I love this show: Jaynetown and Out of Gas

[dangermousie]

This gets better and better.

Jaynetown was hilarious and fed my growing Simon love. And Out of Gas is my favorite episode so far seeing as it features a h/c Mal. Guuuuh. Guuuuuuuuuuh.

At this rate, I'll hyperventilate by the end.


Jaynetown:

That was hilarious, and Jayne showed some really interesting humanity and Mal was mightily amused and had a good time, but forget all that because I want to talk about Simon.

He is so adorable in this one. I loved the little teaser with Kaylee (how adorable are they? I have a show where there are TWO OTPs for me!) where she asks him why he never swears. And I love his lovely sarcasm finally beginning to shine through ("this is what it feels like to go mad"), and the fact that he clearly wants to go on an excursion but is worried about River, and the fact that he pretends to be a "buyer" and really gets into his role. I love his drunken mild jealosy of Jayne's fame ("I got a hamster named after me"), I love the fact that he tries to fight that one-eye guy and gets wounded (I am a h/c whore).

And Simon/Kaylee was adorable. When he tells her she is pretty, and when they fall asleep together and when he tries to explain to Mal, because Mal is THE big brother and Kaylee misinterprets and gets hurt. But then she helps him get up and calls him "honey." Heee. And the tag scene where she says she doesn't understand why he has to be so proper and he tells her it's his way of showing that he likes and respects her, and that is who he is. Simon love!

Also, thought Book's Einstein hair was hilarious. So was River's reaction. And so was the Jayne song.

Out of Gas:

My favorite episode so far. How could it not be, what with all the lovely Mal angst and h/c and the guuuh scene with Inara, and that tag. *wibble*

I loved seeing how Mal and Zoe acquired Serenity (and how Mal viewed it as a way to get away from Alliance and be free. The look in his eyes when he first sees Serenity...). He loves the ship because it gave him a life. Loved seeing how they met Jayne by luring him away from people who tried to shoot them (Mal is one heck of a negotiator), how Kaylee was the previous useless mechanic's fuckbuddy and how Zoe didn't like Wash at first.

But fave "new arrival" scene has got to be Inara's. When she makes all these rules that are soooo going to be broken (e.g. not entering her shuttle w/o permission) and then she says he'll hire it to her because "you want me" and it turns out that's not what she meant but the look he gives her...guuuuuh.

I also loved the fun and sweet beginning. I am really beginning to ship Simon/Kaylee quite hard. He is such a sweetheart and his delight at getting a cake? Awwww. I am getting an impulse to thwap Jayne every time he picks on him. Also, his little bit to Inara about dying on his birthday? Broke my heart. He is such a sweet, innocent guy.

But hey, this was a Mal show all the way and it made me a happy happy girl. His determination not to leave Serenity and to save the crew made me melt (and I loved his big brother interactions with Kaylee but what else is new). You could totally sense his panic once something went wrong, and you could totally see him supress it in order to get things done.

And then when he sends Inara away and she wants to say something and he won't let her...that whole scene. And then she says "you don't have to die alone" (is she offering what I think she is?) and he replies "everybody dies alone" and you just see his face. Good Lord!

And of course all the wounded and still persevering Mal parts...Even though I knew he wasn't going to die (he is the main character for God's sake), I was still hyperventilating with worry.

And the tag that just made my little heart fall to itty-bitty pieces. When he opens his eyes and everyone is there and then Simon says everyone needs to leave so he can rest, and Mal asks whether they will all be there when he wakes up in that tone of voice...OMG.

In conclusion? Mal...Mal........Mal hyperventilates

Comments

[hobviously.livejournal.com]

Yes! To all of it!

You're making me want to rewatch the whole series. Guh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am feeling all sad that there are only 6 eps left :(

[jammer77.livejournal.com]

That's how I felt as I was watching it, too. Now I must go and buy the DVD set.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oooh, icon! I saw the premiere ep on scifi and had to buy the set because I couldn't wait a week :)

[rawles.livejournal.com]

Oh Lord. You've reminded me of how much I love Jaynestown and Out of Gas and everything so much and guh.

Must. Rewatch. Now.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heee. I loved Simon asking for menu is Jaynestown :D

And on Mal/Inara front, I loved how she assumed that the "noble outlaw" was Mal and jumped to his defense. Heeeee. I am a hopeless shipper.

[rawles.livejournal.com]

That part is so awesome. Hee. She gets all dreamy and "Mal is such a noble and wonderful man," then it gets even better cos Morena Baccarin has great comic timing and her "Wubba?" when she finds out it's actually Jayne is hilarious.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That's because she's got Mal on the brain (and who could blame her).

