Poll Day - You Have A Funny Accent

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

[Poll #1954403]

Comments

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Originally posted this on the wrong comm, so reposting here.

I look at it from this angle: We know Napoleon was in the military before joining U.N.C.L.E. I believe he had some role in military intelligence at some point (even though his military career had to be pretty short) and it was required he learn to read/speak/write Russian. So, when U.N.C.L.E. got its first Russian field agent, Napoleon was the logical choice for a partner.

I also think Napoleon's Russian accent would be more than adequate. We know he didn't have a bad accent with every non-native language he spoke. His Italian accent, as showcased in the series, is very good. So that thing with the "bad" French accent: I explain that (as do many others) with the Quebecois angle. But as well I think Illya just liked to tease him because he could. Let's face it: Illya's own French accent as showcased in the series is very "school-boy taught".

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I thought of the possibility of him learning Russian while in the military, but then Korea wouldn't require it, in spite of the Soviet backing of North Korea. It makes sense that he would learn it by working with a Russian.

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Yes, but the U.S. was in the middle of a cold war with the U.S.S.R. So, if (and this is just my speculation because of who Napoleon is) Solo had been at all connected to military intelligence, it would likely be required he learn Russian.

[carabele.livejournal.com]

And of course there is another possible angle as well. That being, since we know one of Napoleon's grandfathers was an ambassador and the other was an admiral, both those men might have thought it prudent for their grandson to learn Russian because: a) Russia being an ally during WWII, and then b) the subsequent emergence of the Cold War between the two nations.

Frankly (and again personal opinion here) I don't think Illya would have the time or inclination to teach Napoleon Russian once the two were partnered. (Illya, after all, did not emphasize his "Russian-ness" in the series. And, in this regard, I'm really looking forward to seeing how the new movide handles Illya's Soviet connection.)