Hero's Journey and philosopy of the finale and the show so far

[soulofthereaver 45]

               So I watched Magical Mystery Cure along with the rest of you yesterday. I know there was a lot of reasonable and unreasonable controversy surrounding it, both before, and even now after it’s been revealed to  be what i perceive to be an amazing episode, exemplary of FiM and what it stands for. But I’m not here to review MMC, I’m here to talk a bit about the underlying message and philosophy that pervades it, as with most of the show’s stories.

 

                Looking beneath the pastels of the candy-coloured equines we love so much, we see that the episode carries a weave of quite complex and deep ideas and themes. The story talks about maturity, about nobility (of the soul, not in the mere aristocratic sense), about the fruits of virtue and how they can transform one, make one more than they could be before. Finally MMC shows us, perhaps more pointedly than any other part of FiM before it, the meaning of the phrase “Friendship is Magic”.

 

                Twilight’s journey is the archetypal Hero’s Journey of the Monomyth, that story pattern which shows up again and again in folk lore, mythology and stories around the world.

 

                Her Path is the Path of Friendship, and as any hero in the beginning of her journey, she is reluctant to assume her role. As she is first sent by Celestia to Ponyville, she cannot yet fathom the importance her friendships will have on her Path, and how they will shape her and the world around her.

                As she reluctantly assumes her journey, however, she receives the Supernatural Aid, another key step in the Hero’s Journey, in the guise of the Elements of Harmony (both in their artifact form, and as personified by her friends).

 

                Armed with these, along the course of the show she will repeatedly go through the Road of Trials parts of the mythical journey. Her tribulations test and strengthen her bonds of friendship with the main six, and through them cultivate in her the virtues of charity, compassion, devotion, integrity and optimism that Celestia so fondly observes in her. This is the true meaning of the Elements, or rather it is what the Elements mature into, both as persons and the qualities they embody.

 

                And once Twilight shows the sacrifice of Ego (which represents the Atonement stage of the journey) required to abandon personal glory and put the safety of the Crystal Ponies first, her mentor knows she’s ready for the final stage, Apotheosis.

 

                Apotheosis, which literally means to be raised to Godhood, is the normally symbolic stage at the end of the Journey where one physically “dies” to be “reborn” into a higher form, that is they go through a profound internal transformation which spiritualizes them.

 

                Twilight’s case is both literal and symbolic; even as is she is apparently burned by the finished spell and then reborn as a demigoddess, she does so because all the goodness, all the virtues, all the magic that her friends have built within her over the course of her journey have made her more than she originally was or could have ever been.

 

                This, the show tells us, is true nobility, the magic of friendship as practiced through the care we give each-other, is able to transform us, make us better than ourselves. This is true maturity, the kind of maturity that retains childlike innocence, and foregoes the cynicism, bitterness, and loss of magic in the way we look at the world, that so often accompanies growing up. In front of this Nobility, the Sun Goddess herself bows her head.

 

                I cannot say I have ever seen a cartoon show that made one consider such bold and beautiful ideas. It is one of the reasons I love it dearly, and it’s why I consider this season’s finale, as well as the entire Journey that lead up to it, so wonderful.

 

                Hopefully, this post will give you some food for thought as well, and help better appreciate the work that’s been put into this unique story that we partake 

Edited February 17, 2013 by soulofthereaver

[immblueversion 331]

It's things like this that make me feel okay with things I'm uncertain about.

 

I mean, I loved it enough when I saw it, but seeing so many other people tear into it as being one of the worst episodes of the series, with an abomination of a plot that utterly disrupted the pristine quality of storytelling the series has displayed, kinda broke my heart. And so I became torn between the good (which started to feel more superficial) and the bad.

 

Now I can see that there's still good reason to love this episode. And, with my additional fascination of the "Hero's Journey" (Star Wars is what sparked my interest in it), you have solidified my reason to name this one of the best episodes of the series I have seen.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

This, this is why I loved the episode. As I watched the episode, I noticed how deep it was, when Twilight transformed...I heard the song "You Raise Me Up" playing loud and clear in my head. It kept playing and it was at it's brightest when Twilight was revealed as an alicorn. I truly felt the spiritual connection as I watched this. 

[soulofthereaver 45]

Yeah this is actually what made me write that wall of text up there. When i heard complaints that the story was 1) bad/poorly written and 2) clashing with the show's spirit, i thought "have we been watching the same show"? Not only does it not go against the spirit of the show, it fulfills it, it's its crowning jewel so far (pun intended ). Moreover, it uses story elements that have gone into the greatest, most epic sagas the world has known since f***ing Ghilgamesh!

