We Must Be Better - The Beautiful Masculinity of Kratos in God of War
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
- Kratos and Atreus from God of War (2018) have two of the best written and most meaningful arcs I have come across in recent years. The way they both strive to connect with each other during their shared journey is portrayed brilliantly, and their many struggles and failings make the triumphant end of their journey that much more satisfying.
Kratos is, on the face of it, an odd choice for discussing virtuous masculinity, since his first trilogy depicts him being exactly the type of monster that no man should ever become. But redemption is possible, even if Kratos doesn't truly believe that at first, and his pursuit of virtue is an amazing example of how to persevere, to learn to forgive ourselves, and to become better than we once were.
Thumbnails by: @TheSJCorner
Enlist in the Grand Army of the Republic:
/ @master_samwise
0:00 Intro
2:41 New Kratos, New Vices
9:38 Atreus and Kratos Struggle to Bond
22:46: Kratos Faces His Past
30:05 Love and Fear
34:24 Atreus' Struggle with His Pride
52:53 Atreus Begins His Redemption Arc
57:34 Motherly and Fatherly Love
1:01:07 The Final Battle
1:12:33 A Satisfying Conclusion
1:20:09 Outro
#kratos
#masculinity
#godofwar - Ігри
What other great video game characters (not named Arthur Morgan, he's already on the list) would you like to see me cover?
Just watched this beautiful video after it sitting for a while on my backlog and after such a splendid analysis of Kratos' character and growth in 2018's GoW, I don't think I could ask for anything other than a follow up about Ragnarok and especially Valhalla.
Tyr would be a great character to talk about as well, the ways he embodies the title of "god of war" are a beautiful deconstruction of the idea imo.
Thank you for making this video. Kratos' portrayal in the norse saga is such a great example of true masculinity and your writing on it truly elevates the story and the character dynamics present in it. We really need to celebrate positive examples of men like this and seeing great essays highlighting them never fails to make me emotional.
The non existent names of the Tarnished and the Chosen to light the flame once more.
Joel from The Last Of Us
Joshua Graham
Joel miller, a a deconstruction of his character would be very interesting to watch.
I need to watch this with my dad. He broke the cycle. Even with all his failings, with his struggle for right humility and true self-worth, he fought to be better. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of my father.
That is awesome!!!
Based Dad.
I hope I'll be a dad like yours
Me too.
I wish I could say the same thing about my own father.
There are fewer things I want more for myself than to be better than him in every way, to be more of a man than he ever was, to never hurt my own children the way he hurt me.
I will be better, for the sake of my future children.
One of the most impactful parts of this game’s writing to me is how the whole game, Kratos is telling Atreus that he must be better, but at the end that line changes to “We must be better”.
Same in Ragnarök: Atreus tells Kratos: "Don't be sorry, father. Be better".
It goes full circle. The meaning is different now.
Are there any games that tell women to be better?
@@vorpalinferno9711why would the message of breaking a cycle of abuse be gender-specific?
Because men must be demonized in order for the elites to control us.
that's not deep
I loved that scene. "You only killed the ones who deserved it, right?" The pause, the silence, hands clasped and the head nod before the delayed "yes" you can tell he doesn't truly believe that but he doesn't want his son to know how messed up he was
"You only killed the ones who deserved it, right?"
**Flashback to Kratos killing Athenian citizens for green orbs**
**Flashback to Kratos smashing those scholars heads into the books to reach the Fates' temple**
**Flashback to Kratos and the whole servant of Poseidon thing**
**Flashback to Kratos destroying the entire Greek World over his vengeance**
"Sure!"
I'm not giving up those green orbs bro.
@maineman5757 I'm playing GOW 2 in titan, I DO NOT care about mere citizens
sometimes, as a parent, you got no other choice but to tell lies to protect your kid
The "gear stopper" lady
Actually, in the companion book for the game and the comic tie-in, it is explained that, while Kratos was there, he spent most of his time training himself to control his anger. The problem at the beginning of the training between them its because his own training was like this in the Spartan army. Kratos knows no other way, so he's trying a way to teach his son he has no knowledge on
Therapist here. That's accurate to the cycle of generational trauma, honestly. People who were hurt often vow that they will be better than the people that hurt them. The trouble is that, in many cases, those people barely even know what "better" is, much less how they could embody it. And how could they, if dysfunction is all they've known?
That's why healthy role models and positive support systems are so important: because they give people the tools and perspective they need to make that leap.
@@DrekromancerBy having life experiences outside of the trauma.
There are lots of ways to learn things, and you don’t always have to learn in the positive, learning how not to do things or how not to act can be just as useful.
True story of how I broke the cycle.
@@Grimdark_Replaysyes but that’s not a perfect system (either) and compared to a role model leaves many things up to chance on whether the person has the opportunity to learn them. It works for some but unfortunately it doesn’t make the cut for many others. I’m not downplaying that method or anything, I’m just pointing out that by its nature many people will not have learned some crucial things from it, not for any particular fault of them or the system
@@Drekromanceror you could give them the Bible and point them to Jesus, no amount of positive role models or good environments could make people better. We can only confront the evil within ourselves before we can face evil out there in the world
This is also shown in the sequel, Ragnarok
I sometimes see people say that the new games "ruined Kratos" and honestly that is the most braindead take I've ever seen, they did something truly remarkable with his character, the development Kratos underwent should be celebrated
Those that say that don't understand why this development in Kratos is great. It doesn't lessen his character; it doesn't make him weaker, in fact makes him stronger.
This game is what I'd argue is the greatest in the franchise. It shows a character that's developed over time, it shows a man that doesn't know how to parent trying to be a parent as all Kratos really knows up to this point is how to be is a soldier, a murderer, and a force of vengeance.
I appreciate the fact the writer of this game was also a father, a father that was able to understand parenthood isn't sunshine and rainbows, a father that understands that a child's growth not only needs the soft hand of a mother, but also the guiding hand of a father.
Why do they think that? He is a way way better and more noble character in this game than the first.
Kratos in his OT was basically an unstoppable killing machine fueled by rage. Obviously, the version we get in 2018 is far… maybe not gentler, but at least restrained. The game is less of a power fantasy than it is an exploration of the meaning and weight of power. Which, honestly, GoW 3 is too, but in a different light.
