Iron Skin, Iron Heart: A Character Study of Jayn Cobb in "Serenity" part II by manwithpez

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Iron Skin, Iron Heart: A Character Study of Jayn Cobb in "Serenity" part II

POSTED BY: MANWITHPEZ
UPDATED: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 17:19
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Saturday, March 12, 2005 7:28 PM

Important people don't do field work.

As Jayne listens to Simon's explanation of the girl in the box, he shows complete apathy for the doctor or his plight. The only emotion that he does show is pleasure at the thought of killing Simon. A sadistic streak in Jayne begins to emerge. This is seconded by his impatience as to why Dobson hasn't been dealt with yet. It is thirded when he grins when Mal decks Simon. His claim to have "saw that comin'" coupled with his quick and effective interrogation of Dobson minutes later points to both an ability to read body language at least better than the highly educated Simon Tam does, and his inate ability to bend people to his will using his brain and his impressive stature.
His displeasure at not getting to hurt Dobson to get the information he wants again points to a sadistic nature.
Dobson's claim to "speak a language" Jayne understands :money shows that the driving need for money is so obvious in Jayne that even someone as "inept" as Lawrence Dobson knows to exploit it in conjunction with Jayne Cobb. Of course, before he will take the deal, Jayne has to know whether or not helping out will mean turning on the Captain. Jayne Cobb is already presented as a man of questionable morals. As loose as those morals are, he thinks enough of Mal to ask this question. He displays loyalty to a man he has been openly insolent to earlier on.
As the Reavers approach Serenity, Jayne shows his security blankets: Guns, and a lot of them. Whereas everyone else in the crew is shown thinking about the approach of the Reavers, Jayne is the only one "doing" anything to defend himself. He's loading his guns. This would seem to point to Jayne as a "doer" and less of a "thinker".
Jayne is not alone in laughing at Mal's rather horrible prank on Simon, but he obviously takes greater pleasure in it than the others do. Whereas Wash calls Mal "psychotic" in jest, Jayne sees it as nothing different than a cruel joke that he thinks is funny. Again, sadism rears its head.
Jayne is the first to point out that Patience isn't going to pay out by her reluctance to haggle with Mal. While he's pointing out the obvious to Mal, it still displays Jayne's ability to read people well. But, in the next breath, he suggests shooting Patience without any thought to the consequences. It takes Mal pointing out to Jayne (and Wash) that shooting Patience doesn't get them the money.
Jayne does seem a little overeager to please Mal in the next scene. He overexplains his burial of the cargo and stowing of the equipment. Even the very humorous business with the earpiece shows the need to win Mal's approval. Then again, in the same conversation, Jayne mentions Mal's inability to get the original payment from Badger back on Persephone. Whether this is meant as insult or not, Mal stares down Jayne, a man one would presume is better armed and much larger than the Captain is. What is this curious hold Mal has over Jayne? If Jayne thinks he is right in every situation, as his behavior would support, why does he back down from the Captain as he has twice in this episode? What has Mal done, or demonstrated to elicit such loyalty from someone who appears to hate authority so much? It has been posited that by treating Jayne as part of a "family" for the first time, Mal earned Jayne's respect. It is my opinion that no amount of goodwill will buy this kind of loyalty. Jayne was offered his own ship to turn in people he obviously disliked, but turned it down when he knew it meant betraying Mal. Whatever Mal did to earn this kind of respect from Jayne( a man obviously governed by his love of money) had to be impressive indeed.
Jayne displays his firearm abilities in the gunfight against Patience and her crew. There is no doubt early on why Jayne is on this crew, and it isn't public relations. The man is deadly, and given his smile down the sight of the sniper rifle, finally happy to get a little action.
Jayne's fear of Reaver's no matter how justified points to some kind of involvement with them or some of their victims. Jayne doesn't seem like the kind of superstitious man who would be spooked by stories. He seems to be too practical for this, not given to too much imagination or whimsy.
Jayne shows happiness with the finality of the situation with Dobson. Everyone else who witnesses Mal's dispatchment of the lawman is outwardly horrified by what they've seen with two exceptions(Zoe's stoicism being the other one).
Jayne is not a mechanic, and as such, sees no need to learn that aspect of the ship. This would indicate a sort of tunnel vision in regards to his role on the ship. Jayne's practicality makes him a dangerous man, limited only to the things he thinks he needs to be expert at.
Jayne knows when to celebrate as Serenity escapes the Reavers. He's not a brooder subject to second thoughts, as presented in the pilot. This might also be interpreted as his belief that his role in initiating the full burn saved the entire crew and made him the hero.
Mal has to question Jayne about Dobson's escape. Mal doesn't completely trust Jayne and his mercenary tactics. As to why comes a few sentences later as Jayne suggests he might have turned on Mal for more money. But don't trust Mr. Cobb too closely, as he is very up front with Mal, he basically states that when he's offered a better deal, he will turn on his Captain.
Conclusions: Jayne Cobb, as presented in "Serenity" is an egocentric opportunist with authority issues. He shows fierce loyalty to Mal, but uses his barbed tongue against him from time to time. He doesn't like people from priviledge, and he is extremely good at his job. He is also a bit of a sadist, taking pleasure in some people's pain, though apparently only if he thinks its deserved.
Basically stated, Jayne sees himself as the hero in any given situation. He sees whatever contribution he makes to any endeavour as the defining part of it. He is practical and displays rudimentary uses of logic, though a little coldly. He is very good at reading both nonverbal signals and body language. He also shows an ability to read between the lines from time to time.