Firefly!

[wendilly.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't mind a total stranger popping in on you - but I must tell you how much I have enjoyed reading your Firefly posts. I recently acquired the DVD set myself - watched all 13 episodes in 2 days - and I am in the throes of "OMG! This is the best show ever!" Your excitement and squee!ness just feeds my own, so thanks!

Re: Firefly!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I love total strangers popping in on me, as long at they aren't of the "Jayne toting his gun" variety :)

And yes, Firefly squee just can't be stopped!

[aliterati.livejournal.com]

I will join you on the Simon love, but how can you possibly ship him with Kaylee? This isn't even about slash. It's just that she's so...so...sunny. And cheery. And annoying.

Simon/Kaylee is one of those fiction ships that annoys me the most, because they seem like they can make such a nice couple on the show, but if you really think about it, they have nothing in common, come from completely different backgrounds, wouldn't fully able to understand each other, and would run out of things to talk about after a couple of weeks. I could even see Simon with Inara, in a strange way, but with Kaylee? Once the initial she's-oh-sweet-ness fades, she'll just bore him to tears--and probably vice versa.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You mean you've seen the show? :D

Actually, I love Kaylee because she is sunny and happy and uncomplicated. Considering how screwed-up the rest of Simon's life is, he needs someone like that. Why won't they be able to understand each other? Most people can, who have any interest and a normal IQ.

Besides, don't you ship Mal/Simon and they are just as incompatible. Mal might not be sunny, but the rest of your objections apply (different backgrounds, nothing in common). :D

[aliterati.livejournal.com]

Hey, I made that video and saw the show before you did!

(And it used to be up, but it's not up right now. I can get it to you if you like.)

I still think that Simon and Kaylee come from such different backgrounds that it wouldn't work out. Seriously, this isn't het-hating. It's the same problem as E.M. Forster's 'Maurice.' The main guy, a bourgeouis sophisticate, ends up with a working class young man, and you just know that after a couple of months, they'll realize that they just don't mesh. Same here.

As for shipping Simon/Mal... Well, yeah, but that's just a fantasy kick. I don't actually think there's any slash in the show or that it would honestly, seriously to God work out. And I don't so much slash them as love a very good story where someone *else* slashes them--and in her context, they fit together very well psychologically.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Classist! :D

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you've found the Simon love. He's just a sweet guy and I like his deadpan humor. He's so quiet otherwise you don't expect it of him. I get annoyed at Jayne for the vicious razzing of Simon because, heck, Simon's not trying to be deliberately pretentious, that's just how he was raised. And Simon has enough issues in his life without Jayne being a prick to him.

I do like the Kaylee/Simon ship simply because they're such opposites that they compliment each other. She takes him in stride and he sort of seems to get around his social awkwardness around her. Sure, she's not as book smart as he is, but she makes up for it with know how. I can see the two of them learning from each other because even though Simon is smart, he doesn't lord it over people simply because he knows River left his intellect in the dust. They're comfortable with each other, and that's saying something. I think that's more a basis for romance than constant snark with someone.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

And Simon has enough issues in his life without Jayne being a prick to him.

Yes. I do like the fact that he is so polite not for any particular reason, but because it's part of who he is, and he tries to explain it to Kaylee.

As to Jayne, it's a chalk and cheese thing. Jayne would never do it to Mal not just because Mal won't let him (Jayne seems to know who is alpha), but because Mal is the kind of guy he is used to and understands and who behaves in a frontier-like way. Jayne thinks that "well-spoken" and "not gun-good" equals useless idiot, which is ridiculous. I felt awfully bad for Simon when Jayne just cut off his story and switched to Inara as he thought hers would be more interesting.

she's not as book smart as he is, but she makes up for it with know how.

Excatly. If Simon was left out on one of those worlds, he'd probably die in a nanosecond. It's just not something he is used to. He has courage and nerve and all that stuff, but it's of a quite different quantity than that of Mal. He is not equipped to deal with the outposts.

They're comfortable with each other, and that's saying something.

And realistically speaking, even though I prefer Mal/Inara ship, Simon and Kaylee have a better chance for being happy in the long run, for that very reason (but hey, I like Mal/Inara because they are screwed up). Simon and Kaylee like each other, and they relax around each other, and that's the best foundation for a relationship there is.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I figure Jayne simply sees Simon as someone he can push around since for all his bluster he can't push anyone else on the ship around and get away with it. Simon is too quiet to push back and Jayne doesn't see him as useful at all. I simply don't find it funny when Jayne picks on him though. I don't know, I find Jayne funny most of the time, but he's such a dumbass himself and then to be picking on Simon just makes him seem like a bully (which he technically is). Not a Jayne fan.

