The father/daughter dynamic is not a new idea. We’ve seen it a number of times in media, and often it falls into this category of ‘like a father’ rather than related by blood, making for a more complex arc in the relationship’s progress.
Despite being something that we’ve seen multiple times and will continue to see, it’s one of my favourite pairings for a protagonist duo. Sure, we all love big-bearded father Kratos, and there are a lot of similarities in his complex relationship with Atreus, but there’s more depth to the father/daughter dynamic, andClair Obscur: Expedition 33is one of my new favourite examples of this, despite not actually being the case.
The Classic ‘Enemies To Parental Guardian’ Trope
The best example is Joel and Ellie inThe Last of Us. 20 years after the outbreak and the death of Joel’s daughter, he’s forced to escort 14-year-old Ellie across the country, while both are reluctant to get along with each other. As you’d expect, they eventually become inseparable - not a surprising development, but one that’s told masterfully through characters that feel like humans.Despite still-ongoing debates on the grey morality of certain events, it’s undoubtedly an outstanding example of how this formula can work.
We’re also getting a deeper, refreshed look at these characters in HBO’s The Last Of Us, with Season 2 currently airing and Season 3 confirmed.
Going further outside of video game depictions isThe Witcher’sGeralt of Rivia and Ciri. Ciri first appeared in Andrzej Sapkowski’s 1992 novel Sword of Destiny, in which Geralt and Ciri’s destinies become intertwined following the events of Cintra’s destruction. Also portrayed in Netflix’s adaptation, and alternate versions as part of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, they have become one of the most iconic father/daughter duos in fantasy media, taking the reluctant beginnings of their relationship to new heights following a magical bond and a man that is quite literally (supposed to be)emotionless, and very grumpy. He just like me fr.
A New Expedition Into This Trope Begins
The latest addition to the paternal protector and tough young ward roster is the protagonist duo in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Gustave and Maelle. However, the most interesting thing here is that Gustave is not actually a father, nor a father figure, but a foster sibling to Maelle; yet it remains one of my favourite examples of the trope, while sitting just outside of the definition.
There are other party members too, but this pair is front and center, being the first two characters we meet at the start of the game.
Gustave, 32 years of age, and Maelle, 16, set off with Expedition 33 for the Continent, in an attempt to put a stop to the Paintress and her yearly countdown of gradual extinction. With this comes danger, and with danger comes Gustave taking the role of a protective guardian. That said, Maelle is quite capable of taking on formidable foes herself, whileGustave is ridden with fear and humanity in the face of the horrors they experience. And this is something that I think stands out. Even in the game’s opening moments, we see Maelle supporting Gustave and maturely advising him on how to speak to Sophie, his 33-year-old ex, awaiting the moment she fades. Gustave is battling his own disposition, and he finds solace in Maelle’s words.
Expedition 33 gives us the guardian/ward duo, but Gustave isn’t an angry, bitter old dad; he’s 32, he’s passionate about stopping the Paintress, and he is overwhelmed by the sorrow of the world. Maelle is strong and capable, braver than Gustave on the outside, but she relies on him for his care nonetheless. They joke, they bicker, and they’re human - they share the bond of not only foster siblings, but somehow a brilliant new example of a paternal bond. The difficulties don’t lie in the space between them, but in the way they each deal with the rest of the world.
Humanity is dying out, and Gustave is now one of the oldest people alive, with anyone 33 and over already being turned to dust at the hands of the Paintress. This means he needs to step up in a role beyond that of a brother, because there are no older generations to look to - he is the oldest generation, and neither Gustave nor Maelle have had parents for a long time, with Maelle orphaned at three years old. In this world, in this state, there’s more responsibility on him than that of a brother or even a father figure, and he equally relies on Maelle for support when the weight of the world is bearing down year after year.
Family Has A Different Meaning When Most Of The World Has Died
In Expedition 33, the majority of the world has already accepted an early death, with the game kicking off in Gustave’s final year of life. Still, he remains passionate; Still, he remains protective. And where these two characters have to balance their dynamic, sometimes with Maelle stepping up to be the braver one, even a man as dedicated to saving the world will drop it all to say “f– the mission” and prioritise the life of his ward, even if it means her life will remain short, and his even shorter.
This dynamic is explored in further depth later in the game, so if you’re a fan of it, stick with it!
I’m already a big fan of these dynamics, as The Last of Us and The Witcher have proven, but Expedition 33 presents a familiar relationship in a new light. Almost, but not quite, the opposite of what you’d expect: bravery, protectiveness, and passion fleeting but flickering between the two. It takes the concept of this dynamic in a different direction, and one that I think pushes the idea further than I imagined.
Those tough father figures are terrified, and those young wards can be fearless. But when they are thrust into a world without choice, without actual parents, and can truly lean on each other in every moment, then it makes the relationship so much more than the tropes you might be expecting. In a world where most are without parents, family roles blur together, and I think Expedition 33 explores this beautifully.
