i have something else unpopular to say about bloodymary [guy standing on soap box image]
In terms of aggression, Grace is significantly more prone to it than Simon. (Well, at least when it comes to the length of their fuses before they blowโAKA how much they will take before flying off the handle)
In Iron Lung we do see Simon angry a lot, but honestly when it comes to his situation heโs still, like, disturbingly calm about it (this is bc heโs accepted the punishment, but I will elaborate on how heโs still weird). He flies off the handle a few times, but theyโre all with good reason.
The first time (I can recall) that he really loses it is when he blasts everyone with radiation, but he does this as a last resort after nobody pays attention to his concerns about there being a monster with him in the blood oceanโActually he does this as his last last resort, since he actually fucks with every button in the sub before walking over to the camera. And immediately after being told what the camera actually is he completely shrinks up, just mumbling โ..i didnโt.. i didnโt knowโฆโ and he obviously feels really bad about it because once Jack comes back to talk to him (after being treated for the radiation) he awkwardly apologizes in the middle of their conversation.
He also yells at Ava when she comes back on the speaker, but thatโs after an extremely vivid hallucination where he spoke to another โsurvivorโ for god knows how long before realizing this entire person was fake. But, like, heโs yelling out of fear thereโdesperation, evenโbecause now heโs scared that sheโs not real either.
The only other time (I can recall) that he really flies off the handle is when his sub is being, like, actively attacked by Ellie, and Iโd argue thatโs not even โflying off the handleโ considering how reasonable of a reaction it is to try and fight off a giant monster thatโs not only chasing your ship but also telepathically harassing you.
Now, Grace? Ryland Grace? The guy whose life is average as all hell? Called another scientist โa staggering waste of carbonโ for simply debating his โall life doesnโt need water to evolveโ theory.
When it comes to Rocky? Grace literally rants to a camera about him just invading his personal space, thatโs it. When Rocky moves in Grace is so bewildered and frustrated with the process of setting up his xenonite walls, and at that point in time the two of them were pretty much already friends.
I think the reason why everyone leans towards Simon being the more aggressive one is because his anger is taken seriously by the narrative, while Graceโs is played for laughs.
But let me just say, Simon is not aggressive, thatโs not his first responseโHeโs afraid, but then heโs brave, we see this with the hallucinations he gets of himself (where heโs frozen with fear until he realizes he has to fight this thing off if he wants to be safe). Heโs been almost completely stripped of his โflightโ option, so thatโs whatโs forcing him to โfightโ. (he still does run like hell as much as he can, though, as seen when he taunts Ellie and then slaps a binder on the control lever to speed away backwards) To me, most of his aggression honestly reflects an animal caught in a trap; He wouldnโt be acting like this if he could just run away.
Grace on the other hand? His first reaction is โfightโ. No, heโs not beating the shit out of people, but that doesnโt mean heโs not fighting. Heโs always fighting, and once โfightโ doesnโt work, heโs absolutely on board with โflightโ (as seen once heโs literally backed into a corner during his final conversation with Stratt), but thatโs never his first reaction.
When theyโre going to send him to space? Heโs arguing like hell first, then heโs running. When he wakes up on the Hail Mary? Fights Armando, then runs away. When Rocky throws that xenonite map at the Hail Mary? Graceโs first thought is to say โshields upโ like heโs on a sci-fi fighter ship, which implies he was fully ready to start blasting Rockyโs ship with lasers if that was the case; And even when being told there are no shields, his next instinct is not to fly the ship away, itโs to freeze in his seat as he sits and waits for what he assumed may be a missile to hit his ship.
In conclusion, Simon would not beat the shit out of Grace once they meet, he would instead run like hell. If Simon did, however, ever end up purposely hitting Grace, Grace would either hit back or yell at him.
Grace takes no shit, Simon takes all shit that wonโt get him killed (and he might even take some of that, too). Thank you for coming to another one of my Bloodymary talks, iโve been your host who cannot stand mischaracterization and will never apologize for it.