And, there you have it. My complete character study of one of the Big Damn Crew. Hope you enjoy it.
If not, I can always go elsewhere.
Bye bye,.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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Sunday, March 13, 2005 7:27 AM

THEREALME

I think that one of the reasons that Jayne is loyal to Mal is that Mal is capable of things that Jayne is not: coming up with successful plans/jobs, exectuing them, and getting everybody out in one piece.

I'm guessing that most of Jayne's solo work has not come off nearly so well. We even have an example of that on Higgins' Moon.

Also, Mal has a quiet intensity that intimidates Jayne. Jayne follows Mal's lead, because he knows it is best, but Jayne resents this. That is why he is always mouthing off.

Jayne is a bully (see his relationships with Simon and Wash), but like most bullies, backs down when strongly opposed (see his relationships with Mal and Zoe).

I believe that Jayne's talk with Mal about the "interesting day" is just posturing. I don't think that it would ever come. That is because Jayne knows that he could never be successful as a ship captain.

The Real Me, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

(The Real Me cannot currently receive messages from this site; he is not ignoring you. But he CAN receive e-mail at realme@pcibroadband.net.)

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Sunday, March 13, 2005 8:10 AM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

I don't think that Jayne knows he couldn't be a ship's captain. I think he thinks he would be the best captain ever. But you're right...I think his need to seek approval from Mal may come from plain being impressed by the things Mal can do that Jayne can't. Then again, Jayne can't save someone on the operating table and he still hates Simon. Oh well, Its good to see that even Jayne has more than a little mystery surrounding him.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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Monday, March 14, 2005 4:23 AM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

It may be a while before I do another one of these. It took a lot of intense scrutinization of that episode just to do the one study. And Jayne was far from having the most amount of screen time in that one. But, its was a lot of fun to sit there and watch the episode and take notes. Though my wife was giving my some strange looks about it.
She thinks I'm a geek as it is. I certainly don't need to help that image along.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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Monday, March 14, 2005 2:01 PM

ZOID

manwithpez, et al:

I did the full rotation of athletics in high school, specializing in football. Jayne is not the least bit mysterious to me. He's a jock. I'm thinking maybe an OLB; definitely not a skill position player. This is what holds Jayne in thrall to Mal: Mal is smarter than he is and they both know it. Mal knows what Jayne is thinking before Jayne does. As a result, Jayne knows he will have to think long and hard (*sound of hamster's wheel squeaking*) before crossing Mal, because Mal will out-maneuver him at every turn.

Selling the naive doctor and his non compos mentis sister (ep: "Ariel") was child's play compared to catching Mal unawares. Even in that scheme, Jayne was outsmarted by the police/security paper-pusher. Then he got cold-cocked by Mal when he figured out Jayne's failed scheme from scant clues.

