Gargoyles: One Chance

MiyaTheGoldenFlower

Oh how I wish there had been something like that in the show. I always believed that her hatred towards humanity was a coping mechanism for her guilt and grief, if she admitted that she was the primary responsible for the destruction of her clan and all her tragedies, that would destroy her. I remember in one episode, this scene where they were trying to get her to give a code for something important/lethal, and some sorceresses with a spell started asking some interesting questions with the "who did this?" from the beginning of her bad decisions, similar to when therapists try to show you the whole picture. She responded by blaming others, until they came to the center, a self-reflection, her thirst for revenge only created more pain and loneliness, unfortunately at the end of the conversation she returned to the same "You put me under a spell! None of this is my fault, it was the humans! Always the humans!" She is very similar to other tragic villains/antagonists, their hatred and pain is understandable but the actions are not justifiable. It is basically the representation of "What have I-... What have THEY done?!" It's funny because their pride, denial, and their projection of their own mistakes makes them commit more pain and hurt innocent people because of it, even their own beloved people. Killmonger was right that the rulers of Wakanda were selfish and cruel when they did nothing to save the people of Africa when they were kidnapped to be forced to be slaves, when they did not get directly involved in the various armed conflicts on the continent, when they left him alone after killing his father even though he was an innocent child in an environment of poverty and violence, but it does not justify how he himself hurt his people, how he was willing to basically commit genocide, use a kingdom as a weapon to achieve their goal of revenge, hatred and death. He then meets his end. Namur had every right to distrust the world above when he watched the colonizers destroy entire civilizations and all the hatred and violence of the people on the surface, he loved and wanted to protect his people, but he was also willing to kill a innocent young girl for the simple fact that the Government of her country stole her invention that she only made out of her scientific curiosity, in his paranoia he saw her as a ultimate danger that had to be eradicated, and when he did not obtain the expected results, he took his army, attacked and killed innocent people, because it is "my way or no way" and it was not until Zuri spared her life even though she had thousands of reasons not to, she saw the big picture, breaking the cycle of destruction and uniting as leaders of peoples hit by slavery, colonization, and the greed of others. Yes, he could no but he put his pride behind and his beloved people first. I believe that people can change, everybody can, but only if they want too, and no one is obligated to accept this person again or their apology, as Charlie Spring once said: “I'm glad that you realise that what you did was wrong but you don’t get to ambush me into forgiving you. Sorry doesn't make up for everything you did to me. I really hope you become a better person so you don’t hurt anyone else. But I don’t want to be there to see that happen.” I think the reason why many people are so very critical with redemption arch, is because the writers don't know how to make it well. Redemption does not mean that everything is forgiven, it is a: We give you an opportunity to reflect, heal, become a better person but with admitting and repairing your mistakes, it is painful, slow and full of potholes, but it is your path to travel. And this takes time, but these usually these arcs are rushed and messy. Catra from Shera for example, she is very similar to Demona, but the ending left a bad taste in my mouth that despite everything just because there was a major and More dangerous "villain" everyone was suddenly okay with her around just because she made the "major sacrifice" and finally did "a good thing", but my God! They should have handled that arc better, I felt so much anger for my sweet former child soldier Adora, the poor thing has a very big heart "I know she has done horrible things and hurt many, but I can't just leave her there, abandon her." I know that Adora is a damaged person but also a noble heart, that her feelings were complicated and she never gave up on Catra and did not excuse her evil actions, because of their friendship since childhood and mutual love that they never spoke about but IT FELT AS INSULTING AS EVERYTHING , THE PAIN, THE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES AND LIVES, THE ABUSE, THE TOXICITY, EVERYTHING WAS PUT UNDER THE RUG. Why Catras pain is valid but Adora isn't? Can you imagine if after all the crap that Demona did, the show try to do something similar? Yeah that doesn't work. That's why I think this kind of conversation works, this is what is missing in so many redemptions, own mistakes and asking the important questions, what is more important? You need for validate you hate and pain when you were you own worse enemy? Or the opportunity to the end of your loneliness with a new beginning along someone that you hold dear and finally find peace? Sorry for the long text and english is not my first language so I apologize if anything sound weird.