How to defuse a bomb: OT3 Edition

You know what I love about this scene, besides everything? It perfectly illustrates how their relationship works.

Eliot is the stability; the steady, grounding presence; he’s loyal; he makes things safe. He provides a foundation Hardison and Parker can fall back on without fear.

Hardison is the key; without him it doesn’t work; he’s the one who knows what’s needed of him and plants himself with unwavering trust and patience. Without him, Parker and Eliot can only go so far. Hardison is the one who makes the impossible possible.

Parker is the risk-taker; she needs Hardison and Eliot to guide her and support her but she’s the one they follow. When Parker sees a problem, she tackles it, even if the solution seems strange or scary to others. If she believes in it, she makes it work; “for better or worse”.

@pale-silver-comb I realize that I’m kind of being redundant in adding this, but I have to copy-paste this thing I wrote elsewhere about this exact scene:

“It’s the essence of their relationship given physical expression. If you had to come up with some sort of interpretive dance to depict the nature of the OT3, this would be it. They’re all perfectly balanced, mutually supporting and protecting each other. Take any of them away and this move doesn’t work. Eliot’s the sturdy foundation, there to provide support wherever it’s needed. Hardison needs his moment to freak out (fair), but then he’s there, strong and steady and so in awe of these people he loves, prepared to give them whatever they need to accomplish whatever crazy thing they decide to do. And Parker defies gravity, defies expectations, reaches out to do the impossible because she’s just that good and she knows her boys won’t ever, ever drop her. But also, this is about the most unconventional way to disarm a mine you could possibly imagine. It is so ridiculously extra, and it works for them. I cannot think of a better visual metaphor for their relationship.”

Because can I just say how much I love that it looks like we’re paraphrasing each other here? Like we were both given an essay question saying, “Explain the significance of this scene as a metaphor for the relationship between Parker, Hardison, and Eliot.”

This is why I’ve fallen headfirst into this fandom – the show is so deliberately constructed that it’s practically begging the audience to analyze all the little character moments, and the fans are so thoughtful and enthusiastic in doing so.

Oh hey, don’t mind me – just reblogging @letsstealsomethiefjuice‘s tags over here for posterity / in case you needed MORE reasons to obsess over this scene:

#YES THIS MY GOD  #I don’t know how many times it took me  #to realize that Parker actually uses Eliot’s bent knee  #to step up and that Eliot is waiting to grab her leg  #but it was this moment that made it click in my head  #because it would be easy to assume this is a parker and alec moment  #they get the banter they get the flirty closeness  #but the only reason they feel safe enough to do that  #with alec literally standing on a bomb  #is because as always eliot is watching their backs  #the three of them together can do anything stop anything  #so they all just seamlessly slide into each other’s atmosphere  #and know what the other needs without saying a word

Christian was even talking about it in the commentaries- Eliot is literally holding both their weight here. He is supporting Hardison from behind as a brace, and he is the counterweight for Parker when she bends over. This scene literally does not work if Eliot isn’t there for them to rely on.

Also, fun fact, these aren’t stunties. Beth, Aldis, and Christian just did this. (Cue John Rogers screaming in the background.)

I’m pretty much morally obligated to reblog this post every time I see it. Not just an Eliot post but again, he comes in a three-pack and it’s an excellent analysis of the trio. 

Specific to Eliot,  as noted, he’s the rock for both Parker and Hardison. It’s beautiful.

Whether you read them romantically or not (and BOY HOWDY I DO!!), they’re a very strong grouping. I don’t make the rules.

Everything about this scene is why I love this show. And why I will crew this ship until the end of time. The ability to build characters like this, where you can get to these moments that illustrate their relationship so perfectly, is a SKILL and one I am still trying to build.

This isn’t the kind of scene you could drop into season 1. It requires character growth, not just week to week characters staying the same stereotype forever. Eliot will always be Eliot, Hardison always Hardison, Parker always Parker. But within that, they have blossomed, and they did that blossoming together.

Zimmermann | Spring/Summer 2022