Art is in the eye of the beholder. We know that. We know that we interpret art through our own personal filters, many of which are political. So different people looking at Serenity might see different things. I might see a conservative film that strongly condemns government interference. My liberal friends might see a film that proves the claims of third-wave feminism. And we all might contemplate authorial intent and back away slowly, because, no matter how much you love the Firefly franchise, the feature film isn't its best iteration.

But asked to look at it in this framework-- compared to films like Schindler's List and Stand and Deliver, and Braveheart, it reifies what I first saw in it, and what I already knew about it: it's a conservative movie. It is, because I am.

The film climaxes with the central character, Malcolm Reynolds, fighting a villain, The Operative, who represents the Alliance Government, a tidy and graceful package of every evil Mal could possibly face. The fight itself begins with gunshots, but quickly devolves into fisticuffs. We've seen the two fight before and know that The Operative is more skilled. Disarmed, Mal goes for the first weapon he can get his hands on. It turns out to be a screwdriver. The Operative has a sword and we've seen him use it very effectively.

That's me. That's us. The world has a sword. We have screwdrivers. There's dialogue:

The Operative: “You're fighting a war you've already lost.”

Mal: Well, I'm known for that.”

Feel familiar? Just like Schindler's List, just like Braveheart, the side of the individual is outnumbered, underarmed, and demoralized. What strengthens Mal is what should comfort us as well. He declares, rallying his crew:

Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that.

I don't hold to it either. I don't care how much technology, or enlightenment, or sophistication any government has if I have no redress against that government. In fact, I can't see anything else but that message. And I've watched the movie 15 times, no kidding. Those of us who consider ourselves conservative (or libertarian, or a combination, or variation) should take comfort here, regardless of some of the idiot comments by the so-called progressives and liberals at Whedonesque. We can take comfort in the notion that, no matter how defeated we might seem, so long as we have fellows, so long as we hold to our convictions, and so long as we can find something, even a screwdriver, to fight with, we won't ever be defeated, even if we lose most of the battles.

It's what I'll be thinking come Tuesday. I won't wail, or gnash my teeth, or give into any long-term anxiety. I'll get on with work and life and remind myself I have a crew, a screwdriver, and enough aim at misbehavior should it come to that. Maybe I'll even watch Serenity for the 16th time.