It’s not uncommon for us to start getting acquainted with the original story after the accompanying materials. This happened to me with Harry Potter – only after a dozen revisions of the film adaptation, I decided to get acquainted with the books that I liked no less. The same thing awaited me in the situation with Scott Pilgrim. At the same time, I am familiar with the situation when film adaptations are watched after the original works – I met Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings several years before watching Jackson’s films. Therefore, I would like to share some lengthy thoughts about Netflix’s animated adaptation of Brian Lee O’Malley’s comic.
The text is primarily for those who have watched the series. There will be spoilers in the text, including the ending, I’ll hide them under the cutscenes. True, I don’t quite understand the meaning of this, but since they asked, I’ll do it. I won’t rehash the entire plot of the series, but I will refer to the story regularly to reinforce thoughts about the product as a whole.
The first time I saw an Edgar Wright film was a long time ago. I liked it, but was happily forgotten. At that time I watched a lot of films, so Scott Pilgrim got lost among other, no less cult films.
As the years passed, I became, I would like to believe, wiser. I came across the Into the Universe podcast, which rekindled my interest in the film:
I showed the film to many friends, discussed it with those who liked it as much as I did. Discovered new sides of history against the backdrop of new life experiences. I bought an updated color edition of the comic, the release of which conveniently coincided with the moment of sitting at home due to illness. I really liked the comic. I can’t say I’m a big fan of graphic novels, but I was impressed by Scott Pilgrim. The work turned out to be rich in detail and originally executed. Provided fertile ground for reflection on the topic of relationships.
It was interesting to draw parallels with the film. Don’t just read the story, but analyze which parts of it were borrowed from the film adaptation. How Edgar Wright dealt with some of the arcs and twists, how successful the cast was, and whether the original evokes similar emotions compared to the film. After reading it, I was convinced that the film adaptation treated the original work very carefully and respectfully. Yes, it was impossible to fit all four volumes into a full length film, but the authors used the scissors wisely. Minor fragments of the story were cut out that did not greatly affect the main leitmotif of the comic. I had a very good impression of the original, and I began to love the film even more.
And so, the information field was lit up with news about another film adaptation. Yes, not in film format, but in the form of an animated series. Interesting? Yes, it seems. I watched a teaser trailer, which did not show the viewer what awaits them during direct viewing. In the clip cutting you can find “unusual” shots, but in the moment attention is not caught on them. As a result, we remain confident that this animated series is just a film adaptation of a comic book.
And the first episode reinforces this impression. Despite the embarrassing “jumping” through the scenes, which leads the viewer through the plot at a brisk pace.
Already in the first episode, Ramona goes for a walk with Scott at night in Toronto, who, after a few episodes, spends the night in her bed and enters into a fight with Matthew Pattel. And loses..
And most importantly, this plot twist did not bother me. It became clear that the authors still decided to play with the main story. And to be honest, it seemed like a good idea to me! Judge for yourself, the first episode already demonstrates respect for the original. The names of the actors who starred in the film appear in the credits and voiceovers. The pseudonym of Anamanaguchi, who wrote the soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim vs, flashes by. the World: The Game . Visual execution painstakingly transfers the picture from a comic book, breathes life. Yes, even some scenes refer to specific spreads or situations from Wright’s film adaptation. In addition, viewers are given a handful of Easter eggs of varying visibility and interest. Some things remain as they are, while others adapt. Everything suggests that Netflix not only gave money to transfer the comic book into a cartoon, but also gave the authors freedom to work with the material. After watching four episodes, I formed the thought that “I don’t understand why fans of the comic and the film were outraged. Still very interesting and played out in an original way! If I were given a choice between another near-literal film adaptation and a similar creative experiment, then I would definitely choose the second. We already have a movie and it’s great. So why not?»
So Scott Pilgrim lost.
What Happens to the Losers in Lee O’Malley’s Comic Book World? They drop coins and dematerialize. It seems that this topic was not developed in previous works, but it seems logical to me that special effects are only a metaphor that does not lead to real death. At least that’s what I always thought. Later it will become known that in the series this situation is played out simply as “It turned out that they were reborn, and that’s all.”.
And now, in the second episode, the film adaptation jumps right off the bat, going against the original story:
Scott is "officially" dead. We become spectators of his funeral, at which Envy Adams sings a farewell song. Knives Chau, who did not have time to officially lose her status as Scott’s girlfriend, expresses to Ramona’s face that she is to blame for the death of Pilgrim. Scott’s band tries to adjust to the absence of a bass player, but Knives soon replaces him. In fact, everything settles down quite quickly.
