switchbladeeyes

Excellent question, and one I have to admit I had not contemplated all that much.

I love looking at these pieces of the scripts to see more of the intent, how they were written versus what we actually saw on the screen. This one is particularly intriguing. I have to say that I'm happy that they made the changes that they did. I think the passage about the vampire blood seems unlikely given the dating of the flashback. It would have been fine rolled into the many flashbacks in 1228, but at this point in the narrative of FK, it seems out of place.

I also struggle with the reference to fates. I agree with PJ that if their fates are intwined, it's because LaCroix wants them to be! The additions to the flashback do make some of the comments in the present day make a little more sense, but I think I like the version we saw better.

I think you make an excellent point about Janette having a grudge against both soldiers and the Catholic church--and she is a woman who fully embraces the desire for revenge, but that's not the vibe I feel here. Granted she must be a magnificent actress, so she could have been playing Nick, but even as he is waking up she seems as enthralled with him as he is with her.

So why him? As FruitBat and PJ have said, I don't think it was a snap decision. I think that Janette and Lacroix had been watching him and his companions for awhile before they made their choice. And I do feel it was a 'they' choice. I just don't see LaCroix bringing a contestant across just for Janette's pleasure--although that undoubtedly that was a huge factor. I think LaCroix saw something in Nick as well. I think there was an element of physical attraction for him as well, but that wouldn't be all.

Tell me if I'm incorrect, but I think the 'inner light' PJ was talking about was in Nick? I can see that as being intriguing to both of them--for different reasons. And I know Janette talks about the darkness in him--silly passage of dialogue there imho--but I suspect it may have been more about his light.

I also wonder how many times they had done this before they were successful with Nick? Absolutely nothing to base this on, but I suspect it was quite a few. I can see a lot of circumstances for failure here from Janette not finding someone a suitable bed companion, to candidates not responding well to the offer either out of fear, or religiosity, a desire to go home to a wife and family.

I also think that there's some biochemical response to coming across that can just go haywire at times. Yes, Nick makes a really bad vampire master, but is there more to it than that? It's occurred to me more than once that part of his objections to bringing Natalie across (but considered it with Tracy) is that he fears the same thing would happen with her as did with her brother, 'parenting' factors aside.

Great discussion! Thanks!