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