The 'Verse - FULL

[h0stile17]

Reserved for the 'Verse panel

Moderator: Tricia Williams

Panelists

Keith DeCandido
Scott Allie
Skitty
Melissa

[Skitty]

Well...since we don't really pick the direction this one will go in, I'm not sure how much we'll be able to plan. And since it's probably going to be just Tricia and myself hanging out in here, that makes it even more difficult. But we might as well start preparing any way we can. I thought a list of likely controversial topics might help:

The Attempted Rape
Killing of Characters (Book and Tara most likely to come up)
Government Control (talking about the creation of Reavers?)
Gay and Lesbian Characters (not sure if it'll come up but you never know)

And that's all I can really think of at the moment.

[truexena]

Hey! I was on this panel. Forced into it because someone thinks I am opinionated for some reason.

Anyhoo, Skitty was right, there was no way to 'plan' for this particular panel, as the topics where given by the audience that attended.

I got to answer one of my 'topics' while at the panel, but not the actual one I'd of liked to have discussed in more detail. "How is Willow so d*mn hot?" was discussed in great detail (if only in my mind).

But "Book's death can be seen by many as an important plot twist to spur the others into action. Does that make the death of Wash less important, or more important, and how so?" was only asked at the end of the panel and we didn't get a chance to discuss it in great detail. Does anyone have a viewpoint on the importance of Wash's death?

Yes, I was drinking the whole panel, but I really can think up some great sh*t when I'm drinking too.

[destructogirl30]

truexena said:

Hey! I was on this panel. Forced into it because someone thinks I am opinionated for some reason.

Anyhoo, Skitty was right, there was no way to 'plan' for this particular panel, as the topics where given by the audience that attended.

I got to answer one of my 'topics' while at the panel, but not the actual one I'd of liked to have discussed in more detail. "How is Willow so d*mn hot?" was discussed in great detail (if only in my mind).

But "Book's death can be seen by many as an important plot twist to spur the others into action. Does that make the death of Wash less important, or more important, and how so?" was only asked at the end of the panel and we didn't get a chance to discuss it in great detail. Does anyone have a viewpoint on the importance of Wash's death?

Yes, I was drinking the whole panel, but I really can think up some great sh*t when I'm drinking too.

When I read this question I instantly knew my answer but what I did not know is why I felt the way I did about the death of Wash. I have been considering this question since it was posted and I believe I have come to a conclusion on the issue at least in part for me.

For the importance of the plot and storyline the death of Book is quite clearly more important than the death of Wash. Book's death is the catalyst that motivates the other characters most notably the character of Mal to continue on their mission. The character of Book is also given the opportunity to speak his last words of wisdom and say goodbye to us as an audience and Mal.

Wash's death did not further the plot to a great extent nor did he impart important passing words to any of the other characters but taking all this in consideration I would have to say the death of Wash was by far more important to me as a viewer than the death of Book.

Now for the why. The death of Hoburn Wash was very similar in essence to the death of Tara McClay on BTVS. Wash and Tara's deaths both occurred when they where experiencing life to its fullest, Tara was glowing with happiness at her love for Willow and Wash was flush with the exhilaration of having accomplished something amazing. They where both more completely alive than we had ever seen them and only seconds later they where both gone, taken from life in a tragic senseless manner. The true frailty of life is displayed in both those moments.

Wash's death scene was the most beautiful and terrifying moment in the movie. The beauty and joy of life in the character when he uttered the phrase, "I'm a leaf on the wind watch me soar" and then the terrifying realization that life can be ripped away in one brief moment with no warning was an amazing moment.

I never seem to be able to come up with a simple black and white answer to anything. Anyone else have an opinion? I would love to hear other thoughts.

Melissa

[tawse]

I would actually put Anya and Wash's deaths on the same playing field, and Tara in line with Book. They were both deaths that resulted in the motivation of major characters on the individual shows.

Anya and Wash however were used IMO strictly to let the audience know that no one was sacred. There were no "safe" people.

Could be a lot more complicated than that, but I haven't seen the evidence as yet.

[thepeopleseason]

From a storytelling perspective, Wash's death must happen to take all the browncoats out of the television episode mentality. A great many of my browncoat friends mentioned that Book's death lulled them into a sense of security over Joss's well-known penchant for killing key characters.

After the stupendous flight and crash landing, most of the people in the theater are thinking, "ok, it's all downhill from here..." Joss then ratchets up the tension and fear in his audience with Wash's death. At that very moment, we believe the story is capable of going anywhere. When Zoe, Simon, and Kaylee get injured in the course of the Reaver battle, there is no reassuring feeling of "well, they're main characters, they have to live for the next episode."

We think, "Dammit, that bastard Joss is really going to kill everyone."