MJ #4: Legend of the Seeker meets Joseph Campbell

Legend of the Seeker is one of the most fascinating shows I have ever had the pleasure to watch.  Filled to the brim with both the familiar and the original, the show takes a crash course into an epic land filled with magic, forbidden love, incredible sword fighting scenes, heart-stopping scenery, and malicious forces from every side (including the hero). 

The adventure starts when malleable Richard Cypher saves a strange girl in the forest and kills a man.  The man, who actually turns out not to be dead, begins to hunt him to get revenge for being pushed off a cliff. (I mean OUCH!)  Richard flees to the-crazy-old-man-on-the-hill's house who, after some awkward scenes with a chicken, tells Richard that he, Zeddicus Zo'l Zorrander, is actually a powerful magician and Richard is the mythical "Seeker of Truth" who must deliver the land from the evil power of Darken Rahl. (Call to Adventure).  Just as Richard's having a 'wtf' moment, the strange girl from the forest, Kahlin Amnell, shows up and tells him that, as much as she doesn't like it, he is indeed the Seeker.  Richard flips out and runs away.  (Refusal of the Call).  Richard is ready to write off this whole escapade, when he realizes that the not-so-dead-man from earlier has burned down his house and murdered his father.  He sets off on a quest of revenge and eventually accepts the help of Kahlin and Zedd as well as the "Sword of Truth" and the role of the Seeker. (Supernatural Aid).  The gang set off to face Mr. Murdering Scum who, in his short time in Hartland where Richard lives, has managed to kill off the villagers livestock, kidnap someone's daughter, and steal the "Book of Counted Shadows" which is the supposed "Seeker's Guide."  Needless to say, Richard's kind of pissed off.  The gang finally finds Mr. Unlikable at "The Boundary," the magical barrier between Hartland and the world of magic, the Midlands.  Richard effectively kills the daddy killer with some sweet sword moves and destroys the "Book of Counted Shadows."  (The Belly of the Whale). Kahlin is mortified but Richard explains that the repercussions of the book falling in the wrong hands is more devastating than losing the book itself.  Finally, Richard accepts his journey totally and crosses "The Boundary" into the Midlands with the sole intention of destroying Darken Rahl for sending his men into Hartland. (Crossing the Threshold).

After this somewhat cliche starting point, the trials begin.  In an episode by episode, monster by monster format, Richard, Kahlin, and Zedd face and defeat them all.  With each encounter, they get closer to Darken Rahl.  (The Road of Trials).  Along the journey, Richard realizes his deep attraction towards Kahlin but that their love can never be.  Kahlin is a "Confessor" which gives her the power to gain absolute control over a person if she touches them.Throughout the show, they remain very close and share their feelings with each other.  (Meeting with the Goddess).  On one of their many adventures, Richard gets captured by a Mord'Sith named Denna.  Mord'Sith are a fearsome lot of women raised from a very early age on the belief of torture and lust.  Battered and broken, Richard almost gives in to Denna's terrible power and become her slave forever, but Kahlin saves him. (Woman as the Temptress).  After a lot more traveling and chaotic happenings,  Richard finally gains the power to destroy Darken Rahl with "The Boxes of Ordon."  These three ornamented boxes, when put together, give mastery over the minds of everyone in the world. (The Ultimate Boon).  However, one cannot use the power without going insane.  From another copy of "The Book of Counted Shadows," Richard discovers that the mixture of Confessor's Love and the Boxes of Ordon will grant ultimate power without insanity. (Apotheosis).  Needless to say, Mr. Supreme Murderer of the Midlands is no more.  Richard is free to live his life without the constant watchful eye of Darken Rahl and has matured from it. (Atonement with the Father).

Richard can now cross between the two worlds at will (Master of the Two Worlds), but chooses not to (Refusal of the Return).  One things for sure though, he definitely earns the Freedom to Live.  (Until the second season...)

Hopefully I haven't ruined Legend for anyone.  Thanks for making it this far.

Mythic Sightings!!!

Well, this one hit me right in the kisser.  The latest episode in my sure-to-be-lifelong-obsession Doctor Who, featured a Minotaur as the alien-to-beat. The poor creature was abandoned in what the characters later found out was a prison cell in space. (What can I say, it's a British Sci-Fi). The prison cell kidnapped people from around the universe and inserted them into a hotel labyrinth in which each person had a door meant just for them.  Each person's room held their deepest fear and as soon as they had found their respective rooms, the 'Minotaur' (yes, they actually called it that) could find and hunt them down in the maze.

