User blog comment:Bigez620/"Scarlett Fever" - Mini-Review/@comment-24042891-20140717172133/@comment-24971793-20140717173306

Scarlett was a gimmick. A reference to "supervillains". Blackmailing to blow up the world if she doesn't get money. Is the standard "supervillain" motive. Scarlett and Max belong together, he looks like a supervillain but she is an actual one. I think they're a reference to Doctor Evil and Mini Me from the Austin powers franchise. Since Max is literally dressed like them.

So the backstory of Scarlett isn't important since she's a gimmick, joke, parody. Mal on the other hand was supposed to be taken seriously.