The opening quote to that game is: “The measure of a man is what he does with power.” And at the game’s end, Kratos relinquishes the power that was stored in Pandora’s box, after completing his rampage. It honestly set the stage perfectly for the 2018 game, but I guess some people missed the meaning in those final scenes of GoW 3.
I find the statement that Kratos is "ruined" in the newer games to be disrespectful to his character in all capacity. Why do people think he needs to be in an endless cycle of being driven by rage and revenge? That's not all his character is about, it wasn't even the entirety of his character in the original games.
Okay so I have NOT played any GOW games, though I very well plan to binge the whole series, I see Kratos in GOW 2018 as someone who has had a lot of time to reflect on his actions and consequences. Yoko Taro (creator of the Nier and Drakengard series) said that he found it weird someone could cut down hundreds and almost be braggadocios about it.
When Kratos is speaking with Atreus, it's worth remembering that the Spartans were renown for their direct, blunt humour. At the famous Battle of Thermopylae, there was the classic reply of "Come take them" to the Persians' demand of "Lay down your weapons and surrender," 'In the direction of deer' isn't a "go figure it out" response, but the most direct logical statement in response to the question - "find some trace of deer and we go that way".
they're called 'laconic phrases'.
So. In other words. This was Kratos cracking a joke?
@@skullman-us7wnthe ultimate dad jokes
Don't forget when the Spartans sent that letter saying "NUTS" 😂😂
@@JBOBROSKIIbrother, that was a WW General or something. He was told to surrender. I think WW2.
The closet thing would be a Spartan king telling Alexander the Greats dad (Philip) “If”, In reply to if I invade Sparta your shit will get fucked up.
This series has repaired my relationship with my father. My mother died right before this game came out. My dad hunts lions with his pack of dogs and very quiet like kratos. And after she died i turned 18 a month later and moved out. We didn’t speak for a long time. I needed comfort and he couldn’t. I didn’t realize he was just as hurt as I was. I hated him because I thought he just moved on. One of my friends who liked my dad told me to play this last year (he was nervous because of almost how accurate it was to us but Im so grateful he did) when the new one came out. I now moved back in at 24 while I’m trying to buy a house. This game has allowed me to understand him and now our relationship is best friends. I will forever love this series for that. I might of lost my mother but because of this game I still have my father in my life.
Honestly this choked me up, I'm happy you guys are healing and growing as father and son, but also as best friends/friends. I'm currently struggling with similar issues and seeing someone able to fix it, makes me hopeful for my relationship with my own dad
I’m so happy for you and your dad dude.
Take care ❤
Your dad hunts lions?
@@PurpleNoir cougars I guess would be the correct term but yeah mountain lions on the west coast
I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen something so meaningful. I should really get God of War.
"Its hard to be gentle on someone for a flaw for which you've been so hard on yourself." That hits hard.
And its hard to forgive yourself for that which you cant forgive in others.
Part of Kratos's difficulty comes from the fact that he didn't have a father growing up, Zeus being the poster child for "Pump em and dump em". The only male role models he would have had to look to were his instructors in the Agoge. In fact, this may have been why he became so fanatically devoted to the Spartan cause and would do and sacrifice virtually anything for it.
Pump and dump is crazy lmao
@@Kcaedenn there are very few, if any, of Zeus's sons that Zeus actually really cared about to stick around.
@@joshuaottley7902 the only ones ive seen him like/parent/tolerate is literally one daughter Athena and he made her by having a headache asexual style and she came out fully grown. he let Hera terrorize Hercales for fun. let his one son be put in his mother's coffin after his stepdad murdered her for being raped by Zeus (cuz Zeus did rape all of the mortal women usually as an animal and he also raped Hera only reason she married him) and the boy got lucky someone heard him crying in it.
Yet he also didn’t have a mom, he was also cursed with his brother and the god of war prophecy,kratos had everything against him
@@people2chronically-online Also his Mom LITERALLY had a curse on her to turn into an inhuman monster Medusa style if she ever told anyone who the father of her children was. I'm sure that when Kratos did see his Mom, that was always lingering in the back of her mind and making it hard to connect. She only really opened up to him in her last moments, only to then transform and force Kratos to kill her in the process.
Ah, brethren, we’ve gathered for a tale. A tale of revenge, failure, strength, and honor.
A tale of man and boy, and their roles in the world, ever changing.
Let’s be better as we age.
Man and BOI*
Aye
Why did I read this in Mimir’s voice?
Beautiful.
Beautifully uttered
Having power ain't true strength. True strength is having power and not abuse it.
do you have anymore uncle ben quotes you can give us???
@@TheNemesis442 I dunno about Uncle Ben, I was getting more of a Gandalf vibe from this one
This
hence the "peaceful not docile" facebook posts.
You can’t have strenght without abuse, kratos is currently the god of hope and yet he’s feared by others if you don’t keep the hope kratos will kill yku
A subtle moment of Kratos' growth in fatherhood that you skip over was when Atreus and Kratos hunt Freya's boar. This time Kratos actually provide a more helpful instructions that being a boar's hide is thicker that a deer so Atreus need to use a different method which Kratos actually provide. When Atreus failed Kratos doesn't scold or blame him for failing but instead acknowledged that the boar is not a normal boar and actually encouraged him to go after this challenge. I like this scene because it established that Kratos has what it takes to be a good father and id already trying to be one for Atreus even before Alfheim. He doesn't scold Atreus for failing since he did nothing wrong and encouraged him to actually seek out a challenge.
It is a nice contrast to the deer, where he berates the boy because he failed. But the detail is that he failed a task in which he could've reasonably succeeded.
The boar? Kratos knew it could be nigh impossible to strike an arrow true with the first shot, and as such encourages Atreus to try again.
In the Norse myths it's not that Frey did not know that mistletoe could still hurt Balder, but that mistletoe was so young and small that she could not bear to force such a vow upon the plant, and seeing how small it was she believed the plant could do no harm anyways. She knew, but she underestimated that fact.
