"You have a strange sense of nobility, Captain. You'll lay a man out for implying I'm a whore but you keep calling me one to my face."
The focus of this episode is on Mal and Inara's relationship and interactions. Mal has continuously implied that Inara is simply a whore, and yet he fights a duel in an attempt to defend her honor. He secures much more than this. Because of this sword fight, Mal has the opportunity to communicate to Inara his respect for her, and to obtain the property he has been hired to scavenge.
The sexual tension between Mal and Inara is painfully obvious, leaving no room for subtlety. Rather than peacefully doing his job at a party and winning the property he sought, Mal lands a punch squarely in the jaw of the rich man (Atherton) who wanted Inara as his personal companion. This foolhardy action lands Mal at the mercy of Atherton's blade.
Accidentally accepting the challenged sword fight means that Mal has little time to hone his narrow knowledge of dueling. Inara, deeply worried about the captain, visits him secretly in the night to help him prepare. In a rare vulnerable moment, Mal begs Inara not to leave Serenity for Atherton. This moment is my favorite of the episode, because the hard and cocky shell that Mal has constructed for years is finally worn away by his fear and desire. He is honest, telling Inara that although he may not respect her job like Atherton does, he respects and sees her as a person.
During the duel, things look bad for Mal. Furthering the character and relational development of the episode, Inara offers herself to Atherton, promising to stay as his companion if only he spares Mal's life. Mal bares his metaphorical fangs and downs Atherton, winning the duel but refusing to kill him.
As the episode draws to a close, another tender moment seals this episode as a winner in the realm of character development. Inara and Mal sit together for wine, looking over their cargo of scavenged cattle. (Only in a space western would cows seem altogether fitting on a space ship!) Inara opens up to Mal a bit further. "I wasn't gonna stay, you know...Why would I want to leave Serenity?" "Why indeed?" They smile, things feel mushy, and the episode draws to a close.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Firefly Reflection: Episode Eight
I'm four episodes ahead tonight. Oops. After being assigned to watch episode eight for class, I chose to write my reflection immediately rather than waiting to enter it chronologically. So I'm skipping around a bit. Forgive me.
As far as entertainment goes, this episode was, as usual, great. I found the mixed storylines (many of the scenes were out of chronological order) and the recap of Serenity's history, as well as the threat of her eternal loss, to be relatively gripping. I say relatively because of course everything was alright in the end--it's a TV show. What more can we expect?
I believe that this episode discusses commitment, and does so with aplomb. Were the scenes strung together linearly, we would have seen Mal's journey with his ship, Serenity, in chronological order. From his "love at first sight" purchase of the broken, run down thing, to his firing of a mechanic in favor of the man's girlish lover and her talent, to his refusal to leave the ship's side, to his heroic last-ditch effort to save and protect her, Mal is dedicated. He will not give up, not if bullies or engine failure or a near-death wound try to make him.
I think that Mal's dedication and commitment to his ship are admirable, and present this theme or concept in practical, applicable terms. Once you make a promise, you keep it--you don't leave. It's that simple. Your life on the line, it is duty and responsibility that call you to stay true to your word and to those in your keeping.
I do not think that this episode moved the story arc forward, not really, but it certainly did further character development. Although Mal was labeled "bad" just a few episodes previously, he continues to prove himself and to earn my respect. I find his actions remarkable and praiseworthy, though his occupation still troubles me some. Because I am partial to the progression of character development, even at the cost of the storyline, I liked this episode quite a bit and would recommend it to others.
As far as entertainment goes, this episode was, as usual, great. I found the mixed storylines (many of the scenes were out of chronological order) and the recap of Serenity's history, as well as the threat of her eternal loss, to be relatively gripping. I say relatively because of course everything was alright in the end--it's a TV show. What more can we expect?