It just depends on the ship personalities involved I think. Just like Ron/Hermione thrive on bickering, Mal/Inara do the same. Harry/Ginny is a calm, sweet relationship and so is Simon/Kaylee. Simon couldn't put up with a relationship that had a lot of wangst in it. He's got enough for everyone with his own life. Same thing with Harry. They need support systems in their mates, not a challenge. And their relationships pose the same problem. They're both wanted men and as things stand they can't just settle down to a happily ever after.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Not a Jayne fan.

Oh, I love him as a character, because I find him very funny, but as a person, yes he leaves a lot to be desired.

Simon couldn't put up with a relationship that had a lot of wangst in it.

So true. Simon is a lot less agressive than Mal, in any event. Mal likes to push and have someone push back. Simon? It seems he just clams up when that happens (just like Harry). And he certainly needs someone cheerful arounf seeing as his other companion is his hopelessly brain-addled little sis.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I think the very fact that he lets Kaylee get close to him indicates that he really does like her. Simon keeps to himself and doesn't go out of his way to change that. With Kaylee, he actually seems to seek her out and like being around her. And Kaylee is also very patient with River. Out of everyone, she seems to understand his devotion to his sister.

Simon just impresses me as someone who needs somebody to hug on him. For a young guy, he's shouldering a huge burden and I see Kaylee as being willing to do that for him. And Simon is a caregiver. He's compelled to take care of people. Kaylee needs someone to look after her a bit too, as Mal does. I could easily see Simon taking that position for her.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

With Kaylee, he actually seems to seek her out and like being around her.

I loved the bit in Jaynetown, where they were hanging around, rather inebriated. I realized then that you almost never see Simon relax, and this must be one of the first times.

Out of everyone, she seems to understand his devotion to his sister.

I think it's her own kindness of heart, there. Kaylee is "low maintenance." She won't throw fits, she is very down-to-earth, all of this something Simon desperately needs. And she is very very warm, which considering the isolated and friendless existence Simon has led, must be very soothing.

Simon just impresses me as someone who needs somebody to hug on him. For a young guy, he's shouldering a huge burden

Oh yes. Definitely agreed with you on the hug front. He does seem so touched when they get him a birthday cake, he's like a little kid. I guess he is used to being thoughtful for other people, not other people being thoughtful of him.

The thing with Mal and Inara is that they need the tug of war. Inara needs someone like Mal, who just keeps snarking, and arguing and ignoring the cold shoulder, as otherwise Inara just retreats into her mask as a default. And Mal needs someone to also keep snarking and pushing as otherwise he finds it easy to distance himself and take all the burden on responsibility on himself and try not to care. But for Simon, he needs someone who is uncomplicated and who won't keep pestering him. He would just retreat and fold emotionally under a Mal-type personality, and with Inara there would be a state of mutual politeness and a wall neither can break. Yup, Kaylee is best for him.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Simon just can't take the friction that Mal's personality evokes and Inara's personality is a mask which Simon would never be aggressive enough to get around. Mal doesn't care what Inara says, he's willing to be rude to her and make her angry to reveal who she really is.

And you're right. Kaylee is a giver too. She and Simon are both givers and are suited in that way. He needs someone like Kaylee or he'll just implode in on himself from stress. And Simon, for his part, would give everything he's got to Kaylee just like he gives to River. And she's one of the few people who can give back to him just a freely as he gives. I'm just very fond of that pair.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

needs someone like Kaylee or he'll just implode in on himself from stress

Exactly. He needs to have something nice and sweet and fun in his life, because otherwise his life is just unbearable (it must kill him to deal with the messed-up little sis on a daily basis and try to help and see it going nowhere).

Simon, for his part, would give everything he's got to Kaylee just like he gives to River

Indeed. The thing is, both of them have a certain innocence depite their life that goes very well together. And both are very individual people oriented (unlike Mal who is really a frustrated idealist, Simon and Kaylee don't care for bigger, more abstract things as long as the loved ones are safe).

Mal doesn't care what Inara says, he's willing to be rude to her and make her angry to reveal who she really is.

