81 replies to this topic

[Uncle Ben]

The darker plot is what most people liked SatAM in the first place. A bit darker it could of been better.

The only think i dont like is the Freedom Fighter Army, i still like the rag-tag team group that it was at the end of Season 2 with the KFF, WP, and others

[Captain Sorzo]

Making the show darker would have to be treated very delicately. For the most part, SatAM had a fantastic tonal balance, remaining ever optimistic despite the bleak, twisted setting and tragic circumstances that the protagonists were forced to contend with. It's certainly possible for a substantially darker take on the series to work, and indeed I prefer it that way, but I consider it absolutely paramount that the optimistic core be preserved.

Sea3on is a great example of a well done darker direction. The heroes are portrayed as far more emotionally fragile and vulnerable, making the strength they draw from their loved ones and ultimately themselves all the more important. It grants a deeper look at the characters and their struggles and relationships, yet remains ever hopeful. Rather than being its own end, action in the comic is frequently used to set up and direct these dynamics, as when Naugus partially freezes Tails in Chapter 2. The inherent act of a villain nearly killing a child is dark, yes, but the later scene in which Sonic attempts to comfort Tails, only for both to remain haunted by the latter's mortality, is far more meaningful.

Action for action's sake can be entertaining, but it often isn't very interesting upon examination, especially when the action is "dark." Lighthearted action can be used to provide a sense of fun and adventure, a key component of SatAM's tonal balance. Darker action lacks this advantage, and if it also lacks sufficient purpose, such as setting up plot points or character dynamics, illustrating themes, or creating appropriate levels of tension, it runs the risk of being boring and, if graphic, needlessly unpleasant. The majority of the action in the latest Archie Sonic arc falls victim to this. It is wholly superficial and pointless, yet robbed of the chance to at least be fun by the dark plot. It thus becomes boring and tedious very, very quickly, feeling like a cheap substitute for meaningful storytelling.