I like the idea that, alongside the fact that Mac *does* base his identity in his Marine service, post-Marine women colleagues would also have served to influence his outlook and emotional awareness.
I mean, there's Claire, who -- whatever her personality may have been -- related to Mac in ways which are more expected and "normal" for him: she's his girlfriend, then his fiancee, then his wife. The relationship is based in romantic norms. On the other hand, he also has Stella, who I think completely flips a lot of preconceptions on their heads: not by virtue of her being tough, or not *just* that, but because she's simply his *friend*. And, ultimately, his best friend, I'd venture.
It's also true that, despite his buttoned-up Marine outlook, he's not very tied in to that stringent definition of masculinity. As rigid as some of his moral judgments are, we don't see him display the stereotypical machismo or sexism. He's more open than that.
Then, of course, there's Danny, who could not be further away from the ideal of the military man if he tried. I like the idea of Danny-as-puzzle (and yeah, Mac *does* like his puzzles), and that there's an unconscious part of Mac that likes him for the fact he *is* so different. Which suggests that Mac, with him, could *also* be different, and not have to stick to learned (military) behavior patterns.
It's like...I'm not sure I can articulate this, because it's just forming in my head. As closed off emotionally as he is, there also have been changes that have taken place in Mac's outlook, post-service. And Danny seems a chance for him to open up in ways that he hasn't had the chance to, yet, by virtue of being a man who's *not* in the military. Or something like that. (Not that this is conscious on Mac's part.)
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I like the idea that, alongside the fact that Mac *does* base his identity in his Marine service, post-Marine women colleagues would also have served to influence his outlook and emotional awareness.
I mean, there's Claire, who -- whatever her personality may have been -- related to Mac in ways which are more expected and "normal" for him: she's his girlfriend, then his fiancee, then his wife. The relationship is based in romantic norms. On the other hand, he also has Stella, who I think completely flips a lot of preconceptions on their heads: not by virtue of her being tough, or not *just* that, but because she's simply his *friend*. And, ultimately, his best friend, I'd venture.
It's also true that, despite his buttoned-up Marine outlook, he's not very tied in to that stringent definition of masculinity. As rigid as some of his moral judgments are, we don't see him display the stereotypical machismo or sexism. He's more open than that.
Then, of course, there's Danny, who could not be further away from the ideal of the military man if he tried. I like the idea of Danny-as-puzzle (and yeah, Mac *does* like his puzzles), and that there's an unconscious part of Mac that likes him for the fact he *is* so different. Which suggests that Mac, with him, could *also* be different, and not have to stick to learned (military) behavior patterns.
It's like...I'm not sure I can articulate this, because it's just forming in my head. As closed off emotionally as he is, there also have been changes that have taken place in Mac's outlook, post-service. And Danny seems a chance for him to open up in ways that he hasn't had the chance to, yet, by virtue of being a man who's *not* in the military. Or something like that. (Not that this is conscious on Mac's part.)