First of all, if you don’t know who that is…please. Go watch Firefly. And Serenity. In that order. (You can thank me later.)
Now, I’m not one of those geeks who is so far gone that I view fictional worlds as real. Nor do I need to see some deep philosophical meaning in what is, after all, intended primarily as entertainment. That being said, there are some shows that I watch for entertainment *and* because they are intellectually stimulating. Pretty much anything Joss Whedon is in that category, with my favorites being Firefly and Dollhouse.
Since I’m contemplating a fun cosplay crossover for a party next month (Steampunk Zoe – how fun will that be?!) I thought I’d write down a quick list of why Zoe is the character from Firefly that I most identify with.
- She’s not conventionally feminine. (While I may not rock the rifle-holster look the way she does, I’m not conventionally feminine either. I can do all the domestic things, but my life isn’t restricted just to typical feminine roles.)
- She’s a fiery advocate for things that matter to her. (Like her, I have no problem with authority per se. I mean, yes, she’s an outlaw, so that could be seen as the ultimate in authority-flaunting. But she follows the Captain’s orders unless it is something she knows better on…then come hell or high water, she’s not backing down.)
- She can and will kick your ass if the occasion merits it. (No, I’m not a huge advocate of physical violence – but even The Boy will tell you that his mama kicks ass when warranted. Actually, he’ll say something like “My mom loves me lots, and I know that I don’t have to be scared. Because if somebody ever tried to hurt me, my mom would – here, I’m going to whisper this because I shouldn’t say it – KICK THEIR BOOTY.” And he’s right. I would. Metaphorically or literally, I’d do anything to protect those I love.)
- She works with really cool people (no, this isn’t a shameless bit of kissing up for co-workers and bosses who read my blog. It’s the truth – I work with an awesome team, and consider myself blessed to have the job I do.)
- She’s married to someone quirky and offbeat, who may not be the first person you’d peg as her spouse – but they are perfectly matched. (Me too – I can’t begin to tell you how many people assume The Husband and I are a mismatched couple. There are lots of reasons why we shouldn’t get on as well as we do, and sometimes we have the occasional argument just like Zoe and Wash…but like theirs, our arguments mostly end up with one of us making some smart-aleck quip. Hard to fight with someone when they are making you laugh!)
- She’s been through a lot of crap, but it just made her stronger. (This I can definitely relate to. Some days, it feels like my life up until, oh, about 25 or so was this never-ending Serenity Valley. But while I haven’t won, in the sense that the patriarchal establishment is still out there…I do believe the end is in site.)
- She’s confident in who she is, even if her appearance and personality are not conventionally considered society’s ideal. (as someone who is a size…not 4…in a world where size 4’s are considered hefty, I’ve had to learn to ignore what society finds pretty and be confident in the knowledge that those I love find me beautiful.)
For your viewing pleasure, here’s a picture of the Firefly crew.
There’s Inara – the Companion, the classically beautiful one. River, the crazy scary-smart one. Kaylee, the bubbly smart so cheerful you just want to duct tape her mouth and dump her in the hold one. And then Zoe – the happily married, has-the-coolest-outfits, super-strong one. See why I like her?
Now you have it – 7 reasons why a fictional character resonates strongly with me 🙂 So…who’s your favorite? (And if you haven’t yet watched the show – for shame! – feel free to share any other fictional characters you admire 🙂 )
