MovieChat Forums > The Big Country Discussion > What if McKay had been normal?

What if McKay had been normal?

posted 3 years ago by Rolltide (964)
6 replies | jump to latest

It would have been normal for McKay to let the Terrill's know he was a real man and not just some rich prissy city slicker. A normal person would have wanted to show his father n law that he can ride a horse and shoot a gun and use his fists.

He had been mistreated and humiliated by the Hannaseys for doing nothing. He reached out his hand in friendship and they slapped it away. A normal man would have wanted to kick some ass but McKay gets all upset they are doing something about it. What a moron.

Leech tells him they can cut Buck out and he can settle with him with his fists. Wow what an opportunity. Earn your respect from your father n law, Leech, your fiancé and the Hannaseys all at once. He declines.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

mckay was a sea captain and obviously had been around. he was playing the long game.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

Ok but you do not travel all that way to make waves and be different. Go thousands of miles to Rome and be a Greek!

He knows nothing about the rivalry with the Hanassays but it is the Terrill family he is marrying into. A Terrill he is in love with. Instead of trying to win some equivalent to the libtard peace prize why not be loyal to that family and make them love and respect you on their terms? Then the long game would be to repair fences and try to get along better.

By long game I'm thinking post Rufus and the major. He would be the patriarch. You buy some other land adjoining the Terrill's and build a ranch you can be proud of.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

i also believe he realized right away that pat wasn't the woman he thought she was.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

I think that is part of the story. That Pat away from her father is a different, better person.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

What about when 3 of the Hannasey bunch were standing in the road blocking the coach McKay and Pat are riding? Pat decides to pick up speed and run past them but McKay acts like he wants to stop. "Looks like they just want to talk".

McKay does not know these people so would he not just take his fiancé's word that they are trash? What if they beat him senseless and then raped her? Her safety does not matter? Again he is brand new to the area and knows nothing about these people. How does he know they are not above rape? In fact Buck is a rapist isn't he? He was raping Julie when Rufus stopped him.

So they are rapists and they are trash. Of course Pat should have made Leech ride with them for protection.

[–] Rolltide (964) 2 years ago

I just thought of another opportunity for Jim McKay to impress his new family. When he went out on his adventure to survey the Big muddy, an adventure that provides no details to these people. He takes a horse, a brown or bay horse. Why not ride Old Thunder?

Wouldn't that have made his fiancé proud? Jim going on a long ride with a horse that was not even broken before? That would send a message loud and clear this is a strong individual a man who can take care of himself.

It just seems he pushes back in every possible way against everything that Pat and her father think is important. Like his values are superior.