Christine (spaghettitoes) wrote in eskimo_kiss, @ 2010-07-16 12:40:00 |
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Current location: | Work |
Current mood: | contemplative |
Current music: | mumbling senility |
Entry tags: | [discussion] characters |
Friends like these
So this is not what anyone expected a discussion on at this stage in the plot I guess but I know that it’s something that’s really upset people and to avoid dumping all this on anyone’s personal journal (*discreet hugs*) I thought we could discuss/vent here! Now, to the topic at hand…
I think we can all agree Ingo’s been an arse to Roman over Marc and Deniz but since he’s not really voiced objections to Roman actually staying there and we haven’t seen a frank discussion between Ingo and Roman where he mentions his disproval I wonder where Show is going with this one.
If we can look at it from a neutral position, Ingo's terrible behaviour was quite crucial in Roman's initial decision to leave; helping to build the image to Roman that no-one wanted him there. And of course, facilitating his ‘I screw everything up’ chastisement because (from Roman’s POV) he’s messed up so badly even his good friends can’t tolerate him and his actions. But looking at it, I think I can “explain” (yes, I’m making air-quotes and hoping no-one thinks I condone this) his behaviour in terms of group dynamics etc and how it’s important to the plot as I hope it progresses.
I’ll try to explain the spaghetti-psychology* view here…
The natural pack behaviour of everyone in the team meant they all approved/agreed (except for the adorable Flo *cuddles him* but he maintains a unique position in the back because of his sporting ability and his relationship to Roman) and just based on the type of group they are and the circumstances you can understand it (as in understand how/why it’s happening). Because he's in the position of being Marian's friend, Roman's friend and Deniz's friend and at the same time the alpha to the hockey team.
It’s well accepted that humour is how Ingo deals with situations, this is how he copes with just about everything from hunger to heartache. So I’m not surprised he’s making jokes about it and he’s always been more towards the teasing side of things in his jokes/interaction with Roman.
So Ingo is in this difficult position and because Annette is absent he has nothing to reinforce the shut-up-be-nice-and-help-your-friend side of his personality. Meanwhile he has a dozen or so big angry guys encouraging his testosterone and clownish behaviour at every turn, he’s also in charge of these men so has the psyche of being in control, of being the alpha male in the group. Weakness or sympathy towards Roman under these circumstances would undermine his position and authority in the group so he’s being edged closer to being hostile to Roman. Being who he is this naturally comes out in the form of jibes. I think the malice in his words comes from his genuine disapproval of Marc, probably because he hasn’t liked the upset the situation has caused and because he’s been quite distant from everything it’s been easy for Ingo to categorise Marc as someone who has come in to destroy the relationship (the same hostility Annette had before she actually listened to Roman). The fact that Roman’s insecure and probably putting a lot of blame on himself won’t help because he’s not standing up to Ingo as forcefully as one normally would so Ingo’s going completely unchallenged/corrected.
Also I think, because Roman has been so awesome in the past Ingo’s a little unsure what to do because suddenly his friend who has always been so sensible, aware and in control needs help and he doesn’t know what to do. One of the defences in this position is to avoid the situation by not talking about it.
But…and this is a big but, Ingo’s only been hostile in this mocking way, he hasn’t been aggressive nor is there an air of vindictiveness in the way he delivers these jokes. To me, his expression has been one more of trepidation and uncertainty, like any minute he’s expecting Roman to blow up at him and tell him off because he knows he’s doing wrong by one friend, despite the backing from other friends (i.e. Marian etc). In fact the general cluelessness of the attacks (Oliver calling Marc a bimbo was low but also just so stereotypical and unlikely because it doesn’t really correlate with Marc’s personal presentation nor with the kind of jibe you would expect from a man with Oliver’s assumed intelligence) suggests to me that everyone’s trying to keep their distance from this and get involved. Even Marian, for all he’s been there to support Deniz, doesn’t appear to have really discussed it with either of the boys. Of course, this could just be Show keeping things off camera and letting us assume.
If Show has done this on purpose with some (if not all of the above) in mind then I am hoping a lot will come from this. It has the scope to be a real turning point for Roman and his friends because such blatant fail gives him something to confront Ingo with (and I want that confrontation Show) which could address Roman’s self-esteem issues and how he feels about his place in the group/community, how people perceive him and the kind of treatment that he’ll tolerate.
Ingo’s behaviour was necessary to create the feeling of not-belonging the story needed for Roman to be willing to consider leaving everything and will, I hope, be one of the crucial factors in helping Roman to address some very old issues. I might be holding out hope here and shaking the plot-pixie like mad to get all her pixie dust but *crosses fingers* I hope this has a purpose and isn’t just an utter fail on the part of the character who has been so fabulous in the past.
Let me know what you think.
*Acknowledging fully that OMG it’s been years since Uni and I might just be imagining it all now. Basically, stick IMO at the end of every sentence here!