Having said all that, Jayne -- like most of the big, dumb physical types I played football with -- has a loyal and caring side to his nature, to offset his childish vicious streak. For those wishing for a Jayne/Kaylee love story, I'm sorry, but it would never work in real life. She's not enough of a cheerleader. Either he'd wind up clinging to her for intellectual leadership, or she'd bruise his fragile ego by asking him questions he couldn't answer (like, "Why did you do that, Jayne?" Answer: "Umm, because?").

So does Jayne have a match on the show? You bet your backside: YoSaffBridge. Those two would make a very dangerous pair. She could stroke his ego (and other bits) until he was willing to do anything she asked. Upside for Jayne is he gets his ego (and other bits) stroked, which doesn't happen normally, except by himself. She's also smart enough and devious enough to devise a plan to overthrow Mal (something Jayne would very much like to accomplish, even though he might regret doing it). Jayne supplies the brawn Saffron needs, she supplies the brain he lacks. A perfect couple sexually (given the appetites both have exhibited) and emotionally. He looks to her for leadership (a role she craves to play) and she gets a willing slave; it's everything they've both ever wanted.

The only thing that would save Mal from this Antichrist and her Beast would be the Magdalenic figure of our story: Inara.

Analytically,

zoid

P.S.
Please, Joss, if you're listening: Make a proper love match of Mal and Inara. Those two could accomplish a lot in partnership.

P.P.S.
My cast to play Jayne's father: Terry Bradshaw.
_________________________________________________

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

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Monday, March 14, 2005 3:41 PM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

Jayne's father? Jayne strikes me as the kind of guy that was raised without much of a father figure around. Or an abusive one, in some form.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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Monday, March 14, 2005 5:18 PM

ZOID

mwp wrote:

Quote:
Jayne's father? Jayne strikes me as the kind of guy that was raised without much of a father figure around. Or an abusive one, in some form.

While Jayne may have been raised without a father, all the guys I played sports with had dads. To get the kind of jock who thinks pants-ing the school nerd and shoving him head first into the cafeteria garbage can is both funny and proof of his machismo, you don't necessarily have to subtract a father figure, or add one who physically abuses his son. But a jock with a jock father -- who used to terrorize weaker physical specimens in his day -- is the worst combination.

While Jayne's mother is the one who writes him and sends him tuques, it does not necessarily follow that Jayne's never had a father, or even that his father is deceased, just because we haven't seen him get a letter from his father. Most male children are naturally more strongly attached to their mothers; most girls are 'daddy's girls'. Think of all the athletes you see on Monday Night Football or F*x MLB games, etc. How many of them catch the camera's eye and say, "Hi, Dad!"? Do you suppose all their fathers are dead or estranged?

I'd say Jayne's got a daddy, whom he respects, but they've not got a lot to say to one another. They're not feuding or anything; but they're both grown men and respect each other's space. As such, Terry Bradshaw's would be a straight dramatic role, and the majority of his lines would be with either Simon or Mal, trying to get some feel for how his boy is making out in the world, not with Jayne himself.

I think the main reason Jayne is likeable is because we all know at least one person like him. They're not necessarily evil, but they are prone to self-interest (as you correctly noted) without much forethought to the consequences of their actions. Remember Emilio Estevez' character in "The Breakfast Club"? He was the jock who got sent to Saturday detention for taping some math club guy's buns together in gym. But he wasn't really a bad guy, he just was more inclined to physical action than thoughtful consideration of the consequences.

While Estevez' character -- and all the other characters for that matter -- were cartoonishly over-complicated and cruelly treated by uncaring parents (barf), it's not too hard to see that guy growing up to be Jayne. He picks on the nerdy doctor, dips the sweet girl's pigtails in the inkwell, and wants to pick a fight that everybody but him sees can't be won. Like Estevez' character, without a leader to do his thinking for him, Jayne is rudderless and at the mercy of a world that is generally quicker on the uptake than he is.

Fortunately for our favorite thug, he has learned to recognize a leader when he sees one (as you said, "reads people"), and attaches himself like a pack dog to an alpha male. That's why he has bonded with Book (father figure or aura of leadership) and rendered himself subservient to Mal.

