Claire- good or evil?

[Garfan]

At first I thought Claire was going to be a blood thirsty shark, but after last night's episode -WIMTY- I think I am going to like her. I liked the way she handled herself when Nick asked her out. It was so unprofessional of Nick to walk up in front of a client and ask her out and she covered for him by saying something like, "It's just business" to the client. She caught on quick at the Incline and eventhough Nick was her boss and she needed a full time job, she walked out. Liked that! I know I could be reading too much into it, but the Yoga instructor commented on her purity. (I know he was really very dense but maybe DH put this in to signal she is not an evil person.) I found myself thinking she could be the only decent and sane person of the bunch of main character showcased last night. In the deal with Burton and the job I feel she deserved being hired. She was attacked by a client and she did not go crying to Burton about it. I don't feel she is a smoker but she smoked the cigarette following Burton's lead to prep the client. When Burton found out about the client trying to kiss her he offered no sympathy and was going to ditch her. I do not think she tricked Burton into a job, she just let him know she had done everything he asked of her. She might have acted smug when she got the job but maybe she was showing that she was proud of getting the job and also proud she stood up for what she thought was right. I had said if LuLu leaves I will go too but I don't think so. I feel if LuLu leaves the show this could be the next lady Nick is challanged to "Win" over because this girl is not going to be ready to jump into his arms. She's smart and a survivor!

[Garfan]

Ooops! I posted this under the wrong catagory. Please forgive me. I don't know how to move it. You guys can sceam at me, I deserve it! Could anyone either delete this thread or move it. Sorry!

[atotaltotalfan2001]

I don't know that I'd say Claire was good as opposed to evil. She knew the cop had changed his story under pressure from Burton and appeared to have no qualms about it. I mean, I can see her going along with it because Burton is the boss -- but she should have been at least a little uneasy. Even Burton was.

Now, I don't think she outright blackmailed Burton to get her job. But he sure looked unhappy about giving it to her, which tells me he felt pressured -- and, IMO, realized he had left himself vulnerable by involving her in the case in question.

So, I'm guessing Claire is both good and bad, like the rest of the cast. That's a good thing. It will make her interesting to watch.

I agree with you that she handles herself well. I particularly like that she didn't let Nick get away with the whole phony date thing. She wasn't worried at all about ticking off the son of the big boss!


I can see her character developing into some kind of foil for Nick. I even see her as a possible love interest for Nick down the road

[Rosiiii1]

I do not think she tricked Burton into a job, she just let him know she had done everything he asked of her. She might have acted smug when she got the job but maybe she was showing that she was proud of getting the job and also proud she stood up for what she thought was right. I had said if LuLu leaves I will go too but I don't think so. I feel if LuLu leaves the show this could be the next lady Nick is challanged to "Win" over because this girl is not going to be ready to jump into his arms. She's smart and a survivor!

Okay...I needed a break from my N&LL lustfest, so I'll play. ;D

Somebody else asked why this storyline (Burton/Davenport/Claire) even existed - and regarding Davenport, why they turned his character into such a creep.

I personally think it's because Davenport will figure in the finale in some kind of tragic way - and it will most likely include Claire being on the receiving end.

In other words, if Burton felt bad about having gotten what he thought was an honest cop to lie, and if he felt bad about the realization that this cop may actually have shot Colin the drug dealer because he has some kind of God-complex, imagine how awful Burton will feel if Davenport kills/harms Claire. I feel this is where this storyline is going - this may even send Burton over the edge -- endangering his health.

Pure speculation of course, but there's just a sense of foreboding I get about this whole Burton/Davenport/Claire thing. (It has nothing to do with Nick -- I don't feel their stories will intertwine in any significant personal way -- and no, I definitely don't see them trading Moniz in for Lenz... )

I disagree also with the characterization that Claire is a shark, or even that she's a smart survivor-- because the latter takes a degree of strength of character, and of independence in thought to be true. Something that Claire appears not to be in posession of.

What Claire is, is what I thought she was from the beginning. She's a *yes man* (yes woman) to Burton, she literally worships him, to the extent if she has any principals she will happily bury them to do what he wants ("I've done everything you've asked of me." - just add "Master" to the end of that, and she's "I Dream of Jeannie.")

It was clear at the end of the episode to me, that Burton realizes his mistake in hiring her. He is definitely regretful over his decision, not because he feels Claire is diabolical and a threat, but because Burton knows that he has contributed to and encouraged the corruption of her character through his actions.

Claire is just a reminder of a way in which Burton (post failed judgeship) has lost his moral compass - and dropped the ball (it may have even fueled Burton's decision to adopt Shannon -- to *do right* by someone else, after having ethically lost his way with others).

Here's the clinker -- this will all play out as tragic, if something happens to this woman, who despite her pretense, and vaguely hard exterior is not as strong as she appears. Burton will blame himself.

If Burton had it to do over again (hiring her as a temp), he may have preferred someone who personally knew right from wrong -- or at the very least was not willing to subjugate it so easily, a person who wasn't/isn't so willing to go along with the boss's machinations -- who didn't say "how high?" when he said "jump!" -- a person who would have stood up to him and what he was doing, and most of all who doesn't have an 'ends justifies the means,' philosophy.

This Claire gal is a reminder of of how Burton has failed morally. The reason why the storyline exists, is because in some way she will turn out to be Burton's lesson. While it wasn't "literal," blackmail, it was in a sense because Burton is caught in a trap of his own making, of which he can't escape too easily. He hired a lackey -- you just can't cut lackeys loose -- after they've seen everything. Poor Burton.

[lambertoise]

Rosiiii1 said:

I figure in the finale in some kind of tragic way - and it will most likely include Claire being on the receiving end.

This Claire gal is a reminder of of how Burton has failed morally. The reason why the storyline exists, is because in some way she will turn out to be Burton's lesson.

It makes sense. I don't have your imagination (that's why you can write fanfic and I can't) to foresee what could happen to her and Davenport and since the Claire 's character inspired me nothing, - really she bores me - I can see your point and guess that could also be DH's.

This TG's addiction keeps me from working. A shame!

[Jeannie]

Very well said Rosiii. You go a little further than what I would have because I don't think Burton contributed to her moral corruption, she was already there. I see her as ambitious and manipulative. I think she is very quick and cunning and plays it to her advantage. She set out to please Burton by following his lead but was quick to challenge him when she thought she might not get the job. As I stated elsewhere, Burton felt remorse for how he handled Davenport, Clair didn't, that was why I think he showed disappointment.

I like her as an addition to the show and I hope she stays. I have never thought of her as a future love interest for Nick either, I think her purpose lies in her interactions with Burton and Nick within the firm.

Now I have to get back to work. I am beginning to understand why people say they need to get a life, I have a life and it is interfering with "The Guardian"!!!!!

[Jennifer]

I don't think that she is either good or evil. Too early to tell. Right now, she is just plain annoying.

[cecilia]

Jennifer said:

I don't think that she is either good or evil. Too early to tell. Right now, she is just plain annoying.

totally agree, Jennifer ;D

[Linda Wilson]

Rosiiii:

I'm very impressed with your exegesis of Claire and her function as indicating Burton's having lost his moral compass. I think yu're right on the money with this one.