Yeah but Mal makes the distinction between the job and the person. He's openly said he considers companions and whores one in the same and has no real respect for all the frou frou surrounding companions--except where/when it can make him a profit. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't respect Inara the female person. The john in "Serenity", the father in "Jaynestown", the Boss Hog in "Heart of Gold", "Ath Wing", none of them respected the female person but they did have a grudging respect for the position b/c they felt it denoted some sort of status to be seen with, or fuck, a companion.

There are no horses in space.

But there are cows.

But there are cows.

True! So why is there no complaining about the cows, huh? Wouldn't you think people who are so averse to "a space western" would complain about *cows* in space, which would imply cow*boys* in space? But no, it's all, "no horses in space!"

Personally, I think it's that shot in the credits of Serenity buzzing the remuda. Just, nobody stops to think that the horses were running on terra firma. Or whateverplanet firma.

So silly. Everyone knows the only animals in space are pigs.

Which reminds me again I need to pick up the Muppet Show 1st season that just came out.

Wouldn't you think people who are so averse to "a space western" would complain about *cows* in space, which would imply cow*boys* in space? But no, it's all, "no horses in space!"

Beverly, I love your rant.

Personally, I think it's that shot in the credits of Serenity buzzing the remuda.

Oh, I absolutely love that shot. The combination of old and new, the technology and the alive, while both of them look alive, in a way. The smooth bow trail of the ship, the flow forward - I absolutely love that shot.

No, there were some cattle in space. . . remember?

I think it's that shot in the credits of Serenity buzzing the remuda.

I always think "people who stampede the stock need shot."

More than people who steal and cheat?

More than people who steal and cheat?

Heavens, no, it's just another line on the list. I grew up in farm country, and anything that messed with the stock was very frowned upon.

edit: it was a quick way to lose your dog, if it was found to be "running" the sheep.

I don't think they really ever fully fleshed out *cringe* the mythology surrounding companions, or at least I was never satisfied by it. I think it is possible that it sounded [cool, modern, liberal, sex positive -- insert your positive modifier of choice here_________] to have sex workers hold an esteemed, ambassadorial sort of position. But in practice, she was just a highly paid prostitute with requisite heart of gold, and she filled the Saloon Girl/Belle Watling role. Perhaps Mal's POV on it is too like society's for it to play any other way? Perhaps it didn't work because Mal is often the character wrestling (rasslin'?) with matters of conscience.