Posted by Diorite Gabbro on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/Conflict-tp1510316.html

Conflict is a delight for a Straker-lover like me. We
get to see Straker in a number of different modes in
this episode.

It starts with the obvious conflict between Henderson
and Straker over a space-junk clearance program. The
first little Henderson-Straker snippet ends with an
expression that bode ill with my Dad, the lips
compressed to a thin line. Look out! It’s an
expression that reappears later. The story jumps to
Alec Freeman saying that Straker wants the clearance
program because he’s afraid the aliens will use the
space junk to penetrate security. Then,
interestingly, Straker tells Henderson it’s for
safety’s sake, making it look like his reason is that
of a concerned commander. Multiple reasons for the
clearance or misdirection for Henderson’s benefit?
And Henderson essentially throws Straker out of his
office.

The next Straker mode is the over-bearing,
unreasonably demanding commander. In his frustration
Straker chews out Freeman about the clearance report.
We see a bit of subtle disobedience from old Alec.
“I’ve only just got here,” but he’s had time to play
chess with Maddox. And then Alec doesn’t come right
back with the report as ordered. I have to chuckle at
Paul’s comment that Straker is not going to think
everything is fine, he’s expecting Alec. But it’s a
good thing he didn’t come right back as ordered, or
he’d have been toast.

I’m surprised that after Henderson orders a shut-down
of lunar flights that Straker is so subdued when he
returns to HQ. His comments to Miss Ealand are very
quiet. It’s such a contrast from his usually bustle
I’d almost think he’d given up when he is sitting in
his office right afterward. At least he didn’t take
his aggravation out on the hard-working Miss Ealand.

Paul Foster shows just how hot-headed and reckless he
is by disobeying direct orders from both Straker and
Freeman. The guy is a loose cannon. I do think a
little later he figures out how much trouble he causes
for Straker. I think if I were Paul I’d be more
worried by the reasonable “we have a few things to
discuss” than if Straker had yelled over the radio.

Am I the only one who gets the impression that when
Straker and Foster visit Henderson right after Paul’s
forbidden flight that Straker is letting Foster do his
yelling for him? And I’m always impressed with the
way the scene plays out with Straker sitting Foster
down with a glace and then mollifying Henderson with
the quiet apology.

And then we come to one of those things that
transformed, in part, my opinion of Straker as a
character. For the most part before we’d seen Straker
as cold, hard, obnoxious, and demanding with just a
couple of hints of something underneath. For me, the
turning point comes as Straker tells Foster that he’s
solved a number of problems by just “sitting around”.
Then we see Straker lying on a couch or bed just
thinking. It ties to his previous preoccupation on
his return to the office. I have a thing for
characters who think more than they do.

And Straker comes up with a shocker of a solution to
his problem. It illustrates Straker’s brilliance and
his ability to manipulate people and events. Not only
does his plan convince Henderson he was right about
clearing the space junk but it allows him to really
stick it to Henderson. You can tell by the expression
on Straker’s face that he really gets a kick out of
that. The film director in Straker’s office only
makes it better with the line about loving Straker’s
policy of non-interference. LOL. Straker even offers
to explain himself but Henderson is in too much of a
high dudgeon to listen.

I think the events in “Conflict” are a real eye-opener
for Paul Foster. It tests his faith in his commanding
officer, first of all. He doesn’t understand what
Straker is doing when he orders the shutdown of the
electronics at HQ. It’s an interesting choice on
Billington’s part that Paul has his eyes closed and
almost appears to be praying when Henderson orders
Straker and Foster to the office. Paul has to decide
whether to follow his commander even though he doesn’t
understand the plan or follow Henderson. He chooses
right. And then Straker begins to explain and Paul’s
admiration grows. I think this is when a good bit of
the hero worship starts.

Good old Miss Ealand. I wondered at first why she was
looking out of the window. She does a lot more than
just the secretarial work. She obviously had a great
deal of trust from her boss.

“Straker, sly old…” “Fox?” LOL. Anybody have any
trouble supplying a work Alec might have used? That
cracks me up.

As for the conflict between Straker and Henderson,
there are three possible reasons. One is jealousy.
Henderson was Straker’s commander when the idea of
SHADO was developed and he never got over Straker
being given command (and succeeding). And second
possible reason is the friction caused by a father and
son sort of relationship when the “son” becomes
independent. The third is the conflict that occurs
between two people who are too much alike. There’s
maybe a hint that this is part of the problem at the
end “Like you?”, but we were never given a definitive
answer for why. Maybe a bit of all three reasons
factor into the problems they were having.

And Straker’s last mode? That of the graceful victor.
After sticking it to Henderson quite successfully, he
doesn’t gloat and is conciliatory towards his boss. A
class act.

Diorite