wagon_drivers (wagon_drivers) wrote in demilos_wagon, @ 2008-01-16 09:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: cain, discussion |
Wyatt Freakin' Cain. I thought they were pissing on your grave
Considering the series is titled Tin Man, we're going to begin the character discussions with one of the most obvious choices in the series, the Tin Man himself. I'd love to say this is short, but alas, it is not. What we have beneath the cut are my notes (from a viewer's point of view) on his basic character development throughout the miniseries. I've skipped some things and ignored some things, but that's why this is a discussion; you're invited to point it out in the comments.
Our Introduction
Our first glimpse of Cain is a man on his knees, being punched by the men we've already established as the Bad Guys. Even with two men holding him, Cain is defiant and soon enough, he's back on his feet when his young son is dragged out of the house and slapped by Zero.
It only takes us seconds to realize that we're witnessing some sort of holographic thing-a-ma-bob, quickly confirmed as a projection by Glitch's rambling description, then again when DG releases a man who has obviously been in an iron suit for way too long.
"Where are they?"
and
"I'm gonna kill him."
Cain's motivation is established with those two sentences. We are not given a length of time, only told he's been in there since a tall, thin tree "was a sapling." In the Behind the Scenes documentary on SciFi.com, Neal McDonough says eight years, so I assume that's close to canon, if not correct.
Cain apparently cannot say thank you, but falls back on a classic American Western motif, "Much obliged for the help." With the description he gives about Glitch, whom he automatically assumes is a criminal; I believe we can assume that Cain was knowledgeable of the political situation (years ago) or even that he'd been some sort of public official in the O.Z.
This is immediately reinforced by the music they play indicating something Important is Going to Happen when Cain picks up two things (after his gun) from the metal case buried beneath his house: a toy horse and a silver star. I assume they are building on the western imagery again and we're to think he's some sort of sheriff, or a gunslinger/gun for hire.
He doesn't talk a lot in the beginning (not surprising after eight years of silence), but if there is any doubt about his vendetta, Cain clears this up quickly when he explains why he's going to Central City.
"It's where Zero was headed. After…"
Cain seems to have no hope that his mission will succeed. He's strictly out for revenge when he tells DG, "My wife, my boy? They're gone. Probably just like your folks are."
Even so, his years as a police officer shape his actions now, and with his eyes closed - McDonough has an expressive face - he agrees to lead them to the brick road. DG even wonders why he's changed his mind.
"Believe me, heart's got nothing to do with it."
Along the Old Road
There's just one quote in this bit that sums up Wyatt Cain throughout the miniseries, as said by Glitch.
"Oh, come on, Tin Man, have a heart."
Cain doesn't seem to react to this comment at all and I don't have much to add to this; I think it's pretty self explanatory about the theme of Cain's emotional journey, but it's a good reference to compare to later on; first when Cain confronts Tutor and secondly, when he talks to his son about Zero.
The Fields of the Papay
We are introduced to Raw here, and like Glitch before him when he and DG come upon the cabin, Cain doesn't want to help, doesn't want to risk his own skin. What's interesting is that he is rolling his eyes as Raw stumbles out of that cocoon, and only after he sees DG's fear, does Cain draw his gun and threaten Raw.
Is that Cain's instinct as a Tin Man coming to the foreground, to reassure a scared young woman? A desire to impress DG? Or did he stereotype the cowardly lion and know they weren't in any danger?
He's quick to tell DG to "trust no one" in the O.Z. As soon as we discover in canon that Raw is a viewer, or psychic, (and a healer as well?) he heals Cain and announces who and what Cain is:
"Brave man. Good man. Tin man."
So Raw, Cain and Glitch have confirmed the impression that he's a police officer; which DG asks him directly.
"I was. Until Zero found out I was part of the resistance… you saw the rest."
Yet, Cain hesitates near Raw, and even tells him "Thanks" for healing his leg. Is our man without a heart melting already?
I have another question here as well. Glitch doesn't seem happy that Cain is a Tin Man. His tone of voice implies that while Cain might be an officer, he's not one the government recognizes. Am I reading into Glitch's response?
