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The Reconstruction of Sarge's Character
Just wanted to save this thought from the LFTO thread, so I don't forget.
Sarge's character has really expanded these past few seasons. He went from crackpot to pot-cracker so to speak as early as season five's warthog maneuver, but around Revelation his occasional moments of brilliance have started to ramp up considerably. His almost disturbing self-serving memory at the beginning of Recreation has been replaced with relative accuracy and reasoning. He accurately remembered Epsilon's success in the past, trusted him (technically a Blue) enough to boost and listen in on their conversation with Simmons, recalled fine details about his team in order to perfectly predict the situation in Valhalla, and formulated a plan to neutralize Agent Washington, the man they saw take-down a plane single-handedly.
I think, as I believe others have speculated, that the turning point had to be around here:
Grif: Sarge, since we may not make it outta this, maybe there's a few things I should tell you. You know, since you can't reach me. ... Like the reason why I never listen to you. Or never follow your orders. And why I don't think anything you say is ever important. ... But I want you to understand, Sarge. It's not because I'm lazy. It's because I don't like you. Or respect you. In any way. I have no positive feelings towards you. ... Now I imagine it can be pretty hard to be an ineffective leader with no respect.
Sarge fires his shotgun and misses.
Grif: Who doesn't understand that his primary weapon has an effective range much shorter than most weapons. But I think since we're gonna die anyway, you deserve to know that.
To be disliked by Grif is natural and fits into Sarge's Grif-loathing worldview, but to not be respected as a leader by Grif, of all people? To be shown up by someone as incompetent as Grif even in a small and immediately retracted way, I think really broke through to him. The above scene showed him that he needed to step up his game. Whether that meant letting his mask slip a bit as you seem to suggest, or simply redoubling his efforts is anyone's guess. After this point Sarge shows tactical awareness and correctly guesses that CT is up to something. The rest follows as above with the curious exchange:
Washington: I think you know exactly what is going on here. Where's the rest of your guys, where's Epsilon?
Sarge: Somewhere safe.
Sarge has shown a nack for understanding the need to control information, first with CT, and now with Wash. Admittedly, he was always the first in the BGC to assume the Reds had vital information that the other side desperately wanted, it is just that now we are seeing that paranoia actually being of benefit. The Reconstruction of Sarge's character is in full swing, the very same crackpot ideas he came up with in the zany world of BGC and his paranoia are now aiding him against "real" enemies.
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