Mal's Loyalty by TPage

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Mal's Loyalty

POSTED BY: TPAGE
UPDATED: Friday, September 28, 2007 14:29
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007 6:30 PM

Just a thought (if it hasn't been mentioned before), but I think the reason Mal is so loyal to his crew irregardless of his dislike for various people all goes back to the Battle of Serenity Valley. He was betrayed by the Independent High Command when they decided it was too hot and air support was not forthcoming... basically he lost God and vowed never to do the same to anyone else.

Any thoughts? Old topic? Any other deeper meanings (such as both Mal and Inara are pretentious... though given away in the script)?

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And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007 6:37 PM

NBZ

I always thought it was too ingrained to be as a "reaction".

I would put it down to his upbringing as a rancher.

That is a place where to get things done you need manpower and everyone to pull their weight. Money is important but probably not as important as people to make a successful ranch.

IMO he would have learn't at a young age to value people and their "loyalty".

Of course I am not talking from experience, so I may be totally wrong.

But if he was an inspirational leader, well you have to give loyalty to get loyalty.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:46 PM

WYTCHCROFT

yeh - i figure his ranching is important to this...

and also maybe - the whole cult of the browncoat thing... was he raised on myths of Independant loyalty and heroism etc?

i'm not sure he lost god in serenity valley - but humanism, sure... which is why the end of the BDM is such a powerful one as he goes beyond that - joss and his l'il existenialism:) and also fesses up to Love.

one thing: I've said before - Mal NEVER leaves (it's more than just loyalty he... can't let go) and doesn't understand when people - from the Indies to Inara abandon him.

stay shiny!

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 12:12 PM

SIRTHOMAS

See I think honestly that Mal really did lose God.

Reasone behind my thought is Mal seems to really get touchy whenever Book talks about God or prayer. Mal is not responding the same a person who is just not a beliver, he's responding the way a person does when they feel that God has in someway betrayed them or let them down.

Mal never says anything about not believing in God, he just doesnt want to hear anything about Him.

I can see the anger that he has toward God. I served with the 2nd Ranger Batt. out of Ft Lewis and in my time with them I ran across many guys that had this feeling toward God because friends that they had lost or other things lost.

Mal saw alot of action, and also through losing the war I think Mal just lost his faith.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 12:21 PM

NBZ

Quote:
Mal never says anything about not believing in God, he just doesn't want to hear anything about Him.

He does not want to be preached to.

Does he believe? probably. Does he feel betrayed? I don't know (probably, but I personally find that short sighted... not saying he is not short sighted on this issue...), but that is not a guarantee just because he does not want to be preached to.

I know many people who believe in God but still don't want to be preached to.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 1:22 PM

RIVERFLAN

thoughts... now let's see...

My theory is that, in the war (and as a rancher, too, you bet), he learned that everyone's in it together, except for the enemy.

He won't abandon anything (look how he was ralying the troops, in the pilot), so he will always be loyal to those he consiters crew.

I don't really have much too add; you guys said it all for me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My favorite quotes:

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 1:39 PM

WYTCHCROFT

i think his personal faith (spiritual) is left for the audience to fill in for themselves... but you can look at it in many ways, his faith in a 'god' (that which joss calls the 'sky bully') or people (the Independants let him down) or individuals (e.g. a lover) or crew or etc etc.

Mal means bad - BAD FAITH (wrong thing right reason - right thing/wrong reason)is an existential favourite of the whendonverse

not sure i'm making sense - nicotine runn nning lowwwww...

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5:08 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

I'm sure he learned a lot about leadership from his Ma. She had the responsibility for the whole running of the ranch and leading and directing the hands.

Also, an NCO is all about the troops (substitute family) As an NCO you're responsible for every aspect of your troops life, even if you like them or not.

Moving on to faith. I get the feeling that Mal still believes deep, deep down inside. but He's angry and hurt by God and the Independent High Command and it'll take a long time to heal.

I remember reading in one of the essays in Finding Serenity (published before the BDM was written) that Books function in the story was to bring Mal, kicking and screaming, back to belief in something, if not God. He did that by the end of the BDM.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5:10 PM

WYTCHCROFT

"Why is it when i talk about belief you automatically assume i'm talking about God"
Derriel Book.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5:21 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by wytchcroft:
"Why is it when i talk about belief you automatically assume i'm talking about God"
Derriel Book.

Just my point. By the end of the BDM Mal believed in and trusted the crew. And of course Serenity herself.

Operative: "Do you believe that?"

Mal: "I do."

Operative: "Are you willing to die for that belief?"

Mal: "I am."

"Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take a boat in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home."

Personally I just love that quote. It sums up the whole BDM.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Friday, September 28, 2007 1:50 PM

WYTCHCROFT

bump for comparison with t'other mal thread...

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Friday, September 28, 2007 1:53 PM

WYTCHCROFT

1 more

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Friday, September 28, 2007 2:29 PM

SIRTHOMAS

Its more then just not wanting to be preached to.

Shepard asks if Mal minds hime praying for the meal and Mal tells him as long as its not outloud.
Thats why I think that its more then just not wanting to be preached at.

When I run across people that just outright dont belive in God then they really dont care what you do casue its your right to belive, of course they dont want to be preached to also.

Mal though seems more agressive towards anything religous, like he's angry.

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