Milltown
Here we get our first glimpse that DG isn't from Kansas as originally suspected. Cain is outside and only enters the room after the movie about mom (thanks, r_grayjoy), therefore we don't know if he knows who the mysterious woman is or not.
Also, Zero arrives in Milltown. Cain has no obligation to fulfill any longer, does he? DG has found her "foster" parents, and she has someone to give her directions. Why does Cain stay with the group and not hunt Zero?
Central City
Demilo makes it clear that he, at least, was thrilled Cain disappeared.
"Well, since you've been gone, business is boomin'."
What happened that none of the other Tin Men came looking for Cain? Was he the last one? Did they all end up in iron suits? Did he defect from the Tin Men by being a resistance member?
Again, Cain makes it clear he's only traveling with them to get inside the city, telling Demilo he wants Zero.
"That's a short hop to a deep grave."
Is Cain's responsibility done now that they are inside the city? Because while looking for Zero, he finds out, from a prostitute that he just missed him. Zero had taken off in search of "some girl" who's "being smuggled into the city." He takes the time to help DG, discovering while with the Mystic Man, that she's not quite what he originally though. It's the Mystic Man who makes him promise to not leave DG's side.
"Your word as a Tin Man"
So do we finally have a good reason for Cain to stay with the group? Because he's now made a promise to a man I assume he deeply respected and once worked for?
The Northern Island
Until this point, it seems Cain has been surviving on the need for revenge. Here, when he finally confronts Zero, he finds out his family may still be alive. Is this the beginning of hope for Cain as far as his family is concerned?
"No wife, child, crying for years to free you from it."
Does this mean Zero kept them prisoner for years? Maybe he just kept track of them and caught them on occasion? Maybe he haunted them? How else could he have known this? Is it possible he said it just to irritate Cain? Because it seemed to work. Does Cain really believe Zero?
"My family's alive?"
After he's shot and falls into the water, we have the Demilo's wagon scene between Glitch and Cain a slasher's cliché – er dream – come true. He's actually cheery here. Is this the first time we see Cain assuming DG, Raw and Glitch are his friends? Because he has a small hope his family might still be alive? Has he realized that the four of them are a team?
"You know, you really should do something about that bitter cynicism of yours, Cain."
"Why? Someone's got to keep your wide-eyed optimism in check."
A moment later, he says, "Hey Glitch, I owe you one," and Glitch, delighted, begins their friendly banter once more.
Is that the first time he's called Glitch by name and not zipperhead or some other nickname?
Azkadellia's Tower
Finally, Cain lets someone else lead. He acknowledged Glitch's idea, attacked and let Glitch take out several of the longcoats.
Once they join up with DG, Raw and Toto in the tower, she jumps into his arms and we see a flashback to the old Cain. He may have called her princess and smiled at her, but he's not ready for full physical contact yet. Even so, I can see the reason, beginning with this scene, why so many people ship DG/Cain.
A side note: He begins to call Glitch by his name and DG by a nickname (other than kid) right about the same time. And it just clicked about the Star Wars references with those nicknames. Heh.
As soon as they escaped the tower, Cain tries to convince Tutor/Toto to leave the group.
"Sorry, Pooch, but this is where we part company… I don't have time to figure out what your angle is in all this."
Once again, in the Papay field, while out of bullets, he laughs at the runners / hunting party who found them. Even with the hope that his family is out there, he's not afraid to die. Does that mean he really doesn't believe his family is alive? Or maybe he finds it extremely ironic? (Is that a continuity issue that his gun is out of bullets?)
The Resistance member's cabin
Side note (stolen word-for-word from r_grayjoy!): it's interesting that the blue smoke and the code words apparently haven't changed in at least eight years. The resistance has been discreet...
It takes Cain to get them inside the cabin, because DG doesn't know the O.Z., Glitch doesn't seem to know about the resistance, Tutor's been in prison and we don't know about Raw. Inside, we get some back-story to Glitch as well.
"You sure sacrificed a lot to stop Azkadellia."
