Lost Girl, a Canadian TV show running from 2010 to 2016, centers around Bo, a young woman both with unique powers that frighten her and with unknown origins that haunt her. Throughout the course of its run, Lost Girl manages to explain the origin of every supernatural being within the show’s mythology: in short, they are fae. Given the depth and breadth of supernaturals on TV, does the fae explanation given in Lost Girl plausibly apply to all indigenous supernaturals, across mythologies?
In Lost Girl mythology, fae are extra-human. Basically, it all comes down to DNA. At some point in human evolutionary history, mutations occurred, bringing about various fae with different skills and abilities based on their parents and environments. In other words, both nature and nurture had a hand in the genetic mutations, which then determined what powers the mutated DNA bestowed upon the fae.
Though their lineage would give some idea as to what to expect, the powers an individual fae has does not manifest until after the fae reaches physical maturity. Lost Girl defines physical maturity as 16 years old. At that age, the young fae is given a test. The nature of the test is twofold: first, to reveal the powers of the fae initiate, and second, to ensure the initiate is capable of wielding their power responsibly. One of the most important rules of faedom is to blend in with humans. A fae that reveals themselves to humans is a danger to all fae, so the test is of utmost importance to sort out who is likely to reveal or keep the secret.
The introduction of fae to supernatural mythology solves all the origin problems of the supernatural in everything that came before on TV, or after. It provides a plausible explanation for all indigenous supernatural beings unlike any previous attempt.
For example, in Xena, Warrior Princess (1995-2001) a woman warrior with her faithful sidekick trod around ancient Greece kicking the tails of leather-clad bad guys who are often under the influence of supernatural deities. Both supernatural events and deities were explained by the gods and goddesses of Greek Mythology. In later seasons, gods and goddesses of other cultures and areas were also used. What isn’t explained, however, is how the gods and goddesses plausibly came into existence in the first place. – Though Zeus’ creation of his various children were mentioned, nothing was ever addressed about how Zeus, himself, came into being. Even the Greek mythology upon which the series is based is lacking in a credible explanation because, according to it, at some point the sky and the earth got together to create Zeus’ lineage. A great story, perhaps, but not very believable, and certainly not very scientific.
Lost Girl addressed the ancient Greek gods, and they were ancient fae. Not the first fae, just fae that had recognized their power and exploited humans with it, thus becoming “gods,” when really, they were just fae.
The year following Xena’s initial debut on TV, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996-2003) entered the fray and seemed to solve at least some of the problems of the origins of the supernatural with the introduction of the Hellmouth. Sunnydale, California, where Buffy and the Scooby Gang operated, sat right on top of the Hellmouth, which was literally the gateway to Hell. Buffy spends a great deal of time and energy preventing various evil supernatural entities from opening the Hellmouth. Presumably, the Hellmouth is the origin of, if not all supernaturals, at least the evil ones. What is lacking, however, is a plausible reason for how the Hellmouth creates supernatural beings.
While most witches, vampires, werewolves, and other (mostly) human looking entities in Buffy could fall neatly into the fae categories, there were a whole slew of hideous demon type supernaturals that may be seemingly overlooked by the Lost Girl fae mythology. That is not the case. In Lost Girl, a fae that fails the test upon their physical maturity at 16 devolve into what is called underfae. These creatures are powerful, dangerous, and excessively ugly. In other mythologies, including Buffy, they would be considered “demons.” In Lost Girl, they are generally held under lock and key, though there is an occasional escape and havoc wrought as a consequence. It makes perfect sense that in Buffy, these underfae roamed free in the world and often caused trouble.
Other TV series such as Charmed (1998-2006), Ghost Whisperer (2005-2010), and True Blood (2008-2014) all included a plethora of supernaturals, each of which categorically fit within the Lost Girl mythology of fae. The heroines of the three shows are all various forms of fae. Ghost Whisperer may be unique in that the ghosts are not fae, just the spirits of those who have died. Lost Girl does include ghosts, and, likewise, they are souls of the dead or fallen, both human and fae. Valkyries, which are fae, are tapped to carry the souls of valiant warriors to Valhalla. Other fae deal with the less heroic.
