Re: taglines for characters on UFO instead of a Bible or more fleshed out ideas

>
> The Ed/Alec dynamic was unique for several reasons, the biggest one being that they had known each other for a very long time. In fact, the episode "Identified" seemed to miss the fact that they were close friends. In that episode, Straker treated him as a subordinate and not a confidant IMO. I attribute that to the writers not yet having a handle on the characters, or their backstories. I agree, once the writer's had got a handle on the relationship, Alec was a perfect foil for Ed providing a steady persence of humanity.
>
> Foster could not fill that role as his relationship with the Commander was more a teacher/student dynamic, at least to me. They were both test pilots, (Straker was an astronaut, therefore he was also a test pilot.) which gave them common ground. The seasoned veteran vs. the brash newcomer. By no means does this make Foster a dummy, as test pilots often held advanced degrees in aeronautics. While the two men were friends, it was unlikely that they would be drinking buddies. (Especially since Straker so seldom indulged.) Although they did play golf together on at least one occasion.
>
> The relationship between Straker and Lake, given a chance to evolve, would have been a whole new ball game. When the series ended, the writer's had just started to get a handle on her personality and it would have been interesting to see how it would have developed. A M/F working relationship opens a new set of possiblities, everything from close comradeship to UST and possibly a romantic involvement. (Many different opinions about that! *grin*)  Like Sewell, Ventham also had good onscreen chemistry with Bishop and that trait was evident in their portrayal of the characters. With both of them holding advanced science degrees, they would connect on an intellectual plane. It's generally assumed that Straker and Lake never met before she came to SHADO so she doesn't have the long history that Straker had with Freeman. One very big difference between Freeman and Lake was the way each of them communicated with the commander. While Freeman was very vocal (sometimes loudly), communications between Lake and Straker was often non verbal, like the look she gave him when he ordered Regan back to duty after the loss of his wife. Ginny got her message through, loud and clear! By the same token, in "The Long Sleep" at the end, Ed stops and looks at her, they say nothing to each other but you can tell a conversation has taken place. And as she watches him walk away in solitude, we see her hesitate at first, followed by a decisive moment. You can almost hear her thoughts, "Face this alone? Like hell!"
>
> Just my nickel's worth.
>
> Matt :)
>

>
> Nice summation, Matt.  That's the way I read those characters too.  Now the Straker/Ford dynamic was the one that always puzzled me.  Here was a guy at a very important post, so he had to have been extremely intelligent and trustworthy.  But Straker treats him for the most part like a total idiot.  Maybe their personalities just didn't jibe, but surely in that case, the commander would have replaced him with someone he did like?  I dunno.  I never could figure it out.
> Yours,
> Denise
>
> --- In [hidden email], "Matt" <ka1bqp@> wrote:
> >
> > The Ed/Alec dynamic was unique for several reasons, the biggest one being that they had known each other for a very long time. In fact, the episode "Identified" seemed to miss the fact that they were close friends. In that episode, Straker treated him as a subordinate and not a confidant IMO. I attribute that to the writers not yet having a handle on the characters, or their backstories. I agree, once the writer's had got a handle on the relationship, Alec was a perfect foil for Ed providing a steady persence of humanity.
> >
> > Foster could not fill that role as his relationship with the Commander was more a teacher/student dynamic, at least to me. They were both test pilots, (Straker was an astronaut, therefore he was also a test pilot.) which gave them common ground. The seasoned veteran vs. the brash newcomer. By no means does this make Foster a dummy, as test pilots often held advanced degrees in aeronautics. While the two men were friends, it was unlikely that they would be drinking buddies. (Especially since Straker so seldom indulged.) Although they did play golf together on at least one occasion.
> >
> > The relationship between Straker and Lake, given a chance to evolve, would have been a whole new ball game. When the series ended, the writer's had just started to get a handle on her personality and it would have been interesting to see how it would have developed. A M/F working relationship opens a new set of possiblities, everything from close comradeship to UST and possibly a romantic involvement. (Many different opinions about that! *grin*)  Like Sewell, Ventham also had good onscreen chemistry with Bishop and that trait was evident in their portrayal of the characters. With both of them holding advanced science degrees, they would connect on an intellectual plane. It's generally assumed that Straker and Lake never met before she came to SHADO so she doesn't have the long history that Straker had with Freeman. One very big difference between Freeman and Lake was the way each of them communicated with the commander. While Freeman was very vocal (sometimes loudly), communications between Lake and Straker was often non verbal, like the look she gave him when he ordered Regan back to duty after the loss of his wife. Ginny got her message through, loud and clear! By the same token, in "The Long Sleep" at the end, Ed stops and looks at her, they say nothing to each other but you can tell a conversation has taken place. And as she watches him walk away in solitude, we see her hesitate at first, followed by a decisive moment. You can almost hear her thoughts, "Face this alone? Like hell!"
