Ariel: Simon's Strength by GoramMan

Simon ain't weak -- Mal already established that in the Pilot. It's just that he's almost always completely out of his element. He's that proverbial fish on land. In Ariel he shines. Motivated to help River, yes (when is he not?); but primarily so, I think, because they're playing on his turf now. He finally gets to do his thing: he's a trauma-surgeon, not a briggand. So, I'm not so sure that what we see in Ariel is "excellent character development" per se, so much as it's simply the way Simon has always been, but never got a chance to show.

I believe Joss did well to allow us to see what Simon really can do, precisely so we don't think he's just a nerdy geek. Put Simon in his own environment, and he will excel; "gifted" is the term. Remember when Mal told River "This is what I do, darling."? Well, the whole Doctor thing, that's what Simon does. Well.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Friday, January 25, 2008 2:10 PM

I agree to a point. Especially about being out in his element. But I think the biggest difference is that he stepped up in this episode rather than reacting to a given situation.

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Friday, January 25, 2008 2:25 PM

I never thought about Simon shining because Ariel is "his turf." That's a good insight. I will add that character development in literature (remember, good TV shows are literature) isn't always about the character actually developing, it can also be about growing the audience's perception of the character. In that sense, Ariel is VERY much about developing Simon's character.

I also agree about the scene at the end telling us so much about Jayne. (The following is pretty off-topic. Not trying to hijack the thread, just some things I've had in my head and now the issue has been brought up here.) In the Pilot, when he asks Dobson "Would it mean turning on the captain?" there is this sense that he would almost relish doing so, especially later when he is grinning at him through a sniper scope. With those images in our mind, it's easy to forget later that he didn't turn on the captain, so we have no evidence that he wants to; it is still in the air. Everything (O.K. some of the things) about Jayne comes together at the end of Ariel, when he says "Come on, Mal, it isn't like I sold YOU out to the Feds!" It clicks. Jayne asked about having to turn on the captain because he DOESN'T want to turn on Mal. It is a line he knows he'd cross, but to which he attributes a greater cost. He has his own kind of loyalty, and we see that loyalty extend to the rest of the crew by Mal's example, and the evidence of that comes just a moment later. "Make somethin' up. Don't tell 'em what I did." Jayne, tough guy, mercenary, not only realizes his mistake, but is ashamed of it. Without that line, we could imagine that he was only appearing contrite because he got caught, because he didn't want to die. But the fact that he doesn't want the others to know, even after he is too dead for it to make a difference, shows his shame. He wants his family to think well of him when he is gone. (I also think this statement is the only thing that saved his life. Others may disagree, but before Jayne said that, I think Mal was ready to let him die.) This may not tell us as "much" about Jayne as Jaynestown, but it tells us something more important about him. I love how Jayne, who at first seems to be completely two-dimenesional, turns out to be as subtle and complex a puzzle as any other character.

To bring this back on-topic a bit (and sorry to ramble), I think Simon's reaction to Jayne's betrayal in Trash also helps to show his strength. He displays that he has the power to kill Jayne almost any time he wants to, but refuses to because he is a doctor above all else, a healer and protector. Sometimes it takes the stronger man to walk away, the more fearless man to turn his back and trust that the betrayer will not put a knife in it because "that's the only way I see this working."

"When you can't do somethin' smart, do somethin' right!" -Jayne Cobb quotes Shepherd Book

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Friday, January 25, 2008 2:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GoramMan:

I agree to a point. Especially about being out in his element. But I think the biggest difference is that he stepped up in this episode rather than reacting to a given situation.

He certainly steps up to the plate, rather than waiting what Mal will do. But I honestly don't think he grew confidence for the occassion, though: he simply saw an opportunity, and took it.

Speaking of Simon's confidence, a very telling scene, IMHO, is when Simon is fiddling with that neural imaging scanner and grabs Jayne's wrist when he wants to mess with it, too. Jayne, though annoyed, still concedes: he simply knows this is Simon's moment. And Simon knows it, too. I can't imagine any other circumstance when Simon would get physical with Jayne and... win. :)

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Friday, January 25, 2008 2:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SchoolboysWink:

I will add that character development in literature (remember, good TV shows are literature) isn't always about the character actually developing, it can also be about growing the audience's perception of the character. In that sense, Ariel is VERY much about developing Simon's character.

