Obsession as Trauma Displacement
Josh's compulsive fixation on Air Force pilot Robert Cano's medal, suicide crash, and posthumous torment serves as proxy for his unprocessed Rosslyn survivor guilt, manifesting in hallway demands interrupting colleagues, therapy deflections listing shooting survivors, and rage lists targeting staff like Donna and C.J., revealing how external quests mask internal psychological fractures.
Events Exemplifying This Theme
Stanley deftly shifts from the Rosslyn shooting to Josh's erratic behavior three weeks prior, citing colleagues' concerns. Josh deflects with sarcasm, but inadvertently reveals his fixation on Air Force pilot …
In the stark meeting room, Stanley methodically dissects Josh's fixation on the suicidal pilot, Robert Cano, confirmed dead via Leo's briefing. Josh resists with terse denials—no time for deep intel …
Bursting into C.J.'s office five days prior, a frantic Josh demands stalled intel on pilot Robert Cano's suicide, his PTSD fixation erupting in sarcasm and impatience as C.J. reveals no …
Agitated, Josh paces while fixating on Donna's incessant Yo-Yo Ma chatter from the Christmas party, revealing a disproportionate irritation masking deeper pain. Stanley shrewdly connects this to a cello performance …
Agitated Josh paces, fixating defensively on Donna's Yo-Yo Ma obsession from the Christmas party day. Stanley sharpens his probe, confronting Josh's amnesia about a pivotal, atypical Oval Office meeting amid …