Jack Morrison and the Statue
We’ve all joked about Gabriel’s flippant response in “Uprising” regarding the massive stone statue of the Strike Commander outside the Switzerland Headquarters. What I have not seen is a good explanation as to why Gabriel Reyes chose to use this phrase. Everything from an inside joke to contempt for not having the position himself. It might be all of these things. But in light of official Overwatch lore stating Reyes was content being behind the scenes in a less public position, suggests that he never wanted the Strike Commander position.
So where does that leave this iconic line?
We should be looking at all of the dialogue surrounding Strike Commander Jack Morrison in an effort to understand. All around him, Jack’s closest friends, colleagues, and new recruits have an opinion about what Morrison should do about the Omnic Uprising in London. Ana, Angela and even Lena are telling the Strike Commander that he must do something. Jack takes their advice with an open ear and thoughtful expression, never agreeing or disagreeing with any of them. Not reprimanding Cadet Oxton for overstepping her position and trying to give consul to her superior officer.
This speaks well for Jack’s administrative style in that he will listen to all sides of an issue before making an executive decision. It makes him a leader people trust and feel comfortable enough to approach in the middle of a crisis. He listens to Gabriel’s monologue regarding the Omnic situation in London and the rise of Null Sector without the same type of criticism Ana gives in calling the radicals “terrorists.”
Morrison takes all of the information given to him without judgement. But there is one important thing that Gabriel Reyes does not do. He does NOT tell Jack to do something to fix the situation. All Reyes does is explain the situation, give some history, and sarcastically suggest that the “Brits have the situation under control.” And the snide comment, “I’m not the one with the statue.”
Reyes officially steps back from these command decisions. And though we love sassy Gabe, this statement is not meant to be cruel or to distance him from his friends. It is a reminder to Jack Morrison that Jack is the Strike Commander and Jack must make the decision on his own.
Gabriel is trying to support Jack in the best way he knows how. By giving Jack every piece of information that could change the conflict to favor Overwatch. His actions, sending McCree to gather intel, suggests he wants Morrison to get Overwatch involved, but he never actually speaks to this desire. He simply shows Jack the inside of King’s Row and the dire need of the people within. The people the British government will let die should the hostage situation continue as it is.
The most interesting bit in the command relationship between Reyes and Morrison is seen in the “Retribution” comic set about a year before “Uprising.” There Gabriel seeks Jack’s permission to take on Antonio. He’s still not telling Jack what to do. He takes on equal responsibility with the statement “If we don’t do something…” And since he does not force the issue, it almost implies that should Jack give an explicit denial of the plan, Gabriel will back off. That might fester resentment for the order, but as this does not happen, it is nothing more than conjecture.
What does happen is the dialogue between the Strike Commander and the Blackwatch Commander. They have lost many people in the most recent explosion on the Blackwatch facility. Many more in Oslo before that. Both know the situation is dire and should nothing be done more people will lose their lives. Neither seem to be pleased with the options before them. Jack must open an official investigation that will go nowhere. Gabriel must embark on a clandestine mission for revenge that could destroy (and does) Overwatch’s reputation for upholding justice. The most touching piece of unspoken information given in the syntax and permission, is that Jack very much wants this mission to occur, wishes he could sanction Gabriel’s plan, but ultimately knows no good will come of it. That is why he cannot “officially sanction something like this.”
Jack has actually passed over the mantle of command back to Gabriel with his unofficial go-ahead. This is one decision he cannot make. Does not want to make. And has resigned himself to coping with the aftermath. Reyes now has the full weight of that Statue resting on his shoulders. His decisions affect the future of Overwatch in a way they haven’t since Morrison became the public face of the organization.
So the context in which we see the “I’m not the one with the statue” line, it suggests that Gabriel is reminding Jack of who is in charge. Perhaps harkening back to a time when Morrison was not confident in his leadership abilities to run this multinational organization. I am still fond of the idea that this is an inside joke among them. Of Gabriel prodding Jack to make the definitive decisions the Strike Commander must without forcing his own opinion on his friend. Of Jack wishing anyone else had taken the title.
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