Firefly Conspiracy Theories by Quicksand

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Firefly Conspiracy Theories

POSTED BY: QUICKSAND
UPDATED: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 15:11
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 10931
PAGE 1 of 1

Sunday, May 23, 2004 5:57 PM

I wanted to post something on Things That Were Never Revealed, but at the same time, DIDN'T want to post, for fear I'd actually figured something out and would thus give it away.

Eventually, though, curiousity gave way... besides, if we can't discuss it here, where CAN we?

I'll start with the smaller one... how DOES Book know so much about weapons and procedure? Why DID the Alliance ship give him medical care so readily?

Well, the answer is that Book is a former fed. I've seen the answer posted on other topics.

I submit to you, gentle reader, that Book isn't just a former fed... he IS a Fed, and he's much, much better at it than Lawrence from the pilot, "Serenity."

"That's no Shepherd," said Early... and maybe he was right.

Thoughts?

___\_o_/___
--------------- (Qs)

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, May 23, 2004 6:40 PM

DAVCO92

I fairly certain he's an ex-fed officer, so I don't think that's likely. However, if it were true then the only way I can see that working is that he's part of a group inside the Alliance goverment/military that is working against the Blue Sun from within. Could be an altruistic group dedicated to improving the government or simply a rival for power. Either way there would be plenty of reasons for not turning River in to the authorities. That being said, I still believe he's an ex-fed that had a true change of heart, but new conspiracy theories are always welcome around here. Keep em flyin'.

Burn the land, boil the sea...

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, May 23, 2004 6:53 PM

QUICKSAND

I don't think you understand what I'm saying.

I'm saying that, from the time we meet Book in the pilot, through the final episode and beyond, Book is an UNDERCOVER FED. Not a half-ass one like Lawrence, but a tried-and-true, hardcore, spot-on Undercover Officer. He's there to learn the crew, find out all he can about Simon and River and the rest of them, and then-- at some indeterminate point in the future-- GET them.

But we never got that far, because the show was cancelled.

That's what I'm saying. Er, suggesting.

___\_o_/___
--------------- (Qs)

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, May 23, 2004 7:30 PM

EBONEZER

I might be in a minority here but I care soooo much more about Books backstory that I do for Rivers.

OMG! I just thought of something. What if he was that lawrince (?) persons body gaurd? That would kind of explain the "I watched the captian kill the man I swore to protect." Maybe not even body guard, but they were in it together somehow.

Actaully though, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense now that i actually think about it for a second. But still, its a thought,

-----------------------------------

Four out of five dentists reccomend calling Ebo a girl.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, May 23, 2004 8:44 PM

QUICKSAND

Nah, they came on board separately. If Book swore to protect him, it was because there's solidarity among Alliance Employees, or just because Book is trying to ingratiate himself with the crew.

Lawrence was much more of your classic Cop Stereotype-- gung-ho, cowboy, and not very smart. Book, if he's a Fed, is your classic Fed-- sneaky, totally trustworthy, right up until that moment.....

"I don't give half-a-hump if you're innocent or not. So where do you think that leaves you?"
--Book, "Objects in Space"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, May 23, 2004 10:54 PM

CAOILTE

Quote:
I might be in a minority here but I care soooo much more about Books backstory that I do for Rivers.

I think everyone must do once they've watched the series more than once.

River has such obvious depth whilst Book's is so well hidden. His confession to Annarra comes close to being one of the most confusing scenes in the entire series.

Is it a bluff by him?
Does she know he's bluffing?
Is his bluff a blind because he knows she knows he's bluffing?
Does she know he knows she knows he's bluffing?
etc.

Only Jayne comes close to being so deceptively simple a character. Gotta love Book.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 12:59 AM

I think it's just too easy for Book to be a Fed. Given that he knows a lot about crime and that the Alliance gave him first class bullet-removal treatment, the first answer to pop into the brain is "is he a Fed?"

