RE: Shadow's Origin
SCS > 09-07-2020, 11:29 PM
I really love the lore behind Shadow the Hedgehog's origin, and he is one of the characters I connect with the most overall (along with others such as Cream and Cheese). However, I definitely think that Shadow has his flaws as a character, especially in recent media. And more specifically, I do think there are some flaws in his origin story as well.
While I very much enjoy Shadow and his lore in SA2, I feel like it's definitely the most basic but yet also the most quintessential. This is certainly understandable given that it was Shadow's debut -- it's unlikely to dive deep into every aspect of a character's backstory on their initial debut, rather focusing more on building out the character's overall personality, key characteristics, story role and connections to other characters. SA2 has an absolutely fantastic story, and a very powerful ending with Shadow -- although, of course I am very glad that was not his true end. It is unfortunate that Sonic Team, as far as I'm aware, never officially clarified why Shadow was still alive after the SA2 ending, but I think one can easily headcanon his survival of reentry through the earth's atmosphere given the extreme endurance inherent to the super form. I personally interpret Sonic Battle as a direct continuation of his story following the events of SA2. Given his initial unconsciouness and amnesia in that game, one can reasonably headcanon that while he survived the impact with earth it left him injured and confused, needing time to recover and heal before returning to full strength.
I definitely agree on liking the expansion of Shadow's lore in Sonic Battle. Sonic Battle has one of my favorite Sonic stories overall, and some of my favorite dialogue. It definitely has the heaviest degree of dialog out of most Sonic games, and covers some of the heaviest themes that the series has touched. I love all of the character stories, dialogue and interaction throughout that game. I'm definitely fascinated by the interaction between Shadow and Emerl, and the connection of their lore and search for meaning and understanding.
Sonic Battle delves into very fascinating themes pertaining to the meaning and understanding of one's soul, consciousness, and purpose in life, as well as the context of this inquiry relative to robotics/true AI as opposed to actual life. These are all critical issues we face in many facets of our world today, and only moreso as technology continues to grow beyond the bounds of self-restraint, control, and satisfaction with just having enough (power, knowledge, convenience, longevity of life, etc). These are all issues I feel very strongly about, but my specific opinions fall beyond the scope of this discussion. I primarily mention this to describe how much I appreciate Sonic Battle delving into these sensitive topics. While I often do not agree with (my perceived, and potentially inaccurate) interpretation of thoughts on these issues portrayed through Sonic Battle's dialogue and story, I very much appreciate the way in which the game handles these issues: the interesting and thought-provoking dialogue and themes, the courage with which the emotional pain inherent to some of these issues is neither sidestepped nor downplayed. The story hits hard, the dialogue makes you think, and the characters don't have all the answers: rather, they grapple with the complexity of their dilemma. It is artfully done, and at the end of the day, a truly good story.
It certainly adds a lot to Shadow's character, and is one of the strongest examples in the series of excellent Shadow the Hedgehog writing. The Shadow character I know and love is not one dimensional. He is not edgy above all, he is not a villain, he is not violent without cause (no matter how misguided), and he is not merciless without multifaceted reasons giving it meaning and ultimately heart, as opposed to blind brutality or menace. For me, one of the most difficult Shadow moments to watch out of the entire series is when he stalks Cosmo in season 3 of Sonic X, convinced that she is evil and must be eradicated or else he and his companions would all face certain doom at the hands of the Metarex. I love Cosmo -- she is a strong, fantastic, good-hearted character. She does not deserve to be punished, and she is ultimately just a child regardless and cannot be held to justice in the way an adult should. Shadow stalking and presumably attempting to majorly harm, imprison or kill her is disturbing in some ways, and hard to watch, but is not out of blind brutality. Rather, it is out of a sense of justice in Shadow's heart, a sense of righting wrongs and no tolerance for evil. He viewed her as nothing more than a threat, a spy for the Metarex. To him, this superseded the critical subtlety and nuance of the situation: such as Cosmo's remorse, and her ultimate powerlessness to resist Dark Oak's directives. Therefore, Shadow's actions are out of a misguided and dark sense of justice: evil actions from an ultimately good heart, obfuscated through hastiness of emotion and urge toward decisive and resolute action. This is the key aspect that separates Shadow, an "anti-hero" from villains: dark justice as opposed to premeditated malice.
This key aspect is a critical component of what makes Shadow such a compelling character: the result of the forming trauma that he suffered, and the ongoing war between light and dark in his heart. His ultimate will to do what is just, broken up and put back together again along an uphill path of misunderstanding and shortsightedness. Some newer Sonic media, such as Sonic Boom and alleged internal directives from SEGA fail to understand this, and attempt to rewrite Shadow as a one-dimensional bully-type villain. Writing him as such is an insult to his character and the Sonic fanbase, and demonstrates a complete lack of awareness of what makes him unique, special, and relatable: what about him makes us feel sympathy and compassion for his situation, for the depths of his tragedy and the heights of his successes.
