#mark mccain

The most egregious episode (in my own opinion) is Flowers by the Door. In this particular one, a serial killer is disguising himself as a flower/book salesman to go after unsuspecting women. I think the plot is an entirely different story but the sheer concept of the episode is real dark. Not only was this one of the first occurrences of violence against women, it is heavily implied he is SAing these women before he kills them. It has always been an issue and likely will be however i dont believe they went about it the way they should’ve. I understand social standards and environments were different at the time, but the series has been known to take liberties (issues on womens voting, sex work, racism, and many others) so it would be assumed the episode would take a similar turn. It however takes an entirely different one that, indirectly, puts Mark who is unconscious and alone with the salesman for some time in danger which has its own implications.

all of these occurrences lead to another aspect of Mark and the way he is experiencing these things. Again, the social climate of the 50s as it is now but there are times where he is allowed to be afraid and others where it’s discouraged. Episode thirty, The Mescalero Curse, brings back Mark’s nightmares. In the moments after he wakes up and is afraid, Lucas concludes he is only dreaming and its no big deal. In season two, episode twenty one, The Spoiler, Lucas comforts Mark who is distraught. What separates these episodes isnt just the season, its the way Lucas treats the situation. In series of events Mark isnt even a year older yet and the situations are almost entirely identical. If the series was set in modern times there is no doubt Mark would have issues, let alone how in the actual series he is clearly collecting trauma.

on the love mark has for his pa

i am the messenger by markus zusak // the rifleman, “end of a young gun” // alpha by rachel vincent // the rifleman, “long trek” // vanishing acts by jodi picoult // the rifleman, “the deadly wait” // giovanni’s room by james baldwin // the rifleman, “the vision” // m*a*s*h, “sons and bowlers” (x) // “my father’s house” by bruce springsteen // the rifleman, “the journey back” // m*a*s*h, “sons and bowlers” (x) // the rifleman, “the deserter” //  the pain scale by eula bliss // the rifleman, “seven” // “catastrophize” by noah kahan // m*a*s*h, “hawk’s nightmare” (x) // manon lescaut by prevost abbe // the rifleman, “the spoiler” // “leader of the band” by dan fogelberg

thoughts/headcanons below:

FIRST OFF: They are both originally FROM Oklahoma. They’ve both got a young boy/boys to look after. Lucas has really upstanding values and like really progressive ways of speaking of treating women, teaching/discipling his son for a black and white western mc. Like crazy strict to his values. He puts his life on the line for them constantly.

He doesn’t believe in putting hands on kids to discipline them just like Darry doesn’t even though are each from a time when such isn’t unusual. Though they each have in a moment of weakness being too harsh and deeply regretted it. He looks to teach Mark life lessons in anything instead. He has a really progressive understanding of women’s autonomy and he has nothing but kindness and provides protection for women, even for prostitutes.

Lucas is also the kind of person that feels really hurt and betrayed when his boy is deceitful or thinks poorly of him like I'm sure Darry does with Pony. Mark is his WORLD and Darry’s brothers are the world to him. They would understand having to put their family before each other. They both are very tough love type parental figures. They’ve each been running a household alone, they do all the cooking, cleaning, etc, they would know all what has to go into that. Also Lucas is a widower and can understand Darry’s grief. Pony would also get along GREAT with Mark/Lucas’ son. Of anything, he would probably be a bit of a bad influence really on Mark who might be too straight and narrow lollll. Lucas is genuinely such a sweetheart like I actually want to be him when I grow up!! He’s genuinely a glorious example of masculinity without so much of the toxicity and for a 1950/60’s western too????

Mark, Micah, and Lucas