YMMV / The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

• Alternate Character Interpretation:
  • Was Queeg actually unfit for duty? He clearly froze up under pressure and struggled with anxiety and PTSD, and he was prone to inflicting harsh punishments on the crew of the Caine for minor infractions. However, there are hints he was extraordinarily lenient to his subordinates even when they countermanded his orders. As well, the worst of his alleged incompetence annd poor conduct are left ambiguous and could quite likely be slander.
  • Was Maryk right to relieve Queeg of command, or did he jump the gun? It's pointed out that Maryk has no knowledge of psychology and shouldn't have judged Queeg's actions so harshly, but Queeg was undeniably erratic in his behavior at times and was known to freeze up under pressure.
• Jerkass Woobie: Queeg. While it's left ambiguous if the worst of his actions actually happened, he was still a harsh perfectionist who was borderline abusive to the crew for the slightest infractions. However, this stems from his CPTSD from his parents' divorce, his childhood poverty, and trauma from his service, which led him to place his entire self-worth on his rank in the Navy. It's also implied he gave Maryk, Keith, and Keefer numerous chances to shape up even when they proved insubordinate, and he at least respected Maryk prior to the mutiny. It's possible to feel bad for him during his climactic breakdown on the stand even if it's a consequence of his own actions, as he realizes he's destroyed his career.