> >
> > Just my nickel's worth.
> >
> > Matt :)
> >
>

>
> I so love the ending on TLS, that walk in the garden at the end is beautiful: no scripted words were needed.
>
> --- On Tue, 7/12/11, Matt <ka1bqp@...> wrote:
>
> From: Matt <ka1bqp@...>
> Subject: [SHADO] Re: taglines for characters on UFO instead of a Bible or more fleshed out ideas
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2011, 3:21 PM
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>       The Ed/Alec dynamic was unique for several reasons, the biggest one being that they had known each other for a very long time. In fact, the episode "Identified" seemed to miss the fact that they were close friends. In that episode, Straker treated him as a subordinate and not a confidant IMO. I attribute that to the writers not yet having a handle on the characters, or their backstories. I agree, once the writer's had got a handle on the relationship, Alec was a perfect foil for Ed providing a steady persence of humanity.
>
>
>
> Foster could not fill that role as his relationship with the Commander was more a teacher/student dynamic, at least to me. They were both test pilots, (Straker was an astronaut, therefore he was also a test pilot.) which gave them common ground. The seasoned veteran vs. the brash newcomer. By no means does this make Foster a dummy, as test pilots often held advanced degrees in aeronautics. While the two men were friends, it was unlikely that they would be drinking buddies. (Especially since Straker so seldom indulged.) Although they did play golf together on at least one occasion.
>
>
>
> The relationship between Straker and Lake, given a chance to evolve, would have been a whole new ball game. When the series ended, the writer's had just started to get a handle on her personality and it would have been interesting to see how it would have developed. A M/F working relationship opens a new set of possiblities, everything from close comradeship to UST and possibly a romantic involvement. (Many different opinions about that! *grin*)  Like Sewell, Ventham also had good onscreen chemistry with Bishop and that trait was evident in their portrayal of the characters. With both of them holding advanced science degrees, they would connect on an intellectual plane. It's generally assumed that Straker and Lake never met before she came to SHADO so she doesn't have the long history that Straker had with Freeman. One very big difference between Freeman and Lake was the way each of them communicated with the commander. While Freeman was very vocal
>  (sometimes loudly), communications between Lake and Straker was often non verbal, like the look she gave him when he ordered Regan back to duty after the loss of his wife. Ginny got her message through, loud and clear! By the same token, in "The Long Sleep" at the end, Ed stops and looks at her, they say nothing to each other but you can tell a conversation has taken place. And as she watches him walk away in solitude, we see her hesitate at first, followed by a decisive moment. You can almost hear her thoughts, "Face this alone? Like hell!"
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> Just my nickel's worth.
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> Matt :)
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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> We're not given a reason except that he chooses not to.
>
> Some people have speculated that he or a member of his family had issues
> with alcoholism, but I doubt Alec would be joking with Straker about
> drinking if Straker was an alcoholic. I also doubt Straker would have been
> given command of SHADO if he had that problem. Most likely, Straker just
> doesn't like the taste of alcohol and doesn't like getting drunk. (Some
> people don't.)
>
> _____
>
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of .
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:26 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: taglines for characters on UFO instead of a Bible
> or more fleshed out ideas
>
> is there a reason why straker doesnt drink?
> jim
>
> From: Deborah Rorabaugh <[hidden email] <mailto:momkat%40dandello.net>
> >
> To: [hidden email] <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:21 AM
> Subject: RE: [SHADO] Re: taglines for characters on UFO instead of a Bible
> or more fleshed out ideas
>
> OR, since Straker picking on Ford is in the same episode (the pilot) that
> Straker treats Freeman like a peon rather than a close associate, the real
> explanation is that the writers hadn't gotten a handle on the characters yet
> and they needed someway for Straker to give the necessary fill-in-the-blanks
> expository about HQ and the studio.
