30 Women: a creature of extrordinary grace.
FAVOURITE SUPPORTING CHARACTER:
RIVER TAM
First, an explanation. River Tam has long been my favourite female character. And I still love her. You start out thinking she's just fragile and crazy, then it turns out she's an epic young woman. Don't believe me? Let's examine her journey through my top 11 (lol aaah! you'll understand this freakout later) moments!
Before we get started on the picspam, y'all should watch this. It was released before the film Serenity to get fans' attention. And boy does it. You really need to watch it to fully understand River's character, and not just because we actually get to see what she was like sane. Without further ado, here's the River Tam Sessions.
Click to viewNow that you're sufficiently freaked out, on to the moment!spam
Let's go again!
From: Bushwacked, episode 3.
I love this moment - such a snapshot of innocent wonder. In the light of the stars, we can see River's problems just melt away. While Simon is terrified of the infinite space and the danger, it's this that helps River. Or at least, that's how I see it. Because I'm the same - when I think of how tiny we are in the universe, how nothing really matters in the infinite time and space, I get this wonderful sense of calm and perspective. I think it's the same for River. Or it could be something completely different. Whatever the reason, this is the first time we really see her smile and enjoy herself, and it's completely bizarre but completely beautiful too.
Sad little king of a sad little hill. Call me f'anyone interesting shows up.
From: Shindig, episode 4.
I love this moment because it's the first time we get to see River's badass skillz. She totally PWNS Badger, when before we'd just seen a broken, rambling little girl. Don't tell me your mind wasn't a little blown after this scene. It's a complete twist and hints at her mind reading skills we discover later. Terrible accent aside (because I'm sorry, even Juliet Landau's is better), this moment rules. And not just because of the ship :D
From: Safe, episode 5.
Who doesn't love this? I swear, I've seen it a million times and I still get chills when she leaps in there and starts dancing. It's not just great because it hints how she can translate maths into action, it's beautiful because we're starting to see the girl she was, happy, graceful and gorgeous. I can't really say any more for fear of gilding the lily, so have a gif instead.
Bible's broken. Doesn't make sense.
From: Jaynestown, episode 7.
Ah. This scene. This is the scene that made me obsessed with the number 11. And, 4 years later, the universe is still freaking me out with this number (it's way too complicated to into it now. Basically, this number pops up as a sign for a number of reasons. It's symbolic with growing up and either religion or secularism.). My personal connection to the scene aside, it's still great. River tries to fix the Bible because there are too many inconsistencies, and she can't explain the metaphors. Later, she learns that it's a symbol, not a literal history. Plus, it's a funny scene :D But not as funny as...
RIVER: His brains are in terrible danger!
ZOE: don't worry, he's putting the hair away not.
RIVER: but it'll still be there. Waiting.
From: Jaynestown, episode 7.
Bonus moment 4 da lulz.
No power in the 'verse can stop me.
From: War Stories, episode 10,
Possibly my favourite River moment ever, this is the moment we finally get to see her badass talents. We start to understand why the Alliance wanted her, what they turned her into. And she uses this to help her friend, to save Kaylee's life. It's omninous and yet beautiful. We finally see that this broken little girl isn't a victim.
She understands. She does not comprehend.
From: Objects in Space, episode 14.
I cheated here. I used 4 images instead of three, because three really wasn't enough. I love this entire montage of River's experiences. It's when we get to see what her life is like, and we start to understand what she's muttering about all the time. She reacts to things people tell her without talking, reads terrible secrets, feels things she shouldn't. Her world is one so entirely different to ours. It's when we get to see the extent of her genius, how everything translates into her language. And it's totally terrifying: she's not even aware she's holding a gun, or how she got it. This is obviously part of the Alliance conditioning: making her see a forrest glade to distract her from what she's doing. Beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
Can't be controlled, can't be trusted. Everyone could just go on without me, not have to worry. People could be the people they wanted to be, be with the people they wanted... could live simple. No secrets. And I'll be fine. I'll be your bounty, Jubal Early. And then I'll just fade away.
From: Objects in Space, episode 14.
Oh, this scene. It starts off creepy, with River revealing the true Jubal Early. Then there's the humour when he realises she's on his ship. And then... this. This beautiful speech. It shows us that River is way more aware than we took her to be, and it shows us a bit more of her character. She's prepared to sacrifice herself for her friends, her family. Although this is all a ruse, I'm sure that if it had gone wrong, if this were the only way, River would do the same thing. And just because it's a trick doesn't make this speech any less real. She obviously feels everything she's saying. She sees herself as a burden, is aware of this and yet can't help herself. I adore this. Unless you haven't guessed, I identify with her pretty strongly. I felt just like her when I was going through the worst of my depression. I'd say this speech and her "oh God make me a stone" speech in my head when I was at my worst. But this doesn't really mean anything. Basically, this is such a telling and beautiful moment. We get to see her as a character, instead of a plot device (which is kinda what she's been before). And what we find is a wonderful person, a hero.
She is a creature of extrordinary grace.
From: Serenity (film).
And here we get to see River in action, the assassin she was meant to be. She completely destroys the bar, without super strength, just using her genius and mind reading skills to work out everyone's moves before they do, defeating them by knowing exactly where their weaknesses are. And all because of a trigger no-one else sees. This is totally chilling and finally reveals just how dangerous River can be. She killed them with math.
Put a bullet to me. Straight through the brain-bands and squish!
From: Serenity (film)
This scene always makes me cry. It's perhaps the most touching of her scenes, when she's pleading with her brother to help her end this hell of an existance. She's tortured by these thoughts that "aren't mine". And yet she knows "things are gonna get much worse".
You've always taken care of me. My turn.
From: Serenity (film).
I got chills just writing the line. This scene... Ok, this scene is my favourite. River finally breaks out of her fears, uses all that was forced inside her brain to her advantage. Again, we see her willingness to sacrifice herself for her family. And while any other character would certainly have died, she not only survives but defeats an entire ship of Reavers.
RIVER: storm's getting worse.
MAL: we'll pass through it soon enough.
From: Serenity (film).
River is fixed. She's passed through her own storm, faced her demons head on and defeated them. Now she flies the ship with Mal, mistress of her own life at last.
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Well, that's it for the spam! But don't be sad. Here, have a bonus gif...
Recs and Downloads
Patience, Take That
I don't know why, but this song has always reminded me of River.
No Quarter, Led Zeppelin
I love this song. It's wierd, which is fitting. And when you apply "the news that must get through" to Serenity (the film) it works really well. Plus it's fucking epic. Enjoy!
Fast As You Can, Fiona Apple
Ruth's prompt for our RiBadge challenge. But it really fits River and her view of herself.
Fast As You Can, fic.
Set after Serenity, River seeks out her dream companion Badger. Unfinished, sorry!
hbic20in20 entries: River Tam
Gifs by gif_a_lil_bit
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Well, I hope you enjoyed that! Next up is Susan Pevensie! Maybe I'll write a fic for it... :P
~Lili