And Joss Whedon never goes with the easy options. Which is why we love him. In a non-scary, non-stalkerish, completely heterosexual sense.

I'll stop talking now...

JK

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 1:07 AM

PURPLEBELLY

Quote:
Originally posted by Quicksand:

I submit to you, gentle reader, that Book isn't just a former fed... he IS a Fed, and he's much, much better at it than Lawrence from the pilot, "Serenity."

Book is too old to be a serving field officer; the Alliance does everything by the, um, book.

Covert service trained, yes. Loyal to the Alliance, yes. Opposed to Blue Sun and their perversion of the Alliance, yes. Committed to River's preservation as evidence against the cabal, yes.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 1:32 AM

I'm not even sure about that. True, you never know anything with Herr Whedon, but revealing him to simply be a part of an Alliance faction would mean he wasn't a Shepherd. (Yes, I know Jubal said he wasn't one, but I think he meant something along the lines of "that ain't a true shepherd", in the sense that he was someone of a very unshepherdish nature once upon a time). And if Book isn't a Shepherd, everything (and I mean everything) we know about him is a lie. And it seems to me that Herr Whedon prefers to subvert what we've seen, rather than make it all false.

But, then, I could be completely and utterly wrong.

JK

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 1:42 AM

PURPLEBELLY

Quote:
Originally posted by JK:
I'm not even sure about that. True, you never know anything with Herr Whedon, but revealing him to simply be a part of an Alliance faction would mean he wasn't a Shepherd.
JK

Do we know what a shepherd is? Secular work, including holding down paid employment, is a part of many religious callings. The conjunction of political and religious groups is a feature of many societies, if you will excuse the topical reference

I'm probably wrong, too

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 4:07 AM

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

But the question then becomes, why? Learning all he can about the crew is all well and good, but how does it help him in any way? We've already seen the Blue Hands kill anyone who's even talked to River, why would they put someone there to learn everything about them? Wouldn't they already know everything?

He's had more than enough opportunities to take both River and Simon, hell the whole crew, but hasn't. In fact, he's gone out of his way to make sure they're not captured.

check out my WIP firefly roleplay system at www.estador.co.uk/firefly

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 4:34 AM

PURPLEBELLY

Quote:
Originally posted by chronicthehedgehog:
But the question then becomes, why?

Book's adversary is Blue Sun, not petty criminals who can't forget the past. River is the evidence his group will use against the Blue Sun cabal to restore the True Alliance; that is today's battle, Unification was yesterday's battle.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 4:35 AM

ZEKE023

Has anyone thought about Early knowning Book? There are only two ways Early would know that Book was not a Shepherd, either it was obvious that he was not from his appearance or demeanor, or Early knew who he was. Perhaps Book was at one time in charge of hiring Bounty Hunters for the alliance... or was a Bounty Hunter himself.

Perhaps he is now reformed... and Joss was going to bring it up later to complicate things with he and River.

I think it's obvious that Book is not bluffing. He wants to be a good shepherd... but perhaps he is to be tested? tempted to return to his old ways?

This is a classic story. Most saints, prophets (with the sole exception of Christ), and other religious icons are reformed sinners.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 4:40 AM

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

I'm not questioning why he would want River, but why he would want to infiltrate the ship, rather than simply taking her at the first opportunity. We already know Book is a good fighter, explosives expert, weapons man, and knows a whole heap of people, so why wouldn't he just take her a dissapear, it's not like he couldn't. What benefit is there in waiting?

check out my WIP firefly roleplay system at www.estador.co.uk/firefly

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 4:46 AM

SERGEANTX

It's Wash. He's the key. He's the psychic mastermind behind the whole Blue Hands experiment, in deep cover. It's so obvious when you think about it.

Oh, and River is the Queen of the Reavers. Think about it. "Reaver", "River"... coincidence? I think NOT!"

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 5:13 AM

PURPLEBELLY

Quote:
Originally posted by chronicthehedgehog:
What benefit is there in waiting?

