[spoilers] Lucas. Just Lucas.

[binkie]

(22-11-2010 11:20 PM)Byatil Wrote:  I'm going to have to pick up on the little tale that Lucas tells us here; linking his personal life to his time in Russia. Something along the lines of "They used to take me for walks between sessions, the prison was surrounded by marshland. I'd tell Dasharvin about how me and my father would go bird-watching along the banks of the Thames Estuary when I was a child". Now, in relation to S9... surely Lucas can't be making this up as he goes along? So is it reasonable to presume that these little anecdotes of his are things which actually happened in John's past? Because surely there would be inconsistencies between where John grew up, and where the 'real' Lucas grew up? Just something that I was wondering when it was mentioned.

I have to say, I'm disinclined even to try (or, really, to bother) back-lighting sesons 7/8 Lucas with season 9 'John'. It wasn't in the narrative, so it wasn't in the character. Taking this episode as part of the coherent narrative and character development of seasons 7/8 (those were the days!), Lucas is talking about something that he remembers. Actually, he is talking about a dual memory: the one in which he recalls something which occurred in his childhood or youth, and the one which recalls him sharing the memory of this with Oleg. It's difficult to know which of these memories is causing Lucas to smile, and that is just about every shade of disturbing.

(22-11-2010 11:20 PM)Byatil Wrote:  ... it's just amazing to watch if you really look closely.

I agree. I am often struck by the number of times an additional detail of character is communicated by this actor in something as seemingly irrelevant as an intake of breath or the flicker of an eyelid (look at the way he does this in 7.2 when he tells Malcolm: "I'm fine. I think." It alters absolutely the affected briskness of the line, and suggests that Lucas may not even be aware he has said this last part aloud). It really does surprise me when criticism attaches to the performance of this character.

(22-11-2010 11:20 PM)Byatil Wrote:  The line "Show me respect" from Oleg is incredibly effective. Lucas seems to accept defeat at this point; I'm guessing these may be more trigger-words for him. The way he sits down and almost goes to put his head in his hands is just so moving.

The suggestion of trigger words is a good one, especially in light of what you wrote earlier regarding the issue of trust between Lucas and Harry. Clearly, with the word "trust" being a keyword - a kind of trigger in itself - in the relationship between Lucas and Oleg, this is a concept which continues to influence Lucas even at a distance. We have to wonder whether this is something that has become especially important to him since his imprisonment and release, or whether clever Oleg and patient Arkady identified it as a pre-existing area of weakness for Lucas in his relationships. Oleg really does introduce the word "respect" as an instruction, doesn't he? He is saying to Lucas: "do as you are told". Lucas really doesn't have a choice.

Thank you for sharing these insights. You pick up on a lot of eliptical communication in the script and performances. It's fascinating to read.