Serenity: Timelines and Relationships

[butterfly]

Ah, and for those people on my flist who haven't or can't see the movie yet, I'm putting all of my post-movie posts in a special Post-Serenity Firefly Stuff memory section.

I really liked that the movie didn't start immediately post-Out of Gas. They gave it breathing room. Enough time for Mal to part ways with Book and to drop off Inara. Enough time for Kaylee to lose weight, probably out of stress, but to me that's also a huge sign of how tough times have been (yes, the actress didn't want to gain twenty pounds again, but it works for where they had the characters, so I'm full willing to use it). Enough time for Mal and Simon to get tetchy again.

To me, all those were huge signs of how bad things have gotten, enough that I almost didn't Mal actually telling us that times were tough and getting tougher.

Personally, I'm trying to get a handle on just how much time has passed since Out of Gas. Enough for everyone on the ship to get really comfortable with River being a 'reader. Enough for Simon to lose the vests. Kaylee says that it's been a year since she slept had sex with another person, but that isn't a guarantee that the movie takes place a year after the series pilot, especially if Simon's been doing his push-pull with her for some more time (and I can see him backing way off for a while, post-Objects in Space).

Are there any firm explanations in the movie on the timeline? Simon says that River's seventeen in the movie -- what does he say in the series? She went to the Academy at fourteen and it took him at least a year to get to her, so fifteen at the earliest. It depends on how quickly he figured out that she was in trouble.

So, Simon and Mal. They don't have any big conflicts on the series post... wow, post-Safe, I think. Mal makes it clear that he's considering the "River could be a danger" thing in Ariel, but he also expresses concern to Simon about her health. He's not a jerk about it at all. He's not a jerk about it in Objects in Space, either.

In fact, after the end of Safe, he and Simon have a nice vibe of respect. Simon's crew and that's that.

But I can still fully buy the antagonism in the movie. Because Mal wanted to use River on a job. If we know one thing about Simon, it is that he will do anything for River, that he can do anything for her. Let an innocent woman bleed while he argues with someone, break the law, risk anything. Burn to death, as long as it's with his sister. When it comes to River, Simon has no limits.

But Mal's nearing desperate, so he feels like he needs River's talents to have a chance on this job. Yeah, I can see Simon being tetchy over that. And see River put in danger, yeah, I can see him leaving over that. River is his life. He gave up everything for her, and would do it again.

Comments

[silly-cleo.livejournal.com]

Serenity is supposed to take place 6 months after Objects In Space, I think.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

*closes eyes as to not read any of the spoilers above*

I'm putting all of my post-movie posts in a special Post-Serenity Firefly Stuff memory section.

Thanks! Cause once I have seen the movie - coming out on the 19th here - I have the feeling I'll be curious to see what others had to say about it. So it'll make it much easier for me to find your reviews, at least *g*

[aelora.livejournal.com]

I thought Serenity took place six months after Objects in Space, since that was technically the last episode?

[raine-wynd.livejournal.com]

I don't know about timelines, but I do know that there is a trilogy of comic books that bridges the gap between the series end and the movie; the graphic novel version comes out in January.

[sparklyfabulous]

for some reason, i was certain it was eight months later, though i have no idea what my source was. or maybe, ok, i think simon says something about it having been eight months since something (they came on board? so the whole series covers two months? could be.) and that's what i'm thinking of...

[jic]

Might be Mal's outburst that Simon had River on the boat for eight months without telling him about the "if anything should happen" safeword.

OTOH, I thought it was two years after the beginning of the series based on something else Mal had said earlier in the movie (which I'm seeing tonight, so I might be able to put my finger on it, but probably won't be able to post).

[honorh.livejournal.com]

The siblings Tam have been on the ship for eight months, according to Mal's rant after the RiverDance.

I, too, am wondering where the "Simon's so OOC!" arguments are coming from. Mal wanted to take River into crime and danger; Simon's not supposed to object? Then they get chased by Reavers and narrowly escape. That's definitely enough to push Simon past his normal reserve.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

RiverDance! Hee! That is still not old for me.

I, too, am wondering where the "Simon's so OOC!" arguments are coming from. Mal wanted to take River into crime and danger; Simon's not supposed to object? Then they get chased by Reavers and narrowly escape. That's definitely enough to push Simon past his normal reserve.

Exactly. River is Simon's "and no further" line.

[teenes.livejournal.com]

I heard that Serenity was supposed to take place 6 months after the series, but in the movie, Mal says to Simon "eight months you've had her on my ship"... or she's been on my ship, can't remember the exact phrasing.