i think there is a fair question of like. how much does temple actually believe the shit he’s selling. because there is a completely valid interpretation of him where he literally just wants to kill people and was looking for an excuse. or the stronger interpretation of all of this is self serving revenge and he’s just hocking justice for sim troopers to get support
but with lines like “pawns kill kings” and the fact that his goal is to blow up the unsc and his killing of freelancers seems like a side project— like, clearly he is trying to kill carolina, but if getting revenge for biff is his ultimate or even his main goal wouldn’t the majority of his effort be into going after his killer? like, sure, he wants to get back at the whole system that caused his death, but wouldn’t killing carolina be the denouement there if what he cared about was avenging biff?
he’s also just a way more interesting character if he’s right. like, season 15 fumbled fucking HARD with its conclusion of the sim troopers stuff but like. the blues and reds fighting against a military who thinks because they’re less capable their lives are literally less valuable than other soldiers is. straight up compelling and i don’t think bad writing should get to take that away
like, i think temple is a selfish asshole who will, ten times outta ten, choose his own goals over any sort of political ideology. but i still think he has that ideology. just cause a guy is prioritizing murdering people in his basement over his political action doesn’t devalue his political action!
