Portrayed by: Ryan Gosling
Movie: Project Hail Mary
In a world where toxic masculinity is unfortunately still rampant, AI is shoved in our faces, and all of the doom in the news, I needed Project Hail Mary. We need hope, as difficult and painful as it can be. A reminder that the problems we have can be solved if we actually work together in giving them the attention they deserve, and trust in science and qualified professionals. Now more than ever, we need a hero who is an academic who works on a problem until it is solved. A hero that has kindness, bravery, and curiosity. That hero is Ryland Grace.
Ryan Gosling carries this movie and is brilliantly supported by everyone around him. Each supporting character adds to the depth of Grace while being their own complete character. Gosling bounces off other people so well and adds even more heart and humor to this film. He has said that part of the reason he wanted to make this film is that Andy Weir’s novel showcases that the future isn’t something to be afraid of, but one that needs to be figured out (via Rotten Tomatoes).
Dystopian media is everywhere, not offering any solutions, only warnings. Yes, it is up to us to forge our own conclusions from those messages, and these narratives are important. However, now that we are inundated with warnings and apocalyptic scenarios, it is easy to become overwhelmed when there is seemingly no right path. At this point in time, cynicism is complacency in a world on fire. We need a vision of the future to work towards. To show us that the problems we face can be solved. Creatives can envision a future backed by science that we can all work towards. Ryland Grace was stuck in the beginning, a cynic from his experiences in the academic field. Given the chance to help the world and prove himself right is enough to get him out of complacency, and by doing so, Grace throws us a lifeline amidst the endless warnings and dystopian narratives.
Dr. Ryland Grace: The Brave Coward
Grace is a normal guy teaching middle school science. Sure, he is also an incredibly smart molecular biologist who left the world of academia, but otherwise he is a normal guy. A loner with his head in the clouds who let his fear get the better of him all too often. In the book, Eva Stratt calls Grace a coward. The actual definition of cowardice is defined as a lack of courage or firmness of purpose (Merriam-Webster). I would agree with Stratt; he lacks purpose. He teaches because he got himself ostracized from academia. However, his bravery is still within him from the start. Publishing a paper on how alien life may not need water to survive—which is clearly a very unpopular opinion—is brave. Cowardice and bravery are consistently at odds within Grace. Yet if he didn’t have any fear, how could he be brave?
If anyone told me I was the last chance of the Earth’s survival, I still don’t know if I would agree to getting on that ship (especially knowing all of the effects of microgravity on our bodies). Make that a suicide mission? I certainly couldn’t tell you in three hours. Grace had still been brave in helping with this mission from the beginning. He worked on alien cells in a room full of argon, and he agreed to live on a boat to work on astrophage in case it explodes. He wanted to stay on the project and help the planet from the lab where he thrives. He doesn’t believe in himself, but his desire to solve the problem of astrophage and help the world is strong enough that he starts to. He needs that push from Stratt to acknowledge that he is the best person for the job.
Even in space without all his memories, Grace methodically works on solving every problem that arises, battling his fear along the way as he believes he must have signed up for this mission. And then there’s first contact with alien life; he is terrified by Rocky’s ship and the space walk, but he does it. Regardless of how much he struggled and doubted himself, he accomplished it, turning his fear into curiosity.
Grace accepts, as much as he can, that he is going to die in space. When they are at Adrian, he takes his moment while collecting the astrophage. The scene is so beautifully wonderful and bittersweet. Grace recognizes the amazing view he has of the swirling green planet in a field of astrophage. This is it for him. This right here is what he has been working for since being on Earth and now in space. At this moment, he appreciates the beauty that is the universe, as utterly terrifying and dangerous as it is. With Rocky by his side and a plan in place, Grace does what he needs to with confidence. It’s an incredible stepping stone in his journey of believing in himself.
In the book, Grace wonders how it must have been to see Earth when they left, but he never saw it. He operates under two false beliefs: on Earth, he doesn’t believe he is capable, and in space, he believes he must have been brave enough to volunteer for the mission. In the heat of the moment in Adrian’s atmosphere, the only hesitation Grace shows in saving the predator collector is in concocting his plan to do so. He knew the risks either way, but he didn’t come that far to let their best chance of saving both their planets plummet to the ground. Grace does it all under the false belief that he volunteered for this mission, showing that we are the stories we tell ourselves.
