jedibuttercup

Interesting and well thought out argument. Can't say I agree with it, but it's definitely thought-provoking.

Strangely enough, it's a bit that didn't make it into the novelization. Added late to the script to add to the Mal-River connection? I wonder.

Actually, you're right, it was added late. I don't remember which interview with Joss it was where he said so, but I do remember what he said. Basically, in Serenity his intention was that River is the viewpoint character, and Mal is the hero. The layered introduction to the film was all River-POV, but once we got onto Serenity it switched to Mal, so that scene was essentially a handing of the baton--both from Mal-POV back to River-POV and from River to Mal as the one we should be rooting for.