Was Book an Operative by WashsYoungerSexierBr

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Was Book an Operative

POSTED BY: WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR
UPDATED: Saturday, August 26, 2006 05:27
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Friday, August 25, 2006 6:40 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Just been re-watching the BDM and git to Mal and books fire scene.

Could book have been an operative??? Cos the way he speaks and the look in his eyes seems to suggest it.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 6:43 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

You will find those of us that say yes and those that say no.

Its a conundrum!

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Friday, August 25, 2006 6:50 AM

PENGUIN

Nope...he was law enforcement of some kind...that's my theory!

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Friday, August 25, 2006 7:01 AM

LOSTDOG

I definitely think he was an Operative or assassin for the Alliance. To me, that is why he never seemed to anxious to discuss it and maybe why he became a preacher. That is just my opinion, though.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 7:49 AM

ELDUSTO

There was a thread on this a few weeks ago and it was pretty much a split on people saying yes or no, but I think everyone agreed that Book held some special rank within the Alliance. I personally think Book was an Operative of some type, based on things he did and said in the BDS and then when I saw the BDM after watching the BDS. Book just seem to have very intiment knowlege of the inner workings of the Alliance. So, I really believe he was either an Operative or a very high ranking Officer in the military. Maybe the latter, as he doesn't seem to want to tell Mal. Speaking of not wanting to tell Mal of his past. In the BDS he tells Mal that he'll tell him about his past some day, then in the BDM, tells Mal no when Mal asks. So, maybe he was just retired Alliance Military.

http://www.geocities.com/neo_ultimate_d - The Homepage
http://www.myspace.com/eldusto - The Myspace page

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Friday, August 25, 2006 8:02 AM

JUBALISEARLY

I was thinking the same thing. Book has a lot in common with the Operative. They both have very focused movements and thier fighting styles are similiar. (witness the scene in the pilot where preacher takes down Dobson.) Both use powerful blows to specific pressure points not meant to kill but to stun.

I think its highly possible that Book is an assumed name, and was his cover as he decided to discontinue his operative activities. This isn't to say he didn't really have faith or wasn't a preacher. However from his knowledge of weapons, tactics and criminal activities it seems highly probable he was an operative of some sort at one point.

Also notice that he immedeately realizes what threat Mal is facing in Serenity. He recognizes the methods, and warns Mal that he is in 'trouble he's not known.'

Furthermore the reaction the Alliance personell have to his card in 'Safe' is much the same as the reaction of the Doctor to the operatives identity in the BDM.

Operatives seem to be a well trained, sort of Marshall, able to assume command of whatever forces they may need to confront threats to the Alliance. Therefore they command instant respect, just as Book does.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 8:04 AM

GORRAMMALCONTENT

This is my theory.Whether as law enforcement or whatever it's possible that Book was working undercover posing as a shepherd.He may have been on River's trail which lead him to Serenity.There may have been a change of heart once he was aboard and got to know the crew.His credentials were still in good standing with the Alliance when he received medical treatment in "Safe" which suggests that he was not a rougue
operative as I had once thought.Just my opinion.

"'Mal'...'bad',in the Latin"

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Friday, August 25, 2006 8:04 AM

NEWBROWNCOAT

Don't think an operative would be so scared as Book was when the air was running out in Out of Gas, nor react with tears of frustration as in Serenity (the pilot) where he is being comforted by Inara. These emotional breakdowns are not the actions of an operative, at least not the kind of operative shown in the BDM.

One Day.
One Mission.
One army of Browncoats.

On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 8:18 AM

SILENCE

Quote:
Originally posted by WashsYoungerSexierBrother:
Just been re-watching the BDM and git to Mal and books fire scene.

Could book have been an operative??? Cos the way he speaks and the look in his eyes seems to suggest it.

Book was an male exotic dancer with assasin training. Best way to dance

**************************
"Listen, if you got guests I can come back later."

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Friday, August 25, 2006 8:19 AM

SHINY

If you consider the novelization canon, then yes. If you don't...then it's still yes (the obvious parallels in the movie just can't be ignored)

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I don't need a gorram back-spaceship driver!!!

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Friday, August 25, 2006 8:27 AM

STAKETHELURK

The BDM does make substantial implications that Book was an Operative, but never explicitly states it. This is a rather brilliant move on Joss’ part, since it provides a sense of closure and answers but doesn’t actually restrain him from coming up with a different explanation should the ‘verse continue. He used this kind of technique often in all three of his shows, which were frequently in danger of cancellation—he’d create something that could serve as and ending or an answer, but leave the door open for future explorations if the show was renewed. Had Firefly lasted a full season, we probably would have seen the same technique in its season finale.

So, for the moment, we can assume Book probably was an Operative. But I wouldn’t be shocked if down the line, the answer turns out to be something completely different.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 9:07 AM

OHIOBROWNCOAT

That's the best answer I've seen yet. I think he WAS an operative that was no longer "useful". He was rewarded by leaving and maintianing some sort of rank and stature but he no longer "believed" in the Alliance. I see some parallels with Raskolnikov in "Crime and Punishment". I really wanted wanted Mal to send the operative to the Southtown Abbey on Persephone.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 11:10 AM

BAD2VERSE

Quote:
Originally posted by WashsYoungerSexierBrother:
Just been re-watching the BDM and git to Mal and books fire scene.

Could book have been an operative??? Cos the way he speaks and the look in his eyes seems to suggest it.

The last debate was kinda split.. BUT, in the BDM you see the operative saying "I think they know, I am no longer their man".... and it obviously bothered him that he knew he was a "Monster"... maybe time in an "Abbey" would help his soul heal...

