I think he does it as C. says by instinct, which is not exactly the same as subconsciously. Also, as opposed to Angela, you don't get the impression he plans ahead for reactions, he just improvises. For example, in this episode, I don't think he went to Nathan with more of a plan than "Linderman has the painting, Linderman sponsors Nathan's campaign now, so Nathan can get that painting for me, and I'll ask him". But once he was there, and had grasped the situation - reporter outside - he used that and knew exactly which buttons to push. And yet it was an improvisation all the way.
True both to this being instinctively and largely improvised. He is rather good at it, too, but I think he would stop before it gets seriously hurtful. (Although, threatening with suicide after you've just discovered that the man your brother presumably loved and admired most committed suicide and attempted it several times before is pretty far out, and it is very emotionally manipulative, which is clearly something he got from his mother. Which in turn would be a sign that he is somewhat aware that she is manipulative, after all.)
That's Peter being deliberately manipulative, getting Nathan to lower his guard so he can make a getaway.
That scene is also a nice parallel to Claire going into the hug and then jumping out of the window in the finale. She catches on pretty fast.
What he's NOT clear on on his own is whether or not he's capable to take advantage of such a thing; that's why he needs walking consciences like Peter, Hiro and Claire for.
*nods* That's more or less what I meant. I admit that my own views on the morality of Plan Blow Up NYC get pretty entangled with my interpretation of what he is doing in the last few episodes. It's not uninteresting, as I don't normally have these problems with favourite characters doing things I'd disagree with; but this one really caught me off guard.
Which in turn feeds my believe in Nathan getting the amnesia storyline, because it could be both character exploration and a way for him to learn how to integrate, to use an expression I otherwise connect with Niki.*g*
Yes. cadesama and I talked about this being a good opportunity for Nathan to develop his own internal conscience. (As long as it doesn't involve him travelling to Africa and skulk around in caves...)
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branchandroot
Re: part 2
Date: 2007-06-04 08:07 pm (UTC)True both to this being instinctively and largely improvised. He is rather good at it, too, but I think he would stop before it gets seriously hurtful. (Although, threatening with suicide after you've just discovered that the man your brother presumably loved and admired most committed suicide and attempted it several times before is pretty far out, and it is very emotionally manipulative, which is clearly something he got from his mother. Which in turn would be a sign that he is somewhat aware that she is manipulative, after all.)
That's Peter being deliberately manipulative, getting Nathan to lower his guard so he can make a getaway.
That scene is also a nice parallel to Claire going into the hug and then jumping out of the window in the finale. She catches on pretty fast.
What he's NOT clear on on his own is whether or not he's capable to take advantage of such a thing; that's why he needs walking consciences like Peter, Hiro and Claire for.
*nods* That's more or less what I meant. I admit that my own views on the morality of Plan Blow Up NYC get pretty entangled with my interpretation of what he is doing in the last few episodes. It's not uninteresting, as I don't normally have these problems with favourite characters doing things I'd disagree with; but this one really caught me off guard.
Which in turn feeds my believe in Nathan getting the amnesia storyline, because it could be both character exploration and a way for him to learn how to integrate, to use an expression I otherwise connect with Niki.*g*
Yes.