The Faratok Tree - sorta ep analysis, sorta rambling discussion of themes
Okay, I want to talk about 'The Faratok Tree'. This is one of the more serious eps of the series. Or at least it seemed pretty intense. A lot of this is down to Hilda's intensity - like she's so desperate to get the giants to stay. This is the girl that stopped Trolberg being destroyed, and enabled the peace between Trolls and humans. You'd think she's done enough. But no. It's not even her world. But a part of Hilda seems to understand that if she can get people to not see the giants as monsters now, that this is going to thread through 'history' (this worlds future), and perhaps mean that the humans won't chase the Troll's away when they finally settle Trolberg. That they'll make peace, and the events at the wall, people like Edmond Ahlberg, and Erik, simply won't become what they were.
Maybe she did accomplish that at least.
Woodman as the voice of reason somehow weirdly worked. (I have to admit when I saw a screenshot of Woodman on the flaming wood pile I suspected this was something he had gotten them into and Hilda was saving his arse.). And what I absolutely love the best about this episode, is the theme that changing things takes time. Our actions may not have an effect for a very long time. People aren't just going to change like that. It takes time.
Honestly, whilst this maybe wasn't my fav ep, as there were other episodes I laughed more at... I think this is actually the best episode of the third season. It gets right to the core of who Hilda herself is. This kid, magical part fae or not, is so bloody persisitant the actions she chooses to take are going to ripple throughout time (look at how much Trolberg has changed. Trolls coming to nighttime events? Not posssible without Hilda). Imagine what this child would be capable of as an adult? But one thing's she's going to have to come to realise is that those changes aren't always going to come right away.
I can't really fault it in and of itself. But what I would've loved to see?
That theme of change to have carried through to the rest of the season. 'The Faratok Tree' was a powerful enough ep to set that up and to push it through.
This does also tie in 'damn there should have been more eps' because that's what this would have needed to happen properly. But I would've liked to have seen that theme carry through such as:
Have a marra ep. They've aged up to. How have they changed? Are they better behaved?
More eps with Louise. I really love this kid. Would've liked to see more of her hanging out with the freaky friends, and how this changed thier dynamic.
Safety Patrol. Hell, there should've been a safety patrol ep, with Gerda and Alfur. How are elves and humans interacting now its more official? Also, how are people responding to how Safety Patrol has changed. Gerda's in charge, and the direction is very clearly making contact with the magical creatures and forging alliances. And as bad as Ahlberg was, organisations do not like change. Show safety patrol officers not really wanting to change things and being a pain. Show the public not liking the change and protesting. 'Things were better under Ahlberg!' Show how the city is responding to the changes Hilda enabled through Safety Patrol, because you know they (ie: GERDA) would be driving this.
Victoria Van Gale. This was an arc that actually did get realised, though I would've liked if they'd linked it up to the change takes time theme (and obviously, though Victoria has changed, there are certain things that she cannot change). This might have worked good as its own episode, rather than tied up in the rest of the finale. (I frikkin love her but she does kinda steal the show as things played out).
And yeah, you know I was coming to it, but if you're going to have the season theme change taking time you absolutely cannot leave out Erik Ahlberg. I know he's a pain in the arse, and not a nice person, but the movie handled him really well. And one thing that got across was this man scared the absolute shit out of himself enough that he has plenty of motive change. But he's going to have to practically change his personality, and that's not going to happen in the the year (2 years?) between the movie and the last season. Have Hilda run into him in an ep, and having him trying and doing an absolutely terrible job of it. He's still much the same guy, but he has changed enough that instead of being destructive to those around him, he's beating himself up everytime he fails. Have Hilda tell him it's okay, change takes time, he's still accomplishing something even if it doesn't feel like anythings changed.
And, finally, that theme should be linked the the series final. Hilda ends up in a world where things are 'perfect' but they also don't change. And no change means no growth. I've got to be honest (and I know there probably weren't enough eps for this) but I would've put Victoria's arc in another episode. Which probably would have meant Astrid had to sacrifice herself... but... well... that would actually have worked and sometimes change does suck. Pretty much the Faratok Tree's themes would have tied really well to the series final - they just weren't quite connected as well as it could've been.