Seen in that light, I wholeheartedly agree: Ariel is really the first episode where the audience gets to SEE, in full, what Simon is capable of.

N.B. And indeed, not to get off-topic for too long, but I also completely agree with your assessment of Jayne: His "Make somethin' up. Don't tell em what I did." line really is the only thing that saves his life.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Saturday, January 26, 2008 6:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
Speaking of Simon's confidence, a very telling scene, IMHO, is when Simon is fiddling with that neural imaging scanner and grabs Jayne's wrist when he wants to mess with it, too. Jayne, though annoyed, still concedes: he simply knows this is Simon's moment. And Simon knows it, too. I can't imagine any other circumstance when Simon would get physical with Jayne and... win. :)

Yeah, I'd managed to forget about the wrist grabbing scene. In fact, I think I manage to forget about it every time I watch the episode, so it surprises me afresh every time. If jogged-memory serves, Simon doesn't even turn to look at Jayne before he grabs him, just sort of sees him move out of the corner of his eye and snatches him, like Daniel catching a fly with chopsticks. (Child of the '80s test reference.) Simon doesn't get to be like Mal or Jayne or Zoe, nor would he want to be. But in his own way, he is a bada-- ("You ain't weak.") This is indeed one of his moments.

"When you can't do somethin' smart, do somethin' right!" -Jayne Cobb quotes Shepherd Book

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Saturday, January 26, 2008 8:21 PM

REGINAROADIE

Yeah. That scene with the holographic image of River's brain is my all time favorite scene in the entire series bar none for two reasons. One, it's the one moment that makes you forget that you're seeing fiction and you honestly believe in the moment, and it all has to do with the way Simon's reacting to what he's seeing. I imagine that scene was particularily hard for Sean to do that day since he's basically reacting to nothing. Any actor will tell you that acting against nothing with your imagination filling in the blanks is hard enough. Even moreso when the nothing your reacting against is something big and massive. But he is so in the moment that you honestly believe he's holding a real hologram and seeing something truly barbaric.

Two, it's the first time you actually see what's been done to River. Up to that point, it just characters telling you that "something awful's happened to River" and that she was this genius who now just stands in a corner babbling to herself. It's more tell, not show. But in this case, we finally see what had actually been done to her, which makes us more sympathetic to her.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:57 PM

SHINYSEVEN2

asarian said:

Speaking of Simon's confidence, a very telling scene, IMHO, is when Simon is fiddling with that neural imaging scanner [...] I can't imagine any other circumstance when Simon would get physical with Jayne and... win. :)

In Serenity the Pilot, Jayne doesn't do a very effective job of keeping Simon from running toward the cryochamber, and not for lack of trying.

I think it sort of makes sense that Simon would show his strength in Ariel because, to paraphrase Safe, he forgot how to be a surgeon before and now in his own environment, he remembers.

But in StP, no matter how he got River to Serenity, he GOT her there, and he jumps off the catwalk when Dobson grabs her--that's pretty much like jumping out a second-story window, which takes some nerve even if you're not agoraphobic. Simon *is* as we can see from Bushwhacked.

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Sunday, January 27, 2008 7:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shinyseven2:

asarian said:

Speaking of Simon's confidence, a very telling scene, IMHO, is when Simon is fiddling with that neural imaging scanner [...] I can't imagine any other circumstance when Simon would get physical with Jayne and... win. :)

In Serenity the Pilot, Jayne doesn't do a very effective job of keeping Simon from running toward the cryochamber, and not for lack of trying.

Quite honestly, I think Jayne was hardly trying at all. I think curiosity got the better of him: like the rest of the crew, he simply wanted to see where this was going and pretty much let Simon go. Kinda like a Freudian slip, but then literally. :)

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Sunday, January 27, 2008 7:18 PM

Not only is Ariel Simon's turf in terms of the medical facilities, and how they work, but also because this is a core planet - a rarity for Serenity. Simon is comfortable, knows how things work here, better than anybody else besides Inara and Book, who are not present.
here he is a fish in water.
I've said before, but (after seeing Serenity on opening day) the last 10 minutes of Ariel were my introduction to the series, and the Mal/Jayne scene made me take notice, and got me hooked.

