The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

I think Murphy is going to get killed here is why

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Bad Alias:
Even if Murphy is injured enough to keep her out of the field, there are a number of ways in which she can remain relevant to the story in addition to what's already been stated. She was a detective for years. Most of what detectives do is kind of the opposite of kicking in doors. So she can be useful in chasing down leads for Harry, including on the internet. If they're together and not living in a Svartalf fortress, she can have Mouse's old function of keeping their place from exploding while he's out on a case. I'm sure a bunch of other functions can be thought of.

Or she could recover to a point that she is still out in the field to the same extent she has been for most of the series. She's only really been in the thick of it a for a good chunk of the action a few times. Most of the time, she is only in one minor action sequence. In several books she's either put on the bench or a bus and doesn't really do any major fighting anyway.

kbrizzle:
@Mira
I am not aware of the WoJ, although I’d rather that she not get a power-up too. One of the dimensions of Murphy’s character is her sheer competence - she is able to do some serious damage to supernatural forces (like kill Maeve, or maim the Whamp in GS) because she has the right mindset, knowledge & an understanding of her physical limitations in that arena - she shows how effective vanillas mortals can be if they are physically & mentally prepared.

While Michael is Harry’s best friend, that designation has waned since the whole deal with Lash - instead Harry grew closer to Murphy in the meanwhile. Given his religious beliefs, Michael is also somewhat limited in that capacity - Harry constantly has to watch his cursing around Michael & mentions how uncomfortable Michael was with certain aspects of his relationship with Susan in GP. At some level, Harry wants to impress Michael & be worthy of being his friend because of what a thoroughly good man Michael is - Harry’s relationship with Murphy is on more equal footing.

I like Murphy & hope she is able to stay in a diminished capacity as the things Harry will be dealing with will be well out of her league (& Harry’s). She does annoy me from time to time (like her behavior with the Swords), but her role as someone who keeps Harry grounded & human (likely by being his consort/ gf) will become increasingly important - what other vanilla mortals other than Murphy & Michael (who is retired) does Harry really spend time with post his WK mantle? Interestingly both of them are also his moral & ethical support system, which will also increasingly need as his tasks for Mab become more complex & hence grayer.

@nadia
Why unfortunately?

@Bad Alias
Agreed, any of those would work.

Mira:

--- Quote ---
While Michael is Harry’s best friend, that designation has waned since the whole deal with Lash - instead Harry grew closer to Murphy in the meanwhile. Given his religious beliefs, Michael is also somewhat limited in that capacity - Harry constantly has to watch his cursing around Michael & mentions how uncomfortable Michael was with certain aspects of his relationship with Susan in GP. At some level, Harry wants to impress Michael & be worthy of being his friend because of what a thoroughly good man Michael is - Harry’s relationship with Murphy is on more equal footing.
--- End quote ---

All of that is true, however since Maggie came on the scene I believe they naturally will get closer again.  Michael's place was her home up until now, Harry may turn to both him and Charity for child care advice.  Though what happened to Molly may put a crimp in the relationship.

nadia.skylark:

--- Quote ---Isn't there a WOJ that Murphy will never receive a power up?
--- End quote ---

I think I've seen that one.


--- Quote ---While Michael is Harry’s best friend, that designation has waned since the whole deal with Lash - instead Harry grew closer to Murphy in the meanwhile. Given his religious beliefs, Michael is also somewhat limited in that capacity - Harry constantly has to watch his cursing around Michael & mentions how uncomfortable Michael was with certain aspects of his relationship with Susan in GP. At some level, Harry wants to impress Michael & be worthy of being his friend because of what a thoroughly good man Michael is - Harry’s relationship with Murphy is on more equal footing.
--- End quote ---

I'm not sure. First, I had always thought that they had grown closer again after Harry took Molly as his apprentice--certainly he couldn't have been avoiding Michael like he was before. Second, trying not to swear in front of someone does not actually affect your emotional connection to that person. Third, yes but it was mostly Harry not telling her that he loved her, which Harry has acknowledged that Michael was right there. Fourth, Michael can help Harry emotionally in a way that Murphy has proven she cannot. At least twice in the series, in Proven Guilty and Skin Game, Harry has been emotionally damaged by something he's done, has tried talking to Murphy about it but failed to fix anything, and has had the problem resolved with one conversation with Michael.


--- Quote ---Why unfortunately?
--- End quote ---

Because I don't like Murphy. She was never my favorite character, but I still enjoyed reading about her  until Cold Days...look, I know it's not the way Jim wanted the scene to be read, but I can't not read the scene where she demands that she keep the Swords as anything but a particularly vicious bit of emotional manipulation. And just when I was getting over that, I was re-reading the series and got to Fool Moon...in the scene where Harry talks to his subconscious, the things he says about how it's his fault about Murphy and how he should trust her (and sleep with her) really do read as an abusive relationship. Between the two scenes, suddenly my interpretation of Murphy throughout the books shifted, and now even stuff I didn't mind before seems objectionable.

kbrizzle:

--- Quote from: Mira on May 26, 2019, 11:16:35 AM ---All of that is true, however since Maggie came on the scene I believe they naturally will get closer again.  Michael's place was her home up until now, Harry may turn to both him and Charity for child care advice. Though what happened to Molly may put a crimp in the relationship.

--- End quote ---
Agreed, especially since we know Michael’s feelings about magic & Fae in general.

@nadia
While Michael & Harry have undoubtedly gotten closer (especially after SG), also remember how uncomfortable Michael is around some of Harry’s magical abilities (granted it is less so in SG than GP). My larger point here is just that Michael is more of a black/ white person while Harry is shades of gray. Therefore there will always be parts of Harry that Michael will judge (not always a bad thing). Also, a person can have 2 best friends, especially if he will be sleeping with one of them (probably needs 2 in that case). Also Murphy is on the path to becoming Harry’s girlfriend, so it’s a different kind of friendship.

Murphy has always been portrayed as headstrong & willing to do what she thinks is right - in many ways this is a good quality (like in PG or BR), but it is also a double edged sword (like in FM or CD when turned against Harry). I understand why she does what she does (even if a bit of manipulation is thrown in) - it remains consistent with her character. But agreed that since CD I’ve started finding her more annoying than I ever did before. Not to mention that she was the wrong choice in SG - Thomas would’ve been the best & would likely have picked up that Ascher had taken up a Coin.

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