Book has to get River somewhere she will be safe from Blue Sun; more properly where the evidence of Blue Sun's wrong doing can be protected until used in court. River would not be safe in Alliance detention on the Rim, so she is best kept hidden on Serenity. The visit to the core planet of Ariel was an opportunity, and Book stopped off at the Abbey to try to arrange a safe house, but apparently failed; that failure points to the probability that Book and Inara don't yet know that they are both working for the True Alliance.

Inara is, of course, using her life as a peripatetic companion as a cover for her task of establishing a network for the True Alliance in the upper echelons of the border planets, after life on Sinon got too hot for one of her clients, a leader of the opposition to Blue Sun.

Or I could be wrong

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 5:35 AM

ZOID

Quicksand, et al:

Well, since some consider me "The King of Conspiracy" hereabout, I figure I might as well play a little on this thread, too. First off, I don't consider speculation about where JW/TM/ME might be taking the Firefly story 'spoiling'. If I -- or anybody else for that matter -- guess right, well it's gonna be covered up in so many wrong guesses that very few will notice. And of course, as Book says (paraphrased), "It's not where you're going that matters; how you get there is the worthier part." The same is true for the Firefly story. If we do manage to speculate correctly about the outcome of the individual and group story arcs, JW will make the trip fun and throw some curves along the way.

So here goes, for the many of you who are new(?) to this board and haven't read any of my previous posts on the subject: Shepherd Book -- in my reckoning -- was formerly the military mastermind who engineered the deep flank maneuver that obviated the Independents' defeat at the Battle of Serenity Valley. His true name is General (Retired) Richard Wilkins.

We are given a clue to this via a little tidbit on the DVD cut-scenes; the script with the telling evidence -- with notes in JW's handwriting -- may be found at the official Firefly website at this link: http://tinyurl.com/2e5rj . This script is for a deleted scene that was shot, and then cut from the "Serenity" pilot episode. I believe Joss cut the scene because it gave away too much about one of his enigmatic characters, then was put on the DVD extras because Joss wanted people to figure out some of the things he was never going to get a chance to elaborate on. Please note that while the script says, "General Richard Wil-", the DVD's cut-scene completes the name as "General Richard Wilkins".

I believe the character we know as Book was a man of honor and compassion for those he vanquished in battle (bushido). After the Alliance/BlueSun won at Serenity Valley, the victors purposely dragged their feet during the peace negotiations, in order to maximize the pain and suffering of the rebels, to punish them for opposing Alliance/BlueSun's agenda. The fact that this also caused the death and suffering of their own troops was of no consequence to Alliance/BlueSun leadership; those people were as expendable as used toilet paper. General Richard 'Book' Wilkins, unable to deal with the dishonor and shame of this betrayal to his creed by his own masters, resigned his commission and entered the cloister.

I further believe we might have eventually gotten a flashback of Book and Kaylee's initial conversation, the complete conversation. In the course of the conversation, Book would have asked who captained Serenity. Kaylee would have said, "Malcolm Reynolds"; we'd have seen a widening of Book's eyes because he recognized the name of the sergeant who started with 40 men, eventually led 2,000 and was belatedly rescued with only 150 left alive.

When Inara asks Book why he's so fascinated with Mal, Book replies (again paraphrased), "Because he's something of a mystery." He also points out that while Mal ingratiates himself to no one, he's fiercely protective of his crew (bushido). In OiS, when River reads Book's thoughts, his "I don't give half a hump whether you're innocent or not. So where does that put you?" was directed at himself, for the reasons I've enumerated above. While he had nothing to do with the murder and shame of the aftermath of Serenity, he still holds himself accountable, as every good leader of men does. Another thing to note about that scene: All the other characters look at River when she reads them; Book is looking at his own hands, ...holding a knife. I believe Richard 'Book' Wilkins took passage on Mal's boat to learn more about a simple grunt who eventually commanded 2,000 troops and effectively thwarted Alliance/BlueSun strategy for several weeks, until Wilkins' deep flanking maneuver broke their resistance (as at Thermopylae). As to why Mal and Book think so much alike in tactical situations like those mentioned in other posts, it's because they're both military men. As to why Jubal says, "That ain't no Shepherd," and why Book spends the entire episode unconscious during the time Early is aboard: Jubal Early (the name of a Civil War Confederate general, BTW) used to work with General Wilkins, possibly as the Independent who turned coat against his brothers-in-arms and made the flank successful (again, as with the traitor at Thermopylae).

This concludes the briefing. Dismissed.

(zoid stands at attention until 'Book' says, "As you were," but remains in an 'at ease' posture -- standing silently with his right foot fixed to one spot on the floor -- until the General leaves the room; whereupon, zoid turns to his compatriot and says, "I really like the Old Man.")

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I'm telling you right now. When all's said and done, that little girl's gonna change the world. Not just this little bit she's done here, neither; big things. I couldn't be prouder if she was my own daughter."

- Malcolm Reynolds, owner-operator of Firefly-class transport, "Serenity"; from A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 7:07 AM

DELIA

I'm sticking with the Zoid theory till I hear something better argued. I like it. It's quirky and implausible enough (with the kind of vague hints that make sense only in hindsight) to be a Joss theory (references to Dawn in the last episode of third season Buffy, anyone?).

Zoid --

Monday means a new quote, horray! Glad to see you've left Mal where he belongs, on Serenity. The quote itself is a bit mysterious -- either you've hidden a vague hint of your own in it, or I'm so used to looking for them that I see them everywhere.

Delia

___________________________________________
ANYA: Don't be ridiculous. Martha Stewart isn't a demon. She's a witch.
XANDER: Please, she-- Really?
ANYA: Of course. Nobody could do that much decoupage without calling on the powers of darkness.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 7:41 AM

OBJECTIVEASSESSMENT

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
Quicksand, et al:

We are given a clue to this via a little tidbit on the DVD cut-scenes; the script with the telling evidence -- with notes in JW's handwriting -- may be found at the official Firefly website at this link: http://tinyurl.com/2e5rj . This script is for a deleted scene that was shot, and then cut from the "Serenity" pilot episode. I believe Joss cut the scene because it gave away too much about one of his enigmatic characters, then was put on the DVD extras because Joss wanted people to figure out some of the things he was never going to get a chance to elaborate on. Please note that while the script says, "General Richard Wil-", the DVD's cut-scene completes the name as "General Richard Wilkins".

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I'm telling you right now. When all's said and done, that little girl's gonna change the world. Not just this little bit she's done here, neither; big things. I couldn't be prouder if she was my own daughter."

- Malcolm Reynolds, owner-operator of Firefly-class transport, "Serenity"; from A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

Does the JW note on the script say that in the war footage you can't see the details of the humans? If it does it certainly back up Zoid's theory. Oh and by the way, is it worrying that I get really excited everytime Zoid changes his sig?

"When you can't run...you crawl...and when you can't crawl...when you can't do that..."
"Find someone to carry you"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 8:54 AM

QUICKSAND

Quote:
He's had more than enough opportunities to take both River and Simon, hell the whole crew, but hasn't. In fact, he's gone out of his way to make sure they're not captured.

Maybe he works for the Alliance, not Blue Sun. And an undercover operation does not necessitate arresting everyone at the earliest available opportunity. There's subtlety to it. Nuance.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 9:02 AM

QUICKSAND

Well, I can't really dispute such a well-researched arguement. The only thing it's really got going against it is, it's too freakin' Out There. It's a big universe... for any of these characters to know any of the others before they meet IS pushing the strains of credibility, but... when you said Book was looking at his own hands in "Objects in Space," that pretty much sold me.

But don't think I won't check the DVD's, there, soldier.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 10:08 AM

ZOID

Delia, Mistress of the Tomes, et mon frères et soeures:

Hiya! Yep, it's Monday, so we got a new 'future quote'. That leaves only one more to complete the series -- River's, next Monday. That will be the end of my little story, and like all endings, parting will be sweet sorrow.

