why did I like Lorca being actually evil?
1. Lorca read as very ‘off’ to me at the start of the show, pretty unscrupulous, though it was always rather believable that he was just a ptsd ‘greater good’ man. The show really playing of off that gruff ‘protocols are for suckers’ dude trope but then validating the suspicion I felt at the start JUST when I’d started to trust his intentions - that was pretty amazing. A great way to play on audience expectations.
2. It conveys the notion that you should always be suspicious of people who are too willing to shirk the rules that are supposed to keep intact the integrity of organisations. You can’t play fast and loose with protocols which safeguard the ideals Starfleet stands for.
3. It says something about how to act in war. Similar to above, shirking the duty to act morally can only be done if it is TRULY a last resort. Even in war. Especially in war. That line, it’s precarious. If you think somebody treads way too closely and/or across, it MIGHT JUST mean you’re actually dealing with a person who has no moral intentions at all.
4. He’s a mirror of prime!Philippa. She adheres to protocol because she ascribes to Federation ideals. He ignores protocol because he does not ascribe to Federation ideals (but explicitly fascist ones). Michael adheres to protocol because she ascribes to Federation ideals, but also ignores protocol when forced to protect her own (self-defense) despite AND because of Federation ideals. nuance.
5. His little monologue to Michael is so explicitly fascist - it really puts the Terran world view next to that of the Klingons (racial purity) - the reversal really humanises the enemy by alienating humans.