KARACHI:
Subplots take various forms in fiction, and romance is usually a top contender in most media. Without an additional layer to add flavor to a film or show, the work of art is denied an introspective exploration of this complex phenomenon we call “humanity.” One of our favorite supplements is found family.—a trope that confidently walks the fine line between romantic love and biological attachment.
when you think of Avatar: The Last Airbendera 12 year old tattooed monk is not all that comes to mind. Sure, having unique abilities and unparalleled fights makes Aang the heart of the show, but there’s so much more that fills his heart and ours with light. If our war-torn Avatar hadn’t started a family along the way, this nostalgic series would be a lot more depressing than you remember.
Without Katara’s skills and guidance, or Sokka’s pranks and intelligence, or Toph’s teasing and talents, or Zuko’s conflict and development, Aang wouldn’t be half the character he becomes in the end. of the series. the crew—or Gaang, as we affectionately know them—They are Aang’s found family. It is the influence this unit has on our protagonist that helps him advance on his journey to becoming a fully realized Avatar.
For Aang, who has lost any semblance of home due to a massacre, his crew are not just companions accompanying him. Rather, they become a family that helps you for the rest of your physical and spiritual life. Despite being unrelated, the Gaang have purposes greater than that of a biological family.
While three friends hone their elemental skills, the others lend tactical strength, such as weaponry and physical strength, for war. Additionally, they help Aang overcome various obstacles, including enemies with fire and psychological trauma. And along the way, everyone learns something about themselves.
As Aang’s first mentor, Katara masters her element on a scale unsurpassed. As she embarks on a journey with strangers to teach the Avatar, Toph eventually discovers a break in her shell and explores the identity that blossoms as a result. By helping Aang overcome his fear of fire, Zuko finally understands where true honor lies for him. Even non-benders like Suki and Sokka play their respective roles in saving the world by getting involved in something much bigger than themselves.
Many colors of the trope.
The funny thing is that the trope doesn’t stop in this series. The familiar found trope goes back to the fantasy musical. The Wizard of Ozwhich follows Dorothy’s journey as she sets out to return home and encounters the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion along the way. This story tells the beauty of a friendship that allows you to discover your own strengths, to the point that it is believed to have popularized the concept.
A family found in the media can also form in unexpected circumstances, at first brought together by the consequences and then developing a bond closer than any other. An example of this is the fantasy novel. six of crowswhich follows six criminals as they band together and execute a heist.
This Leigh Bardugo narrative is set in a landscape of street gangs and supernatural abilities and requires the recruitment of six outcasts to hide a human target. Although the estranged relationships are pre-established, the duology is based on the budding affinity between the six protagonists, especially in the second installment, which follows a rescue mission.
Because this rescue mission is integral to the main team’s emotional journey, their character arcs are further explored in the sequel. Kaz has to deal with his repressed feelings finally coming to the surface, Wylan has to face bitter realities about the people he used to know, Nina has to deal with a literal power struggle with her own body after almost making a sacrifice in the last play book, etc.
The purpose of the found family trope is not only to explore its weight on the characters but also on the plot as a whole. In stranger thingsWill’s inability to disconnect from the Upside Down despite his friends rescuing him reflects an emotional journey related to the plot. Similarly, the ghosts of Eleven’s past still haunt her even though she tries to burn bridges with the help of her friends.
The trope is a crucial reminder that friends aren’t meant to solve your problems; They can only support you through a course of healing that you must undertake on your own. They can help you cope with what lies ahead, but those are still your own battles to fight. This is evidenced by Eleven’s friends being unable to remove the infection lodged in her legs, causing her immense pain in the process. It is up to her to expel him from his roots while they could only stand by and support him. Sometimes a silent gesture is all you need.
The definitive trip
Speaking of silent gestures, another family of choice formed by reluctance is the crew we follow in guardians of the galaxy. We’ve all heard of enemies to lovers, but have you ever seen enemies to friends portrayed with excellence? That’s what the Guardians are based on.
You might think that there is no reason for people who berate each other at any given time to unite. However, plans to save the world can unite any half-hearted group. You don’t even necessarily need heroic intent for it. The fact that you reluctantly live on that planet is reason enough.
And it becomes more than just a pivotal expedition for the Guardians, whose final battle culminates with them holding hands and defeating the enemy. The true essence of the power of friendship that defeats evil and with a worthy reward! Not only do they end up victorious, but they also divide the act of sacrifice among everyone so that no individual member is compromised. That is not friendship; That’s family.
The love grows stronger as the Marvel subfranchise progresses. Instead of offering a grand send-off, the final film focuses on his rocky journey to cure his teammate Rocket. That’s the appeal of this team over most others; It begins and ends with them. Sometimes, that’s life. You could spend your life fighting monsters to defend yourself; you might even be content to fail. But when it comes to a friend turned family, there is no room for compromise.
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