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Sunday, January 27, 2008 7:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

Not only is Ariel Simon's turf in terms of the medical facilities, and how they work, but also because this is a core planet - a rarity for Serenity. Simon is comfortable, knows how things work here, better than anybody else besides Inara and Book, who are not present.
here he is a fish in water.

Good point, too. :) Yes, Ariel is Simon's world, in more than one way.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shinyseven2:
asarian said:

Speaking of Simon's confidence, a very telling scene, IMHO, is when Simon is fiddling with that neural imaging scanner [...] I can't imagine any other circumstance when Simon would get physical with Jayne and... win. :)

In Serenity the Pilot, Jayne doesn't do a very effective job of keeping Simon from running toward the cryochamber, and not for lack of trying.

I think it sort of makes sense that Simon would show his strength in Ariel because, to paraphrase Safe, he forgot how to be a surgeon before and now in his own environment, he remembers.

But in StP, no matter how he got River to Serenity, he GOT her there, and he jumps off the catwalk when Dobson grabs her--that's pretty much like jumping out a second-story window, which takes some nerve even if you're not agoraphobic. Simon *is* as we can see from Bushwhacked.

Regarding the Pilot, Jayne holds Simon until his attention is sufficiently diverted by "little naked girl" - and this is also what the script states.

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Monday, January 28, 2008 2:38 PM

LAWMAN

All very good points. I have always liked Ariel because it seems very well paced and the job goes off fairly well. I don't remember the crew getting a haul this well ever. The happy ending is almost giddy except for Jayne's betrayal. Simon's strength is quite evident as far as his element. Its easy to see he is so in charge and knows exactly how things should be at all times inside the hospital, even when being interrogated by the feds. Simon presents the job in an extremely logical fashion and ends the episode by complimenting Jayne: the protagonist throughtout.
I do find it interesting that Simon's entry into criminal enterprise starts when Book is not around. Perhaps Book is also Simon's moral compass?
I think the one reason Ariel is my favorite episode is because everyone gets what they deserve. You see success on many different facets. my 2 cents worth.

i wish you would stop flapping that pretty mouth of yours...

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Monday, January 28, 2008 3:11 PM

First of all I, wanted to thank everbody for their comments, opinions and insights.--

Quote:
Originally posted by Lawman:

I do find it interesting that Simon's entry into criminal enterprise starts when Book is not around. Perhaps Book is also Simon's moral compass?
I think the one reason Ariel is my favorite episode is because everyone gets what they deserve. You see success on many different facets. my 2 cents worth.

i wish you would stop flapping that pretty mouth of yours...

That is strange about Book being absent that episode. I'm not sure what the signifigance of it is. Plenty people out there think Inara's absence was important.

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Monday, January 28, 2008 6:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GoramMan:

That is strange about Book being absent that episode. I'm not sure what the signifigance of it is. Plenty people out there think Inara's absence was important.

They dropped Book off at the Abbey:

MAL
Could've gotten off with Shepherd
Book at the Bathgate Abbey. You
could be meditating over the wonders
of your rock garden right about now.

And Inara was hardly absent:

MAL
(...) We're
here to drop Inara off, that's it.

(...)

INARA
It's Guild law. All Companions are
required to undergo a physical exam
once a year.

She's got other lines, too:

WASH
(to Inara)
Could you please tell my wife the fun
she's missing out on.

INARA
Ariel's quite nice, actually. They
have some beautiful museums, not to
mention some of the finest
restaurants in the Core.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Monday, January 28, 2008 7:30 PM

The timeline suggests this is around Christmas time. River makes a number of references to Christmas and gifts. Since they still have observations of Earth-based religion, Christmas would appear to be observed as well.
Inara has this need to go to the central Planet, it is a pre-scheduled activity in a preset location. This seems the perfect opportunity for Book to spend a few days in a religious observance or meditation while knowing how long it will last, and when Serenity will be back to pick him up. I would not be surprised in the 2nd and 3rd seasons if Book was off-ship during each of Inara's exams, being they all occur during this time of religious celebration.