>
> Within the fictional context, Straker was just having a seriously bad day
> because Identified is the *only* episode where Straker treats Ford or
> Freeman so badly. Ford is shown as being a very competent operative in every
> other episode he's in and is 'one of the best people' Straker takes with him
> to Moonbase in Close Up. There's no other indication in any other episode
> that Straker has anything other than the highest respect for Ford's
> competence. In fact, the one other episode where Ford *should* have been
> yelled at (Responsibility Seat), Straker lets it slide. (But then, Ford's
> voice over the intercom was simply a plot device and should never have
> happened at all. The intercom connection from HQ should have simply buzzed,
> forestalling any security issue. What if Straker hadn't been alone in the
> office when Ford buzzed?)
>
> _____
>
> From: [hidden email] <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com>
> [mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf
> Of .
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 7:06 AM
> To: [hidden email] <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [SHADO] Re: taglines for characters on UFO instead of a Bible
> or more fleshed out ideas
>
> maybe straker gets better work out of him if he picks on him.
> or maybe straker isnt perfect and picks on him because he likes to?
> jim
>
> From: Neesierie <[hidden email] <mailto:neesierie%40hotmail.com>
> <mailto:neesierie%40hotmail.com> >
> To: [hidden email] <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com>
> <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 2:32 PM
> Subject: [SHADO] Re: taglines for characters on UFO instead of a Bible or
> more fleshed out ideas
>
> Nice summation, Matt. That's the way I read those characters too. Now the
> Straker/Ford dynamic was the one that always puzzled me. Here was a guy at a
> very important post, so he had to have been extremely intelligent and
> trustworthy. But Straker treats him for the most part like a total idiot.
> Maybe their personalities just didn't jibe, but surely in that case, the
> commander would have replaced him with someone he did like? I dunno. I never
> could figure it out.
> Yours,
> Denise
>
> --- In [hidden email] <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com>
> <mailto:SHADO%40yahoogroups.com> , "Matt"
> <ka1bqp@...> wrote:
> >
> > The Ed/Alec dynamic was unique for several reasons, the biggest one being
> that they had known each other for a very long time. In fact, the episode
> "Identified" seemed to miss the fact that they were close friends. In that
> episode, Straker treated him as a subordinate and not a confidant IMO. I
> attribute that to the writers not yet having a handle on the characters, or
> their backstories. I agree, once the writer's had got a handle on the
> relationship, Alec was a perfect foil for Ed providing a steady persence of
> humanity.
> >
> > Foster could not fill that role as his relationship with the Commander was
> more a teacher/student dynamic, at least to me. They were both test pilots,
> (Straker was an astronaut, therefore he was also a test pilot.) which gave
> them common ground. The seasoned veteran vs. the brash newcomer. By no means
> does this make Foster a dummy, as test pilots often held advanced degrees in
> aeronautics. While the two men were friends, it was unlikely that they would
> be drinking buddies. (Especially since Straker so seldom indulged.) Although
> they did play golf together on at least one occasion.
> >
> > The relationship between Straker and Lake, given a chance to evolve, would
> have been a whole new ball game. When the series ended, the writer's had
> just started to get a handle on her personality and it would have been
> interesting to see how it would have developed. A M/F working relationship
> opens a new set of possiblities, everything from close comradeship to UST
> and possibly a romantic involvement. (Many different opinions about that!
> *grin*) Like Sewell, Ventham also had good onscreen chemistry with Bishop
> and that trait was evident in their portrayal of the characters. With both
> of them holding advanced science degrees, they would connect on an
> intellectual plane. It's generally assumed that Straker and Lake never met
> before she came to SHADO so she doesn't have the long history that Straker
> had with Freeman. One very big difference between Freeman and Lake was the
> way each of them communicated with the commander. While Freeman was very
> vocal
> (sometimes loudly), communications between Lake and Straker was often non
> verbal, like the look she gave him when he ordered Regan back to duty after
> the loss of his wife. Ginny got her message through, loud and clear! By the
> same token, in "The Long Sleep" at the end, Ed stops and looks at her, they
> say nothing to each other but you can tell a conversation has taken place.
> And as she watches him walk away in solitude, we see her hesitate at first,
> followed by a decisive moment. You can almost hear her thoughts, "Face this
> alone? Like hell!"
> >
> > Just my nickel's worth.
> >
> > Matt :)
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>