Hi Dragon,
Quote:It's not that he doesn't care, it's that he can't care for long.
I don't even see this as this much. He simply likes to flirt, which is a completely different beast from actually having sex. It's impossible to deduct from the way Alec was shown flirting or appreciative of cute females that he is indeed sleeping with them. I think he simply was portrayed as an outgoing epicurean - liking booze, beautiful women and food. And that as a counter to Straker's celibacy and dourness.
Yuchtar's scenario BTW could also work out, for Alec's side at least.
Quote:So, somewhere there was a "happening", something that told Alec this man was worth his trust, that Ed Straker, relatively proper Bostonian, military leader, at least an MS in astrophysics, was worth following, no matter where, no matter when, no matter what. Regardless of what has happened between them since then, Alec stands at his right shoulder, through thick, thin, stupid personal decisions and self induced angst. (Yes, some of Straker's issues are indeed self induced.)
Agreed, and agreed as well on Straker self-inducing some of his issues.
Quote:So: Alec the flirt, Alec who drinks on duty (sorry, but even in the 1960's that could get you canned in the US military. sloshed with regularity off duty, not an issue, alcoholism is still rampant in the US military, although we don't bruit it about.)
Here I believe you have it very much wrong. Alec is a British officer (no, I do not buy the Australian link, it's not established canon, it's not even likely, given that Sewell spoke a clear British English and never ever gave a hint of anything Australian), not a US one, and they are a bit less uptight there. Add to that that SHADO was an
international effort, not a US one, which did away with loads of US army or air-force regulations as a rule. Add to that, that both in Straker's office as well as on Moonbase there are open, unrevised and unpoliced dispensers for just about any kind of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage. If that had been an issue for a SHADO officer, you wouldn't get those bars. No, I think that this is the result of some wishful 60ies writers' thoughts and they meant it that people at SHADO may imbibe even during or before duty.
Quote:Somewhere there is an explanation. I just haven't figured it out yet because Alec isn't the character most people focus on.
A pity actually.
Quote:Alec is very 1960's era "spy" in his portrayal, so like most of the spies of the era, we never know who he is exactly because Alec wears a mask. Ed sees behind that mask and is probably the only person who consistently does so. Alec is also Straker's conscience sometimes ... which given the spy thing, is kinda odd also.
I dunno. Apart from the very few references to what must have been a working relation of 21 Century with the whole Bond movie circus (it's so much, like three actors being in Bond movies many times when put together, like some of the stage props, etc etc.), that seems to be more coincidental. There was the entrance of Alec in Identified, and that was pretty much that.
I see Alec much more as an open, outgoing, less repressed, warm and friendly person, no mask except when needed, certainly none towards friends, staff and Straker. He never had a problem saying out loud what he thought either. He actually was Straker's expressed conscience and heart, the warmth of that greatly missing after the 17th episode. It's rather he who looks with ease underneath the mask of Straker.
Quote:So, at some point, Alec came in out of the cold because he was needed?
The most likely place of meeting would be a joint training or manoeuver. But then my backstory of Straker has him part of the USAF astronaut training after serving as a flight instructor. Which would easily make room for some joint NATO training. It also might just be that they met each other after Straker went to work with UK-based MI. There are bound to be liaison officers between US and UK intelligence.
Needed? No, friendships don't form on command.
Quote:Although, oddly enough, I don't see him as having a bad relationship with his mother. No relationship, maybe. Or a cut short one ... but not bad somehow. Maybe orphaned at a critical moment ... oh, that would be great, the aliens took out his family. Sole Survivor time ...
I do not see him as having had a bad childhood at all. The guy was warm, friendly, great with the staff, empathic, able to deal with a pretty stroppy and emotionally dyslexic boss and friend, he was confident and masterful in all this.
You simply do not get all these abilities and such a personality with someone who was abused, traumatised or even just lacking anything in his childhood!
Hence I think he had a nice, wholesome childhood and a warm and supportive, and also most likely tender family background.
Quote:In some ways, SHADO is much like a Greek army, self contained. But, with the mores of the 20th century firmly in place, they basically outlawed involvement of any kind: can't tell the spouse, top secret. Can't involve in the unit, command issues. So, Alec, and everyone else is kinda left with the flirt and one night stand situation; which is culturally reprehensible. Is it any wonder they're all a bit off?
Hmm. We get repeated mention of married staff, so often that the one night stand situation seems farfetched. We have some sexually pretty libertine characters as well, some switching fast from one to the next lover, others seemingly dallying with two at the same time, and guys like Paul who are serial SOs. After having access to the amnesia drug I don't think the security was as tight anymore either. It potentially enabled having a look-see how a spouse would take mention of the sig other working for a clandestine military organization.
Quote:no one on the show. Ayshea is too young
Ayshea wouldn't make such a bad partner for Alec, she obviously liked him a lot, we get repeated scenes with her being more than just friendly to him. As to too young, I believe she was above UK age of consent. I could see Alec in a sort of a Frankie-like relationship (Frank Harmon from Breezy, wonderful movie, greatly underrated character study), and both working for SHADO it really might turn out fine.
All that said and after doing lots of Alec in SoA and Priority of Questions, I think there really ought to be more Alec stories.
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Character analysis : Alec (Read 8526 times)
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