Part One
First, if you have not seen the movie Top Gun stop right here, rent it, watch it and start reading again here-> As you will no doubt recall, the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun starred Tom Cruise as a hot shot fighter pilot with a dangerous streak running through him. The audience learned that all naval aviators have call signs for names and Cruise's character is know as Maverick because, well... he is a maverick. Maverick's flying partner or "rear seat" (his Radar Intercept Officer or RIO in naval parlance) and best friend is called Goose.
By luck or fate Maverick and Goose are sent to the Navy's Fighter Weapon School, or as the pilots who attend call it Top Gun. There they meet their classmates who are the best of the best among Navy and Marine pilots. On the first day of class Mav wonders aloud who the best is. Fortunately for him and the audience Goose knows, "You wanted to know who the best is? That's him. Iceman. He flys ice cold. No mistakes. Wears you down. You get bored, do something stupid and he's got you."
A story is not a story without conflict thus, Maverick becomes a rival to top student Lieutenant Tom "Iceman" Kasansky (Val Kilmer)—who considers Maverick dangerous. It is an opinion Maverick crystallizes on his maiden flight at Top Gun by engaging a target below the hard deck and buzzing the tower at supersonic speed violating two of the school's safety rules. He and Goose are called in to the Commander's office for a talking to from 'the old man'.
Viper: Top Gun rules of engagement are written for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Either obey them or you are history. Is that clear?
Iceman states his concerns a bit more pointedly: You're everyone's problem. That's because every time you go up in the air, you're unsafe. I don't like you because you're dangerous. Maverick, it's not your flying it's your attitude. The enemy is dangerous, but you're worse. You are dangerous and foolish.
So here is the question I'd like to explore. Why isn't Tom Kadansky the hero in this story? Why do we root for the Mavericks of the world instead of the Icemen?
