What struck me most about this fic was that on the surface, we see how shuttered and rough hewn Will is, but the trauma does not end with him. All of the characters in this story are carrying the burden of loss and the aching neediness that follows. How each of the deal with it is quite a deep dive into the human condition.
I found myself really wanting to know more about the nature of the Relationship between Jack Crusher & Picard. Was it mutual? Was it unrequited love on the part of Picard. Double-down the guilt of sending him on the ill-fated mission and we have one seriously repressed individual. Now for the first time since Jack’s death, Picard is feeling. He has not given himself permission to feel.
Bev. She thought that Picard could have possibly filled the gap left by Jack? Was she not aware of the feelings Picard harbored for Jack? (Maybe Picard was not fully aware of those feelings) Nonetheless, the walls went up quickly and Bev was locked out. Everyone was locked out.
Wesley. He, too, was looking for a replacement, only to discover to his utter devastation, that rather than a father figure, the best he could hope for was a big brother in Will (I like how you completed this cycle in the end)
Will. Such a complex character who is altogether case-hardened and pitifully vulnerable at the same time. Picard is a study of trial and errors for Will, as he looks for some glimmer of acceptance, a breakthrough of sorts. Every rejection- big and small — sends Will deeper into his own self-hatred . This is so realistic to me. People hating themselves/rejecting themselves worse than the person who they are trying to impress. It’s a miracle that the clouds parted for that brief moment that freed Will of his shackles. The kiss. It probably saved Will.
Picard IS a difficult character. His convictions are always so conventional. The predictable position. The moral compass. To take all of this and create a character both multifaceted & vulnerable (and a hell of a lot more interesting) is not an easy task. I believe you did it wonderfully.
Picard IS a difficult character. His convictions are always so conventional. The predictable position. The moral compass. To take all of this and create a character both multifaceted & vulnerable (and a hell of a lot more interesting) is not an easy task. I believe you did it wonderfully.
Thank you!
I think you hit the nail on the head re: Picard. I think everyone likes him -- I certainly do. But trying to WRITE him is so so different from just liking him in the show. Once you dig into the character and try to discern his traits and motives, it becomes a mess. Do i really like Picard, or do I just like Patrick Stewart? What is Picard LIKE? Is he gentle and patient? I can list dozens of episodes where he shows those traits. Or is he brusque, rude, impatient, unkind? I can list dozens to support that, too... He's a tough character to dig into. Part of that, too, comes from Stewart's attempts to make the character more fun to play -- it's a very contradictory character, and maybe the only solid, immutable characteristic is his awkwardness around romance/sex.
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Lazarus Mon 10 Jul 2023 06:30AM UTC
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jamaharon Wed 12 Jul 2023 03:30PM UTC
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