Jack: Dinner? Cathy: I asked my day about you. Jack: Oh Cathy: He said you're one of the smartest guys he’s ever met. Jack: Oh Cathy: But that you are too good for your own good. Jack: Is that even a thing? What does that mean? Cathy: Uh, moralistic, self-righteous. Those were his word Jack: Those were his word. Cathy: Yeah. I don’t give a shit what my dad thinks For context the first time we meet Jack’s old boss, from his days in Wall Street-- he “presses” Jack for some quasi-legal insider government intel. I think this scene in Jack Ryan is really interesting. My ears perk up pretty much any time I hear that someone is “too smart” or too good” for their own good - in real life and in movies.
I’m going to start collecting these stories into the pile. Because frankly they FEEL insane when they are happening and even in retrospect. Trying to explain them to other people requires incredible mounts of emotional labor. Stories, movies, novels, media -- they provide enough distance, where you can safely point to it and say THAT -- that is what I dealt with.
I also like this one because it’s a white guy and a white guy -- so it’s pretty clear it’s just straight up about power -- the conflict between money and the power of principles and values.
