It makes me wonder if she thought Mal was really losing it, and she might need the gun to make him stand down.
That's just what I wondered when I caught it on second viewing.
Does anybody mind if I pass out?
Willow ,'Beneath You'
Firefly 4: Also, we can kill you with our brains
Discussion of the Mutant Enemy series, Firefly, the ensuing movie Serenity, and other projects in that universe. Like the other show threads, anything broadcast in the US is fine; spoilers are verboten and will be deleted if found.
JenP - Oct 02, 2005 7:58:19 pm PDT #5667 of 10001
dcp - Oct 02, 2005 8:06:12 pm PDT #5668 of 10001
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
Here's a plot hole I need help closing. When the Operative was stunned by the flashbang, why did Mal not kill him before fleeing? It makes sense to me that the Operative was not trying to kill Mal during the fight -- he wanted Mal to give River up, or lead him to her. But I can't figure out what changed for Mal during the fight that he wouldn't finish the Operative off.
Gandalfe - Oct 02, 2005 8:07:45 pm PDT #5669 of 10001
The generation that could change the world is still looking for its car keys.
When the Operative was stunned by the flashbang, why did Mal not kill him before fleeing?
Simplest reason? It was mentioned previously that there was backup in the other room, and he knew they would be alerted.
dcp - Oct 02, 2005 8:12:11 pm PDT #5670 of 10001
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
I dunno. If there was time to get away at all, there was time to cut the guy's throat.
eta: Or shoot him some more. We know that Mal recovered his pistol.
Gandalfe - Oct 02, 2005 8:17:06 pm PDT #5671 of 10001
The generation that could change the world is still looking for its car keys.
Depends. Do we really know how far back he was blown? Could Mal even see him?
Mr. Broom - Oct 02, 2005 8:23:09 pm PDT #5672 of 10001
"When I look at people that I would like to feel have been a mentor or an inspiring kind of archetype of what I'd love to see my career eventually be mentioned as a footnote for in the same paragraph, it would be, like, Bowie." ~Trent Reznor
For all he knew, the backup was en route that very moment and he and Inara wouldn't make it out of there alive. Not a moment to waste.
tommyrot - Oct 02, 2005 8:28:20 pm PDT #5673 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Plus he had to stop and find his gun....
Allyson - Oct 02, 2005 8:45:22 pm PDT #5674 of 10001
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica
A friend mentioned to me today that he couldn't figure out why The Operative didn't shoot the shit out of the server. It wasn't gonna fight back.
dcp - Oct 02, 2005 9:01:19 pm PDT #5675 of 10001
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
Hmmm. Good one.
All I can come up with is: maybe his dinky little stun gun couldn't get the job done from the distance where the fight started. Once they were on the central platform, he didn't have time while fighting Mal. Once he thought Mal was defeated, there was no need to destroy the transmitting equipment.
Lee - Oct 02, 2005 9:08:02 pm PDT #5676 of 10001
The feeling you get when your brain finally lets your heart get in its pants.
Shooting the server might let Mal and the signal thingy escape, and he needed to stop the signal.