And of course she enjoys the challenge, precisely because men generally are bowled over by her and never really say what they mean but the polite and proper thing. And they see her as her status symbol, not as a person, the way Mal does (sorry, not S/K but I love M/I so :D)

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I think the completely dedicated part of Simon's personality is what I love about him. He might not be the bravest or the most physically able, but if he loves a person he will try to move heaven and hell for them with no thought about his own personal well being. I could see him being willing to do that for Kaylee just as much as for River. And that part of him that doesn't get the bigger picture is why he automatically butts heads with Mal. Simon doesn't care about "ideals" as long as he can keep people safe. I think that's sort of the difference between an idealist and a giver. Simon would never be willing to sacrifice those he loves for "the big idea". I can see Mal being willing to do that. The two don't understand each other because of that.

And Inara needs someone to who doesn't feel like they have to play up to her beauty or "services" or whatever else. I don't think Mal could care less if she wasn't gorgeous. Mal tends to not judge on face value. As for her status symbol as a companion, he'd rather she not be one. And I think it's the fact that he values her so much as a person that it just completely rubs him wrong that she's willing to sell herself so cheaply in his mind.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Simon would never be willing to sacrifice those he loves for "the big idea". I can see Mal being willing to do that.

Oh yes. And Simon would also lay down his life for those he loves, but he could never care for a cause. I think the "giver" thing fits very well with his profession. He's chosen to be a doctor when he could have been so many other things. And he really does care for people, see that ep where hill people kidnap him and instead of throwing a fit, he just snarks and starts taking care of the sick people immediately. The thing is, despite his life, he hasn't grown a tough protective shell yet, and that's why it annoys me when Jayne bugs him, because Simon can't hide from the hurt.

I also don't think Kaylee will mind coming second to River, which is crucial for anyone in a relationship with Simon (though I think part of this dedication is because River needs his help and care the most. If she was all there, it would be another story).

think it's the fact that he values her so much as a person that it just completely rubs him wrong that she's willing to sell herself so cheaply in his mind.

Yes. I think it's in part because he is an idealist and a rebel, that he can view society's rules as meaningless. He is all about a person as a person and having dignity. His comment to Inara that he insulted her profession, not her as a person really was that, the truth, I realized, once I saw the ep where he is trying to talk to Saffron about the fact that she should be her own person and stand on her own feet etc etc. But of course with Inara there is jealousy there as well.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

that's why it annoys me when Jayne bugs him, because Simon can't hide from the hurt.

And Sean Maher portrays that perfectly because everytime someone is harsh to Simon his expression is as if he's been physically slapped. You can tell insults hurt him just as much as it hurt him when he accidentally hurt Kaylee. You can see him physically hurting too when River goes nuts. Simon is probably the least desensitized of the group. Maher has some beautiful facial expressions as Simon. When he was watching her dance just breaks your heart.

If she was all there, it would be another story

Definitely as when she is lucid or when he's flashingback, you can see he cares about her, but he doesn't hover. It's a much more brother/sisterly relationship as opposed to the mother/child relationship they have now. If River weren't crazy, Simon would happily devote himself to a mate.

His comment to Inara that he insulted her profession, not her as a person

Yeah, you have to understand that he's being viciously mean to her profession as opposed to her. She gets offended by it, but I wonder if it's more because she isn't happy with her profession as it is that she thinks he's insulting her.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You can tell insults hurt him just as much as it hurt him when he accidentally hurt Kaylee

Oh yes. He really is such a gentle person, very out of place in his present surrpundings. Maybe it's because he knows he already doesn't fit in, but you just hurt for him when he hurts.

When he was watching her dance just breaks your heart.

I am a complete sap, but that scene actually made me cry. He had such a radiant, child-like look of happiness on his face, seeing her as she must have been before the school, normal and carefree.

You can see him physically hurting too when River goes nuts

Oh yes. And the thing is, he must try and stay clinically detached for the treatment's sake, but she is his sister and he really can't. And it's worse when she's had the lucid interval and then snaps back into insanity, like the bit where she brings him berries and he relaxes for a nanosecond because she is rather normal and then she mentions that their parents will come for them and his face just...snaps shut (that comment must hurt even worse because of what the parents really did do). It's just every time she has a lucid interval he can't help but hope it will stay and relax into it a bit, and then of course it ends and he feels all the worse because he let himself be unguarded for a bit.

If River weren't crazy, Simon would happily devote himself to a mate.

Yes. Btw, River strikes me as such a know-it-all. I think her psychic powers are merely an extention of that quality.

She gets offended by it, but I wonder if it's more because she isn't happy with her profession as it is that she thinks he's insulting her.

