Reawakening
"Reawakening" is the thirteenth televised episode of the series Gargoyles, and the thirteenth and final episode of Season 1. It originally aired on February 3, 1995.
- Supervising Producer: Frank Paur
- Co-Producer: Greg Weisman
- Written by: Brynne Chandler Reaves
- Story Edited by: Michael Reaves
- Directed by: Kazuo Terada, Saburo Hashimoto
- Animation by: Tama Productions
- Backgrounds by: Jade Animation Productions
- Additional Production Facilities: Jade Animation Productions
Contents
Summary
Main Plot
Demona and Xanatos work together to create and awaken Coldstone using a blending of science and sorcery. She then tells him about the Wyvern Massacre, and that Goliath betrayed their clan to the vikings. Meanwhile, Goliath feels he is losing sight of his purpose as a gargoyle. He follows Elisa on her patrol and ends up in Times Square where a rampaging Coldstone is causing destruction. Goliath tackles him, and Demona, Xanatos (in battle armor), and the trio join the fray, then relocate to the George Washington Bridge to continue the fight. Goliath tries to reason with Coldstone before they both fall into the icy water below. Coldstone saves Goliath after reflecting on the gargoyle mantra to protect, then saves him again by taking a blast meant for Goliath from Demona, and seemingly falls to his death in the river. Xanatos and Demona retreat after Elisa, Hudson, and Bronx arrive. Goliath comes to the realization that his "castle" is the whole island of Manhattan, and pronounces that the Manhattan Clan will protect all citizens of the city from then on.
Subplots
In a flashback to the night before the Massacre in 994, both Demona and "Othello" question Goliath's desire to protect the humans and their castle after the Magus berates them. Hudson speaks the old gargoyle mantra of protecting the castle no matter what, reminding the two gargoyles of their nature and purpose.
In the present day, Goliath is bothered by his clan's idleness, and yearns to find his place in the community. He follows Elisa and Matt Bluestone on patrol to a grocery store belonging to Mr. Jaffe, an old friend of Matt's who is consistently robbed. Goliath wonders why Mr. Jaffe doesn't leave, to which Elisa explains that providing his community with food is more important to him than hiding away.
Coldstone is torn on whether he should believe Demona or Goliath. In the end, he sides with Goliath, realizing that there is more to life than just simply surviving, and a gargoyle must be a protector to be whole, something for which Demona has yet to learn.
The clan's first act as protectors of the city is ridding Mr. Jaffe of his repeat burglar by ordering the man to return the money he stole and turn himself in.
The Story
Act One
Snow is falling in Manhattan. At a general store, an armed robber holds up Mr. Jaffe, stealing handfuls of money from the cash register. Mr. Jaffe remarks that this is the third time he has been robbed this month. The robber remarks that "We live in dangerous times" and flees into the night.
Flashback to Scotland, 994. The night before the Wyvern Massacre. Angel is trying to convince Goliath to take all the gargoyles to track down the Vikings, but Goliath is insistent that she and the rest stay with the Castle. They climb the highest tower and there find "Othello". He asks Goliath if any help is needed tracking down the Vikings before they attack again. Before Goliath can respond they are interrupted by the Magus who chastises the gargoyles for taking too long and storms off. Angel asks Goliath why the clan risks their lives to protect the humans' castle. "Othello" agrees and adds that they should abandon it since they can survive anywhere. Mentor arrives and says "A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air." Goliath asks Mentor to join him in his search for the Vikings since he will need the elder gargoyle's tracking skills. Mentor agrees. Goliath says his goodbyes to "Othello" and Angel and departs with Mentor.