[Jemboi 127]

What a lovely post. It's good to see there are others who trust in the writers and see the beauty of the finale. I have no doubt great things are in store for us.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Twi-Shy-Pie

[Tall_But_Short_37 233]

Oh gosh darnit, can't believe I didn't make the Hero's Journey connection already.....

 

But you're totally right, great post and ideas!

[himanuts 165]

What you say is spot on.

 

But regardless, I still dislike the idea of her becoming a "demi-goddess" of sorts. I'm all for hero journey tales. With Twilight from the get go I saw one of the most relateable and realistic personality-wise protagonists I've come across in fiction, let alone a cartoon. I really loved the idea of this rather normal, yet extraordinarie character doing great things and being recognized by them. She was just a simple unicorn that broke the mold of a simple unicorn. A good example of making the best of your talents and natural abilities, as well as the relationships and bonds you form with others. Now giving her a power boost and physical transformation to boot kinda stains that for me..

Edited February 18, 2013 by himanuts

[dekutree64 713]

Awesome post. I wonder if Lauren planned for Twilight to follow that sort of path from the beginning, or if it was just the new showrunners capitalizing on what had been set up in the first two seasons when they decided to do the alicorn transformation?

 

I'm extremely proud of the writers for completing the standard format journey before the end of the series. I hate it when I never get to see what the hero's new life is like, and it takes real guts to believe you can do more than just mimic an ancient story format. There's the common wisdom that the journey is more important than the destination, but I think as a society, we need more stories to remind us that life is a never-ending journey, and reaching your original goal doesn't mean it will be boring from then on.

 

This, this is why I loved the episode. As I watched the episode, I noticed how deep it was, when Twilight transformed...I heard the song "You Raise Me Up" playing loud and clear in my head. It kept playing and it was at it's brightest when Twilight was revealed as an alicorn. I truly felt the spiritual connection as I watched this. 

Dang it, now you've got me actin' all sappy -_- And that's only running the song in my head thinking about the mane 6... I shudder to think what would happen if I actually put it on.

EDIT: Ok, I went and did it. Feels are overwhelming If you haven't heard this particular performance, give it a listen. They even make a perfect group of 6 elements of friendship:

Edited February 18, 2013 by dekutree64

[Anadu Kune 668]

excellent post. It sometimes really puzzles me how people miss the dept the show has. Esspecially in this episode, there so much to glean that I could almost certainly write a review longer than the episode itself. The finale was the definition of the "show dont tell" principal in animation. If not for its fast pacing it would indeed be my favorite episode.

[soulofthereaver 45]

What you say is spot on.   But regardless, I still dislike the idea of her becoming a "demi-goddess" of sorts. I'm all for hero journey tales. With Twilight from the get go I saw one of the most relateable and realistic personality-wise protagonists I've come across in fiction, let alone a cartoon. I really loved the idea of this rather normal, yet extraordinarie character doing great things and being recognized by them. She was just a simple unicorn that broke the mold of a simple unicorn. A good example of making the best of your talents and natural abilities, as well as the relationships and bonds you form with others. Now giving her a power boost and physical transformation to boot kinda stains that for me..

 

Ah but here's the rub! You know the word Hero originally comes from greek mythology, where it literally meant a demigod(that is a son of a god and a human) or a person otherwise marked from birth by the gods, who went on a quest and faced trials, to finally take their birthright and a place among the gods.

 

Twi here is different. Yes she's highly talented, but she is just a normal unicorn. All the power she's gained, all the enlightenment she's achieved is a direct result of her hard work and her sacrifice. And yet.... she still earns her place among the gods. This makes her more realistic to me, not less so. Certainly more than say Hercules or Achilles.

 

That's a powerful message right there: you don't have to be marked from birth by an outside force to be able to reach greatness. You can reach it through devotion and work and your own will. This is compounded by the commentary on imposed destiny versus the kind of destiny you fulfill by following your heart (seen in the cutie mark plot twists ) 

 

The show tells you in a realistic, and non-cheesy way that you are what you choose to be, and you can become anything you truly set your mind to.

Edited February 19, 2013 by soulofthereaver

[hawkflame 3,310]

Great post, one that I find has some fascinating insights . As a whole, I can't really disagree about this episode. It was fantastic.

 

However, it would have been really great as a series finale.

 

I think that, for those who have problems with Twilicorn, is the issue of "where do we go from here?" This is potentially a radically huge change, and with that brings a lot of uncertainty.

[himanuts 165]

I think that, for those who have problems with Twilicorn, is the issue of "where do we go from here?" This is potentially a radically huge change, and with that brings a lot of uncertainty.