Of the three, only True Blood has any origin stories that attempt to account for how supernatuals exist, and True Blood does it twice: werepanthers and vampires. According to the show’s mythology, werepanthers are descendants of Ghost Daddy and Ghost Mama, humans who asked the head panther to not be human any more. He obliged by eating them and coughing them out again as werepathers. Like Zeus’ origins alluded to in Xena, this is not very scientifically plausible. True Blood also identifies Lilith as the first vampire, but her origins are all mixed up with an interpretation of the Hebrew Bible which accounts for two wives for Adam (Lilith being the first), and the addition of some Sumerian beliefs about vampires. It does not, however, spell out exactly how Lilith became a vampire, and therefore does not satisfactorily supply a plausible accounting of supernatural origins.
What is true of the supernaturals in all of these shows: Xena, Buffy, Charmed, Ghost Whisperer, True Blood, and Lost Girl is that there is a definite divide between good and evil. With obscure origins, it is difficult to understand exactly why supernaturals take on evil deeds, but Lost Girl has an explanation for that as well. In the show’s mythology, once a fae successfully completes their test upon reaching physical maturity, they get to choose whether to join the light or the dark.
The delineation of “light” or “dark” in Lost Girl mythology does not necessarily equate to “good” or “evil,” per say. Some light fae act with evil intentions and some dark fae act with good intentions. Instead, the identification of “light” or “dark” designates the philosophy under which the fae choose to live. Light fae are more group oriented; dark fae are more “everyone for themselves.” A light fae may choose to do evil deeds if they perceive it will benefit their family or clan (group of fae to which they belong). A dark fae may choose to do good works if they perceive it will bring about some sort of personal gain. In either case, Lost Girl viewers can immediately grasp why both good and evil acts are committed.
Supernaturals have existed in TV for years, with each program creating it’s own rules about how their powers originate and operate in a given world, but only Lost Girl explains the origins of all supernaturals across mythologies.
In Lost Girl mythology, fae are extra-human. Basically, it all comes down to DNA. At some point in human evolutionary history, mutations occurred, bringing about various fae with different skills and abilities based on their parents and environments. In other words, both nature and nurture had a hand in the genetic mutations, which then determined what powers the mutated DNA bestowed upon the fae.
Though their lineage would give some idea as to what to expect, the powers an individual fae has does not manifest until after the fae reaches physical maturity. Lost Girl defines physical maturity as 16 years old. At that age, the young fae is given a test. The nature of the test is twofold: first, to reveal the powers of the fae initiate, and second, to ensure the initiate is capable of wielding their power responsibly. One of the most important rules of faedom is to blend in with humans. A fae that reveals themselves to humans is a danger to all fae, so the test is of utmost importance to sort out who is likely to reveal or keep the secret.
The introduction of fae to supernatural mythology solves all the origin problems of the supernatural in everything that came before on TV, or after. It provides a plausible explanation for all indigenous supernatural beings unlike any previous attempt.
For example, in Xena, Warrior Princess (1995-2001) a woman warrior with her faithful sidekick trod around ancient Greece kicking the tails of leather-clad bad guys who are often under the influence of supernatural deities. Both supernatural events and deities were explained by the gods and goddesses of Greek Mythology. In later seasons, gods and goddesses of other cultures and areas were also used. What isn’t explained, however, is how the gods and goddesses plausibly came into existence in the first place. – Though Zeus’ creation of his various children were mentioned, nothing was ever addressed about how Zeus, himself, came into being. Even the Greek mythology upon which the series is based is lacking in a credible explanation because, according to it, at some point the sky and the earth got together to create Zeus’ lineage. A great story, perhaps, but not very believable, and certainly not very scientific.
Lost Girl addressed the ancient Greek gods, and they were ancient fae. Not the first fae, just fae that had recognized their power and exploited humans with it, thus becoming “gods,” when really, they were just fae.
The year following Xena’s initial debut on TV, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996-2003) entered the fray and seemed to solve at least some of the problems of the origins of the supernatural with the introduction of the Hellmouth. Sunnydale, California, where Buffy and the Scooby Gang operated, sat right on top of the Hellmouth, which was literally the gateway to Hell. Buffy spends a great deal of time and energy preventing various evil supernatural entities from opening the Hellmouth. Presumably, the Hellmouth is the origin of, if not all supernaturals, at least the evil ones. What is lacking, however, is a plausible reason for how the Hellmouth creates supernatural beings.
While most witches, vampires, werewolves, and other (mostly) human looking entities in Buffy could fall neatly into the fae categories, there were a whole slew of hideous demon type supernaturals that may be seemingly overlooked by the Lost Girl fae mythology. That is not the case. In Lost Girl, a fae that fails the test upon their physical maturity at 16 devolve into what is called underfae. These creatures are powerful, dangerous, and excessively ugly. In other mythologies, including Buffy, they would be considered “demons.” In Lost Girl, they are generally held under lock and key, though there is an occasional escape and havoc wrought as a consequence. It makes perfect sense that in Buffy, these underfae roamed free in the world and often caused trouble.
Other TV series such as Charmed (1998-2006), Ghost Whisperer (2005-2010), and True Blood (2008-2014) all included a plethora of supernaturals, each of which categorically fit within the Lost Girl mythology of fae. The heroines of the three shows are all various forms of fae. Ghost Whisperer may be unique in that the ghosts are not fae, just the spirits of those who have died. Lost Girl does include ghosts, and, likewise, they are souls of the dead or fallen, both human and fae. Valkyries, which are fae, are tapped to carry the souls of valiant warriors to Valhalla. Other fae deal with the less heroic.
Of the three, only True Blood has any origin stories that attempt to account for how supernatuals exist, and True Blood does it twice: werepanthers and vampires. According to the show’s mythology, werepanthers are descendants of Ghost Daddy and Ghost Mama, humans who asked the head panther to not be human any more. He obliged by eating them and coughing them out again as werepathers. Like Zeus’ origins alluded to in Xena, this is not very scientifically plausible. True Blood also identifies Lilith as the first vampire, but her origins are all mixed up with an interpretation of the Hebrew Bible which accounts for two wives for Adam (Lilith being the first), and the addition of some Sumerian beliefs about vampires. It does not, however, spell out exactly how Lilith became a vampire, and therefore does not satisfactorily supply a plausible accounting of supernatural origins.
What is true of the supernaturals in all of these shows: Xena, Buffy, Charmed, Ghost Whisperer, True Blood, and Lost Girl is that there is a definite divide between good and evil. With obscure origins, it is difficult to understand exactly why supernaturals take on evil deeds, but Lost Girl has an explanation for that as well. In the show’s mythology, once a fae successfully completes their test upon reaching physical maturity, they get to choose whether to join the light or the dark.
The delineation of “light” or “dark” in Lost Girl mythology does not necessarily equate to “good” or “evil,” per say. Some light fae act with evil intentions and some dark fae act with good intentions. Instead, the identification of “light” or “dark” designates the philosophy under which the fae choose to live. Light fae are more group oriented; dark fae are more “everyone for themselves.” A light fae may choose to do evil deeds if they perceive it will benefit their family or clan (group of fae to which they belong). A dark fae may choose to do good works if they perceive it will bring about some sort of personal gain. In either case, Lost Girl viewers can immediately grasp why both good and evil acts are committed.
Supernaturals have existed in TV for years, with each program creating it’s own rules about how their powers originate and operate in a given world, but only Lost Girl explains the origins of all supernaturals across mythologies.