Reinbeast

Erin Bates · @Reinbeast

14th Sep 2016 from TwitLonger

@Johnny_Pypes I'm so sorry. This was a complete accident. The tweet took on a life of its own...

For some reason you always reminded me of Captain Weaver (Will Patton) on Falling Skies. Must be the grizzled veteran look. But Weaver I expected to die in just about every episode. I was always on the edge of my seat with him. I was so relieved when he made it to the end. I don't think I took a breath for five seasons; I was really attached to him. At some point, he even developed heart problems (so that the audience would have palpitations, I guess), but the writers had him survive through it all. So many times I thought it was his end; even when nothing was happening, I just expected something horrific. Yet somehow he made it. Surprisingly, I also made it through all those spikes of adrenaline. The tension was ridiculous with that character.

But Tex I knew would be alright and didn't need my concern, only my adoration and laughter. And then he *bleeping* got shot in the chest! I really love when shows don't spoil everything in the commercial and can surprise me like that. I don't appreciate the deaths of my favorite characters, but I do appreciate how they can move a story or character in a different direction.

When it came to Tex, I somehow thought he would live forever...at least until the end. I assume all of my favorites will be heroically killed off in the end. (I'm even wary about it happening in comedies now.) That's not to say it's something that should be avoided. It might be unwelcome, as death tends to be, but when a show does it right, it can strengthen my relationship with a series; I then realize how much it made me love someone who was just words on a page, brought to vivid life by a superb actor, but still not real. I think The Last Ship did it right, because what's been lost will have and has had quite an impact already. I find myself sad about what happened, but not with the kind of anger that makes me wish I never watched in the first place. Far from that.

I would have loved more time with Tex - a guy with such heart and loyalty and determination, as that tweet from @TheLastShipTNT mentioned - but going out unexpectedly while saving a friend was a great way go. I hope you're okay with it and they gave you a lot of time to process the reality that you would be leaving far sooner than anyone would have imagined.

Sometimes character deaths can break a show for me (Chicago Hope), feeling unnecessary and pointless, like they could have just gotten another job or moved instead. Sometimes it's done in a way that can hurt like hell yet make it so much more (Serenity), knowing no one is safe, making it feel more real, like you lost a friend. I think The Last Ship belongs in the second category here. I didn't throw the remote at the TV in disgust, though if I aged backward to my younger self then I might have. ;) I'll still be watching; the actors are great and the story intriguing. And the intensity, while not quite as high as, say, The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones (and I wouldn't expect anything to be), is definitely there and certainly has its moments.

I'll miss you and Tex, as I've said already in quite an embarrassing way, as I tend to do in writing (only in writing). Praise bears repeating, though. You gave him a strong yet tender heart, and your absence will be hard for many. I hope that doesn't upset the balance or lose too many viewers. I'm sure the series will continue on and find new waters to explore, as it always does, and I will continue on with fond memories of those who didn't make it, especially Tex...but never Allison.

Yeah, so I actually didn't mean to write all this, but my fingers wouldn't shut up even though my eyes were getting all heavy. This darn thing started as a simple tweet and now it's 1:45 am! I have work in the morning. See what you made me do?

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