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Post by nostradamus on Sept 30, 2011 9:53:20 GMT -5
How do you see Gary Sparrow as an individual? Despite the obvious philandering and stream of lies to support his double life, do you see him as essentially a good man gone wrong, or a bad man from the start? Bear in mind his duties in both era's would drive any mortal man to some form of insanity.  |
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Post by jrichard88 on Sept 30, 2011 10:14:55 GMT -5
Definitely good man gone wrong. If he was just a bad man, he wouldn't have spent the better part of 6 years bending over backwards to do right by both women.
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Post by ibindere on Sept 30, 2011 10:50:02 GMT -5
I think he's a good man who found himself in a unique situation, which led him to do things he wouldnt have otherwise done.
My feeling is there is no way Gary would ever have cheated, but for the fact he suddenly found he could time travel.
And seeing as we the audience know that time travel is impossible, it kind of makes what Gary does acceptable. Cos we know that in the real world, he wouldnt have been able to time travel and thus we feel certain he wouldnt have ever cheated. Thus, he isn't a cheater.
Am i a cheater? No way. Would i do what Gary did if suddenly I found I could time travel? Quite possibly. See what i mean? Empathy.
Very clever writing. And perfect casting with Lyndhurst.
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Post by jrichard88 on Sept 30, 2011 11:12:36 GMT -5
I think he's a good man who found himself in a unique situation, which led him to do things he wouldnt have otherwise done. My feeling is there is no way Gary would ever have cheated, but for the fact he suddenly found he could time travel. And seeing as we the audience know that time travel is impossible, it kind of makes what Gary does acceptable. Cos we know that in the real world, he wouldnt have been able to time travel and thus we feel certain he wouldnt have ever cheated. Thus, he isn't a cheater. Am i a cheater? No way. Would i do what Gary did if suddenly I found I could time travel? Quite possibly. See what i mean? Empathy. Very clever writing. And perfect casting with Lyndhurst. Agreed. Had they went with anyone other than Nick for that role, I don't think the show would've lasted beyond the first series. You have to walk such a fine line with that character, and I can't think of anyone else at the time that would've been capable of pulling it off. |
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Post by nostradamus on Sept 30, 2011 16:54:58 GMT -5
I think he's a good man who found himself in a unique situation, which led him to do things he wouldnt have otherwise done. My feeling is there is no way Gary would ever have cheated, but for the fact he suddenly found he could time travel. And seeing as we the audience know that time travel is impossible, it kind of makes what Gary does acceptable. Cos we know that in the real world, he wouldnt have been able to time travel and thus we feel certain he wouldnt have ever cheated. Thus, he isn't a cheater. Am i a cheater? No way. Would i do what Gary did if suddenly I found I could time travel? Quite possibly. See what i mean? Empathy. Very clever writing. And perfect casting with Lyndhurst. Agreed. Had they went with anyone other than Nick for that role, I don't think the show would've lasted beyond the first series. You have to walk such a fine line with that character, and I can't think of anyone else at the time that would've been capable of pulling it off. Two very good points. And agreed with NL playing the lead role, if you will. Do you think it was the fact that he was one of the most recognisable stars of the time, or more the case that he was the first they contacted? I know the two sound remarkably familiar, but look at the original castings for the character of Yvonne, and the later Phoebe, in terms of actual roles. Would/ could you consider anyone else portraying Gary instead at the show's inception? * empathy rule still being applied * |
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Post by jobsta on Sept 30, 2011 17:34:32 GMT -5
If we have to choose between a 'good' man and a 'bad' man, I would say good. I agree that he would not have cheated had he not been given the gift of Time Travel. In that first episode he flirted with Phoebe a little, but there was an element of confusion as to the situation he found himself in. Was he dreaming? Was he time travelling? etc. I don't believe had he walked into a pub that was clearly a 90's pub that he would have even started flirting.
With that being said, I think that he was a foolish man at times. He probably never should have pursued a relationship beyond friendship or even acquaintance with anyone in the past. There is very little good that can come of that.
As for anyone else playing Gary. I can think of a couple of modern day actors who may be able to pull off a similar kind of role. But I can't think of anyone else at that time who could have done it.
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Post by jrichard88 on Sept 30, 2011 17:40:52 GMT -5
As for anyone else playing Gary. I can think of a couple of modern day actors who may be able to pull off a similar kind of role. But I can't think of anyone else at that time who could have done it. That's the same conclusion I came to. Had NL not been available, the show would have either lived a very short life, or not at all. |
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Post by StanB on Nov 16, 2014 7:47:49 GMT -5
Ultimately, he's a good man, but there's no doubt that he uses his unique situation to his advantages, but then who wouldn't. There's quite an interesting article by the comedian Richard Herring on this subject actually, which may not be to the tastes of all GS fans.
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Post by tabs on Nov 17, 2014 7:21:52 GMT -5
Tend to agree with the good arguments - but as a friend he really did leave a lot to be desired and verged on the dislikeable sometimes
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Post by neo64868 on Jan 25, 2015 14:07:58 GMT -5
Was a poor friend, but overall a good person who wanted to always do the best for both wives
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Post by jr866gooner on Apr 29, 2018 2:22:01 GMT -5
Don’t think he was bad he was just in an extraordinary position to be able to see the world in the past. Imagine how much that could effect you mentally and how you might feel if you got stuck in the past. Maybe he was preparing for such a case. I always wanted him to tell Phoebe the truth but often wondered if that would break her given that it would have been so hard to explain in that generation. Imagine if he took phoebe to the 90's and how that would effect her. Imagine even if he saw phoebe in the 90's old and dying but the unique scenario would also involve the fact Gary knew her even before he was born.
Anyway he is a good guy. Not bad intentionally.
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Post by timetravellersparrow on May 28, 2018 16:42:06 GMT -5
I think he is essentially a good person and as said before he finds himself in exceptional circumstances.
If you found a portal to the past you would have to go back.
In one of the episodes Ron points out to Gary that in 1945 he is a God, whereas in the 1990's he is just an ordinary bloke, or words to that effect!
Fruthermore imagine if a truly evil person had found the portal, they could have tipped Hitler off to all the forthcoming allied plans.
I wonder whether this would be split along gender lines in the forum, women may not have such a good view of his comings and goings - oo er!!
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