALD

Monday, January 30, 2006 6:25 PM

I think we can see Jayne learning and growing throughout the series and now the BDM. Yes, he's selfish. Yes, a better offer would probably make him leave the crew. But what about in War Stories when he kicked in ransom money to bail out Wash and Mal, and then when that failed, went in at risk of his own life to save Mal's?

My impression of Jayne is that he honestly isn't all that intelligent, and he has had to depend on his muscle for everything he's got so far. He knows he's no good on his own. He doesn't honestly see himself heading a gang of his own, though he does occasionally resent Mal's way of doing things. He knows he's good as backup, and when he takes the time to think things through, he realizes that that's where he does best: Backing up the rest of the crew of Serenity.

He also blurts. Whatever he thinks comes right out of his mouth. I can relate. I'm the same way. It's not always convenient, but at least everybody knows where we stand. :)

1 2 NEXT PAGE