The Square Triangle

Hi All
Here are some thoughts on TST.

I must admit that I found Straker's behaviour bizarre whilst the UFO
was en route to Earth. Straker's role at Shado involves commanding
and earning respect from his subordinates, consulting with and
fostering (no pun intended!)teamwork and making best use of his team,
giving clear leadership and providing clear communication. I would
say that Straker falls down very badly on all of these during the UFO
approach.

He only explains his plan in reaction to Freeman's aggressive retort
of "why not invite them for tea ?(sic)" and even then he only tells
Freeman. He leaves everyone up in the air – Foster , Ellis,
Interceptor pilots etc during a tense and crucial time without any
explanation whilst he pursues a hunch. He doesn't explain his
intentions nor involve his team. Straker therefore undermines and
alienates (again no pun intended !) his immediate subordinates,
creates a distance + uncertainty between them and him (see Foster's
body language).

Such situations require a clear head + Straker was distracted / pre-
occupied with his plan and drawing his map. What would have happened
if the trajectory had not worked out ? He used up / wasted crucial
time doing something someone else could have easily done (that's what
the team is there for, and why was he plotting maps when they have
all those computers ?). By not using the available resources
(including scrambling Skydiver) he turned an innovative plan into an
unnecessarily high-risk strategy with possible negative effects on
the cohesiveness etc of his team. This brings me onto some thoughts
about Straker …

I maybe setting myself up to be shot down here but I would say that
Straker is not very capable when it comes to intimacy + this explains
some of his behaviours / attributes. This struck me re-watching TQOP
but I missed the window to post my thoughts. In TST the way Straker
goes off + pursues his plan doing it himself and without explaining
anything to anyone is one of many examples of this. I don't think
Straker does it deliberately (ie on purpose) I think he's reverting
to type. He doesn't even think to explain his thoughts + involve the
others; he is very much a loner who relies on himself and does things
his own way instinctively.

His relationships work best at a functional or more formal level
rather than being relational. Straker creates and maintains a
distance around himself and I would argue that this extends to all
his relationships. He struggles when having to deal with being
intimate and having to confront his own emotions / feelings. He is
unwilling (unable) to open up to those around him about his own
feelings because he struggles to face / deal with them himself.
Straker is at his best when the focus is away from him – on a
situation or another person. His lack of emotional maturity /
development gives him clarity and objectivity that are great assets
in his role as head of Shado. He is very self reliant and self-
sufficient and so avoids becoming vulnerable to / involved with other
people.

Straker has devoted himself tirelessly to the military and to Shado,
and at great cost (break up of marriage and home and some
estrangement from his son). However I see these as symptoms rather
than cause. Straker has an edge, a harshness that drives Shado
forward. The weight of Shado rests easily on Straker's shoulders
whereas others show signs of buckling when Straker is absent. His
emotional vulnerabilities give him a tremendous focus, drive and
energy which have been honed over time and well suited to his pivotal
role in Shado. I appreciate that Straker's role means that he cannot
get too pally with his colleagues but Straker prefers to avoid
friendship in favour of focussing on the task, and he has sacrificed
himself in the pursuit of this.

I hope I've articulated this in a way that makes sense + will provoke
some discussion. This isn't meant as blasphemy ("I'll just get my
coat") but Ed has got his foibles + that's part of what makes him who
he is warts + all.

Also on TST I thought the music was excellent in building the
suspense + tension, and the camera work on the scene where the game
warden + his dog encounter the UFO + alien is outstanding.

Finally, in the aftermath of the amnesia drug being administered and
therefore the husband waiting to be bumped off, is this a case for a
Minority Report per chance ?

teee_peee

>"teee_peee <[hidden email]>" <[hidden email]>
wrote:
I would say that
>Straker is not very capable when it comes to intimacy + this explains
>some of his behaviours / attributes. This struck me re-watching TQOP
>but I missed the window to post my thoughts. In TST the way Straker
>goes off + pursues his plan doing it himself and without explaining
>anything to anyone is one of many examples of this. I don't think
>Straker does it deliberately (ie on purpose) I think he's reverting
>to type. He doesn't even think to explain his thoughts + involve the
>others; he is very much a loner who relies on himself and does things
>his own way instinctively.

That's all a part of his fatal charm! *grin* If he weren't such a loner,
all us women wouldn't find him so dreamy!

In one of my stories, I have Dr. Jackson think of him as very "British",
(i.e. stiff upper lip type.) It cracks me up that the one American in the
show has more English in him than the rest of the crew! And you can bet
that I use that often in my storylines! *grin* We DO love him just as he
is, "warts and all" as you said. It makes him so lovable (don't you
think?), that incapacity to let himself lose control? Personally, I find it
sexy as hell. But I wouldn't want to be married to him--- no way, no how!!!
Denise

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Regarding teee_peee's posting....

Amazing how everything I've always thought about Straker's character was put
down in such brilliant detail! Much of my writing over the years has been
devoted to this characteristic conflict. I couldn't agree more with your
comments. THANKS for your insight and well thought out opinion!

Mary





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