The Ultimate Hero's Journey
Page 11
Sideways: Miles’s “plan” is to go kiss Maya in Stephanie’s kitchen, but the moment is long gone.
Dodgeball: Peter asks Kate, “What kind of law are you involved in, pretty eyes?” She answers, “Sexual harassment, mostly.”
Related:
168 – Second Declaration of Love
185 – Consummation of Love
125 – The Über-Villain
The Villain answers to another, more
powerful Villain hidden in the shadows.
Description:
The Über-Villain is a dark mentor—the Villain’s boss.
This character allows room for the Villain to grow, enriching the Villain’s arc. This is useful in the case of a series of novels or movies, because it adds complexity to the structure of characters and to the plot.
The Villain will eventually supersede the Über-Villain, seizing that role (or, more rarely, finding redemption, like Vader at the end ofStar Wars:Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi.)
Examples:
Star Wars: Darth Vader answers, for now, to Emperor Palpatine, his Sith Master.
The Matrix: Agent Smith answers, for now, to the Architect, the intelligence behind the Matrix.
Harry Potter: Professor Quirrell answers to Voldemort, of course.
Sideways: Jack and Miles answer, for now, to their own whims and weaknesses.
Dodgeball: White Goodman is a slave to his own deranged narcissism.
126 – The Villain’s Stronghold
We learn about the dark side’s innermost cave.
Description:
The Villain’s Stronghold is either the place where the Ultimate Boon is located or the place where the Hero can prevent the Villain from getting it. It is the scenario of the final battle.
The path that leads to the Villain’s Stronghold is full of difficulties: Guardians, obstacles, distance, and enemies. It’s like the road to Mordor, inThe Lord of the Rings.
In this stage, however, we only get adescription of that place; the Hero hasn’t even started that road. In fact, the Hero doesn’t have any idea how to get in there, and everybody else believes the Hero is crazy just for thinking about it.
Examples:
Star Wars: The Death Star has a weak spot: A small exhaust port connected to its reactor; a torpedo precisely fired through it could start a chain reaction. A pilot says, “That’s impossible, even for a computer.”
The Matrix:The crew finds out where Morpheus is being kept prisoner. Tank says, “Neo, this isloco. They’ve got Morpheus in a military controlled building.”
Harry Potter: The kids find out where the sorcerer’s stone is: Deep inside Hogwarts, behind all sorts of magical deterrents.
Sideways: Miles finds out where Jack’s wedding rings are: In Cammi’s room. Jack left his wallet in there, when he escaped.
Dodgeball: “Welcome to Las Vegas, a city where you can get a happy ending, but only if you pay a little extra!”
Related:
127 – A Suicide Mission
140 – The Villain’s Weakness
127 – A Suicide Mission
Only a crazy person would try to get in there.
Description:
Arriving at the Stronghold is difficult, but trying to enter is just suicidal.
A plan is developed. Now, if the plan is explained to the audience, you know that it’s not going to work. Only secret plans work.
Note that nobody is entering anywhere, yet. The Hero and friends are just assessing the difficulties of the mission at this point.
Everyone thinks it is a suicide mission, but the Hero sees no other option.
Examples:
Star Wars: Han says, “Attacking that battle station ain’t my idea of courage. It’s more like suicide.”
The Matrix: Tank says, “I want Morpheus back too, but what you’re talking about is suicide.”
Harry Potter: Hermione says she is going to bed before Harry and Ron come up with another clever idea to get them killed, “or worse—expelled!”
Sideways: Jack’s “plan” is to go back and ask for the rings. That’s like asking to be killed.
Dodgeball: Average Joe’s must face the Purple Cobras in the finals without Patches. Dwight says, “We’ll get killed out there, Peter.”
Related:
089 – A Bad Feeling about This
126 – The Villain’s Stronghold
128 – The Villain’s Speech
The Villain delivers a speech. Lies, lies, lies.