But to digress from general remarks on the substance of his character: in summary, SA2 is the quintessential beginning Shadow, and a good place to start for people new to the series. Sonic Battle does a great job expanding this story and adding deeper lore and ideas. Countless Sonic media such as Sonic Heroes, Sonic 06 and Sonic X do a great job of further expanding Shadow's story, character development and connection to other characters: Sonic 06 in particular does a fantastic job of this, and is overall my favorite depiction of Shadow aside from his debut as it displays tremendous character development for him and a deepening of his bonds with Rouge the Bat and Omega. It depicts Shadow at his best thus far: strong, wise, unperturbed, unwavering in his resolve for truth and justice yet still serious, quiet, reserved and withdrawn.
Shadow the Hedgehog, the game, is quite the interesting case and ultimately comprises a series of highs and lows in my view. I very much enjoy its darker storyline and themes in a lot of ways. I enjoy the serious dialogue and story, and the thought-provoking nature of the varied series of events that unfold as well as mysterious aspects of the post-game. I certainly do not want this tone or style to be the norm for Sonic games, and I feel that certain aspects when too far beyond acceptability and appropriateness for a family audience. The violence, while definitely heavier than any other Sonic game is still fairly tame by today's standards, but I'm more concerned by how some of the complex gray-area moral themes could affect children, especially those who incorporated their love/appreciation for Shadow as a character into their mind or real life/personality too much. The language is also mild by today's standards, but still out of place and inappropriate for a family audience. It also takes away from the seriousness of the themes and dialogue: profanity is common, cheap, and easy. It cheapens anything of substance.
Content/age-appropriateness aside, I very much enjoy the game's darker and more serious story. I enjoy contemplating the moral dilemma, and comparing the varied consequences resulting from each pathway of choice ranging from the worst evil to the greatest good. I very much appreciate how, ultimately, the worst of the bad endings lead to naught but ruin and grief: the corruption of the fruits of darkness laid bare. Unfortunately this is contradicted to some extent by other aspects of the game that may glorify the darker paths through some of the dialogue and musical choices. While this is all interesting and enjoyable to contemplate, and I very much appreciate the substance the process adds to Shadow's character and lore, I do agree that some choices regarding his backstory are strange and confusing.
The Black Doom aspect of his origin story is highly questionable. I enjoy him has a character, and he certainly makes a fantastic villain. I also understand that Professor Gerald was certainly not the most moralistic of characters: while he began with good intentions, ultimately he allowed his grief to break his mind and heart to the point of brutal and boundless insanity. But the idea that Gerald used some of Black Doom's blood to bioengineer Shadow is unsettling, to say the least. Black Doom is not just an alien, he's depicted as demonic through both the Grim Reaper archetype and the "Devil Doom" nomenclature used for the final boss, in tandem with his overall apperance, anti-morality and nature. While I do think he is indeed just a powerful alien in the story, the demonic symbolism is there and is not something I would like to be associated with any character, particularly non-villains.
That being said, I feel that Shadow's backstory making one uncomfortable could easily be the goal: a significant portion of stories in multiple Sonic games center around Shadow not knowing his past or his purpose, yet finding turth and meaning in life regardless. There is certainly a good message here in many ways: in real life, many people are born in terrible situations and grow up in terrible situations. Many people have abusive parent(s)/guardian(s) and/or grow up surrounded by crime and dysfunction. We are all greatly molded by our environments, but we are all blessed with free will: we can choose to go our own paths and forge ahead to a brighter future, no matter how great and crushing the darkness from which we must soar above. Of course, this can be exceedingly and incomprehensively difficult for those who grew up in the worst of situations. But it absolutely can be done.
Shadow's story can be interpreted as an allegory for this manner of struggle which many of us face. He was born with an inherent darkness, namely Black Doom's blood. He was bioengineered (of which I have inherent major concerns, but I digress as I simply enjoy it as a fictional story) as opposed to natural born. He suffered immense tragedy, chief of which being the loss of his dearest friend. Since then, he has faced against some of the worst evils and most dangerous threats. He has almost died, sometimes suffers amnesia and has to overcome dark deceptions and manipulation. Despite these dark circumstances, he chooses not to let his manner of birth or his past control and define him: instead, he chooses to forge his own path, to do what he believes is right. He is a flawed an imperfect character, and makes countless mistakes. But he is honest in his heart, and strong in his resolve.
Ultimately, I'm still not the biggest fan of the Black Doom aspect of his origin. I feel like his story and these associated themes could have been conveyed just as effectively without that esoteric element. I would still want Black Doom to be a villain Shadow goes up against: and I would have still wanted the Commander to have been impacted as a child by events as he was, leading to his initially painful and difficult connection with Shadow eventually healing into a mutual understanding and friendship. This could have been accomplished just with Professor Gerald and his ideals colliding against GUN and their ideals, complicated by their shared contradictions of abstract ideals relative to reality and consequence of action when unnatural and esoteric methods are employed leading to the tragedy with Shadow, Maria and the Commander. Black Doom could have played a more tertiary role, being and remaining in the deceiver role.
In conclusion, while I very much love Shadow and his backstory I agree it certainly is not perfect, and has its flaws and questionable elements. I very much enjoy contemplating it.
