ayne, like the pieces of paper, is a fairly simple piece of work taken on his own. But vested with the meanings people have projected on him, as a symbol he’s become something much more important to the Mudders.
I never thought about it that way, but that does make a lot of sense.
Welcome, shelbel! That’s great stuff. I’m gonna print it, stick it on the board here, and try like hell to remember to read it in the next 'fly segment. Very, very insightful, and reminds me of yet another reason Jaynestown is one of my favs. 
First off, Shelbel - welcome to the forum!
Excellent points! Well said!
TOO MUCH HAIR!! HAHAHAHAH 
easily one of the best River lnies of the series…and there are many.
Again, welcome!
best analysis i’ve read about Jayne Town, because i would never have thought that far.
Kind of a random line, but I thought Chuck and crew would appreciate what Warren Ellis wrote about the future of space travel:
http://www.wired.co.uk/wired-magazine/archive/2010/05/start/warren-ellis.aspx
I was surprised to hear the old story of the picture of Morena and myself get discussed as I thought it had long been forgotten. I debated whether or not to share it again for fear of appearing of showing off. I ultimately decided that I know this community understands I am sharing something wonderful and unexpected that happened to me simply so you can share in the joy and excitement I felt. With that I share the story and the picture. Enjoy.
I arrive at my sister’s birthday party in New York City after a long day of work. It isn’t a lavish affair, maybe 40 to 50 people in a private upstairs room in a bar. The lights are dim, jazz plays in the background and the walls are covered in pictures of my sister, myself and our younger brother at various ages. The crowd consists mostly of my family (uncles, aunts, cousins, siblings, etc), my wife and friends of my sister. We commence to have fun, tell old stories and laugh with each other. Usual sort of scene.
About 45 minutes into the party two people walked in, one warmly greeted by my sister and the other simply a friend of a friend. She shook my sister’s hand and proceeded to walk over to the bar. I glanced over at the new arrivals now that they were much closer and I nearly dropped my drink…
…it was Inara. I mean Morena. Sitting there four feet away from me chattering away with her friend.
“It’s Morena.” I whispered to my wife.
“Who?” she responded.
“Morena” I said slowly making a slight gesture in her direction with my head.
“Who?” she repeated.
I took a deep breath. “Inara sweetie. Inara just walked in.”
My wife leaned over and smiled. She had recently allowed herself to be indoctrinated as a Browncoat to understand the thing I was so passionate about so she immediately understood.
“What do we do?” she asked.
“We get introduced” I responded.
Five minutes later I was tapped on my shoulder by the friend of my sister’s and told,
“I’d like you to meet my old friend Morena”
…and there she was. Inara. Holding out her hand to me with a huge beaming smile on her face. I held out my hand trying to play it cool but clearly something in my face revealed something. She started giggling and asked, “what?” to which I simply responded, “I am a fan.”
It was truly one of the most surreal moments of my life. To come face to face with a person who was associated intimately with this little cancelled show I was so passionate about at my sister’s birthday party of all things.
So there I stood, trying desperately not to be, “One of those fans.” I did not gush. I did not ask her a technical question related to a moment in the series. Didn’t ask what the needle was for. We simply had a lovely conversation. I learned she was in town visiting her mutual friend before heading on to Vancouver to shoot Stargate.
“Do you like Stargate?” she asked.
“Well” I said, “I have to be honest. I haven’t seen it in many years.”
She laughed. “Well, it should be fun, right?”
“I’m sure!” I replied, “and heck, I am more than a few Browncoats will turn out when it airs.”
I told her about how my mother bought me a barn jacket which was brown, and I couldn’t share the joke with anyone. She wanted to know how I had found the show, and I told her about how I found it quite by accident late in the game, but not so late that I couldn’t go and see the movie just as it was winding down.
I didn’t want to keep her from her friend that she was visiting, but felt like I could talk to her all night. We parted ways and for the rest of the night she sat at the bar like anyone else sipping a drink and talking to her friend.
I went over to my younger brother and brother-in-law and asked, “Did you see who is here?”
“Who?” they both asked.
“Morena Baccarin” I responded.
“Who?” they asked puzzled.
I breathed deep. “Inara”
They looked at each other puzzled. “Who is Inara?” they asked.
