Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Would He Walk 500 Miles, Then 500 More, Just To Be A Hero? (or) This Feels Like Deja Vu, Or Deja Vu Of Deja Vu

So, everyone is still talking about how "The Force Awakens" was just a remake/reboot of "A New Hope," and how it looks like the sequel will be a carbon-copy of the original sequel.

But is it?

And if it is, is that bad?

And if it isn't, is that good?

No, no/kinda, maybe.

I will start with the second question.  "Is that bad (that TLJ is a remake/reboot of ESB)?"  No.  Or kinda.  Or both.  How can it be both?  Mythology.

If you look about at the classic myths (Greece, Rome, Norse, etc) you will see similar stories, heroic types, monsters, and themes.  Joseph Campbell, who studied mythologies, noticed these common items and wrote a book about it: The Hero With A Thousand Faces.  In it he describes the "monomyth" (sometimes also called "the hero's journey").  Not all "saga-type" stories adhere to all the parts, and not all follow in the prescribed order, but stories that feature these archetypes tend to feel big and epic.  Campell's work influenced a number of storytellers.

Including an innovative film maker in the 1970s with a story he called "Star Wars."

While wiki may be be a "better" way to learn about this, the TV Tropes site has a good article too.  (Right here -> The Hero's Journey)  There are seventeen steps.

The gist is this:
  • Act 1 - Departure - the hero leaves the familiar world behind
  • Act 2 - Initiation - the hero learns to navigate the unfamiliar world of adventure
  • Act 3 - Return - the hero returns to the familiar world

I could sum these three up with quotes from the original Star Wars trilogy.
"You must learn about the Force, if you are to come with me to Alderaan."
"There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me."
"No more training, do you require. Already know you that which you need."
The original trilogy follows Luke, and his plot adheres to the Monomyth cycle quite nicely.  You want examples?  Very well.

Miraculous or circumstances surrounding hero's conception/birth:  He's a twin.  (Granted, we don't know this initially, but his being an orphan counts sort of as half point here.)

A herald brings The Call to adventure: R2 and the message from the princess.  This leads directly to...

Refusing The Call: its not that he likes the Empire, but there's nothing he can do about it.

Crossing the first threshold: Could be the destruction of the homestead, or the flight from Tatooine.  Either way, its a rapid and violent break from the "safe" place he was in.

There are many more categories, and even subcategories.  They aren't needed for a good story, but many good stories do have some aspects of the cycle.

Now I fully believe that the guys and gals at Lucasfilm are on the right track emulating the original trilogy.  Why?  'Cause it works.  And since they are operating out of the monomyth cycle playbook, and in the Star Wars universe to boot, things will look very similar.  Hence the answer to my third question, "is that good," because it might be.

Now, I think it is, and am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt (for now).  But, let's see if they really are adhering to the cycle.  Let's examine if the main character is on the Hero's Journey, based only on TFA.
  • The Call to Adventure - BB-8 shows up on Jakku and needs help from Rey.  At Niima Outpost they run into Finn.
  • Refusal of the Call - Rey is hesitant to assist BB-8, and especially unhappy to work with Finn (initially).  After hijacking the Falcon she wants to go back to Jakku.
  • Supernatural Aid - BB-8, Finn, Han Solo, Maz Kanata all could count.  The Force, most obviously.
  • Crossing the First Threshold - Hijacking the Falcon during the attack.
  • Belly of the Whale - The vision with the Skywalker Lightsaber.  The torture Rey endured from Kylo Ren, including her ability to turn it around.  Somewhat literally would be the Falcon being taken aboard Han and Chewie's new ship, and the subsequent "adventure" with rathtars.
  • The Road of Trials - Rey first "tapping" into her powers, but reverse-interrogating Kylo Ren.
  • Meeting with the Goddess/Love - Both Finn and Han showing her that they care.  In the former regarding her safety.  With the latter regarding offering her a job.  Both willingly go to save her.
  • Temptation - The desire to return to Jakku is one, but so is Kylo Ren's offer to train Rey.
  • Atonement with the Hero’s Father - Rey hasn't experienced this yet, I think.
  • Peace and Fulfillment Before the Hero’s Return - Rey coming to accept that whoever she's been waiting for on Jakku won't be back.
  • The Ultimate Boon - If the lightsaber fight didn't prove she's gonna be a Jedi...
  • Refusal of the Return - She doesn't go back to Jakku, but travels to Ahch-To to train with Luke.
  • Magic Flight - Escaping from the cell using a Jedi mind trick.
  • Rescue from Without - The Falcon showing up to rescue Rey and Finn after the lightsaber fight.
  • Return - Viewing the map at the Resistance base.
  • Master of Two Worlds - Not yet.
  • Freedom to Live - Moving forward after losing her home, her father figure, and almost losing her best friend.

Now, this is just me, being a nerd.  It isn't official, and I may be wrong, but since I see the similarities, especially in the storytelling methods, as strengths, it makes the story more enjoyable.  That's one advantage of writing fiction.  I have grown a greater appreciation for the craft, the art, the science of storytelling.

So, no, The Last Jedi isn't a "remake/reboot" of The Empire Strikes Back.  There will be many similarities, in part because it has been a considerable time since the originals came out.  And since the First Order is the heir of the Empire, it makes sense they'd use similar but improved methods and weapons.  To complain about the "Death Star 3" and such would be like complaining that a movie on tanks in Desert Storm was just a ripoff of a movie on the Battle of the Bulge because the tanks are obviously just "bigger" versions of the old ones, used in basically the same way.

Sounds silly because it is.

Besides, at the end of the day, if you're still feeling salty about it, just repeat the Mystery Science Theater 3000 mantra:

Until Dec. 15, remember to keep calm and carry on, and enjoy an ice cold Fanta... on me, of course.

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