So I was thinking about Dreamzzz season 2 today, specifically how the threat the Never Witch posed felt so much more real than a lot of other villains, even among other Lego shows.
It’s no secret that villains and the danger they pose are always more interesting when it both means something to the main characters, and said villain has a personal motive outside of “I want power because I am EVIL”. When we can see the real, personal effects the villain leaves on the world. It’s why in Ninjago, Harumi’s story made the impact of the S1 finale that much greater, because we know of the consequences. To paraphrase OSP for a moment: we can’t realistically fathom the threat of “the world is going to end/be taken over”, but we can fathom “the world, which has the people you love in it, will end/be taken over” easier. Not to mention, if they’ve got a motive that’s deep and personal, their actions suddenly don’t become so “pure evil”, more of a means to an end, they become more real, more human.
I personally REALLY like how Dreamzzz did all that with the Never Witch. Her story is such a classic example of life circumstances/personal endeavors and values pulling a close relationship (of any kind) apart, and, instead of accepting that as a part of life, one person clings onto the relationship for dear life, regardless of how much it’s only hurting both parties. She loved her sister, but said something she didn’t mean in her anger and grief, something I’m sure a lot of people can relate to. Not on the same scale, obviously, but still.
Also, the threat of “what if she wins” isn’t “the world will end”, it’s “the word as we know it will end”, and, aside from that playing super well into the themes of change, the show goes out of its way to show the exact effects of the Never Witch’s actions on the Waking World. Yes, nobody is dead/dying and everything is physically intact… but nobody is themselves. They can’t form new ideas, create new things, everything that makes life interesting… is impossible. They’re shells of their former selves, trapped in loops of pre-existing thoughts and ideas, devoid of what makes them… them.
It’s played largely for comedy, but it’s honestly deeply horrifying when you think about what’s truly happening and the ramifications. Dystopian is the best word I can use for it.
I also just LOVE how the Never Witch’s motives are presented as sympathetic, but not her actions. Yeah, bare minimum if you want to write a villain like this, but it’s unfortunately still a pitfall too much media falls into. Yeah, it’s understandable how she became the way she is, but that doesn’t make what she did ok in any regard, nor is she forgiven for what she did, simply… allowed to make her amends. Now, I do think it would’ve made the ending better if she wasn’t allowed to keep her artifacts to make extra sure she won’t be a threat anymore, but this isn’t about that.
Also also, one last thing- the fact she was talked down as opposed to being fought makes me SO NORMAL. Especially because it was ACTUALLY BUILT UP TO AND MADE SENSE WITH THE SETUP- like, honestly the Never Witch taking out a memory of her own and hiding it away, metaphorically suppressing it is just- MWA! I LOVE ITTTTTTTTT- and we still got fun action with Mateo and Cooper trying to stop/undo the spell!
So that’s my gushing about Dreamzzz for the night! Good day, everyone!
