...but it's no longer him. A better ending to Epic the Musical
Like many of you, I was swept away by the energy and creativity of 'Epic the Musical.' However, as the final notes faded, a nagging thought remained: did Jorge Rivera-Herrans truly deliver on the darkness his masterpiece so expertly cultivated? As someone who appreciates narratives that delve into the complexities of human nature, I found myself both captivated and ultimately somewhat disappointed by the ending song “Would You Fall in Love with Me Again”.
The final act of The Ithaca Saga, by sticking to the traditional 'happy ending' of Odysseus's return and acceptance, sacrifices a far more potent and thematically consistent conclusion – one that fully acknowledges the monstrous transformation he undergoes. Throughout 'Epic,' the recurring motif of a man pushed beyond his limits, blurring the lines between hero and monster, is undeniable. We weep with “I’m just a man” claim, we are haunted with the question of “When does a man become a monster?” and we cannot bear the answer coming to us with full force as soon Scylla sings her first notes. And it only gets worse. Yet, the final moments seem to brush this aside in favor of a conventional reunion.
My point is, Herrans missed the opportunity of a modern retelling of that story. His musical masterfully portrays Odysseus's descent, highlighting how loss and violence chip away at his humanity. This makes the eventual 'welcome home' feel jarringly out of sync with the ruthless journey we've witnessed. Think about it: this is a man who has watched his comrades perish, battled mythical creatures, and in one of the musical's darkest turns, mercilessly massacres Poseidon. He returns to Ithaca not as a weary hero, but as someone undeniably scarred, both physically and psychologically.
The slaughter of the suitors in the palace, committed in darkness and driven by vengeance, is not the act of a returning king, but of a creature haunted by war and driven by a primal need for retribution. It is chillingly potent. Powerful. Though honestly atrocious, we are on the verge of our seats rooting for him to save his son and decimate his final enemy. Yet, to then have Penelope simply embrace this figure, without a flicker of terror or profound grief for the man he has become, feels like a betrayal of the narrative's own weight. After all the confessions of horrors encountered laid by Odysseus in front of her, she feels nothing other than the need to ascertain if it is truly him by a challenge of moving their marital bed. She makes no comment on what he had suffered and endured.
Imagine the impact on the modern audience, and on the story itself, if Penelope, upon seeing this changed, savage version of her beloved husband, recoiled in horror. Picture her heartbreak not just at his absence, but at the monstrous figure who has taken his place. An ending where Penelope cannot accept him, where the trauma and the years of separation have created an insurmountable chasm, would have been truly devastating – and far more thematically resonant. This wouldn't be a story of a hero's triumphant return, but a stark portrayal of how even with the best intentions, the path to survival can lead to utter destruction of the self and the loss of everything truly valued.
Ultimately, by choosing a conventional happy ending, the musical sidesteps the profound tragedy it so skillfully builds. In a world often obsessed with heroic narratives, 'Epic the Musical' had the potential to offer a powerful counterpoint: a story where the journey irrevocably changes the hero, leaving him not with a crown and a loving embrace, but with the crushing weight of his transformation. The weight which could provide catharsis to million of listeners. A more daring conclusion, one where Odysseus is left utterly alone with the consequences of his actions, would have elevated 'Epic' from a compelling adaptation to a truly groundbreaking work. And I hope one day Herrans will be compelled to write an alternative last song, one that would leave me, and many others, curled on the floor, shaking.
