Character discussion: Erek

[buffyangellvr23.livejournal.com]

Late post is late. I somehow forgot last night :(

I'm still fascinated by the holographic stuff with the Chee, and how they can hologram the feel of skin.

I can see some debate over the whole nonviolence thing...I've heard some fans say that giving info still is fighting, or facilitating violence...IDK myself. What do you think?

Comments

[blue_rampion]

I have to admit, I do find Erek's actions in the last two books odd, considering his past actions. He might be physically incapable of violence, but it would be wrong to say he was peaceful. He actively seeks out the ability to do violence. He keeps a Yeerk imprisoned in his head. His gives active support to people who are, essentially, guerrilla fighters. And he actively works towards getting an entire race killed for revenge. These are not the actions of a peaceful being. These are the actions of a violent being. Erek didn't refuse the ability to be violent because of any belief in it being wrong, he refused it because he personally couldn't handle the consequences of that.

In essence, programming aside, Erek is a violent little Chee. So it's puzzling then, that he apparently decided that he should be preventing harm to others instead. Perhaps there are indeed reasons for this - perhaps Erek resented Jake's manipulations, and his powering down of the pool ship's weapons was more in the form of a childish act of revenge. That still doesn't sit right for me though, so I'm undecided.

Personally, I liked Erek's storyline more before this final act. The idea of a being that cannot commit physical violence actively aiding a war effort is interesting, and the inherent contradictions are interesting. He was also a much more sympathetic character then - you know and understand where he comes form, even when he's manipulating others into committing genocide. Whereas his actions at the end are so unexplained it's hard to have any sympathy for him - it just looks like Erek is stubbornly being difficult, despite having aided the Animorphs before, and Rachel pays the price for it.

On another note, who else has wondered what the real Erek King is doing now (and more importantly...is he still an Animorphs fan? :P)

[lisacharly.livejournal.com]

These are not the actions of a peaceful being. These are the actions of a violent being. Erek didn't refuse the ability to be violent because of any belief in it being wrong, he refused it because he personally couldn't handle the consequences of that.

You just put my thoughts out there far more eloquently.

[chiapetzukamori.livejournal.com]

On another note, who else has wondered what the real Erek King is doing now (and more importantly...is he still an Animorphs fan? :P)

Hear hear! haha
I wonder if he read the last two books and was as confused as we all were lol
I wonder if he had fellow Animorph fan friends who ripped on him for being non-violent.
Erek's physical description was done to a photograph of the contest winner, wasn't it? So based on that, I wonder what the real Erek's feelings were on the casting of Chee Erek in the tv show. I mean, really, that must be so weird having someone with your first and last name, knowing they were named after you, in a popular series like that lol

[blue_rampion]

I have no idea how this whole competition thing went, sadly. But it would be kinda weird (not to mention awesome)

[anijen21.livejournal.com]

he's on facebook

[staysleeping.livejournal.com]

lol yeah. He has (or had?) a myspace too. I was being creepy one day and searching for him.