At the end of Web of Shadows, Keetongu suggests that the Toa can just as easily retain their Hordika forms and continue embracing them, after learning to reconcile with the ‘beast’ inside. While the Toa say no for their own reasons, I think that’s a really fascinating concept and implication; That there have been Hordika who were able to make peace with their forms and retain their identities, while still making the most of their transformed bodies.
At the very least, it’s a totally feasible idea; Keetongu has the ability to literally see the good and evil in others after all. And I don’t think he suggested this just to ‘test’ the Toa, given this entire film they’ve been pushing against those transformations; I don’t think it’s matter of seeing if they can resist the temptation or not. There IS a sort of ‘temptation’ in giving into one’s primal urges, but aside from that, maintaining a balance with the beast within is also possible, and it’s definitely where the Rahaga are sort of left off before this was changed in the serials.
So yeah, I think that’s a cool idea; That some victims of the Visorak ultimately learned to embrace their Hordika forms, and make the most of them. They don’t want to be cured anymore because to them, there is nothing to be cured; Either because their form brings new abilities, and/or because they’re already comfortable in this body. I guess one could equate it to living with a disability or condition of some kind, although this isn’t one-to-one of course, and depends on individual examples; Some people are genuinely faster and stronger and want that, while still maintaining their minds.
Because let’s be real, some of us would love to be monsters, so it’s cool that the story keeps this open as an option that isn’t necessarily bad for you. And I appreciate Keetongu’s respect for consent here, given this all boils down to one’s relationship and agency over their bodies; Do they intend to reclaim it by returning to their old body, or by embracing the changes? I like it a lot, and I wish we could’ve seen at least one character who went that route of staying Hordika and co-existing with that part of themselves.
At most all I can think of is Vican, who isn’t Hordika but was mutated; But he chose to stay that way as a punishment and reminder to himself. I want to see someone who sticks with their mutation solely because it’s awesome and they genuinely prefer it over their old body! And I’d like to see them framed as not some sort of power-hungry maniac for doing so, as a madman who’d sacrifice their Bionicle equivalent of ‘humanity’ to achieve strength; It’s their choice and it’s a totally valid way of life!
Plus, one can only imagine how the story might’ve changed if at least one Toa chose to remain Hordika; Could they have still imbued Toa power to awaken the Matoran via Rhotuka, and become a Turaga Hordika? Which Toa Mata would most benefit story wise from having a beast mentor- Lewa, given his connection to animals and nature? It’d be ironic yet fitting that Matau, the one who openly complained the most about his mutation and it’s effects on his appearance, would be the one to embrace it in the end...!
And I can see Nuju retaining it, given how he goes on to talk like a Rahi, because he wants to encourage people to put in the effort to communicate with him; Being an animal and having the Matoran overcome this difference anyhow would help that, and be interesting then for the asocial Kopaka. Then there’s Whenua, who loves Rahi, Onewa with his connection to Krahka, and Vakama might keep the Hordika form as a teaching moment for another arrogant Toa leader... When the time comes for him to actually talk about his past of course. In which case everyone forsaking the Hordika mutation might be necessary to hide the truth, so as to avoid questions on someone’s backstory and why the other Turaga aren’t the same.
It's often headcanoned that Gavla also kept her mutations, but canon sort of assumes that she didn't.
Gavla choosing to return to normal and then regretting it could be an interesting option. The conflict between wanting to belong somewhere but also wanting to be who she is. The Makuta seemed to offer her that at the price of her moral principles. But, she now understands, it wasn't really love. It wasn't really acceptance, she was only a tool to them, maybe a source of amusement to see her tormenting and hurting her fellow Matoran.
She doesn't want to be evil. She doesn't want to be nice. She doesn't want to be lonely. She doesn't want to be used. She's not entirely sure she wants to be normal.
I like to think Vakama strikes up an odd kind of friendship with her. He understands in a way very few other beings could.
I really really love Gavla. Genuinely top 3 Bionicle characters for me. They literally just needed to make some random victims of another "bug that turns you evil" gimmick, and they went ahead made a girl who sits at the crossroads of every category and assumption and refuses to move. A girl who knows there could be love out there if she gets up and moves out of that intersection, leaving herself behind. A girl who knows she never will, because it wouldn't be HER recieving that love. A girl who is left screaming desperately, furiously at the world to just. Bring her a little. Just let the girl she is now feel a little love.
i keep getting this post from glitch about the tadc film experience and my first instinct is always to block because the us flags make me think its one of the israel pin ads or adjacent
replayed mnogii a few months ago when the bonkles first wormed their way back into my mind and there were so many cute things I forgot about (or never encountered, because I never actually got past ga-koro before lol)
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