You know by now that all my 'quotes' have just as much irony and hidden information as I can put in them and still keep them sound-bite sized. So, if you think there's something twitchy, there definitely is; whether it's what you think I mean or not, is a different kettle of fish.

After letting that final 'quote' ripen in the minds of FFFn's readership for a week, I'll do a new-thread single-post of all the quotes, along with a brief description (yeah, right; could be you're not remembering some of zoid's previous posts) of the hidden meanings and other bits of fluff I've included. Take most of the guesswork out of it; I ain't gonna leave y'all hanging like Joss did...

Unless of course, y'all ask me not to.

Here's a taste: The big twist on Simon's 'quote' from last week is that it's a paraphrased (cause Simon would never say "ain't") play on the words Early spoke when Simon stated, "So, you're a bounty hunter." Early replies, "No, that ain't it at all. (Then what are you?) I'm a bounty hunter." I felt that was the episode in which Simon kind of came into his own, stopped just letting things happen to him. Remember, according to Early, he's truly a doctor now that he's been shot. It made sense to pay homage to Early in a roundabout way, while simultaneously having Simon finally 'find his moment'.

And yes, as Delia pointed out last week, Simon is a father of 4, while Kaylee Tam is a mother of 6. Without being too specific, I figure Simon would've gone back to the Core, during which time Kaylee would have engaged in another relationship. Eventually they would have gotten back together (remember, JW's projected 7-year series run would have been a lot of time for stuff to develop) and settled away from the Core on Jiangyin, where he and River were kidnapped in "Safe". Simon's a true doctor and would have recognized the value in rendering service where it's most needed; likewise, Kaylee would make a fine country doctor's wife. Think "Doc Hollywood", a movie I highly recommend not only for its message but for Julie Warner's tribute to Gray's Anatomy (just in case somebody was planning on accusing me of strict chivalry).

Y'all have fun at work; today's my Saturday!

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I'm telling you right now. When all's said and done, that little girl's gonna change the world. Not just this little bit she's done here, neither; big things. I couldn't be prouder if she was my own daughter."

- Malcolm Reynolds, owner-operator of Firefly-class transport, "Serenity"; from A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 10:17 AM

HUMBLE

Book is definitely an enigma wrapped in a riddle. I don't know if he's an Alliance officer or Fed for certain. He does have some expertise with weapons and tactics though. At a guess, I'd say he was in covert ops(black ops/intelligence) working for a government agency. His becoming religious may have been the result of some life-changing event. Perhaps having something to do with the war. He may have some sort of affiliation with the Alliance but I don't think it's a malevolent one for the Serenity crew. On a side note though, he wasn't around when the Blue-Glovers were coming for River in the hospital. Unless these guys can be everywhere at once, or there are clones of the same two guys, how could they have gotten to the hospital so fast? Could Book have sent them a wave?

Food for thought at least.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 11:26 AM

GREGGALLINSON

I think Book's a retired Blue Sun exec...maybe even the founder of Blue Sun. The idea that he's ex-Alliance or an Alliance spy makes sense, but I like to be contrary:)

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 1:08 PM

DELIA

Zoid,

Thanks for the lovely explanation and the tres cool new title -- I may just have to make Mistress of the Tomes my new tag line.

I shall be awaiting both the River quote and the explanation with great interest -- I'd very much like to see your explanation for all the quotes with any bits of story you might decide to fill in.

Hope you had a nice day off.

Delia

___________________________________________
ANYA: Don't be ridiculous. Martha Stewart isn't a demon. She's a witch.
XANDER: Please, she-- Really?
ANYA: Of course. Nobody could do that much decoupage without calling on the powers of darkness.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 1:15 PM

DAVCO92

Quote:
Originally posted by Quicksand:
I don't think you understand what I'm saying.

