American gods and tricksters enhance the imagination of magical families

[Ed. note: This article contains some spoilers for American Gods and Trickster.]

Fiction is full of heroes whose journey begins when they discover they have inherited power from parents they never knew existed. Learning Arthur Curry is the heir to Atlantis’s Harry Potter who is about to study witchcraft in his parents’ alma mater, “powerful parent stories” stories usually put their central characters on the path to great feats Are those that can be dangerous, but mostly let them improve their lives and the world.

These narratives create a kind of magical age-old compositions, giving Shakti and the right to gift it to certain groups or families. While the idea that your boring life can be shaken by learning you have a clandestine descent is a fascinating escapist fantasy, it also makes the agency emphasize opponents’ decisions and choices made by their parents, presumably. Even before the birth of a hero. Their journey requires that they follow the life of their parents and follow their path.

Two recent shows gave a twist on that classic archetype, however, creating a supernatural legacy as a full-on curse compared to the usual mixed blessings. Starz American god And CW’s recently canceled Canadian series Trickster Both feature manipulation, abusive dads ruining or ending the lives of their sons. They push the children to come to terms with their complex heritage, and argue that they would probably be better off without their dad and their gift.

not American godShadow Moon or TricksterJared is in good condition when his shows begin. Shadow is about to get out of prison after the devilish casino robbery. Jared is arguably worse, trying to support his parents by making and selling ecstasy while attending high school and working in fast-food restaurants. Their family situation is already highly complex. Her mother, Maggie, is so in debt to her drug dealer, Richie, that she begins to threaten them both. Jared’s father, Phil, is a recovering oxycopt addict who just learned that his girlfriend is pregnant.

Then the situation gets worse. Shadow loses his wife and his planned post-rite work together, working with his best friend when a car accident kills them both. It is revealed that both were in an affair and added salt to the wound. In this state of desperation, he starts working for Mr. Wednesday (Ian Macsen), who eventually learns that he is the architect of the Norse God Odin, his misfortune, and his father.

It was revealed on Wednesday, for the car accident to ensure that his son had nothing to lose, leaving him a loyal figure among mythological old gods and newbies representing abstract concepts such as the media More likely to be bodyguards and soldiers. and Technology. He is a master manipulator, playing on the emotions of almost everyone who tries to enlist him for his cause. He left Chhaya’s mother and did not help his son when he died of cancer, but now that he needed Chhaya, he would not let her go.

Odin is a very classic charismatic abs. The highlight of season 2 American god There is an episode in which Odin shows his betrayal to his completely divine son Thor aka Donor Odinson. Expecting her son to become a famous strongman to benefit from Pooja, he inspired her to work with the Nazis. When Donner tried to elope with the woman he loved, another celestial artist in Wednesday’s cabaret broke up their romance on Wednesday and attacked his own son. American god‘The third season begins on a similar note, with Shadow finally finding peace, only to have his life interrupted by Wednesday’s demands, as he moves to a small small town on Wednesday, not to even tell on Wednesday.

Shadow’s divine heritage gives him predictions. It also gives him a host of powerful enemies, and a warning about everyone he meets on Wednesday will not be good for him. If the show remains faithful to the plot of Guyman’s book, things could get worse for Shadow. Unfortunately, in season 3, the show is a muddled mess, constantly diving into flashbacks and side plots that break away from this central conflict.

TricksterBased on the Eden Robinson trickster series, More focused and have nuances in their subjects about dealing with family goods. Jared’s real father turns out to be Phil’s old friend Wade, who returns to the city with a beloved motorcycle, tremendous swagger and dangerous charisma. He helps Jared improve his life as it continues to spiral out of control, thanks to a conflict with Maggie and Richie.

But Maggie is no victim, and Wade is more dangerous than Wednesday. Maggie’s a witch who used her powers to kill Wade when she tried to steal her newborn baby. But Wade could not be murdered, as he is an almost immortal ancient draper who is carrying out his responsibility to maintain a balance between the mysterious powers of the world – a duty that requires him to die at the hands of his son.

