The funniest difference between phm movie and book is that there’s an attempt by the film to show that Stratt might have some feelings for Grace, but they do it with that whole awkward scene of the deck of the ship where Stratt is radiating Doomed Romantic Tension and Grace is standing there with the vibe of “something’s going on here. Ok I’m Out” and then the karaoke scene where he’s staring at her with a kinda “aww, she might actually see me as more than a coworker… A Friend!”
Doomed Romantic Tension? Na man, I dont think there's anything concrete you can point to, to establish that. It's pretty much in the viewer's eyes: it's there if you think it is, and not if you dont. (Given that most English language media default to a sexual/ romantic relationship between nonrelated men & women, the audience has been trained to think that way.) Personally I dont see a romantic angle at all. I think Stratt looks at Grace pretty much as Grace looks at his bright students who dont know their true potential yet.
I think book & film Stratt is brilliant at leading and not only does she collect out-of-the-box thinkers she also gives each of them exactly what they need to thrive. Which is why even though vips cant access Stratt, she gives Ryland (someone who doubts his own value) all the access he needs. The difference in the teacher she took out of the classroom vs the astronaut she sends into space comes about from her nurturing his self confidence. Imho the look she gives him is her checking on how he's holding up under all the pressure.
Fair enough! I was mostly going off of camerawork and music during that scene for my interpretation. Typically scenes shot and scored that way are intended to have some kind of romantic tension. That being said, I am alloromantic, and coming into that scene with that perspective; someone who’s aromantic (or even other alloromantics, I don’t claim to speak for us all) may not see the scene the same way. But thank you for your analysis, I like your note about Grace being Stratt’s ‘yet to reach full potential’ student!
