Re-Porter Blog: The Porter Report #5

 A Matter of Faith And Trust

The Hero’s Journey Within Raya and the Last Dragon

By: Brandon Porter

☝🏾SPOILERS FOR RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON ARE PRESENT IN THIS PIECE!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED☝🏾

    It's hard to believe we have been living with the COVID-19 pandemic for a full calendar year. Time seems to be moving in slow motion as we try to pick up the piece of a world ripped apart by not just the disease but the reckoning of a divisive 5 year period and the repercussions of systemic injustice. In addition to that, the rise of one-strike cancel culture has made the task of reaching out and understanding different viewpoints with context nearly impossible thus widening the divide. This type of problem requires a solution and a pretty unique place to look would be Disney's latest animated endeavor Raya and The Last Dragon. For starters, this movie is a bonified must-see. I have been thinking about it non-stop since I left the theater. The characters, the action, the visuals, and the messaging make this one of the early contenders for the best-animated film of the year. But upon dissecting the film on first viewing, I see something in the character arc for our leading lady Raya, voiced masterfully by Kelly Marie Tran, that shows that the world of Kumandra and its path to unity could provide a blueprint for how the real world can fix what has been broken. Warning, SPOILERS AHEAD.

Let's start at the beginning with where Raya's head is before meeting the tribes of Talon, Spine, Tail, and Fang. Even at a young age, she has some pretty biased generalizations of each tribe complete with stereotypes and assumptions about their lifestyle and way of living. Her father Cheif Benja calmly reminds Raya that, like her, they also have assumptions about their home, the land of Heart, and how they operate as well. This shows the disconnect among all 5 lands and how it's difficult to find common ground. The great thing about this father-daughter relationship is Benja shares his hope and optimism for the future with Raya and she is open to trying to see things his way. In fact, she shows she is more than capable of putting his words into action. Once he says that all it takes to bring everyone together is just someone taking the first step, guess who's the first one to do so. Raya makes a genuine effort to establish a connection with the Fang tribe's princess Namaari and there is a genuine friendship that blossoms through their love of dragons. The look of happiness on Benja's face affirms that the world he envisions is very much within reach. 

Unfortunately, things do take a turn when Namaari's true intentions are revealed after Raya invites her into the dragon gem chamber. Upon the Fang tribe making a move for the dragon gem, the other tribes arrive and their inner lust for power overtakes them despite the continued pleas from Benja to see past each tribe's selfish desires. Sadly, it's all for not as the tribe's bickering comes to a head resulting in the dragon gem being shattered and allowing the Druun to consume bystanders. While Benja is still optimistic despite what has occurred, Namaari's betrayal and the tribe's greed that causes Kumandra to be thrust into ruin harden young Raya to the core with additional personal grief of seeing her father among those turned to stone.

Fast forward 6 years later and the events prior have had a pretty significant effect on Raya's worldview and mindset. She is more cynical and world-weary than before with a severe hesitation to trust people. She is determined to fix the damage done to Kumandra but is convinced that people, in general, are always untrustworthy and out for their own self-gain. We know this mindset makes a little bit of sense given what Raya has lost personally. But the journey she goes on over the course of the film is important for her to remind her that her father's dream of a united Kumandra is still within reach despite the setbacks. Enter Sisu. Sisu, even with her lovable personality and infectious optimism, can be looked at as a stand-in for Cheif Benja in terms of believing in the practice of faith and trust. The friendship that blossoms between Raya and Sisu isn't just pure and genuine, it's necessary for Raya to begin the healing process for not just her but for her own personal faith in people that was broken.

 
There are a number of moments where Raya tries to convince Sisu that her optimism is wasted on some people despite her pure intentions. Though Raya is wrong about Boun's intentions despite his unthreatening nature (and the fact that he's a 10-year-old), she falls victim to the con baby Little Noi, Sisu almost gets consumed by the Druun after blindly trusting the Talon chieftess, and Sisu good-natured gesture gets both her a Raya captured by Tong. But despite all these setbacks, Sisu is still willing to try and see the good in people. She deducts that the world is broken because Raya herself does not trust anyone politely stating that Raya could be the architect of her own inner suffering. More on that in a moment.