Nah. In my case atleast I see alot they can do with the character. Mythology in general is filled with characters, archtypes and stories they can draw influence from, and there is so much they can still expand upon within the world of Equestria. 

 

That's part of the beauty of Twilight as a character, and part of why I dislike the Twilicorn thing. A unicorn, what seems like a normal individual, that never ceases to explore new things to learn is more appealing than a demi-god doing the same. It can still work with Twilicorn though, I just don't feel it'll have the same impact.

 

Ah but here's the rub! You know the word Hero originally comes from greek mythology, where it literally meant a demigod(that is a son of a god and a human) or a person otherwise marked from birth by the gods, who went on a quest and faced trials, to finally take their birthright and a place among the gods.

 

Twi here is different. Yes she's highly talented, but she is just a normal unicorn. All the power she's gained, all the enlightenment she's achieved is a direct result of her hard work and her sacrifice. And yet.... she still earns her place among the gods. This makes her more realistic to me, not less so. Certainly more than say Hercules or Achilles.

 

That's a powerful message right there: you don't have to be marked from birth by an outside force to be able to reach greatness. You can reach it through devotion and work and your own will. This is compounded by the commentary on imposed destiny versus the kind of destiny you fulfill by following your heart (seen in the cutie mark plot twists ) 

 

The show tells you in a realistic, and non-cheesy way that you are what you choose to be, and you can become anything you truly set your mind to.

 

Yes, but times have changed and the perspective of what a hero is has been diversified. Specially in today's times, where the media shoves this dumb ideals that being a famous singer or a princess is the highest achievement a little girl can attain. A main character that achieves glory and recognition without becoming what is regarded by society as the epitomic ideal role (in this case that of a pony princess) was a great thing to show little girls.

 

That's further why I like Twilight as this super talented Unicorn. She was a perfect example to see as a role model. 

 

Regardless, I'm not saying you are wrong. But that there are other, and I think better, alternatives to what Hasbro forced upon the staff.

Edited February 19, 2013 by himanuts

[soulofthereaver 45]

Nah. In my case atleast I see alot they can do with the character. Mythology in general is filled with characters, archtypes and stories they can draw influence from, and there is so much they can still expand upon within the world of Equestria. 

 

That's part of the beauty of Twilight as a character, and part of why I dislike the Twilicorn thing. A unicorn, what seems like a normal individual, that never ceases to explore new things to learn is more appealing than a demi-god doing the same. It can still work with Twilicorn though, I just don't feel it'll have the same impact.

 

 

Yes, but times have changed and the perspective of what a hero is has been diversified. Specially in today's times, where the media shoves this dumb ideals that being a famous singer or a princess is the highest achievement a little girl can attain. A main character that achieves glory and recognition without becoming what is regarded by society as the epitomic ideal role (in this case that of a pony princess) was a great thing to show little girls.

 

That's further why I like Twilight as this super talented Unicorn. She was a perfect example to see as a role model. 

 

Regardless, I'm not saying you are wrong. But that there are other, and I think better, alternatives to what Hasbro forced upon the staff.

 

You hit the nail on the head with that word there: change. But i'd like to amend the tense: it's not just that times HAVE changed, it's that they ARE changing. Or at least they do if we make them. And FiM is a vehicle for social change if i ever saw one. You know Meghan McCarthy retweeted something writer M.C.A. Hogarth said about the finale:

 

 

I asked my daughter what it told her about being a princess and she said, "that you have to learn things and be a good person." *thumbs-up*

 

That is just beautiful! The show is changing children's perceptions about what being a person of high status (in this case a princess) means. They're learning it's not just exposure and wealth and image, but that it's about the necessary qualities that make you fit to hold that position. If a child can see that in a second, there's no reason we shouldn't. 

 

I am aware that this change has the potential to make her less identifiable as a role model on the immediate level, but i think she could be rather something to aspire to. In fact i think that's the intention of the writers. They're teaching the kids: Don't want to be a princess - a person who has shiny things and gets attention, aspire to be a princess as someone who deserves their status and uses it and her abilities for good.

 

 

A unicorn, what seems like a normal individual, that never ceases to explore new things to learn is more appealing than a demi-god doing the same. It can still work with Twilicorn though, I just don't feel it'll have the same impact.

 

Well i'm not sure what direction the show will now take, but i suspect that they're going to turn the epic dial up to eleven, and offer different and interesting challenges that take advantage of the alicornication. And brother, after MMC, the writers earned trust credits up the wazoo.

Edited February 19, 2013 by soulofthereaver