Who or what is Inara?

POSTED BY: Platonist
UPDATED: Thursday, September 25, 2008 21:27
VIEWED: 13613
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PLATONIST

Monday, September 22, 2008 6:48 PM

Well, my work friend finally returned my DVD set, so I've been doing a little more rewatching and a little less fic reading.

For the life of me, I still can't understand what Inara is doing on that ship. And Joss doesn't seem to be in any hurry to explain it to us. Which got me thinking... of course, what does he want to accomplish with her character?

It's obvious that she is in love with the Captain, but I can't help myself...I think there is something deeper and more metaphorical in her role on Serenity. Look how many times she rescues Mal and the crew, some times they aren't even aware and she gets no gratitude, nor is she in the circle of heroes or even considered crew. I think we can all agree that Mal's behavior when she is gone is questionable.

Then in Better Days, when Mal sees the shuttle from above he says, "There's our ride" and all his talk in Serenity when he is in the valley about Angels coming. Or, “everybody dies alone.” Her name in Arabic means "illumination". All the praying she does… Oh, the mystery!

Then I saw this poll because times are getting tough.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1842179,00.html

I know some fans see her as a possible assassin, able to kill men with her vagina, or a plant by the Alliance. But, what if Joss wanted us to see something else in her that we
are all too embarrassed to admit without looking ridicules. Just a thought.

CHARLIEBZ

Monday, September 22, 2008 7:11 PM

Ooo, Inara discussion! Inara as angel. Interesting. I can see it.

But do I think there's anything supernatural about her? No. I do believe that she is the one who can save Mal from himself. Once she gets through whatever it is she needs to overcome.

I think the million dollar question, more than mysterious vial or the reason she left Sihnon, is why is she on Serenity? Why of all the millions of ships in the 'verse does this educated, refined, sophisticated woman choose an old smuggling freighter? I don't believe for a moment that she is an Alliance plant. What would be the reason for that? Mal and crew, before the arrival of River, are low, low, low on the totem pole. That's kind of the point, isn't it? Joss wanted to create characters who weren't influential in space politics. We've got Star Wars and Star Trek for that.

The question of why she chose Serenity is the one I keep returning to when I think about her backstory. I've come up with my own idea for my fics but I KNOW it's not the one Joss came up with. I'm still hopeful that Joss loves this story too much to let go and it will be the subject of the next film/series/whatever.

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

I know some fans see her as a possible assassin, able to kill men with her vagina...

STOWEAWAY

Monday, September 22, 2008 7:53 PM

The last comic series got very close to revealing Inara's fate & thus her reason for leaving Sihnon.
Then Jewel & Morena let the secret fly during a Q&A at Dragon*Con. Hopefully even with the proverbial cat out of the bag, Joss will still choose to reveal Inara's secret in his own brilliant way.

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NBZ

Monday, September 22, 2008 8:41 PM

Conspiracy theory time:

Inara is involved in a smuggling operation.

She sought out a disreputable ship that she could manipulate into moving "cargo". Simon and River were a job, hence her fighting for them to not only be kept alive in the Pilot, but to also be delivered to the correct destination.

As for mal and Inara - nothing will happen (but may have pre series... hence Mal being able to barge in ion her so easily). Mal would be stupid to wait, Inara believes in her lifestyle. however she also suffers from jealousy when there is "competition" around (as in the forms of Saffron and Nandi).

STAPLES

Monday, September 22, 2008 9:15 PM

What did they say? I haven't seen or heard anything about it, but "the Inara debate" is the most interesting (not to mention one of the only) secrets yet to be divulged. I don't ruttin' care if Joss tells a story about it or not (though I would love it if he did) - I just wanna know the answer!

ZEEK

Monday, September 22, 2008 9:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Stoweaway:
The last comic series got very close to revealing Inara's fate & thus her reason for leaving Sihnon.
Then Jewel & Morena let the secret fly during a Q&A at Dragon*Con. Hopefully even with the proverbial cat out of the bag, Joss will still choose to reveal Inara's secret in his own brilliant way.

Do tell. What did they claim Inara's story is? I'm more of the impression these panels are just joking around when they let these things slip, but I still like to hear what they throw out there.

2BY2GINGERBLUE

Monday, September 22, 2008 10:13 PM

I believe Anara was planted by the Alliance on Serenity because the Alliance knew what type of ship she is. A ship that will be out of range most of the time and in Reaver territory, hence the syringe. I think Anara's syringe carries a infection to kill the Reavers, not sexually just at the expense of her life. I think that is why she gets more tense than anyone else on the boat when they are near. Also in Serenity ep. when she is with the young client he says " why would anyone want to leave" she has that look away silent moment. I think she was taken away by the Alliance because she was so good at what she does and happened to fall in love with the crew and ship.

ECGORDON

Monday, September 22, 2008 10:15 PM

There are two things I have thought concerning Inara for a long time.

First, in "Out of Gas" she told Simon that she loved Serenity, and had since the first time she saw it. I have a feeling that first time was before she came aboard to negotiate a price with Mal. Perhaps she knew the previous owner.

Also, notice how most of her clients (with the possible exception of Atherton) were younger men whose family's were in influential positions on their planets, along with the lady counselor in "War Stories." Maybe she was making contacts with people who would be in positions of power in a few years' time. Even though she claimed to have supported Unification (which was probably the Guild's official position) she may actually have been working behind the scenes forming an anti-Alliance group. She wouldn't have trusted Mal with that information although she knew he would support it.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

PLATONIST

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 12:52 AM

Wow, some of you have very active imaginations, but I dunno... after fourteen episodes, a feature length film, a series of comic books and it being 6 years later, don't you think that Joss would have started to develop a conspiracy theory that she had had an active role in, especially if it had something to do with the Tams, the Alliance, or the Independents? There is nothing in canon to support any of these claims; as none of them ever sound right.

Joss himself says on the CE commentary that both Book and Inara have no real hidden agenda on Serenity.

Most of Inara's scenes are with Mal or about Mal, even when she is with her clients, Mal is the two ton elephant in the room. It's all about Mal...rescuing Mal, protecting Mal, being with Mal, who Mal is, it’s all about Serenity and its Captain.

As far as her fate with or without Mal, the inevitable will happen. I would look to the end of Better Days for those clues. Think about it, why would someone need a doctor? And Mal knows before Serenity, which I now find interesting.

By the way, Jayne really hates Reavers.

NCBROWNCOAT

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:08 AM

Quote:

Most of Inara's scenes are with Mal or about Mal, even when she is with her clients, Mal is the two ton elephant in the room. It's all about Mal...rescuing Mal, protecting Mal, being with Mal, who Mal is, it’s all about Serenity and its Captain.

By the way, Jayne really hates Reavers.

IMHO I agree that it is all about Mal. To resurect an old idea, all of the crew are different facets of Mal. Either what he is or what he was.

Inara is his mirror image in many ways. High maintenance where he's simple. Alliance supporter versus Independent. She's lost in the woods and he can see clearly there. He's had his Serenity Valley in the pilot while Inara doesn't have hers until the movie Serenity.

I was having an interesting conversation with 2 Browncoat friends Saturday at lunch and the conversation turned to Mal and Inara. There was general agreement among us that Mal and Inara would get together and it wouldn't last for a long time but it would give Mal the where with all to love again but some one simpler and more like himself.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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