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Without a doubt Julian is the most intricately developed character in
Kindred: The Embraced. It is through Julian that the world of the
Kindred is revealed to us, and also it's relationship to the human
world.
Two things are firmly established in Julian's
very first scene in the Pilot movie; that he is powerful and in control,
but that he is also still learning from Archon, his sire. Coupled with Stevie-Ray's death
scene on the rooftops also blatantly shows the
rivalry and unease between Julian and Eddie Fiori's Brujah clan, the
common thread throughout the series. Julian, unlike
many of the other Kindred, is more the atypical gentleman vampire of
Victorian legend. He is fierce, but courteous, intelligent but also
ruthless. He is a lawmaker, and the final word where the law in San
Francisco is concerned. That being said he is also in a fairly
precarious position; like many politicians he is reliant on the support
of his government, in Julian's case the Conclave. Without their backing
his position would be severely compromised, and so though he tries to
keep the laws he is occasionally forced to compromise. He leads the
Conclave by example; sticking to the letter of the law even when it goes
against his friends and loved ones. This it the integrity that the
Primogens respect. It
is the many different hats that Julian wears that makes him such a great
character and, more importantly, watching him juggle those roles.
Alexandra is the first major challenge we see him face; he is both her
sire, her former lover and her Prince. He without a doubt still has
love for Frank's new girlfriend, but it is unreciprocated. They have had
a long history together, and he wants to protect her, part of him seems
to think having her back in his bed would achieve that goal more
efficiently. Perhaps he's right. Julian is willing to, in theory,
give up his position as Prince for Alexandra which sends a powerful
message about how deep his feelings for her run. Ultimately the decision
was taken out of his hands, which is probably a lucky escape for him. His
relationship with Lillie is another fascinating area. There is no
question in my mind that he loves Lillie, but that love appears to have
waned in time and now he takes their bond for granted. He knows that she
loves him, and so seems free to indulge himself elsewhere. His interest
in Caitlin is hardly new to them, Lillie even teases Julian about her,
but neither of them appear to expect Julian to fall in love with the
human. The jealousy that follows seems like uncharted territory for the
couple, and it rapidly gets out of hand. The one thing about Julian and
Lillie's relationship that strikes me is the way the Prince is aware of
everything that occurs in his city, and it is unlikely, in my opinion,
that Lillie's shenanigans can have to come to his
attention. He never once distances himself from Lillie, even when he
becomes angry with her, nor does he ask her to move out of their home. I
think that shows the depth of the trust he has in her, and that even
after she sets him up with Eddie (Rise), and he knows it, they still share each other's
lives. Julian's desire for Caitlin is an odd one. I
tend to think that August Octavio's death triggers an emotional reaction
in the Prince that leads him to try to recapture his human life. Perhaps
Caitlin reminded him of his wife Evelyn, and in an attempt to escape the
weight of his responsibilities he begins what is little more than a
fantasy. I personally don't buy the love affair, not only because Julian
is a man who loves passionately, and deeply as is seen with Alexandra
and Lillie, an with Alexandra he keeps a distinct distance between them
that arouses her suspicion frequently. They are very much attracted to
each other, but without even the smallest semblance of trust, it seems
doomed to fail. In my eyes I see Julian desperately wanting to be able
to be in love with Caitlin, but knowing he can't open up to her and be
himself. He struggles to act the role of human lover, but in actual fact
he isn't good at holding back and lying to her. When they go to
Manzanita (Cabin) together the reality of the situation becomes clear to
Julian; as much as he would like her in his life, it can't happen. He
doesn't even know if she would like the real Julian Luna, as the man she
has fallen in love with doesn't exist. When they arrive back in San Francisco
it appears Julian has already cut off from her emotionally, and though
we don't see it, the last scene in the series has always appeared to
have an air of finality about it. The end of Julian and Caitlin's
relationship, rather than the end of a show. Julian's
other relationships run just as deep as his love affairs, and perhaps
the most detailed of those is with Frank Kohanek. The two share so many
qualities that it's obvious why Alexandra would be attracted to their
'type'. Both have honesty and integrity, and also a drive to see justice
seen to be done. Initially Julian sees Frank as a bug in his ear that
needs to be squashed, but at Alexandra's insistence he agrees to do
everything in his power to see that the cop lives after Alexandra's
death. This puts him in the position of having to get close to Frank,
and work out a way to make him forget his perceived quest for justice.