The Operative was a monster because he believed they were building better worlds.. once that belief was shattered, he seemed lost... And Book said, "I don't care what you believe, just believe it".. lots of parallels there.

So maybe that's why Book's fresh out of the Abbey when he joins the crew.... and of course he "Never Married", so whatever his career was, it didn't leave him time for a family.

________________________
..but eatin people alive, where does THAT get fun?

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Friday, August 25, 2006 1:05 PM

PATIENCE

OK, newbie question alert:

What's a BDM or a BDS?

Enquiring minds and all.

_______________________________
You with the bathing...me with the watching you bathe

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Friday, August 25, 2006 1:14 PM

PATIENCE

Quote:
Originally posted by WashsYoungerSexierBrother:
Just been re-watching the BDM and git to Mal and books fire scene.

Could book have been an operative??? Cos the way he speaks and the look in his eyes seems to suggest it.

Yet ANOTHER reason to BRING BACK FIREFLY!!!!

_______________________________
You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 1:56 PM

BAD2VERSE

Quote:
Originally posted by Patience:
OK, newbie question alert:

What's a BDM or a BDS?

Enquiring minds and all.

Big Damn Movie/Series/Sequel It's a spin off from when Mal tells the guy in the firefight "We're all Big Damn Heros" (Or somesuch)

________________________
..but eatin people alive, where does THAT get fun?

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Friday, August 25, 2006 2:02 PM

PATIENCE

Ah so.

Zoe says it to Mal in 'Safe':

Mal: What does that make us?
Zoe: Big damn heroes, sir!

_______________________________
You do that, and you'd best make peace with your dear and fluffy lord.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 2:04 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by bad2verse:
It's a spin off from when Mal tells the guy in the firefight "We're all Big Damn Heros" (Or somesuch)

From Safe -

Mal: Looks like we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us?

Zoe: Big damn' heroes sir.

Mal: Aint we just.

David

"Not completely as well as the series of Firefly..." - From a review of Serenity at amazon.de

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Friday, August 25, 2006 11:53 PM

FELLOWTRAVELER

As this has already been discussed, let me apologize if these questions have been asked and answered.

But, if Book was an Op. or a high ranking officer in the military, why did the take almost no defensive action in the BDM.

The methods used by the Op (killing everyone who knows the crew) shouldn't have surprised Book, right? That's something they might cover in an Ops training.

I would imagine Book would know that tactic was likely if he were an Op. or military and would have (maybe) sent his people down one of the shafts on Haven to hide (dug a trench, a foxhole, something, anything).

Even the little kids were running around outside, unless the Alliance killed them and then moved their corpses to the surface. Not beyond the realm of possibility, but still pretty unlikely.

Just can't jive no defensive action with great military mind.

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Saturday, August 26, 2006 4:59 AM

MICJWELCH

Quote:
Originally posted by FellowTraveler:
But, if Book was an Op. or a high ranking officer in the military, why did the take almost no defensive action in the BDM.

He shot down the ship that was coming after them. "Not very Christian of me..." I'd call that defensive.

Now it's just a rumor (And I don't even remember where I heard it) but I was told Joss said specifically that Book was NOT an operative. Sucks, too, cuz I was so sure of it... Thinking about it though, it makes sense. Why would the Alliance give him medical care so quickly if here were a FORMER operative? We saw what happened when the Operative in the movie fell out of favor. I think Book had a higher rank than that.

I also believe that he really is a Shepard. I think he is trying to make up for his past. And I think when things go terribly wrong (Out of Gas) he starts to wonder if it's too late for him to change, and God is going to punish him. By the movie though, he seems to have his faith pretty well set in stone.

I also think he knew who River and Simon were. I don't think he was after them, but I think he had access to intelligence telling him about them. He probably chose Serenity.

"We may experience some slight turbulence, and then... explode."

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Saturday, August 26, 2006 5:27 AM

MUDDERSMILK

About Book:

What we know...

1) He can fight very well.
2) He knows all about weapons, and can tell what weapons were used and how it kills people.
3) He flew in a firefly a long time ago.
4) He knows about pirates and what devices can take apart a ship.
5) He is someone that the alliance still respects, or at least gives preferential treatment to.
6) He is a shepherd. He goes to the abbey in Ariel. I guess they could have left him at the front door, and not waited until he went in, but I doubt it.

So what does all this mean.

1) He is not out of favor with the Alliance. Therefore, he is not a former operative who is on the run, or out of favor. It seems unlikely that any operative would be able to retire, but its not an impossibility.
2) He is surprisingly good with weapons and fighting. Therefore he is not necessarily a parliament figure. This is someone who had experience with fighting himself.
3) He is genuinely religious. Or is he? Remember in Objects in Space, when River walks through the ship, and she hears everyone's true feelings and confessions. Simon tells her that if it wasn't for her he would still be in Osirus. Jayne admits to her that he made a mistake, the money was just too good. And Book, in a mean, snearing way, says "I don't give half a hump if your guilty or not, what do you think of that?"

Is this secretly Book's true feelings? Everyone else seemed to reveal their true feelings to River the reader, why would this mean statement by Book be an aberration? Its not. Joss had something planned for Book that never came to fruition because the series was cancelled so earlier. A deep down secret. Whether he is undercover, or messed up and trying to reform himself, we'll never know for sure. I suspect at some point, if the series had continued, we would have met someone who know Book from his past. Or Book would have used old connections to help River. Remember, Jubal Early said, in OIS, that Book was no shepherd. How does he know? He doesn't even talk to Book. He knows Book on sight. Ah, the possibilities...

We are just too pretty for God to let us die.

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