Firefly first-time/rewatch (NO SPOILERS, please)

[Spock/Uhura Fan]

^ I thought companions were supposed to be respectable people in this culture. But then, I think Heart of Gold explains his digs at her and her jabs at him the most.

@lurok -- Lol, don't make me give you my Sylar face.

 

[6079SmithW]

^ They are, but Mal isn't a part of that culture, is he ? He's a dying breed and you could even say that he is stuck in the past.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

It's the culture of the elite and wealthy that honors companions. In Mal's working class culture a woman who charges money for sex would have a very different dynamic going on. Mal is ever ready to call a spade a spade even if it's not a spade in someone else's eyes.

 

[lurok]

Just to up the SF geek ante, she (Inara) reminded me a little of Dune's Bene Gesserit. Please no-one tell me she starts displaying kung-fu skills and mental abilities

 

[marksound]

Mal's digs at Inara are to hide the fact that he's extremely attracted to her. And vice versa. Just wait, you'll see.

 

[intrinsical]

I used a word I learned in Firefly to communicate with a chinese waiter recently. The word was bao. It was very exciting, LOL

The only Chinese I learned from watching was "Shi" (affirmative) and "Ta ma de" (dammit or fuck).

As far as the cultural mixing it really was a shame that it wasn't really explored. They got a little better in Serenity by having actual East Asians on screen.

Why is it that everyone usually learns the swear word "ta ma de" first? "Ta" directly translates to his/her/your. "Ma" is mother. "De" usually translates to "the" but in this instance its more of " 's ". So putting it all together it translates to "Your mother's (private parts)"

Just to up the SF geek ante, she (Inara) reminded me a little of Dune's Bene Gesserit. Please no-one tell me she starts displaying kung-fu skills and mental abilities

Companions can be thought of as the ancient root of the Bene Gesserit. Inara has been trained to make psychological "suggestions" and I think she did display some self defense skills in the movie, Serenity.

 

[Lindley]

Inara and Book get just enough development to raise questions, not quite enough to answer them. Maybe that's what makes them so intriguing. (Some of Book's backstory is elaborated in comics.)

 

[Forbin]

I think Inara is, basically, a skilled psychologist. There's nothing supernatural there.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Just to up the SF geek ante, she (Inara) reminded me a little of Dune's Bene Gesserit. Please no-one tell me she starts displaying kung-fu skills and mental abilities

That's a really good comparison!

I think Inara is, basically, a skilled psychologist. There's nothing supernatural there.

I agree with that. It's interesting though that her training allows her to pass through highest levels of diplomacy and power. The possibilities to be more than a sex worker are there and I wouldn't be surprised if some companions are not also spies despite their code most likely forbidding such things.

 

[Miss Lemon]

Mal's digs at Inara are to hide the fact that he's extremely attracted to her. And vice versa. Just wait, you'll see.

It was obvious that this is the writer's intent. It's another tired cliché, actually. My point is that I don't buy it. Why on earth would Inara fall for a guy who treats her like dirt? Also, these actors didn't have any chemistry going on, in the pilot anyway.

Mal is ever ready to call a spade a spade even if it's not a spade in someone else's eyes.

Good for him, but if I were Inara I'd let him rot and go for the doctor.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

The doctor is too young and gee whiz for her.

 

[Miss Lemon]

The doctor is too young and gee whiz for her.

He's only 4 years younger than Mal and 4 years older than Inara.

Yes, I checked to see if he was legal.

BTW, urban dictionary isn't very helpful with translating gee whiz. Be gentle with that Aussie slang to me.

 

[6079SmithW]

Gee whiz isn't specifically an Australian "slang". It just means someone that is too innocent and a bit socially inept. Anyway, Inara would have to get past Kaylee to get to Simon. But then again, Kaylee looks up to Inara and would probably let him go without a fight and then be passive aggressive.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well when I say "young" I don't mean just the literal years.

I suspect he would remind her far too much of some of her clients. Pretty, wealthy and privileged. Now obviously he's been on a steep learning curve because he's had to rescue his sister so he's stepped outside of his upbringing quite a bit.

I think he'll be quite hot in about ten years

 

[Shawnster]

Just to up the SF geek ante, she (Inara) reminded me a little of Dune's Bene Gesserit. Please no-one tell me she starts displaying kung-fu skills and mental abilities

That's a really good comparison!

I think Inara is, basically, a skilled psychologist. There's nothing supernatural there.

I agree with that. It's interesting though that her training allows her to pass through highest levels of diplomacy and power. The possibilities to be more than a sex worker are there and I wouldn't be surprised if some companions are not also spies despite their code most likely forbidding such things.

Inara's much like a geisha (with the added dimension of sex as an expected part of the deal), which is odd, considering the Chinese, rather than Japanese culture.

I found The Train Job to be a very fun and entertaining episode upon repeated viewing (once I understood the whole Firefly concept and universe). I liked Niska as a villain and was glad to see that he returns again. The killing of Krull (I think it was) with the engine intake was unexpected and still cracks me up. And, with the simple scene of the 2 by 2, hands of blue agents, the overall arc is pushed forward.

A great episode especially in light of it being put together literally over a weekend.

 

[IcecreamLtDan]

Inara and Book get just enough development to raise questions, not quite enough to answer them. Maybe that's what makes them so intriguing. (Some of Book's backstory is elaborated in comics.)

Some of Inara's backstory is covered in the anniversary special they did a few weeks ago.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

OH I have to watch that, thanks for the reminder!!

 

[lurok]

Perhaps I should have put 'No Shipping' as well as No Spoilers Though no doubt we'll probably all get round to it at some point.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I'm trying to figure out Mal's age. Speculation on the firefly wiki puts it at 31.

"Screens from Serenity suggest that Mal was born on September 20, 2468—which would make him 49 at the time of the series Firefly—though this may be a mistake, since the information screen also misspells his name as "Malcom," and may have been intended to be 2486, making him 31, an age more consistent with his appearance."

Simon was born 2490 so that makes him 27 though he looks a lot younger to me.

 

[Skywalker]

I think 2486 makes a lot more sense, too. Fillion was about 30 while the show was airing, so I always imagined Mal was around the same age.

I can also buy Simon being 27. He's a full-fledged doctor, not just a med student, and seems to already have some experience working in hospitals. He's just one of those people who looks young. Sean Maher was also 27 at that time, if that makes any difference.