Just a little thought, like the ones you sometimes have a long time after watching something. This one was about three iconic characters of their franchises, pivotal to the story and apparently for guidance and maturity. And lies. I love all these films mentioned, but after a while and giving it thought, it struck me that all of these characters lied and withheld vital information. Which is a good lesson in understanding that people do it too in real life, and it isn’t always deemed a problem if it apparently comes with ‘good reason’ or if there is good outcome.

Gandalf – (The Lord of the Rings) – keeping quite a lot of information to himself, or choosing to share it with the wrong people. Not being honest and forthcoming at all with most of his group. Being shifty about the ring, not admitting he was hoodwinked by his own superior, not actually telling them what was in the Mines of Moria. And just being super secretive about things that probably might have quite helped the quest, rather than hindered and delayed it. But that’s my own personal view.

Ob-Won Kenobe – (Star Wars) – his lie was massive, and brushed off so easily I always thought it was out of order. When questioned about why he didn’t tell Luke, he so casually says ‘well, I told you Darth Vader killed your dad, so I was kind of telling the truth’. He can’t even admit his lie then when called out on it, and still has to try and gaslight him on it and turn it into a truth. Hilarious.

Dumbledore – (Harry Potter) keeping an awful lot to himself, and although it portrays it as necessary, and that he is rather clever for keeping such a close guard on secrets and information. But to me he seemed more like a gatekeeper, laying out little breadcrumbs for them to follow, which in an ordinary adventure might seem whimsical and fun. But when there are dark entities trying to kill you, soul snatchers, monsters and magic, maybe there would have been slightly more sharing and less ‘hey, work it out for yourself, of course I know and it might save your life, but I’m not going to tell you’.

All of them are meant to be wise, mature and experienced and lead you to believe that it is of benefit to have that. Yet coming across as dysfunctional and sneaky, but because they are so relaxed about it and make a joke of their behaviour almost, it’s fine. The fictional leads in all these films though, were kind of groomed and led astray by all of them after looking to them for wisdom. And not by chance, accident or just circumstance, because they were led to believe that’s what they represented, a mentor, a father figure, a guiding and helping hand. We like to think it’s easy to spot someone either taking advantage, or using you to an advantage or for their own benefit or cause, but just as we don’t always notice it when it’s right in front of our face on a screen, laid out and scripted, swallowed by a multitude of other things happening, the same can be said of real life. Where some people use the drama of life, or the happenings of other things occurring as a cover to further their agenda. When people are distracted, or busy, or overloaded in any psychological area, they are easier to trigger and influence, to steer in the direction required. So, before you get pulled or talked into any ‘adventure’ or long-running scheme, ask yourself if it really is your adventure, or if someone else is trying to force you to be part of theirs…

(c) MKW Publishing