2 by 2 Hands of Blue by lostdog

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

2 by 2 Hands of Blue

POSTED BY: LOSTDOG
UPDATED: Monday, September 4, 2006 04:56
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 13501
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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:00 PM

`or better yet, 2 by 2 hands me a brew

Anyway, so I was watching the Ariel episode the other night and it made me wonder about something. You know when the 2 by 2 guys are chasing Jayne, River and Simon through the hospital? Well, when they used that device to kill those people and make their eyes and hands bleed(that device that looks like those things that were kept in the freezer and when you cracked them they glowed, what were those called? I digress as usual.) Well, why weren't those guys affected by that device? Did they have something in their ears other than ear wax? Or was it not a sound thing? Next time, I will have to look closer.

Simon: "What about cortical electrodes?"
Jayne: "Oh...We forgot 'em."

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:13 PM

You mean glowsticks?

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:15 PM

SIGMANUNKI

Quote:
Originally posted by lostdog:

what were those called?

Don't think anyone knows.

Quote:
Originally posted by lostdog:

Well, why weren't those guys affected by that device?

B/c it doesn't work that way?

Quote:
Originally posted by lostdog:

Did they have something in their ears other than ear wax? Or was it not a sound thing?

I don't think that it'd be a sound thing as the ones affected didn't cover there ears. They just started to be affected, and then pain, and then dead.

EDIT: I believe that this is the only ep that these weapons were used in. So, it's unlikely that anyone knows anything about them i.e. what-ever anyone says is going to be pure conjecture.

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

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:19 PM

LOSTDOG

Quote:
Originally posted by 13:
You mean glowsticks?

Yes. Glowsticks. HELLO. Thank you.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:50 PM

JUBALISEARLY

Conclusively speaking-

Absolutely no idea. Whedon's particular genius is to leave open certain areas of the plot. In this case the Hands of Blue was left completely open. Now, the great part about this is that it leaves it open in case he ever wishes to comeback and expand upon it. Now wether or not this is the genius of Whedon, or simply a hole left by a prematurely ended season no one can tell...except Joss.

Lets just hope a Season 2 will happen in some form and fill in the gaps.

The Facts (true stuff)

They travel in the latest of craft.
(Ariel)

They track anything or anyone possibly related to River Tam (Train Job)

We can also assume that the 'Hands of Bue have methods of nullifying the devices effects by some method.
(Ariel)

They use the device to kill potential witnesses of River and/or her abilities.
(Ariel)

They wear 'Blue' gloves.
(Train Job)

----
Conclusion

"Hands of Blue" were to be the main threat to at least the Tam's at some point in the future of the season. There weapons were menacing and alien in nature, and only Mr. Whedon, (or his various minions) will ever be able to tell us who and what they were, how they were ted to the Tam's and what sort of weapon they were using.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 1:23 PM

JOLLY

Quote:
Originally posted by lostdog:
`or better yet, 2 by 2 hands me a brew

Well, why weren't those guys affected by that device?

Same reason nobody's blood boils in Batman Begins.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 1:44 PM

TEACHDAIRE

What, you never saw "Scanners"?

I think the guys are psychic to a degree, and the gadget just amplifies their abilities "I can kill you with my brain"...

-------------------------------------------------
For every battle honour, a thousand heroes die along, unremembered and unsung...

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 2:32 PM

TRAVELER

This is just a guess. But their behavior isn't natural. They act like cyborgs or droids. So if the device attacks livings creatures it may not have an effect on them because they are machines.

Have to wait for second season to find out.

Traveler

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 2:56 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by lostdog:
Or was it not a sound thing? Next time, I will have to look closer.

I always figured it was some form of vacum device considering River's morbid and creepifying, "The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuming systems," speech from Safe. But even if it's a sound thing it could be a directional effect or maybe the hands of blue have some kind of defense against the attack that we aren't shown. I doubt it's a regular earplug thing since they are talking to the bellboy guy before they decide to drain him and they don't seem to be having difficulties hearing.

