Discussion Post for 4.04 - Stardrive - General
This is the general discussion post for the episode 4.04 - Stardrive. Spoilers for the whole series are allowed here. ( Summary )
VILA. How I love that we get undeniable, canonical proof that Vila can and will deliberately act drunk and/or stupid and/or objectionable for reasons of his own. Forces you to think twice about all those other situations when he may or may not have been pretending. Also interesting that the whole asteroid thing was his suggestion to start with, and that he seems to have been taught (or taught himself) spaceship flying at some point. (Evidence of that abandoned career as Space Captain?)
Oh, wow, Orac, remember that line about you being too useful to destroy? Pushing your luck here, I feel!
The relationship between Avon and Vila seems very strange to me at this point. Sometimes, they seem almost to be on more of an equal footing, with Vila seeming more assertive and speaking his opinion more directly (rather than the usual muttering to himself mode) as if he actually expects to be listened to, and Avon in return obviously frequently does listen, and even when he doesn't he seems to feel more challenged/bothered by Vila's protests than any of the others' - at least judging by the angry stares that he gives him, and not them (not to the same extent anyway). But simultaneously, we also now get to see Avon sinking right down to Tarrant's level of outright bullying. Not sure how to read it. (Admittedly Avon seems to bully all of them at this point. I did somewhat enjoy the twist on expectations in "You might as well start... Dayna.")
Using Vila and Dayna as unknowing bait is one of the lowest things Avon ever does, in my opinion. (At least from what I can bring to mind at the moment.) Most of Avon's more objectionable actions are usually either motivated by extreme need or (at least in the case of the final ep) complete nervous breakdown.* But this was just completely uncalled for.
Poor assistant guy! Plaxton really didn't seem to think twice (or even once) about abandoning him.
*...or concussion. Obviously.
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Tarrant is more on side with Avon in this than most episodes. Inconsistent on the idea of using Dayna and Tarrant - I'd have expected lots more protest about that from him. I did wonder why those two as the decoy, but Avon answers it - Vila is likely to tell them what he thinks he knows very properly and make it that much more convincing. Dayna of course doesn't object being volunteers because she's generally in favour of a fight! I wonderif Avon really thinks he needs both her and Soolin, as well as fulfilling a very similar narrative role they're pretty similar in skills in terms of the crew makeup too.
Vila is very convincing fake drunk! In fact the stumble is so realistic I half wondered if it was a happy accident that got left in! Interesting that Dayna and Soolin apparently choose not to give him away.
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...None of them act particularly competent in this ep, do they... *g*
Vila is very convincing fake drunk!
He is! It's a joy to watch him in that scene, not least for his silent reactions as Slave first rejects, then amends his suggestion. And when you know that he's faking it, that "Hooray!" at the end takes on a note of real sarcasm that I find rather satisfying, coming from Vila.
Interesting that Dayna and Soolin apparently choose not to give him away.
That would have been very unkind of them - surely they don't dislike Vila that much? Also I'm guessing that they probably enjoyed seeing Avon secretly outsmarted like that, and wouldn't mind knowing something that he (and Tarrant) doesn't. I was more surprised that Vila trusted them enough to be willing to give his trick away in the first place - even though I suppose it raised their opinions of him. Just the need for acknowledgement getting the better of him, or a calculated risk trying to gain support against Avon and Tarrant?
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