There’s a complete sham going on. Dark humor and absurd situational sketches, for the most part, feel original and funny. Fragments of history are shuffled, events are layered on top of each other, new story arcs appear. And all this is truly interesting to watch.
The main aspect of the https://wintrillionscasino.co.uk/withdrawal/ story that seems central is the development of the characters of Scott and Ramona, which the audience can identify with. And this development does not occur according to the principle of the classic hero. We do not see radical qualitative changes, but we get timid progress for the better. There’s an open question at the end. Scott has changed, but he’s still Scott. Although, in a sense, he has become more mature, it is not entirely clear how he will behave in the future. Ramona was able to accept Scott’s nature, overcome avoidance and give them a chance to continue their relationship. If you like, it’s Schrödinger’s ending. I always thought that both positive and negative development of the characters’ relationships were real. As a result, both of them will be able to work through their own “problems” and form a strong couple. Or run away literally in a week, because everyone still has enough infantilism, and with injuries and nuances of behavior you will need to work long and painstakingly, which not every person is capable of.
Scott’s lightness and simplicity may be indicated, but does not receive much development. Ramona, on the other hand, decides not to leave the guy in trouble, and tries to help him. As if, first of all, humanly. Due to the rapid change of events, it’s not particularly believable that some kind of chemistry could have developed between the characters.
In the series, the story pushes Scott’s character out of the frame:
The main protagonist is Ramona Flowers, who comes to the conclusion that Scott is actually alive and his death was faked. He begins a simple investigation, where he tries to meet all his exes and find out if any of them are involved in the disappearance of Pilgrim.
Then the most interesting thing begins in the series – viewers are better revealed to Ramona’s exes. They tell us the Syndicate, then they turn the vectors of its members in different directions, describing them from other sides not shown in the comic or film. It is important that these solutions do not feel like a retcon, but complement the originals. Gideon is still a geek philanthropist, but is losing all his influence, and we learn his backstory. Matthew Pattel, still being an impulsive, abrasive dude, plays this character trait out by creating a mess, and behaves in a way that a comic book reader might think about him: “If he’s so cocky, and people who disappeared seem to come back to life, then why wasn’t his cockiness continued in history?”?"We begin to understand Lucas Lee better, sympathize with Gemini. Thus, we get a broader look at the characters of Ramona’s Evil Ex Syndicate, showing them off in more varied situations. I was especially delighted by Todd Ingram’s story:
Whom Wallace managed to pick up. Remember Scott’s sister’s boys? So, here Wallace’s magnetism gained ten points again. And Todd will be pining for him until the very end of the series.
Absurd, but so funny!
Despite the unexpected plot twists and character developments, it still felt like it stayed true to the spirit of Brian Lee O’Malley’s original story. The comic already contained statements about unusual developments in the typical actions of young people that happen in reality. Here and there people fall in love, make friends, hang out, conflict, experiment and hurt each other. This is the very aspect that, it seems to me, brought popularity to the original. Most readers, at one time or another, have giggled or shed a tear while reading Scott Pilgrim. Most likely, many of us were there, on the pages of this work. Doesn’t matter if it’s Young Neil or Kim Pine.
Watching the series, I did not get illusory pleasure. Until the story gets to the hanging gun:
Details of the kidnapping of Scott Pilgrim.
What did you think about his disappearance when you watched the series?? I thought he was kidnapped by Knives Chau’s father, who was hunting him in the comic. Why not? You never know. Yes, there were no special prerequisites for this, but who knows? History has already taken several unexpected turns. But no. Scott Pilgrim was kidnapped by… Scott Pilgrim. From the future.
Scott Pilgrim, aged 37, kidnaps a younger version of himself. He travels back in time and, showing the hero a changed Toronto, tells him that his story with Ramona does not have a good ending. Yes, they were together for ten years, but in the end she left. Dumped Scott. As I once did with other exes. He doesn’t want to hear anything about how young Scott’s decisions belong only to young Scott, as a result of which he forbids him to continue his relationship with Ramona. Like, what difference does it make what happened before?? The main thing is that now he is left alone. This means we need to change the past and make sure they were never together at all.
Great plan, Scott. Just awesome, if I understand correctly. Reliable, like a Swiss watch.
So, such a development of history, at first, still feels interesting. The viewer finally gets an answer to the question “What happened next?”?", even if the truth turns out to be anything but rosy. But they don’t shed any light on the events of the future; they talk about the consequences, and even then in passing.
The "Adult Scott" arc doesn’t seem to have any major impact on the story. After all, adult Wallace helps young Scott meet adult Ramona. Which, what a coincidence, can travel not only through the tunnels of consciousness, but also move through time. Adult Ramona was aware of adult Scott’s plan and took part in the events to neutralize the consequences. She even gives young Scott a memoir written by "Old Young Neil" chronicling the love story of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers.
