Suvudu Universe

Meredith Vickers is coldly beautiful, calculating, occasionally ruthless, but not opposed to having a little bit of fun with Janek the pilot (played by Idris Elba). Most importantly, Vickers is under utilized. I really liked Theron's performance in 'Prometheus,' but her role (as well as the overall film) could have been so much better had there been more character development and fewer plot holes. But Theron being Theron still managed to pull it off. Theron brought gravitas to a less than meaty role. Meredith Vickers is a perfect example of how the actor makes the part, not vice versa.

We first meet Meredith Vickers when she wakes up from hyper sleep. She must do this a lot because all of the other characters are puking their guts out and barely able to stand, while Vickers is doing pushups and demands a robe from David (Michael Fassbender) the naughty android. This scene sets the tone that Vickers is tough and not to be taken lightly. Theron has been quoted as saying that she spent hours with screenwriter Damon Lindelof and Ridley Scott trying to develop her character's backstory. Is Meredith Vickers herself a robot similar to David? Has David been created from Vickers' own DNA?

Vickers' next scene is at a good ole' fashioned staff briefing. She curtly briefs the staff and introduces "the real show" and the reason everyone is there, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Dr. Charlize Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green).

The next scene subtlely points to Vickers becoming one of the film's antagonists. Vickers basically tells the scientists to report directly to her. Dr. Holloway challenges Vickers and her "secret" agenda. Vickers reminds Dr. Holloway that it was her company that paid over a trillion dollars for this project. So "put up or shut up." It's not until the end of the film that we find out that Vickers neither expected nor wanted them to find anything. It's a brief scene that could have been made more interesting with a little more dialogue.

In this scene we find out that there is more than meets the eye between David and Vickers. Vickers seems to despise David. The scene adds to the mystery of who David is speaking to and why Vickers wants David to deliver a message from him. Scenes like this made me want to know more about Meredith Vickers. Yes, I get it. She's tough and cold, but this is another example of how her character was underdeveloped. I know that filmmakers only have two hours or so to tell a story, but there are ways to develop characters even within a few scenes. This is a scene in which Theron's acting ability is really highlighted. Theron shows Vickers' disdain for David with no lines, just by pushing his face against the wall in disgust. Who knows if this was scripted or if it was something Theron came up with. From what I've read, Theron had to spin straw into gold with this role so it wouldn't surprise me if she added that little bit of "ummph" herself.

This was perhaps the only scene in which Vickers showed an sense of humor or levity. Vickers was in the cockpit overseeing things as she was known to do. The only thing that made the scene interesting was when Vickers was propositioned by Janek (Elba). Janek challenged Vickers and said that he thought she was a robot. Cheekily or perhaps to prove him wrong, she invites him to her room.

If you can imagine it, Vickers originally had even fewer scenes scripted. Theron herself went straight to the top and voiced her concerns to Ridley Scott directly. Theron thought that Vickers was just a "one-dimensional suit." Thankfully, Theron is an A-lister and an award winning actress, so when she asked for three more scenes, she got them. I remember reading somewhere that she wanted "something to sink her teeth into" or she wouldn't take the part.

If there were ever a prequel, I would like to see more of the dynamics between Vickers and her father and the greedy Weyland Corporation. The corporation's motto is ever so intriguing: "Building Better Worlds." Unfortunately, Ridley Scott is not known for his character development and Vickers was one of those painfully underdeveloped characters. We never truly know what her motivations were beyond basic greed. As she says, she doesn't want to "sit around in a board room for years arguing over who was in charge." She hopes that this little trip of hers makes her the clear heir apparent.