galathea
02-26-2006, 04:54 PM
Yesterday I had a discussion with a friend who stated that she didn't like Mal at all because he displays such an arrogant and self-confident behaviour to keep people in the distance. What do you think, did you like that char?
I really fell in love with Mal from the first minutes in Serenity. First of all I love his sense of humour. Dry, ironic and witty. Just like his somewhat macho attitude he displays from time to time, his witty comebacks are a way to keep people in their place and the advantage over them. He doesn't like to be in the defensive and humour and a self-confident appearance is the best way to keep people on a distance.
Mal is also old-fashioned. Values like honor and loyalty mean a great deal to him, even if he defines his own standard of these values. He respects people but not their role or social standing. Like he says to Inara: "I may not show respect to your job, but he doesn't show respect for YOU." That's why he gets along with so many different people. He may not always like them, but he respects them.
He is willing to go out of his way to protect the people around him, that he considers part of his family. That's why he keeps Simon and River aboard although they are a potential danger to him and the rest of the crew. I guess that's part of the good old *we never leave a man behind* soldier codex. I normally hate these cliches but Nathan portrays this part of his personality with a lot of sympathy.
His experiences in the war press down on Mal a great deal. I think he has troubles trusting people after he got left behind in that valley. He has problems talking about his feelings and sarcely opens up to someone or unless it is the right person. In short he is troubled and I have a soft spot for that kind of guys Add to that his mischievous smile and his overall attractiveness and you got me there drooling :)
I really fell in love with Mal from the first minutes in Serenity. First of all I love his sense of humour. Dry, ironic and witty. Just like his somewhat macho attitude he displays from time to time, his witty comebacks are a way to keep people in their place and the advantage over them. He doesn't like to be in the defensive and humour and a self-confident appearance is the best way to keep people on a distance.
Mal is also old-fashioned. Values like honor and loyalty mean a great deal to him, even if he defines his own standard of these values. He respects people but not their role or social standing. Like he says to Inara: "I may not show respect to your job, but he doesn't show respect for YOU." That's why he gets along with so many different people. He may not always like them, but he respects them.
He is willing to go out of his way to protect the people around him, that he considers part of his family. That's why he keeps Simon and River aboard although they are a potential danger to him and the rest of the crew. I guess that's part of the good old *we never leave a man behind* soldier codex. I normally hate these cliches but Nathan portrays this part of his personality with a lot of sympathy.
His experiences in the war press down on Mal a great deal. I think he has troubles trusting people after he got left behind in that valley. He has problems talking about his feelings and sarcely opens up to someone or unless it is the right person. In short he is troubled and I have a soft spot for that kind of guys Add to that his mischievous smile and his overall attractiveness and you got me there drooling :)