New Story Idea · 6:43am Dec 13th, 2017
I suppose I should kick this off by saying that one of my most favorite actors of all time is Robin Williams. The man was a comedy genius, and had a nack for lightheartedness. However, he was no slouch in more serious roles, as his role in the original Jumanji would tell.
If I had to pick one character he portrayed that I loved more than any other, it would, without any doubt, be the big blue djinn himself, Genie. Genie was created as a plot device for the movie Aladdin, and left such a crushing impact on audiences that, when it came time for the second movie, there was never a doubt that he would play a, though reduced, part.
Genie's claim to greatness doesn't come from his phenomenal cosmic powers, nor does it come with his friendship with Aladdin, but rather his greatest shining facet is his story. Trapped within the Lamp and cursed to grant whoever holds its three wishes, Genie was forced to be a slave to any and all sentient lifeforms that simply touched the Lamp.
Regardless of why Genie held this fate (A can of worms I will not be opening in this post), the mechanics of how he was imprisoned interested me. Obviously, to bind a being of, in his own words, phenomenal cosmic power, ones would need a power that was equal to Genie's or greater. All we know though is that he is bound, through the gold shackles on his wrists, to the Lamp.
The shackles. In the first movie, it's clear the shackles are special, especially in the ending scene when Aladdin's final wish freed the Genie, causing the shackles to unlatch and fall to the ground. This is noteworthy because in a few instances beforehand, Genie was shown pulling his hands through the shackles, removing them himself, and all around manipulating them. It is therefore safe to say that the shackles, or at least the physical aspects of them, are not what actually binds the Genie to the Lamp.
Moving on, we come to the fact that it was nothing more than a simple wish that freed the Genie. Five simple words. "I wish for your freedom." Considering the nigh incomprehensible power that must be at work in holding the Genie, it seems a little too easy. Therefore, I think it's more than the wish that's important. I don't think the wish on it's own would work.
I think... that in order for the wish to succeed, the shackles themselves must realize that Genie had fulfilled a certain criteria. One that may hint towards why he was imprisoned in the first place. I think this criteria was that, in order for Genie's Master to successfully make use of the Freedom Wish, Genie must genuinely come to care for his Master, and his Master care for him in turn.
Friendship.
Kind of a Beauty and the Beast thing, but without the love aspect.
This in turn makes Genie's story a tale of being punished for ancient wrongs, and learning to let compassion in his heart, and finding it in the best friend he ever had. Hence why I say this is Genie's greatest facet.
After I came to these conclusions myself, I was hit by a sudden inspiration. I wanted to do something with these theories. I wanted... to write. And in what better setting could I choose for a Friendship than here?
Here's the story so far.
I have no intention of turning this into a multi-chapter story. Maybe three chapters at most. It will be about a young pony seeking out the Genie of the Lamp (Not specifically that Genie), with the express purpose of using those wishes. Unfortunately, as they flee the with the Lamp from its resting place, they are assaulted by the Lamp's guardians (Considering perhaps making this Canterlot and the Royal Guard, the Lamp having been in the treasury).
I have more, but then this would become spoilers, so let's just say I plan to have this be a bit sappy at moments.
What do you think?
Seems like an interesting enough idea, and I think you could pull it off given what else of your stuff I've read.
Here's my two bits though: If you're going the route anyways of having a being of limitless unexplainable power locked away for past misdeeds until he can learn friendship, why not go whole hog on it and make the genie Discord? Sure, it's a bit of an obvious choice, but it makes sense. People compare him to Genie anyway (what with the reality warping and topical 4th wall breaking references) and frankly this sounds like a more fitting punishment than "go be a statue forever".
Or go your own way with the double OC route. It's your idea after all.
(Also, you chose Jumanji as your example for Robin's non-comedy serious roles? Come on, Dead Poets Society or Good Will Hunting at least)
This would be an interesting read. Although I bet somehow this will become a much longer story for you by the end, not that there is anything wrong with that.
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I know of them... I just never got the chance to see them, so I can't comment.
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Also... You just gave me an idea that may see this becoming a full on multi-chapter story...
That means I should probably sit down and consider this before doing it. I already have two full-length projects I'm struggling with.
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... Drider just gave me an idea on how to do exactly that. I may just make two stories, one short and lighthearted, and the other longer and more involved.