From a heroic flame to passing of the torch: The Cleverness in Toa Lhikans writing
The more I think about it, the more I realize that Toa Lhikan is probably one of the most cleverly written and best utilized characters in all of Bionicle.
Lhikans main purpose in the story is to serve as the motivation for the Toa Metru (Vakama especially) to fight and learn their powers. Lhikan is the one who gives the Toa Metru their powers. He drives them forward, both with his absence and as a mentor figure. The Toa Metru are doing everything for finding Lhikan because they think he is the perfect hero. Lhikan is the goal, he’s the thing our protagonists want, what pushes them to change and grow both physically as well as emotionally. He is also a major factor to Vakamas character arc, his death affecting him long after hes gone, like a lingering ghost. Finally, Lhikans an excellent showcase to the arcs themes of loss, duty and what it truly means to be a hero.
With all this in mind, Lhikan is basically a plotdevice character. He mainly exists to further Toa Metrus developement and the themes/ideas of the arc. Now, you could argue that every character in a story is a plotdevice, especially in a plot oriented series where characters serve the story (rather than other way around) like Bionicle. But what I mean is that Lhikan is one of those characters whose sole purpose is to serve other characters than do any meaningful stuff themselves. You know like R2D2 in Star Wars, which main purpose is to be a literal living mcguffin? Or like how a lot of japanese media have that one girl character with mysterious powers who literally just exists as a key to the series deepest mysteries and as an object the other characters fight over? Basically, Lhikans like that. While Lhikan doesnt completely lack agency (hes the one who kickstarted the plot afterall with calling the heroes to their mission and without this action Metru Nui would be doomed), he’s more important in how he affects the cast than what he does himself.
But the thing is… Despite his main purpose in the story being literally the catalyst and motivation of Toa Metru, Lhikan doesn’t feel like a plotdevice character. An issue with these type of characters is that often they feel like their sole purpose is to serve the plot and rest of the characters, and as such they often are rather uninteresting. You can clearly see that they only exist as a means for the plot to move forward, than anything more substantial. But Lhikan isn’t like that. He’s a cool badass veteran hero with a calm and friendly yet determined personality. He has some hints of an interesting personal story thanks to being the sole protector of Metru Nui who lost all his comrades as well as him having a(n at the time implied) personal connection with one of the arcs main villains. Thanks to his personality, badassness and having hints of a personal backstory Lhikan feels like a dynamic character and not like a glorified tool plotdevice characters often feel like. He’s the arcs fanfavorite and probably the most popular toa that isn’t part of the three main teams (Takanuva not withstanding), and for a good reason I’d say.
And that’s all thanks to the cleverness in Lhikans writing.
Lhikan is written in such a way that, while he feels dynamic and active, every decision with his character is made to serve his purpose in the story, to serve as the guiding light to Toa Metru. He’s written in such a way that his purpose feels hidden, like its masked (heh). Lhikan feels like a more dynamic character than he actually is and thats very delibarate, in order to make him feel like a great hero and have his absence affect the viewer just as much as it does the characters, thus making us empathize with them.
From a design and characterization point Lhikan is meant to invoke a model hero: Lhikans design is basically an expy of Tahu, right to him wearing the same Kanohi. This is delibarate, as him sharing the design with THE posterboy of toas is a shorthand for how Lhikan is a legendary hero and just as posterboy for toas in-universe like how Tahu is the posterboy of toas in our universe. Lhikans personality compliments his status as a model hero as well: he is brave, determined, viligant yet caring and compassionate. And the beginning of Legends of Metru Nui does a fantastic job showcasing Lhikans characterization at the span of 8 or so minutes.
We start the movie with Lhikan taking the toa stones and follow him during the first five minutes as he delivers them to the future toa Metru. The fact that we start with Lhikans POV makes the audience care about him, not only because hes the first thing they latch onto, but also due to his characterization. Lhikan is shown from the get go as a determined hero, willing to complete his mission and save the city he swore to protect no matter what. He’s shown as a capable fighter, holding well against the formidable Dark Hunters. And while Lhikan has this sense of rigid determination, hes far from stoic as hes shown as friendly and caring from the way he talks to the future Toa Metru, addressing them in such a way that takes them to account. You can see how he is this hero that not only fights to protect the innocent, but cares about those he protects. Lhikan also is shown to have a sense of humor, with him chuckling to Matau “don’t break this” while giving his Toa Stone or telling Whenua not to archieve his toa stone. Lhikans determination, his skills as a fighter and his friendly His voice acting enhances these qualities, as in every language hes given this reliable, down to earth yet heroic voice, perfect for his character.
And then we come to the scene with him and Vakama in the forge, culminating everything we know of Lhikan so far into one scene.