Description:
The Villain gains support by delivering a convincing speech, one full of promises and visions of a better future.
The Villain says it’s “for justice,” “for the safety of our nation,” “for peace,” or something else along those lines. Make the Villain sound reasonable and look like someone you would follow if you didn’t know the malignant intentions behind the speech, of course.
Examples:
InStar Wars: InEpisode III - The Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine gives a speech in the Galactic Senate: “In order to ensure its continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the First Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society.” Everyone applauds.
The Matrix: Smith praises the Matrix: “Have you ever stood and stared at it, marveled at it’s beauty, it’s genius?” Then he explains to Morpheus that humans aren’t mammals but viruses and that the Machines are “the cure.”
Harry Potter: InThe Deathly Hallows, Voldemort praises Pius Thicknesse, the new Minister of Magic: “Ha! Spoken like a true politician. You will, I think, prove most useful, Pius.”
Sideways: Jack wants to put the wedding on hold. “I’m thinking about Christine’s feelings too. I take marriage very seriously,” he says.
Dodgeball: White bribes Peter: “Do you really think it’s fair for them to put all that pressure on you? All the time? Looking to you to solve their every problem?”
Related:
036 – The Villain’s Orders
151 – Villain’s Final Allegation
129 – The Villain’s Shadow
The Villain accuses the Hero of being exactly what the Villain is.
Description:
The Villain insults the Hero (or the Mentor), which paradoxically is a reflection of the Villain’s own true nature.
This stage presents the archetype of the Shadow: Whatever we accuse others of,that’s what we unconsciously are ourselves. We have to surpass ourselves, and the only way to do it is by throwing some light onto that dark part of our souls.
Sometimes Villains go a step further and exalt their own personality, as ifthey were the noble ones here. Yeah, sure.
Examples:
Star Wars: Darth Vader tells Obi-Wan, “When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master.” Actually, Obi-Wan is still the master; Vader has a lot to learn (for example, that Luke is his son—not to mention Leia).
The Matrix: Smith tells Morpheus, “Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague.” Actually, the world is plagued by Machines, and humans are just their energy source.
Harry Potter: Malfoy tells on Harry, Ron, and Hermione, accusing them of being out of the castle at night. But Malfoy was out too; that’s how he got to spy on them.
Sideways: Jack recriminates Miles, (“You dumb fuck”) because Miles got drunk and called his ex-wife. Actually, the “dumb fuck” in this story is Jack himself, risking everything for a sexual adventure.
Dodgeball: White tells Peter, “You are heading for a fall, Peter.” But it is actually White himself who’s heading that way.
Related:
105 – The Villain’s Disturbance
130 – Resentment of the Mentor
The old guy left some things out.
Description:
It is revealed that the Mentor kept a part of the truth hidden.
The Hero and audience don’t resent the Mentor much, though: Had the Mentor fully disclosed things, the Hero would have refused t
he challenge (see stage048 – Historic Battle).
All things considered, the Mentor wasn’t asking the Hero for anything the Mentor wasn’t ready to give, too.
Examples:
Star Wars:InEpisode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Luke learns that Vader is his father; Obi-Wan told him something different, of course. Luke cries desperately, his hand cut off, hanging above an abyss.
The Matrix: Cypher is enraged. “He lied to us, Trinity!” he screams, talking about Morpheus. “He tricked us!”
Harry Potter: Dumbledore took Harry as a student but never explained a tiny part of the deal: Someday, he will have to face Voldemort in a fight to death. You can’t tell that to an eleven-year-old kid.
Sideways: Miles finally understands that Jack was never interested in golf or wine—only sex.
Dodgeball: Patches never said that dodgeball training involved brutal, life-threatening exercises, like dodging wrenches. Or speeding cars. Or wrenches.
131 – The Price of Victory
The Hero realizes that sacrifice is the only way.
Description:
This is an existential moment. Even comedies get serious here.
