Troubled Blood - *Spoiler-laden discussion*

[EllacottObsessive]

Setting this up for Strike and Ellacott fans to talk about spoilery things.

Exactly. On one level, the dinner party was pure fantasy - our hero, whom most of us like a lot, turns the force of his experience on the two foolish ideologues. Even in his cups, he eviscerates their nonsense and exposes it for the naive charade it is. I've known enough men to understand that's an extremely unlikely thing, but it's marvellous to read.

But then there is that richness she manages to bring to her characters, where this man she has created is also bizarrely real, and sure, he's ranting righteously, but he's being an absolute arse really, because he's only doing it because he's looking for a target for his bad mood (so actually - so far, so White Knight), and he's not paid the slightest attention to Robin, in either considering the appropriateness of the topic, or her current mood.

And then she blisteringly tells the drunken prat some important home truths, and we get one of the most genuinely affecting fictional apologies ever. Now, I know that's as much fantasy as the righteous anti-porn rant, but I think it also shows us quite a bit of optimism in Rowling's feminist outlook. It's almost like, as well as the fabulous journey Robin has been on, JKR is saying 'guys, look, it's not that difficult. We know you can be total dicks, but a genuine apology and change of bad behaviour is completely possible.'

Which, to my mind ties in neatly with the last few paragraphs of chapter 73, and Strike's realization that loving a woman and treating her well doesn't have to mean getting his soul ripped apart. It's like a narrative answer to all those prats whining about how #metoo made it so hard to interact with women.

What I do find interesting about Robin's feminist journey is that she only stands up for herself, truly stands up for herself, when she can't take the shit any more, eg at the dinner we could she her getting more and more worked up but she stays quiet because she's the nice girl, the peace-maker. When she is outside with Strike, she is clearly in a heightened state and tells him how he's been a dick. She is self aware enough to know that she is the one who has to go back in to smooth things over.

Same with the smarmy, handsy Morris. She puts up with a lot, and only when she feels threatened, does she lay into him.

So, in the next book, I would like to see Robin be more assertive on a day to day level and not just when she can't take any more.

I must say, her journey is very realistic. I used to put up with a lot and then bam! But then I used to cry when I got angry because I wasn't used to expressing my anger and I couldn't cope with it.

I am also very relieved that we see so little of Matthew in this book. I really hated that relationship. Even I felt lighter, never mind Robin.

On the odd occasion they interacted, Strike’s barely concealed contempt for Matthew was always good to read

Strike’s attitude to women is interesting. I understand why Robin put up with Matthew for so long because the rape/loss of confidence/familiarity/gratitude but strike’s relationship with Charlotte is also very abusive but gets less attention/discussion in mainstream coverage which is a shame. Arguably strike wanted to save Charlotte because he couldn’t save his mum but he doesn’t ‘China doll’ other women. He’s not got a saviour complex with women, he’s not one of those men who is all “let me do x because your a fragile woman”. He’s a dick to women at times (lorelei) but he’s a dick to other ppl to. He’s one of the few male characters I’ve come across who genuinely seems to treat women as people he likes rather than as people he wants to have sex with

(Also from a shallow perspective, Robin needs to get with strike because all her sexual experiences have been terrible whereas strike appears to be an amazing shag from what we’re told in the books 😆)

Well, it's not shallow, actually, I don't think. One of the odd things you notice in Strike fanfic is how many writers want to make Robin very sexually confident. To be fair to the better ones, they do weave in the idea that Strike has given her that with his respectful behaviour towards her, but even if that were the case, it's waaaaay ahead of where we are now.

And I just don't buy it. We've not been told a lot about Robin's mind in this regard, but it really doesn't ring true to me. Whereas yes, Strike is apparently quite the good time. One of the reasons I think they would need to actually have a proper, relatively sober conversation before any shenanigans occur, rather than falling into bed drunk, is that there's quite a disparity in experience, and therefore maybe expectation.

In TB 58, it occurs to Robin first that there's a bed quite close, and the realization comes across as very nervy - tied in with her being afraid of 'giving herself away', and I get the sense that her reticence here is because she thinks Strike isn't interested because of low self esteem in that regard (cf all those mentions of Charlotte, and especially TB 60 where she clearly lays out that she's a poor comparison to the wonderful, exciting, beautiful Charlotte) and she doesn't want to make a fool of herself. I think she avoided that conversation moving towards sexy chat because she thought she would be rejected, and that's what would ruin the partnership.

Whereas Strike's thoughts about the bed, outlined better in TB 60, were about trying to remember when he changed the sheets, and therefore his fears about physical intimacy, are because he thinks getting involved and it ending badly is what will ruin the partnership.

