platonism's Full Review: Gargoyles: The Complete First Season
The 2004-05 holidays have given me the opportunity to improve my knowledge of key 1990s cartoon series. I bought DVD boxed sets featuring three important, but remarkably different, animated series: The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1995), The Tick (1994-1996) and Gargoyles (1994-1997). As strange as it may seem, I had never seen a single episode of either series prior to acquiring these DVDs. All three sets have enthralled me even more than I thought… but let's now talk about Gargoyles, the most narrative-driven of the three series.
This 2-DVD set collects all thirteen episodes of the series' inaugural season (1994-1995). In addition to presenting these films in optimal condition (the image and video quality is outstanding), Disney has included several bonus features. Viewers can witness the original show pitch by Gargoyles co-creator Greg Weisman; in this 4-minute segment, he narrates the first few story arcs of the series over dozens of drawings. The 13-minute featurette "The Gathering of the Gargoyles" documents the 2004 edition of the annual event of the same name that was held in my hometown. The featurette shows the incredible range of Gargoyles' fandom: some of the show's creators and voice actors (notably Keith David, who provides Goliath's fantastic voice) meddle with the fans, while the participants take a look at the costumes some have created, exchange thoughts on fan fiction and drawings, record a radio play, etc. Last but not least, there are audio commentaries for the first five episodes done by Weisman and David, among others.
Religious symbols come back to life
The first story arc is the five-part "Awakening". It begins in 994 A.D. and introduces the viewers to the Gargoyles, massive creatures who turn to stone during the day, and live again as night comes. Led by Goliath, they live around a vast castle of Scotland, resting on its tower after dawn and protecting its people after the twilight. During a violent battle with the Vikings, one of the castle's inhabitants betrays his clan and sides with the enemy - as a result, the Vikings massacre most of his own men and women. One of the survivors, blaming this tragedy on the Gargoyles, casts a spell upon them: they would lie dormant in their stone forms for a thousand years until the castle would rise beyond the clouds. One millennium later, billionaire David Xanatos (voiced by Jonathan Frakes), who is well aware of the spell and the Gargoyles' troubled past, purchases the castle and moves it on top of a Manhattan skyscraper; he thus fulfills the requirements of the spell, and awakes the Gargoyles.
The first season as a whole is focused on several interconnected trends: the Gargoyles get to know the powerful but enigmatic Xanatos and his true motivations; Goliath forms a bond with Elisa, an NYPD detective, while the more immature Gargoyles (Broadway, Brooklyn and Lexington) take dangerous risks and ramble in the streets; there are frequent encounters with Demona, a Gargoyle female whose hatred of humans was so absolute that she rejected Goliath's more nuanced perception and thus turned against her peers.
The ancient and the modern
The series treats the Gargoyles the way they were meant to be treated: as symbols. During the day, they are turned to stone and ornate castles and buildings; during the night, these symbols come to life and act out meanings that are traditionally attached to them: sheer power balanced by a protective attitude, monstrous/hellish appearance, etc. (Gargoyles' dark and alluring look is strongly inspired by another Gothic-inflected mainstay of the early 1990s, Batman: The Animated Series.)
I feel that one of the most compelling themes in these cartoons is that of the clash between the ancient and the modern. Following the millennial spell cast upon them, the Gargoyles are transplanted in a whole new world. In most of the episodes, they come to terms with this intriguing but scary universe; while the youngest, less experimented Gargoyles are eager to adapt to this environment in as little time as possible, Goliath takes smaller steps. He bears the whole history of his kind on his broad shoulders, and is the depository of a long tradition; as much as he gradually discerns the most attractive aspects of 20th century New York, he does not want to betray himself and his past.
The clash between the ancient and the modern is handled in many ways throughout the first season. Some are obvious: several Gargoyles revel in watching the popular TV shows of the moment, or marvel as they try get their first taste of automobiles and motorbikes. But others are more subtle and symbolic. In the fifth episode for instance, Xanatos unveils a twisted creation: a set of massive robots modeled on Goliath. The battle thus pits noble, living religious symbols against mere mechanical replicas; a past full of religious meaning has to fight against the industrial, technological age. Xanatos somehow thinks that he can mechanically replicate the Gargoyles' true nature, but predictably fails (he only reproduces their physical appearances). These steel-made Goliaths return in episode #10, and the battle that ensues is once again very symbolic: it takes place on the Statue of Liberty!
Demons and daimons...
Demona is one of the most fascinating characters of the series. Although a Gargoyle, she still is somewhat different from her peers: unlike the others, she has not been affected by the spell and has thus been awake for a thousand years; this has given her more than enough time to feed her hatred for humans. Her name itself is interesting: Demona is obviously close to Demon, and her actions are reminiscent of the definition of demons perpetrated by Christianity; that is, she appears to be an evil spirit who can possess others. On the other hand, the remaining Gargoyles (especially Goliath) live up to daimons as they were envisioned by the Ancient Greeks: malevolent supernatural beings who protect mortals. So here we have another clash, that between the conflicting notions of what a demon/daimon really is. The whole season culminates with the Gargoyles accepting their role of daimons to the New York population.
* * *
The series does run out of steam in a few episodes, but as a whole this set is very solid. The final episode brings a sense of closure to the first season, so the set feels like a truly self-contained work that can be enjoyed even in the absence of the following seasons. While I tend to prefer cartoons that are low on narrative but high on pure expression, this epic story (suitably scored by Carl Johnson) is involving and well worth (re)watching.
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