Our Mrs. Reynolds: River insight

POSTED BY: Bytemite
UPDATED: Saturday, March 7, 2009 23:42
VIEWED: 7907
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BYTEMITE

Monday, February 16, 2009 10:42 PM

As most of you are probably aware, there was a scene cut from Our Mrs. Reynolds where River asks Book to marry herself and Simon. She puts a pillow under her shirt and claims to be in the family way. Probably it was cut because the whole incest discussion might have been a bit too uncomfortable for the audience when they were clearly going for funny.

It occurs just before Zoe lays into Wash about Saffron's lil' housewife behaviour.

http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/firefly/season1/firefly-103.htm

Anyway, I'd thought she was just kind of messing with Simon's head, because River is smart enough (and was old enough when she went to the Academy) to recognize their brother-sister relationship for what it is.

But what if she was picking up on and being confused by Inara's feelings about this whole situation? The scene occurs not long after Mal is in Inara's shuttle and upsets her by mentioning children.

WHOZIT

Monday, February 16, 2009 10:50 PM

That's my favoret episode, but there's no way I'll get into the mind of Joss Whedon, it's dark in there

ZEEK

Monday, February 16, 2009 11:16 PM

I honestly don't know what River was going for there. Maybe just her crazy mind pairing people off on the ship and the one she's closest to is Simon so she chooses him as her husband? I kinda just thought she was acting crazy at that point. Her knowing Saffron was a liar was her actual insightful moment IMO.

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:34 AM

That thief comment may have a double meaning. Actually, triple meaning, if you take into account the protein bar Saffron steals.

River's comments on Mal's relationship with Inara in Those left Behind in a similar way. She tells Mal that he "cheated."

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:38 AM

I think if she's being confused by other people's emotions, and clearly she's receptive enough in that episode to see Saffron as she really is, that it gives her a reason why she might be acting the way she is. Maybe it's another hint that Joss is dropping about her abilities, just in a round-about way.

RALLEM

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:42 AM

Could River's scene with her brother and Shepard Book have been a foreshadow to Wash and Zoe's conversation in Heart of Gold about having children?

http://www.swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:20 AM

Hmm, that's a good one too. Wash and Zoe are fighting about gender roles in this episode, but they've undoubtedly discussed children before Heart of Gold. Foreshadowing, possibly, and that may be something else she's picking up on that's confusing her.

I still like thinking of Inara as being the most affected by Saffron's presence, and the strength of all her conflicting emotions confusing poor River, though. :)

RALLEM

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 4:30 PM

There was a confrontation between Inara and Saffron which might have been confusing to River because I believe the relationship between Inara and Mal was confusing to them. It is possible that scene between River, Simon and Book may have been a water table moment with multiple significance, but it might have also been redundant in all aspects of its significance so it was capable of being deleted.

http://www.swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 4:45 PM

It's too bad, because left in, it was a nice bit of foreshadowing.

Her bahaviour could also be as she says, that seeing Wash and Zoe's marriage, and then Mal married, she is wondering whether she will ever have someone herself, whether she would frighten off potential suitors.

Although that still doesn't explain why she's confused, which she would have to be to consider Simon a suitable match.

RALLEM

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:28 PM

I think it is odd too because while her brother was blind towards anyone else at that time, but Kaylee had a crush on Simon. Maybe Kaylee's crush was purely physical and she didn't pick up on those types of thoughts and that is why she didn't see Jayne as a possible suitor.

http://www.swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

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