Darwin Jihen is a very interesting series in a whole lot of ways. When you take a generally “anti-everything” view, as I’ve come to believe it does, you risk going down a rabbit hole of bleakness. Some series want to do just that, but if not, you have to show some sign of light in the darkness. I’m not talking about a Mizukami Satoshi thing where the fundamental decency of people is the underpinning of the story. But an observation that decency exists, even if it doesn’t dominate (or often prevail).
That takes on an added dimension when the protagonist of your story is basically emotionless. Or so he appears most of the time, anyway. Charlie has gone into hiding, and the FBI has the state police following Lucy. But Phil is a cop, and he knows the score. So he runs interference for her, allowing her to have a clandestine meeting with Charlie. That’s extremely risky of course, but the search is understandably concentrated on the mountains – no one is expecting Charlie to be hiding right in town. During this conversation Lucy tells Charlie that his parents loved him. “I know”, he replies. “I loved them, too. I wish I could have protected them.”
This probably doesn’t come as any sort of surprise, really. But it’s still a significant moment, because Charlie shows no outward signs of affection as a rule. So to hear him flat-out say he loved Gilbert and Hannah makes an impact. Of course that and two bucks gets him a tall drip at Starbucks – he’s still on the run with nowhere to go. Lucy, meanwhile, gets a call from Dr. Fowler, asking her to come to the Kornberg Institute. This she does, along with Phil (a big fan of Ghirardelli chocolate). He introduces himself as her uncle (after she introduces him as her ride). That may be the first time we’ve heard that bit of information, though I wouldn’t swear to it.
Soon joining them is Rep. Linares. She makes it clear how bad things are for Charlie. He’s never been more than property, and now he’s unowned property. Not only that, she thinks he’ll be treated as a dangerous wild animal and potentially put down. That Charlie is in a limbo with no rights is obvious, but the key part of this conversation is when Lucy challenges Linares that the law will prove no shield to Charlie if those who want him choose to ignore it. She doesn’t deny this, and what’s more she makes it very clear – it’s not so different with “human rights”. The law only protects you until those who seek to harm you choose to break it.
Charlie’s idea is to go to the Stollard Institute and search for his biological father, Dr. Grossman. Lucy reminds him that California is half a country (and a very big one) away. But one of those exceptions from the first paragraph intervenes here. Phil offers – practically demands – that Charlie come home with him. He’s already cleared it with his wife, Grace. In fact, he says they’ll adopt Charlie – though that takes us deep into the legal weeds again. Charlie is in no position to turn down any offer of refuge – even he realizes his California dreaming is not realistic at the moment.
Phil has been a slow build as a character, and his view on Charlie has evolved more than anyone’s. But it comes down to this – he’s smart enough to evolve in his beliefs when the evidence demands it, and decent enough to want to do the right thing when given the chance. He’s no hero, just the sort of person Gilbert was talking about in their last conversation – someone who had to be willing to strive for a world that ought to be. Grace seems to be one too – as long as you sit down when you pee. It takes courage to involve yourself with Charlie at this point, and there’s no doubt these two have it. But courage and decency aren’t much to stake your future on in a world like the one depicted in The Darwin Incident.
