Great Fictional Leaders: Captain Malcolm Reynolds

The real world is full of "leaders" but none of them as great as those found in fiction. You can't beat their decisive nature, hard-core attitudes, and the ability to rally people to their sides in a heartbeat with a powerful speech. These make believe persons are the true inspiration for many of us and help shape who we are.

Oh, who am I kidding. They are just kick-ass characters and we are a society of people who love men of action.

Those who know me well know that I have one man that I look to for absolute insight into what it is to be awesome. That man is the witty Captain Mal of the canceled to soon Firefly. He's a man that struggles with the balance between being a good person and being a criminal in a universe where The Alliance is the all powerful authority hunting him down. He is also a man with a passion for fun who can become a dedicated leader at the drop of a hat (or dead body of preacher). He is very protective of his crew and will risk his life for them as long as he doesn't die. For these reasons and many more I would like to welcome Captain Malcolm Reynolds to the ranks of Great Fictional Leaders.

Name
Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds
Rank
Captain
Commands
Serenity
Strengths

• Smart ass attitude even in the face of death


• Chiseled jaw


• Great shot


• Had surgery to move a nerve cluster in his back

Weaknesses

• Is often the underdog in any fight


• Had to learn how to sword fight from a girl


• Has no rudder


• Easily fooled by hot redheads

Love Interest
Companion Inara Serra - First Base Only (A kiss that Inara stole well he was passed out).

Weapon of Choice
Moses Brothers Self-Defense Engine Frontier Model B

Best Leadership Moment
Convinces his crew to help him get a message to Mr. Universe so they can broadcast it to other worlds in order share the truth about Meranda and the Reavers.

Best Quotes

Mal: "If anyone gets nosy, just, you know, shoot 'em."
Zoe: "Shoot 'em?"
Mal: "Politely."

"We've done the impossible and that makes us mighty."

"Faster. Faster. Faster would be better."

>"Love. You can know all the math in the 'Verse, but take a boat in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells ya she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her home."

Great Fictional Leaders: Admiral William Adama

The real world is full of "leaders" but none of them as great as those found in fiction. You can't beat their decisive nature, hard-core attitudes, and the ability to rally people to their sides in a heartbeat with a powerful speech. These make believe persons are the true inspiration for many of us and help shape who we are.

Oh, who am I kidding. They are just kick-ass characters and we are a society of people who love men of action.

As you all might have noticed from my posts the past few weeks, I'm very excited about the final season of Battlestar Galactica. I rewatched the previous seasons of and was greatly impressed by how great Adama is with his crew. That man can make someone jump out an airlock with just a look. That is why the first person to join the ranks of Great Fictional Leaders is Admiral William Adama of Battlestar Galactica.



Name
William "Bill" Adama
Rank
Admiral in the Colonial Fleet
Commands
Battlestar Galactica

Strengths

• Stoic Stare


• First Mexican in Space


• Glasses of Wisdom


• Knows When to Cut and Run (unlike some people we know ::cough::bush::cough)

Weaknesses

• -2 Against Close Range Cylon Attacks


• When Wrong, Will Only Do the Right Thing When Asked Twice


• Not Into Genocide


• Has Tigh as His Second in Command (sorry Tigh, you're lack of depth perception is very dangerous to the safety of the human race)

Love Interest
President Laura Roslin - First Base Only (A kiss during a deathbed goodbye)

Weapon of Choice
His Crew. Like a true leader, Adama doesn't actually do the hard work or kill people. He gives the orders and one of his crew will do it for him whether they want to or not.

Best Leadership Moment
Convinces the survivors of the Cylon massacre of the colonies that a phantom planet exists out in space and he knows where it is. It takes guts to lie to people who have lost everything they have ever known just hours ago. It takes a leader to make them shut up and follow you in the random direction of your choice.

Best Quotes
Adama "Now one of you, and I don't care who, pick that weapon up and shoot me."
Starbuck "Admiral, I don't know..."
Adama "I didn't say to talk."

"So say we all."

"Have you taken a look at yourself in the mirror lately? You're weak, SOFT, mentally and physically."

"Yes... I'm putting the fleet back together, I'm putting our family back together. This ends now."

"..Walk out of this cabin...while you still can."