In the twenty-seventh episode of the second season of Gargoyles, THIS WAS A LOT. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Gargoyles.
Trigger Warning: For talk of death/mortality.
So, lemme be upfront about the fact that I have no business critiquing the use of Jewish folklore or Hebrew or anything here related to that since I’m a gentile. It’s important to discussion the accuracy of representation within works of fiction instead of just praising things for the sake of existing, but I’m not remotely qualified here to talk about pretty much everything? Blame it either on ignorance or a desire not to make this about myself, but I believe there are much more qualified/knowledgeable folks in this very community who probably have lots to say about this. Personally, I’d love to know how accurate the Hebrew is and how well this show handles this culture and religion and whatnot.
I will say this, however: “Golem” does not make one critical mistake that “Heritage” did. I kept waiting for the show to say that golems were really gargoyles the whole time, which is one of my big issues with “Heritage.” But it doesn’t! There’s no claim of ownership over this bit of folklore; instead, like “Monsters,” the writers merely draw parallels between gargoyles and golems, both of which serve to protect people.
Really, “Golem” is about something that took me by surprise, mostly because it’s such an intense topic. This episode sees the return of Halcyon Renard, and the context of this was strange. Why did he appear to be working with a criminal like Brod, and why wasn’t he thrilled to see Goliath again? The pacing for this episode is a masterful thing, especially since the (seeming) subplot involving Max Loew re-awakening a golem didn’t initially seem connected. Even when Brod stole the golem for Renard’s use, I was still confused. Renard has access to more money and technology than he could ever use. What good would a golem be to his life? Did he really need protection?
I’m continually impressed with how Gargoyles is able to give us complex antagonists alongside one-note characters, and “Golem” is the perfect example of that. Brod is just a jerk, someone who uses force and willpower to get whatever the hell he wants. There’s no redemption written into his characterization, and that’s fine. (Though he survives this episode and is merely arrested, and we all know how final that is as a resolution. I bet we’ll see him again.) Renard, however, is someone who is flawed but is fundamentally a good person. It’s why it’s so jarring to see him work with Brod and even more unnerving when we discover why he had that golem stolen from the Loews.
“Golem” focuses in its second half on Renard’s struggle with his own mortality and the fragility of human bodies. He is dying, and as a last desperate effort, he has Preston perform a spell that will transfer his own soul into the body of a golem, thereby escaping death. His justification is so haunting, especially since he initially feels empowered by the choice. Everything he does at first is a demonstration of the sheer power of his new body, and it’s awful. I felt like the show was deliberately reminding us through imagery of what the golem used to protect people from and what Renard had turned it into. He was now an agent of violence and fear.
So what does his justification turn into? He didn’t have a choice. On the surface of it, that’s bullshit, and everyone knows it. (Max even calls him out on it!) But I think it speaks to where Renard’s mind was. Of course he had a choice about what to do; but I like to think he was specifically referring to his body. He couldn’t choose to be immortal. He couldn’t choose to be free of disease or sickness. What agency did he have in that matter?
The writers don’t justify what Renard does here, though. Instead, they push him through a redemption of sorts, and he realizes what a horrible thing he’s done. CHARACTER GROWTH, Y’ALL. The answer to death is not stealing golems and inserting one’s soul into them JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING. Renard had to be reminded that he wasn’t alone at the end of his life, and he didn’t have to suffer alone, either.
The video for “Golem” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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