Where Was Inara's Companion Training In Shindig? by Jongsstraw

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

Where Was Inara's Companion Training In Shindig?

POSTED BY: JONGSSTRAW
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:53
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Friday, January 18, 2008 1:02 AM

Inara's training that makes her wise, glamorous, sophisticated, and an expert on the male species really was not operating very well in this episode.

When the rich and charming Atherton approaches Harrow when he's talking to Mal, her upper arm is sqeezed with a python-like intensity within a few seconds during Mal's bitingly humorous banter. I think any woman, right at that moment could have figured out that the guy was an overbearing dominant abuser of some sort. Then after her wonderful dance with laughing and warm emotions with Mal, Mr. A-hole runs up and yanks her away like a cop throwing some low-life into his patrol car on COPS. And again, Inara is just fine to play her part....but what about all that "a companion chooses her clients very carefully" stuff? And one more is when she still is with Mal and Harrow explaning to Mal what he's facing, and the Wingster holds his arm out and screams, not once, but twice for her to "come here"...like some sort of dog at Doberman training school....and she goes! Her confused and confrontationally twisted emotions for Mal really blinded her to Wing's neaderthalism....OR is all just about the "contract"...bought and paid for, can't say no per the client code or something.

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Friday, January 18, 2008 1:34 AM

SIMONWHO

Inara said to the woman client that she occasionally wanted someone soft and tender. Perhaps she also occasionally liked a bit of rough stuff.

That or she just hadn't seen Atherton's rough side until Mal brought it out in him.

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Friday, January 18, 2008 3:16 AM

SBAR

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Inara said to the woman client that she occasionally wanted someone soft and tender. Perhaps she also occasionally liked a bit of rough stuff.

That or she just hadn't seen Atherton's rough side until Mal brought it out in him.

I think everyone but Mal and Inara sees their love for each other. Mal has always been very tender with her, even when they are arguing. Their relationship has become very complicated and as stated in several episodes, Mal and Inara don't like complications.
She probably went to The Academy (much like a Geisha) at a very young age and this is the only life she's known. She's never met anyone like Mal and he shows her a world she really wants, but doesn't know how to get it. If the Guild is in fact politically run, she may be somewhat afraid of the consequences not only for herself, but Mal.
This is one storyline I would loved to have seen unfold. It could have taken many twists and turns.
SBar

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Friday, January 18, 2008 3:50 AM

JONGSSTRAW

Quote:
Originally posted by SBar:
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Inara said to the woman client that she occasionally wanted someone soft and tender. Perhaps she also occasionally liked a bit of rough stuff.

That or she just hadn't seen Atherton's rough side until Mal brought it out in him.

I think everyone but Mal and Inara sees their love for each other. Mal has always been very tender with her, even when they are arguing. Their relationship has become very complicated and as stated in several episodes, Mal and Inara don't like complications.
She probably went to The Academy (much like a Geisha) at a very young age and this is the only life she's known. She's never met anyone like Mal and he shows her a world she really wants, but doesn't know how to get it. If the Guild is in fact politically run, she may be somewhat afraid of the consequences not only for herself, but Mal.
This is one storyline I would loved to have seen unfold. It could have taken many twists and turns.
SBar

Well now I'm thinking maybe I was a bit too hard on her. Your post makes a lot of sense. I guess having to put up with some boorish behavior and a little manhandling goes with the job sometimes.

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Friday, January 18, 2008 7:43 AM

SBAR

Quote:
Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
Quote:
Originally posted by SBar:
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Inara said to the woman client that she occasionally wanted someone soft and tender. Perhaps she also occasionally liked a bit of rough stuff.

That or she just hadn't seen Atherton's rough side until Mal brought it out in him.

I think everyone but Mal and Inara sees their love for each other. Mal has always been very tender with her, even when they are arguing. Their relationship has become very complicated and as stated in several episodes, Mal and Inara don't like complications.
She probably went to The Academy (much like a Geisha) at a very young age and this is the only life she's known. She's never met anyone like Mal and he shows her a world she really wants, but doesn't know how to get it. If the Guild is in fact politically run, she may be somewhat afraid of the consequences not only for herself, but Mal.
This is one storyline I would loved to have seen unfold. It could have taken many twists and turns.
SBar

Well now I'm thinking maybe I was a bit too hard on her. Your post makes a lot of sense. I guess having to put up with some boorish behavior and a little manhandling goes with the job sometimes.

I think that Inara brings out the lovingly protective side of Mal. He would never hurt her or allow her to be hurt. The gentle, sweet, loving looks, playful teasing and the shy smiles. Especially in HOG when Nandi compares Mal to Inara, the smile says it all. He knows exactly who the "her" is Nandi's talking about later when she says "I'm not her".
Mal exudes confidence and uses charm and confidence where Atherton uses force and anger. He's very spoiled.
On a side note, in HOG when Inara breaks down in tears I think we see a young woman who held out hope that her prince would wait on her. All young girls fantasize the older boy she has a crush on will one day love her and possibly marry her. Mal appears to be 8-10 years older than Inara and in some ways he's more worldly. She wants to be with Mal, but since we don't know her background we don't know what she may or may not be hiding about who she works for.
We also saw a nurturing side of Inara during the childbirth scenes. Nandi noticed that someone or something on Serenity had brought out the maternal, nurturing side of her, also.
SBar

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:53 PM

SCHOOLBOYSWINK

Don't want to underestimate the change that Atherton goes through, either, or at least the apparent change. In the vid at the beginning of the episode, he is very charming, and must have been in their previous encounters or else Inara would have stopped choosing him as a client. (Mal had commented that he thought he was a "regular.") Atherton had probably never been challenged before, and this threatened his masculinity and brought out the bully side of him. Finally, when he is snubbed by Inara in favor of Mal, his failure is complete and his sadistic side shows its face ,though in a pathetic and childish way. Actually, I very much like the characterization of Atherton at the end, the petulant way he threatens Inara in a "shoulda, woulda, coulda" sort of way. It shows the true person of all abusive personalities, I think, not dominating, quite the contrary, whining excuses as they cringe like dogs.

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

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