The Hero understands and accepts the role in the bigger scheme of things. Defeating the Villain means that the Hero will die—sometimes literally, but at least symbolically. Indeed, true sacrifice means to fight for the loved ones’ happiness at the price of one’s own.
Note that this is only the moment of realizing and accepting the sacrifice—not yet the moment of sacrifice itself.
Examples:
Star Wars:InEpisode VI - The Return of the Jedi, there is a two-way realization: Luke realizes that he has to sacrifice himself to redeem Anakin; later on, Vader will realize that he has to die in order to save his son from Palpatine’s fury.
The Matrix:InRevolutions, Neo realizes that he will have to surrender to the Machines in order to stop Smith and save humanity.
Harry Potter: Harry realizes that he will have to die in order to kill Voldemort and save humanity.
Sideways: Miles realizes that he has to “die” to his depressed, frustrated older self.
Dodgeball: Peter realizes that he has to “die” to his lazy, indolent older self in order to save his gym and his friends.
Related:
009 – Mutual Creation
132 – Attack 9: The Hero’s Lair
The Villain launches another powerful attack.
Description:
The Villain doesn’t want to play with his food—he wants to kill it.
The Hero’s lair (home, vehicle, room, cave, or hiding place) gets destroyed, ransacked or damaged.
Examples:
Star Wars: Swarms of TIE Fighters attack the Millennium Falcon (Han’s home). It sustains heavy damage, but the ship makes it into hyperspace.
The Matrix:Cypher has control of the ship. Everyone else is either dead or connected to the Matrix (i.e., at his mercy), except for Tank. When Cypher is about to kill Neo, he gets fried by Tank, who is alive and wielding the ray gun, now. This stage doubles here as167 – The Cavalry Arrivesand187 – Ally Is Fine.
Harry Potter:InThe Chamber of Secrets, someone breaks in and ransacks Harry’s dorm in order to steal Tom Riddle’s diary.
Sideways: Stephanie learns about Jack imminent wedding, and she goes to the guy’s Motel. She breaks Jack’s nose with her motorcycle helmet.
Dodgeball: Peter enters his hotel room and finds White in there, waiting to bribe him. Huge Me’Shell comes out of the bathroom, where he just punished the porcelain (the seven-foot-tall man has been having some digestive problems).
Related:
113 – Attack 8: Shock and Awe
133 – Detachment to Protect Allies
The Hero leaves everything and everyone behind.
Description:
The Hero wants to end this and protect friends, so the Hero leaves alone.
It’s a noble attitude. But it is also counterphobic; a consequence of the Hero’s desperation. It’s like when you run into the cold sea instead of going in slowly.
This attitude by the Hero triggers stage137 – Recrimination by Ally. What the Hero doesn’t understand is that the allies are not fightingforhim: They are fightingwith him, for what they love. It’s their story, too.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke leaves Dagobah to confront Vader, alone. It’s a trap, of course, and he’s stepping into it.
The Matrix: Neo prepares his immersion chair: He marches to rescue Morpheus, and he wants to do it alone.
Harry Potter: Hermione petrifies Neville. Ron says, “Sorry. It’s for your own good, you know.” They leave to find the stone.
Sideways: This stage works more comically: Jack tells Miles to go alone inside Cammi’s house and get the wallet, because his ankle hurts.
Dodgeball: Peter vanishes. He doesn’t want to tell his friends that he took White’s bribe.
Related:
137 – Recrimination by Ally
134 – The Team Gets Scattered
The allies are forced to follow different paths.
Description:
The good guys scatter as a consequence of stage132 – Attack 9: The Hero’s Lair.
That is okay, though; their roles in the final battle will differ, and somehow everyone will end up in the battle station where they are supposed to be.
Examples:
Star Wars: Obi-Wan is gone, Leia is at the Rebel base, Han and Chewie are leaving, and Luke and R2D2 are going to battle.
