The Deal With Book by selnyc

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

The Deal With Book

POSTED BY: SELNYC
UPDATED: Saturday, January 4, 2003 04:59
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Friday, January 3, 2003 9:04 PM

Here's something I came up with while wondering where the characters on Firefly will go once ME finds a new home for Serenity.

The Preacher Book: Why did Jubal Early say he's not a preacher? Why did the Alliance hospital treat him, no questions asked? Why does Book know so much about ordinance and tactics? These are all things we've been asking ourselves.

Consider this, then, which seems consistent with the incidents described above. What if Book, in an earlier life, had been a soldier (maybe a pilot) for the Alliance during the war? A lifer, probably an officer, apparently honorably discharged. Let's go a little further; what if Book was at the Battle for Serenity and had a life-changing experience similar to Mal's, only in a different direction? Perhaps he'd been an atheist or agnostic and was so disturbed by what he witnessed at Serenity he felt compelled to turn to God? Sort of the anti-Mal…

If we buy this, then the card he showed at the Alliance hospital was the equivalent of a VA (Veteran's Administration) card, allowing him healthcare for life. It would explain his detailed knowledge of all things military. And perhaps Jubal Early was an acquaintance in those days.

Comments?

I'm a mean old man.

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Friday, January 3, 2003 9:21 PM

SERGEANTX

Yes yes yes... I've been thinking exactly along these lines. I especially like the idea of Mal and Book sort of mirroring each other. Also, in the original edit of the pilot it was Book who knew what the ship was named after and told Simon as much. There is so much fascinating stuff going on in this series.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Friday, January 3, 2003 9:31 PM

SELNYC

SergeantX, thanks for your mirror comments. I've enjoyed reading your posts the last few weeks during my preliminary scouting/lurking period.

Ya wanna hear my BIG theory?

OK.

If accept that Buffy and Angel are about fate, Firefly is about history - past, present and future - and how you make it.

If Joss can get the show picked up, here's what we might see:

The Outer Planets organize and secede from the Alliance - Mal & Co. play key roles in this effort. This would be a long-running story arc, spanning multiple seasons. Not too optimistic, IMHO.

The ending of the show, after the deaths of some beloved characters (no eggs, no omelets), the rebels succeed and Mal becomes a Senator or Governor (I'm thinking like Daniel Boone and the like from our own history).

Gorram Fox!

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Friday, January 3, 2003 9:35 PM

SELNYC

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
Also, in the original edit of the pilot it was Book who knew what the ship was named after and told Simon as much.

SergeantX

More than anything, a ship named Serenity would seem quite appropriate to Book, who changed his life because of it once and now (apparently) wants to "walk the world"..

You have confused the true with the real...

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Friday, January 3, 2003 9:42 PM

SERGEANTX

That would be pretty cool, but I'm not sure I really see a resurgence from the Independents as a direction consistent with the tone of the story so far. It seems so focused on personal stories and character drama, I don't think they'd feature an ongoing war as part of the plot. It would really change the dynamic of an isolated group (we're all floating) perpetually on the run. They might do what you suggest though, and I'm sure they'd do it with the proper respect for the characters as the focus. I'll be happy either way.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Friday, January 3, 2003 9:56 PM

SELNYC

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
That would be pretty cool, but I'm not sure I really see a resurgence from the Independents as a direction consistent with the tone of the story so far. It seems so focused on personal stories and character drama, I don't think they'd feature an ongoing war as part of the plot. It would really change the dynamic of an isolated group (we're all floating) perpetually on the run. They might do what you suggest though, and I'm sure they'd do it with the proper respect for the characters as the focus. I'll be happy either way.

I agree that we'll see personal stories for some time; Joss' work has always been about character. But the characters he creates grow and change - sort of the Anti-Star Trek (Kirk, Picard, etc. were substantially the same people at the end of the their show's runs as they were at the beginning). That's what we love about Joss.

Take a look at the twists and turns he's put the characters on both Buffy & Angel through, look at the ambitious work he's done on the episodes he writes and directs, look at what those two shows are doing this season, then look at the rich world he's created with Firefly...

I find it hard to believe ME would be satisfied with another (like Roddenberry's original ST pitch) Wagon Train in space, settling for exciting new guest stars every week.

Maybe they wouldn't go for my specific scenario of another uprising, but without some broader story with historic implications for this 'verse, we'll wind up with smaller stories.

The guys with the blue gloves - there's a direction. It's impossible for an organization/government like the Alliance to be free of corruption - there's another.

I don't care, I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me...

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Saturday, January 4, 2003 4:40 AM

EVANS

Don't hurt me, but the thread "a creepy idea" does have an interesting notion, that Mal is dead or dying on the battlefield, and that the story is spun out in his mind.

Maybe years of arc lead to Mal's redemption, and he can finally be free.

m.
------------------------------------------------
"But ... not boring, like she made it sound." Wash, in ARIEL
"None of it means a damn thing." Mal, in OBJECTS IN SPACE

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Saturday, January 4, 2003 4:54 AM

LASHER99

I hope not. That's already been done with "Jacob's Ladder".

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Saturday, January 4, 2003 4:59 AM

EVANS

I loved "Jacob's Ladder," at the same time cringing in fear.

Its possible application to Firefly would let the story stretch out for years instead of two hours, and allow a nice wrap-up at the end if the end were seen coming.

The way things are now, Mal is dead and we'll never see him again.

m.
------------------------------------------------
"But ... not boring, like she made it sound." Wash, in ARIEL
"None of it means a damn thing." Mal, in OBJECTS IN SPACE

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