I believe that this episode discusses commitment, and does so with aplomb. Were the scenes strung together linearly, we would have seen Mal's journey with his ship, Serenity, in chronological order. From his "love at first sight" purchase of the broken, run down thing, to his firing of a mechanic in favor of the man's girlish lover and her talent, to his refusal to leave the ship's side, to his heroic last-ditch effort to save and protect her, Mal is dedicated. He will not give up, not if bullies or engine failure or a near-death wound try to make him.
I think that Mal's dedication and commitment to his ship are admirable, and present this theme or concept in practical, applicable terms. Once you make a promise, you keep it--you don't leave. It's that simple. Your life on the line, it is duty and responsibility that call you to stay true to your word and to those in your keeping.
I do not think that this episode moved the story arc forward, not really, but it certainly did further character development. Although Mal was labeled "bad" just a few episodes previously, he continues to prove himself and to earn my respect. I find his actions remarkable and praiseworthy, though his occupation still troubles me some. Because I am partial to the progression of character development, even at the cost of the storyline, I liked this episode quite a bit and would recommend it to others.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Firefly Reflection: Episode Three
"We're all running from something, I suppose." Inara to Simon
This episode focuses on a young man who was running from his own memories after he witnessed an attack by Reavers, people who have wandered the edges of space and become horribly gruesome rapists and murderers. After watching his family and thirteen others be brutalized and killed, his own mind turned on him. During this episode, his whole demeanor changes from that of a frightened child to a purely evil creature. He becomes the darkness and hatred that he was forced to witness.
I don't necessarily think that this concept parallels a modern issue, but it certainly presents an interesting psychological and perhaps even theological dilemma. Does exposure to evil and darkness somehow taint us? Some claim that violent video games can warp minds and turn children into killers who perpetrate school shootings. Whether or not this claim is accurate (evidence varies on the topic), it does seem clear that as Christians, we should use caution in choosing what we see and hear.
Tyler Joseph of the popular music group twenty one pilots commented on the topic on his Twitter account, saying, "Evil is really 'in' right now. I'm all for darkness. But a shred of hope is vital." As a follower of Christ, I can experience and learn about dark things, but I should not allow myself to be ensconced in those things. Some exposure to light, some hope in the darkness, must always be including in the media that I partake of. Thankfully, this show itself is not all dark and hopeless.
An interesting note that furthers the character development and plot is that River Tam clearly had a psychological or mental question with the man who became a Reaver. Her emotions were heavily connected to his and you could see pain, suffering, and fear in her reactions.
As far as entertainment value in this episode, I was holding my breath near the end. It built a lot of suspense and though it was not my favorite episode so far, it was very interesting.
This episode focuses on a young man who was running from his own memories after he witnessed an attack by Reavers, people who have wandered the edges of space and become horribly gruesome rapists and murderers. After watching his family and thirteen others be brutalized and killed, his own mind turned on him. During this episode, his whole demeanor changes from that of a frightened child to a purely evil creature. He becomes the darkness and hatred that he was forced to witness.
I don't necessarily think that this concept parallels a modern issue, but it certainly presents an interesting psychological and perhaps even theological dilemma. Does exposure to evil and darkness somehow taint us? Some claim that violent video games can warp minds and turn children into killers who perpetrate school shootings. Whether or not this claim is accurate (evidence varies on the topic), it does seem clear that as Christians, we should use caution in choosing what we see and hear.
Tyler Joseph of the popular music group twenty one pilots commented on the topic on his Twitter account, saying, "Evil is really 'in' right now. I'm all for darkness. But a shred of hope is vital." As a follower of Christ, I can experience and learn about dark things, but I should not allow myself to be ensconced in those things. Some exposure to light, some hope in the darkness, must always be including in the media that I partake of. Thankfully, this show itself is not all dark and hopeless.
An interesting note that furthers the character development and plot is that River Tam clearly had a psychological or mental question with the man who became a Reaver. Her emotions were heavily connected to his and you could see pain, suffering, and fear in her reactions.
As far as entertainment value in this episode, I was holding my breath near the end. It built a lot of suspense and though it was not my favorite episode so far, it was very interesting.
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