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Firefly Thoughts - Kaylee, Inara
Oct. 13th, 2024 05:28 pmKaylee thoughts: I know a lot of people have trouble with the portrayal of Kaylee as so cute and loveable - but honestly I love it when someone says something mean to Kaylee and then they get criticism or glares from someone else. The only time I had trouble with it was in Shindig, when Murphy slut-shames Banning. Now I think we're supposed to think poorly of Banning for caring about the slut-shaming and not thinking there's something wrong with owning slaves. But I still feel iffy about it.
Inara thoughts: A long time ago, I stumbled on a forum where Firefly fans were criticizing the portrayal of Inara in Shindig - that she should have realized Athernton was a creep sooner, and OBVIOUSLY she was being written by a man. Then someone pointed out, actually, Jane Espenson wrote that episode. Without even acknowledging any mistake or sexism on their part (I don't know about you, but when someone insists a woman couldn't have written something and it turns out a woman did, I call that sexism), the other people just said, well, obviously in the writer's room there wasn't much talk of how to portray Inara and prostitution sensitively. Also makes me think about how Joss Whedon pointed out that Companions being respected was his wife's suggestion - not the male fantasy some fans had assumed.
Now. It is true that men played in a major role in deciding how Inara should be portrayed. And I think the original idea that Inara would not be respected creeped into the writing at times. But we can't talk about Inara and Companions without acknowledging the significant role women played in creating them and writing them.
I'm not actually going to have an opinion on Firefly's portrayal of prostitution because I don't think I'm informed enough about prostitution. I love Inara as a character, but I'm not going to go further than that.
Final thought: When I watch Firefly, I don't feel sad it ended so soon. I feel relieved that it never got the chance to go downhill.
Inara thoughts: A long time ago, I stumbled on a forum where Firefly fans were criticizing the portrayal of Inara in Shindig - that she should have realized Athernton was a creep sooner, and OBVIOUSLY she was being written by a man. Then someone pointed out, actually, Jane Espenson wrote that episode. Without even acknowledging any mistake or sexism on their part (I don't know about you, but when someone insists a woman couldn't have written something and it turns out a woman did, I call that sexism), the other people just said, well, obviously in the writer's room there wasn't much talk of how to portray Inara and prostitution sensitively. Also makes me think about how Joss Whedon pointed out that Companions being respected was his wife's suggestion - not the male fantasy some fans had assumed.
Now. It is true that men played in a major role in deciding how Inara should be portrayed. And I think the original idea that Inara would not be respected creeped into the writing at times. But we can't talk about Inara and Companions without acknowledging the significant role women played in creating them and writing them.
I'm not actually going to have an opinion on Firefly's portrayal of prostitution because I don't think I'm informed enough about prostitution. I love Inara as a character, but I'm not going to go further than that.
Final thought: When I watch Firefly, I don't feel sad it ended so soon. I feel relieved that it never got the chance to go downhill.