David

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

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 3:06 PM

TRAVELER

They show blood coming out of the bellboy's fingernails. So it attacks more than just ears or sinuses. It may be that it only effects those in front of the device and the men in blue are safe because they stand behind the device.

Traveler

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 3:23 PM

CANTICLEFORKAYLEE

First, let me say hello, as I am new here. I have long been a fan of Firefly/Serenity and have enjoyed this website for a while, but am only now entering the fray. So, hello everyone!
Second, as far as this thread goes, the weapon certainly could be a sonic-type device, as sound waves can be directed and can do things like damage and liquify tissue. (Scientists have done this to lab animals, but no serious weapons have been made, probably because bullets do a better job!)
And third, something I noticed that I have not seen a post about before. (Though I am sure it has been noticed and commented on!) At the beginning of the movie, as the class teacher is narrating and we see some of the planets in the new solar system, the last planet they show, the one on which the animation of its orbital track is placed, is, in fact, Mars. It is a picture of the Syrtis Major region. Anyway, I hope at least one other person than me thinks that is cool!
Sorry for the long post.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 4:16 PM

HERA7

There is a little more info in the comic/graphic novel "Those Left Behind." Joss did co-write it so I would expect what was there is intentional. Just for those who have not read the comics, here is an interesting scene observation in a spoiler.

Select to view spoiler:

When the Blue Hand Duo board Serenity and fight with Simon and Kaylee, Kaylee inavertly rips the clothing off one of the men as she is pushed away, revealing a blue body suit underneath.

So the blue hand group wear the blue body suits, most likely giving them protection against the sonic devices. And maybe some other benefits like low grade armor and membership to special blues parties.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 5:21 PM

BREXAN

I always just assumed that the devices emitted some kind of supersonic vibrations in a specific direction, like a torch light. What I'd love to know is what those blue gloves are all about, aside from being a misguided fashion statement.

Personally I doubt that the blue gloves/bodysuit are anything to do with the creepy-blood-torture-thing, seems to me they'd only stick the gloves on before using the devise and not wear them all the time. Who knows, maybe they just wash a lot of dishes and like to be prepared :S

Season 2 is the only way to solve this, let us not rest until all our questions are answered!

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 7:00 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by CanticleForKaylee:
So, hello everyone!

Hello.

Quote:
At the beginning of the movie, as the class teacher is narrating and we see some of the planets in the new solar system, the last planet they show, the one on which the animation of its orbital track is placed, is, in fact, Mars. It is a picture of the Syrtis Major region. Anyway, I hope at least one other person than me thinks that is cool!

I'll have to look for that the next time I have Serenity on.

Quote:
Sorry for the long post.

No need to be sorry. We like wordy people.

David

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

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 7:40 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

In "Those Left Behind" as was stated earlier in spoilers, we see the chest/upper body of one of the blue-handed men, which matches his hands. It looked almost metalic to me, really, and was perfectly formed; not a body suit, but like a second skin. I agree with Traveler that those guys aren't exactly human and that is how they're able to survive proximity with their little weapon. As to what it's called, I have no idea.

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. - Gautama Siddharta

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006 8:51 PM

CHOO1701

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
In "Those Left Behind" as was stated earlier in spoilers, we see the chest/upper body of one of the blue-handed men, which matches his hands. It looked almost metalic to me, really, and was perfectly formed; not a body suit, but like a second skin. I agree with Traveler that those guys aren't exactly human and that is how they're able to survive proximity with their little weapon. As to what it's called, I have no idea.

Machines perhaps. We are slowly getting to a stage of a robot mimiking humans, so it could happen 500 years in the future.

That, and they are Blue Sun. Company of many faces...

-----------------------------
*under FRIKKING repair*...

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 3:56 AM

LOSTDOG

Quote:
Originally posted by Teachdaire:
What, you never saw "Scanners"?

I think the guys are psychic to a degree, and the gadget just amplifies their abilities "I can kill you with my brain"...

-------------------------------------------------
For every battle honour, a thousand heroes die along, unremembered and unsung...