As seen in the teaser, River is not getting a lot better. Simon is getting desperate, trying to find a way to diagnose and treat River. If Inara or Book was present, they would not have altered his goal with moral restraint - his deciding factors here are opportunity, location. He's on a central planet with an accordingly level of medical facility, he knows what he needs, he is at this point desperate for a new way to help River, and best of all: he has a crew that is disreputable and clever enough to pull this off - how many other ship's crews could do the same?

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Monday, January 28, 2008 7:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

The timeline suggests this is around Christmas time. River makes a number of references to Christmas and gifts. Since they still have observations of Earth-based religion, Christmas would appear to be observed as well.
Inara has this need to go to the central Planet, it is a pre-scheduled activity in a preset location. This seems the perfect opportunity for Book to spend a few days in a religious observance or meditation while knowing how long it will last, and when Serenity will be back to pick him up. I would not be surprised in the 2nd and 3rd seasons if Book was off-ship during each of Inara's exams, being they all occur during this time of religious celebration.

A good observation! And a plausible explanation for WHY Book is at the Abbey.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Monday, January 28, 2008 8:21 PM

Asarian,

I knew he was at the Abbey and Inara was getting the physical (or whatever). My meaning was that they were absent from the action in the episode. Everything that occured happened without any contribution or input from them. Inara's only part in it was putting them at the setting.

Not trying to be testy. Just saying I know my Firefly plots, fellow browncoat.

On a completely different topic I wonder if it is possible for someone to program a browncoat emoticon into the boards. I loves me some emoticons!

Yeah Baby...

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Monday, January 28, 2008 10:26 PM

I was interrupted during the above post.

Another item to ponder (particularly for those fanfic people enthralled with the mystery of Inara). Is there some connection with Inara's exam occuring near Christmas? Since it is every year, it may be reasonable that this is the anniversary of her entry into the Guild. Is this when she chose to enter? Or, since she was trained since a child, did she enter upon her 18th birthday? Could she be born on Christmas Day? Could she be our symbol of the Savior? Although Jayne has the intitials JC, Inara seems more religious that the others, even "tending" to Book.
Further, the timeline thread proposes some subtrefuge regarding Inara's official departure date from Madrassa House, versus her actual renting of Shuttle I. Could these events or discrepancies be related?

refined timeline:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=4&t=32184

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Monday, January 28, 2008 11:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GoramMan:

Asarian,

I knew he was at the Abbey and Inara was getting the physical (or whatever). My meaning was that they were absent from the action in the episode. Everything that occured happened without any contribution or input from them. Inara's only part in it was putting them at the setting.

Not trying to be testy. Just saying I know my Firefly plots, fellow browncoat.

Oh, I didn't know. Sorry, fellow browncoat. :)

As for Inara, "putting them at the setting" was really an important, necessary role. Cuz normally they'd never set foot on a planet crawling with Alliance. Like Zoe said: "It's a Core planet. It's spotless, there's sensors everywhere, and where there ain't sensors, there's Feds." So, they really needed a solid excuse to be there. Also, I think the crew would not have bought Simon just suggesting: "Hey, I got an idea: let's be bad guys and pull a heist on a Core planet hospital!" Mal certainly wouldn't have gone for that: he didn't want to offload the goods for that on Boros in the Pilot, either. Plus, I really think them HAVING to be at Ariel adds to Simon's moment: now he's the caring brother, 'sideways' always on the lookout for opportunities to help his sister, whenever the chance presents itself. Really more powerful that way.

Also, in The Train Job Inara already had her 'Simon' like moment, coming to the rescure of Mal and Zoe, in a daring and cleverly pulled-off stunt. Short of doing a sort of repeat of that -- Inara pulling some high-society trick, or using her feminine wiles -- I believe Joss did well to just bench her for this one. And somehow I can't picture Inara just popping up to join the caper after her "Shouldn't be more than a day or two." exam. So I guess she just had to be left out for the duration.

So, apart from her being woman, I see no 'mystery' surrounding her absence. :)

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008 12:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

(...) He's on a central planet with an accordingly level of medical facility, he knows what he needs, he is at this point desperate for a new way to help River, and best of all: he has a crew that is disreputable and clever enough to pull this off ...

