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A hero should have a heart. Whether it's romantic or platonic love, it can add to the story... as long as it's genuine.
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about love, then, in its many forms.
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A hero’s got to have a heart. That’s what I believe. It’s probably why I’m not too keen on those Westerns where it’s basically the man, and his horse, and his gun, and he’ll sooner or later win some widow’s heart, but no! He’s not the type to be ‘tied down’! He’s got a mission! So, he breaks her heart, and off he goes ridin’ into the sunset.
I don’t need my action stories to have some big, romantic storyline. Especially not when the romantic partner is some two-dimensional human being who’s just kind of… there, looking handsome or pretty. It’s even worse when they exist purely as a prop to give the main character their purpose or motivation, like the wife/child who gets kidnapped, driving the veteran out of retirement, off on a rescue mission with an added dose of vengeance. The suffering of undeveloped characters is too often used to give some semblance of depth to main characters, rather than that character’s actual personality, morals and emotions being explored as the story unfolds.
There doesn’t need to be any romance at all. One of my favourite TV series returns to our screens today – The Mandalorian, which so far has done a good job building and exploring the bond between a man, Din Djarin, and the young (for his species) Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda. The story of Din and Grogu has heart, and depth – both have suffered trauma, and both are uncertain about their place in the universe. All that they know, right now, is that they care about the other and have formed a clan of two.
The actor who plays Din Djarin – Pedro Pascal – also stars in a popular new series called The Last of Us. Here, again, his role is a protective one, teamed up with a teenage girl in a post-apocalyptic world. If you’re into that kind of story, it’s worth a watch.
Sticking with Pedro Pascal for a moment (which is no hardship, truly), his part in Game of Thrones could have been a perfect example of the woman’s-suffering-used-for-man’s-motivation trope I mentioned above, but his acting was of such quality that it still had heart, and I felt emotionally involved. Prince Oberyn Martell offers to be Tyrion Lannister’s champion, because it gives him the opportunity to face the man responsible for his sister’s death, and his emotions play a big role in the outcome.
Whether it’s familial love, then, or the love for found family, or romantic love, feelings matter. Feelings make us human, and relatable. Most people care about at least someone, or something. Most need to be loved, or cared about. To have some support. Someone who’s there for them, and who’s proud of their achievements. Someone who cares about what happens to them.
It could be a pet, even. A loyal dog, or a cat who greets you when you get home, tail held high in the air. A pet rat nestled in the pouch of your hoodie, or a parrot dancing on your shoulder. It’s still love. It’s still friendship, or family, and it matters.
But, as said, I have nothing against a romantic subplot, as long as it works with the rest of the story. If I’m watching or reading action, it shouldn’t be the main focus, nor should it feel forced. If a genuine connection builds between characters, however, it can add to my overall enjoyment of the adventure. Sometimes it can even support a bigger theme – the difficult relationship between Katniss and Peeta in The Hunger Games, for example, shone a light on the brutality of the regime and the power play surrounding the characters.
Happy endings are good too, though. I love a happy ending. After all the tension, all the excitement, it’s nice to see the characters ride off into the sunset. Together.
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Action/Adventure: March 01, 2023 Issue [#11838]
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