Maybe Inara's not dying at all... by BadgersHat

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Maybe Inara's not dying at all...

POSTED BY: BADGERSHAT
UPDATED: Saturday, September 18, 2004 12:23
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VIEWED: 6887
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Thursday, September 16, 2004 7:49 AM

.... maybe, in fact, she's been taking some sort of Blue Sun experimental "immortality" drugs that change her body chemistry and such, making her essentially live forever.

Maybe, just maybe, she's also from the same "Academy" that done messed up River's brain, and is another plan put forth by the HoB or somesuch...

... maybe not...

--Jefé The Hat

***************************
--Don't bother trying to predict, figure out, second guess, criticize, or suggest anything that comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, for you shall usually be wrong, and shall find out the Truth and Purpose in due time.
(This is the Truth of Whedoning)
"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 8:19 AM

PLACIDITY

Likely the injection is merely suicide liquid. A cianide of the day!

I am surprised everyone is going so ballistic on what she is doing with a siringe? Why cant she be simply diabetic?

My point is, she is merely using that siringe as a last resort. I am sure it is common among companions working in the outside ranges of Alliance protection to carry such things in case of Reavers?

fox

firefly playa-haters

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 8:31 AM

PROFESSOR

If you watch the commentary Joss says that it's not a suicide kit.

She's not diabetic, that's too simple.

And it was made a point, you were supposed to notice the syringe, it's important to why Inara's on the ship.

that's why there's so much discussion about it.

I think Inara's either dieing or addicted to drugs. There is also discussion about it being some sort of weapon that sends Inara into a frenzy to fight off the reavers, but that's a little too far out there.

just my thoughts...

Professor

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 8:54 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
BadgersHat wrote:
Thursday, September 16, 2004 07:49
.... maybe, in fact, she's been taking some sort of Blue Sun experimental "immortality" drugs that change her body chemistry and such, making her essentially live forever.

And, if you'll recall from OoG, Inara WAS on the side of the Alliance during the war, as she was in favor for unification.

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 8:59 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by placidity:
Likely the injection is merely suicide liquid. A cianide of the day!

I am surprised everyone is going so ballistic on what she is doing with a siringe? Why cant she be simply diabetic?

My point is, she is merely using that siringe as a last resort. I am sure it is common among companions working in the outside ranges of Alliance protection to carry such things in case of Reavers?

fox
firefly playa-haters

A diabetic would rush to her siringe ( remember this is 500 yrs in the future, you'd think maybe we'd have better health care by then ?) when the Captain just announced that Reavers are likely to take over the ship ? I don't think so. Today we have tiny pills that kill almost instantly. Why would a Companion carry around a bulky box w/ a siringe in it if the only use for it was to kill herself ?

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 9:34 AM

THATWEIRDGIRL

okay, say she is some part of the academy or blue hands. Could the sryinge not be meant for her. If she is working with them or was a product of their acaemy she may planning on using that syringe on a certain other girl. She seems pretty comfy around river and never seems shocked when Simon shares his latest discoveries about his sister. She's just waiting for the time to use it.

www.thatweirdgirl.com

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 11:25 AM

JADEHAND

That's very interesting, I think that's the first time I've seen anyone suggest that maybe the syringe was for someone else......hummm.
As an additional thought (as I don't read Chinese well, That's a lie, I don't read it at all) has anyone translated the Chinese that Inara was writing in "Bushwacked". I thought it might be relevant as the first mention of Reavers sends her to the syringe and the second "encounter" has her writing these characters. Tranlation anyone?

Visit WWW.Marillion.Com for a better way to live

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 11:29 AM

THATWEIRDGIRL

good question. i never really thought about what she was writing. anyone?

www.thatweirdgirl.com

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 11:39 AM

GAVIDA

Quote:
Originally posted by thatweirdgirl:
okay, say she is some part of the academy or blue hands. Could the sryinge not be meant for her. If she is working with them or was a product of their acaemy she may planning on using that syringe on a certain other girl. She seems pretty comfy around river and never seems shocked when Simon shares his latest discoveries about his sister. She's just waiting for the time to use it.

www.thatweirdgirl.com

Hmm, but Inara was aboard Serenity for 8 months already. How should she have known in advance that River will be freed from the Academy and brought to Serenity?

I don't like the idea of Inara dying, that would be such an easy plot that Joss wouldn't use it, would he?
I don't think it is an addiction to drugs.

After giving it some thought and reading about other people's ideas I started to prefer the idea of a life extending drug.

But there are so many clues hidden in the episodes that one can not be sure, hehe.