For those who didn't know, I believe jewelstaitefan's "disreputable" is actually a clever hint to the 2nd deleted scene from the Pilot:

BOOK
If I can ask, what made
you pick this ship?

SIMON
It looked disreputable.

Book was right, Simon is "not without critical judgement," and he picked the perfect crew for the job.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008 12:40 AM

Sorry, didn't intend to be clever or hinting or vague. I conjured it as obvious, clear quote. Glad I wasn't too obtuse and you got it.
Wasn't there other reference made to them being disreputable?

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008 2:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

Sorry, didn't intend to be clever or hinting or vague. I conjured it as obvious, clear quote. Glad I wasn't too obtuse and you got it.
Wasn't there other reference made to them being disreputable?

Well, in "Safe" Zoe says: "Also, your disreputable men are here." But that don't refer to the crew itself, of course. Hence, I thought you meant the deleted scene. :)

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008 1:12 PM

I think it is thematically important that Book was absent, since he is the moral compass for the entire ship, not just Mal. I also find it interesting that Inara is not aboard Serenity, waiting, during this heist, and it is the heist that goes the best. Were it not for Jayne's betrayal, it would have gone off without a hitch. Combining with Mal's line to Inara from the BDM about "You turn me about," it suggests that some of the problems arise because Mal's head is not in the game due to Inara's presence. Compare to the relative success of the payroll heist at the beginning of BDM: No Inara, and everything goes perfect if it weren't for the Reavers. (And even when they do arrive, Mal's decisive action to initiate getting townsfolk into the vault saves the lives of a number of people.) Food for thought.

I hadn't considered the possibility of Inara as a Christ-like figure per se, though I did make mention of her offering absolution to Book in the "subtle observations" thread. (Not so subtle, perhaps, but moving at least to me.) In TJ, she also comments that she always prays for Mal and crew when they are on a job. In this regard, we see her again as an intercessor, between Book and sin, between Mal and danger. The religious implications here are stated directly in the dialogue, and there could be a deeper symbolism as well. Later, however, Inara fears and flees love on Serenity, which I think rule her out as a direct symbol for the Savior in the traditional Christian sense (which I am considering here in response to the reference to Christmas.) That said, there is the possibility this symbolism would have been developed in more detail in later seasons throughout Inara's actions and (dare I say it) death (if included in the show, obviously). Another shame that we didn't get to see this play out.

Another off-topic note; someone mentioned Zoe's line about the sensors and the feds. I have always loved this line because it shows her dislike for the Alliance in a moment in which she is completely independent of Mal, and the tone in her voice doesn't bear the weight of regret and hate for the Battle of Serenity Valley, or other vestiges of her past, nor is she currently under direct Alliance threat as she was in Bushwhacked. This line more than any other shows Zoe's personal disdain for the Alliance and the whole lifestyle that they represent and require, the mindset that led her to join the Browncoats in the first place.

"When you can't do somethin' smart, do somethin' right!" -Jayne Cobb quotes Shepherd Book

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008 6:54 PM

You say the best heist is Ariel, and Inara is not present.
The other extremely successful job was the Lassiter, and that was with Inara helping. Granted, her help was largely to counteract the YoSaffBridg factor.
Not sure exactly which was more successful, Lassiter or Ariel. Lassiter did get them a new model of mule.

i thought Kaylee was the moral compass for Serenity. In this enlightened society, inara is the most respectable and distinguished role model aboard - Kaylee sees this and has herself a sexual freedom and maturity, Book is stuck in the 25th century practically.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008 6:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Book is stuck in the 25th century practically.

Ha! That was good

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Monday, February 4, 2008 11:46 PM

Speaking of the take from Ariel - does anybody feel cheated that they let Niska keep the money they gave him for Wash? After forcibly taking back Mal, with Niska wiggling away, almost seemed fair if they would have taken back the money they'd already have given him. They seemed to have the run of the place by that time.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008 1:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
i thought Kaylee was the moral compass for Serenity. In this enlightened society, inara is the most respectable and distinguished role model aboard - Kaylee sees this and has herself a sexual freedom and maturity, Book is stuck in the 25th century practically.

