We’ve already discussed how he met his lieutenants / platonic life mates Jack and Anne – and there’s been some discussion on Blackbeard and Guthrie. The meeting I haven’t dug into is his first ( and I do believe only on screen ) interaction with Madi’s mother.
First of all, this woman is a made queen – her air commands respect but not because she was born into her power but because she has earned it and maintained it. Hers is a dignity that has been fought and bled for – something that has instilled in her a will to survive and above all to protect those who maintain the same values as herself toward freedom and security for her people. In her Charles sees someone recognizable – a kindred spirit, in fact – who will not yield herself to just anyone without proper cause to consider them worthy of it.
This is not a woman Charles resents – in every way she is someone he respects immediately. His arms are crossed over himself – an imposing stance but also, a defensive one. His arrival here is unwelcome and indicative of failure on Flint’s part – thus equating him to failure. Yet his eyes are blown wide – something he only does when conveying earnest emotion of the deepest sort – and when Flint is challenged he speaks up.
Not just for Flint but also for himself – to prove to this woman that he has value to her endeavours he relays information Flint easily could have managed himself. Charles knows the importance of establishing he means to be of use to her endeavours because he himself seeks the same in other people. Their objectives are aligned, and he wants – nay, needs her to see that.
This is a connection I feel could have been expanded on if the story were not so sadly focused on destroying everything good about itself in the most long winded deevolutions possible, and one I know Charles deeply values.
Ocean Archive 