[spoilers] Lucas. Just Lucas.

[Byatil]

(14-01-2011 05:25 AM)BravoNine Wrote:  I don't think he really loved her the way he says he does, I think what he was in love with was the idea of her and what she can bring to him and how she makes him feel. He needed someone to fill that void and emptiness in his life and Sarah did it, and I think that's why he was also so keen to hold onto it til the very end. He needed it, he fears losing it would destroy him.

I love that analogy, "he was in love with the idea of her" and nothing more. Very apt.

It's just interesting that a man who is supposedly very logical in the way he conducts himself would suddenly be so blinded by a hint of affection. I agree with your analysis that "he fears losing it would destroy him" - and I suppose in a way, Sarah helped him overcome that? By the end of S8 he doesn't seem particularly bothered as to whether she lives or dies; yet in S9 (sorry to mention it!) he makes the same fatal mistake of obsessing over the idea of a relationship, rather than seeing it for what it actually is. I suppose we have to give the S9 writers a little credit for making that link between Sarah and Maya

It seems that Lucas holds more value in a physical relationship than anything else; his relationships with Sarah and Maya were rather superficial. This would make sense in terms of his time in Russia, where the only physical contact he would have had would supposedly have been the unpleasant kind.

So then why is he so keen to brush Ros off whenever she attempts to talk to him? He's extremely guarded when it comes to his thoughts and feelings (the line "I know every inch of your mind" comes to mind; Darshavin represents the ultimate submission on Lucas' part I suppose, as he was forced to somewhat surrender his mind - the one place where he should feel secure) yet is rather flippant in his physical conduct. Why is he so reluctant to let someone inside his head? Because he doesn't trust anyone? Because pain is weakness (as I seem to remember Jo mentioning in 7.1)?

Obviously he wants to prove himself to Harry as being an authoritative, competent officer. Although he seems closer to Ros than anyone else, he still neglects to tell her anything of consequence. Does he think she'll report back to Harry and he'll be forcibly removed from his job?

Everything seems to centre around the fact that he wants and craves Harry's approval. Any sign of weakness jeopardises that, so he remains extremely guarded.

Apologies to drag S9 back into the discussion, but it seems to me that Vaughn represents one of Lucas' major weaknesses; he knows something that Lucas doesn't want other people to know. He has suddenly completely lost control of that part of his life, when he has been so careful to never reveal more than he needs to.

On a slightly unrelated note; I thought it was a nice development in Lucas and Ros' relationship in 8.4, when Lucas confronts Darshavin in order to try and obtain the code to disarm the bomb. He unleashes a lot of emotion in that scene and implies his suicide attempt - whilst Ros and Sarah listen in. This seems quite significant. Lucas seems to place more trust in women than he does men, and it's interesting that after practically refusing to answer Ros and Sarah's questions earlier in the episode, he is now happy to reveal some fairly personal details of his relationship with Darshavin. What caused him to lose those inhibitions? Was it the fact that Darshavin abused his trust? Or simply that he had no other choice, if he wanted to get Sarah out alive?

I feel I have raised a lot of questions in this (and have hopefully managed to answer a few of them in a rather haphazard way) so I look forward to hearing what everyone else thinks!