Behavioural Considerations in Broad Strokes

Much criticism of Prometheus is levelled at the behaviour and actions of certain characters, most especially Fifield and Millburn. Therefore, I expect I am amongst a minority by admitting that I never found myself questioning them or their actions, other than for how they found themselves lost. But stumbling over the same dismissive complaints time and again has spurred me to write this post. Although my intent is to address a few of the much-touted ‘plot holes’ these characters apparently embody, there is nothing definitive here. What follows is based on my own observations, what I intuited from character interaction, and further interpretation since a second viewing of the film. I will be succinct by distilling the commonly made complaints down to a single sentence. [i]Why is the behaviour and decision-making of the scientists contrary to our expectations, lacking in method, and unscientific?[/i] Context is everything, so I will précis this by summarising the corrosive relationship between Weyland and Vickers. Weyland wants to live forever, or for as long as he can. This is his mission, organised and paid for by himself through the auspices of his own company, with managerial contributions from his daughter, Vickers. Weyland holds David in higher regard and affection than his daughter, and is unapologetic in letting her know. Vickers wants to take over full control of Weyland Corp, but can only do so through inheritance upon the death of Weyland senior. Thus, why father and daughter feel mutual contempt and enmity for one-another. When Weyland comes out of cryogenic stasis, both he and his daughter know he only has a short time to live. Weyland is surprised to find his daughter on board, aware of her scepticism for the mission; but not of her agenda. Weyland was responsible for appointing to the mission the scientists Holloway and Shaw [i]only[/i]. Vickers appointed the remaining scientific contingent of the crew. It’s quite possible that not all of the 17 crew who boarded the Prometheus, and were then placed in cryogenic stasis, did so at the same time. Also, this is a privately funded, privately organised mission, and not overseen by governmental or military protocols, let alone those of a scientific institution. Thus we extrapolate that, despite her scepticism, Vickers is onboard to sabotage any progress made during the mission; that she deliberately chose scientists with questionable credentials and less-than-illustrious reputations in order to achieve her objective of mission failure. [Hence the necessity for Vickers to pep-talk Holloway and Shaw (her father’s appointees) not to talk or engage with any ‘beings’ they may encounter.] The ship’s crew know one-another; some of the scientists do not. Coming out of cryogenic suspension, sick and disoriented, an incongruous assemblage are finally briefed about the supposed purpose of the mission. They have little time to coalesce as a team with mutual trust and respect, and to agree a methodology. [After landing, remember that Holloway told Janek he wasn’t prepared to wait until the following day before proceeding with his exploratory endeavours.] Shaw even dispenses with the security detail, this being a ‘scientific’ mission (not wanting to meet her makers whist carrying weapons, presumably). And so, to Millburn and Fifield. In the refectory Millburn (a personable character) attempts to befriend Fifield, but is rejected out-of-hand by a man jaded by too many missions [assumption], full of bravado, and whose foremost interest in the mission is mercenary. He’s looking to get rich out of whatever is found. After discovering the temple, containers, artefacts and dead Engineer, an anxious Fifield decides he has bitten off more than he can chew, masking his trepidation and cowardice with surly bravado and ranting at Shaw. He wants out, but is fearful of doing so alone; thus he encourages Millburn to join him. Millburn, also apprehensive and conflicted, not knowing what to make of their discoveries (like everyone else), elects for the ‘safe option’, to leave by accepting the hand of friendship from Fifield, grateful that he is now needed and accepted by him. During their subsequent exchanges, especially whilst trapped inside the pyramid, Millburn becomes more assertive with Fifield, having seen through Fifield’s bravado and bluster (i.e., his near-desperation to get out of the temple and pyramid). They become lost, disoriented; mapping information from the ‘pups’ is being relayed directly to the Prometheus, not to Fifield. I think I’m right in saying he left his tracking equipment with the team still exploring the temple, who then used it to exit the pyramid. Trapped by the sand storm, and becoming evermore spooked by the remains of dead Engineers with their heads and torsos blown out, they at least try to keep themselves busy (science?). They return to the temple in order to move away from whatever is represented by the ‘glitch’ showing up on the hologram in Prometheus. Millburn notices Fifield smoking inside his helmet; presumably to keep himself calm and together by hallucinogenic means. Whist waiting in the temple they trigger a response from the worm that has become a serpent, the so-called hammerpede. Fifield backs away in fear. Millburn – perhaps keen to demonstrate his leadership, or bravery to impress, or in order to prevent Fifield from panicking himself and the creature – elects to approach the hammerpede. He’s also a biologist who’s innate curiosity may also have been aroused. After all, this is the first sign of animal life anyone in the team has encountered. We know what happens next. I see no discrepancy here with the way these characters behave. They are human beings with issues, often implied by behavioural traits and attitude, especially when confronted with the inexplicable, with evidence of alien life-forms that have suffered a particularly gruesome death. In such challenging circumstances, their behaviour and facility for rational decision-making is subject to a deeply and deliberately flawed mission devoid of orthodoxy and cohesiveness, as fashioned by the cunning Vickers. It is also notable that David conducts himself independently of everyone else, doing little to help Fifield and Millburn. He is, of course, busy with his own mission to fulfil Weyland’s directive.