The Grand Arena? by daveshayne

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

The Grand Arena?

POSTED BY: DAVESHAYNE
UPDATED: Thursday, February 23, 2006 06:35
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Friday, February 10, 2006 11:57 AM

Allright this has been bugging since the first time I saw Serenity. In the training house the Operative says, "Things are not what they appear. He is not the plucky hero, the Alliance isn't an evil empire, and this is not the grand arena." Now the plucky hero and the evil empire bits seem fairly obviously to be Star Wars references but I can't place the grand arena. Was that in one of the prequels that I missed (I gave up on the series after Phantom Menace) or is there some other source for that that I am missing? It seems like it has got to be a reference to something but I'm drawing a blank. Any help tracking this down will be greatly apreciated.

And on an unrelated note. Is it just me or would a Summer Glau - Jackie Chan buddy film totally rock.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace nice with candle light.

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Friday, February 10, 2006 9:41 PM

OIAMSLAIN

I doubt anything he said was actually a Star Wars reference. "The Grand Arena" meant a hypothetical place where two enemies would do battle, which is what the Operative (incorrectly) assumed Mal wanted.

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Friday, February 10, 2006 10:28 PM

SINGATE

There is a big arena battle sequence at the end of Episode II but I thought the Operative was making reference to the Roman Colosseum.

_________________________________________________

We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 6:08 AM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by oiamslain:
I doubt anything he said was actually a Star Wars reference. "The Grand Arena" meant a hypothetical place where two enemies would do battle, which is what the Operative (incorrectly) assumed Mal wanted.

Well plucky heroes could refer to almost any adventure fiction so not Star Wars specific. The evil empire is a Star Wars reference via Reagan who in the early 80s likened the Soviet Union to the Evil Empire of Star Wars.

As I said I don't have any specific recolection to a literary reference to "The Grand Arena" but I do have a very strong nagging feeling that it is one. Some dim recolection from my childhood perhaps or maybe just cognitive dissonance I'm not really sure.

Thanks for the reply though.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace nice with candle light.

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 6:28 AM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by singate:
There is a big arena battle sequence at the end of Episode II but I thought the Operative was making reference to the Roman Colosseum.

That could be it. It does come up in google but checking the text it looks like a peripheral connection at best. Anyway this could be a possibility.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace nice with candle light.

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 12:18 PM

NUCLEARDAY

Quote:
Originally posted by daveshayne:
And on an unrelated note. Is it just me or would a Summer Glau - Jackie Chan buddy film totally rock.

I'll buy that for a dollar! :P

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 6:59 PM

LUVMYVERA

It is definately a reference to the Roman Empire, what with the Operative's obsession with history.

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:10 PM

THEONETRUEBIX

I think it's inescapable that the first two are chosen by Joss specifically to be coy references to Star Wars.

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:32 PM

ATRAMUS

Hi.

I'm new here, but a big fan.

If they are references to anything (shrugging) might the Grand Arena be From Star Trek? Where kirk and spock have to go at it. you know.

dadada da da da da da dada da........

"There is nothingsadder than seeing your family torn apart by something as simple as a pack of wolves."

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:46 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by atramus:
Hi.

I'm new here, but a big fan.

If they are references to anything (shrugging) might the Grand Arena be From Star Trek? Where kirk and spock have to go at it. you know.

dadada da da da da da dada da........

I doubt it. It doesn't look like Mal is going through Pon Far to me.

I think I have narrowed down what I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of a reference to politics being the grand arena. I still haven't been able to pin down an actuall quote or who might have said it (if in fact I'm not just making it up myself.)

The Roman angle is also coming up alot in my googlings. As are tickets to concerts being held at the arena at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Hey maybe Joss is refering to seeing U2 there.

Anyway thanks all for posting and keep it up please. No theory is to wacky to entertain.

Edit: Oh, um, hi backatcha. I'm prety new around here myself. So welcome.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace with candle light.

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 10:09 PM

RIVER6213

*Thread Showtime Short*

Feeling mad enough to stab a panda in cold blood today. That is all.

Continue thread.

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Sunday, February 12, 2006 5:00 AM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by RiveR6213:
Feeling mad enough to stab a panda in cold blood today. That is all.

Been there myself. Many times. Hope it works out for you.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace with candle light.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 7:27 PM

STARSONG

I'll agree it's most likely a reference to the Colloseum.. heck, the Star Wars thing was also a reference to the Colloseum, so ya might as well go back to the original source, eh?

(As a side note, I've been watching Indiana Jones movies these last few nights, and I have to ask.. Lucas, WHAT HAPPENED man? You used to write good, witty stuff... now fifteen years later and your new characters come across so totally *flat* .. and don't get me started on the *awful* acting in Ep I! Pretty pictures don't make good movies.. so Joss is my master now, yo.

)

So far as the evil empire and plucky hero.. I'd say those have stock characters since well before Star Wars.. makes sense they'd continue being used into the future as well.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 6:35 AM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by StarSong:
I'll agree it's most likely a reference to the Colloseum.. heck, the Star Wars thing was also a reference to the Colloseum, so ya might as well go back to the original source, eh?

Yep. I'm not finding anything else so I'm'a have to agree on this. It's what keeps coming up. Thanks.

David

"A lot of people are asking me, you know, what exactly is Firefly? It's a tv show you morons!" - Joss Whedon

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