Adding to the Oedipal theme is the fact that Wade’s powers are actually similar to Jared’s rise. Once Jared begins to manifest his shapeshifting powers and the ability to recover from almost any wound is reduced. It is considered a father’s natural process to do what he can for his son and then move on, but Wade refuses to go slowly even after leading several normal lives.

Kalani looks smug as Wade in the Queipo trickster

Photo: Lindsey Sarazine / Siana Films

Many narratives represent the family in harsh words, showing parents who would do anything to protect and care for their children. Harry Potter’s parents sacrificed themselves to protect her and Aquaman’s mother left her on the surface to keep her secret from those in Atlantis who would kill her. but Trickster It is extraordinary in its brutal honesty about parental abuse and neglect, and sometimes children should take care of themselves, even if they are all protecting their parents.

Maggie’s mother was an abusive alcoholic who dumped her and Jared, and those scars affect her ability to become a mother. He will do anything to protect Jared, but he regularly ignores her wishes and leaves her to handle serious problems. Phil also loves Jared, but he is basically the child of their relationship, who relies on Jared’s money to survive. Wade himself seems like a better parent than either – he can save Jared from his formidable situation. But he does nothing but hostility to his offspring, as they symbolize his own mortality.

A contrast with Jared: Sarah, a girl in foster care who is working outside so she can be taken from house to house, and uses the trick to search for her real parents. When Jared has a panic attack in class, she suggests running away together and relinquishing all of his responsibilities. But he is bound by practical and supernatural ideas. This is a powerful comment about how a family can be a source of strength, but it can also prevent us from living a better life. This concept is directly opposed to the usual supernatural family narrative, where a powerful family is the seed that ever gives you everything you love, friends, money, and power.

Both Wednesday and Wade claim that they need to hold onto their power for something greater. in American god, This is to stop the new gods, who want to do my will in a harmful way, to worship humanity more. Wade claims Trickster More complicated – he says that he should be allowed to live because he is a repository for knowledge that would otherwise be lost, as the indigenous people of Canada have been tortured against. Yet Wade doesn’t really care about sharing those traditions. His equally long-surviving enemies seem more willing to pass on lost lore to those who will help keep the trickster in his place.

Father and son (Joel Oilet and Kalani Cuipo) in trickster

Photo: Lindsey Sarazine / Siana Films

These types of father-son conflicts are not unique. Trickster or American god. Luke Skywalker inherited his father’s ability to use the army and used that power to defeat Darth Vader in battle, although his greatest strength was actually the compassion and kindness that enabled him to actually assassinate his father And prevent her from falling into the dark side. Trickster Follows a similar path. Jared knows that Wade is a monster that definitely deserves to be killed, but he is determined to find a way to help everyone without actually hurting Wade. It is unfortunate that the cancellation of the show means that we will not see onscreen whether Jared can succeed. American god Still pulling back Shadow hates Wednesday, but most of all what she is doing to stop him is ignoring her call.

Magical inheritance stories are problematic in that they entail a vision of a world where genetics is the destiny, and some families literally have a divine right over power. Stories like American god And Trickster Make the trope more important by accepting that parents are not always altruistic or able to capitalize, and children should not be forced to follow the path that their parents set for them. Have done.

Both Shadow and Jared gain supernatural powers from their father, but those abilities do not let them improve their lives. They are more than a burden, and a reminder of their terrible legacy of betrayal and violence. Both Wednesday and Wade may think they have blessed their sons by allowing them to exist as part of powerful bloodlines. And they both feel that their sons give them as a result .. but they refuse to give them the greatest power that a guardian can provide: agency to live their life.

American god Season 3 is Streaming on starz. Seasons 1 and 2 are available for digital rental or purchase on various rental platforms. Trickster Is streaming on Cw website.

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