GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Holding

POSTED BY: CHRISTHECYNIC
UPDATED: Sunday, February 26, 2006 15:03
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VIEWED: 1932
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Saturday, February 25, 2006 6:18 PM

CHRISTHECYNIC


So I keep on reading FollowMal's sig, "You hold, hold til I get back," and something keeps on hitting me. I didn't want to mention it because I'm sure people already noticed and it's not worth a thread. But I have no restraint, so at last I'm just going to get it out of my head and onto the board.

Firefly starts with Mal in the battle of Serenity in the Episode Serenity:

"The Alliance said they were gonna waltz through Serenity Valley and we choked 'em with those words. We've done the impossible and that makes us mighty. Just a little while longer, our angels are gonna be soaring overhead raining fire on those arrogant cod, so you hold!

You hold!"

Firefly ends, thus far, with the Battle on Mr Universe's Moon in the Movie Serenity:
"You hold.
Hold til I get back."

For some reason I wanted to point that out, I doubt I will ever understand the way in which my brain works.


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Saturday, February 25, 2006 6:31 PM

DAVESHAYNE


Quote:

Originally posted by christhecynic:
Firefly starts with Mal in the battle of Serenity in the Episode Serenity:

"The Alliance said they were gonna waltz through Serenity Valley and we choked 'em with those words. We've done the impossible and that makes us mighty. Just a little while longer, our angels are gonna be soaring overhead raining fire on those arrogant cod, so you hold!

You hold!"

Firefly ends, thus far, with the Battle on Mr Universe's Moon in the Movie Serenity:
"You hold.
Hold til I get back."



Interesting parallel. Do you think it's significant that the battle of Serenity Valley was lost while Mal was waiting for others to help his force out ("our status is we need some gorram air support") while Mal won at Mr. Universe's because he made sure the job got done by doing it himself? Or is that just the divergent natures of the situations?

David

"A lot of people are asking me, you know, what exactly is Firefly? It's a tv show you morons!" - Joss Whedon

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 5:40 AM

DONCOAT


What's even more interesting to me is that the very same lines take on extra meaning in the movie.

In the pilot, Mal's order to hold is a straightforward military command. It simply means that his outfit is to defend their position without compromise.

In the movie, though, the line takes on extra levels of meaning. Yes, he's exhorting his crew to hold the line against the Reavers. But there's something more, and deeper.

The line comes in the middle of a "moment" between Mal and Zoe. Mal's second in command has just lost the love of her life, and that fact has just begun to sink in. Mal asks her, "Are you here?" -- that is, can she function as a rational soldier in a desperate battle, or is she too devastated by her loss?

"Do the job, Sir," Zoe replies. She's telling him she's able to function.

That's when Mal says "You hold. Hold till I get back." He's not just talking about the battle to come. He's talking about Zoe herself. "Keep it together a little longer, until I can be here to support you".

Oddly, it's Jayne who picks up on this instantly. He reinforces the point: "Captain's right. Can't be thinkin' on revenge."

I think this shows an amazing growth in Mal. Serenity Valley killed the idealistic, dedicated soldier in him. But in the time since, he's developed an almost desperate love for those he takes into his "crew". So much so that he burns precious seconds to check on Zoe's emotional condition.

It also shows that the two of them have developed an almost subliminal level of communication. They use it again at the very end of the film -- "Think she'll hold together?" "She's tore up plenty. But she'll fly true."

And, on another level altogether, it shows just how subtle and multilayered Joss Whedon's writing can be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 6:06 AM

BLUEISHBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by DonCoat:

That's when Mal says "You hold. Hold till I get back." He's not just talking about the battle to come. He's talking about Zoe herself. "Keep it together a little longer, until I can be here to support you".

Oddly, it's Jayne who picks up on this instantly. He reinforces the point: "Captain's right. Can't be thinkin' on revenge."

I think this shows an amazing growth in Mal. Serenity Valley killed the idealistic, dedicated soldier in him. But in the time since, he's developed an almost desperate love for those he takes into his "crew". So much so that he burns precious seconds to check on Zoe's emotional condition.



DonCoat,

Your analysis of that line just gave me goose bumps.

I had never thought of it like that. I think I just get lost in the moment and take it for its literal meaning but your description...wow, I dunno, it kinda blew me away.

Thanks for shareing

-Blue

-----------------------------------------
twas a perrty sight as jello was a slingen and the ladies were all in a heap of fun.
Twas a right shiny event for the eyes to feast on.

It was fun!!
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=16371

Hoplessly addicted but in that good sort of way. :)

SCAD/Savannah,GA Browncoat

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 7:12 AM

FOLLOWMAL



I agree with you DonCoat...his tone of voice, even the huskiness of his voice at that moment speaks to his emotions about Zoe and all of them.
( Kudos Nathan for making me feel that in my gut!)

For me too it takes on added meaning, thus it being my signature line... and this is entirely personal:

I believe ( and I could be off base, but for me I'm not) that there is a meaning hidden in there for all of us fans too... Joss is exhorting us to hold even though we may not be happy where the movie is taking us.. even though we are shocked and frightened ( and I was, truly at this point).

