River Tam (Firefly)

[inalasahl]

Title: Girl on the Brink
Author: inalasahl
Character: River Tam
Fandom: Firefly
Spoilers: Everything including "Serenity," "Bushwhacked," "Safe," "Ariel," "War Stories," "Objects in Space" and Serenity.

Comments

[nikitangel]

Great essay!

[inalasahl]

Thanks!

[executrix]

Thank you for a very thorough, thoughtful, and enjoyable essay.

My speculation is that River was always psychic, and that that's an important part of what the Academy recruitment process looked for.

[inalasahl]

Thank you!

Well, Simon does mention in "Safe" that River is intuitive, and I get the sense that he's not just saying that, nor is it a new thing. So I wouldn't be surprised if there was an element of sensitivity that they looked for. However, I think River is more of a mind-reader than a true psychic. I haven't the sense that she's ever predicted the future.

[executrix]

In "Ariel," it could go either way--that she attacks Jayne because of what she "hears" or because of what he's about to do (although it would certainly have saved a lot of trouble if she'd explained!). She tells Simon that the heart patient is going to die if Simon doesn't intervene. In "Out of Gas" she may have a clairvoyant knowledge of the fire, but then again she could just be looking in the right direction. In "Ariel" she says that Daddy is going to come and get them. In the movie, she knows when the Reavers are coming (although more notice would be helpful!) and in fact I think that's the main reason Mal brought her along, although he also hopes she's going to read anybody who's going to give him trouble.

In fact, my main criticsm of my darling Simon is that he should really have taken a more scientific interest in figuring out exactly how much of what River said eventually panned out, and in tracking her telepathic abilities.

[inalasahl]

She tells Simon that the heart patient is going to die if Simon doesn't intervene.
True

In "Ariel" she says that Daddy is going to come and get them.
That's "Safe," I think, and Simon thinks she's talking about Gabriel Tam, so that's one possibility. She could also be speaking about Mal and be either hopeful herself, or just reassuring Simon.

In the movie, she knows when the Reavers are coming
Well, but what's the range on mind-reading? Couldn't she have "heard" them landing, rather than predicted them?

In fact, my main criticsm of my darling Simon is that he should really have taken a more scientific interest in figuring out exactly how much of what River said eventually panned out, and in tracking her telepathic abilities.
I think Simon feels that it'd be a betrayal of River's humanity to have noticed.

[the_summoning_d]

A very well-balanced and well-written reflection on River. River has always been my favourite character in Firefly, and the scene where she fights the Reavers in the BDM is in my opinion one of the two best (The other being when Wash pilots them through the battle between the Alliance and Reaver ships). It's the combination of her strength and vulnerability that makes her such a fascinating character

Peace out
~TSD

[inalasahl]

Thank you!