"Power, Duty and Choice"

“POWER, DUTY AND CHOICE”

“With great power comes great responsibility.” – Ben Parker (“SPIDER-MAN”)

“You should know that I personally consider any form of military conscription to be a violation of basic human rights, no matter whether the cause is a “righteous” one or not – it’s still coercion. The intended cannot freely choose to serve. Buffy has already been drafted against her will, when she was “called”. – “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” Fan (All Things Philosophical About ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Site)

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What is it about humans that they demand that heroes - fictional or otherwise - sacrifice themselves so unwillingly for the sake of society? Humans especially seem enamored of fictional characters with special abilities – whether they are comic book heroes or those with a supernatural slant – coming to the rescue of society, especially humans, at the expense of their own personal lives. Is the idea of someone more powerful or special coming to our rescue all the time more appealing . . . instead of learning how to help ourselves?

This belief or idea seemed to originate from the world of comic book heroes. And no quote has ever personify this belief than the famous one from the ”SPIDER-MAN” comic book franchise. Before his untimely death at the hands of a robber/thief, Ben Parker spoke these words to his radio-active nephew, Peter Parker - ”With great power comes great responsibility”. Not only did these words lead Peter down a path as comic book hero, Spider-Man. But this idea that great powers is a precedent as a protector/savior of the public at large has become even more apparent in two past successful television series - ”CHARMED” and ”BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER”.


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”Charmed” (1998-2006)

When I had first watched ”CHARMED”, I found the series about a trio of magical sisters battling supernatural evil on a weekly basis rather appealing. I had never questioned the series’ premise about the Halliwell sisters (Prue, Piper and Phoebe) having no choice but to face supernatural evil in order to protect the ”innocents”. Like many other viewers, I had felt it was their duty. But over the years, my views changed. I still managed to enjoy the series’ early seasons, because I like the chemistry between the three leads, some of the stories and actor T.W. King as Prue’s love interest, Andy Trudeau. But I had hoped that the show would evolve beyond the simply morality of that first season. Unfortunately, my hope failed to materialize in the series’ following seven seasons.

I realized that one of the series’ problems for me was the concept that the Halliwell sisters had been born as witches. Thinking about it years later, it struck me that this concept smacked of the old 1964-72 sitcom, ”BEWITCHED”, starring Elizabeth Montgomery. If Constance Burge, the creator of ”CHARMED”, had been that serious about showing the Wicca aspects of being a witch on the series, why did she even bother to include the ludicrous idea that one is born as a witch? Wiccans do not believe in one being born as a witch. The Season 4 episode, ”Lost and Bound” went out of its way to express contempt at the old Elizabeth Montgomery series. If that was how Brad Kern (who had replaced Burge as the series’ main producer) felt about it, why continue the belief that witches are born, due to possessing magical and psychic abilities? Why did Burge add that aspect to the series in the first place? Then it occurred to me. Burge, Kern and their writers used this concept as an excuse for the Halliwells to be obligated to "fight evil and protect innocents" – regardless of whether they wanted to or not.


Not only did Burge, and later Kern, used the idea of bloodline as an excuse for the Halliwells being fated to act as supernatural protectors, but also the family’s Book of Shadows. This object not only contained spells, potions and lists of supernatural beings within it, the Book also included an entry that instructed the Halliwells’ duties as witches. Because of this, I realized that nothing could be done about the whole concept of the Halliwells being born witches by Season 4. But I had hoped that the series would grow more complex and that the sisters would realize that they were not obligated to fight demons, warlocks, etc., beyond that point. In other words, I hoped the Halliwells woud not continue to be obligated to act like a bunch of glorified demon hunters. Unfortunately, the show had failed to evolve beyond that mindset.

Frankly, I believe that no one should be "obligated" to get involved in such a dangerous lifestyle in the first place. Even police officers are not obligated. The reason cops have this "duty" to protect innocents, (etc.) is because they had MADE THE CHOICE to pursue that profession. They were not obligated to do so, because they were born with special powers or whatever. And even if they had been born with special powers, I still believe that fighting crime or confronting some form of dangerous evil should be A CHOICE on their part, not an obligation. Unfortunately Burge, Kern and their writers never considered this.

For example, I and many other fans used to complain about Phoebe Halliwell or Piper Halliwell’s occasional to put their personal desires over their duties as witches. Now that my philosophy on the matter has changed, I no longer see anything wrong with Phoebe or Piper putting their desires above their so-called duties as Charmed Ones. None of the sisters should have NEVER been duty-bound to being a witch in the first place. The whitelighters, who act as the ”guardian angels” of all witches, seemed to have this mentality that they have every right to coerce witches to act as their personal foot soldiers against supernatural evil. Quite frankly, I found that tasteless. In the Season 4 finale, ” Witch Way Now?”, the Angel of Destiny offered the sisters (which include half-sister Paige Matthews, who had replaced the dead Prue) the chance to give up their magical powers and lives as supernatural crime fighters as a reward for vanquishing the top demon – the Source. Frankly, I do not believe that the sisters had to wait for the Angel of Destiny to make that offer to them. They could have made that choice on their own. As far as I am concerned, they should have made that choice. It is one thing to "fight evil" for self-defense or someone they cared about was in trouble. It is another to do so because it is supposed to be a duty.

