Why I love Objects in Space, in a double picspam.
Why, Why, Why: A few reasons why Objects in Space is my favorite episode, of anything, ever.
“It’s just an object. Doesn’t mean what you think." River’s mantra is almost Zen-like, if handling guns was something monks did. The scene - and the show’s running theme - explores existentialism in all its mind-bending, meaningless glory; the symbolism is all over this episode, but this scene blatantly (and beautifully) illustrates it.
I love this scene - not only is it visually stunning, capturing the dreamy, trance-like state River seems to be in beautifully, but it’s layered with multiple intentions and multiple meanings - not only does it fulfill the thematic component of the show, but in a way, it gives us a peek into River’s head. You can feel the utter calm, the breezy atmosphere, and the intuitive, melancholy perspective River has, right before you are jarred into reality - a panicking crew and a really big gun. For a moment, you almost feel as confused as River.
It’s a little creepy how much River and Jubal think alike, if you forget that they only have instability in common. I like the back story River provided for him; it serves to point out that while River’s sanity is often called into question, she was once a brilliant, innocent girl, whereas Jubal was either always crazy or always bad, possibly - no, probably -both.
That and the whole Epic! showdown between and insane villain and an insane heroine makes for an interesting battle. It’s kind of a small miracle that their dialogue wasn’t more bizarre, really.
The above pretty much says it all, here. How costume designers managed to dress Simon primly enough that that came as a shock, is beyond me. Of course, how Jubal Early could be Jubal, and still let Simon put his shirt on is another curiosity. Maybe Simon was stalling for time, maybe he has major body issues, who knows.
It’s a soapbox of mine, I know, but all I know, is that when an insane, amoral bounty hunter breaks into my home to steal away and hurt the ones I love, my primary focus is not on my attire. Simon. He’s such a boob.
I mean, wow. Only River could convincingly sink into the role of ship. The scene’s wonderfully executed, too - complete with sound seemingly rolling around the ship. You get the sense that if Simon weren’t so logical, and Early weren’t so, well....bothered, they’d be wondering how River managed it. It must have been natural for her, though - she knows Serenity so well.
I mean, wow. Only River could convincingly sink into the role of ship. The scene’s wonderfully executed, too - complete with sound seemingly rolling around the ship. You get the sense that if Simon weren’t so damn logical, and Early weren’t so, well....bothered, they’d be wondering how River managed it. It must have been natural for her, though - she knows Serenity so well.
Would Mal have put up with that exchange without a challenge from Jayne? Or Inara, or Simon? No, he would not. But, he listened, he responded, and, most importantly, he trusted - something that isn’t really the most common occurrence with Mal. He also took orders, which is doubly weird, even if he wouldn’t ever let that fact be mentioned.
It should also be noted that Objects in Space made me ship Mal/River in a big way, simply because they play off one another so well.
Crying makes me feel awkward and embarrassed - in front of people, but also just in general. I avoid crying, if I can, which makes watching Joss Whedon shows that much more challenging and painful. With every show, even if I hold back the tears for seasons, one way or the other, the man gets me.
And of course, this is the one, the scene that pushed me past biting my lip and shoving the sadness down, and into the muttered curses on Joss & the grabbing of tissues. I resisted crying in Safe, Out of Gas, and the Message. But this pushed me over the edge. I held out so long, too.
It was River’s delivery of the lines that did it - the cracks in her voice, the mournfulness, and the forlornness, with a determination to help those she loves. It may have been a ruse, but she was pretty convincing in her despair.
I love when the whole crew bands together in times of difficulty. Usually someone gets left out of the heroic acts. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Book got knocked out, and Inara locked in, and um, where the hell was Jayne and what in the ’Verse did Zoe & Wash do?
The thing is, I count intent to act, or desire to act, as banding together. True, Zoe & Wash didn’t see any action, but if need be, they both would have run in to save the day, with guns a' blazing. Right before they got shot, so it’s just as well they stayed out of it - you need a pilot and a 2nd on a ship. Plus, they took care of Simon.
And, yes, Book got knocked out early on, but he moved to investigate, and with a less quick - and brutal - bad guy, he might have had a shot, or at least have alerted the crew. Simon got shot, which was useless. But he cared enough to get up and fight back after getting shot, and he did a wonderful job keeping Early busy.
And Jayne? Picture, if you will, what would have happened if he had gotten up, and gone to take care of Early. He would have gotten shot, which is not only unhelpful, but a good way to lose a decent merc. And that’s the best case scenario; the man could have caused utter chaos and multiple injuries. Perhaps made the ship explode. So it’s just as well, really. The roots may have been selfish, but sleeping through the entire thing was probably more helpful than getting up and fighting. Even if we do love to see it.
Jubal Early, spaced. It’s almost epic in it’s creativity, and he can’t fight back with his gun, so clearly self-preservation inspired it.
It’s also a bit creepy, knowing he will die a slow, worrisome death that is likely to make him less mentally stable than he already is. Dying - literally - in the middle of nowhere, has that effect. Since it’s Early, though, and he seems to regard every occurrence with a clinical detachment, just exploring the meaning - or lack thereof - of it all, and you don’t lose sleep over it, anyway, on account of how psychotic he is. For a few minutes, he’ll have some wonderful thinking time, followed by a painful death.
I love the role reversal here, and how cozy the three look, too. Zoe’s discomfort, Simon’s valiant fight to stay clear headed through the pain - and, possibly, through the drugs...
Mostly, though, it’s Wash. He’s so eager, waiting to use his fearsome brow mop (And it is me, or does he often describe innocuous inanimate objects - be it a plastic dinosaur or a piece of cloth - in dramatic, scary ways?). I just love how serious he is, as he performs his duty. Plus, the whole scene makes a snappy rhyme.
The reason I love this is simple: it’s a pretty, homey scene & they’re both so adorable. Scenes like this remind me just how much I love Kaylee, and how important to River’s well being Kaylee is - she gives her security and belonging.