Last Mal/Inara quote (Serenity)
POSTED BY: veronic
UPDATED: Thursday, January 10, 2013 17:33
VIEWED: 17408
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I agree with both your comments, with a slight difference: I think Inara would choose to stop being a practicing companion, but only if Mal asked her to. Trouble is, you're right, Mal doesn't know what he wants or doesn't want to admit that he wants her to stop. I always felt that either River or Book would give him the nudge he needs.
Funny thing though, as you guys mention Heart of Gold, it was in that episode where they both communicated almost telepathically. After Mandi is shot, Inara gives Mal a look that is unmistakable - no words, just sheer emotion. Love that scene. So there is precedence for the unspoken word between them (the other one that comes to mind was in the Serenity Pilot as they're being chased by the Reavers, and Mal asks her to get in her shuttle - he did not command her, but asked (great scene setting up the dynamic relationship - the look they give each other, priceless).
Two more things: I agree she would make a great thief, but Mal would tell her only if she's not directly involved in the caper (by the way, I think Simon would also make a great thief - love Ariel for that reason, among others).
I agree that Mal is the one that needs to change and open up to Inara without fear, but he doesn't know how to start that conversation.
SGG
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Originally posted by Bytemite:Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:
I look at Inara's line and Mal's line after that as probably the most honest lines that they've ever shared. None of us know what the future holds, hence "I don't know", and it's a "good answer".
And Inara may still be a Companion, but she doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. If she chooses to continue Companioning it’s her choice that works for her, same if she chooses a different path, again her choice, which she will learn to live with and not blame anyone or live in regret. And it's Mal that affords her that choice, because he is all about freedom, and that's why she loves Serenity and her family there.
I agree, mostly, but Mal and Inara aren't Mal and Inara without that "I don't care what you say, I'm doing things my way, screw you" mentality between them. She'd be a companion because she wants to, but she'd also be watching for the moment Mal finally cracks and can't take it anymore. It's what their history is.
For their relationship to even be possible, one of them has to change. And I'm thinking it would be Mal, because there's precedence for him trying to (Heart of Gold), and because eventually for his own sake he needs to mellow out a little. Trust people more, lose some of that anger. He's on a self-destructive path for a stress induced heartattack if he doesn't get himself killed first.
Like you said, if Inara does ever decide to stop being a companion, it would have to be because she wants to. If they ever get far enough, it might even be for Mal's sake, because her going to other clients will still be tearing him up, even if he has to accept what she does.
Later on she COULD make a pretty good criminal (particularly a non-violent con-artist). I just see a lot of resistance to it initially, and it won't happen if she's still a companion. I question whether she would give up companioning in the first place, even if it was for Mal.
I'd actually enjoy seeing a criminal Inara though, she was great smack-talking Saffron in Trash, and she was so eager to help Mal find someone to fence the lassiter.
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This is one of the things that has changed about my opinions. I no longer think Mal would ask Inara, because I don't think her profession is what's actually bothering him. If it was, he would have had more of a problem with Nandi. And he wouldn't be so concerned about Inara risking her career in when she offers to fence the Lassiter.
There's a suggestion there that Mal is actually fine and okay with prostitutes, it's just he worries about Inara, because he doesn't trust her clients, he feels inferior to her clients, and he thinks her clients mistreat her. It's not really what she does at all that bothers him, even though he makes jabs about that. I think the unease he shows sometimes is that he thinks she has every advantage over him and that she might be treating him like one of the clients he hates because he thinks she doesn't really feel the same way about him.
And on his own part, he worries about what will happen to her if she continues to be associated with him. Just as Inara worries about what will happen to Mal if he has to watch her die.
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Two more things: I agree she would make a great thief
She'd be amazing. And she'd have a lot of fun with it actually. She's a girl who behind all that restraint, she actually really wants adventure, she craves it. The way she went looking for Serenity, and the way she smack talks Saffron in Trash, and how excited she gets about her offer to help with the Lassiter later all are very telling signs. She acts haughty and appalled by Mal roguishly stealing from the slavers, but you know, as she's tucking the money away and she knows all hell is about to break loose, you know she kind of loves it. Even if Mal is a little exasperating.
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