On the other hand, Loke did not want to kill Balder. Loke had always been looked down upon by the other gods, and had strove to gain their recognition, to no avail, as thing often got worse. Seeing Balder, the youngest of the gods, being loved so wholly and unconditionally by all the other, what he himself wanted, Loke was overcome with jealousy. One day, all the other gods were having a laugh, smashing Balder's head with rocks and boulders, stabbing and slashing him with spears and swords, etc. as he could not be harmed by it, and they knew it. Loke, however, was a trickster, and so jealous of Balder, that he decided to play a trick on him. Since Loke knew mistletoe could still harm Balder, he fashioned a few arrows (not a spear), their tips made of mistletoe, and gave them to another god (his name escapes me at the moment) who was blind. He only intended for the arrow to hit Balder in the arm or leg, or such, to shock him, and remind him that he was not completely invulnerable, but as a stroke of bad luck, and guided by fate (and the prophecy that was part of the reason Frey had enchanted Balder) the blind god, somehow, struck true with the bow, hitting Balder straight in the heart, killing him instantly. Dumbfounded by what had just happened, Loke stood still for too long after the incident, long enough for some of the other gods to realize his part in what had happened. If he had truly meant for it to happen he could've transformed into one of the other gods (as that was part of his powers) or snuck off while everyone was in shock, but instead, paralyzed by what he had done, he waited too long. When he finally got moving it was too late, and, unable to shake off the other gods' tail, he was caught, and damned to suffer until Ragnarok.
I know all this because I am Norwegian and was taught it over and over as a child, and I have, and have read, the complete collection of the Norse sagas and legends.
That's really cool! Thank you for taking the time to write all that out.
@@master_samwise My pleasure mate. I love stories and mythologies, and Norse mythology is may favorite ;)
That is the first I've heard of this outlook and in all honesty it seems very inconsisent with Loki's characterisation in many other stories, so I'd be very interested in hearing where this came from.
For example in the version of the poetic edda I read Loki wasn't captured by the gods right after Baldr's death but rather after sometime later (in the 'Lokasenna") when in making fun of the gods Loki did so at Friggs expense by telling her he caused Baldr's death.
So baldur died due to a tragic prank gone wrong? That makes unfortunate sense
while i do like this version, i do wanna remind that today, we seriously don't know the real version of the myth. There is this one, where it is a tragedy, there is the christianized version, where loki is basically just satan, and the one that is as far as i know the one believed to be the closest to the original one, where we simply don't know why loki did it.
" The sign of true nobility is not being better than others, but being better than your past self." ~ Harey Hart; kings men
Agent Galahad, the best of us.
Kratos’ “in the direction of deer” line reminds me of my father telling me “you have google” whenever I’d ask questions.
Forgive me for asking a real human like we used to back in the 18th century. How archaic of me.
I was never those people who thought kratos was a blank slate until Gow4. The moments where he was with his daughter and the mini game where he had to push her away why she was hugging him honestly showed me he already had this kind hearted side to him. It’s just the way the gods tricked him and manipulated him got him to the point to where he was in Gow3. And honestly it’s just sad. Kratos and Arthur from rdr2 are two characters I drive to be more like as I’m getting older. I wanna look back in my life and know that I’ve changed. It’s a process though
is a game kratos does not exist
@@humbertovargas1211What!?!? How long have you been sitting on this information!?!?!?
@@humbertovargas1211games are used to portray actual ideas in life. nobody wants to play a game about some normal ass guy who killed people in drunk driving crashes in his 20s becoming a role model for people when hes older.
@@humbertovargas1211You must be fun at parties.
Those kinda "fans" clearly only ever played GOW 3 going into this fandom. They don't know the tortured man Kratos was through his story....the man who was overwhelmed with grief of his wife and daughter to then commit suicide in GOW1
The Man who was forced to push away his chance to be with his daughter again in GoW Ghost of Sparta
Even the man who began to find hope in GOW 3
This came out before the Valhalla DLC but it's incredible how your analysis predicts almost word for word the journey he goes through in the dlc
Valhalla dlc was some good shit.
Shows how good story telling can lead the observant in the crowd come to the same conclusion the author wants the story to end with.
This game had me literally yelling out loud at the screen, hoping, coaching Kratos to parent. For once the biggest fear I felt was for the two characters' relationship instead of their lives (its Kratos, he's fine)
All we have seen Kratos do before is follow the easy path, following his impulses and rage, so when he finally started taking the harder path, of self sacrifice and denial I was absolutely floored.
Love your stuff brother, keep it up!
I kinda hoped Kratos would "fail" bit harder at being a parent though. Considering this reboot is a trilogy, I've never truly felt Kratos' hardass parenting and distance. Atreus seems too "fine", as if this tough upbringing hasn't traumaticed him in anyway, made him jaded or too aggressive. Yes, we have "couple" of moments like that, but those drama sections are resolved too quick and easily.
@jesustyronechrist2330 true. It's a shame in itself they didn't make a third game before the redemption was "complete". Ragnarok was long, but the end was still rushed imo.
I spent so much of GoW2018 yelling at Kratos "Hug your son!" And giving out about him; then spent a decent bit of Ragnarök cheering for him. He got there in the end.
it was bad
@@jesustyronechrist2330 thats cuz Faye was around. Atreus is a momma boy and its very obvious esp with how quiet and reserved he is. hes scared of his father cuz he thinks he doesnt love him or want him and he only person he ever felt love from is dead. we're watching Kratos actually parent for the first time and he does fuck up alot but in the end he gets it kinda right.
On a lesser note, this game also shows a good example of a "nice guy" vs "good guy". Nice guys think being nice is transactional. Odin is a good example of a nice guy, he's nice only to the point where he can't get something out of it. Kratos is a good guy, he may come off as growling, but he keeps his integrity and doesn't try to take advantage of other people for selfish reasons.
