Be With You 'til The Day You Die
In Firefly 1.08 "Out of Gas", when Mal is trying to get the catalyzer to the engine after being shot in the gut, he sounds like he’s trying not to cry. Which is amazing. Real people cry, one-dimensional heroes don’t. One extra sound effect makes a character infinitely more relatable.
I’m really glad that, in the end, it’s Wash that gives blood.
Despite the fact that they argued earlier in the episode, I never felt like the blood giving was a sign of forgiveness or anything overly dramatic. In another television show, or any anything else really, this would be an opportunity for them to make amends. Or declare their love for one another or whatever.
Which is why I’m glad it’s not Inara sitting there, by the by.
But with Wash, it just feels somewhat… unremarkable. Not everything has to be a crowning moment of heartwarmingness and a call for hugs and puppies all around. Sometimes things just happen. Wash, to me, feels like the least emotionally impactful choice, while he still makes sense as a choice.
Here’s my opinion (some more):
Zoë: An obvious choice, minimal emotional impact, completely in character, though might accidently ramp up the imaged UST between the two characters, but eliminated as an option by other events in the episode. Could work, just not here.
Inara: Again, obvious, because of the UST. Would become melodramatic and veer dangerously into classic romance drama in an episode where that wouldn’t really fit. I think it would have commandeered the entire episode and lessened the emotional connection to the rest of the cast, who all came back for Mal.
River: Um, no. I don’t think River’s too inclined to have any more needles stuck in her than strictly necessary. Would be out of character.
Kaylee: Could work about as well as Wash. Would be a slightly more sentimental ending for the episode, but I don’t think I would have complained.
Simon: Nope. He’s the doctor. He has doctoring to do. Just not a practical idea. Had it been, somehow, I d0n’t think it would be to annoying for me, though. Simon likes helping people, donating blood is a fairly common way of doing so. Some emotional impact here, because he is the new guy, but not too bad.
Jayne: I don’t really see Jayne giving blood. Helping people and letting people stab him willingly? It just doesn’t seem quite in character. But furthermore, he already had his emotional friendship scene with Mal in this episode. This one would have been over the top. In another episode, this might have been acceptable, if it was played right, but it would be too much here.
Book: Um. No. This would have been used as one more way to emphasize the goodness and generosity that is the Shepard, and we’ve gotten the picture by now. Would have seemed over the top and I think it would distance me as a viewer, and have left me feeling that Book is hogging the spotlight by being the most giving character and look at how kindhearted he is and blah blah blah. It’d be too much.
I’m also very pleased that, despite all my musings on the subject, this is a moment in the show that isn’t really discussed. Nothing comes of it. Wash gave blood, Mal survived another bullet. It’s not the point, it’s not the focus, it’s just something that happened.
I’m really glad that, in the end, it’s Wash that gives blood.
Despite the fact that they argued earlier in the episode, I never felt like the blood giving was a sign of forgiveness or anything overly dramatic. In another television show, or any anything else really, this would be an opportunity for them to make amends. Or declare their love for one another or whatever.
Which is why I’m glad it’s not Inara sitting there, by the by.
But with Wash, it just feels somewhat… unremarkable. Not everything has to be a crowning moment of heartwarmingness and a call for hugs and puppies all around. Sometimes things just happen. Wash, to me, feels like the least emotionally impactful choice, while he still makes sense as a choice.
Here’s my opinion (some more):
Zoë: An obvious choice, minimal emotional impact, completely in character, though might accidently ramp up the imaged UST between the two characters, but eliminated as an option by other events in the episode. Could work, just not here.
Inara: Again, obvious, because of the UST. Would become melodramatic and veer dangerously into classic romance drama in an episode where that wouldn’t really fit. I think it would have commandeered the entire episode and lessened the emotional connection to the rest of the cast, who all came back for Mal.
River: Um, no. I don’t think River’s too inclined to have any more needles stuck in her than strictly necessary. Would be out of character.
Kaylee: Could work about as well as Wash. Would be a slightly more sentimental ending for the episode, but I don’t think I would have complained.
Simon: Nope. He’s the doctor. He has doctoring to do. Just not a practical idea. Had it been, somehow, I d0n’t think it would be to annoying for me, though. Simon likes helping people, donating blood is a fairly common way of doing so. Some emotional impact here, because he is the new guy, but not too bad.
Jayne: I don’t really see Jayne giving blood. Helping people and letting people stab him willingly? It just doesn’t seem quite in character. But furthermore, he already had his emotional friendship scene with Mal in this episode. This one would have been over the top. In another episode, this might have been acceptable, if it was played right, but it would be too much here.
Book: Um. No. This would have been used as one more way to emphasize the goodness and generosity that is the Shepard, and we’ve gotten the picture by now. Would have seemed over the top and I think it would distance me as a viewer, and have left me feeling that Book is hogging the spotlight by being the most giving character and look at how kindhearted he is and blah blah blah. It’d be too much.
I’m also very pleased that, despite all my musings on the subject, this is a moment in the show that isn’t really discussed. Nothing comes of it. Wash gave blood, Mal survived another bullet. It’s not the point, it’s not the focus, it’s just something that happened.