In Maverick, we learn that Maverick promised Goose’s widow that he would prevent their son Bradley from becoming a fighter pilot. In the 1986 original, Goose’s death consumes Maverick with guilt, temporarily preventing him from graduating from the Top Gun program or flying a dangerous mission. No, outside of the usual Tom Cruise movie conflict of people thinking his character isn’t awesome and coming to accept that he is awesome, the primary struggle in Top Gun: Maverick is between Maverick and Rooster, the son of his former radar intercept officer Goose. In fact, the movie is so unconcerned with the nature of war that the enemy country is never seen. Navy, but its primary conflict isn’t between warring nations. Top Gun: Maverick may be a movie about fighter pilots in the U.S.