I have seen Scanners, but it has been a long time. Maybe, I should rent that movie again. There is a lot of interesting speculation here and it does shed some light for me. Sie-sie. Aliens, Cyborgs and Droids, Oh My!

Simon: "He was amazing!(to Jayne)"We wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for you."
Jayne: "Well, uh...you're part of my crew."
Mal: (sarcastic) "I think I might cry."

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 4:20 AM

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

It emits a high frequency sound that ruptures cappiliaries. Thats why they started bleeding everywhere.

The blue glove material covers all their body (comic book) thats why it doesnt affect them.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 4:22 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by WashsYoungerSexierBrother:
It emits a high frequency sound that ruptures cappiliaries. Thats why they started bleeding everywhere.

The blue glove material covers all their body (comic book) thats why it doesnt affect them.

If it's a sound weapon, the material covering their body wouldn't do much, especially to protect their heads.
They ain't human, I tell ya! Not completely, anyway.

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. - Gautama Siddharta

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 4:23 AM

ROCKETJOCK

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
In "Those Left Behind" as was stated earlier in spoilers, we see the chest/upper body of one of the blue-handed men, which matches his hands. It looked almost metalic to me, really, and was perfectly formed; not a body suit, but like a second skin. I agree with Traveler that those guys aren't exactly human and that is how they're able to survive proximity with their little weapon.

I'll agree to a point, but, as the Operative is being briefed at the end of the story, we see a quick shot of the Hands-of-Blue guys's remains after being incinerated by Serenity's hard-burn. They look like human skeletons to me, which would indicated some kind of augmented human, rather than pure robotics. Presumably the blue bodysuits generated some kind of counter effect to protect them from the nosebleed weapon.

Another note: We see the hands-of-blue guys briefly (almost subliminally) in the BDM, during River's break-out, and they are not wearing their tradmark gloves. Presumably, this means the bodysuit/armor isn't issued to them until they're assigned a specific mission.

(I'm not spoilerizing because the comics have been out for a year now, with reprints available. If you haven't read them yet, it's your own fault.)

"She's tore up plenty. But she'll fly true." -- Zoë Washburn

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 4:29 AM

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Sound waves are vibrations through the air. The suits would be impermeable to the sound waves and when the waves hit unprotected skin, the skin would vibrate and be buffered so their inards would be okay. Like sacrifical zinc blocks on ships.

GEEKS RULE!!!

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 6:37 AM

ONTHERUN

It looks like the the device has no name. It's used at the end of Act 3 in Ariel and is referred to in the script as a "rod-like device".

Here's a link to the script at Firefly Wiki:
http://www.fireflywiki.org/108.html

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 7:47 AM

ELDUSTO

I don't think it's a sounds weapon, I think it somehow raises a persons blood pressure to the point that it begins pouring out of sinus cavities and such to relieve the pressure. It just looks that way based on how the actors looked as the blood began to pour out of the thier eyes, nose, ears and fingure nails. It's a mysterious, futuristic device where there are no modern explanations for.

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

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 10:24 AM

JPSTARGAZER

I always thought it emitted focused microwaves, heating the blood and other fluids of the body, until the pressure would burst and fluid-carrying tissue. If it was a sound device, it wouldn't work in space but a microwave device would (vibrations won't travel in a vaccuum, but electromagnetic energy will). I think they'd want it to work in space, 'cause you never know when you're going to have to make someone bleed out of their eyes...

Or maybe it's something even crazier that makes the blue hands guys even creepier. If this was Star Trek, it would create localized irregularities in the fabric of space/time inside your body, ripping your insides to bits in ways only Stephen Hawking could explain.

"All I got is a red guitar, three chords, and the truth...the rest is up to you"
--Bono

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 1:19 PM

RMMC

Quote:
Originally posted by RocketJock:

(I'm not spoilerizing because the comics have been out for a year now, with reprints available. If you haven't read them yet, it's your own fault.)

Not necessarily. We're gettin' new recruits everyday. Please accord them some respect as many may have only just seen the movie and don't even know about the BDS let alone the GN's.

