The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Proven Guilty: An update to my previous thoughts on the topic
Kindler:
--- Quote from: namkcas on October 17, 2017, 01:42:25 PM ---@raidem,
Actually all you did is post about your theories. I put you on ignore about 3 years ago because this is my opinion of what you do. You post about what you think repeatedly. With the forum's going away, I removed that. So how about this, make a post critiquing what I wrote without mentioning anything that you have ever posted. Compare what I wrote to the text of the books and WoJ's, etc. The point of the exercise is to see how well what the Theory Wrote compares to the information that we have.
You have posted the same stuff for years about time travel and alternate realities and such. My theory is that NONE of that happened in PG. That there is NO Time Travel NOR is there any Alternate Reality NOR is there any Special Connection, except as I have spelled out. This was Mab saving Molly. In a Mab way.
--- End quote ---
For what it's worth, I agree with your concept, pretty much as written. I can quibble over minor details, but as a whole it feels right. I don't think there needs to be time travel or anything special going on for the plot of Proven Guilty to be resolved. We already have at least one person with confirmed foresight into the events of the book, and it's certainly not a stretch for Mab to have similar foresight, even if Rashid didn't share information. In my opinion, Mab sees Molly as an investment. Mab is good as a talent scout; she even mentions making Thomas the Winter Knight, for example. She likes planting multiple seeds.
I would posit two further, less important motives for Mab: First, Harry. With Molly as his apprentice, Harry gets better at his job. It's like assigning him a low-intensity workout regimen. It's a situation that has a bunch of lingering effects. Molly's the one who detects Luccio's mental compromise; Molly's the one who later functions as Bonnie's midwife, and so on. It also forces Harry and Michael to confront each other, which Harry was reluctant to do thanks to Lasciel's shadow. This becomes particularly important considering the events of Small Favor, during which Harry becomes acquainted with Demonreach. A whole lot of dominoes get knocked over because of Harry's relationship with Molly, in other words. Primarily, as you pointed out, Molly is saved and the grooming process begins.
A second, less important motive: beginning the process of getting Murphy kicked out of the police force, and exposing her to Faerie politics for the first real time (Summer Knight doesn't count; she really just took down a chlorofiend). Murphy, who later is the one who pulls the trigger on Maeve, after spearheading an assault against the Red Court, gets in huge trouble for disappearing for a full day after Arctis Tor, and loses SI as a result. This puts her directly on a path that includes losing her badge entirely, and being free to pick up the slack when Harry's dead at the end of Changes. That requires a bit more foresight than is usually attributed to anyone, but even a sense from Mab along the lines of "Murphy will be an important player later, and this will help get her involved" is enough to sweeten the pot. Again, not as important as Molly, but still a potential thought.
Mostly, though, the simple answer is the best. Mab wanted Molly to be saved, and orchestrated a series of events that put Harry in the position to save her.
--- Quote from: wardenferry419 on October 17, 2017, 03:08:06 PM ---taking Bob to the hotel seemed odd. It created a rare opportunity where noone was in Harry's place.
--- End quote ---
I have never once realized that, and feel spectacularly stupid for missing it. The only one there was Mister, and he was likely out for his evening prowl.
wardenferry419:
I, respectfully, have to disagree on your secondary motive. Murphy, would have been more useful as an authority figure for the police force. Granted, her freedom increased with loss of position; but, she lost resources that came with her position. Question, prior to CD, were Mab and Murphy ever in each other's presence or has Mab ever made reference to Murphy? While I believe that Mab knew of Murphy and her ties to Harry, I don't think that Mab credited her with much significance.
Kindler:
--- Quote from: wardenferry419 on October 17, 2017, 03:41:42 PM ---I, respectfully, have to disagree on your secondary motive. Murphy, would have been more useful as an authority figure for the police force. Granted, her freedom increased with loss of position; but, she lost resources that came with her position. Question, prior to CD, were Mab and Murphy ever in each other's presence or has Mab ever made reference to Murphy? While I believe that Mab knew of Murphy and her ties to Harry, I don't think that Mab credited her with much significance.
--- End quote ---
For the record, disagree with me all you like, respectfully or otherwise; I have very thick skin. It's pretty much impossible to offend me.
I see your point; losing influence over the police isn't a good thing. However, Mab remedies that when she deals with Marcone, who has plenty, if not more, influence over Chicago PD.
Murphy's position in CPD is not one with major influence to begin with; she's Captain of the Misfits, Commander of the Career Dead-ends. She doesn't have a say in policy or procedure, and the one thing Mab might want—a bunch of cops showing up to a scene of her choosing—is influence Murphy still retains by virtue of being popular within her old department. If she picked up the phone and asked Stallings to come check something out, he'd do it. She just lacks official authority and capacity, which is unfortunate, but not all that critical. Murphy's more useful to Mab where she is, in my opinion. She's free to work with, for example, Marcone, which would never fly if she was still a cop. She holds the respect of a lot of the Free Will-Aligned Chicago; a whole lot of cops, Will, Butters, Molly, Abby, Michael, Sanya, Marcone, and even Lara have respect for her. So does Mort. She's one of a handful of people with enough clout and personal relationships to slap together an alliance to hold the line when it becomes necessary—and she couldn't do that and still be a cop. I don't think anyone else could've been in a good enough position to do what she did.
Marcone might've been able to pull it off, but he doesn't have the trust of the Paranet. It would be way more of a constant siege; a series of violent altercations based on retribution and preventive violence rather than life preservation.
I don't think they're ever seen together before Cold Days, but I'd wager that Mab knows all about Murphy cutting up an Aurora-possessed Chlorofiend with a chainsaw. I think she's been on Mab's radar for a while.
wardenferry419:
Marcone does have greater authority, unofficially. I just feel that Mab didn't care whether Murphy was a cop or not. She sees Murphy as a Dresden-connected pawn with connections and willingness to face the supernatural.
Cozarkian:
Murphy fighting the chlorofiend wasn't impressive - Aurora wasn't able to harm Murphy because Murphy wasn't an emissary so wasn't connected to the Fae.
It was like Lois Lane using kryptonite to fight Superman.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version