Wendy wrote: <After a bit of Freudian imagery of Avon firing off a big rocket and fertalising her race, he then leaves her to die of radiation poisoning on Cephlon, having taken away her reason for living!>
Now let us be reasonable ... he took away said reason at her RATHER LOUD request (as far as she was concerned, doing so was *his* reason for living IMO).
Yes, the plot has decidedly sexist overtones, but I do think what's been done *with* it tends to skew them. Meegat may be totally subservient, but she is also the most in control of her part in the situation - she is totally unembarrassed, almost assured, as distinct from My Darling whose macho sexist role is rather undercut by his own kerflummoxed reactions (a lovely mixture of flattered, embarrassed, and - every time she throws herself at his feet - mildly appalled :-)). And Vila's teasing is aimed straight at *him* (even if somewhat unkind to Meegat, who barely notices Vila's existence anyway). I do love Avon's "let's not start that again" and his answer to Vila's "you're enjoying this, aren't you?" "*Probably*." (he really *isn't* sure ...)
The biggest problem *is* the fact that they appear to leave her there alone (a case of Bad Writer Syndrome, of course - I get the feeling the writer meant Meegat to have gone with the brood-rocket, but screwed it up by showing said rocket leaving). But none of the rest - not even Jenna or Cally, nor the anything-but-piggish Gan, nor Fearless Leader (of the infamous Bleeding Heart, remember?) - appear to have had any problems with Meegat being left. The obvious if inadequate inference is that she *chose* not to leave her home.
Alternately <g> she *was* on the Liberator being ferried to safety, but Avon's put her in one of the spare cabins during the flight and is keeping her and her penchant for throwing herself at his feet away from Blake's eyes (somehow, I don't think Avon could *stand* to have Blake see it ...).
And from Ellynne: <Although, it would have been fun to have Blake being held at gunpoint and Ensor having to negotiate with someone with that attitude.>
Ohh, yes ... watching anyone at all try to intimidate Blake would be enormous fun ...
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