Charlie
After the blessed experience of watching the Top Guns on IMAX in honor of the 40th anniversary a different aspect occurred to me.
Charlie doesn’t get enough credit for being an educated, strong, independent woman in the midst of her own target rich environment especially for back in ‘86! She’s got her PhD, the sweet crib in Oceanside w/ baby Porsche , and when Mav goes deep into his feelings (RIP Goose), emotionally distances himself/quasi vanishing act (good looking out, Wolfman) she does all the right things! She tries to comfort him, she challenges him and expects him to be the man he is. When he can’t deal, she doesn’t stick around- she follows her path when he shuts her out, but doesn’t give up on him and comes back when she knows he’s dealt with his demons and is ready to be in a relationship.