The scene starts with Lhikan saying with urgency that Metru Nui need saving. He sounds serious and desperate, like he sees Vakama as Metru Nuis last hope. Then the Dark Hunters show up. Lhikan fights them (quite well I might add), but is defeated and captured. Its worth noting that Lhikan isn’t defeated by force but rather by Nidhiki exploiting one of Lhikans core traits: empathy and willingness to protect others at the cost of his own safety. By holding Vakama on thread, Nidhiki knows that Lhikan will give himself in to save the matoran from death, that it’s in Lhikans nature to do so. “Compassion was always your weakness,” the insectoid Dark Hunter says. While I wouldn’t call Lhikans compassion a weakness per say, it is a trait that encaptures Lhikan very well and serves as a double edged sword. It is one of the many traits that make Lhikan a model hero and such a likeable character, but it can be exploited as seen here.
And so, after a moment of hesitation, Lhikan gives in. He drops his sword and lets himself be captured. This is such a powerful moment, as Lhikans expressions carry a sense of desparation but also determination. He doesn’t want to give in, but knows its the only way to protect not only Vakama, but Metru Nui as a whole. And so, he sighs, drops his swords and gives Vakama a means to escape.
These first eight minutes are important. Not only do they serve as an introduction to Lhikan (and rest of the cast and story), they also show a more important purpose: to show how much he means to not only Vakama, our main character, but the City of Legends as whole. Lhikan is the citys last Toa, the last hero who can protect the city. As such, when he disappears, it can be seen as the citys last hope vanishing. Lhikans disappereance can be seen as the tipping point to our heroes, their call to adventure, the thing that will make them the heroes the city needs. Thing is, they don’t realize it just yet.
After that, Lhikan fades into a background for a while. But just because he he’s absend doesnt mean he fades from the story. He is still in minds of toa Metru, especially Vakamas. Vakama blames himself for Lhikans disappearance, thinking he should’ve done something to save his hero. Were he stronger Lhikan would’ve not been captured. Saving Lhikan becomes an objective for Vakama, not just because of the Toas status as Metru Nuis hero, but also because of Vakamas inferiority complex. Vakama believes that he is too flawed to be a hero, too imperfect compared to Lhikan, his idol and the pure epitome of heroism. Because of this Vakama thinks Lhikan is the only one who can save Metru Nui, that he’s its soul, the heart of it. Due to a warped psyche Vakama thinks its his mission to save the true hero rather than being the hero the city needs himself.
During this time, the toa metru are divided into two groups: one (Vakama, Matau, Nokama) are trying to rescue Lhikan, while the other (Nuju, Whenua, Onewa) are trying to escape the prison, as they are mentored by a mysterious helmeted stranger who serves as a quirky mentor. Unbeknowst to the latter group, this stranger is Lhikan, now Turagafied. Lhikan doesn’t reveal his identity and that’s on purpose. While the toa groups are trying to rescue Lhikan and escape the prison, they are learning skills and becoming stronger. They are becoming independent of Lhikan. This is why the “disguised” Turaga Lhikan never reveals himself til the time is right. He knows that the Toa Metru are surpassing him, that they are growing into the heroes the city needs. Were he reveal his identity now, it would just derail them of their developement
By the time Lhikans “officially” reintroduced, five of the six Metru have learned their mask powers and grown stronger. They are closer at becoming the heroes of the city. Lhikan tells the Toa Metru that the city doesn’t need him any more, because the city has them now. That Lhikan has passed the torch and the Metru have become the citys protectors, the ones meant to save it from Makutas darkness. Vakama is the only one who hasn’t learned his mask powers. This is because he still believes to be in Lhikans shadow, he still believes that he isn’t the hero destined for greatness. Even after Lhikan has been revealed as a Turaga, Vakama still doesn’t believe that he should save the city. Not Lhikan.
This all changes in the climax.
Lhikans death is not only emotional and impactful, but serves an important purpose in the story. It is essentially the culmination of the metaphorical passing of torch Lhikan started at the beginning of LOM. By sacrificing himself to protect Vakama, Lhikan essentially paves the way for the new generation of heroes. “My lifetimes journey has ended. Yours lies beyond”, he says to Vakama.
And this is the moment where Vakama gets his mask powers, because its the moment where he realizes he’s the hero now. While he hasn’t moved on from Lhikan, this is where Vakama finally comes to terms with his destiny and purpose. And as such, its where he finally gains his mask powers. It’s a culmination, a reward for Vakama letting go of Lhikan. This is also a structural reason why Lhikan dies, because he has fulfilled his purpose in the narrative. To use Bionicle terminology as an analogy, Lhikan has completed his destiny, to create the Toa Metru and guide them where they can become the heroes of the city. Lhikan isn’t needed anymore, his work is done. And so, he dies peacefully.
In conclusion Lhikan is the best glorified plotdevice character in any fiction because hes written in such a way you don’t realize hes a plotdevice character yet he still fulfills his purpose as the guiding light for Toa Metru perfectly. The writing makes you care about him and be invested in him just as much as the citizens of the city he protects are, which helps us connecting with our real heroes. And thats why Lhikan is such a cleverly written character and one of the many reasons he’s my favorite Toa and one of my top favorite characters in the franchise.
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