*******
RMMC

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 4:20 PM

PROPMASTER2000

"Hands of Blue Weapon" (video link below):

The weapon shown in the video (above) is used to amplify and focus our mental powers toward our intended victims.....

HOB 2X2

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 5:45 PM

ROCKETJOCK

Quote:
Originally posted by RMMC:
Quote:
Originally posted by RocketJock:

(I'm not spoilerizing because the comics have been out for a year now, with reprints available. If you haven't read them yet, it's your own fault.)

Not necessarily. We're gettin' new recruits everyday. Please accord them some respect as many may have only just seen the movie and don't even know about the BDS let alone the GN's.

I don't disagree on any particular point, but taken to the extreme, this would require us to spoilerize any and all discussions of every episode of Firefly, since, after all, some folk might not have seen them yet.

And that thought wearies me.

I'm not going to go out of my way to scream

Select to view spoiler:

WASH IS DEAD!

, but I think a year's grace period is sufficent to open a plotline up for unspoilerized discussion.

"She's tore up plenty. But she'll fly true." -- Zoë Washburn

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Thursday, August 31, 2006 3:10 PM

PROPMASTER2000

HOB 2X2

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Thursday, August 31, 2006 3:33 PM

GRIZWALD

I like the term "hobsticks" to refer to those weapons.

And it don't matter how they work exactly. What's important is
a) that they are very scary
b) that our Big Damn Heroes beat 'em anyway
and c) that an even scarier weapon had to be called in - the Operative.

___________________________________________________
High Priestess of Pork and Ag-Related Activities of the MYTHICAL LAND OF IOWA

Click on my profile for my Annoyingly Long List of Firefly Links.

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Thursday, August 31, 2006 3:41 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

Quote:
Originally posted by CanticleForKaylee:
First, let me say hello, as I am new here. I have long been a fan of Firefly/Serenity and have enjoyed this website for a while, but am only now entering the fray. So, hello everyone!
Second, as far as this thread goes, the weapon certainly could be a sonic-type device, as sound waves can be directed and can do things like damage and liquify tissue. (Scientists have done this to lab animals, but no serious weapons have been made, probably because bullets do a better job!)
And third, something I noticed that I have not seen a post about before. (Though I am sure it has been noticed and commented on!) At the beginning of the movie, as the class teacher is narrating and we see some of the planets in the new solar system, the last planet they show, the one on which the animation of its orbital track is placed, is, in fact, Mars. It is a picture of the Syrtis Major region. Anyway, I hope at least one other person than me thinks that is cool!
Sorry for the long post.

Welcome aboard our shiny ship, CanticleForKaylee! I hope to see you around, and enjoy your stay in the 'verse!

---

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Friday, September 1, 2006 6:56 PM

PROPMASTER2000

2x2 "Hands of Blue"

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Sunday, September 3, 2006 5:17 AM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Grizwald:
I like the term "hobsticks" to refer to those weapons.

Hobsticks!

Brilliant!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm pointin' right at it!

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Sunday, September 3, 2006 6:45 AM

ONEMANSHORT

Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:
Quote:
Originally posted by Grizwald:
I like the term "hobsticks" to refer to those weapons.
Hobsticks!

Brilliant!

I have to concur, hobsticks does sound like an appropriate name. If Joss is out there reading this I'm sure he wouldn't mind calling them this in season 2

That reminds me! The other day I actually had a dream that season 2 was on tv, my dad was watching an episode and I went "I've never seen this scene before, does that mean it's back on the air?" and he just went "shhhhh" and Mal mentioned something about the laceter and that's all I saw. If only that dream could have lasted longer...

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Sunday, September 3, 2006 11:46 PM

MAGDALENA

"No power in the 'verse can stop me!"

Hey you all! Can I just say that living in Australia I haven't seen a single comic - though I know they're about it is a bit spoilerish to blurt things out like that...

Having said that - is it just me or did you all notice that the blue-handed guys never blink? I noticed it the firt time I came across it and though that might be because I'm an actress and tend to study other actors, I was sure someone would have observed this on this thread - then again I might have just skipped a post...