“Didn’t you watch the Firefly box sets I got for both of you last Christmas?”
“Nope.” They responded.
“Truly your loss bros” was all I could say.
As I left I went over and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I thanked her for our talk, and mustering up my courage said,
“You know, you are part of something very special.”
She blushed and said, “I know.”
“Do you mind if I take a picture?”
“Of course not!” she responded.
[LEFT]
I left walking on air. All I can tell you, my fellow Browncoats, that if the rest of our BDHs are half as open, humble, sincere and lovely as Morena was with me that night, then they are all truly wonderful people in real life.[/LEFT]
You know, as a postscript, Chuck was right. I am not that good looking in real life. I was simply caught in the Morena aura.
Dude–I’d be grinning like that too. Ain’t mad atcha…
jealous…but not mad 
Great story, and tastefully told. Did your brother & brother in law ever catch up on the show and realize what they missed? Thanx for sharing.
Fantastic encounter you had there with Morena. Thanks for retelling it for us, who didn’t knew it already.
If I compare her in the picture to now, her role in V keeps her face very pale…must be the lightning and the make-up.
Still hoping for a continuation of the Verse.
Since we have the Trek and Firefly arcs, here’s a table I found today:
Do you agree?
Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. Firefly may have its flaws (and if you’re not sure what they are, read the recaps at TelevisionWithoutPity.com archives, they’re hilarious), but it’s still a wonderful, wonderful show, and not just for giving us characters to absolutely love. That, plus Joss dialogue.
@Pike: Everything I’ve heard is that Seth Green was written off of Buffy because his career was taking off and he just wasn’t going to be available to them. I could be wrong, 'cause I wasn’t following the fandom until later seasons, but I got the impression that he asked to leave, he wasn’t asked to. Of course, Joss would’ve killed him off eventually :p, but I think they would have gladly kept him a while longer.
hey shelbel! welcome!
One of my favorite lines in the whole series (Firefly) is precisely that bit with River and Book - you don’t fix faith, river, faith fixes you.
Have you read the Star Trek New Frontier novels too? Woot!
I thot I was the only GWCer who had.
I’ve read 'em all and love 'em.
Shelby has a great character arc along the course of those books (10 books? I forget).
Love me some Cmdr. Shelby (or Eppy as Capt. Calhoun calls her )
Dude, you are a class act, and I know I enjoyed soaking in your hot tub of memories! With Inara no less!
And yes, Morena’s aura makes you look as good as you sound! lol!
Thanks for sharing this again!
If I’d change teams for anyone, it’d be for her. She’s beyond gorgeous. She’s graceful and gracious and… and didn’t we already have this conversation somewhere else recently? Topgun? DP? Thot? Aset? Who did I have this convo with?
Welcome to the forum, Shelbel! Hell of a first post!
I go through the “too much hair” scene with my own head every morning… :rolleyes:
But seriously, you hit the nail on the head, Shelbel. And highlighted the reason why most of us Whedon Whores are Whedon Whores. There’s so much depth to these characters, these stories. So much heart.
Such a great story! I haz a jealous! Stories like this seem to justify the love we still have for our BDH’s, no?
Heh! Funny! I just have to say, tho, that I may have started to watch Castle to support Nathan, but I’ve stayed because I love it
I haven’t checked out Firefly just yet, but I do want to say, this podcast has turned me onto another show recently. The Venture Bros, which has to be one of the funniest cartoons I’ve seen in recent memory. Someone on this thread even said “IGNORE ME”, which made me laugh.
Also I can see where someone’s coming from when they say they prefer the old BSG. I’m still giving the new one a chance, but I feel kind of the same way at the moment. I kinda like to see my aliens and robots out in the open, instead of everyone looking human.
That’s why I like Mass Effect so much, because you see so many strange and wonderful things. The Geth are a lot like the Cylons, really, but in Mass Effect 2, when you meet Legion, you get a whole new sense of depth from them when you learn that the ones who followed the reapers were a splinter group from the True Geth.
Plus, Mass Effect has the Elcor. You’ve gotta love the Elcor!
that is such a wonderful experience. Morena is looks and sounds amazing and adorable.
i am glad we get to see her on V now. hmm… though less CGI Anna eating man wouldn’t hurt 
Welcome aboard. Great analysis!