Fate is Lie in Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans – It’s Agonizing!

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans follows the same style as Homer’s The Iliad.

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021) - IMDbBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Available to view on Netflix
Spoiler Alert

The finale to the Trollhunters, Tales of Arcadia has all the key players–Jim Lake, Tobias, Claire, Binky, AAARRRGGHH, Crown Princess Aja, Prince Krel, Douxie and Archie–not ready to take on the Arcane Order. They’re the next threat in a long line of villains who want to restore the world to its old ways, a time before gods walked the Earth, and magic was pure. However, to do so means convincing one of their own, Nari, that their ways are true. This tale picks up from where Wizards last left off (review and analysis can be read here).

This movie is very crowded and needs that prologue to explain everything that’s happened prior–including why Armageddon must happen. The concept is very much taken from Nordic design (Ragnorak); everything must be destroyed before the world can be remade and this theme plays out anyways, much to my chagrin. This introduction could’ve been trimmed out in favour of new material, but not everyone will know Trollhunters, 3Below and Wizards inside and out. It’s terrific to see all the supporting characters return for even a few minutes, but that finale–a good portion of the fans for this series are angry. Spoilers follow:

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Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Teaser Trailer & Thoughts

One expectation is certain: someone has to claim the sword Excalibur. None of the current heroes can pull it from the ground.

Trollhunters
By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans will release July 21, 2021, and the three series which make up the Tales of Arcadia will truly come together. Princess Aja and Prince Krel Tarron barely had a presence in the third arc, Wizards. I hope they are more involved in the film. The teaser trailer which dropped this week suggests big things.

The title brings to mind the Greek giants of yore. Executive producer Guillmero del Toro loves playing with mythology, and we may see all twelve “titans” and the mother of them all–Gaea (Earth)–as this series antagonists. She represents more than just creation. Some see her moods shifting with the seasons, and I feel the life, death and rebirth cycle also factors in. One of the monsters they face looks like a giant-sized cross between a Heatran and Gigalith from Pokemon GO, and I doubt the combined team want to catch this mad beast.

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No one has Fallen in Trollhunters: The Felled GN … yet!

TrollhuntersBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

  • Spoiler Alert

The continuing adventures of Jim Lake Jr., aka the Trollhunter, is packed with lessons for young Atlas to learn from. Volume two, The Felled (by Dark Horse Comics) arrives on shelves today, and this story takes places after this lad failed to impress the Nunez family from the season two episode, “Hero with a Thousand Faces.”

These stories take place in between the broadcast episodes and continue the trend started in volume one. Jim is having a hard time balancing his life of a teen to that of a hero. Fortunately, his friends at Troll Market refer back to the lives of other Trollhunters and regale this lad with fun action filled and thoughtful moments about what they faced and how he can learn from it.

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From Script to Book, Trollhunters! an Ongoing Saga

trollhunters_poster
The Trollhunters Four Book Collection is due for Dec 11, 2018 releaseTrollhunters

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Writer Richard A Hamilton can very easily further any fan’s love for DreamWorks Trollhunters. His work in the ongoing book series published by Simon Spotlight expands the world in legendary ways such that readers get to learn more about the history of Trollkind. As the wait for the next chapter in the Tales of Arcadia saga continues and this dedicated fan needs troll food badly, I am glad more tales are being told through the comic book/print medium.

The first graphic novel, “The Felled” is due to hit shelves in mid-October. Here, Hamilton explores the problems of being “boyfriend” material. Ever since Jim and Claire made it official, trying to make their relationship is not going to be easy, and Trollkind’s idea of courtship may well get examined. The history of Trollkind and their mating rituals may well be at the core of this first work. This chapter of the saga is illustrated by Timothy Green II.

In the written front, Four books are available to purchase (with more coming) and I knew I did not want to jump in with book three upon finding them at my local bookstore. The first volume is simply a retelling of “Becoming.” The scenes cut out are restored. The prologue centers in on Kanjigar. He knows his time is up and a new hero is needed. This Trollhunter prior to Jim Lake Jr. was well respected in Troll Market and for him to say his farewells is not without some sniffles. I feel the Knights of the Round Table will one day appear because this take of the Trollhunters saga reflects even more chivalric ideals.

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Season Three of Trollhunters is Not an End but a New Beginning

TrollhuntersBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Sadly, all good Trolls must come to an end. No, the species are not going extinct in the finale of DreamWorks Trollhunters on Netflix but instead, Jim Lake Jr’s rite of passage into manhood is. Minimal spoilers will be revealed as this series has become a definitive hero’s journey for viewers of all ages to appreciate.

Most of the main characters are richly developed and Richard Hamilton’s books (The Way of the WizardTrollhunters takes place after “For the Glory of Merlin” and Welcome to the DarklandsTrollhunters in between seasons and two) fills in the blanks. The mythology takes a few cues from Arthurian tradition and this latest season does a triumphant job at exploring the virtues of what defines the knight. Traditionally, they should be on generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry and piety. This animation sees valour, justice and courage just as important.

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