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Dec. 4th, 2013 05:35 pmBy my count there are several moments Maine/Meta backs down from killing Wash.
First is just after South has shot him in the back; the Meta clearly walks up to the disabled Wash, and at absolute minimum fails to finish him off. It’s unclear, but he may have also left Wash with the healing unit, or the healing unit may have simply done enough by the time of its removal to keep Wash alive. Regardless, he leaves the defenseless Freelancer to be recovered.
Second is where Maine takes aim at Wash and clearly hesitates a long moment before then being forced by other circumstances to make a retreat.
Third is when they go toe-to-toe, he knocks Wash down, and then he chooses to run instead of fight further.
Fourth is debatable, but in the belly of Command he is given clear opening to kill Wash, and only wounds him instead. Badly wounds him, mind, but does not seem to rank Wash’s death above other priorities.
Fifth is even more debatable, but given this prior history, I do find it notable that in the final scrap of season eight Maine doesn’t manage to kill Wash. It’s not as though Wash isn’t making him work for it, but the Freelancer’s pretty outclassed, and even when Maine does bring him down he chooses to stalk towards him slowly enough that he has time for last words (and unexpected cavalry), and turns away from him to focus on the Red Vs Blue over unloading a final finishing shot. Maybe Maine’s just playing up the menacing theatrics - he has a history of that too - but it’s worth pointing out.
In short, Wash goes up against the Meta multiple times and, according to the evidence and the outcomes, Maine keeps pulling his punches.
First is just after South has shot him in the back; the Meta clearly walks up to the disabled Wash, and at absolute minimum fails to finish him off. It’s unclear, but he may have also left Wash with the healing unit, or the healing unit may have simply done enough by the time of its removal to keep Wash alive. Regardless, he leaves the defenseless Freelancer to be recovered.
Second is where Maine takes aim at Wash and clearly hesitates a long moment before then being forced by other circumstances to make a retreat.
Third is when they go toe-to-toe, he knocks Wash down, and then he chooses to run instead of fight further.
Fourth is debatable, but in the belly of Command he is given clear opening to kill Wash, and only wounds him instead. Badly wounds him, mind, but does not seem to rank Wash’s death above other priorities.
Fifth is even more debatable, but given this prior history, I do find it notable that in the final scrap of season eight Maine doesn’t manage to kill Wash. It’s not as though Wash isn’t making him work for it, but the Freelancer’s pretty outclassed, and even when Maine does bring him down he chooses to stalk towards him slowly enough that he has time for last words (and unexpected cavalry), and turns away from him to focus on the Red Vs Blue over unloading a final finishing shot. Maybe Maine’s just playing up the menacing theatrics - he has a history of that too - but it’s worth pointing out.
In short, Wash goes up against the Meta multiple times and, according to the evidence and the outcomes, Maine keeps pulling his punches.
