After I wrote: <Can't say I recall how many times Vila got hit on the head. Anyone done an actual head-count?>
Nico answered: <Up to the end of season 3, 11 times.>
Hell, I *really* wasn't watching :-) I knew he got injured a fair few times (they all did, of course) but I can't even *place* many times he was actually hit on the head :-) It really must come down to who looks nicer (sorry to the anti-Beautiful-Suffering contingent, and sorry to the Vila lovers :-))
I know Avon gets knocked unconscious 10 times that I recall (Breakdown, Terminal, Aftermath, Powerplay, Assassin, Headhunter, Warlord, and - as stated - three times in Power), and is injured in other ways in The Web, Hostage, Volcano, Rumours and Moloch (and Ultraworld, if you add in having his brain removed, which I'm pretty sure he would). And - as also mentioned - most of this all happens in S3-4. No wonder the poor man wants Blake back :-)
<Avon has become much colder and withdrawn (poss. due to the loss of Cally and the Liberator).>
And Anna, and being told Blake was really dead. And getting stuck on a hole in the galaxy (Terminal) with no way out till the first 4th series McGuffin turns up (Dorian). His actions towards Dorian is the first sign that our already cold hero is heading into deep freeze.
<His put-downs are now real insults rather than banter>
Agreed - Assassin, "try using your fingers" - though just occasionally he seems to ease up - also Assassin, "my hero" and that grin.
Actually, I think Vila is one of the most tragic characters in the series - basically such a nice, likeable, guy, but eventually abused to the point of misery, loneliness, and possible alcoholism.>
Yes, but do be fair, Vila *is* nice and likeable and fun to listen to ... but just because Avon's self-centred streak is more visible, that doesn't make it worse than Vila's. Remember his criticising Jenna for not 'being nice' to Raiker, because it would make the latter more unpleasant to deal with? Vila is IMO the most selfish of the lot, there is *no one* he would put ahead of himself if push came to crunch (with Avon, there are IMO at least two people we know about, maybe three with Del Grant) and genuinely cowardly: he does, several times and quite sincerely, argue for deserting one or more of the others in a crisis. He was genuinely ready to ditch Blake - whom he likes - in Trial, and then there's "Jenna ... let's run for it," in Star One. He's nice, *but* ...
Vila is one of life's losers - even machinery like the teleport seems to be against him (Sarcophagus, Power). Maybe his real tragedy is that, like Blake, he doesn't really belong or fit in this time and place at all ...
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Sally said...
Agreed - Assassin, "try using your fingers"
I noticed Vila didn't even bother to answer back that time which I take as a bad sign.
Yes, but do be fair, Vila *is* nice and likeable and fun to listen to ... but just because Avon's self-centred streak is more visible, that doesn't make it worse than Vila's.
I think at times his cowardice and sense of self preservation are actually inconflict. For example I'm not sure he would have gone for the gun in orbit even if he'd had the chance. I mean think about the trouble you'd be in if you tried and failed to kill Avon! And Vila knows he's not great with guns.
Remember his criticising Jenna for not 'being nice' to Raiker, because it would make the latter more unpleasant to deal with?
It could be seen as selfihness but I also sort of get the impression that if Vila had been the one being propositioned then he probably would have gone along with it for the sake of a quiet life and to avoid antagonising someone who could make things very unpleasant for him.
He's nice, *but* ...
Oh I agree. I like Vila but he's the sort you wouldn't really want to rely on or let out of your sight for too long. He does seem to know this himself though and openly admits it several times. The others persist in making him do things like watch duty anyway though and then act suprised and annoyed when he's no good at it.
Leia
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Leia Fee -
Sally Manton