"Droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven", or an airlock

[scarfman]

Why do you think Mal changed his mind about Jayne at the very end of Ariel? I have my thoughts (though scarfmom disagrees).

Comments

[kail-panille.livejournal.com]

Well, he had his change of heart right after Jayne asked him not to reveal his treachery. This suggests two possibilities to me:

1. Mal didn't want to deny a dying man's last request, but that would mean either lying to his crew or simply telling them he killed Jayne and not why. Either path would be complicated, and might cost him the loyalty of some of the rest of the crew.
2. Jayne had just demonstrated, in a typical Jayne fashion, comprehension that what he'd done was wrong, and remorse. That's considerable growth for Jayne, and might indicate that he could someday become a Real Boy. As such, killing him might not be the best thing for all concerned.

My money's on the second.

What were your thoughts?

[scarfman]

Mal changed his mind after Jayne told him not to tell the crew what he'd done. I think part of the reason Mal put Jayne in the airlock in the first place is because he didn't believe Jayne could learn any better, but when Jayne demonstrated that he could feel shame Mal had to reluctantly decide Jayne wasn't irredeemable.

[larksilver.livejournal.com]

I had the same thought. Jayne actually did grow a bit, even in only 14 episodes. His astonishment at the people in Jaynetown also showed some development.

Still... I didn't mind at all that River threatened to kill him with her brain.

[larksilver.livejournal.com]

Oh - and what were scarfmom's thoughts?

[scarfman]

I don't remember that she had an explanation, only that she didn't agree with mine. scarfmom doesn't like Jayne and wished he'd be written out.

[larksilver.livejournal.com]

I don't particularly like Jayne either, although he has grown on me through the course of the series and the film.

Joss Whedon has a marvelous tendency to write out some of my favorite characters, and adopt those who irritate me (See: Oz/Tara) Still, he has some wunnerful stories.

[kail-panille.livejournal.com]

No love for Oz? Why, if you don't mind my asking?

I'm pretty much right there with you on Tara, though.

[larksilver.livejournal.com]

Nononoono.. I adored Oz. He was the coolest! He is also the reason I have now suffered through a couple of du-u-u-u-umb movies with Seth Green; that coolness is now forever stuck to the dude.

Tara, however, was the best they could replace OZ with? I mean, c'mon, we go from cool, sassy, werewolf (oh. hey, I'm a werewolf. huh.) to whiny baby Tara. blleeeech.

If they replace some of the series' characters with a Tara.. man, well, let's just say her introduction was the beginning of the end of my Buffy-watching days.

[kail-panille.livejournal.com]

Oh, roger. I misunderstood.

I'll call off the thought police now.