Wow, I always forget how much I like this episode. BTW, I think this episode is very key to understanding how Joss understands religion and faith despite being agnostic (is that what he is?? or is he just an atheist?). He understands that's it not so much about what is 'real' as it is about what someone needs in their life. So, it doesn't really matter if he doesn't need it, he can still understand it.
And, I'm not saying God isn't real, etc. I'm not qualified to make that statement. I'm just saying that someone doesn't have to believe he's real to understand why other's do believe it. And, leaving that sticky subject behind, my notes:
- "Don't I usually stay with the ship??"
- Lest we forget who is in charge... Jayne gives in to Mal but there's definitely anger in the way he pulls the tape off.
Yes - but he's does it - with a wimper. All I was thinking was with all that fur, that must have hurt. OUCH!
[/li][li] Simon only curses when he feels the situation deserves it, huh? So different from the others on this crew. Still, does he really control his anger or just harbor it all inside?
[/li][li] They make mud, huh? So, the town that idolizes Jayne spends most of their time dwelling in mud? Interesting.[/quote]
But it's mud that is needed to make Serenity fly, and it's in a lot of things we use. (So get the mud thing - working in the mining business.)
[/li][li] "Yes, yes, we'll wander a bit."
[/li][li] They captured his essence. "He looks kinda angry." "That's kinda what I meant." So, Jayne is full of anger? He does curse quite a bit.
[/li][li] "Fixing your Bible.... Bible's broken. Contradictions, false logistics, doesn't make sense..." Funny, I kinda feel the same about the bible.[/quote]
Me, too. The bible is a symbol - of man's hope and faith in the goodness of mankind - even when mankind does terrible things to itself.
River said to Book about the pages she tore out of the bible: "I tore these out of your symbol, but they turned into paper. I want to put them back." (Does she feel that pieces of her were also torn out of her and she needs them back?) She might think that the bible is illogical - but she wants it whole - she needs it whole. Interesting.
[/li][li] So, what's this episode about? Logic vs Emotion? Faith? False Idols? Wonder what Faith, the Bible, and a town idolizing Jayne could have in common.[/quote]
Good question. Maybe the bible and heroes like Jayne are both symbols that people need to give them hope that even though life is hard, there is someone out there who cares for them?
[/li][li] Wash: "We gotta go to the crappy town where I'm a hero!" (LOL!!!)
[/li][li] LOL! I love that scene! Book's hair would probably scare me too.
[/li][li] "I tore these out of your symbol and they became paper." So, the stories out of context are just paper but together are a symbol of Faith?
[/li][li] Ahh, Simon is not so in control when he gets a little alcohol in him.
[/li][li]LOL! The hair thing is so frickin' funny.
[/li][li] Ok, a serious thing about the hair... Book says that his hair, like the "book" is a symbol. Is that equating the Bible to keeping long hair?Interesting.[/quote]
Joss has a thing for hair. River said: "They say the snow on the roof is too heavy. They say the ceiling will cave in. His brains are in terrible danger." Zoe - "He's putting the hair away. (LOL!) River: "It doesn't matter. It will still be there ---- waiting." Hmmm, something about Book's past scares River, I think. I hope we get to find out more of his story.
*taking a minute to curse the short-sighted suits at Fox*
Waiting for what? Yeah - the hair thing is very interesting - and hilarious! ;D
[/li][li] Even heroes have enemies.
[/li][li] Hmm, Jayne's one night stand looks SOOO much like Kaylee. Who was it that suggested that Jayne likes her? That certainly gives us some proof. Plus, Jayne looks very smug when Kaylee tells the good doctor off about his being "civilized."[/quote]
After his encounter with the one night stand, Jayne sang:
My love for me now, ain't hard to explain.
The Hero of Canton, the man they call me.
I think he'd like to be that hero for Kaylee.
[/li][li] Inara makes a good point. The only thing that can make you a "man" is yourself.
[/li][li] LOL @ Zoe pretending to fawn over Jayne.
[/li][li] Jayne knocks down the symbol of his "heroism"
[/li][li] Inara proves, yet again, that she plays an important part on the crew... even if no one realizes it.[/quote]
Yes, Inara has an important part on the crew. I like how she assumed it was Mal that was the Hero of Canton. Mal is her hero. And Jayne was her client's hero. Jayne stood up to this man's father and that gave him the courage to do the same - to do good - in spite of his fear for him. He became a man because of Jayne - and also because of Inara - but not from the sex.
[/li][li] "Just keep walking, preacher man."[/quote]
That line was delivered so perfectly.
[/li][li] "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black." "It means more." Hmm... so, another, if there's no reward for doing right, doing right IS the reward. Right? Being proper is not about being proper for others, it's about what it means to YOU. Just like Faith is what it means to YOU (the Bible only has meaning if YOU give it meaning).
[/li][li] The people need a hero. It doesn't really matter if the hero really is what they think he is... sometimes people just need something to believe in and is the belief that's important to them. As Mal says, "It ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need."[/li][/ul][/quote]
Yep. People need heroes to look up to. Why is that? This hero-worship thing? We all got it. Well, I do. I mean *hello* obsession with Buffy/Angel. We all look up to those people who aren't perfect but who struggle to do the right thing and sometimes do. It gives us hope that we might be able to do the same. Not on as grand a scale as they do (well - being fantasy characters aside) - but in our everyday lives.
And it's also important that we be heroes to others, too. Jayne said "I think I really made a difference in their lives. Me, Jayne Cobb." Those moments change a person. Of course, Jayne fought against those feelings of goodness (like Spike did - as Vlad pointed out). But that makes for a good story, doesn't it?