A little Juliet help?

[alliecat8]

Is anybody around? I'm working on the second part of my new fic (and don't worry, I haven't given up on the way-late luau project, I'm just taking a little break because Jack and Sawyer were calling my name ;)), and I wrote something about Juliet being a practical woman, and then I wondered if that was OOC. Do you think she's a practical woman? Do you think she's a practical doctor? I want to hear your opinions!

Comments

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I think she's a very practical woman actually. She doesn't live with her head in the clouds. She's very realistic, and that extends to her being a doctor. She hopes for the best -- but that's different than being overly optimistic and slightly delusional.

In short, yes, I do.

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

Yay! Practical!Juliet shall stay, then. Thank you so much! :D

[elliotsmelliot.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. That is a tough question. I find Juliet fairly enigmatic and her actions can be interpreted in a number of ways. I think on the outside she comes across as practical, but she is more complicated under the surface.

For her research, she throws practice out the window and works on theory which means she is quite creative. See for example her risky fertility experiments with her sister and the women on the island. Even taking the job on the island was not very practical in terms of geography and mystery but she went for it.

In terms of her survival actions, she tends to make the absurd seem practical. When she was with the Others, she neither stuck her head in the sand nor fully endorsed anything, but appeared to go along with the flow until a better or simply another choice came along. She did what she had to do to survive. This behaviour could be seen as very rational and pragmatic or it could be seen as simply weak.

I think you should just trust your instincts. If you show us she is practical in a scene, I will most likely believe you.

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

Wow, I really liked this answer. Very well thought out and detailed, and yes, I agree that Juliet is the epitome of "enigma." I've seen a lot of people doing impractical things on Lost, and one of the least-practical things I've seen is Juliet recklessly drinking the sedative that Alpert gave her before traveling to the island. But since then she seems to have honed her survival instincts. Maybe being stuck on the island has forced her to grow up? I've decided to let it stand that she's practical, but also add that she's a survivor. I think that about covers it! :)

[janie-tangerine.livejournal.com]

I mostly agree with what elliotsmelliot said. She has always come across to me as an extremely practical and rational person, and also the most mature woman on that show but I guess that's another matter ;) but in short, saying she's practical doesn't mean she's OOC ;)

[alliecat8.livejournal.com]

She *has* been rational since she's been on the island, hasn't she? Maybe not-so-much before...she seemed to be ruled by her emotions when she was back in Miami, I think. But now, yes, I totally agree that she is far and away the most mature woman on the show! (That's why I love her!...and *why* don't I have a Juliet icon? Silly me.)