Warning do not read unless seen episode.
As an old saying goes it is always dusk before the dawn. This is one of my favorite episodes of the show, it was the first and only two parter of the show. This was a pretty dark story because this was one that was a little more drama than comedy.
The only bad thing about this two parter was the Salesman villain he never really had a comeuppance. It would of been cooling seeing the slime try and make another sale and then Artie comes in and breaks that aluminum siting showing that it's fake just as the Salesman is. But there wasn't enough time so oh well.
The theme of the whole episode is about true heroism. It's centered around three characters and I really like the dynamic. Artie represents the mythological hero. Don is the everyday hero and Pete is somewhat in between.
Don is sympathetic because he like any father just wanted to have some sort of connection with his son, to be a hero to look up to. However he made things worse by taking the very things that made Young Pete himself which is never the solution; though that action Young Pete has became a shell of a person.
One moment that I'll admit was really dark was seeing the bonfire where all of the kids had to throw everything that represented Artie and heroism in general into the fire. It was practically like a Nazi book burning, just like the Nazi's their promoting ignorance by trying to purge the truth.
After that moment Don realizes things have gotten out of hand and he then goes in search of Artie. To me this is when Don becomes a hero because he is doing what any good father should do, save his son's soul but also his own.
Artie of course is a person that has became lost as he is no longer has Young Pete around, he has no idea what to do with himself. We see him try to conform to our everyday customs but of course when we see it doesn't work he's still miserable; it just doesn't feel right or make sense. It sort of reminds me of what Elias from "Unbreakable" said, "You know that sad feeling it's because your not doing what your suppose to be doing." And that's true for Artie, this two parter is Artie's journey back to being himself which is another good message and part of heroism; be true to yourself, if something feels right do it.
Young Pete journey is becoming his own hero, like any sidekick somewhere along the line they always grow up and want to make their own way. At first we see Young Pete just down in the dumps but doing a lot of thinking, despite all the bad things that have been happening to him he still stays true to himself. Even a moment when he throws the doll figure of Artie away, despite losing some belief in Artie we see deep down he hasn't lost all belief.
It then comes down to the pivotal moment when Pete and Papercut have a showdown. It almost seems like Pete is going to throw in the towel but then we see a smile on his face. We even see at that moment both Don and Artie are their sort of everyday hero and superhero going hand in hand but Artie holds Don back signaling him to do nothing except to watch and believe Pete will come though. And of course Pete does come though by not conforming to the rules of Rock, Paper, Sizors. The moment gets even cooler when we see this belief pass on to Pete's friends and they stand up to paper cut and in the end they all triumph. That's another good message showing that heroism never really dies as long as you believe and that it's for everyone.
We then see the final moments which are touching as Artie does what he has to do, let go of Young Pete for he has became his own hero and move on to find and teach another pupil in need. I really like the last things he says to Pete where he will always be there as long as Pete remembers what he's been taught and even like what Don said at the end that he'll miss that mutant, really showing growth in Don that he also has some belief as well. And of course we see both Don and Young Pete finally connect as both have one thing in common now their both heroes.
Rating: 4 stars
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