It is mentioned in one of the DVD interviews that Kaylee was supposed to represent motherhood, fertility, earthiness, etc. (Don't remember if this is Joss's comment or another creative contributor.) Remember what we first see/hear Kaylee doing, before she ever meets Inara. For these reasons, I always saw Kaylee's open sexuality as directly representative of life, affection, etc. rather than any reflection of Inara's attitudes or lifestyle.

"When you can't do somethin' smart, do somethin' right!" -Jayne Cobb quotes Shepherd Book

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008 3:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SchoolboysWink:

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

i thought Kaylee was the moral compass for Serenity. In this enlightened society, inara is the most respectable and distinguished role model aboard - Kaylee sees this and has herself a sexual freedom and maturity, Book is stuck in the 25th century practically.

It is mentioned in one of the DVD interviews that Kaylee was supposed to represent motherhood, fertility, earthiness, etc. (Don't remember if this is Joss's comment or another creative contributor.) Remember what we first see/hear Kaylee doing, before she ever meets Inara. For these reasons, I always saw Kaylee's open sexuality as directly representative of life, affection, etc. rather than any reflection of Inara's attitudes or lifestyle.

I'm still with AgentRouka's conclusion that Kaylee represent Serenity's hope.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008 5:39 PM

PLATONIST

Well, since we see Inara brushing Kaylee's hair and chiding her about washing her face (Train Job), I'm going with Kaylee representing "Hope" rather than motherhood? And Inara represents motherhood. (River are you hungry, Sweetie?)

If Inara represents a Christian figure it would be The Madonna or Mary Magdalene (for some time thought to be a whore), and not JC. If you're using Christmas as a reference point, the Madonna would certainly be present, and in some denominations, Mary is considered divine (born without sin), and able to give absolution, as we see Inara do with Book, in Serenity.

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 1:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:
Well, since we see Inara brushing Kaylee's hair and chiding her about washing her face (Train Job), I'm going with Kaylee representing "Hope" rather than motherhood? And Inara represents motherhood. (River are you hungry, Sweetie?)

If Inara represents a Christian figure it would be The Madonna or Mary Magdalene (for some time thought to be a whore), and not JC. If you're using Christmas as a reference point, the Madonna would certainly be present, and in some denominations, Mary is considered divine (born without sin), and able to give absolution, as we see Inara do with Book, in Serenity.

We see Inara showing some motherhood in specific scenes, but in general she is never going to match the way Kaylee mothers over the entire crew. She, more than anybody, is the person driving this group of people to be a family. Certainly Kaylee represents hope and youthful spirit as well, but in her treatment of the crew she is always trying to take care of everyone, and she feels shame and blames herself whenever she is unable to protect them (e.g. OoG, OiS response to WS). These are very maternal instincts, to say nothing of the fact that her painting of flower trim in the kitchen/dining room and decoration of her bunk entrance could certainly be interpreted as "nesting" behavior (though I don't like pop psychology terms, I can't think of a better way to make sure everybody knows what I am talking about). She also mantains the ship that keeps everyone alive, giving of herself, and of an innate, mysterious power, no less (not unlike historical views of woman's power to create and nurture life) to keep everyone breathing, warm, and fed, not just in a gunfight or a crisis, but every single day, and she without a doubt thinks of Serenity as an extension of her even if not an actual offspring ("There's my good girl"). While the examples are less concrete, this prevailing attitude throughout the show I think is a stronger argument for the mother representation than some of Inara's more specific but less omnipresent actions, if we are forced to choose one or the other for that role (and I'm really not saying that we are).

"When you can't do somethin' smart, do somethin' right!" -Jayne Cobb quotes Shepherd Book

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 2:28 PM

VETERAN

Don't squat with your spurs on.

If the crew is a family, Kaylee is the "little sister." Aside from Mal being a default father figure and Jayne being a rebellious teen, the rest of the characters don't fit into a family model.

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 2:30 PM

MRMGRAPHICS

+

According to JW (commentary in the Firefly DVD box set), Kaylee is a character full of life; someone who embraces and is passionate about all life has to offer. She is openly sexual; she likes good food (so much so that Jewel Staite had to gain 20 pounds to play the role); she is the heart of the ship. Jewel Staite makes similar comments (Firefly Official Companion Vol I): Kaylee is a flirt, she loves her ship (considers it a tenth crew member), and desperately wants everyone to get along.

