NOTE: all quotes are from "The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines." I'm leaving a lot out - most of which applies, some of which doesn't. If you want the latter, well, buy the book. It's interesting. ;-) -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Both Cally and Dayna are basically Crusaders.
"Ready for action, the CRUSADER marches in. This is a heroine in the truest sense-deeds of valor are right up her alley. She is confident, tenacious and headstrong against opposition. Lines of battle have been drawn, and she never backs down from a contest."
"The CRUSADER is a fighter, through and through....If she meets up with a brick wall, she goes over, under or around, but quitting is never an option."
"The CRUSADER knows that action is necessary, and she is the one to get the job done. Fully prepared to stand alone against the enemy, she views those who fall short of her rigid standards with scorn. If necessary, she can become a one woman army."
"The CRUSADER believes in commitment, but is much more committed to a cause than to her loved ones."
Under virtues:
"Courageous-This woman risks everything in pursuit of her mission. The CRUSADER faces danger, of any kind, without flinching. Brave in the face of opposition and bolder than many a man, she is fiercely resolved to win every encounter."
"Resolute-the CRUSADER's determination is absolutely unyielding. She has decided which side is right and will not be swayed from her path. Her intense focus on every mission makes her an extremely formidable opponent."
Under flaws:
"Obstinate-The CRUSADER is not easily diverted from her mindset or her goal-no matter how misguided her ideas, actions or presumptions are."
"Rash-Stopping to think is never high on her list. She rushes in regardless of the fears of those around her. Personal safety is not a priority for the CRUSADER. Her reckless attitude might win the battle, but it can also lose the war."
"Opinionated-She has no trouble saying what she really thinks regardless of the wisdom of speaking up at a particular moment."
Among suggested occupations: revolutionary.
Where they differ is that Dayna has a touches of "Spunky Kid", while Cally is purely a Crusader.
-- -- -- -- --
Okay, that's the end of the recurring women. You'll notice that, unlike the men, there is quite a bit of overlap. If you consider them to fall into two pairs, Jenna & Cally and Dayna & Soolin, both pairs include a Seductress and a Crusader.
Two reasons this might be so occur to me.
First, to the writers, Seductress might be *the * main reason to give females a place on the crew (or rather, for having actresses on screen), and given that they were fighting, Crusader is a natural archetype to fall into.
Second, there would be major problems having some of the other heroine archetypes on the ship. For example:
A Boss would be in natural conflict with Blake over leadership - which would be okay, except that that plot niche was already filled by Avon.
And the remaining archetypes are poor meshes with the needed abilities to survive a rebel lifestyle:
A "core" Spunky Kid, with her optimism, liking and being liked by everyone, a cheery and happy soul, simply doesn't fit into the B7 universe. Dayna has touches of this, but being gleeful over killing and weapons of destruction doesn't fit well. It's possible you could decide she has enough of the Spunky Kid in her to call her a layered archetype.
The Free Spirit, an impulsive, emotionally guided cheerful type also doesn't fit into a band of rebels very well. Trusting that 'things will work out for the best no matter what' would make for a very short career as an outlaw.
The Waif, who drifts through life in need of being rescued-she wouldn't even last as long as the Free Spirit.
Finally, the Nurturer, someone who always puts the needs of the others before her own, well, anyone that self-sacrificing would end up dead pretty quick, too. A Nurturer has worthy talents and makes life pleasanter for those around her, but she isn't very useful in pulling off raids on military targets.
Come to think of it, Zen probably was a Nurturer.
Hmm. I guess ORAC would be the Professor supreme, and Slave....nothing comes to mind. I guess it just isn't a hero.
Susan Beth (susanbeth33@mindspring.com)