[spoilers] Lucas. Just Lucas.

[Byatil]

(22-11-2010 11:57 PM)binkie Wrote:  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.

It's frustrating, because I can't help but wonder "How does that tie in with John?", every time Lucas mentions something about his past xD I can't help myself! As much as I'd love to forget S9 exits, I can't stop myself questioning everything that Lucas says when I re-watch episodes. It's easier to believe that Lucas and John are two completely different characters, but I'm still desperately searching for some far-flung link which will magically cause S9 to make sense. There must be one somewhere, surely?!

Any yes... it is very disturbing. Stockholm Syndrome is one of those things that's both extremely compelling and extremely confusing. Because of course, to most people it seems highly illogical, but I can personally see the logic behind the fact that Lucas would fondly remember going for walks with Oleg It's strange, and it does really cement the idea that Lucas trusts Oleg completely. It's the result of circumstances beyond his control, and he has had no choice but to accept it - however conflicting his emotions about the man may be, for Lucas, I'm guessing Oleg is actually quite a 'friendly' figure. When you have no-one else to talk to, or to have any communication with whatsoever for so many years, it's easy to see why you might start to view the captors who refrain from killing you as 'kind' people.

(22-11-2010 11:57 PM)binkie Wrote:  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.

Oh yes, I'm fairly certain Lucas has a number of 'trigger-words' which induce flash-backs. He does react to certain words and phrases visibly on-screen, and these reactions are often followed by flash-back scenes. I'll have to see what induces the attempted-suicide scene, because that one is particularly sobering. I think the saddest thing about that flash-back is that Oleg is the one who stops Lucas from killing himself - explaining the complete trust and respect that Lucas has for him, perhaps. At the end of the day, Oleg saved his life.
I think their relationship is more of a classic torture technique. As I've mentioned previously, that quote "They'd beat me and then leave me alone for weeks, just so that I'd crave more beatings" is very telling. Oleg created this relationship between himself and Lucas, because prisoners are more likely to talk if they trust you. There are two methods of interrogations, generally - torture, and building up a rapport with your prisoner. It seems Oleg managed to mix the two together, creating a situation where Lucas both fears and trusts his interrogator completely. As the relationship was already in place, I assume Oleg would simply have seen the fact that Lucas had returned to work as the perfect opportunity to gain some leverage over MI5. It's a classic example of personal emotions undermining the security services obligations. And so we revisit the suitability question
Indeed, "Show me respect" is an imperative. Lucas is used to doing what he's told, because he knows what the consequences will be if he doesn't. It's very sad, really. His character is so psychologically compromised, you really do wonder how he sleeps at all!

Thank-you very much That's quite the compliment, especially coming from you! I'll have a look over the rest of the episode tomorrow I expect, and then I want to look back at the rest of 7.1. I'd love to go through each episode and analyse everything Lucas says/does to be quite honest, I'm desperate to find out if there is any plausible way he could actually be John Bateman...?