I don't so much associate "maternal" with Kaylee as I do "passion" -- and not passion solely in the sexual sense. She is passionate about everything, from the strawberry Book gives her in the pilot, to the pink frilly hoop skirt dress in "Shindig" (kept in her bunk), to the food at the dance. ("Don't make yourself sick," Mal tells her, as she heads to the buffet.)

A telling line is in one of the scripts, which refers to Kaylee entering a scene "in all of her Kaylee-ness." She is so well defined in that Kaylee-ness, too: passion, plus joy, friendship, caring...caring for the ship and crew as one. Wanting everyone to get along. Never revealing, for example, what happened (with River and the gun) in War Stories, until OiS (and Mal, himself, makes it clear she should have spoken up sooner), because River's her friend. (The depths of her caring for River are also seen manifested as guilt, when she is tied up and talking to River's VO in OiS. She's betrayed her friend, River, and it is tearing her up, even as she is fearing being raped or killed.)

In addition, her open sexulaity (and this is noted on the script) shines not just in OoG (when Mal first meets her), but at the end of Trash: Mal is walking up onto Serenity naked, Wash and Zoe are dumbfounded, and Kaylee isn't even phased.

Does this make her a mother figure? I don't think so. Nor do I think Inara is, but it should be mentioned that in OiS, Inara is the one told by Jubal: "Man is stronger by far than woman. But only woman can create a child. That seem right to you?"

Food for thought.

To go back to the original subject of this post, Simon's strength: I think a lot needs said about the moment in Safe when he climbs up onto the platform with River. He has failed to free her; failed to save her life. Now he offers the only thing left to her that he can offer: He won't let her die alone.

So just as Kaylee is the pasison of Serenity, Simon is its nobility. That's the word I always think of when I think of Simon: noble. And it his very nobility -- he puts caring fo River above everything -- that conflicts with Kaylee's passion.

It is also his nobility that, in BDM (after getting shot), makes him utter what may be his last dying words: "River...I'm sorry." He is dying, they all might die, and his only thought is that he's sorry he can no longer care for River.

Again, nobility.

So I vote "voices" of Serenity's crew as follows:

Simon -- the voice of nobility
Mal -- the voice of honor and rebellion
Zoe -- the voice of strength and duty
Wash -- the voice of humor
Kaylee -- the voice of passion
Jayne -- the voice of practicality
Inara -- the voice of reason
Book -- the voice of morals (dubious as his own past might be)
River -- the voice of (hell she's a choir, I'll get back to that)

and

FOX -- the voice of true gorramn stupidity

mrmgraphics
(website under serious reconstruction, if not life-saving surgery)

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 2:43 PM

RIVERFLAN

While Joss is the voice of true brilliance

#~%~~*~~~&~~~*~~%~#\/#~%~~*~~~&~~~*~~%~#

\~~~*~~^~~*~~~/$$\~~~*~~^~~*~~~/
98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 2:58 PM

PLATONIST

I intepretate Kaylee's behavior as more of a "peace keeper" within the family. She aborhs confrontation (let's not do anything hasty). Some may consider that mothering, I don't. The warm and fuzzy sister, yes. But, she really doesn't take care of anyone's physical or emotional needs.

She plays and runs around with River (the apple and the jacks) as an older sibling would. Her room door decoration is that of a teenager. Mal sees her interest in Simon as a "crush". She asks her folks if she can take an off world job. When she cooks, it is a cute Birthday Cake for her boyfriend, Simon. And, I’m not really sure if Kaylee painted the kitchen. Is that canon?

I don't really see her protecting the crew, either. In, the Train Job, it is Inara that grabs her to safety when Crow boards. It is River who does the math and takes out Niska's men. Mal doesn't expect that of Kaylee.

She may take care of Serenity's engine and keep them flying, but when in Out of Gas they break down, it is Mal that gives her the emotional support to stay focused. When Simon says something idiotic, she goes to Inara for solace.

Kaylee just doesn't have the experience or wisdom to be a mother persona to a complex group of adult crew members. Cheerful and hopeful yes, but, "Mom make it better, the worlds been mean to me today” no, I don't see it.

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 3:40 PM