Talking about Firefly. No, really.

[fox1013]

So while procrastinating being incredibly productive these past few days, I have been rereading Ender's Game

Comments

[inlovewithnight]

Oh, I never put my finger on that, but you're right, that totally is something else that changes between the series and the movie. And yes, it does change River's story, a *lot*, and...yes! OMG. *That* is what bothered me, about that. I never pinned it down before.

THANK YOU YOU MAKE MUCH MORE SENSE THAN MY BRAIN.

(and I like the series-message better too.)

[fox1013]

It bothers me SO MUCH. Like, to the extent that I can't even accept Serenity as canon, because. Hi. Plz to not destroy my OTC. Hee.

[inlovewithnight]

I don't accept Serenity as canon, either, for...a wide variety of reasons, but that just moved WAY up the list.

[fox1013]

I pretty much could have dealt with anything but hurting my interpretation of River.

I am VERY ATTACHED to my River, who may or may not be Joss's.

[orangepenguino]

When the movie points River as the only one, the Special-est Special in Specialdom, that changes the context of everything. If River is the most special person at the Academy, then she is not just Brilliant- she is the top of the top of the top, the single figure who could do what she can do- so what do they do? They break her.I had always kind of figured that the breaking of her -- the mucking about in her brain, the turning her into a weapon, the resulting pseudo-insanity -- was just a sign of their ineptitude. They may have found the smartest, most intuitive girl in the entire verse (although I'll take your point that she wasn't alone) and their use for her isn't as delicate or as well thought out as the gov't plan in Ender's Game; it's to turn her into an easily controllable weapon

[fox1013]

I guess I don't understand why they wouldn't have practiced on less valuable people first. Like, wouldn't you want River to work well?

You'd think they'd read the classics.

♥

End Side-note, as it just occurred to me: Alliance academy vs. Ender's battle school vs. Project Christmas as methods to create kick-ass weapons out of baby geniuses.

THERE IS A MASTER'S THESIS IN THIS.

*coughs*

[superhero_chica]

I always kind of thought that they didn't realize that she was the best until they had already kind of broken her. My understanding was that it was still kind of experimental and there was probably really no way of knowing that she would work out to be the best

[cesario]

I think that's brilliantly reasoned. You're quite right, of course. Although I think you could make the argument that it isn't just a special relationship that singles River out, but special knowledge. If you disregard Serenity canon, then yes, River comes across as extremely perceptive, but I think Serenity at least intended to establish her psychic powers as canon. And by that token, I believe that while River may or may not have been the single most special student in the school, we are meant to think that her psychic powers did make her Very Special, at least in the top 1% of the class or something---otherwise, why would they bother showing her off to the politicians she learned the secret about Miranda from? Not that the message isn't still muddled. And I hope you do write that story, because it would be brilliant, seeing River in that context where she's almost average.

[fox1013]

*nods* I am totally willing to accept all of your caveats!

I... really want to write the story, but it's HARD, writing with OCs. I always feel weird about it.

I wish Firefly had the equivalent of the Big Bang ficathons

[raebird]

Hmm. I see what you're saying, but even so, none of it bothers me. Two reasons I see

[fox1013]

River wasn't the only one, but I thought of her as one of maybe half a dozen, ten at at the most.

Okay, that explanation makes some sense to me. The show really doesn't clarify either way.

(I don't actually know what Session 416 would support, the idea that there were many or few. Hmmm. Something to ponder.)

I guess I just wonder why the Alliance would risk River, if there are so few of her level- like,wouldn't it be smarter to do the risky stuff on people who would be of less value?

Also: it is creepy to think that they were trying to figure out kids' abilities at assassination. AWESOME.

[hobbledehoy]

i'm just tired of joss and his Awesome Crazy Girls. get over it, whedon. there are lots and lots of crazy girls. not all of them are magic.

[fox1013]

...Do you mean I'm not magic?

DDDDDD:

[hobbledehoy]

you are, but joss doesn't need to make a show about you.