• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

The Sympathetic Harrison

TrekToday

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Even though he’s the villain of Star Trek into Darkness, fans may at times feel sympathetic towards John Harrison. There are mild spoilers behind the cut, and speculation on the character that is spoilerish in the original article. Harrison, according to Benedict Cumberbatch, is a “home-grown terrorist.” “He’s somebody who has the most extraordinary proficient [...]

More...
 
But there will be a reveal in the…piece – I was about to say play! But it’s interesting that I was going to say play because there is an aspect of it where it is much more of a morality play, the kind of depth of story is much more in tune with the original series I think than had previously been the case in this type of genre film. But anyway that’s detracting from what I was saying which was…what I said about being a terrorist. I think I definitely touched on this in front of you guys this morning [at a press conference].

“Well basically I believe like modern terrorism, and there sadly a lot of parallels that make this very relevant. It’s not that the means may be disgusting, the level of violence and death and destruction and distress caused. But often the intentions are noble – and I mean that in the broadest sense. It’s an underdog fighting a superpower. It’s a minority. And elements of that superpower can get corrupted; in this case it’s Starfleet. And he believes in what he is doing and hopefully at the point where that’s explained it might garner some sympathy.”

A "reveal," huh? Cool.
 
^ I don't agree. Too much sympathy is equivalent to justification.

For the bulk of the audience that will not have read any spoilers, though, a strong sense of sympathy would make the final twist towards antipathy (if that is the direction the film takes) more powerful.
 
a strong sense of sympathy would make the final twist towards antipathy (if that is the direction the film takes) more powerful.

I suppose you're right.

As long as, in the final analysis, Harrison's actions are ultimately seen as evil (he does kill a lot of people, presumably in cold blood, after all), and that it's not presented as a good thing that he did what he did - I don't care how corrupt
Section 31
is in this film, even they don't deserve to die - then I'll be OK with that.
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top