The reason he didn’t want to go out and hunt is because he’s terrified of the same thing that happened to Calliope and Lasandra happening to Faye and Atreus
That… actually makes a lot of sense, come to think of it
@@thinkingsoutherner9911 Remember he is still haunted by those nightmares that’s y he didn’t want to be so close to Atreus because he is the same Age as Calliope when he killed her so they didn’t make Atreus that age for no reason
The original God of War games came out when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I deemed them my "happy violence games" and used them to channel anger when I felt it into a place that was not destructive to my life, relationships or environment. Since I have bipolar disorder and my temper could be quite explosive, having that outlet helped a great deal. But I would not have called Kratos or any character from those games a model of morals or personal development. It was a convenient outlet coded in good gameplay and solid graphics.
Then God of War 2018 came out and...whoa. The growth of this character, the commitment to change, the willingness to accept slips back into his old habits and then move forwad again ANYWAY, it all resonated with me in an entirely different way. The narrative of the Norse duopoly is just fantastic.
classic has more depth than new
@@marcusclark1339 keep lying to yourself.
I used the original GoW games as a similar outlet. Smashing skulls on my tv felt like an appropriate outlet for teenage woes and frustration. Similarly, the evolution of Kratos as he is now feels like a natural progression into adulthood and forgiving our wrongs. Beautiful storytelling.
@@marcusclark1339 Only after GOW2 SMS care more about story, and even then people only praise the story after release of PSP series. Which take like... 4 release of game?
What I’ve learned after watching your videos
Uncontrolled Pride is what can cause one’s down fall
But rampant shame is what can harm one’s healing
God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarok helped me to reconcile with my father. My father served in the military for 20 years and it made it difficult to understand him at times and even understand whether he loved me or not. I love my Dad because he prepared me for life. My Dad loves me because he has always been there for me. I have flashes of moments when he was there for me when I was at my weakest. It is very important to always challenge ourselves as men. We thrive to overcome adversity. We must be better.
My father was actually the one that introduced me to the God of war he tragically passed when I was so these games help me feel connected to him it's funny how much good a game can do
depressing this bad game did that
@@marcusclark1339 keep lying to yourself.
@@marcusclark1339ur just a miserable person
@@marcusclark1339Why would you feel the need to comment if you're just going to say something like this?
"What if I'm not better than you?"
"Then..I.. have failed."
In the story of Freya and Balder, weirdly enough Oogway from Kung Fu panda comes to mind with his "one often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it" quote.
By trying to prevent this "needless death" she's the one that set up balder's death to be a needless one.
Classic myth trope
King Oedipus is a good example from Greek mythology
A lot of parents "should" play this game. This story does a wonderful job of portraying the difficulty of what it takes to be a good role model.
If anything, Kratos goes from being a soldier to being someone fit to be a leader. Only when he isn't the God of War anymore, does he earn to be a God. Perhaps not of war, but a God nonetheless.
He needs to be tough, he needs to strong. He sometimes has to be ruthless. But he also needs to be responsible. He needs to be empathetic. He needs to be a good person. He needs to be better.
he always was, this revisionist history of the brand is so terrible
A god of hope
@@marcusclark1339 keep lying to yourself.
@@marcusclark1339 He was definitely *not* fit to be a leader during the old games lol
He in a way grew out of godhood of classic myth he has no direct tie to any concept like the gods of myth no longer so he ascends not to a god that's just about war but a god of himself.
This story hit me in every possible way it could. As a single father who didn't have one. My fears and everything erupted the same way.his mother is around but she isn't there. It is more of an obligation and it pains me she refused to get help. My son sees it and feels it. Often resulting in him asking me to help her when I cannot anymore. Doing that destroyed me too. I always tell myself that I have to be better and make up for the both of us. He's 5 now and every time I re listen to the book. I cannot express just how much it portrays what I've been through. I've accepted this is our life now and we have to overcome this while I must still overcome my own past.
I HATED Kratos by the end of GoW 3, and it was like God of War 2018 knew that and used those emotions to make me specifically relate to how Kratos feels about himself.
It was this amazing meta-emotional roller coaster I didn't even know was possible.
Kratos hated himself by the end of GoW 3, a fact that this game used brilliantly.
You’re with the minority on that one, the gods got what they deserved
@@master_samwise I was so fed up with people idolising him, glorifying his negative and destructive traits in certain circles. His new arc in God of war 4 will always be with me.
@@riynu7774people are like that for some reason. People complained about Thorfinn from Vinland Saga not being a savage guy after S1.
How tf can u hate kratos in GoW 3? Kratos had to endure so much pain caused from the gods manipulation, they all deserved exactly what they got. Those who got in his way should have moved.
I'd like to think that at least a small part of Kratos, even in his temporary rage, knew it would be tactically wiser to destroy the gate to deny Odin access to Jotunheim, which is what Baldur was seeking on behalf of Odin. That's just my take though. Not sure if I'm the first person to mention this tidbit.
C.s Lewis says it best:
Humility is not to think less of yourself, but think of yourself less...
I would like to take this time to point out that it was originally planned for Atreus to be referred to as Atreus. He is referred to as *”Boi”* because they hadn’t come up with the name for his character until later, and they were already recording voice lines for the game. Essentially, it is an unintentional addition.
I figured kratos called the son boy to not be so connected to the child. Like in the movie bird box.
Nope, 100% a heat-of-the-moment choice.
This video was sponsored by my dog. If the video gets 5,000 likes I’ll interview him about his favorite toys for fetch.
Amazing video! Honestly, you made me appreciate the newer games so much more. You planning to do a God of War Ragnarok video eventually?
@@texasnewb2942 Eventually, yes! I don't have a ton of free time, so playing/recording a game, rewatching it to get the story down, and everything else takes a long time, but I definitely plan to do a Ragnarok video.
You gomna do one for the old games
hey! please stand at least 30-50cm from the background, next time.
@@bokunochannel84207 Why is that? I'm pretty new to filming with a camera (clearly).
24:10 I remember being touched by how gentle Kratos was. As you carry Atreus, he's moving so carefully.
I've told my son countless times not to be sorry, but to be better.
Never saw it on the game, but he plays it more than me
This game put so much respect on masculine dads. It was so amazing to see a man truly go through it all, only to change his ways and write his wrongs for the sake of his one and only son.
Masterpiece
100%
I don’t understand comments saying Kratos is emasculated. He is an extremely manly guy in every sense. He only become more manly by becoming a better man and father.