I think you are right. She knows he likes her as a person. Heck, he was willing to fight a duel for her "honor." But I do think she is getting more and more disillusioned. She tries to pretend and believe that this is a quasi-religious thing, an institution, for her self-respect, but it's hard to do in the face of some of her clients (in Jaynetown, when the boy's father is basically saying "skip these falderols and just screw my son" you can see how she is hurt and tries to control herself). I don't think she is anywhere near ready to give it up yet, and not just because of status and money, but because to do so would be to prove to herself that she really wasn't some kind of an artiste but a whore.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

in Jaynetown, when the boy's father is basically saying "skip these falderols and just screw my son" you can see how she is hurt and tries to control herself

Because no matter what she tells herself, Mal is right, she's a whore. That's the bold face truth of it. Yet she won't stop as she seems to be trying to prove that she's NOT a whore, which is impossible because she IS. And there's the wangst in that relationship as Mal will never be with her as long as she's a whore and she'll never admit she's wrong. Mal's not going to share her, and he's in the right in that circumstance. He shouldn't have to and she's better than that. And then the wangst overwhelms me and I *facepalm*.

It's just every time she has a lucid interval he can't help but hope it will stay and relax into it a bit, and then of course it ends and he feels all the worse because he let himself be unguarded for a bit.

Frankly it would be better for Simon if River were completely crazy. It's horrible to watch him get his hopes up and then have the dashed over and over. And I think River even knows that as when she was apologizing for being "broken". He gave up everything for her and when he finally got her all she can do is hurt him. Poor Simon. Kaylee needs to get him drunk and shag him just on principle. LOL.

As you can see, I'm a total sucker for Simon. Minus the crazy sister, he's totally the kind of guy I would have gone for in real life. (Just like I would have gone for Kennedy from Hornblower in real life. I love the quiet, gentle, sweet types).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That's the bold face truth of it.

Yes, money for sex=whore. The fact that she has some choice of clients and is nicer dressed, doesn't really alter the reality. And leaving aside the morality of it, surface manners or not, you can't have true respect as a person if you are for sale. Mal respects her despite her profession, but the rest of the men? Not bloody likely. And of course, no one in a relationship wants to share, nor should they have to, but if she gives it up for Mal's sake, it means she would have to admit he was right all along and she couldn't do it, because she couldn't face that reality. She has to believe she is more than that.

Frankly it would be better for Simon if River were completely crazy.

Then he could just let go of it, sooner or later, and move on. But as long as she is lucid now and then, he will hope for a miracle and a cure. Yes, the boy needs a shag badly (though I love his reaction when Kaylee claims they had sex, LOL).

I love the quiet, gentle, sweet types

And Simon is definitely that. You have to like a person with such an infinite capacity for caring. It kills me how patient he is with River. She would try the patience of a saint yet he never snaps back at her.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

And of course, no one in a relationship wants to share, nor should they have to, but if she gives it up for Mal's sake, it means she would have to admit he was right all along and she couldn't do it, because she couldn't face that reality.

Indeed. Angst, angst, woe, guilt, angst. They're both too stubborn (though in this circumstance Mal has a right to be stubborn). And I think Mal throws her sometimes because she's USED to be looked at as a sex object. Mal doesn't therefore she doesn't always know what to do about him.

Yes, the boy needs a shag badly (though I love his reaction when Kaylee claims they had sex, LOL).


There's also the underlying problem that Mal would KEEL him if he ever found out about it.

Hee. For someone who wasn't too wild about Simon to begin with, it seems you've come around. And I think that's just how his character is. The people on the ship don't like him until they start to understand him. It's a very well written part.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Angst, angst, woe, guilt, angst.

And that is why I love them! :)

in this circumstance Mal has a right to be stubborn

I find it interesting that she gets very jealous whenever he shows signs of hooking up with anyone else, but doesn't seem to understand that this is really connected with the fact that he has a right to have issues with her sleeping with others if they have a relationship (not that they do yet). I find it an interesting disconnect. If she can't stop being jealous, and they aren't together, how is he expected to handle it if they were?

Mal doesn't therefore she doesn't always know what to do about him.

Yes, she does have a certain standard handbook for how to deal with situtations and male reactions, but since Mal sees her merely as a person, she can't use any shorthand tricks.

Mal would KEEL him if he ever found out about it.

LOL. Would he? He seemed perfectly find with them potentially getting it on in Jaynetown. But of course if they did hook up and then Simon made Kaylee unhappy? Look out!

For someone who wasn't too wild about Simon to begin with, it seems you've come around

I know. First ep, my reaction: why do people like him? He is so meh. I get to safe and go: "Whoa. Wait a second. Simon!!!!!"