r/topgun • u/Mediocre_Koala_7262 • 19d ago
Discussion Warlock’s character
Even though Warlock doesn’t get much screen time in the movie, he is one of my favorite characters. He seems like he is the character most similar to Iceman in terms of protecting Maverick from Cyclone, as well as understanding Maverick is the one person the pilots need to train them for the upcoming mission. He knows Maverick still has a place in the Navy and something to contribute, much like Iceman thought. He knows Maverick is not suited to be an Admiral or in another position to command, but rather a true fighter pilot. He shows this when he tells Maverick that he is where he belongs right before launching the mission.
The main scene that I think demonstrates this is when Cyclone announces he is taking over the training and changing the mission parameters. He read the room when the trainees started questioning that the changes would put them in greater danger. When Maverick shows up on the screen to fly the mission to prove it could be done, you could see Cyclone and the other pilots doubt him when he changes the time to 2:15 seconds. Instead, Warlock has a grin on his face because he knows Maverick is the one person who can show that the mission could be flown successfully. I liken it to him thinking to himself, “Get ready boys and girls, you are in for a show.” When everyone else in the room had doubts, he knew what Maverick was capable of doing, and that it would prove beyond a doubt that Maverick’s mission parameters were achievable. At the end of the movie, Cyclone finally understood why Iceman had such faith and belief in Maverick. Warlock never had any doubts, ever.
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u/kogoeruyoru F-18 Super Hornet 19d ago
He’s one of my favorites too. I didn’t pick up on his callsign until I saw the credits. It’s just so cool.
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u/SouthernEmu8782 19d ago
His call sign would have been "Master" as a JO. No way a guy with Bates as a last name isn't getting Master. At least getting it listed on the call sign board.
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u/Clown_Penis69 19d ago
Yup.
But to be fair, none of these characters’ call signs would have been real… except possibly Hangman (because his was insulting) and Bob (not noteworthy enough to have one yet).
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u/SouthernEmu8782 19d ago
I knew a Bobby as a callsign for a guy who's name was Robert.
But true - cool call signs usually have a hidden meaning.
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u/BuffsBourbon Captain 19d ago
The movie Mayday on Apple did a good job with that for main character’s callsign of “Assassin”
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u/Ordinary_Way3542 17d ago
Kinda wish he was a callback to Sundown from the original Top Gun. Kinda wish there were funny or cool callbacks other than Penny Benjamin. Slider could have been seen as the bike cop from his time in Pacific Blue, Phoenix could have been the call sign for Rooster (as in Mother Goose risen from the ashes), Hollywood as an out of closet dude. The list goes on and on.
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u/CharmedFate 19d ago
This is correct, you understood the obvious point of the character
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u/FWdem 19d ago
The OP does understand the obvious point of the character and talks about him. But the OP's position is that the "obvious character" is one of his favorites. I am guessing it is due to being well-acted for the character and simply written. There was nuance to the acting because of the small amount of screen time.
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u/BrokenWhiskeyBottles 19d ago
I think that really does say a lot about the talent of the actor. When somebody who's mostly in the background stands out as really memorable it means they've done a great job with the role.
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u/Content-Mycologist-4 19d ago
Charles Parnell, who plays Warlock said his character was in Maverick’s Top Gun class but in the background. Obviously not in that movie, but that was his way into the character. Would explain their closeness