Reset #3: Fantasy & Superhero

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

 A recent conversation triggered my nostalgia of Narnia and made me watch "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" all over again. Well, I fast-forwarded some unnecessary sad scenes like the sisters crying for the loss of Aslan at the Stone Table. He was gonna reappear anyway!

"Why did I like Chronicles of Narnia so much?" A question that never occurred to me before popped up. Of course it is a story full of magic, adventures and amazing creatures, but I think what it arouses readers is the hope or belief that we can all be special, or that we can bump into something magnificent. A girl could simply hide in a wardrobe and discover an other-world. Four very common children can become the hope of Narnia to defeat the evil White Witch. Why? There is no requirements to fulfill and suddenly one can be "the chosen one". Notwithstanding that there are many challenges to overcome. But it seems that as long as one answers to the call or accept one's fate, one would succeed. And it can happen to anyone, even the unlikable Eustace. 

The prophecy of the four human children saving Narnia also reflects the "human-centered" ideology, echoing the Messiah idea slightly. Their existence itself brings hope and that is all it takes to overthrow the White Witch. But why? Why did the four kids become the savior? And why are they summoned to Narnia again and again to save the land? 

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She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

I wasn't too interested in the MARVEL multiverse and didn't have the intention to watch this series. Yet a Facebook post on how well the She-Hulk can control anger raised me attention. To be at peace of the Hulk ability means to control one's anger, at least that is what Bruce Banner had struggled  for decades. And he lectured Jane her cousin, who accidentally became She-Hulk about the importance of mastering emotions. Yet Jane already nailed it. Because being a woman makes her good at  controlling anger, 24 hours a day. 

I don't know if this is the original setting from the comic book or the genius input of the film adaptation, but it speaks to the bottom of women's hearts I believe. When men rage, it seems normal and they are just being reckless. But when women get angry, they become the "angry feminists" or "hysterical". After enduring almost 30 years of my dad's patronizing her, she exploded more and more often these days. Her anger was accumulated and flowing like an underground lava that could submerge anytime dad's words poked her, even when his words seem harmless in the scenario. She would just snapped. 

The first two episodes of the series is short and concise. It didn't waste time on how Jane struggled with her newly-gained superpower as this part has been repeated so many times. Instead, she mastered her superpower way faster and determined to return to her normal attorney life. So it points out that in this series, what matters is not about accepting one's abnormality but to strike a balance between her superpower that can save the world and her personal ambition.  Bruce believes that possessing the superpower means the responsibility to protect the world. But Jane has her own dream and life plan. Why should she give up for the sake of this superhero title that probably doesn't come with health care, pension and salary? I just love how realistic our lawyer protagonist is. 

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In a fantasy world, ordinary people can do great things to save the world. And in superhero movies, superheroes fight their inner battles while they fight for world peace. Perhaps the elusive fates and magic have given way to the more substantial superpower. And we have become less interested in ancient myths and embrace more of the sci-fi prophecies.