That's quite a difference in starting mindset, and therefore sexual dynamic.

I havent read enough of the fanfic (yet!) to clock that EO but yes I agree. Robin is not at all sexually confident for obvious reasons plus everyone bangs on about how beautiful Charlotte was/is and she was with Strike for 16 years so of course she compares herself and thinks "why would he be interested?" tbh all the women Strike dates in the books are described as incredibly attractive. Plus Strike is the only person she is properly friends with - there's no sense of Robin having other friends from her previous life, those all fell away after she was assualted. She comes to London and other than Matthew, Strike was the only other person she saw and then through him she starts to meet new people and form her own friendships (more things to loosen Matthew's control over her) So getting with him jeapordises not just their business relationship but her other personal relationships too

whereas Strike is sexually confident and much more worried about ruining the best friendship of his life because in his experience, relationships always end badly

JKR said in a recent interview that the two are very far away from having healed enough to get together as a romantic couple. I also keep thinking that it's a bad idea for them to become a couple when they already spend so much time together at work. Hm, I wonder how it all will work out.

I have been chatting about this so much in various places that when I type 'sexually', 'confident' appears in my predictive text suggestions...

Not much has been made of this explicitly in the books, but, much as Robin knew she was not giving her whole heart to this marriage herself, she has been cheated on, and at an enormously vulnerable moment. That kind of betrayal, even though she seems to have moved on past it to some extent in Lethal White, has got to undermine her view of herself.

I can't imagine that giving her confidence in her desirability to anyone, let alone to someone who gives away almost nothing about how he feels about women apart from shagging almost exclusively beautiful ones. She has had a couple of hints that Strike has noticed her sexually; as readers we know he is greatly attracted to her, but has iron self-control and is fearful of ruining everything - she has no idea.

At some point he is going to have to use the iron self-control to cut down on the booze and cigarettes, though, or it's going to affect his ability to be an amazing shag.

I've loved reading this thread so much, your analysis is spot on EO
Apart from the many stand-out passages already mentioned, one of my favourite bits was where Robin interviews the sleazy artist guy (Paul someone?). As he leaves he calls her a "nasty little bitch", but she's not at all shaken - she's just elated at how well it's gone (ie she's managed to get some key information from him). And then she finishes his chips. I love how she's developing professionally and how her self confidence is growing. This book above all the others really made me love and admire Robin, and see her as someone if really like to be friends with.

oh yes OfftotheDogs - I mentally high fived her at that point! :D

I have started to re read it and the passage where she wonders why she's placates Morris e.g. laughs at his crap jokes and has an internal monologue about how women are scared of men turning violent and that as the only girl in her family she'd been brought up as the conciliator. I've been raising this with my husband in the last few days, highlighting to him the different way we approach things with people because Ive been socialised to "be nice" and he hasnt. THough I have to say the definite benefit of getting older is giving less fucks about pleasing people

(parental - since the TV show I spend far more time than I should wondering about Strike's apparently five star shagging abilities... )

parental - since the TV show I spend far more time than I should wondering about Strike's apparently five star shagging abilities...

I just snorted loudly in the canteen at work, and people are glaring at me.

EO it’s not just me is it??? 😆

😇

I'm feeling the need to listen to a podcast that does a deep dive into all things Galbraith/Strike - anyone know one? Anyone feel like starting one?

I have a huge amount of housework and cooking to do, and feel like listening to something while I do it. Ideally the podcast would have loads I could agree with, some things I have never thought about, and a few things I could shout 'No! You're so wrong!' at.

oooh i would love one of those! I love to listen to podcasts when i run to take my mind off the pain

Ooooo. That's a rather good idea. I am swamped at the moment, but a Denmark Street Deep Dive podcast could definitely be something I would be interested in playing with...

Do it, EO

strikefans.com/locations/book-locations/
One day I want to go on a London Strike tour to explore all these locations! Especially all the pubs.

Ffs. So much for incognito name changes 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

This is why you can trust that I'm not one of the many, many sock puppets knocking about. Can't bloody remember to name change properly.

That was a brilliant name change fail 😂😂😂😂

I approve of the alternative persona 🤣

I'm not hugely imaginative in my name changes, eh? Just the first thing that pops in my head...

I completely understand ‘that’ popping into your head though 😉

@Kit19

I completely understand ‘that’ popping into your head though 😉

It's entirely your fault, actually. I changed it only yesterday, and you raising Strike's five star abilities led me down a very entertaining set of Gifs...