When Grace fully regains his memory, he certainly doesn’t feel brave. He was betrayed by people he trusted. And he is let down by his own lack of faith in himself. Faced with another decision: go home or save Rocky, Grace is tested again. This time he makes the hard choice never to see his home planet again, with all of his memories and every piece of information to consider. He makes the decision convinced he would die. But he does it for his best friend. As Yao said, he needed to find someone to be brave for. He is on his own hero’s journey, going through trials that shape him into the person he could always have been if he believed in himself from the start.
Full of Grace
Grace’s welcoming demeanor and sense of humor seem out of place amongst the other officials working on Project Hail Mary, but it is another ability of his to connect with people and clearly communicate these overwhelming ideas to everyone. He treats everyone with respect and kindness and genuinely values their opinions. Even if they don’t have a background in science, like Carl, he is ready to give him credit regardless. He becomes his best self surrounded by people, or aliens, with a project to work on. His background as a scientist and a teacher uniquely qualify him for this scenario. Many unexpected problems arise while teaching, and those are problems he can’t plan for. It’s also clear that his students admire him, so we know he can handle the unexpected and have the patience to do so. Addressing problems with curiosity and patience is one of his greatest strengths.
Even with Grace and Rocky’s first meeting being fraught with anxiety, Grace corrected himself. He took the time to learn how to communicate with Rocky. Once again showing the power of collaboration and compassion. Listening to Rocky about how his crew didn’t wake up immediately had him wanting to ease Rocky’s sorrow, letting Rocky watch him sleep regardless of his discomfort at first.
They take time to get used to each other on the Hail Mary, and it’s a joy to watch. Rocky’s personality and his own curiosity bring out the teacher side once again in Grace as he tries to control the chaos and keeps it light even in the face of his frustration. Grace has been on his own on Earth, avoiding close relationships to stave off rejection. In space, he had no one. Naturally, he struggles with Rocky’s presence and sharing the Hail Mary. Learning to live together with all of their quirks and frustrations grounds their relationship. Then, they open up to each other, and it’s the first time in a long time for Grace.
After seeing how affected Rocky is by the loss of his crew, Grace couldn’t tell him that he had a one-way trip. It’s nice for both of them to pretend for a little while, especially knowing how desperately Grace wants to live. When he finally reveals that this is it for him, it is one of the most beautiful scenes in the movie. The way Grace tries to play it off, not showing how much he wants to go home and comforts Rocky in the process, is heartbreaking. Gosling’s performance is phenomenal throughout the film, but this scene stands out. The sheer relief that is felt at Rocky’s gift of astrophage is palpable.
Another strength of Grace’s is his vulnerability. He tries so hard to protect himself on Earth, and in space, where he is stripped of everything he knows, he has no choice but to face his emotions. He could easily fall into bad behavior, but he doesn’t, outside of wallowing in his predicament at first. And, honestly, who could blame him for that? When he is finished wallowing, Grace makes sure to learn what he could of Yao and Ilyukhina to give them the best funeral he could. Crying over these people he can’t remember outside of flashes, he confronts that he is truly alone in deep space and the world is counting on him. Grace keeps the harsh truth of his mission from Rocky to protect himself too, but Grace learns through Rocky’s willingness to share all that he has lost. After the reveal, all walls are down between them. We need more vulnerable, soft men who do the right thing and show us that it’s okay to cry.
Confronting his misbeliefs and becoming his true self through an impossible situation was enough to accomplish a mission he would have never believed he was capable of back on Earth. It’s a shame he had to be forced into it, but he is better for the journey he went on. (Not to condone Stratt’s actions, but with the literal trolley problem before her, I also understand why she did it.) If he did go back to Earth, he would have been more alone than ever, living a lie about how he was sent to space with all the people he knew most likely dead. Going to Erid is a happy ending at a steep cost. But Rocky is worth the sacrifice, even when Grace thought he would die to save him.
Grace saves Rocky, Rocky saves him in return. And they both saved the stars. Grace signs off his last video logs as Dr. Captain Ryland Grace, and it’s the culmination of everything he went through. We are not only one thing, nor do we have to be. Grace was brave in spite of his fear, making his development that much more impactful. Even if things are scary, when we put our minds to it and work together, we can do great things, just like Grace.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Amazon MGM Studios