This video is amazing. In regards to the bluey clip (our favorite show), I’m raising a daughter with my wife, and I worry my roughhousing is too rough for her, especially after that episode but she says I’m being too gentle. My fears of hurting her is apparently making our play time boring for her.
I also have a daughter and yeah, learning to play with her is a completely different lesson than playing with my boys. It’s a much finer line to walk.
If it helps, I remember it being easier for roughhousing to get to be too much for me compared to my younger sister when we played with our dad as kids.
@@master_samwise How come?
Honestly, I was brought up by my father who loved to roughhousing and I loved it. I am the eldest daughter, disabled even, but my father always made sure he would still play rough with me, to also teach me under the pretense of playing how to fight, and how to defend myself since I was badly harassed at school and my father couldn’t stay with me during school hours.
He just made sure to balance his strength so I would not dislocate a limb or have bruises that could alert the social services needlessly. He also taught me how to hit efficiently by getting around my physical limitations, which I will never thank him enough.
I have a little brother and if he was roughhousing with him too, unfortunately he also was mistreating him, like hitting him if he was crying because « only girls cry », and beaten him when he became older for any mischief he did…
As Kratos (my father looks like his twin, which made the GoT 2018 and Ragnarok more impactful for me), my father has a traumatic past. I know some of it, and guessed the untold part once I became an adult, and became a victim myself of a crime quite similar of what he suffered when he was only a child (and more).
The only difference with Kratos is that my father never acknowledged that he was still captive of his past contrary to his claims, and that it influenced his behavior with us, most of all with my brother.
When I confronted him because our relationship became extremely sour as I was the one finally breaking the circle and exposing the endless abuses in the family (from him but most of all from the ovule donor and her family), and I wanted to salvage the only family relationship I could hope to keep, my father had rather sacrifice his « favorite daughter » than acknowledging any part of what happened under his nose, or his growing problematic, even abusive behavior as time and resentment grew.
So GoT made me honestly cry, because I saw a wounded father trying to keep his relationship with his son, while his splitting image had rather decided to forgo me altogether than risking questioning his behavior, even when I asked him for the last time to take my hand…
"I'm raising a daughter with my wife"
Did y'all kidnap some little girl or what? Such an oddly written line.
I feel like Kratos telling Atreus to be better speaks very directly to me.
The shift of Kratos, the monster of Sparta, becoming a father and a better man it’s so, perfect.
The thing that always gets me is that Atrues means everything to Kratos. He tries to hide from his past, that he tries to distance himself from the boi in hopes of sparring him. But when it comes down to it, Kratos is not afraid to let the monster out for Atrues's sake. The only times that Kratos uses Spartan rage( in the cutscenes) is when Atrues's safety is at stake, and it's when the boi falls ill that he brings back the blades he tried so hard to get rid of.
This game inspired me to make amends with my dad after years and years of constant arguing and fighting. We are better
So many people in the comments crapping on Kratos doing more than "Angry swords go BRRRR".
The other cool thing about the Atreus ego part in a gameplay sense is that he does things not under your control. Like he’ll attack enemies and shoot arrows and even use his runic attacks.
"Be better"
I never knew what it truly meant until I stumbled upon this video. I needed this. Thank you.
Samwise. I cannot tell you how much this video made me cry. It made me look at my dad in a different light, and realize that the things he does, is something normal to him. Like the greeks to Kratos, it was normal to abuse or even neglect the emotions of their children (Specifically their sons) during an emotional disdain. I saw that in my dad. Someone who didnt know his actions hurt the opinion of his child. And I went from wanting to live a childless life which will have the generational trauma die with me. To wanting my own children to feel closure, to love them that my dad hasnt with me. To face those harships, and make each other better through it.
This video has changed a lot of my opinions on my future. As dumb as it may sound, i feel a sense of gratitude watching this. As it gives me hope that tomorrow i can live a better person than who i was yesterday.
Thank you, through and through.
the video is a nothing burger that misunderstands his character to push new character cause casual appeal
classic was better by a mile both in visual design, clarity than close in camera and gameplay with a better Kratos
Kratos "be better" while constantly slaughtering still even mooks isn't a message its pretentiousness and it shows more in the dlc when he confronts his "old self" cause writers love bastardizing the old to push the new narrative they create
@marcusclark1339 is it, though? Seems like the story of the new God of war games are hitting way too close to home for some men
@@marcusclark1339 no. You misunderstood. "Be better" doesnt mean be better. Dont kill. It means, be better. To be a better god. A sympathetic one. An understanding one. And that is clearer in Valhalla
@@marcusclark1339 keep lying to yourself. And ignoring the most basic messages it seems.
@@marcusclark1339are you stupid? Kratos killed out of pure defense which he has every right to do
The scene where Kratos takes of his bandages really made me emotional because my father did something similar, when I was a teenager and our relationship was at its lowest, he showed me his self harm scars, opened up to me about his past. To show empathy and support me through my self harm situation even tho he started with the wrong foot. There is still so much we have to go through and learn in our father-daughter relationship and to see that he is trying to do better fills me with hope
hi im autistic and ive had a special interest on this game specifically for over 12 years of my life and I just want to tell you that this video is so well made and ive always wanted fans to see kratos this way. He is so much more than just a violent monster and has such a deep and complex story that i wish people could see and understand. this is one of the greatest video essays ive seen and im so thankful im not the only person who loves analyzing these games and its characters, especially kratos himself. thank you so much.
Thank you!
As men we are gifted with the natural ability to grow physically stronger faster and to a higher degree than women. In every part of nature, the stronger sex of any species (male or female) doesn’t necessarily have to be “in charge” but should always act as the protector. There is no greater responsibility than using your strength to protect those your love.
But there is no greater show of your _inner_ strength than to rely on others to cover your weaknesses, and to reveal your soul to your loved ones for relief and comfort. A powerful man is doesn’t necessarily have to be strong on the outside, but has the courage to let his guard down around his friends and family. You do not need to burden yourself with everything, be it relying on a friend, a sibling, a parent, a partner, a spouse, or any close relative.
