In the twenty-third episode of the second season of Gargoyles, Goliath and the Archmage face off, and that’s like a quarter of the story in this jam-packed episode. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Gargoyles.
You know, there’s a lot of depth to Gargoyles, and I know I’ve frequently spoke about how complicated and engaging many of the storylines are. But I also don’t want to lose sight of another aspect of this show that’s worthy of commentary: oh my gods, is it a ton of fun. There’s a lot going on in terms of story and character building (of which I’ll discuss in a second), but I can also see myself as a kid and losing my shit over these fight sequences. The stakes felt real, believable, and that made these fight sequences incredibly intense. The entire “Avalon” arc had made it certain that we understood just how much power the Archmage had, and thus, this was a classic underdog tale. How could our heroes possibly overthrow the antagonists when the Archmage possessed so many advantages?
Therefore, this episode was a satisfying attempt to address that very question. I wasn’t disappointed, either, since “Avalon, Part III” wasted no time jumping right into the action. Y’all, these characters throw down SO QUICKLY into this episode, and it doesn’t stop for nearly twenty minutes. I’m impressed, for what it’s worth, that the writers managed to jam so many threads and characters into a single arc, and the execution of all those stories is spellbinding. I say this as a writer who has a problem creating way too many characters in his books. (I had like two primary characters and nearly 15 secondary characters in the original draft of my first book, and then I DID IT AGAIN while plotting out the second book. I JUST WANT TO HAVE EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME.) This doesn’t feel confusing, and no one’s story suffers from lack of time. We get to appreciate why Princess Katherine cares so deeply about her role, and Tom had his time in the spotlight at the beginning of this trilogy. Elisa gets to contribute (I LOVE THAT THERE IS A GUN IN A FANTASY NARRATIVE), and y’all, Y’ALL. Goliath and the Archmage get to duke it out in one of the most brutal fights in the whole show.
It’s a spectacle, which is honestly one of my favorite words to describe when a creator can pull off something that leaves me slack-jawed. This is a lot, and that’s the best compliment I can give this episode. However, there’s really one thing here that stood out above every other stellar thing in “Avalon.” The amount of character development that the Magus gets before dying is astounding. (WHY ON EARTH DID I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS SHOW DOESN’T REALLY DEAL WITH DEATH, WHY) We knew him as the sorcerer who had damned the gargoyles to nearly a thousand years of sleep, and at the start of this show, he was an antagonist. Yet over the course of this arc and past stories, he changed. His alliances shifted, and he became remorseful for what he had done to the gargoyles. But the show took his story even further than that. He actively worked in the wake of his actions to protect the gargoyles’s eggs and Princess Katherine. At the end of “Avalon,” he’s no longer recognizable as a villain. Instead, he’s the sole character who has the hero’s sacrifice in this story. The hero’s sacrifice! THE MAGUS. I know, out of context, it might seem impossible, but this episode absolutely pulls it off.
It’s one feat of many. Y’all, KING ARTHUR. THIS SHOW FOUND A WAY TO BRING IN KING ARTHUR TO THE STORY. And it isn’t non-sensical? What the fuck is Gargoyles??? How is this show allowed to exist in any form ever? I’m eager to see Arthur in another story, but let me just state that the single funniest moment of this whole season is him asking everyone what the hell is going on after he’s wakened by the Magus. BLESS. I also doubt that this is the last we’ve seen of the Wyrd/Weird Sisters either, though I’m guessing the Archmage is gone. His “death” scene was so disturbing, y’all.
Anyway, I was fine. I was ready to enjoy the end of this story, and then the show drops one last plot twist: the magic of Avalon isn’t sending Elisa, Goliath, Bronx, and Angela (!!!! I AM SO GLAD SHE CAME ALONG !!!!) to Manhattan. Nope, they’re being sent where they’re “needed.” WHERE IS THAT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???
The video for “Avalon, Part II” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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