Thoughts about control - The Sentinel

[eliyes]

Just a ramble I had posted in a comment somewhere but then decided it need its own home. A bit of thought on Jim Ellison's character, from my interpretation as a control freak...

Jim is very controlling at times. I mean, I can understand that he's antsy about taking an unarmed civilian into dangerous situations, and as the series progresses he doesn't start every operation with the extended lecture of "you do what I say, when I say, no questions" that Blaire seems to have gotten sick of pretty quickly.

I sometimes wonder if it's a reaction to feeling that he's lost control over his life. It's a scary situation to be in. Here he is and his senses have gone bugfuck sonic, man, and then here's this guy who wants to help him learn to control them again. If he can't control his senses yet, then he'll exert as much control over the guy who theoretically can, and regain control by proxy.

He also seems to be threatened by Blair on the level of not really feeling like he has much choice about whether or not to let him into his life. Jim seems to be a very private person, to me. I think at first he really didn't want to become friends with a guy who was basically studying him, but that didn't work because it's Blair, not some doctor seeing him in a lab or official environent at set times. And Blair is definitely not the Malinowski variety of anthropologist, keeping apart from his study subjects. (Although Malinowski was revolutionary for his time.)

While there are many possible explanations, or layers of explanation, for Jim letting Blair move in beyond that "one week", control might be a factor. That way he can keep a better weather eye on how Blair is approaching the project. ....But I also think he didn't really approve of the kind of place Blair was likely to move into if he left. That laptop would hardly be safe in another place like the one he was in...

Comments

[starwatcher]

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If he can't control his senses yet, then he'll exert as much control over the guy who theoretically can, and regain control by proxy.

Very insightful; you may have something there.

But also, he has the "habit" of control. As a teen, he had to learn considerable self-control because his father was so cold. (No emotions, you must win / be first, etc.) He was a captain in the military - controlling a group of men. He was in Special Ops - needed to control everything he could, I expect, to be sure the mission was successful. And now he's a detective, often in control of a crime scene, making sure that he has enough evidence to catch the perp.

So part of it may be trying to control the man who controls his senses, but part of it is, he's so used to "control" that he tries it on almost everyone, unconsciously.

While there are many possible explanations, or layers of explanation, for Jim letting Blair move in beyond that "one week",

Oh yeah; a fan favorite is that they were already "bonding" or "falling in love" or "recognizing the connection between sentinel and guide". *g*

But I also think he didn't really approve of the kind of place Blair was likely to move into if he left.

Very likey. Which just reinforces the fan speculations above. ;-)
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[eliyes.livejournal.com]

I think the habit of control that he exhibits lends credence to the possibility of this being a motivating factor behind his behaviour re: Blair. Obviously, things transform as they go along, but I think the argument could be made that Jim keeps trying, just in different ways: resisting the tests, withholding information about his senses and his life - such as the existance of his brother. (I personally wonder if that trick to see Rucker for his birthday was the result of Blair pestering Jim to know more about his family.)

Jim is a private person. It's just the impression I keep getting. He opens up remarkably to Blair, but sometimes seems to resent having done so, having to do so in some circumstances. The controlling behaviour comes back, because he might feel like he's losing control over what he can disclose.

I'm not saying "control issues" is the be-all and end-all to Jim's characterization, it's just an aspect I'm exploring right now. :3 Just to be clear.

[starwatcher]

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I'd forgotten I checked out your LJ earlier, and commented on this. You might like to join ts_talk and post this there; it might start a nice discussion thread. And going to the archives of ts_talk should be entertaining for someone new to the fandom; we had several rousing discussions back then.

Meanwhile, I guess I'll just have to friend you; I like your style. *g*
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[eliyes.livejournal.com]

I have joined ts_talk, in fact. This post actually grew from a digression in a comment there that I decided was too off-topic to leave in. :3 I should get back to sifting through the archives there.

Meanwhile, I guess I'll just have to friend you; I like your style. *g*

Yay! Cool. :D