Also, while reading about Jungian analysis, I was astounded to see the word "Animus."  Assassin's Creed, the best video game of all time, involves a man named Desmond Miles who is forced to go into his ancestor's memories (Altair and Ezio Auditore) to discover truths in his own life.  The machine that allows him to do this is called "The ANIMUS."  I feel like the system should be called "The ANIMA," however, seeing as the interface uses a feminine voice and has a close relationship with Desmond (who is male).  She definitely allows him to see into his unconscious (where his ancestor's memories are supposedly stored) and even connects him to a Goddess later in the storyline.  The Goddess recognizes Desmond even though it is Ezio who is speaking with her.  The ANIMUS is even slowly becoming a part of Desmond, as he begins seeing visions of his ancestors when he isn't hooked up to the machine.

MJ#3 The HP Family Tree

Family can be a complicated and dangerous topic which is why I'm so surprised I could categorize all of my family through a Harry Potter identity.  First of all, there's me.  Hello, everyone, I'm Luna Lovegood.  I make nonsense out of sense and sense out of nonsense.   Then there's my mom, Molly Weasley.  She's caring, makes the most with what she's got, and would do anything for her family.  Seriously, Bellatrix, you're going down.  My dad, James Potter, died a while back.  It was something of a tragedy.  He was the trouble-maker, leader of the pack, eternal party animal (I mean everyone knows about that time at the Shrieking Shack...) but he turned into a good man in the end.  In the end.  My uncle, Sirius Black, was kind of a dumb-shit as a kid but he transformed into the family protector.  Kind and intelligent, he watches over the lesser of us, like young Harry, my brother.  He's the smart idiot who breezes through life with the promise of destiny and the continued re-occurrence of Lady Luck.  (Seriously...his good luck is astounding).  My aunt, Madame Rosmerta, looks after her husband and her flock with good grace and charm.  She runs an immaculate, well-rounded, and well-loved household.  Her child, my cousin, resembles both Fred AND George, mischievous and charming to off-the-scale levels.  Fleur Delacour, my other cousin, frolicked through life and hardship (the Triwizard Tournament was brutal!) with a strong chance of success and then fell into the arms of a good man.  My other aunt, Nymphadora Tonks, battles through her life in a whirlwind of bad ass action and wild personality and cleverness despite the losses she's had to endure.  Her sister, Sybill Trelawney, flickers on the stranger side.  She is more than competent in her art, although she doesn't know it, and has a fragile heart that could shatter at any moment. (So BACK OFF Umbrige).  My Grandma lives in her own little world of misery and self-confinement, blaming others for her problems.  We try not to call her Moaning Myrtle but...you know.  Her husband is much more reserved.  Olivander hardly says a word, but he has such wisdom and such stories to tell.

Well...there you have it.  Now all I need is some permanent Spell-O Tape and I could post it to the wall.

MJ#2 Life or Life? That is the question...

 The Jeweled, my mythic creation and not-creation, the slippery demon within (like the one living inside Soul Eater), flits through every story but never lingers.  Truly, she belongs nowhere. In the nowhere land of universe, she reigns on high over none because there are none to rule.  Perhaps this only proves her independence, but more likely this proves her loneliness.  The impenetrable Jewel, harder than diamond, too hard.  She must always succeed, always conquer, never fail.... The exhausting, mediocrity of battling Balance, one foot in the light and one in the dark in the soupy realm of atmosphere.  Not that she could feel it anyway.  If she could...oh.  What a dastardly idea.  Who could survive that much power and a soul?  Would they all be "saved?" (Torchwood: Miracle Day).  Or would they all be "saved?"  (The Afterlife).  She will gain a soul eventually but, when that terrible day spins into position, the choice is hers.  Life or life?  Personally, I'd take neither.

MJ#1 The Jeweled Villain

After vainly searching through my Netflix 'Instant Queue' and several piles of books stuffed behind the coffee maker, I realize the myth that I see in myself.  The first 'original' thought in my head came to me in bed one night. I was five years old and relied on others to shape my impressionable mind.  Then the thought scrambled desperately out of its little cage.  Why hadn't I freed it before?  The Jeweled.  She followed me through my dreams and I gave her a story to live in.  As subtle as a river in the Sahara, she wandered through replays of other tales.  She broke Harry's glasses, rode Sapphira (much to Eragon's displeasure), backhanded several irritating characters in the face, and slaughtered any idiot who dared to hurt the good ones. With each story she visited, she acquired a new ability until, finally, she was complete.  Only the plot was left now.  Sequencing my dreams so they picked up right where they left off, I haphazardly structured her a home, her very own plot with her very own sidekicks and enemies forced to deal with her violent, eccentric personality.  Of course even I know she's the real 'bad guy' but I don't mind.  Every 'good' character flourishes with a dark side and every villain grows with a quiet, innocent ambition.  Naturally, that's what makes them a villain in the first place and that's what created The Jeweled.  I suppose that makes me the villain.