Fifield and Milburn: My Explanation

Most of the crew (case in point: Holloway) seem to have been up for grabs to use to further Weyland's machinations at whatever cost (familiar theme, naturally). It's pretty much without question that Weyland and David *wanted* people to get infected just to see what happened to them. I think one thing that's different about this film, though, is that at least a few of the deaths are serio-comic (Vickers getting squished like a bug for example). Fifield and Milburn are obviously modeled after the age old "bumbling duo" device that we see from Shakespeare onwards. Of course, they had to be scientists because this is a scientific expedition, but ultimately, yeah - they were obviously contrived to be the red shirts of Act One. I still don't quite understand why people are getting bent out of shape about it. It's contrived, sure, but in the best and most enduring theatrical and cinematic traditions.

[img]http://images.memegenerator.net/instances/280x280/9629951.jpg[/img]

By the way, I should qualify that by saying that I don't think everything you have to say about the film is an excuse. I just mean that for only this one scenario in particular which, even people who loved the film, can admit was a little weak.

yes Drake these two characters and their situation is hokey, I for one was glad to see their demise

@ SaintsSinphony Thanks, it is good that someone who liked the film can admit it.

Anybody notice another glaring error in why they shouldn't have been lost? It's got to do with special effects added in later that the actors wouldn't be aware of... The 3D map on Prometheus. See the little red dots showing where the Pup" probes are (each with a number over it)... and then yellow squares (rotated by 45') showing the location of each member of the landing party, and each square has a letter above it, identifying the individual. When there's just Milburn and Fifield stuck down there, we can still see yellow blocks with an M and an F above them, even in the scene where the captain asks their location, before mentioning that a probe is picking up a life form (we see a red dot witha 1 over it, blinking on the display.) We can see exactly where it is in relation to the yellow blocks, without the guys even telling us they are near the decapitated alien. When the landing party was returning, the captain should have been able to track them all via this display and ask, early on why two of them were still below. Major plot hole right there folks.