MovieChat Forums > Se7en (1995) Discussion > is it just me or was Detective Mills an ...

is it just me or was Detective Mills an idiot?


He came off to me like an overly impulsive child who never knew when to think straight or keep his mouth shut. Right at the start of the film, when he and Somerset are investigating the guy who ate himself to death, Mills seems to have this constant need for attention with the way he rambles on about some useless, unrelated murder case that happened in the past and when Somerset tells him to go fetch the forensics team, Mills has to take a moment to shine a flashlight at his face to show him how he feels about being having to take orders from a veteran in the field. And then for whatever reason, having to read a book that features poetry seems to put him into so much frustration to the point where he winds up throwing the damn book against the windshield and then acts like a fidgety child at the station later when he is told to wait till John Doe strikes again. I can probably list off a few more examples but I'll stop here. Either way, did it come off to anyone else but me that Detective Mills was a bit of an idiot? I get that he's meant to be a bit hot-headed and impulsive, but there are times where he just comes off as being straight up immature and childlike to me. Such as how just reading the word "bondage" seems to trigger a reaction out of him thinking that it's a reference to BDSM. Seriously, was anyone else bothered by this?

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I've seen this movie quite a few times . It's been awhile since the last viewing but I think I know what you mean. The way he came across at times was annoying but maybe it was meant to be that way.

It's obvious the odd pairing of these two detectives was deliberate, to create drama, conflict.

And Mills' emotional, temperamental nature is exactly why John Doe saw him as easy to toy with, manipulate.

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I agree with the previous poster. He was impulsive and had a temper, but that was exactly the point. That's why Doe used him for his plan.

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TL;DR
He is a hero lay off him. This movie is untouchable ;)

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it's an interesting characterisation... contrasts well with Somerset and sets up the necessary sin of wrath properly... classic hot headed rookie...

also... it was the 90s... not all protsgonists had to be likeable or self loathing then... ;)

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yeah, Mills was quite childish and whiny. Though that maybe coz he was impulsive and hot-headed. Didn't like him shining the flashlight on Somerset.

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Mills was a total idiot. He's rude, brash, fucks up multiple times and almost get's himself killed.

Add to that the typical Brad Pitt mannerisms and he comes across like an obnoxious asshole. Doesn't detract from this great movie, though.

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As others have pointed out, he was written that way so that John Doe could use him in the climax. The ending wouldn't be the same if the audience didn't already know Mills was an impulsive, hotheaded, doofus.

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Mills was a tosser for the reasons others have given here, but he’s also emblematic of the selfishness, narcissism and spiritual deadness of the unnamed city in the film. He has absolutely no respect for authority - neither his older, wiser partner Somerset, nor his monumentally evil nemesis - until the end...

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