The day will come when Joss decides that we are ready to know the truth

Keep flying,
Gavida

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 4:02 PM

JADEHAND

True, It's unlikely that she would have something to use on River, as River had just "joined" the crew. I just liked the idea that maybe it wasn't for her. Maybe she was going to drug Mal and drag him off in her shuttle. I also liked the idea that I thought I saw posted here on this topic before, that maybe Inara wants a child, and the syringe is a fertility treatment of some kind, and the looking at it was more of a "well, I guess I won't be needing this now."

Anyhow, I'm still very curious about the writing in "bushwacked" if anyone can get a translation, perhaps it will help, if not, it will at least eliminate it as a possible clue.

Translators?

Visit WWW.Marillion.Com for a better way to live

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 5:12 PM

FIREGUARDIAN

Dang. That makes sense...

Also answers the question about why she left the Academy....Immortals have to keep moving or someone might notice.

Darlene Cypser
Inferno Film Productions, LLC

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 5:58 PM

ARCADY

What if the syringe wasn't going to be used at all? What if it's kept for sentimental value - or it's only clue to her missing parents or something? She could be looking for them. Maybe her father/mother was a doctor? She takes it out and looks at it when the Reavers appear as a comfort or just a "I'm never going to find them now" moment?

Maybe Inara is not so much running from something - but searching for someone/something?

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 6:13 PM

SHINY

Quote:
Originally posted by FireGuardian:
Dang. That makes sense...

Also answers the question about why she left the Academy....Immortals have to keep moving or someone might notice.

Or perhaps she's on a journey to find her long lost friend, Duncan McCloud? ;p

Jayne, your mouth is talkin. Might want to look into that.

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 7:36 PM

IZCHAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Jadehand:
That's very interesting, I think that's the first time I've seen anyone suggest that maybe the syringe was for someone else......hummm.
As an additional thought (as I don't read Chinese well, That's a lie, I don't read it at all) has anyone translated the Chinese that Inara was writing in "Bushwacked". I thought it might be relevant as the first mention of Reavers sends her to the syringe and the second "encounter" has her writing these characters. Tranlation anyone?

Visit WWW.Marillion.Com for a better way to live

The translation as per requested.

From the Left (read downwards)
1st Line - Year Month Day
2nd Line - Spring Summer Autumn
3rd Line - Year [unfinish] {my guest is she is writing the first line again}

I know from the DVD comments that they really could not put alot of work on the chinese references. The cursing in chinese are mosting sound, though some of them are correct, like piku will be Ass/Butt ... that kind of thing.

The fact that the chinese references are there, I might like to add that the way that inara is holding the "mao bi" (chinese pen) is wrong. If she held it like that, it is very hard to write chinese charactheres. She holds it like a normal pen which is causes the letters she was writing to look very "akward".

Now I know this is a TV show, and basically, I don't really mind them potraying it wrong, but still it is a point that needs to be pointed out.

And my interpretation on the fact that she is writing is that she is practicing her caligraphi. Writting with "mao bi" takes a lot of practice, hell I think writing itself takes practice in order for it to look nice. The wordings have nothing to do the plot.

Other than that, all the chinese words I see on the show are relatively accurate. And most of the time, the langauge that is used, is either mandarin or cantonese (both dialacts are used in china and hong kong), where mandarin is the primary language being refered which the world refer to as chinese language.

I hope this helps.

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Thursday, September 16, 2004 8:11 PM

IZCHAN

Maybe I will spend some time going through all the episodes and translate the chinese words that they used.

Mind you, some of the "chinese" they used does not exists and frankly some of them, I can't even make out.

At the end of bushwacked ... jayne said some chinese

Jayne : We saved their lives and they still take our goods. Real "Hun Tan".

"Hun Tan" is mandarin that means stupid idiot or you could interprate it as Asshole ... :) because thats where it is most used as.

See you guys.

keep flying.

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Friday, September 17, 2004 4:23 AM

BADGERSHAT

There's lots of odd camera shots when certain key phrases are said... remember in the pilot, when Simon is standing in front of the crew telling them about River? There's a line, I forget the exact wordage, something like "they did something awful to her" and the camera cuts to Book... with Inara standing right behind him... ?

Maybe Inara is among those that contacted Simon to free River, and maybe, when we see the BDM, and we see River going all Ninja... maybe she's gone Ninja because of whatever is in Inara's syringe. Maybe it's like a super enhancer drug that makes River (and anyone else gone through what River has gone through) makes River into some sort of superhero thing for a bit, and Inara'a got one dose of it, and is thinking "Maybe I should use this now, to fend off the evil Reavers and save my life" or somesuch...?

Just a thought to add to my thoughts...

