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I was just re-watching Van Halen's Dreams music video and it reminded me of Top Gun. The video features the A-4 Skyhawk flying for the Blue Angels, it was also the aggressor when Maverick was at Top Gun ... ok, look, not important how my brain works sometimes.
Anyway, I realized that Maverick is an absolute dick who had no business being at Top Gun in the first place. Iceman (Val Kilmer) was seen as Maverick's antagonist and rival at the school. "They call him Iceman. It's the way he flies, ice-cold -- no mistakes." Ice confronts Maverick several times about being a danger in the cockpit and risking himself, his squadron, and his aircraft. Maverick demonstrates this by buzzing the control tower against the direction of ATC and potentially risking a mid-air collision with other traffic. He abandons his wingman to go chase points and personal glory. He violates ATC directions again by buzzing the control tower of an aircraft carrier - the most dangerous bit of real estate in the world that is currently undergoing combat operations and just fought off a Russian attack. He broke the rules of engagement at Top Gun and somehow wasn't removed from the program. He also killed his RIO by being overly aggressive in the training exercise rather than cover and assist his leader, he tried to "steal" the kill for his own glory since they were both tied for points.
The purpose of Top Gun is for students to return to their squadrons as teaching pilots; to share their knowledge and enhance the performance of their squadron with what they learned in mock combat at Top Gun - especially when faced with non-US tactics being employed by dissimilar aircraft. Maverick was the least qualified Top Gun candidate and should have been court martialed out of the Navy.
Maverick may be charismatic, but he's a horrible protagonist. He's a chronic rule breaker who always seems to escape consequences; even being praised by his superiors for his dangerous behavior.
Maverick is Harry Potter. Iceman is Longbottom. I want to see Top Gun re-told from Iceman's perspective.
</OldFart>