Back in the present day at the Clock Tower, Goliath stares wistfully into the night. Hudson and Bronx are nearby watching tv. The Trio tells Hudson that they are going to the movies and asks if he'd like to come along. He declines and tells them that he must stay to protect their home. Brooklyn, amused by this, notes that they live above a police station, "What could happen?". Hudson again pulls out the old adage: "A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air." The Trio thinks little of the old saying (which Goliath sadly witnesses). "We don't even live in a castle anymore . . ." They head out just as Elisa arrives. She asks how the clan is handling the cold weather and Goliath says it doesn't bother them. Elisa is aware that something is bothering him though. Goliath tries to brush her off and she agrees it is time for her to go on duty and do "a little of the old 'protect and serve'". She tells him that this is the police motto; she lives to protect and serve the honest citizens and her fellow police officers. Goliath's interest in the police motto inspires him to join her tonight in her patrol in the hope that he could learn something.
Meanwhile, in a tower of Castle Wyvern, Xanatos and Demona are working on something new. Xanatos is skeptical of success. Demona remarks that none of Xanatos's efforts to defeat Goliath (the Pack, the Steel Clan Robots) were successful. Xanatos quips that Demona's stolen spells have been equally ineffective. They decide a combination of science and sorcery might be more effective. Demona's spells and rituals are complete, now it is up to Xanatos's machines. He activates them and energy pulses into a figure on a table. Magical forms then flow into the body as Xanatos and Demona watch in astonishment. Suddenly, the figure starts to move and Xanatos yells "It's alive! Alive!" in humorous triumph. The figure sits up, one eye glowing red. Demona begins to talk to their new creation. She calls Xanatos her servant (much to the human's annoyance), and tells the figure that he is "cold stone brought to life". Coldstone reminisces on his last memories before his destruction at the hands of the Vikings. Demona blames Goliath and his trust of humans for the "death" of Coldstone and for turning him into what he is now. Coldstone steps into a light and sees himself in a mirror, He is half metallic cyborg and half re-animated stone. Appalled by his monstrous form, he screams in anger and destroys the mirror.
Elisa and Matt Bluestone arrive at Mr. Jaffe's store. Matt sadly notes that Mr. Jaffe, whom he knows, has been repeatedly robbed but refuses to leave. Matt wishes they could protect him better. He goes in to investigate the robbery, but Elisa insists that she stay outside. When Matt leaves, Elisa and Goliath (using radio equipment) discuss the situation. Goliath questions why the store owner doesn't just leave. Elisa reveals that the community needs the store to survive and serving his community is more important than "hiding in his own little castle". Just then, the police radio in Elisa's Car blares a call for all units to converge on Times Square. Matt and Elisa quickly depart and Goliath follows.
They arrive in Times Square. Morgan tells them that whatever is causing the disturbance is big and mad. Citizens flee while Elisa and Matt approach the creature with guns drawn intent on arresting, or at least stopping, its rampage. Instead, it picks up a car. The police officers fire, but their shots have no effect. Coldstone prepares to throw the car at the officers.
Act Two
Elisa and Matt flee from Coldstone. Just as Coldstone prepares to throw the car at the police officers, Goliath dives in and tackles him. The car is flung through the air and narrowly misses Matt and Elisa. Goliath and Coldstone wrestle briefly before Goliath is thrown into a nearby overturned bus (out of sight of the crowd). Elisa asks Goliath what this creature is and as the authorities throw spotlights on Coldstone, Goliath can only say, "It is an abomination . . ." Coldstone recognizes Goliath as his rookery brother and remarks that Goliath betrayed the clan. He accidentally activates his forearm laser cannon and is shocked by it. Goliath takes the opportunity to attack Coldstone and they battle while Matt moves Elisa away to safety. Goliath, while wrestling with Coldstone, recognizes that he is indeed his brother.
Meanwhile, the Trio is watching the movie Bambi in a theater nearby. When the building is hit by Coldstone's laser fire, the Trio is momentarily confused by the presence of explosions in the movie.
Outside, Coldstone has gained the upper hand in his fight with Goliath. As he prepares to exact his revenge on Goliath, hubcaps from the car Coldstone threw earlier strike him. The Trio has arrived to assist Goliath and their actions give Goliath time to regroup. Brooklyn asks what they are up against and Goliath says, "It is one of us . . . or used to be." Coldstone sees them all as traitors and prepares to attack.