For me, it's still a request to hold.. and I'm gonna do it.

" You hold. Hold til I get back." Mal

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 7:16 AM

CHINDI


Doncoat you really got to me too... shiver... well said and well analysed.. I think I intuited much of what you said... but it had not to the surface of consciousness.

Yes it is the weavings of Joss' writings.. and it is all that you said.

and I think Joss keeps telling us to hold.. and he knows we will..

ach.. I do not know why I think I can add something to what you have said so eloquently...

Chindi.. I love this place and all who dwell here..

ETA Followmal.. I am beginning to get worried about how connected we are!! We were posting at the same time.. girl you're beginning to creep me out!!! LOL...

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 7:18 AM

NUCLEARDAY


Yeah, good on you to point that out. I've sort of thought along the same lines myself... was one of those "oh!" moments when I was rewatching everything.

Sort of ups the drama factor a bit when you realize just what's at stake there for our Mal. That whole last bit of the movie still gets me all shaken-up, from the time they pop out of the ion cloud with the Reavers on their tail to the very last bit of end credits, and it just gets more intense the more I notice those little details... ;p

edited to add: And I agree with everyone else, that line feels especially important to me as a fan as well. I'm certainly far from the only one who's noticed how that's become the mantra among the 'coats around here and elsewhere.

________________________________________________
You can take my hope when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 7:22 AM

FOLLOWMAL



Of course we're connected Chindi, we're Browncoats!

LOL

I think you and I are just lucky to think a lot alike, be struck by the same stuff often and be HERE in this cool place so we can express it.

I love us too, all of us here in this shiny place.



" You hold. Hold til I get back." Mal

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 7:47 AM

ARTCAT81


Agreed on all points,
I've been holding the line for years now, all these new folks arriving every day these are our angels, knowing they are coming in joining us against some heavy odds here they are and willing to lend aid.

This is one of the few fanbases I have ever been a part of, and the only one that greets new folks soo warmly and genuinely means it.

To all of the newbies, A most heartfelt warm welcome, you are truly our angels, you give us veterans a renewed reason to fight, you boost the morale and our numbers. Xie Xie to all of you!

I think in a lot of ways Serenity paralleled the battle the fans adn crew have fought.




Browncoats are the shiniest folks in the 'verse

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 8:55 AM

MEGMAC


I didn't think of it that way either, when I watch it again tomorrow that sequence will take on new meaning and be even better.

Quote:

Originally posted by artcat81:
This is one of the few fanbases I have ever been a part of, and the only one that greets new folks soo warmly and genuinely means it.



As a relative newbie I second this, I've never been made to feel like a newbie - we're all in this together whether we;ve been fans for years or days. Proud to here.

-----------------------------------------------
Mal: Wheel never stops turning, Badger.
Badger: That only matters to the people on the rim.

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 9:11 AM

GRIMJACK21502


Quote:

Originally posted by DonCoat:
What's even more interesting to me is that the very same lines take on extra meaning in the movie.

In the pilot, Mal's order to hold is a straightforward military command. It simply means that his outfit is to defend their position without compromise.

In the movie, though, the line takes on extra levels of meaning. Yes, he's exhorting his crew to hold the line against the Reavers. But there's something more, and deeper.

The line comes in the middle of a "moment" between Mal and Zoe. Mal's second in command has just lost the love of her life, and that fact has just begun to sink in. Mal asks her, "Are you here?" -- that is, can she function as a rational soldier in a desperate battle, or is she too devastated by her loss?

"Do the job, Sir," Zoe replies. She's telling him she's able to function.

That's when Mal says "You hold. Hold till I get back." He's not just talking about the battle to come. He's talking about Zoe herself. "Keep it together a little longer, until I can be here to support you".

Oddly, it's Jayne who picks up on this instantly. He reinforces the point: "Captain's right. Can't be thinkin' on revenge."

I think this shows an amazing growth in Mal. Serenity Valley killed the idealistic, dedicated soldier in him. But in the time since, he's developed an almost desperate love for those he takes into his "crew". So much so that he burns precious seconds to check on Zoe's emotional condition.

It also shows that the two of them have developed an almost subliminal level of communication. They use it again at the very end of the film -- "Think she'll hold together?" "She's tore up plenty. But she'll fly true."

And, on another level altogether, it shows just how subtle and multilayered Joss Whedon's writing can be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.



Wonderful analysis...insightful and hopeful.

Thanks comrade...you made my day brighter.


We will hold...we hold till Mal gets back.

"And once you're gone, you can never come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black"
-Neil Young

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:34 AM

GAMMARAYGIRL



Fascinating thoughts. Shivers here as well.

Also, can I say how much I love this place?

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Sunday, February 26, 2006 3:03 PM

DONCOAT


Glad I could share my shivers with you all. May we all have many more, including some brand new ones... :where's the emoticon for crossed fingers?:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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