The tentative building of trust and shared goals is artfully done, and
the debates between Frank and Julian give a really good insight into the
way Kindred society operates alongside the human world. As time goes on
the two not only build a businesslike respect for each other, but also a
genuine liking. In time they could have become good friends. Like
Julian and Daedalus, maybe. The relationship between the Nosferatu
Primogen and the Ventrue Prince is a curious one; it's a manly
friendship. Both appear uncomfortable when discussing the depth of their
friendship, and would rather talk about issues than emotions. They are
in a position where their political differences set them on opposing
sides of arguments, and as emotional creatures, they have trouble separating
their friendship from their work. The most obvious example of this is
the boy Able (Romeo). Daedalus (and by definition the Nosferatu clan)
seem to have a different standard when choosing who to embrace than
Julian's Ventrue clan. Daedalus wishes that Able be embraced, but knows
that the life of a Nosferatu is a life of hardship and isolation and
would rather him be embraced by Julian. The Prince's refusal, on the
basis of Kindred law, hurts Daedalus' feelings, and he sees it as a
slight on their friendship rather than a matter of law to which Julian
won't bend. He is put in the position of having the opportunity to pay
the Ventrue back, and withhold his clan's support when Eddie forces war,
but he rises above his anger and stands by his friend. Later when Goth
returns to San Francisco (Bad Moon) Daedalus tells Julian he would be
willing to give up his place as Primogen rather than not fight alongside
his friend. Julian won't allow his friend to jeopardize himself in that
way, and instead Daedalus gives Julian a gift of Nosferatu blood, which
helps him in his fight with Goth. They are best friends, and trusted
allies. Julian plays the part of patriarch
fantastically well, and with most of the other characters, both human
and Kindred, he comes into contact with he is very much the father
figure. He rewards and punishes with an even hand, and would rather use
love and understanding to solve a problem than violence. With Sonny he
is clearly the doting father guiding him with pride towards a time when
he can step back, as Archon did with him. Cash he sees as almost an
adopted son; as his friend Stevie-Ray's favourite childe he feels a
responsibility to give him opportunities, but doesn't share much common
ground with the Gangrel. As long as he tows the line Cash stays in
favour, but when he rebels and threatens his niece, Sasha's, safety
Julian doesn't hide his anger and disappointment. With Sasha he also
tries to take the fatherly position, and in resisting, becomes the
rebelled against parent. With Sasha he can do no right, and however much
love he shows her she'll always twist events and blame him. The guilt
that Julian feels about the situation is almost tangible. He allows her
to blame him, as he in turn blames himself. Just because he's the
parent, doesn't mean he's in control, and Sasha goes out of her way to
prove that at every opportunity. The tables are turned
with Archon, who he is desperate to please. Julian sees his sire as a
role model to which he aspires, and his main concern is making sure he
doesn't disappoint. It's clear that Archon is incredibly proud of his
childe, and the two share a close bond. Though he listens to Archon, and
takes advice from him, he doesn't always use it. He's caught between
being his own man and living up to Archon's image. In reality though he
has far surpassed Archon's achievement, and the older Ventrue knows this
and is aware that it is Julian himself that should get that credit,
rather than him. I suspect there are many sides of
Julian that we had yet to see, and mysteries of his past to understand.
A question I've always wondered is about Julian's curious statement that
he took Alexandra's innocence by force. Does it suggest that in his
youth he was an aggressive thug, a rapist, or that he embraced her
against her will? It's a story I'd have liked to have been told. Was it
a moment that led to his redemption? Was it the spark that led him to
become 'The Prince of Peace', which was ultimately triggered by the
horrors of Manzanita? However many unanswered questions there are about
Julian, one thing is sure; without him Kindred: The Embraced wouldn't
have interested me in the slightest. It was Julian's charismatic presence
that cut through what was otherwise a rather cheesy vampire show and
made it unmissable.
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