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Does Paladin Seem More Mercenary in Season 1?

posted 11 years ago by DrGlitterhouse
4 replies | jump to latest

I haven't seen every episode, but during the first season, it seems to me that Paladin more actively markets himself (e.g., "The Reasonable Man") and he ensures he gets paid, whereas in the other seasons, people tend to approach Paladin with his own card or he decides to get involved because it's the noble thing to do, without necessarily making anyone foot the bill.

Am I overgeneralizing or did Paladin seem more altruistic as the series went on?

"He IS Redstone."

[–] memayse1701 11 years ago

I think you're right...but he usually gets paid. But he did become more altruistic. ..That's why I didn't care for GENESIS. It doesn't fit as that SMOKE character created him and made him altruistic.

[–] lexyladyjax 11 years ago

Every series takes time to settle in over time. The writers take time to develop the character. In addition, Richard Boone had a great deal of input into the character of Paladin. He had a good idea of what he wanted Paladin to be and he threw his weight around. It caused a lot of friction but it created one of the most memorable characters in television history.

Why not wait until you've seen most of the episodes before you make up your mind about Paladin? What he does is work on the side of the right, no matter what. He will change sides more as time goes on. Give him a chance. It's early days yet.

Some things you just can't ride around...

[–] DrGlitterhouse 11 years ago

He had a good idea of what he wanted Paladin to be and he threw his weight around. It caused a lot of friction but it created one of the most memorable characters in television history...

Is that why Ben Brady replaced Sam Rolfe as producer during season 3?

"He IS Redstone."

[–] lexyladyjax 11 years ago

At the point that Boone's bio was written, Sam Rolfe had passed on and it was too late to ask those questions. It seemed that Rolfe had moved on to other projects he was developing, however. Boone was necessary to HGWT as the main character.

He signed a five-year contract at the beginning and they couldn't do without him. He invented the 20-year payout, taking $50K/year for 20 years rather than accepting his enormous salary over five years and paying most of it out in taxes. He was smarter than the average actor at the time. This was before residuals so he set himself up for long-term income. His wisdom caused a great deal of dislike from the suits. Robert 'Bobby' Blake, who worked for him in The Richard Boone Show, coined the term 'suits' while working on his show.

Some things you just can't ride around...