Ironwood's supporters argue that his increasingly draconian measures are the only options he can take as a military leader who has been backed into a corner by the heroes withholding vital information, leaking intel behind his back, and constantly criticising and obstructing him without offering good alternatives; this left him with no choice but to arrest them just to make sure Salem can't win. The heroes' supporters argue that his paranoia, inability to trust and habit of overreacting have made him his own worst enemy, putting the heroes into an impossible situation where they tried to support him until it became clear that it would sacrifice the whole world just to protect a few. Although both sides of the debate were shocked by Ironwood's decision to shoot Oscar for trying to reason with him, it has only reinforced the two sides of the debate rather than ending it.