It is stated that "Scott and Ramona loved each other very, very, very, very much.", but this is not described or supported in any way. There are only philosophical conversations about how “the past must be destroyed, because reality is bad” and “no matter what happens now, the past has a right to exist”.
It would seem that since they spent so much time together, something serious must have been the reason for their breakup. Something that could state a conflict that could take adult Scott and Ramona to the next level. It doesn’t matter if their relationship would have survived or not. But only some “DIFFICULT SITUATION” is mentioned and two opposing abstract positions regarding its consequences.
The grain of the conflict is not described to the viewer in any way. They do not show the motivation of the parties, do not demonstrate their behavior in the process.
There is only the abandoned and wildly offended Scott, whose psychos suggest: “Well, it’s not for nothing that he is so angry, something really serious happened. Some of them still seriously messed up.»
There is again a lonely and independent Ramona. Which “Wanted to be alone”, but in the end just disappeared from the radar, because Scott literally took the request for “Timeout” and stupidly waited all these years. Thinking that time will pass and she will return. And she didn’t come back. In the end, what?
Future Scott becomes the main villain, Ramona’s exes scurry around in the background, and it all ends with a spectacular battle between Old Scott (whose image is an amusing homage to Bum-Ryu from Street Fighter) and the young versions of all the heroes. Even exes help in confrontation, but they fly away quickly. Old Scott almost defeats everyone, but old Ramona comes on stage, gives him a cradle, and a cross-talk with debriefing begins.
Conversation of the consequences of the conflict, which is again explained on the fingers. I guess that the authors wanted to express the idea that “Consequences are important, but their causes must also be appreciated and treated with care."But I want to ask, is it really not important to deconstruct the consequences and causes of a situation if the result does not suit anyone? Only by knowing the field of action and the available options can you be sure that it is still possible to fix.
Young Ramona, having seen enough of all this, wonders whether she should move on, or whether this relationship is just another mistake for her. Again an abstract question. She still accepts herself as she is, acknowledges the fact that she can leave again or will leave. Merges with the old version of herself, turning into Super Ramona, gaining the opportunity to look at the situation from different sides of experience.
Realizing that despite the shortcomings of young and old Scott, she still loves them. Sends Old Scott Pilgrim into his timeline so he can seemingly try to bring Ramona back from his time. Cures young Scott from the “barrier” that Old Scott put on him, sends him back to his own time. In fact, the situation is completely resolved.
Everyone goes on their timelines to move on with their lives. It seems that everyone has learned something, in particular Ramona and Scott, but the feeling of the excessive abstractness of the message persists.
The story settles into a state of calm, and the viewer witnesses how the destinies of most of the minor characters in the comic have changed. Someone stopped being an actor, someone started dating someone, someone came to a dream. But the main conflict of the central characters seems to remain unresolved. There is only a certain humility and acceptance that their story may end sadly. Or maybe not. The conflict turned out to be “incomprehensible”, since in terms of its consequences it looks more like a conflict between young people rather than adults. As icing on the cake, it all ends with a phrase that is very eloquently uttered by one of Ramona’s Exes – "Whatever".
It would seem that the authors very inventively turned the plot upside down. We rewrote and added many events and personalities. But in the end everything turned out like the first time we had sex: “A pompous beginning, an intriguing middle and a crumpled end”. The result feels chaotic and discordant. Not in the spirit of a responsible approach to the rest of the story and characters in the series. And it disappointed me. I can’t say that I’m indignant, but my expectations formed during the viewing process were not met.
As far as I understand, only characters with extensive “timeline experience” fit into the logic of events. Although the conflict presented seems to me more real between Ramona and Scott, for example, after a year of relationship, and not a whole ten.
I’m used to seeing the story of Scott Pilgrim as deliberately simple and silly, but realistic, ambiguous and fertile for thought at the core. And in the series, the characters seem not to notice the years that have passed. But how great it would be if the authors of the climax had more timing and elaboration. Show that the characters and story have matured along with their viewers. After all, we don’t stand still either.
I think that’s what ruined the ending the most. It would be possible to step onto the complex bridge of relationships between adults who have retained the flaws of youth. Explain how maturity can help overcome them. And that Love, with a capital L, which the authors declare, can really live for a very long time. But no, the characters have aged, not grown. There remains another abstract answer, without a clearly asked question. Scott dumbed down even more, and Ramona retained her extreme aloofness. “Acceptance” alone seems to be not enough. It’s as if there weren’t ten years in which people, as a rule, change quite a lot. It doesn’t matter if it’s for better or for worse. But in the series there was neither one nor the other.