As I had stated earlier, ”CHARMED” could be entertaining. But the more I contemplate about its concept, characters and stories, the more I dislike the idea of people being "born" as witches. And I hate the idea that a witch is DUTY BOUND to hunt down demons, warlocks for the sake of society and at the detriment of one’s own life. Constance Burge and Brad Kern might as well have claimed that they do not believe in free will. Because it seemed quite obvious that they did not . . . judging by this series.

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”Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

It took me a while to become interested in ”BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER”. I had seen the 1992 movie upon which it was based. As much as I found it enjoyable, I had doubts that it would ever hold my interest. Needless to say, I gave the series a chance and became a diehard fan.

In many ways, I found ”BUFFY” much superior to ”CHARMED”. Both the series’ acting and writing was much superior to the latter. Even better, the series’ characters – especially Buffy Summers – managed to develop a more ambiguous outlook on morality over the years, in compare to the older Halliwell sisters. But if there is one major flaw that ”BUFFY” shared with ”CHARMED” - at least in my eyes – is this ridiculous viewpoint that the series’ main heroine was duty bound to protect the public from the supernatural evil, due to her special powers.

How did Buffy Summers become a vampire (and demon) slayer? Apparently, she had been born with the supernatural strength of a Slayer, due to a spell cast by three African shamans. These three men decided they needed a hero/heroine - a weapon that would slay vampires and other demons for them and their community. And to ensure control over this weapon, they picked a young female and cast a spell upon her, infusing her with demonic essence. In other words, he Slayer line was nothing more than a method of coercion to force young girls and woman to fight supernatural evil for them . . . and later, the Watcher's Council. They also figured that being young and female would guarantee that they will always have control of the Slayer line.

Many would point out that Buffy has learned to attain some sense of individuality and freedom from her previous authority figures. They would point out Buffy’s estrangement from the Watcher’s Council in mid-Season 3 and her rejection of Rupert Giles as her personal Watcher in late Season 7 as examples. Granted, these fans would have a point. But I can also think of one or two examples of how Buffy had allowed her belief that she had no choice but to be the Slayer rule her life.

A prime example occurred in the Season 3 episode, ”Choices”, when she had received a notice of acceptance from Northwestern University in the Chicago area. Buffy and her friends came to the conclusion that she had no choice but to turn down the offer and continue her education in Sunnydale. Why? As the Slayer, she had to remain in Sunnydale in order to protect its citizens from the effects of the Hellmouth. Joss Whedon might be a first-class television writer and producer. But his reasoning for forcing Buffy to reject the Northwestern offer and remain in Sunnydale struck me as one of the biggest pile of horseshit I have ever come across in television. This explanation made no sense to me. Of course Buffy had a choice. There was no rule that she had to remain in Sunnydale to continue her Slayer duties. Demons and vampires did not exist only in Sunnydale. Hell, Buffy had become a Slayer in another city - namely Los Angeles. Fans might point out the numerous apocalypses that have sprung up over the years in Sunnydale. Again, this struck me as another example of contrived writing on Whedon’s part. Were the viewers really expected to believe that apocalypses only appeared in Sunnydale, California? Especially since the series had established that there were Hellmouths in other locations around the world – including Cleveland, Ohio? I think that the only reason Buffy had decided to remain a Slayer in Sunnydale was her belief that she had no choice, due to her Slayer powers. She wasn't really making choices. She was allowing her belief that she had no choice but to remain guiding her decisions. And to me, it seems that her reasoning for remaining a Slayer is tainted by her view of "duty". It comes off as cold to me.

In the Season 7 finale, Buffy came up with a scheme that she believed would help defeat the efforts of the First Evil. She convinced Willow to cast a spell – using a magical Slayer Scythe that she had managed to acquire in a previous episode – to change the Slayer line originally set by the African shamans. Instead of one Slayer manifesting one at a time, the spell allowed all of the Potentials – adolescent girls and young women within the Slayer line – to become Slayers at the same time. Why did Buffy simply allow Willow to use the scythe to end the Slayer line once and for all? All of those young females would have been spared the violent and potentially short life of a Slayer. Because she had set this plan in motion, Buffy became the global leader of the Slayers. Despite her dislike of being a Slayer, she remained trapped in this lifestyle.

Personally, I believe that Buffy was an idiot for remaining in a profession that she obviously disliked. Second, I believe that was a bigger idiot for allowing Merrick and later, Giles, to talk her into assuming Slayer duties in the first place. If she did not want to become a Slayer, she should have refrained from accepting the role. Three, even when she detached herself from the Watchers Council, she continued acting as Slayer because she rather stupidly believed that she had no choice in the matter. I found it amazing that although no longer in her life, the Watchers Council still managed to exert a strong influence over her.

The idea of a person with super or magical abilities acting as the protector/savior of the public seemed to have its origins in comic book superheroes. As much as I find these stories entertaining, I realize that I am fast developing a deep contempt for them. It is one thing to choose to become involved in a lifestyle that turns you into some kind of cop with special powers. It is another to allow someone to coerce you into that situation, because you have special powers. The idea that someone is duty-bound to act like some supernatural cop just because he or she possesses special powers is RIDICULOUS. Even worse, it seems like coercing someone into a dangerous lifestyle or profession against his or her will. For me, it compatible with the military draft. How can anyone in their right mind support such an idea?