I understood perfectly Quicksand, I just don't think that's what's going on. However, I was trying to support your idea with an alternate interpretation and "stir the pot" so to speak. That's all. Keep those ideas coming, they're always welcome around here. At least we know that a year from now we'll find out more...

Burn the land, boil the sea...

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, May 24, 2004 5:56 PM

HELL'S KITTEN

Book. What a wacky guy.

I haven't given it as much thought as... oh... say, Zoid... has (which was quite interesting, by the way), but if you're gonna go into the cut scenes and deleted lines from shooting scripts, here's my sleepy theory:

I think The Message has most of the clues. Book seems to know an awful lot about police procedure and jurisdiction and whatnot. In the cut lines near the end, where Womack decides it's best to leave, there are a lot of things that Book says that were taken out which seem to go in depth about procedures and bad cops being on the take. Sometimes the clues are better observed in the things They didn't want to tell you, rather than in the cryptic things they did tell you. Uh, anyway, the one cut that stands out the most is this little exchange:

JAYNE: Either you spent a lotta time fightin' bad cops... or being one.

BOOK: Maybe both.

Now, that's not a whole lot in itself, but when you put it together with all the bits Jayne's been saying throughout the series, all of which has been seemingly ignored by everyone else, it seems to me to look a little like he leaned more towards a law-enforcement type of career.

Under-cover agents, ex-war generals...that all seems a bit...I dunno...not quite right for something Mr. J. would do.... What keeps popping up in my head over and over is this: Witness Protection Program. Maybe of the not-so-voluntary kind? (Could explain how he got into and outta the Alliance medical facility easy peasy.)

I guess the beauty of theories is that it's not up to me to prove mine right, it's up to you to prove it wrong.

(I s'pose I should have put a disclaimer at the top of this stating "I'm tired and may not comprehend what I'm typing." So, read this part first, then read the rest.) Although that Wash character is awfully sinister....

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 2:07 AM

LITTLEMANLOVESFIRE

I very much doubt his name is Richard Wilkins since that was the name of the Mayor in Season 3 of Buffy...

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 3:31 AM

ZOID

Littlemanlovesfire wrote:

Quote:
I very much doubt his name is Richard Wilkins since that was the name of the Mayor in Season 3 of Buffy...

Well, you have me at a disadvantage. Although I have tried to watch BtVS and Angel, I've never been able to appreciate those shows. The cast and feel of those shows was too young, too high school/post-high school/pre-mortgage for me to personally relate to. Therefore, I suspect I'm a rarity around these parts: someone who came to love Firefly on its own merits, not strictly based on Joss Whedon's reputation. So, if you say there was a character in BtVS named Richard Wilkins, I'll just have to take your word for it.

Still, I'll stick to my interpretation of the clues: Book is General Richard Wilkins, until Joss proves otherwise. Bounty hunters don't get preferential treatment aboard Alliance/BlueSun cruisers; assassins and spies (and bounty hunters and crime lords) don't carry identity cards in their pants pockets that identify them as assassins and spies (and bounty hunters and crime lords). Show me the undercover FBI/CIA/DEA operative that has an Agency ID on his person while working a case, and I'll show you a guy who made a fatal error, a dead operative. Book may have been a judge or a lawman, but he's always been on the right side of the law, and he's being honest when he shows his dedication to his religion and care for the crew.

I'll say it again, he's former Alliance/BlueSun military, disgraced by his superiors' actions into joining the priesthood. He is now, and always has been a man of honor, who values integrity. Think, if you will, of our sad little king of a sad little hill, Badger. This is a man with no morals, no honor and no integrity. Do you see the physical parallels to Book? Can you imagine Badger pulling off the Shepherd ruse, pretending to be a God-fearing man of principles?

Yeah, neither can I.

