Now, the matter of Weapon, Coser and the Beta rank.
Jenny wrote: <I think what we are actually seeing is the Beta Grade from the perspective of Coser, who is quite clearly vengeful, and not just a little bit mad.>
Absolutely, but the episode makes it clear *to me* that he has grounds for seeing it that way. Firstly, the point that Travis and Servalan make, that his taking Security by surprise shows he "is brighter than his grade classification would suggest". Given what we see of Federation security, this does not speak highly of the grade classification in question *at all*. The clear implication is that Betas are not regarded (at least by people like Servalan and Travis) as incapable of original thought, which bolsters Coser's belief that his invention - his original work - could be stolen from him. (And given that our own Vila is perfectly capable of taking Security (SLD), Fearless Leader and everyone else in sight - including himself - by surprise, it's rather telling.) And then there's Blake who, in my biased opinion, is unusually egalitarian (his method is to treat everyone as social equals, while ordering them *all* about) but says quite bluntly "Coser's only a Beta class weapons technician, so he's not important enough to have caused all this fuss." i e, Betas are seen as rather lowly.
Regarding your: <Yes, but until he had actually experienced such a thing, how could he know what it was all about?>
He hasn't been an Alpha either, but he's got a fair grasp of what it means as far as Blake's concerned ('Shadow'). It wouldn't be that hard to work out where he would be most comfortable and could pursue his chosen profession (thief) most easily - he can be perceptive when he wants, and if it's to do with getting what *he* wants out of life, he will want.
<Also, any prejudice from Alpha grades for Betas must be lightweight compared to the prejudice he would feel as a Delta.>
Who said he'd be concerned about prejudice? Vila doesn't actually show much concern about what the others think about his ranking or him personally *until* this scene; he's perfectly happy to let them think what they like if it gets him what he wants (after all, he has a low opinion of most of them too).
The reason he gives for *wanting* a Delta grade actually rings true in one respect - it has nothing to do with outside bias or prejudices or how others would treat him, but a solid, practical basis on what he thinks would make his life more or less unpleasant: going into the military being (I-his-O) anything but desirable for this.
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