--Jefé The Hat

***************************
--Don't bother trying to predict, figure out, second guess, criticize, or suggest anything that comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, for you shall usually be wrong, and shall find out the Truth and Purpose in due time.
(This is the Truth of Whedoning)

"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne

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Friday, September 17, 2004 4:40 AM

MANTICHORUS

Quote:
Originally posted by Jadehand:
...Maybe Inara wants a child, and the syringe is a fertility treatment of some kind, and the looking at it was more of a "well, I guess I won't be needing this now."

Maybe the exact opposite- it's part of the official Companion kit to keep her from getting pregnant?

--------------------------------------------------
"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." -Elie Wiesel, quoted in US News World Report.

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Friday, September 17, 2004 5:25 AM

SHINY

Quote:
Originally posted by izchan:
Maybe I will spend some time going through all the episodes and translate the chinese words that they used.

Before you do that, you might want to check out Ying's Firefly Pinyinary site:

http://fireflychinese.home.att.net/episode1.html

And just add anything that's missing there.

Jayne, your mouth is talkin. Might want to look into that.

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Friday, September 17, 2004 5:26 AM

ARNIEVG

I think I like the idea of Inara not dying better then her dying. I like this idea about how she was maybe the one who suggested Serenity to the people who helped get River out of the Academy. I don't know about the super enhancer idea, but I do like the immortality one. Hopefully there will be some more explination, not so subtly, in the movie.

Annie

"You wanna go little man?" - Jayne
"Only if there's candlelight." - Wash

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Friday, September 17, 2004 8:09 AM

PINGJING

Here's what I think about Inara dying...if she's been on board for 8 months, wouldn't she be a little closer to death's door? She looks awfully healthy for a terminally ill patient. (...It would be like Joss to kill a major character, and I don't like that idea - that might be part of why I don't want to believe this theory.)

As for her being immortal (or trying to be), I don't understand why that would chase her away from Sihnon so soon. People might notice that sort of thing, but not for 20 or 30 years more. Also, Nandi seemed to be about her age (on screen, maybe not in real life), and she didn't make any comments about Inara's age.

I don't have any alternative theory to offer. I can't figure out anything at all that fits in the storyline. All the more reason to be waiting eagerly for the BDM!

Julia

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Friday, September 17, 2004 8:35 AM

DEBBIEBUK1

Quote:
Originally posted by pingjing:
Also, Nandi seemed to be about her age (on screen, maybe not in real life), and she didn't make any comments about Inara's age.
Julia

But Nandi did make a comment, it was something like, "you still look so good, how do you do it?", which could be seen as just a compliment, but could also be taken as a genuine question.

I favour the "extended life span" theory, ties in with her not wanting to get too attached (see the Mayor's comments to Angel in Buffy series 3 about his wife getting old and dying), and not "die at all" or stay in one place for long so it becomes noticeable. The syringe is a bit antique though isn't it, maybe just symbolic to her?

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Friday, September 17, 2004 9:22 AM

KINGPAUSE

Quote:
it's part of the official Companion kit to keep her from getting pregnant?

Or could it be that she actually IS pregnant, and the syringe is part of an abortion kit, or something?

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Friday, September 17, 2004 9:40 AM

MALICIOUS

KEEP IN MIND that Jefe is a leeetle bit crazy. But other than that, the syringe could be some sort of youth serum. Maybe not to make her immortal, per se, but to keep her young enough looking to continue attracting the hot, rich guys.

Also, as someone mentioned in a thread long ago and far away, the syringe and kit look a bit like the one Giles used on Buffy to take away her slayer powers...maybe Inara is a slayer and uses that syringe to keep herself from being unusually strong?? Or maybe she's a junkie, I don't freaking know! Jefe, why do you bring up this stuff anyway? To drive me nuts?

Mal-licious

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Friday, September 17, 2004 10:52 AM

BADGERSHAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Malicious:
Jefe, why do you bring up this stuff anyway? To drive me nuts?

Mal-licious

Yes.

Plus, this whole concept struck me after repeated viewings of the Serenity trailer, what with River's Ninja-looking self coming out to play.

Keep in mind (ahem) that there have been many ideas put forth about this syringe of Inara's, and obviously we won't know til JW tells us what the truth is, but I'm thinking Maybe Inara's really like 75 years old and has to keep on the move to hide her secret. Maybe she's Inara now, and 10 years ago she was named Derona or Maryanne or somesuch.

OR, she's a plant from some group who knows what the deal is with River, and she has this drug that unlocks River's Academy-implanted powers, and was contemplating whether or not to reveal her hand so soon.

Keep in mind (ahem again) that I make this feldercarb up as I go along (10 points to anyone who can tell me where "Feldercarb" came from).

But to answer your question again, Mal-licious... yes, I do this to drive you nuts, because I just adore you so very much...

