HORNBLOWER The even chance Part4

[MidnighWolf]

Simpson reminds me of a swathe version of Hakeswell...

[CamelBallZee]

@MidnighWolf But he doesn't try to rape every lady he sees.

[MidnighWolf]

@CamelBallZee

HA!

True... :P

[DurtyBuddha]

I would just have to beat the crap out of Simpson...see if hes so tough missing his 4 front teeth...lol

[Songsmirth]

Someone said in Sharpe that both Wellington and Nelson forbade dueling because it had become a habit in amoung the officers and too many were getting killed over silly matters.

[TheNikzaw]

@Songsmirth not sure about nelson, but wellington banned dueling

[TechnicalJaguar]

Reminds me of Barry Lyndon, also great move :)

[Songsmirth]

The officers aren't good at reading Simpson or they would have picked up on his brutal personality. They didn't want to know. Horatio didn't beat himself up but that officer didn't want to dig deeply. It would have meant work and uncovering something he didn't want to know about. Horatio is all of 17 and he wants Simpson only Simpson is more experianced. Horatio thinks right is on his side. Clayton steps in for him, bless him. It teaches H to think before he acts so rashly.

[tyrannusBE]

The lieutenant of the other ship is a nice guy, it seems. Trying to keep up the good spirit between Hornblower and Simpson. It makes me wonder how he would have reacted if he knew what lay behind the incident.

[Sturmmann]

dammit, we need to see more on the Royal Marines in this series

this US Marine would love to see his comrades in arms across the pond portrayed well

[jimthehappymonkey1]

@Sturmmann where are you based? (3 Para 16 AA Bde)

[Sturmmann]

@jimthehappymonkey1

Camp Pendleton 1st Mar Div

[MuttTheHoople]

Sure His Royal Majesty's Navy knew how to frag somebody's ass.

[smellincoffee]

In Forester's work, Horatio's "even chance" is to have two pistols -- one unloaded, the other loaded. They choose at random. That way, Simpson's skill doesn't factor into things. Someone gets a loaded gun and wins, while someone else gets an empty and gets shot.

[KFMonster]

I think the real reason why the midshipman didn't get their own back and get Jack, was to put emphasis on the fact that a group of people need a leader of someone to hold them together, and before Hornblower came onboard, that person didn't exist.

This entire episode is basically putting emphasis on Hornblower's po-tensional to lead. And of course in the later episodes we do see indead that he quite capable of command.

[pssonu]

that duel soo did not happen that way in the book

[booyouemail]

why don't all the midshipmen pile Simpson in a brawl and beat the crap out of him?

[XxSUM41xX]

thats what i was wondering

[Fred4Forever]

the hats in this series confuse me greatly, can anyone shed light on that? and are they playing bridge?

[Wonkapoo]

The game is Whist.

[matt2house]

That's how the navy differs from the army in those days. cos in the army young officers can buy their commissions with a huge amount of money. They can afford it mainly because they all come from upper class families. Whilst the navy had men from all different social classes.

[GorinRedspear]

but without the money, you could not hope to get past bosun. even a midshipman has to buy an expensive uniform.

[matt2house]

true, but i'm talking about buying your comissioned rank to go up the ladder.

[nooo8oooo]

they didn't make you buy commisons in the navy, cause they didn't want a rich moron commanding a fleet

[matt2house]

I wasn't talking about that, I was talking about buying commissions in the army...not the navy

[matt2house]

Well in actual fact back in those days it was hard to get promoted to a lieutenant as you had to be a bit scientifically and mathematically minded. alot of em who have failed can wait up to 20 or 30 years to get promoted and by then they will be in their 40's or their 60's.

[TheCurtainCall]

Why does Clayton hit Hornblower??

[DanielWPow]

Clayton's tired of being abused by Simpson as well.  And remember earlier that Simpson called him a coward. He wants the chance to prove that he isn't.

[stphrb]

To save his life.

[XtremePoe]

Simpson's a bastard, but poor young Oratio can be quite scary...

[ARP7777777]

Simpson is a SADIST, man. You can't expect everyone to stick up for themselves, especially against a sadist who, by his own admission knows their secrets. Of course, he should be stood against a wall and SHOT.

[k4z3n0k1zu]

I don't understand why a group of men is so afraid of one guy.

[baroquemusician1]

@k4z3n0k1zu I trust if you were there you'd be afraid too. There is more than a man there, his spirit is dark and it darkens those around him.

[FiriethMystways]

@k4z3n0k1zu He looks like a decent seaman to the powers that be because he knows how to exploit the weak points of his victims without those in charge finding out. That's enough to put anyone who falls beneath his sway in an uncomfortable position should they try to challenge him. On top of that, men like Clayton and Kennedy have probably grown up under his oppression, so they have a long history of being bullied by him, which does little to develop courage. That's my take on it.

[xmenlover92]

My heart dropped into my stomach when Clayton was shot. Poor fella.

[paphos71]

Great acting by Dorian Healy as Jack Simpson though, a really nasty bully.

[Lapsanglover]

Indeed. I'd almost opt for just shooting the actor, he plays the part so well. Well done!

[paphos71]

I met Dorian once, you'll be relieved to know he's a nice chap in real life unlike Simpson!

[urquhart2001]

Villain roles are the most fun, anyway. You can really cut loose. Chew the scenery and twist your moustache and slap people around. Until you get killed, of course.

[WishesNeverComeTrue]

Some people are just like that in this world. they just don't realize it

[2008josephine]

What is wrong with this Simpson-guy?!

[xmenlover92]

Who knows? I think he simply enjoys being an ignorant jerk.

[chickenzrule]

look how old he looks, hes been a midshipman for a long time

[DanielWPow]

He's a midshipman with too little knowledge to pass his lieutenant's exam. At his age, he's unlikely to ever advance in rank. He's bitter, and he's a senior midshipman with a mean right hook. He basically does this because it's the one part of his life that he can succeed in: being an asshole.

[Kain5th]

I bet he had a rough childhood