 Sisu's sharing the story of her family entrusting her with the task of stopping the Druun shows what the power of faith and trust in someone can do. Raya then opens the door to regain that faith and trust in people by going with Sisu's plan to appeal to Fang by gifting a dragon charm to Namaari. But from Raya's perspective, Namaari is not only seen as her equal but as the source of her world view of mistrust.    

 

As a child, Raya looked at Namaari as a friend with who she could bond and a genuine example of what a united Kumandra could be at the time. Namaari's betrayal had a very significant effect on Raya for it was Fang going for the dragon gem that caused it to break in the first place. But Namaari also longs for the safety of not just Fang but Kumandra as well. She is antagonistic but not in the sense of wanting to crush those in her wake. She does things out of necessity and not out of spite because she's simply the product of the culture she was raised in. That disconnect between these two women still lingers in the air as they meet on several occasions throughout the film. But the most emotionally devastating moment of the film is also the most revealing for Raya's character. When Namaari once again reveals she is betraying Raya intending to take all the dragon gem fragments and Sisu, Sisu still looks to reach out and trust in Namaari despite all she is doing and has done. Tragically, Raya's impulsive post-traumatic trust issues with Namaari manifest at the worst possible moment resulting in the worst possible outcome. Sisu is shot with an arrow in the chest and falls in the river to her death. With her friend gone and the Druun closing in, Raya, consumed by grief and blinded by rage, walks toward her rival with only one thing on her mind...

Retribution.

Raya's vengeful vendetta and Namaari's mourning for her mother cause both women to come to blows in a dual that is the full manifestation of Kumandra's divisive path. Two women consumed by their lack of understanding for one another while the world around them crumbles and becomes a wasteland of fire, ash, and stone. As Raya prepares to end Namaari's life, Namaari tearfully proclaims that Raya is just as responsible for Sisu's death as she was. And in a way...she's right. 

Despite all that has occurred, Raya truly IS as responsible for the world being broken as Namaari, the Fang tribe, and the others. Though it is true that Raya's trust issues stem from Namaari's betrayal, Raya was the one who led her into the chamber enabling the event that broke the gem. Fast forward to now, Raya once again can be seen as a co-architect of a tragic situation. It was Raya's reactive action that caused Namaari to inadvertently shoot Sisu resulting in her death and allowed the Druun to begin to consume Fang. Her lack of trust in Namaari based on past experience got the better of her and resulted in the slaying of the assumed last hope for a united Kumandra. The blessing of this tragedy is that this becomes a real turning point for Raya's character. After looking at herself within, she realizes that the only way to save everyone is to do something that up to this point she was incapable of doing. Put her faith and trust in those around her starting with Namaari. Even when everybody continues to villainize Namaari for her role in killing Sisu, Raya does the most heroic act of the film and heeds the lessons of her father and fallen friend. She takes the first step. 

She hands her piece of the gem to Namaari and allows herself to be consumed by the Druun. This lead by example moment causes the others to follow and gives Namaari the choice to either run or follow suit. She does the wise thing and combines all the pieces and allows for the Druun to consume her as well. This result of willful self-sacrifice causes the gem to reform and repeal the infestation and bring all parties back to life including Raya and her friends. It also results in Sisu being resurrected by her family as well. Raya's arc takes her from being world-weary and cynical to finding her faith and trust in people again after they had been lost due to inner regret and fear. In the end, it's her willingness to take the first step and lead by example that results in Kumandra moving toward the path to peace and unity. 

  

This is just one of the many reasons why Raya and The Last Dragon is now being considered as one of my favorite Disney animated films. It's not just a sprawling action-adventure filled with humor, emotion, rich characters, and messaging. It's a reminder that leading by example and stepping up to take the lead in the path to a better world is not just admirable it's doable despite the different viewpoints we all have. The world of Kumandra can be seen as a mirror to this broken world we inhabit and we would all be wise to follow the example of Disney's newest heroine by looking within ourselves and taking the first steps in fixing this world that we and so many others call home.