The New, More Better Hero
I am fresh back from vacation and… hooked on a new show. Well, it’s not new, I just finally got around to watching some of it because my friends have the streaming service it requires. And it got me to thinking about the differences in heroes we’ve seen in comic books, novels, and films over the last several years and how, theologically speaking, they are becoming more like Jesus. Stick with me, because as Ricky says, Lucy, you got some splaining to do.
Let’s start with Peeta Malark from Hunger Games. The whole premise of the hunger games is horrific and S. Collins did a superb job in describing her dystopian future. Gale is supposed to be the big, strong, hunky guy. He matches what society would describe as a hero. The tributes from some of the larger or richer districts act like jerks, but carry many of the same physical attributes. So wee little Peeta, named after a bread, should not be the hero in any way. But he is. He is gentle, concerned about the welfare of others, kind, considerate, patient, and all around a good guy. I won’t pretend he’s a saint, but he is a good guy. Though if you ask me why I think he is ultimately the hero, it has a lot to do with him choosing punishment for himself so that he could feed Katniss. Gale would never do that.
Peeta came from a novel to television and film, but so did the Punisher. The Punisher who is all about violence, retribution, vengeance, revenge, and anger. None of these is are admirable or good traits for a person to have, but the Punisher is well loved and liked. I’ve seen to many Punisher bumper stickers around people must like the guy. But he is not like Christ in any obvious sort of way. In fact, I’m struggling to give him any Christlike attribute. Maybe it is in protecting or liberating the oppressed, but his methodology is so far away from Christianity or peace that it is not really credible to consider them to be the same. That’s part of why the Punisher is considered an anti-hero rather than a hero.
This is a stark contrast to, I don’t know, Captain Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. A thief, a drunkard, self-serving, and not to be trusted. And yet, Captain Jack is the hero of many of the tales. He’s likeable because he’s unlikable? The worst pirate you’ve ever heard of. He’s supposed to be the hero to some extent and yet he is clearly not. This also applies to people like Archer, from Archer. He is a terrible person, but he is honest about it.
I don’t know that it will surprise those of you who have watched it to know, but Ted Lasso is the show that has me thinking about how more and more people depicted in media are like Christ. I haven’t even finished the first season, so I do not know if the story ends as it begins, but even in these first few episodes, Ted is someone who is genuine, kind, and cares. It makes him wonderful in a way that not many people are. His optimism feels like a super power and I am excited to see where it takes him.
I guess what I am getting to is that everyone of these fictional people has redeeming qualities, but no one of them is all the things we are supposed to be striving to be in our own, real life journey to be like Christ. And they are fictional. Their stories all work out in the end. The real world is much more complicated and crueler. Christ was perfect and without blemish, but he suffered and was crucified. That’s why Christ is the example we are supposed to follow. Living in the real world just like us, Christ still managed to get it right. We as people may find that it is easier to emulate someone who is not so high above us and does not feel like such a lofty goal. And yet, as someone who is not there yet, I can tell you that it is so worthwhile to keep going. Who you are today is not who you were ten years ago. You are ever growing and changing, hopefully towards God.
Ergo, I’ll leave you with this to ponder… who did you want to be like when you were a child? Who were your heroes? Did you grow up to be like them? Who are your heroes now? And which one of them is the most like Christ? Or, better yet, how are you becoming like Christ?
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2 NRSVUE)