The Matrix: Dozer, Switch, and Apoc are gone, Morpheus is imprisoned, the Oracle is unreachable, Tank is in the ship, and Neo and Trinity go to battle.
Harry Potter: Dumbledore is gone, Neville is frozen, the other professors are in denial, and the three friends are getting deeper into uncharted territory.
Sideways: Jack is having sex with Cammi, Maya left, Stephanie left, and Miles is alone.
Dodgeball: Patches is gone, Jason is with Amber at the cheerleading tournament, Steve The Pirate wanders alone in the streets, Peter left, and the true “Hero” of the story, the rest of the friends, head to the arena where they will forfeit the game.
Related:
133 – Detachment to Protect Allies
135 – The Hero’s Fall
All subplots go south.
Description:
The Hero changed strategies in midpoint, which looked promising. But now Murphy’s Law kicks in: Everything that can go wrong does exactly that.
The Hero’s reaction depends on the type of hero. Unwilling heroes are either paralyzed or continue moving by inertia; willing heroes keep pushing ahead against all odds.
This is definitely the worst moment for the Hero. The light at the end of the tunnel will be visible in stage142 – Third Epiphany.
Examples:
Star Wars: The Death Star approaches, Leia is pissed off, Han’s gone, and Luke is not that keen about the Force, yet. The chances of survival are infinitesimal—no need to ask C3PO.
The Matrix: The Squids approach, Morpheus’s resistance is shaking, half the crew is dead, the ship is about to be destroyed, and Neo believes he is not The One.
Harry Potter: The kids face the “most painful of deaths” by trying to protect the sorcerer’s stone. The teachers don’t believe the kids’ warnings, and advancing gets increasingly difficult and dangerous.
Sideways: Miles’s book got rejected again, his ex-wife remarried, the trip is coming to an end, Maya left him in disappointment, and Jack wants to cancel the wedding.
Dodgeball: The game is forfeited, the gym is lost, and Peter is drinking alone at the airport. He has failed his friends and himself.
Related:
142 – Third Epiphany
136 – The Villain Rises
The Villain is closer and closer to the Ultimate Boon.
Description:
The dark side reaches its highest point, and the Hero’s arc is at its lowest. The story is headed to end in the worst way.
There is a catch, though: The Hero will soon have a plan. But first the Hero’s butt must be kicked into motion(in stage 137 – Recrimination by Ally).
Examples:
Star Wars: The Death Star will soon be in position to fire, after which the movie will be over. Small detail: The Rebels succeeded in extracting the plans from R2D2’s memory.
The Matrix: The drugs the Agents gave Morpheus will eventually work. Smith is closer and closer to obtain Zion’s codes. Small detail: The Agents ignore that Neo is coming.
Harry Potter: Voldemort entered the room where the sorcerer’s stone is hidden. Soon he will be unstoppable. Small detail: Dumbledore put a spell on the stone.
Sideways: Cammi’s husband rises. He gets home earlier than expected and catches his wife having sex with Jack, who has to run away naked. The wedding rings (custom-made, irreplaceable) were left there, inside Jack’s wallet.
Dodgeball: White bought the gym, won the game, and in minutes he will be given the championship trophy. Small detail: Peter met Lance Armstrong at the Airport, just by chance.
Related:
137 – Recrimination by Ally
137 – Recrimination by Ally
Someone tells the Hero that this is not the way to do things.
Description:
The Hero finds himself in one of two states: Either paralyzed by the overwhelming odds or so obsessed with winning that turning to the dark side is not out of the question. In any case, the Hero is working against the team.
The Hero needs a kick in the rear end. And some ally, who’s disappointed in the Hero’s attitude, duly obliges.
This recrimination is an emotional call: The Hero must stay true to who he is, and he must trust his friends.
Examples:
Star Wars: Chewie growls at Han for leaving his friends right before the final battle starts. Han answers, “I know what I’m doing!”