Still, one other possible explanation of Book's mystery is that he's... wait for it... AN ACT-TOR! Unceremoniously dumped by the BlueSun TV Network after his last show (some improbable piece of dreck in which a precocious teen becomes a doctor at the busiest hospital in the Core; Book played the hospital administrator; the 'crazy sister' character was a hoot!) was cancelled due to poor ratings after only 10 episodes, Book now wanders the 'verse hot on the trail of Reavers, researching his next project tentatively titled, "A Reaver Runs Through It", in which he will play a Presbyterian minister trying to raise two very wild boys (it's a comedy, with fly fishing, cannibalism and leathermaking). Yes, he must be an actor, and a very good one at that. There is no other explanation for a bad man pretending so successfully to be a good one, who at every glance has the physical posture of someone with humility, grace, forthrightness and mercy. When River finds him praying in OoG, was he secretly plotting to steal one of the shuttles, or was he 'in character'?... When River destroys the labelling for the tinned foodstuffs, does Book go off on her, or does he stay 'in character'?

He's a genuinely good man. He's always been a good man, a man of principles. Sometimes life throws good men a wicked curveball. They suffer setbacks, more so than evil men do, because of their principles; they are not willing to do whatever it takes to stay on top. Book's hidden story has to do with the wicked curveball a good man got struck out by. That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I'm telling you right now. When all's said and done, that little girl's gonna change the world. Not just this little bit she's done here, neither; big things. I couldn't be prouder if she was my own daughter."

- Malcolm Reynolds, owner-operator of Firefly-class transport, "Serenity"; from A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 4:08 AM

DELIA

Quote:
Originally posted by Littlemanlovesfire:
I very much doubt his name is Richard Wilkins since that was the name of the Mayor in Season 3 of Buffy...

I had never noticed that -- I guess since they mostly called him the Mayor. Very cool inside joke, then, since you can hear the "Richard Wil--" part in the deleted scene.

Okay, I'll add my crazy theory. Book actually IS the Mayor of Sunnydale (oh, come one, SOMEONE was going to type it, and it might as well be me). After he turned into a giant snake and got blown up, he spent a few 100 years in a hell dimension, and now he's looking to atone for his crimes. Ultimately, he plans to use his demon-becoming skills for the good of mankind, and become a huge creature who can subdue the Reavers and bring them into the light.

Anybody? Hellllooooo? *Delia looks sadly around the hastily exited room, sighs, turns out the lights, straightens her tasteful tin foil hat, and goes home*

___________________________________________
ANYA: Don't be ridiculous. Martha Stewart isn't a demon. She's a witch.
XANDER: Please, she-- Really?
ANYA: Of course. Nobody could do that much decoupage without calling on the powers of darkness.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 2:10 PM

I like that witness protection program idea. That's one I hadn't really thought about.

I've also heard the idea that Book is the general that crushed the Browncoats in Serenity Valley. I'm not too sure on that one - remember that Firefly is supposed to be about the little people that the grandeur of history kinda tramples on - so it's more likely he was Mal's equivalent, a sergeant or something like it who still felt responsible for what happened. Of course, that makes that whole episode with the Alliance cruiser in 'Safe' a little confusing, since they wouldn't be jumping around like that over a little ex-sergeant.

The whole 'Richard Wilkins' thing is probably a wee in-joke for the Buffy fans.

And whatever Book is, he's not undercover; a Shepherd doesn't know about guns and crime, and anyone who's pretending to be one wouldn't act like they knew that sort of stuff. We can already see Jayne's onto him, and everyone else wouldn't be too far behind. If Book is undercover, he's a crap undercover agent, because he's blowing his cover a little more with every episode. He'll be dead soon at this rate.

JK

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 3:11 PM

WHOODAHN

Interestingly, there is an author by the name of Richard Wilkens.

I wonder if God brought strawberries?

When God Asks: A Chance to Change
by Wilkins, Richard

"This thought-provoking book will appeal to people of all faiths as it imagines God, the ultimate guest, as he comes to dinner and begins asking the reader some simple questions about his or her life."

"I ain't crazy and I've got papers to prove it"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

YOUR OPTIONS

SHARE THREAD

NEW POSTS TODAY

USER

POST DATE