gabriel tam
POSTED BY: wytchcroft
UPDATED: Thursday, October 11, 2007 12:56
VIEWED: 12612
PAGE 3 of 4
Quote:
Originally posted by pachelbel:
Anyone explored that?
get writing - now:)
(please?)
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Wonky camera angles? I think it's a deliberate change in tone, definitely. The first scene is designed to mislead the audience into thinking that Simon and River had a lovely childhood with nice supportive parents, something warm and comforting, that the Alliance took away from them. The second scene, the letters scene, is designed to shock us out of that idea and show us the rotten core that was behind that seemingly homey scene. Because, to all outside viewers, the Tams were (in my opinion at least) a lovely family. The thing is, it was all superficial, and when trials came the true nature of things came out. That is what is disturbing to me about the letters scene, that such poor quality could have hidden under such a nice exterior. It's upsetting, that such apparently good people could fail their children so miserably, and it makes us appreciate Simon more, because even though outwardly he appears arrogant and irritating to most, he has a good core beneath that.
--
"My way of being polite, or however...well, it's the only way I have of showing you that I like you. Of showing respect." Simon Tam, Jaynestown
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wonky. on purpose though, i get that:)
i think we actually agree here.
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Quote:
Originally posted by MerryK:
...Simon more, because even though outwardly he appears arrogant and irritating to most, he has a good core beneath that.
Do you think he got his "core" from good parenting?
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Hmm, where does Simon get his core? I think it comes from many variables. First of all, his personality...I think he is naturally a caring person. His parents seemed to dote on him and care about what he did (they didn't want him to get a dedicated source box because of all the crap on the Cortex), and that probably enhanced his sense of morality and gave him pretty strong self-esteem. His relationship with River, of course, and his choice of career as doctor also, would enhance those aspects of his character that were loving and good. And lastly, but not least important, growing up in the Alliance, far away from the War of Independence that shook many men's faith in men's goodness, Simon would be trained to be a model citizen.
--
"My way of being polite, or however...well, it's the only way I have of showing you that I like you. Of showing respect." Simon Tam, Jaynestown
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From the earlier flashbacks in Safe, I think it's clear that Simon had a very solid, loving childhood. No matter what happened later, he was raised to believe in himself and to care for others - maybe having a little sister helped with that.
As for Gabriel... I think there are plenty of parents who can be spectacular as long as their children are what they expect. Like parents 50 years ago having their kids get into an interracial marriage, or parents of today whose kids come out of the closet. That may cross a line of the parent's prejudices, and suddenly they become downright unfriendly.
I don't really see the scenes of later Gabriel as chilling. Frustrating and sad, because he's wrong, but I don't think he's intentionally trying to hurt his children. I have parents who are quite good at a similar kind of denial, and though the results haven't always been so good for me, I've learned that it's not any kind of evilness on their part. It's just their limitations as human beings, and follows from the lives they've lived.
Gabriel's a man with a story of his own, and perhaps a battle he's fought to get where he is in life. I think he has his reasons to act as he does, although those may not be the most honorable and heroic. Making him purely evil for no other reason than to bring on Simon angst is overly simplistic, I think, and doesn't take into account the kind father he was once.
Not that cold, calculating Gabriel doesn't make for a fun fic - it surely does! 
But I like a more human take on him.
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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left
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Yes, human. But I don't think that Gabriel was a good man...that is, he acted like a good citizen, but I don't think he cared about people or what was "right" if it didn't benefit him. He probably didn't think about it as distinctly as that, but that was his underlying principle. Gabriel thinks he's doing right, but in the end he's self-serving. Contrast that with Mal, who thinks he's self-serving, but in the end does what's right.
--
"My way of being polite, or however...well, it's the only way I have of showing you that I like you. Of showing respect." Simon Tam, Jaynestown
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side bar - it's such a pity that we didn't much of REGAN - just a tiny glimpse...
and comparing Gabriel to Mal brings us neatly back to nbz (see above).
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Quote:I absolutely agree! He's very flawed. But I don't think he intentionally sent his daughter to get her head cut up, and I don't think he's in charge of the evil academy people and actively hunting her. If Gabriel ever encountered Simon and River again, I don't think it'd be a sure thing that he'd turn them in. He might, but he also might be shocked into seeing his mistakes and actually helping her. There is a good man in him somewhere, a man who loves his children. I find that struggle more compelling than painting him as purely evil.
Originally posted by MerryK:
Gabriel thinks he's doing right, but in the end he's self-serving.
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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left
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You're so smart, Mal4prez.
The Tams aren't that much different than any other upper-middle class parents, I know.
They WANT the best for their children, they just don't KNOW what that is.
And they don't listen! ie, Simon's frustration, with them, in Safe.
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