While Top Gun: Maverick’s Rooster blames Tom Cruise’s Maverick for his slow career progress, it is actually Top Gun’s Iceman who should be held responsible. While Goose’s tragic death is the saddest moment in the original Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick makes the moment even more poignant by depicting how the event impacted the lives of both Goose’s son Rooster and his friend Maverick. Top Gun: Maverick fleshed out the fallout of Goose’s Top Gun death by showing that Maverick spent the rest of his career attempting to run from his guilt, while Rooster followed in his father’s footsteps in an attempt to right the wrongs of the past.
Part of the reason that Rooster hates Maverick in Top Gun: Maverick is that he blames Tom Cruise’s roguish antihero for pulling his papers when he applied to Annapolis. In early drafts of Top Gun: Maverick, this might have made sense since there was a time when Maverick’s character would have been a decorated admiral. Rooster’s indignation over this decision provides the Top Gun sequel with its central conflict, as Goose’s son struggles to trust his instinct and Maverick struggles to work out whether he hurt the pilot’s flying prowess by blunting his confidence years earlier. Fortunately, this all works out in the triumphant finale of Top Gun: Maverick.
Maverick Couldn’t Pull Rooster’s Application (But Iceman Could)
However, Rooster’s anger at Maverick in Top Gun: Maverick doesn’t really add up. Pulling Rooster’s papers was really on Iceman since Maverick, a Captain and a test pilot, would never end up on the admissions committee in Annapolis. While Top Gun: Maverick ended Maverick’s story with Rooster perfectly, the basis of their conflict was flawed. Rooster would be well aware that a Captain couldn’t pull his papers at Annapolis and, even if Iceman did so at the behest of Maverick, it would still have been the Admiral’s decision. Not only that, but Iceman might not have even consulted Maverick.
In Top Gun: Maverick, Rooster confirms his suspicions when he confronts Maverick and accuses him of pulling his papers. Admittedly, Maverick takes the fall for this. However, Iceman was just as culpable for Goose’s tragic death as Maverick, and he could reasonably have felt the same guilt as Cruise’s character. As such, Rooster had no way of knowing Maverick was the one responsible for the choice and had no reason to assume this. Since Maverick is a Captain in Top Gun: Maverick, it would have made much more sense for Rooster to assume the higher-ranked, more decorated Iceman was responsible.
Top Gun: Maverick’s Application Plot Hole Secretly Makes Sense
To be fair to the creators of Top Gun: Maverick, there is a reasonable explanation for this apparent plot hole. Since Iceman and Maverick were involved in Goose’s tragic death, it is possible that Maverick convinced Iceman to pull Rooster’s application, and it is equally possible that Rooster’s mother told him that Maverick was mainly the one to blame (which is how the Navy reacted, although both characters were eventually cleared). Also, in professional terms, Rooster couldn’t afford to confront Iceman, whereas he could vent to Maverick. Thus, this Top Gun: Maverick scene could be viewed as early proof that Rooster is willing to confide in Top Gun’s flawed hero over Iceman.
Top Gun: Maverick Ignores 1 Rooster & Iceman Plot Hole
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer