Jormungand - Character Spotlight: Jonah - Control

Jormungand is all about the nature of man. The protagonist, Jonathan Mar, is the litmus paper for man's folly, often speaking out against the ills of the nature of man. One of the more direct examples of this (often understated) is his opposition to firearms, made all the more ironic by his travels alongside arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar.

There is an implied understanding that the eradication of violence is impossible, and that the destruction of weapons is a fruitless effort. Jonah's current goal is simply to highlight the problem so that he (and others) may understand it better.

"Give a gun to an ordinary civilian and see what happens. Nine times out of ten he'll wind up doing something he never thought he was capable of. That's the kind of twisted power weapons have, and you're in the business of selling that damned power to people."

So why is it that weapons have this power? One hypothesis is that giving someone more power in comparison to others simply premeditates domination and submission. Think Second Amendment rhetoric; if the government has more power than its citizens, then it can lord over its citizens without backlash. At a microsocietal level, the concept is the same, regardless of who the weapon is given to.

Jormungand - Character Spotlight: Mildo - Motive

Back in the second episode of Jormungand we were introduced to the rival arms dealer group known as CCAT, led by Curry and his two bodyguards. In this article, we will look at bodyguard Mildo, a woman who is all kinds of quirky with a hint of sociopathic impulsiveness.

First interpretations of her character make her seem pretty straightforward. She shows an interest in both Koko and Valmet that borders on sexual tension, she kills people who piss her off, and she has a complete and utter obsession with knives. After her sparring match with Valmet, however, we begin to garner some insight into her personality and rationale:

"Expectations? I gave up on those a while ago. People who do what we do learn early not to expect much from this ugly, empty world, because we're empty too. Maybe it starts the first time we hold a weapon, or the first time we kill someone. We tell ourselves it's to protect our family, our country, but it doesn't take long to realize that's bullshit."

For her, violence and death are simply things which occur in nature; there is no inherent meaning to them. Her desire to become good at it merely stems from her willingness to embrace a carnal desire. To her, there is no motive other than, "it feels right."

This is in stark contrast to the theme of Opportunity Cost which presented itself through the eyes of Koko Hekmatyar (see the "Pulsar" article for more information). Mildo's perspective is to do something for its own sake, rather than for an explicit or implicit gain. In this case, violence simply lends itself to us because we are animals at our core, and the ability to perpetuate this violence grants us clarity.

If we were to take it to its logical conclusion, we would find ourselves again discussing the Criminal MO, which you can find information for littered throughout the WLIA blog at this point. The bottom line is that certain things are what they are, a side effect of existing, and our sole motive for carrying them out is because it is our preordained mission to do so. Very rarely do we realize that our forward path is not consciously decided. In a way, it's kind of a terrifying notion, this violent autonomy.

Jormungand - "Vein" - Empathy

"Vein," the fifth episode of Jormungand, gives us insight into Jonah's past. While traveling across the ocean, Koko's ship is intercepted by the ship belonging to her brother Kasper. As the two discuss the nature of the business (albeit with some sibling tension), Kasper decides to excuse himself to the restroom, where Jonah happens to be. Upon seeing him, Jonah attacks, intent to kill seen in his eyes. The timeline flashes back three months to a military base in western Asia.

Before working for Koko, Jonah was a child soldier at this military base, subjected to all sorts of inhumane practices. His four friends, all orphans, were the only people he had in the whole world, but one day one of them gets taken as a human landmine detector, never to return. Overwhelmed by hate, Jonah tells the remaining orphans to flee as he takes up arms and kills every single soldier and officer on the base, one by one.

Afterward, Kasper arrives with his bodyguards and interrogates the boy. He lectures Jonah on being accountable for the killings before locking him in a storage container for several weeks with nothing but a jug of water. Once the punishment ends, he gives Jonah an agreement: Jonah must work for Koko in exchange for the safety of the remaining three orphans. As we return to the present flow of time, Jonah is standing on one of the ship's balconies, reflecting on everything that happened. To this, he comments:

"As I was starving to death I kept asking myself, "Does the world really hate me this much?" But then, I realized that didn't really matter. The world may hate me, but I still love it."

 Being locked in a shipping container, an action meant to bring him face to face with fear itself, resulted in catalyzing his empathy. Jonah had three real options to consider. The first involved simply furthering his violent actions, killing indiscriminately until someone finally brought him down. The second involved breaking away from society and living a quiet life without conflict. He instead chose a third option: dedicating his remaining existence to ensuring that nobody would have to go through the things he had to. This becomes his motivation for accepting the deal and for all actions he takes while serving Koko.

Those who've experienced despair are usually the ones who are the most compassionate. Improvements to overall quality of life are less often derived from self-interest, and more often derived from the need to lift others out of their objectionable situations. This is the nature of empathy, and understanding this phenomenon is the key to ensuring continued progress forward.

Jormungand - "Musica Ex Machina Phase 2" - Priority

The fourth episode of Jormungand opens with Jonah and Koko being chased down the Dubai waterfront by the members of Orchestra. The other bodyguards of HCLI make every attempt to disable Orchestra's car, which results in a final standoff on foot. As Shishio moves out from behind a storage container, he ends up sniped by Lutz, killing him instantly. Chinatsu, now the last remaining Orchestra member, retreats with a vow to kill Koko at a later time. Before HCLI can leave, however, a CIA agent by the name of Scarecrow apprehends Koko.

Down at the precinct, the chief of the Dubai police force fills Koko in on the situation and lets her go, much to the chagrin of CIA Agent Scarecrow. Jonah reunites with Koko, and the two spend the evening discussing everything which has happened thus far. Fast forward to a few nights later, and we find Chinatsu sneaking onto the roof of the hotel HCLI is staying in. Having predicted this event, Koko was already there, waiting in the darkness.

Koko and Chinatsu discuss Shishio's death, but the discussion leads to Chinatsu pulling her gun with the vow to destroy Koko and everything she stands for. The second she does, however, she is shot twice by Lehm, and bleeds out. The episode ends on a somber note, with Koko contacting the Dubai police chief for a cover-up and Jonah reflecting on what he just witnessed.

What is interesting about this episode in particular is that it becomes something of a strong social commentary about the nature of global opinion, an unprecedented level of depth for a show which is normally quirky and non-serious. As Koko and Jonah spend their evening in the city streets, the older woman has this to say:

"The UN has a list called the Millennium Development Goals, 189 countries working to end poverty and such by 2015. Consider goals 2 and 4: achieve universal primary education, and decrease the child mortality rate. These goals alone will cost a projected 220 billion dollars, far less than the amount spent annually on weapons worldwide. Can you believe that? These people care more about war than our children's futures."

 She continues by discussing how most of the weapons are owned by individuals as opposed to criminal or military groups, and how the world is only continuing to spiral downhill. In her mind, the highest priority of man is to bring violence and pain to fellow man. Is that really the case?

This episode was released in 2012, but in the real world we are now just a stone's throw away from 2015. Since that time, tensions have escalated between the two Koreas, between Japan and China, between the US and the Middle East, and between Western and Eastern Europe. Meanwhile criminal groups continue to gain power in South America and parts of Africa. Almost every continent has been placed on the tipping point of violent cataclysm.

And yet, despite all of this, the world continues to turn. Money continues to change hands, technology continues to develop, and the general quality of life continues to improve. Individuals go about their daily lives knowing that, at any point, something can change in a major way; however, this information does not dictate their course of action. Mankind may live in a world gripped with fear, but mankind is by no means controlled by it. That is the most important observation for us to take into consideration.

Often, we talk about how the forces of evil complement good in a way that brings mutual progression to both sides. We must be aware that this is simply a foreground factor, and many other forces are at work in the background achieving the same goal.

Jormungand - "Musica Ex Machina phase.1" - Conviction

At the start of the third episode of Jormungand, we are introduced to two assassins who are sent to take out a Mafia thug in the deserts of Oman. We learn that these two are members of the once-powerful "Orchestra" group and are a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, in Dubai, Koko's HCLI team takes a holiday and Jonah is forced to undergo rigorous educational study. While Jonah is being tutored in math, Koko and Valmet decide to go out for a day of shopping.

As Valmet enters a jewelry shop, the assassins from earlier appear and make an attempt on Koko's life. Fortunately, Jonah was in the area (having snuck out minutes prior) and pulled Koko to safety in the nick of time. A firefight breaks out in the middle of a city plaza, and the other members of HCLI are mobilized. As Valmet tries to regroup with Jonah and Koko, she ends up shot in the leg. Angered, Jonah rushes Orchestra leader Shishio, but Lehm Brick arrives and pulls Jonah back, ensuring this action does not prove sacrificial. The episode ends with the fight in a stalemate, both sides on the move and trying to regroup.

This episode was all about the importance of conviction in the face of opposing forces, a trait which manifested itself in two ways. Consider, if you will, Lehm's reprimanding of Jonah:

"Listen, in this crew we don't fight to the death. We'll kill someone if we have to and that's it. There is no room for emotional baggage; if we have to engage in a fight, it's strictly business. You're not a kid soldier anymore; let it go."

It would appear that, to Lehm, calculated efficiency is of strict importance in the field. Even as conditions change rapidly, one must maintain their resolve and focus solely on the task at hand; anything else is simply a distraction from what really needs to be done. Orchestra may have been a significant threat, but was there any true value in taking them out if it meant dabbling in unnecessary consequences? Probably not. In the field, one must be mindful of their position and direction. They must never stray from their intended path; conviction is necessary to keep their actions in check.

Of course, Lehm is no stranger to the fact that there are subversions to this rule, manifesting in another type of conviction altogether. He continues:

"Now don't get me wrong; when the bullets ain't flying, I like your fresh perspective - the whole hating arms dealers thing. We're not here to drown out your voice; I don't see why you can't live with and learn from us without letting go of who you are."

Lehm understands that straying from the original path can in fact lead to new and better solutions to a problem. Jonah's abhorrence to arms dealers may in itself lead to situations where violence is completely removed from the equation, which is in no way a bad thing. The major point of consideration is that he's using his firmly held beliefs to ensure the completion of his job, and nothing more or less than that.

For the viewer, that which must be taken away from this is the need to stand firm in one's belief systems in a manner which correlates to one's purpose and forward path. Actions which lead to the erosion of one's beliefs will irrevocably cripple that person, but beliefs which get in the way of one's actions will always result in failure to act.

Jormungand - "Pulsar" - Opportunity Cost

The second episode of Jormungand opens with the HCLI team traveling by convoy through a nation south of Russia, only to be caught in the crossfire of a military skirmish. They are intercepted by the forces of one Major Pollack, who asks that Koko do business with him and refuses to take no for an answer. Along the way, we are introduced to rival arms dealers of CCAT, led by Curry and his bodyguards.

Koko insists that her team head for the hills, but Pollack is wise to this and sends soldiers to block any escape attempts by either HCLI or CCAT. Unfortunately, things go south when CCAT's escorts are killed by Mildo, one of Curry's personal bodyguards. Pollack retaliates with a strike team, and a standoff occurs that night. HCLI implicates CCAT, double-crossing them before heading for the hills. Miraculously, both HCLI and CCAT make it out of the situation relatively unscathed. As for Pollack, he uses the scrap metal from the convoy to create a prop which serves as a deterrent against enemy forces. Somehow it works, and the fighting in the region is halted for the time being.

The nature of this conflict is our primary focus, as it seems to rub Koko entirely the wrong way:

"This battle will be short, two days at the absolute most. In the end, no one will really win; Russia is already full of these skirmishes, and this major has a lot more ambition than he can afford. There will be plenty of fights just like this one over the next few years. None of them will be decisive, and no faction will gain control of that pipeline and its liquid gold." - Koko

Perhaps to Miss Hekmatyar, this is a war not of resource acquisition but of opportunity costs. If the goal of securing valuable assets is a futile one, then perhaps another reason persists for remaining out there. Could it be simply to maintain the economic war machine through the continual cycling of arms? Could it be a war of morale, an exhibition of power to incite fear? Either way, she wants no part of it, due to the risk of being paid in IOUs. To her, the skirmishes simply have no rate of return for her.

Of course, she is no fool. She is well-reasoned enough to understand that a momentary lapse in power by either side will send the proverbial house of cards tumbling. In a way, she was able to predict Major Pollack's actions in using the convoy wreckage as a prop, considering it would delay the battles without putting an end to the conflict. After all, the moment the conflict comes to an end, the ability to create fear collapses, and the economic machine that is war withers and dies. In other words, the real gold was in the form of desire, a highly valued commodity.

As we continue our investigation into this plot, we must proceed with the understanding that the true treasures pursued by these individuals are not always so apparent. A seemingly useless item may simply be a red herring for something much greater.

Jormungand - "Gun Metal, Calico Road" - Necessary Evil

For those who are unfamiliar, Jormungand is the story of arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar, who travels the world with her eight bodyguards. Requiring a ninth one, she enlists to her team one Jonathan Mar, a child soldier with a considerable knack for killing. There is only one problem: Jonathan (or Jonah as he is often called) has an extreme abhorrence to guns and often preaches opposition to their use.

In his introduction, Jonah comes off as a boy who cannot seem to extend his trust to anybody. He barely speaks other than to respond to others, and he doesn't really gravitate toward anyone in particular. Koko makes it her mission to help melt some of that ice, and takes him as her last-line protector for the two missions which occur in this episode.

It becomes quickly apparent that Koko's true intent is in her curiosity towards Jonah. She even goes as far as to goad him upon the completion of his first mission, challenging his hypocrisy in a long-winded speech:

"You hate your weapon, but can you give it up? You know you can't; you'll spend the rest of life with a gun in your hand. You may hate weapons more than anyone, but that doesn't matter in the end, because you also know better than anyone how useful, how necessary they can be. Do yourself a favor and stick with me. I deal in weapons, Jonah. I can show you how to live with your hate without giving up your gun." - Koko

The way she chooses to express these thoughts does generate a few questions. Could it be that she too has a distaste for weapons, and had learned to accept her craft in spite of her personal aversions? Could it be that she may intend to have Jonah follow in her footsteps one day? We don't know, but we can easily infer something along those lines. At her core, Koko Hekmatyar is arguing that her hypocrisy is justifiable, that it is a necessary evil.

We've seen before in this blog why evil can be quite necessary - first in Ghost in the Shell, and again in Danganronpa and Durarara. If violent and illicit criminal activity is the mechanism for great social change, then the weapons trade is merely a mechanism for the mechanism, so to speak. This should become more apparent as we continue to watch these characters undergo their business dealings, because we can judge the intents of our characters based on how they respond to the demands of their clientele.