So I appreciate them each on their own merits, but not as two parts of one continuous story, if that makes sense.

I think when I see it again, I might feel the same way. It does seem to be a separate story in a lot of ways, with a different vision and message.

Has the Alliance really been after River because she knew about this Pax thing? That seems...unnecessary. I know it’s supposed to be a big deal that they drugged people to their deaths and created Reavers, but it seemed like a standard government cover-up to me (the American government has done extraordinarily shady things, and having them revealed didn’t destroy our country or even our government). So, why are they exerting so much energy to capture her?

I also got the feeling of, "that's it?" I mean, we see earlier in the movie wholesale destruction of countless towns just to smoke out Serenity. Earlier than that we are introduced to medical experimentation/torture on innocent victims. So how shocked are we supposed to be by the reveal?

I'm not sure that phrase has any meaning with regard to quebecois delicacies.

Heh, it's funny cause it's true. Also - Franco-American rule of thumb: If it's a vegatable, boil the shit out of it to make sure it's really dead.

Although I will be eating Tourtiere until the day I die (and it will probably contribute).

No one but Mal (and what would he know?) said they were after River because of Miranda. The Operative said she was a risk because of what she might know. My impression is that he suggested the chase be ended because the damage was done -- I'm sure they have more important things to do right now. And also because his belief was shattered.

I don't see any reason why Mal's read would be wrong. We shouldn't expect someone from the other side to repeat what we surmise from Mal's read unless it contradicts him. I think we are supposed to assume this is the thing and the chase is over, which is basically what the Operative told us. Lack of resources never seemed to be an issue.

No one but Mal (and what would he know?) said they were after River because of Miranda. The Operative said she was a risk because of what she might know.

I wouldn't want the next movie (if there is a next movie) to be all about River, but I hope this is the case and that there's more to it. I want the secret to be more about what they did to her and less about which government messes she knows about.

I think we are supposed to assume this is the thing and the chase is over, which is basically what the Operative told us.

The Operative never said that, though. The Operative said the problem was that she could know any number of secrets (he lists categories). He never gets more specific than that.

Mal says it's because of Miranda. I don't see why his assumption should be given more weight, even given the ending. If it was true, The Operative would have been more sure they were off the hook, no? I get the impression he wanted it stopped because he was disillusioned, and figured it just might work. Or it might not.

The Operative said the problem was that she could know any number of secrets (he lists categories). He never gets more specific than that.

I agree that before the Pax reveal I thought River's ish was that she knew too much about everything. But it could be that the Operative declined to go into detail with the doctor because, well, he didn't want the doctor to know the big scandal River knew.

I give points to finality-- I am more inclined to believe that this ending is a real ending. But Joss may have left it intentionally ambiguous.

Didn't the operative say something early on along the lines of he doesn't worry about what people's secrets are, he's just concerned about whether they're kept? I remember that we approved of his security model.

I get the impression he wanted it stopped because he was disillusioned, and figured it just might work. Or it might not.

Concur. 'Damage done' was the Op's excuse to walk away from something he didn't want a part of anymore.

I can readily see the Miranda thing being as big a deal as it's made out to be too. Easily enough to trigger a new war. First, things can't be as stable as all that, seeing as how the old war hasn't even been over for a decade. Second, Killing a planetful of folk in an effort to drug them docile is in fact a pretty scary thing, and fairly recent too. Thirdly, and mostly: Dude. Reavers. The rim lives in utter, pants soiling terror of these guys, the government claims they don't even exist when they're responsible for their creation even? If I were a retired browncoat, I'd be thinking 'See? Here's exactly why I thought unification was a bad idea.' Shortly thereafter, I'd be calling my war buddies and rambo-ing up.

he didn't want the doctor to know the big scandal River knew.

Since he killed the doctor scant minutes later, I don't think it was a strong motivation.

I don't believe it's a real ending because The Operative said it mightn't be. Joss has left himself plenty of wiggle room.