--Jefé The Hat

***************************
--Don't bother trying to predict, figure out, second guess, criticize, or suggest anything that comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, for you shall usually be wrong, and shall find out the Truth and Purpose in due time.
(This is the Truth of Whedoning)
"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne

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Friday, September 17, 2004 1:43 PM

MALICIOUS

Awww, Jef! I adore right back! I think we should revive the This Land thread where you run the place and I run the bank. I enjoy ruling things.

Mal-licious

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Friday, September 17, 2004 1:54 PM

GAVIDA

Quote:

Keep in mind (ahem again) that I make this feldercarb up as I go along (10 points to anyone who can tell me where "Feldercarb" came from).

Isn't it something they said in Battlestar Galactica?
(Just glad we had reruns just a fortnight ago

)

Keep flying,
Gavida

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Friday, September 17, 2004 3:20 PM

ZOID

El Jefé Magnifico, (Semi-) Benevolent Ruler For Life of This Land:

Buénos tardés and qué paso, amigo? Information recently brought to my attention leads me to believe that the syringe does in fact contain a youth-rejuvenator. PhysChick, over on the "OTHER people in the movie" thread pointed out that an unlisted cast member, Shohreh Aghdashloo (an Oscar-nominated actress), has a stunt double listed under the "Stunts" section at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379786/fullcredits.

Select to view spoiler:

I pointed out that her stuntwoman, Karin Silvestri, is also listed as Morena's stunt double. Karin was a member of the 1997 UCLA gymnastics team; certainly a young woman. Ms. Aghdashloo is 52 years of age. I further postulated that perhaps Morena and Shohreh are cast in the same role. Shohreh could certainly pass for an older Morena, and vice.

Maybe Inara is actually a 50-ish woman, who must have the contents of the syringe in order to appear in her early 20's. It puts a whole new spin on HoG, IMO. Inara crying; and what we all assumed Nandi was going to reveal to Mal about Inara, before Burgess' attack on the ho'-hizouse...

Other things fit as well. Ponder on it for a while...

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

Only 216 days, 3 hours, 48 minutes, and 54 seconds left until The BDM!

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Friday, September 17, 2004 7:01 PM

FIREGUARDIAN

Quote:
Originally posted by pingjing:
As for her being immortal (or trying to be), I don't understand why that would chase her away from Sihnon so soon. People might notice that sort of thing, but not for 20 or 30 years more. Also, Nandi seemed to be about her age (on screen, maybe not in real life), and she didn't make any comments about Inara's age.

Actually Nandi did comment. She said that Inara looked the same as the last time she saw her and asked "How do you do that out here?" Remember that Nandi left Sihnon a number of years before Inara did so they have not seen each other for quite some time.

Actually I thought Nandi looked older than Inara (check around the eyes when she smiles). Though I got the impression from the discussions that she was suppossed to be younger. That's what you would expect if someone was taking drugs to maintain their youth.

I think you are wrong. I think if you stopped aging that people would notice in a lot less than 20 years. Are you saying that you can't tell a 20 year old from a 40 year old or a 30 year old from a 50 year old? Some of us do age slower than others. I was 30 before people quit assuming I was under 18 and now that I'm closer to 50 than 40
some people still think I'm 30 or less. But I'm quite sure that if I'd stopped aging altogether someone would have noticed a long long time ago.

Darlene Cypser
Inferno Film Productions, LLC

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Saturday, September 18, 2004 9:18 AM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by FireGuardian:
I think if you stopped aging that people would notice in a lot less than 20 years.

Well, how long have Michael J. Fox and Dick Clark had careers?

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Saturday, September 18, 2004 11:26 AM

PINGJING

Quoted from Fireguardian:
Actually Nandi did comment. She said that Inara looked the same as the last time she saw her and asked "How do you do that out here?"
_________________________________________________

Thanks to DebbieBuk1 and Fireguardian for pointing that out. I haven't seen the episode in awhile, and it seems I forgot the most crucial part. That changes my opinion on that theory, of course.

However, I still think that you could disguise your age easily. I'm sure most Companions are trying to look younger so they can work longer, anyway, so they wouldn't be that surprised by her youth. Also, as Fireflyguardian mentioned, many people looks younger than they are. My brother is 35, and he still gets carded. If I say I'm a recent graduate, people assume I mean from high school. You yourself are another case in point. So what I'm saying is, I don't think she left for that reason. I am starting to think, though, that it is connected to the real reason she left.

Julia

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Saturday, September 18, 2004 12:23 PM

FIREGUARDIAN

Quote:
Well, how long have Michael J. Fox and Dick Clark had careers?

Neither one looks that young any more.

Darlene Cypser
Inferno Film Productions, LLC

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