Hoban 'Wash' Washburn

[Lonewolf89]

I didn't see a thread for Wash, like the rest of the characters so I thought I'd add one.

Originally posted by ray gower
What makes the characters in Firefly tick?

The series finished before it got going, leaving a huge hole in what we know and understand about them. So there must be some good theories about them, so let's have some thoughts?

Let us have a go at Wash here?

At first I wasn’t a fan of Wash but after two episodes I really began to like his character. He has a way of balancing everything with humor, like BtVS’s Xander.

His relationship with Mal is always interesting. Mal didn’t seem to like him that much until War Stories, even though Wash didn’t seem to have an opinion one way or the other about the Captain. After Stories, though, they began to having a mutual respect for each other.

As I’ve said in the Zoe thread I really like the interaction between Wash and Zoe. They complement each other every well and Joss did a great job writing their scenes together.

[Tabitha]

Wash grew on me slowly but surely. I have to agree that when he says "Not a lot of people get me and Zoe" I had to agree, but the more I see how they interact, the more I get it. Kind of an "opposites attract" kind of thing.

My favourite moment with Wash is still the scene where he is playing with his dinosaurs - I think in "Serenity" or "Out of Gas". :lol:

[Dave]

Originally posted by Tabitha
My favourite moment with Wash is still the scene where he is playing with his dinosaurs - I think in "Serenity" or "Out of Gas". :lol:

After the war scenes in Serenity Valley and the opeing credits, it is the very first scene in 'Serenity'. I must admit when I first saw that I thought "What?" I'm still not sure what it is meant to tell us about him.

I think there is still a story to tell in how Wash and Zoe got together. All we know is that 'the Captain got a pilot and Zoe got a husband' -- but does that mean 'love at first sight'. As you have said, they are so different that is unlikely.

[Rik_the_Riff]

You remember in 'Out of Gas' where we see Wash for the first time with the ridiculous moustache? Zoe muttered to Mal about not liking something about Wash - I'm guessing that was the seed of their love right there. I agree with the dinosaurs being his best scene. I guess they're supposed to tell us he's the least serious member of the crew - or at least the most innocent (how that fits in with Kaylee, I don't know)

Just a thought,

Rik

[Dave]

Originally posted by Tabitha
My favourite moment with Wash is still the scene where he is playing with his dinosaurs - I think in "Serenity"

Did you notice the brief scene in "Bushwacked" when the Alliance officer is searching Wash's quarters? He finds one of his Dinosaurs (the blue one), looks at it, then throws it on the bed.

On the DVD extras, he does the 'Dinosaur' scene without props as his first audition for the show.

[Rik_the_Riff]

So, Wash boils down to the dinosaurs? I guess that makes him.... old-fashioned, child-like etc. etc.

He's certainly a bit of a romantic. And a bit naive....

I reckon he's the Xander-to-be (I think it's fair to use Buffy archetypes when talking about Joss' other output); he was going to 'grow up' and become the solid one that everyone can rely on.

Just a thought,

Rik

[Maria8475]

I liked Wash right from the dinosaurs scene, it was just so funny. And i think it was really needed after the scenes before it (that made more sense in my head!). But Wash continues to make us
laugh throughout the rest of the episodes too.

His interrogation in Bushwacked, especially compared to Zoe's "it's private" attitude

In War Stories -"Hey, I've been in a firefight before! Well, I was in a fire. Actually, I was fired from a fry-cook opportunity."

In Jaynestown his comment on Simon playing a character, something about "diabolical master of disguise" and later in the ballad with "we gotta go to the crappy town where i'm a hero".

Originally posted by Dave


Did you notice the brief scene in "Bushwacked" when the Alliance officer is searching Wash's quarters? He finds one of his Dinosaurs (the blue one), looks at it, then throws it on the bed.

Lol, yeah. We see the other one a few times too. It's in the cockpit in The Message and Objects in Space. Strangely manages not to fall over