Respectfully,

zoid

P.S.
I also agree that Jayne chafes in the presence of authority. The key to his relationship with Book is that while Book exudes leadership, it is a leadership by example, not by authority. Jayne respects Book because his demeanor commands it, not because he bosses Jayne around. Book's treatment of Jayne as an equal is the most important socializing force acting on Jayne.

Have I read too much into the show's dynamics? I don't think so. I truly believe Joss created these characters just so. It's too deep and rich to be accidental, or simply projection on the part of the viewer. That's why I love(d) this show.
(NB: I'm gonna go cry myself to sleep, now. I just still can't believe that with all the utter shit on TV, they had to cancel the one show that was true art.)
_________________________________________________

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

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Tuesday, March 15, 2005 3:35 AM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

Jayne has a daddy...one he quotes in "Ariel" when he says "My daddy used to say that anyone who couldn't find work wasn't looking hard enough." Or, something like that. And, I didn't mean to state that Jayne was physically abused. I mean, sure, that's always an option, but I don't see it. Jayne's not even really that maladjusted (Mal Adjusted?). But, I don't think anyone would behave this way unless the example had been provided for them at some point. Then again, I've seen this kind of behavior from both Oldest Siblings and Single Children. More so single offspring than in those with siblings, and we know that Jayne's mother wrote to him about someone named Maggie that lives there with her. Jayne's mother sees him as a good boy because he sends her money, (or rather, that's the only context we're presented with)so, his enamorment with money may well come from his mother. But, I think we know where his work ethic comes from, by the quote from "Ariel", and Jayne is very good at what he does. But, most of this information is stuff that is presented later in the show. I was just commenting on Jayne in "Serenity" He was far from being a static character. He was just a little less dynamic than the others.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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Tuesday, March 15, 2005 8:07 AM

ODDNESS2HER

Two words: private bunk.

Jayne, like most people, is primarily motivated by self-interest. There are benefits to his current situation. Defying Mal too openly would get him either dead or fired.

I really enjoyed ManwithPez's analysis of this simple-seeming character.

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Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:16 PM

ZOID

manwithpez:

As oddness2her stated, I enjoyed your analysis of Jayne. I was only intending to engage in discussion of the character (a pursuit I can't get enough of), not to dispute or belittle your views. If that's the way it was taken, I apologize for the misunderstanding (to anyone who has read it as such).

Since you recapitulated that your analysis was only based on the pilot, did you intend to continue exploring Jayne blow-by-blow through each episode? That would seem to be a prohibitively lengthy process, that could be effectively shortened by 'cutting to the chase', as the saying goes. Since we all are aware how these characters have been developing throughout the series by now, I'd suggest broadening the scope of your evidence to include all 15 episodes at once, and giving a more complete reading of their personalities and motivations from the outset.

At any rate, I'll just 'shut up and color' now, as we used to say in the military... But I promise to lurk and follow your analyses of the other characters, when you get around to them.

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

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

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Wednesday, March 16, 2005 3:30 AM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

I didn't think you were belittling my views...and, for all that, they are just MY views. I mean, I'm no psychologist. But, I do plan on trying to cover character development in a broader scope, but not over more than two episodes at a time. I think next, because its the biggest, and I want to get it out of the way, I'm going to do a Malcolm Reynolds comparison between Serenity and The Train Job, as well cover Jayne again in Jaynestown. Some characters don't have enough screentime in some episodes to warrant a full study of them (the best examples being Zoe in Jaynestown and Inara in Ariel) but I would like to do a couple of these with regard towards relationships and group dynamics. But, I'm happy that ANYONE liked this endeavour at all. Its oddly gratifying. But, I welcomed your comments. And, I thought we were having a discussion, which is what I wanted in the first place.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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Tuesday, May 10, 2005 5:19 PM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

Uh-oh!!! ManWithPez is bumping one of his own prior posts...The one about Character Studies...which can only mean one thing...time for another one...But, I'm torn over Zoid's suggestoin to do them in a broader scope...Now that I'm done with my fanfic...for now, maybe I can find the time to handle this the way I wanted to...or at least stretch them out a little further than episode for episode. I think Mal will be the next subject...and I think we'll cover Serenity and The Train Job...Here's hoping I don't kick off before I finish it.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

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