Why was Gillian so mean to Bob?
- Thread starter Lek
- Start date
He really was played (if not written) as an asshole. When he first sidled in that smarmy way up to Gillian the crowd in my theater hissed. Then he starts in with that "hey, I know you kiddo" stuff. It could have been played very differently, but someone made the choice to make him a schmuck.
I've seen that actor in something else---a sitcom and a movie-of-the-week, maybe? And he was an a-hole in those, too, IIRC. <shrug> Maybe it's his speciality, like Christopher Lee plays wizards and vampires, Cary Grant played charming, vulnerable rogues, and Whateverhisnameis plays a-holes.
Bob was a dick.
He was thinking of the bottom line, even sighting to Gillian, his whale specialist who was obviously passionate about the whales, their possible lack of intelligence as a reason for just letting them go. Dumb move and strike one. When he got rid of the whales before Gillian came into work because he didn't want the media frenzy, that was strike two. But he then panders to Gillian about how emotional she would get if she was there and that this was the best, and that was strike three. And she whalloped him, and deservedly so.
Bob was a dick.
He was thinking of the bottom line, even sighting to Gillian, his whale specialist who was obviously passionate about the whales, their possible lack of intelligence as a reason for just letting them go. Dumb move and strike one. When he got rid of the whales before Gillian came into work because he didn't want the media frenzy, that was strike two. But he then panders to Gillian about how emotional she would get if she was there and that this was the best, and that was strike three. And she whalloped him, and deservedly so.
Bob was a dick.
It's not her fault... He had it coming... He only had himself to blame... 
Scott DeVenneyPython Trek said:
I've seen that actor in something else---a sitcom and a movie-of-the-week, maybe? And he was an a-hole in those, too, IIRC. <shrug> Maybe it's his speciality, like Christopher Lee plays wizards and vampires, Cary Grant played charming, vulnerable rogues, and Whateverhisnameis plays a-holes.
Does anyone happen to remember his guest role on a Riptide two-parter as a character named "Roger Dorkette"? I'm wondering if Rog was an asshole, a dork (as the name would suggest), or both.
Peach Wookiee said:
It's not her fault... He had it coming... He only had himself to blame...
<Judd Nelson voice> THIS is what happens when you spill paint in the garage!
Back on topic, Gillian was a shrill character, barely holding herself together emotionally, played by a shrill actress, barely holding herself together mammarily.
Of course, the fact that Bob looked like Monty Hall probably also factored into his being assaulted by her.
Of course, the fact that Bob looked like Monty Hall probably also factored into his being assaulted by her.
Bob had that line: "Don't tell me fish stories, Kiddo. I've known you too long." To me, that seems they were probably friends, or at least had a very good working relationship, where she would have felt comfortable enough to speak her mind with Bob, and I like to think that he actually was a decent enough guy that he'd understand the strong emotions that she was feeling.
The line he used later: "We didn't say anything because we thought it would be easier on you" seems to point to that - at face value. Sure, it was a big error on judgement on his part, but I like to think that his heart was in the right place. Even people with good intentions fuck up from time to time.
If anybody follows up on this in some fan-fiction, I hope they'll portray Bob like this, instead of some genuine bastard.
The line he used later: "We didn't say anything because we thought it would be easier on you" seems to point to that - at face value. Sure, it was a big error on judgement on his part, but I like to think that his heart was in the right place. Even people with good intentions fuck up from time to time.
If anybody follows up on this in some fan-fiction, I hope they'll portray Bob like this, instead of some genuine bastard.
Bob would also have his own speeder, which in fanfic he uses to pursue the Bird of Prey, but ultimately falls into the ocean, only to run into a deep-sea civilization consisting of thousands of Jar Jar Binkses, who, as it turns out, eat humpback whales as a delicacy.
^ 
Jar Jar with razor sharp teeth!!!
Jar Jar with razor sharp teeth!!!
