Slow on the uptake... by SergeantX

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Slow on the uptake...

POSTED BY: SERGEANTX
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 19:15
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Wednesday, April 16, 2003 4:41 PM

OK, I know I should have noticed this months ago, but I was just watching "Serenity" (hard to believe its been over two months since I've watched it) and I noticed something interesting.
Much has been made of the recurring theme of faith in the series, especially in the characters of Mal and Book as opposite numbers. Well, in the pilots opening teaser, Wash is playing with couple of his dinosaurs while the crew is doing 'salvage'. He's playing a out little scene, they've just discovered a new land when one turns on the other. "I think we should call it your grave" , "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!" "Ha ha ha.. mine is an evil laugh" "Ahh oh.. NO god"... "Dear God in heaven!"

Allright, so maybe its just been too long since I've watched my old eps, but this is really just amazing. They're foreshadowing two (more perhaps?) of the major themes of the series in a little bit of throwaway comic relief. Sigh... am I going to get all worked up and then depressed about all this?...again?? hope not. How did this ever slip away?

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Wednesday, April 16, 2003 5:21 PM

SUCCATASH

I'm going to think about this for a minute, SeargentX. Thanks, nicely done.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2003 4:52 PM

LORA

Sergeant, Mal and Book are not opposites when it comes to God. Mal believes in the existence of God just as surely as Book does, he just hasn't forgiven God yet for what happened before/during/after the war.

Mal to Book, Train Job: "You're welcome on my boat; God ain't." Can't be unwelcome if ya don't exist.

Now, as for dogma and details, I am as likely to debate them as the Captain or Zoe. Less, actually, because you can't get in my face and try to force an opinion out of me like Book could do to them, if he got a burr under his saddle.

"Is there any way I'm gonna get out of this with honor and dignity?" Zoe, War Stories

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Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:12 PM

SERGEANTX

Yeah, I agree with you on that. Mal clearly has rejected God, not necessarily denied his existence. I just meant they were opposite numbers in the sense that, at least in my pet theory, Mal has rejected God for roughly the same reason Book has turned to him. I'm thinking Book found God in pennance or shame for some untold part in the war, and Mal has turned against God, feeling betrayed by the outcome at Serenity Valley. I sure would like to find out what Joss had in mind, I think their stories were intentional counterparts in the running theme of the nature of faith in the series.

I'm not sure what your last comment meant...forgive me I can be dim sometimes :)

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Tuesday, April 22, 2003 6:07 PM

TALLGUY

I'm not so sure that Mal believes in God at all anymore. I think he mentions Him like I would mention Santa Clause.

I think this is underscored when Mal says "None of it means a damn thing," in Objects in Space.

The ONE good thing about seing Serenity LAST was that when Mal pulls out his cross at Serenity Valley it cut my heart RIGHT open.

Of course, it could be that he doesn't WANT to believe, cause the alternative is to admit that God let Serenity happen.

SergeantX, I think the betrayal is only PART of the theme. I've always thought the theme was something like this:

Badger/Patience/Alliance Guy/Sherrif/Ath/Bad Captain/Saffron/Jayne/Jayne/(Jayne): "People suck. Everybody acts like this."

Mal: "Oh no they don't either!"

Mal even more or less says this to all of the above. Certainly to Saffron, Bad Captain, and the Sherrif. (Big Saffron Speech, "We can already see I haven't. Now get the hell of my sip!", and "I don't believe he does.")

Mal wants to be the Bad Guy SO bad cause he doesn't believe in all that crap anymore. But he still always has to be the good guy. Just give him his share and go on your way.

Bill
"We all know I'm the funny one."
"You ain't all that funny."

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Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:15 PM

MANIACNUMBERONE

I like this thread. I noticed that Mal and Book were kind of opposites too. I am pleased with your discovery of Wash's comic relief foreshadowing. I will look at that scene with new eyes. I happen to believe that Mal believes in God as well, he is just pissed at Him. I was always uncertain why Mal said "none of it means a damn thing". Do you really think it is religion-based? Why?

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Who's winning?
I can't really tell, they don't seem to be playing by any civilized rules that I know.
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