You don’t have to be physically fit to be a great man. That’s the beauty of life: you don’t have to be the best possible, just the best _you_ that you can be. If you desire a relationship, it won’t be handed to you on a silver platter but will require the _courage_ to achieve it. There is no true easy route. Taking shortcuts may bring benefits at first but only cause bad consequences later down the line. Put in the hard work, but don’t exceed your hard limits either. Strain is great for building character, but too much for too long can only damage you badly. Building character is like training your muscle or your mind, in that aspect.
If you make mistakes, learn from them. If you screw up, move on and be better. The strongest of men don’t regret their mistakes, because they only make us stronger in the end. Wounds heal into scars, strained muscle is made denser, a weary brain is strengthened with rest.
I am far from fit. I have no endurance, I am skinny and frail, and I don’t have any strong muscle. All I have going for me is unusually sturdy bones, and an amazing mind. I love nothing more than taking things apart and putting them back together. I learn how things work down to the last detail. If I cannot move a bolt with a regular wrench, I use a pipe to get more torque rather than try to use more muscle. When someone asks for something, I oblige. If I need help, I seek it out. I don’t burden myself with my emotions, my sisters or my girlfriend are there to help shoulder my burdens. I am strong in my own way, and I am courageous enough to seek help from others when my “strength” doesn’t cut it
The problem is that in order to effectively and efficiently protect those around you, there needs to be a degree of authority granted to you. If the troops don't listen to the General, then the army is in disarray.
That is what has happened to Men, society has been led by several ambitious activists and other assorted power brokers that have told Men that they cannot be in charge. Then they also tell women and children that they have as much say as the men do.
These power players write laws taking away a man's authority and giving it to the state, which has a notoriously bad record of keeping people safe.
In the end of the day it all comes down to freedom vs safety, where people will take what they perceive to lack.
A
This is a poetic masterpiece. You have a writing gift, and I encourage you to continue writing.
This is a beautiful understanding of manhood.
To be a man is simply to be the brother, father, son, and lover to whoever needs It or deserves it. It's not rooted in aggression, or dominance, but it is rooted in connection and love. Love for others, for your passions, for yourself.
Men and women and all others share this, in that love is what makes you strong. Love is why you learn, why you fight, why you grow and sacrifice. Love is *everything*.
@@cicadeus7741 cursi
Thank you for making me relive this story that I fell in love with. I couldn't find it in myself to even stop to press the like button until the very end, out of fear that the story would end.
Thank you for sharing this with us. We are grateful!
So glad you enjoyed it!
If you haven't watch the documentey "Raising Kratos" in that bideo Corey explains how when they asked gamers if they would like kratos to comeback, many were done with the raging, murdering everyone monster that he was by the end of GoW3 and ascension. Thats when he and the writers came up with the idea of having kratos be a father to a son. Corey used his own experiences of being a dad himself. Im glad many content creators are making videos taking a look at the deep changes that the Developers and writers made for the franchise.
I like how you didn’t dismiss the stories of the original games. The original series was not bad stories and mindless killing. They were a story of Kratos being manipulated and reacting out of anger. That story is why the new games work, they build off of the original.
If by chance you do a video on Ragnarok, I think it'd potentially be interesting to have a brief segment comparing Sindri's relationship and loss of Brok with that of Kratos and Deimos. Maybe exploring brotherly aspects of masculinity, if that makes sense?
Came to the comments hoping someone else would mention something about a potential Ragnarök video. That, and Valhalla. There is so much more storytelling and character development as Kratos' journey continues, and I didn't want this video to end!. It's very rare that I can sit down and watch a video this long without being distracted. This one had my attention all the way through. It is truly brilliant and well thought out, I was enchanted.
"We must be better"
I live by those words, man. For my parents and grandparents, and everyone I care for, I must be better. For myself, I must be better. For the people I meet in the future, I must be better. For the children I hope to have, I must be better.
Kratos in GOW 4 is an inspiration
I played this game together with my dad when it came out and I was about 14/15, it was a great experience
Those were actually the most heart wrenching parts of the game for me. Kratos telling Atreus to not be sorry, but to be better. That anger can blind him if left unchecked. That silence does not mean no mourning is happening. All things my father has said to me or that I learned without him saying when I look back at why he would get strict about “if you were sorry, you wouldn’t have done it in the first place” and “you need to learn control your anger so you do not hurt something you care about”
I can relate to this I have a 7 year old boy and I can be pretty aggressive but I always do my best to love him and to show him love because I know how many men grew up without it and how much it can hurt a man growing up.
I watched a friend who streams play through Ragnarok not too long ago, and was absolutely engrossed by the story. Now getting to experience this one through your wonderful lens has made the arc that much more poignant. Thank you so much for making this, and I hope that you enjoyed making it as much as I did watching it!
I really did love going back through the story and getting to experience it all again. The very first scene is given so much more meaning when you know Kratos' whole arc.
Awesome video, I do wish the advice Mimir gave to Kratos was also included. "...You hate the gods. All gods. It's no accident that includes yourself. And it includes your boy, don't you see that? He feels that! He can't help what he is. He can't begin to help it, because you haven't even told him. It's all connected man!" Mimir accurately diagnosed the situation and gave sound advice, advice that Kratos took. The line speaks to a part of Kratos' personality that has, possibly without him realizing it, damaged his relationship with Atreus. That said I LOVE this video. I'd like to see an analysis of Ragnorok as well as perhaps a video on the relationship Kratos has with Mimir.
Let’s face it, redemption stories in reality are incredibly unpopular. Modern society is quick to condemn and slow to forgive. Look at how people get treated just for something they posted on social media 10 years ago. Some people ARE legitimately trying to be better but they are quickly dismissed as hypocrites. It’s sad.
Absolutely. People have a difficult time with nuance. So often they either completely reject the idea that someone did anything wrong, or they refuse to believe they can be redeemed from that wrong.
I firmly believe anyone can repent and be redeemed, but that doesn’t mean they never were wrong in the first place.
Nah it's just folks aren't used to more nuanced writing especially if done right
@@kwayneboy1524 People aren't nuanced full stop.
Thats why get never better only worse hate everything because hate is better than love ever can be
There some exceptions, like abusives parents/companions that are beyond any redemption and repent (I am a survivor in both cases, abusive mother and abusive companion).
But otherwise, I agree that the world nowadays forgot nuances and that is extremely worrisome, like having adult-children who have to power to make decisions only because of their age and not because they are old enough in their head and at least grasping the concept of nuances…
I haven't been on good terms with my father for sometime now but i want to play this game with him someday. Someday when i am a better son.
Thank you for this amazing video and thank you for believing that people could change despite their sins.
@Atreus begins his redemption arc.. Just the first paragraph of that segment had me almost in tears. I managed to bounce back just by the skin of my teeth from 'unaliving' as they call it now. That was roughly 11 years ago. People are often sad, feela need to console me, etc. And over that 11 years, I realized that moment was the single greatest moment of my life. A time when I finally was able to take control, and steer myself towards the help I didn't even know I so desperately needed. And even after 11 years... Forgiving myself for all the pain I caused those I loved and who loved me, haunts me to this day. It's an arduous, and never-ending journey. But when I talk with others with similar experiences... It's truly a gift.
I bought this game because of this video and have been thoroughly enjoying the story as a young father with a son.
I don’t think I can put into words how much I love this game.
the word is: pathetic
@@eotikuracyes, yes you are
@@maximilian7894average gojo fanboy
@@Serenity-tn4yn wow sick burn lmao🤡
A man is not merely strong and powerful and violent, he is also wise and intelligent and peaceful. God of War was an interesting perspective on a once violent, vengeful man becoming a calmer, peaceful man who only sought the best for the generations to come. As a man should. Violence only when necessary, but always in pursuit of peace, never for one's own selfish ambition.
I think Kratos broke the portal on purpose. He knew at that point that any Aesir God getting the world of giants was a bad thing and knew he could not risk Balder getting in there. When yelled for Atreus to run into the portal it was so that he could fulfill their promise to Laufey while he stopped Balder from getting inside. But well... that didn't work out.
You are what you grow into, no longer what you were.
The “be better” motive that symbolizes Kratoses journey can even be seen in the scene, where he tells Atreus about his name.
Because for the first time, despite hundreds of conversations, Mimir and Arteus say that he told a good story
I didn't think it was possible, but GoW Ragnarok actually one-ups the already phenomenal GoW 4 in both gameplay engagement and narrative structure and delivery. As a sequel, it's as close to perfect as you can get, in my opinion. You're going to love it when you play it, and my bet is that you'll have even more to say about it in its own video than you did here about GoW 4. I'm so happy for everyone who gets to experience Ragnarok for the first time. Friggin' incredible at every level.
I'm excited too! Debating whether or not to play through it on Give Me God of War first time. I didn't do that for this game, mostly due to lack of free time, so I'd have to make it worth my while somehow, but the combat at Normal (or whatever the second-lowest difficulty is called) just wasn't all that engaging in this game. Enemies were too passive, mostly.
@@master_samwise In that case I'd go for the difficulty just below the highest for your first playthrough; without spoiling anything, combat is more complex in Ragnarok but more engaging as well, and the second-highest difficulty should allow you to progress through the game at a reasonable pace while still giving you a good solid challenge. Have fun!
Agreed, played Ragnarok the first time on Give Me No Mercy then my second one a year later on Give me God of War.
No Mercy is perfect imo making combat demanding but not disruptive to the story because you die in two-three hits even when you power up as much as possible.
@master_samwise if I remember correctly, any difficulty below the most difficult, you can change the difficulty at any point on the save.
it doesn't, the story wastes the entire plot while meandering for Atreus - the Actual main lead to do nothing while contrivance after contrivance happens
old had more depth and this revisionism of "new better cause its new so old was always bad" is so tiring
As a father, I must thank you. You made a great video-essay.
From one dad to another, you are welcome!
Kratos got lost in his purpose because of internal and external factors. He made that pact with Ares to protect his people, not to destroy Olympus. That's what is Kratos' true nature, a protector.
and people love saying video games are for children. Honestly whenever i look at kratos, i can see the reflection of my past self. The last few god of war games has taught me more than i could have taught myself. We all must be better
I was someone who had never played a God of War game before the 2018 release, but had heard a lot about the old games, and while yeah I thought the old Kratos was cool, I genuinely thought the new game's story was so much better. There's something so beautiful about this older Kratos, now a man who's made a lot of mistakes and *knows* he's made mistakes, striving to be a good father and guide his son on a better path
My dad and mom played the Greek saga when they were still together.
My dad passed away last year, right after GOW: Ragnarök was released. So in honor of him and what he and my mom did together, I was taken out of school for an entire week so we could play Ragnarök together.
Kratos reminds me a lot of my father, and how he always tried to be better. He was a smoker and an alcoholic, but he never drank when I was around, and smoked way less. When he got sick, he stopped smoking entirely and he didn't touch a bottle of alcohol. But it was too late.
The thing is, he tried to be better for me, so he could be a better role model for me, so that I could be better than he was.
Incredibly happy to see a video like this blowing up! Kratos has easily had one of the greatest characters arcs ever & its so nice to ppl clamoring for more of this.
Why do people act like Kratos didnt have this level of love, sensitivity, and care in the previous games? It's like people never played or at least watched the cutscenes online to see what actually happen.
I don’t think that kratos destroying the gate to jotunheim was a contrivance, I think he knew that no matter what he did, Baldur would be able to get to jotunheim if he didn’t destroy the gate.
If I could give this a ❤ I would. I worry a lot about my inadequacies to be a good person how that will impact my children or how to teach them to be better than me without driving them to the opposite. This is a wonderful story and you have illuminated it beautifully. I always appreciate your content and look forward to supporting more of your work.
I appreciate you!
I love this. I think its also worth mentioning that Kratos' method of parenting and frame of reference is literally a spartan upbringing. You know, the culture spawned the word we used to describe something as severe and harsh. He was raised fighting for his life and to be stoic, so for him to recognise that the way he was raised is not how he wants his son to be raised is remarkable in itself.
I love this game. As I am playing I can both relate to both Kratos and Atreus. Even though I am not a father, I can feel that desire to be better for others. To be useful, to provide, to care for those close to me, to confort. I can also reflect on my own recklessness as a son and how I viewed my father when I was a teenager. It saddens me now that he's older, I am just realizing his strength, where before I saw only flaws.
I really am trying to be a better person. To be kinder, more humble. To learn how to be gentle as I become stronger. Toxic relationships and my own nature often bring me to a closed state of being, where I isolate myself from those close to me and makes connecting with people really hard, but I've seen a tremendous emotional growth in me in these last 2 years. I dealt with heartbreak, grief, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, but also calm, security, and a sense of belonging. I still deal with lack of purpose, which is aggravated due to being unnemployed, but I just turn to my hobbies to cope. I have hope for the future and I still have much to go and much more to do.
"It's hard to be gentle on someone for a flaw for which you've been so hard on yourself."
The inverse is true, as well. If you begin to notice cracks in your own personality that mimic those of someone who's seriously wronged you, it's hard to approsch it constructively without hating yourself as much as that other person. It's one of the reasons forgiveness and empathy can be such important things to learn. Not for their sake, but for your own.
I grew up in an extremely unhealthy home environment but playing God Of War made me kind of proud of the struggle involved with reprogramming yourself to avoid hurting the people you love. Kratos is an amazing character, and anyone who has struggled with rage can relate to the struggle of trying to change yourself.
I have to say, the ashes needing to be brought up to the highest peek was a very clever motivation in my mind. I kinda get chills thinking about all that occurs as a result of that request, whilst being impressed by how much I want to complete that goal. Out of respect for love and relationship.
Really effective motivation and has a nice twist.
Me and my stepfather bonded over this game and man… I didn’t realize how much I cared for him until just now for some reason. I didn’t know what I had until I lost it, and only after time passed and I felt the hollowness left behind…
The message goes beyond masculinity.
All of us can learn from it for sure. I agree.
Still applies as a good example of masculinity. Fatherhood is so important and needed in our world.
100%
I inherited my father’s temper. It’s something I struggle with constantly. Now seeing my own son and seeing own tendencies rising up in him, it makes me want to be better and try to love that anger out of him.
I applaud you, and I wish you and your boy well in your journey's in life.
Wow. I thought I’d seen every video essay on GOW. But this was truly a treat. Thank you
So glad you enjoyed it!
Honestly, I wouldnt have played god of war if I hadn't known about Kratos's redemption. Tbh its hard to get behind a character who is just a raging monster. The tidbits of the story and characters is what drew me to play the game and I dont regret it.
Agreed. I played GoW 1 and 3 in preparation for this video, and seeing the opening quote to GoW 3 pop up, saying "The measure of a man is what he does with power" made me realize how the developers of that game had set up Kratos' redemption in the 2018 game, even if they didn't have an exact plan for it.
Except he wasn’t a raging monster until god of war 3, in 1 he doesn’t even want revenge he just wants to forget his past
@@benc77 wasn't the whole point of gow 1 was to get revenge on Ares?
@@valorousflame9889 clearly you haven’t played it if you think that
@@chandllerburse737 yes but that isn’t his main motive, he wants his nightmares to be forgotten, the gods instructed him to kill ares he didn’t choose to
I’ve garnered an interest in philosophy since I was a middle schooler. As a new adult who has become lost I have forgotten my journey of self growth. I have a long way to go to become a good man. This essay helped me reflect on my own passive pride which has continued to harm others as well as myself for a while. I thank you for helping me reflect on my ways and continue my journey to be someone strong but gentle.
I myself gave a father that changed a lot during my life. Earlier on, until i was like 14, he was always very angry, and while far from abusif, definitly more violent, and screamed at me a lot for things that people like my cousins observed at family gatherings admit where far from deserving such treatment. The change in my father has often been a subject for discussion between me and my cousins since them. None of us are quite sure what changed, if it was his new job, just aging, ... But my father now is in my opinion a much better one, and i do not regret this past as it has made me as i am now, but also him.
While “Vikings with feelings” isn’t a trend yet, it is weird that it happened twice.
“We must be better.”
“I have no enemies.”
I wanna know the 2nd one
This video essay is the premium type of content that you could find on the internet. Thanks for taking all the time to give us your thoughts
Great video. The one thing I wanna say is that I never thought it was contrived that Kratos broke the portal to Jotunheim by body slamming Baldur into it. I always interpreted it as Kratos deliberately breaking the portal so that Baldur and the other Aesir couldn't use it now that they knew it was activated. Kratos is very intelligent, so it always felt like the logical explanation to me.
Extremely well made and well done. I would like a similar examination of the second game, primarily I’d use the lessons of brotherhood, grief, and what it means to allow those we love to grow beyond us.
Thank you! I will be playing the second game in the next few months and definitely plan to make a video about it.
Crazy how they took the reboots and elevated their past games with crazy character arcs that add so much. I loved the originals but the reboots are much deeper because of the past experiences
knowing and loving this story is amazing and after watching this video has made this masterpiece of a game better. I am also glad I took the time to watch this. And already knowing the story and the wisdom this game carries this video has made me want to turn my life around and be better. Keep making truly great videos that make individuals grow and know what we are what we an be and what we need to be. Thank you and to all "Be Better".
Glad you enjoyed it! I love making these videos. These are the stories that really matter, the ones that stay with us, and they deserve a closer look because of the incredible values they contain.
I was sobbing throughout the whole video because growing up, I always felt these things with myself and my father. I don't want to be some angry and bitter man with nothing left because I refused to try, I don't want to be like my father and his fathers with children they never show true love and appreciation for out of fear of confronting their own selves. I want to be better and I don't always choose the right choice, and I know I can better in so many ways but its still so hard to continuously move forward, especially some days.
Thank you for this, it's not therapy but the carthasis I feel is truly indescribable, and I don't think I would have ever had the words for the way I felt when I first played GOW 2018 if it weren't for you
Making a grown man cry without even finishing the video.
Thank you for making this. My father and i werent always on the best of terms and watching this just amazed me beacuse there are so many similarities between me and my dad in the game that i havent even noticed in my time playing it. Beautifly spoken troughout the whole video. A real rollercoaster of emotions in an hour and a half lol.
This has been one of the best videos ive seen this year. Ive never seen someone dive this deep into GOW. Incredible