Serenity at Christmas....

[fajrdrako]

Yesterday I watched the first disc of the Firefly DVDs with lmondegreen. I love those shows more every time I see them.

This is the first time I had watched the first three (chronologically) in order and I was surprised how the story fell into place - it's all much more linear than I had thought, as you learn things bit by bit. The developing revelations about River, for example. I had forgotten that the 'hands of blue' reference was so early, or that we actually saw the blue-hand guys so soon in the series.

I first fell in love with Mal Reynolds when he threw Niska's henchman into the turbo-engine - back when "The Train Job" was the first episode. I still think one of his best moments is shooting the Fed in "Serenity". So why do I love Mal for his murderousness?

The answer: that isn't the whole story. It's the combination of character, charm and dirty deeds. Love it when he tells Kaylee "I'm a bad man," while tenderly holding her hand. That's so sexy - the combination of tough and sweet that he manages so convincingly.

I'd also forgotten the lovely scene where Inara brushes Kaylee's hair and then Mal asking, "Will you do my hair, too?" (Cute, very cute.)

And the conversation between Jayne and Mal, when Mal asked Jayne why he didn't sell him out to the Fed and Jayne says the Fed didn't offer him enough money. And when Jayne is offered enough money: "That'll be an interesting day." Then the smile they exchange.

Can't wait to watch the rest of these DVDs.

(Fandom feels like a good place to be these days.)

Comments

[gem225.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that you're enjoying the DVDs. :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, I certainly am. Can't think you enough! Every episode is as good as I remember and better.

[movies-michelle.livejournal.com]

I am totally with you: loving the show, loving Mal. His comment to Simon in the pilot, after Simon wonders if Mal will kill him in his sleep for the reward money: "If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed." Which is interesting, but weirdly not contradictory, when you look at the fact that he killed Niska's man when the guy was bound, and killed the fed from behind. Both guys hurt or tried to hurt his people. Mal does not take kindly to that.

And the exchange about the "interesting day" between Mal and Jayne is also interesting. It's amazing how all of these things play when you actually see watch the entire series, pilot first. Makes a huge difference in character development. *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

His comment to Simon in the pilot, after Simon wonders if Mal will kill him in his sleep for the reward money: "If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed."

Yes. When you think about it, it isn't so much a comment on the circumstances in which Mal will kill, but on his personal assessment of Simon. He believes that Simon will not threaten one of his people; it's a testament to how he has judged Simon's character and is now ready to trust him.

What I most love about that line, I think, is Mal's prefect to it: "Well, you don't know me, son, so I'll say this once." That says a lot about Mal, especially his mode when he's responding to a threat.

Both guys hurt or tried to hurt his people. Mal does not take kindly to that.

Like Kaylee said: "You protect us, Captain."

It's amazing how all of these things play when you actually see watch the entire series, pilot first.

Yes. It isn't that I failed to catch on to these character things when I first saw the out-of-order episodes. It's that they mean so much more in retrospect.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Love it when he tells Kaylee "I'm a bad man,"

He says that more than once. Is it a mantra with him? Is he repeating something that someone once said about him in criticism? We knows he's noble, with a deep and complex -- but utterly pure -- nobility. He says this more than once, in frank and inivisible irony. Such a complex man.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Complex certainly, which is one of the reasons I love him so. My guess would be that like most good people he has a conscience, and judges himself harshly for some of the things he does - killing people, for example. So he thinks of himself (with a fair sincerity) as a bad man, but he's really far better than he thinks he is.