I never had much trouble with this specific plot point, because I thought the "try harder" part was an indication, although it doesn't establish the reasons for David's action very well. But it's passable. However, I'm curious about how you explain the completely stupid, asinine and inconsistent behavior of the scientists in the expedition, as: 1) a biologist that's not interested in an alien life form at one point (which is bad enough) but then decides to pet a really menacing snake thing; and 2) a geologist that maps the whole cave using flying sensors and use them to guide the rest of the expedition in the beginning, but then gets lost trying to get back to the ship (while the ship is still receiving data from the sensors).Sniperyeti said:I really enjoyed the film, and haven't had the issues with plot holes that every single other person on the internet seems to think ruined the movie (except the 'lets touch the beautiful worm' scene, yeah I can't explain that one). Maybe I'm just better at using 'headcanon' to con myself into thinking it makes sense.MonkeyPunch said:So I only just watched Prometheus and (like a fair few people) there are some things I don't quite understand. I searched online for an answer but couldn't find a satisfactory one.
The main part I am confused about is why David would infect Holloway?
I understand that David was programmed by Weyland in order to try and make Weyland immortal but that still doesn't explain David's action.
Infecting your lead scientist with a random alien substance which no one has any information on, was never going to help in making Weyland immortal.
Especially since Holloway and Elizabeth Shaw were the two heading the project and the two which would have had the most knowledge on any finds. A random crew member might have made a little more sense - but even then one would guess that the best that could happen by infecting someone with a random alien thingymajig would have no effect and at worst - and most likely - kill them.
In the history of science I doubt there's ever been an instance where someone randomly administers someone with a totally foreign substance and have it cure the exact ailment they were looking to cure.
I think you're placing too much on the shoulders of the two archaeologists, cause that's really all they were. Sure they got to the dig sites etc, but from that first scene on the ship it felt to me like they were there for completeness sake and experience - I wouldn't call Holloway the 'lead scientist', given it was the chick who did the DNA testing etc. I can't remember when but at some point in the film I think the term was "he wanted a true believer". Especially once you find out Weyland is on board and ice-***** is his daughter running the show, it's pretty obvious they're only allowed to be "heading the project" in the same way you give a child a toy steering wheel.
If you remember David had just received the message to 'try harder' from a cryogenically frozen Mr. Weyland, spurring him to do something more drastic having found that nothing seems to still be alive or useful for their purposes. Given that Holloway has been such a douchebag to him through the film (and yes he clearly resents it, this isn't a beep-boop-exterminate style robot), I think David just goes ahead and tries to 'make something happen' with his usual disregard for others' safety.
Remember when he set the hologram running in the caves? And opened up that door while everyone else was still freaking out over the body? Similarly he decides to just take the next step forward and put some of whatever stuff he found into Holloway's drink - at this stage they didn't really know it would kill him. To describe it as an execution imputes too much malice - it's an experiment, with an utter disregard for the consequences.
I hope that's more of a satisfactory explanation![]()
It's not just the stupidity of the actions, it's the inconsistencies with their previous behavior and an apparent lack of scientific training or interest in their respective fields. I don't worry about the small problems, but these 2 guys specifically were almost nothing more than clumsily-written plot devices.