Was that a compliment to Glitch? So, is Cain openly admitting now that the people he's traveling with are more than a burden? Then he attempts to comfort DG, telling her, "There are some things in our life that are just out of our control. And we need you. You've got to let it go."
Apt words, and ones he has practiced the past two days possibly? We see his struggle to comfort DG with not quite a hug. Is that the first time he reaches for her?
Then he sees the toy horse, which he instantly knows is something Jeb made. So we have our first proof that Jeb and Adora lived for some time after Cain was imprisoned, because Ralph tells Cain they came through there "a few months ago."
After they leave and find the white tree, Tutor says they don't have much time but DG disagrees.
"He's always made time for us."
Truth there. Even amidst all of Cain's eye rolling.
And hope is smashed again as he sees Adora's grave (subtle name she has). We also have, according to canon, a strong man who is willing to cry in front of others.
Is it implied that Jeb was in that iron suit? Why does Cain leave his badge there? As a sign of devotion? A sign his past life is over? A goodbye? A symbol that he's got nothing left but revenge now?
Confronting Tutor
"The sky is clear, but I got this funny feeling we're being followed."
He's been suspicious of Tutor before, obviously with good reason. But that's not my point here.
"I'd shoot you in the heart if I thought you had one."
I love this line. Has Cain come full circle now? For a man who said, in the beginning, that he didn't have a heart, this is saying a lot about how much his character has changed. Is this the first moment we are sure he's totally changed? Was there something before this?
Does anyone still doubt his commitment to this mission? Speaking of missions… has Cain's mission changed now? If he's let go of his desire for revenge, what has he replaced it with? At what point do you think he exchanged revenge for a new quest?
The Realm of the Unwanted
"What? Trust me. The realm of the Unwanted is here. Somewhere."
Suddenly, after leading them all this time, he's concerned with their opinion about him?
Is Cain still changing? Because when he sees Zero, after being captured by Airofday, he's not foaming at the mouth for revenge. He's calm and sarcastic.
"You surprise me, Cain. Not a lot of men make it out of the iron suit with their sense of humor intact."
Meeting Jeb
Finally Cain's getting somewhere with his original mission. When he first meets Jeb, Cain is well past his anger and ready to reconcile. With Zero? With himself? With life?
He's thankful Jeb, at least, is alive and this shows when he hugs his son, who does not return the hug. Reacting the same way that Cain did the first time DG hugged him.
This is proven again when they go to question Zero and he's terrified to lose his fingers. Jeb shows no remorse, excitement even, and Cain looks disturbed. He even contradicts his son in front of his men, which any good leader knows is a bad idea. (As proof he's led men, I give you a quote from Cain to DG: "I know what you're doing kid. I've led men through battle myself.")
What is Cain thinking here? Why does he do it? What is going on in his head? Do you think this was all pre-arranged, considering Jeb smiles and holds up two spoons and Zero looks disgusted/upset?
And then Jeb picks up a sword to finish the job on Zero.
"Killing him won't bring back your mother. And it won't honor her memory either."
WOW. This is a huge change from a man who, in the beginning of the miniseries, wanted to kill Zero.
Even after he dreams about Adora's death, Cain picks up the sword, and it's not to murder Zero. Jeb apparently thought Cain let Zero go, until they reached the iron suit.
"If you don't have heart, you have nothing."
And I think I'll end this extremely long essay with that quote.
Well, I have a few more questions as well.
Did Cain finally reconcile himself with his family and his past? Where will he go in the future? What do you think he did with Zero after Az fell? How do you think he and Jeb got along after the miniseries? How do you reconcile his obvious love for Adora in order to pair him with another character? Do you think he'll go back to public service? What would you like to see explored in fanfic? Without making this a shipping war, please, who do you ship him with and why?
All right, peeps, this is posted under the mod account because Cain is open for discussion, but ceria wrote it and I have to admit; I've never done anything like this before. If you like it or don't like it, feel free to tell me. You can't write an essay about character development without including the other characters, but I tried to minimize it and focus on Cain, keeping my personal opinions as neutral as possible.