Walter

[Ken]

My biggest problem with Walter wasn't Walter himself, it was how others--especially Molly--interacted with him. There were multiple instances where she was confronted with evidence that he was up to something shady and just dismissed it. Seemed pretty unrealistic considering that she knew he'd betrayed them before.

[Ryan]

I'm not sure I call that unrealistic, just misguided haha

I have a friend, really he's a friend of my father. This guy is a GREAT man. The most loving and caring individual I've met. He lives by a strict moral code but isn't a jerk or preachy about it. He's the life of the party, it's always fun to be around him. He's inclusive as hell too, pulling wallflowers into the fun constantly. He's in his 60s and still rules the basketball court and canoes like a mad man. He plays guitar and sings. Everybody who meets the guy loves him, you don't have a choice, he's awesome and makes you feel awesome too! He always sees the good and successfully filters out any negative he sees in people. It's wonderful most of the time! He does it all without thinking, it's just how he is. He's also forgiving to a fault. He has several kids and many many grand kids. He also has one great-grand child from a teen mom who's mom was a teen when she had her. He has a son who's been arrested twice to drug dealing. He let one of his daughters live in and trash his house, then took over the bill. Two of his grand children have killed themselves over drug abuse. Two generations after him this family he fathered is falling apart. There really is such a thing as giving people enough rope to hang themselves . At a certain point you need to (especially as a parent) correct people and say that some things are not ok. IMO, Walter is a victim of Molly's desire to always see the good in people (and Palans).

[J4N3M3]

I actually don't remember any particular things that Molly knew but dismissed. Things being presented to us readers, yes. But things that Molly just ignored? Do you have anything particular in mind?

[Ryan]

Well the big one that comes to mind was

this

when Walter sold them out to the Navy and they all nearly died in the cold vacuum of space ... she didn't ignore it but she did move on from there. I'm not sure that was very wise haha.

You make a great point though. A lot of his nastiness was shown only to us, the readers.

[J4N3M3]

Well the big one that comes to mind was

this

when Walter sold them out to the Navy and they all nearly died in the cold vacuum of space ... she didn't ignore it but she did move on from there. I'm not sure that was very wise haha.

You make a great point though. A lot of his nastiness was shown only to us, the readers.

I filed that one under "everyone makes mistakes", i mean it was the first time he did that with the others knowing. And Cole never trusted Walter to begin with.

[Ken]

Nothing major here

One that sticks out was when she caught Walter with Byrne's arm, thinks to herself that there were two of arms though Walter only has one in the package.

I also seem to recall times where she internally questioned his actions/behavior but doesn't follow up, though I can't recall any specifics--been a while since I read them. It could argued that she was busy/pre-occupied, but that only goes so far. As for her believing in the inherent goodness of others a) he's betrayed her before and b) she's willing to question Cole's trust-worthiness at one point, who she's known for years and loves, yet she's going to give Walter the benefit of the doubt?

I dunno, it all just seemed a bit off to me.

[J4N3M3]

Nothing major here

One that sticks out was when she caught Walter with Byrne's arm, thinks to herself that there were two of arms though Walter only has one in the package.

I also seem to recall times where she internally questioned his actions/behavior but doesn't follow up, though I can't recall any specifics--been a while since I read them. It could argued that she was busy/pre-occupied, but that only goes so far. As for her believing in the inherent goodness of others a) he's betrayed her before and b) she's willing to question Cole's trust-worthiness at one point, who she's known for years and loves, yet she's going to give Walter the benefit of the doubt?

I dunno, it all just seemed a bit off to me.

good points. I must admit that I found myself constantly telling myself that he is not human, that he grew up on a really shitty planet, that he never had a real family life, etc. and I would get frustrated because everything about him just screamed slimy dirtbag. it was a constant back and forth between me hating him and hating myself for hating him because you know, he's not like us, and I should be more patient and all that. I actually admired Molly's patience with him. Had he been on my ship, I'd have airlocked him right after leaving Palan. >.< but the desire to be a better to person and all, made me give him another chance...and another one. PS: people always tell me that I only see the bad in others. I think that has had some influence on my reading here as well because if enough people tell you that it sucks being so negative about other people you start to believe it, no matter how many times you have been right. but, I guess I should just stick with my old self. xD Like Corey Taylor once said: Our fans can smell lies like farts in a car. well didn't he nail it, man.

[greg]

good points. I must admit that I found myself constantly telling myself that he is not human, that he grew up on a really shitty planet, that he never had a real family life, etc. and I would get frustrated because everything about him just screamed slimy dirtbag. it was a constant back and forth between me hating him and hating myself for hating him

Probably one of the most amazing things about Hugh's writing. He brings that kind of emotion out in the reader.

because you know, he's not like us, and I should be more patient and all that. I actually admired Molly's patience with him. Had he been on my ship, I'd have airlocked him right after leaving Palan. >.< but the desire to be a better to person and all, made me give him another chance...and another one.

I would have "airlocked" him, well almost. Again Hugh just get's you upset enough, then smooths it out.

PS: people always tell me that I only see the bad in others. I think that has had some influence on my reading here as well because if enough people tell you that it sucks being so negative about other people you start to believe it, no matter how many times you have been right. but, I guess I should just stick with my old self. xD Like Corey Taylor once said: Our fans can smell lies like farts in a car. well didn't he nail it, man.

I was that way for many years. Had some rough spots that jaded me early on. As I grew older I realized that I had to 'let it go' because like a caustic acid it was eating me up.