origin of Adria's name

[kehwie]

I thought I'd attempt to spark a wee bit of discussion.  There may be other venues more likely to get a response (discussion forums and the like), but...I don't know of them.  So I thought I'd try here.  We'll see how it goes.

In the episode "Flesh and Blood,"

Comments

[campylobacter]

I think one of the reasons why the accepted fanon/canon that Vala told the truth about Adria being her stepmother and a "witch of a woman" is that in 10x18 "Family Ties" (you know, the one that everyone seems to dismiss) there are these exchanges:

JACEK: Ha ha. You've got your father's wit.
VALA: It's hardly enough time to cover your inadequacies as both a parent and a human being in general.
JACEK: And your mother's uncanny ability to hold a grudge.
- - - -
Jacek could be referring to Vala's stepmother unless -- as some parents do -- he was temporarily disclaiming parenthood and ascribing a negative character trait to Vala's biological mother.
= = = = = = = = = = =
VALA: Well, the accent, like most of my other good qualities I got from my mother. My charm. My wit. My good looks.
DANIEL: What'd you get from your dad?
VALA: Some minor food allergies.
- - - -
Vala's accent is a big clue to her backstory, and indicates that Jacek might not even have been from the same planet as Vala & her mom.
= = = = = = = = = = = [ESPECIALLY THIS ONE] = = = = = = = = = = =
JACEK: That's because I raised you to be cautious... wary.
VALA: Mother raised me.
JACEK: Which one?
VALA: (scornfully) My mother.
- - - -
Maybe Jacek was referring to *his* mother (Vala's grandma)? Although it tracks closer to stepmom vs. bio mom for Vala. It's clear that they've talking about 2 different women in this conversation.
= = = = = = = = = = =


VALA: How dare you implicate yourself in my life after all these years? You were never there for Mother! Even though you always expected us to be there for you, whenever you needed a-a place to hide or-or capital to help set up one of your latest scams!
- - - -
Jacek = absent dad until he wanted something, leaving Vala & her mom to fend for themselves. Does seem to suggest that he might've had a second life on another planet, complete with a wife & kids.

Then there's the sixbeforelunch fic M Is for Mother that kind of cemented Adria-as-stepmom in fanon. [warning: ANGST]

As for Adria the Orici, perhaps there's a cultural reason that Vala mentioning her stepmother as mother doesn't register as deceit if Adria can detect when Vala's lying? We're viewing familial designations through modern, Euro-centric vocabulary. Maybe in Vala's culture there was no verbal distinction between the two, and Vala acquired the concept of step-parent in her travels?

I'm open to other interpretations of Adria's namesake, because Vala not being honest with Daniel doesn't bother me in Seasons 8 & 9. It gives their relationship an arc, with plenty of room to develop mutual trust before they hook up.