Khase in 1x11 - Monsters

[fembuck]

Here is a very thoughtful analysis of the Krista/Chase scene from 1x11 - "Monsters" by FrightenedAuk over at TWoP that actually not only makes me feel better about the scene, but makes me want to watch it over again (which I've not done fearing that the bitterness would come back). It's especially interesting as a look into Chase's [Riley Freeman]mental mind[/RF], and how, as is usually the case with Chase, her actions and words are often incongruent but her actions seem to speak much louder.


So, what the hell is going on in this scene?

First item of note: history.

From the start, Chase has been completely split-personality about Krista. She's been vehemently opposed to the very concept of her from the start. She didn't want her turned and she bitches at her and about her constantly. But she's also been genuinely affectionate and caring towards Krista, especially during or WRT their nights on the town.

The interesting thing about this is that it seems entirely dependant on other people. If there's anyone else with them, particularly if it's Marcus, Chase is a snitty bitch. If it's just the two of them, Chase is a gracious if sometimes snarky mentor. Exceptions to this rule are exceedingly rare.

What does this mean? I'm not entirely sure. Up until Wednesday I was hoping the kiss scene would help resolve it a bit. Let's get back to that scene now and see what we can see.

Second item of note: the entrance.

No one respects Krista's personal space, least of all Chase.

But this time around, Chase is just sitting there, quiet and subdued. She even knocked. Her tone and bearing are that of a lover whose mate has been at the poker tables all night after a bad argument. For the first time in their acquaintance, Chase is treating Krista with deference, and displaying a desire for the encounter to run on Krista's terms. She doesn't even start the encounter until Krista is ready - waiting until she's spoken to before she even looks at her. Which brings us to the

third item of note: the nakedness.

Krista's not shy. She's military, and hell, if I had a body like that I'd be shameless too. Even during the blood bath, in front of total strangers, she makes no effort to cover herself. She doesn't wear a towel when she thinks she's alone. So it's not shocking that she confronts Chase naked. Maybe she's trying to prove she's not intimidated, but it would be totally in character for it not to even occur to her to do otherwise.

What's shocking is that Chase dresses her. And not even "drapes a robe on her shoulders" - we see Krista move as Chase pulls a sleeve up her arm. Chase doesn't want Krista to be naked. Why?

I can think of three possibilities.

a) She honestly wants Krista to be comfortable, and is showing the same odd affection and friendship she's been offering since day one - and she doesn't want the unfair edge in this conversation that their relative states of dress give her.

b) She's trying to fuck with Krista's head with the "friendly threat" act.

c) The nudity is throwing off her game, either because Krista's brazen confidence in her nakedness gives Krista an edge that Chase doesn't want her to have, or because she's genuinely physically attracted to her and it's distracting.

B doesn't seem that likely to me, because it doesn't mesh with the entrance or with Chase's established character pattern of genuine kindness to Krista when it's just them. It reads to me as mostly A with a little of C thrown in the mix, but the dialogue reads like it's meant to be B. We need more evidence to be sure, so let's move on.

Fourth item of note: the kiss.

This was not a sexual kiss in any way, shape or form. The look Chase gives Krista as she brushes her cheek is one of sympathy, or maybe pity. She gives a quick glance up at Krista's eyes as she leans in and it's almost sad. If you watch it with the sound off, what it looks like, more than anything, is a goodbye kiss.

And with that, the whole thing clicks into place. Chase does want Krista as an ally, despite everything. But the necklace clues her in that Krista is All.About.Marcus. and so their rivalry is about to get really serious; and shows her that her behavior so far is not going to cut it if she wants Krista on her side. So she tries a different tack, coming to Krista as humbly as she knows how. Which, as you can see, isn't very; her behavior is decent but her language falls somewhat short. Still, even wrapped in a threat and hot on the heels of snide hostility, she does offer her olive branch: "we can be friends." And Krista rejects her.

So Chase kisses her, sort of saying, "I really did like you, kid, too bad it's going to be this way." The rest is just posturing.

Krista's side of the scene, on the other hand, is basically straightforward, although it's worth noting that Chase frazzles the hell out of her here with the "healing" line and it takes her an unusually long time to get her "whatever, dead girl" equilibrium back. Her "is that what this is about?" seems like it was more honest than she intended.

In fact, while Chase's whole spiel between "what I see" and "next few days" is bizarre and doesn't seem to matter at all (notice that dialogue was no part of even one of the four items of note), I'm pretty sure there's something in that healing line that I haven't yet figured out. If I do, I'll be sure to get back to you.


I like the analysis of the scene and of Chase - somewhere in her 'barely beating heart' - really having wanted to have been friends with Krista. Chase wanting to have a kind of sister in arms, but having that desire constantly at arms with the fact that Krista was usurping her territory by becoming Favorite Commando #2 immediately and monopolizing Marcus' affection, is fascinating, sweet and sad. I could totally see Chase's friendlier, gentler overtones in the early part of the season as an attempt to woo Krista towards her instead of Marcus so that they could be hunting, shopping, assault team, orgasm buddies. But with Krista just shooting her down at every opportunity eventually (someone said that it was after Berlin that major shift in Krista and Chase's interactions changed, and I think that's true) only the resentment, jealousy and attraction were left making Chase hateful and yet oddly regretful as well.

Chase really is deliciously complex.

So, now while I still hate the way Chase was written in like every scene this episode, I don't mind this particular scene as much and can actually find something interesting in it.

Comments

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I think it's that Chase is being written as your standard femme fatale, bitchy girlfriend and Jessica Gowen is playing her with a lot more layers, which is one of those things I don't know who to thank for.

I think you're totally right, and Jessica Gower's acting ability is what lifts Chase to another level. There have been numerous scenes where I've just been amazed what she can do with a look, and it really humanizes Chase and gives her a complexity that isn't really there in the writing. I'll thank the writers for making Chase fun, and thank Gower for making Chase real.