(no subject)

[ivyfic]

In the beginning of Serenity, when Mal throws the man off the mule instead of the payload, it occurs to me that he is doing exactly what Jayne did in the episode "Jaynestown" - choosing his payload over a life.

Did you notice that when they're in Beaumont, there's a newscast about the Reaver attack? It says the only survivors are those that locked themselves in the town's vault.

Comments

[sydni-64.livejournal.com]

I think the difference though is that when Jayne did it, he was sacrificing the life of his partner, and that's what made it so despicable. When the guy confronts Jayne in the middle of town square, he doesn't say, "How could you throw a person off the ship?" he says (and I forget exactly, but it was something along the lines of) "You never leave your partner. Hell, everybody knows that."

So I suspect that for Mal, the difference is that that man wasn't part of his crew, and therefore was not his responsibility. (Although of course Zoe has her own thoughts on the matter.)

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

that man wasn't part of his crew

Interesting point since so much of the movie is Mal struggling with who and who isn't part of his crew. He feels the need to protect all these people but fears he can't - so he alienates and pushes aside those he is afraid for. In "Safe" when Simon asks why Mal came back, Mal answers:
Mal: You're on my crew.
Simon: But you don't even like me.
Mal: You're on my crew. Why are we still talking?
In the show, his sense of duty to the people on his ship is solid and unshakable. In the movie, we see that he has been shaken. Being on his crew is no longer enough; the fear of a repeat of Serenity valley is palpable throughout the film. But when push comes to shove, they are all still on his crew.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Consider also that Serenity takes place after two people have left his crew. Inara, who he, despite her threats, considered would always be there because of the benefit of their relationship and Book, who almost never made any noise about leaving until he did.

He's supposed to be able to leave them behind now that they're not on his crew, but notice how he goes right to Inara despite it being a trap, and how disturbed Book's death makes him--it's after the slaughter on Haven that he does the Reaver-makeover and have the major sorrow shot. He's realized that he still cares about his crew even when he has a choice not to (also evidenced by him picking up River and taking her with, thus starting the whole movie's problems with the Operative).