Wild Wise Women of Science Fiction: Inara and Number 6

Wild Wise Women of Science Fiction: Inara and Number 6 July 11, 2014

Battlestar Galactica at EMP/SFM photo by tales of a wandering youkai. Licensed under CC 2.0

Sacred Sensual: Now and Always

The sacred and the sensual go hand in hand, hand in glove, hand in… well fill in the blank. Powerful sensual women grace the Sci-Fi verse in shows as diverse as Firefly, Star Trek, and Battlestar Galatica.

In other realms a sensual female can often be labeled a slut or a skank to use the vernacular, but here they are honored for the erotic power they embody. My post Sacred Whores deals with the confusing history and differences between a Christian perspective and a Pagan one on these matters. The Science Fiction Universe has it’s own take on these matters. I could write an entire book on these matters, and in fact I am in the process of doing just that now.

These shows and the stories behind them touch on the core issues of creation on a profound level. Ronald Moore, Battlestar Galactica writer and producer, talks about his creation saying “ Galactica is certainly in the tradition of Frankenstein.” What is it that we are creating with both our magick and our science? In the case of Battlestar Galatica we have created Cylons. For those who are unfamiliar with the show these are advanced cyber-humans. More erotic, intelligent, resourceful and resilient than we humans could ever hope to become. Theorist Jean Baudrillard talks of a concept known as hyperreal, this is “more real than real.” Battlestar Galactica is hyperreal on hyperdrive. The most memorable Cylon by far is Number 6. She is sensual, inspiring, and her red dress has become the sexy stuff of legend. The genius of Ron Moore is that he puts 6 in our protagonist’s head, thoughts are obsessively informed by her. It is as if our robotic gods have fused with our own minds. What in the universe are the implications of that ?

“She Needs All That Stuff”

Morena Baccarin photo by Raven Underwood. Licensed under CC 2.0

In the genius cult classic Firefly/Serenity our sensual inspiration comes from Inara. In this ‘verse our erotic comes in the form of a “companion.” These companions are more than sexual partners they are healers, confidants and wise women with power down below and up above. Inara is artfully played by actress Morena Baccarin.

She has been trained by birth and design to be everyone’s ideal companion. For her this is a profession of great honor and service. This a point she makes gracefully in the episode “Shindig,” where her feminine power incites a duel. Companions have power, beauty, and poise, the sacred sensual has come a long way and Thank the Goddess for that!

For More about Wild Wise Women of Sci-Fi check out my post on Star Trek’s Guinan, all I have to say is Woot Woot Whoopi Goldberg and as always subscribe to our RSS feed to keep the good stuff coming !

 


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