So we’re all on the same page about John Travolta’s character Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction being kind of an idiot right? He’s not bright, he’s just a cocky son of a bitch with the ability to be charismatic for the right director. The problem is, that stupidity leads to a lot of the problems in Pulp Fiction.
Seriously, 90% of events in this movie could have been avoided if Vincent Vega wasn’t the dumbest, most incompetent man alive. The man is Philip J. Fry with his likability and luck replaced by a drug habit and creepy smile. So, let’s take a moment to examine how this man was a walking Darwin Award from the start.
The Drugs
So this one isn’t like a hundred percent Vincent’s fault but also because Mia is kind of stupid too. Seriously, who finds a bag of random drugs in a borrowed jacket and just decides to take a massive hit of it? I get that it’s a drug culture thing and of its time but common sense should be a thing here.
Regardless, it was Vincent who decided it was necessary to bring those kinds of drugs out on a “date”. Not to mention he paid a ton of money for them but also forgot them in a coat pocket? Damn, they had it good in the 90s.
The Diner
Jules has everything under control by the time Vincent comes out of the bathroom, with both Ringo and Honeybunny seemingly talked down, for the most part. Then Vincent arrives on the scene and almost gets everyone killed multiple times.
Ringo was convinced, with Jules giving him all the money he has to just finish the job and get out. Then Vincent decides to add his two cents, almost getting him shot by Honeybunny. Honestly, it would have potentially been better for everyone if he died there.
Marvin
This is it. The crowning jewel of just how absolutely idiotic Vincent is. Waving a gun around at Marvin in the backseat, finger on the trigger, safety off. “I didn’t mean to shoot the man, the gun just went off!” isn’t much of an excuse, and it causes even more issues in the movie and the unfortunate need for a visit to a friend named Jimmy.
By unfortunate I mean Jimmy is played by Quentin Tarantino. Though it’s not nearly as bad as his role in Django Unchained (what the hell was that accent?), it was definitely a standout in the movie, and not for the best reasons.
The Audacity
Then he dares to talk to The Wolf like an asshole. Look, Vincent, you’re the reason he’s here having to help dispose of Marvin, but you really think you need to tell him to say “please” while he’s saving your ass?
Vincent Vega might be one of the protagonists of the movie, but there’s no way he didn’t walk right into his own death. You reap what you sow a lot of the time in Tarantino’s films, and it’s all these little bits of Vincent being a complete and utter dickhead that really just make his death not that much of a loss for anyone.
Insulting Butch
No secret Vincent’s a massive dick, and this is part of what leads to his death along with leaving his gun on the counter, stupidly assuming Butch had skipped town. While it was definitely the gun and pop-tart combo that was the final nail, the insults were probably what sealed the deal in the first place.
Butch’s pride was a dangerous thing to insult, and Vincent did just that by calling him a no-talent boxer. Inadvertently, it’s also might have led to Butch not throwing the fight and him keying Vincent’s car. And ultimately in the end, it led to his demise.
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