Xanatos and Demona are watching this play out through Coldstone's cybernetic eyes and realize he is now outnumbered.
Goliath asks why Coldstone is attacking his clan. Coldstone repeats the lies that Demona told him before: Goliath betrayed the clan leading to its destruction. Goliath says, "We were ALL betrayed!" At this moment, Demona arrives (agreeing with Goliath), accompanied by Xanatos in his exo-frame and a Steel Clan Robot. Demona and Goliath argue over who is at fault for the destruction of the clan and what clan even means. Nearby, Matt is astonished by what he is seeing. Elisa wonders what they can do to help. Morgan suggests using a nuclear weapon.
Demona orders Coldstone to destroy Goliath and the Trio. Xanatos, from under the helmet of his suit, tells her that he wants them alive. Demona shrugs this off and again demands that Coldstone kill the gargoyles leaving she and Coldstone as survivors. Coldstone questions if survival in his new form is anything he wants, but Demona tells him that appearances mean nothing and declares that the two of them are the "true gargoyles", uncorrupted by the humans. Coldstone pauses to consider this and Goliath tells him that there has been enough death and that there are few gargoyles left as it is.
Just then, a news van arrives on scene and Travis Marshall and a camera crew quickly emerge to cover the action. Elisa, alarmed, tells Goliath through the radio headset that they don't want all of this publicized. Goliath quickly agrees and addresses Xanatos through his robots (not realizing that Xanatos is actually present inside the red "robot") and appeals to him to move the confrontation somewhere more secluded and less fragile. Demona resists, but Xanatos agrees. He suggests they all reconvene at the George Washington Bridge. Elisa hears the plan through the radio and tells Goliath she'll be there and will bring help. Xanatos, Demona, the Steel Clan robot, and Coldstone head off into the night and are soon followed by Goliath and the Trio.
Matt asks Elisa if the whole thing is now over and Elisa replies, "Not hardly."
Act Three
Back at the Clock Tower, Hudson and Bronx are watching Travis Marshall's breaking news feed from Times Square showing blurry and shaky images of monsters. Hudson recognizes that there is trouble, but is concerned that if they go to help there will be no one left to guard their home.
Goliath and the Trio arrive at the George Washington Bridge (which is closed for repairs). They are the first party to arrive. Soon after, their adversaries arrive and start attacking the clan. Demona blasts them with a laser cannon and Brooklyn tackles her from the air, in his rage asking if she has any spells that can save her now. Xanatos chases Broadway around while the Steel Clan Robot pursues Lexington. Meanwhile, Coldstone and Goliath battle atop the bridge. Lexington quickly causes the robot to crash into the bridge, destroying it. Xanatos has Broadway in his sights, but Lex dives in to intercept Xanatos and rescue his brother. Xanatos crashes onto the bridge's deck (not far from Brooklyn and Demona who also fell there). Lexington goes to check on Brooklyn and Xanatos stands and removes his helmet, revealing to the clan that he has been inside the red suit the whole time. Brooklyn and Lex's attention quickly turns to Coldstone and Goliath plummeting from the top of the bridge down into the icy water below. They are concerned for Goliath, but first move to help Broadway.
In the water, a dazed Goliath and his brother slowly sink towards the riverbed. Coldstone remembers the words spoken to him long ago: "A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air". Goliath reaches out to his brother for help and Coldstone considers the credo. Goliath has little air and little time left. Does Coldstone protect him? Finally, he acts, grabbing Goliath and flying out of the water and on to the the bridge deck to the relief of the Trio.
Goliath coughs and recovers while Xanatos watches in silence. Demona is anything but silent. She stands to the side with her laser weapon ready to destroy Goliath. Coldstone questions if killing Goliath is indeed the only way to survive and if mere survival is all that is left for them. Demona thinks that survival is enough, but Goliath disagrees. He tells them that, "Gargoyles protect. It is our nature. Our purpose. To lose that is to be corrupt, empty, lifeless . . ." Coldstone asks Goliath what he protects, but Demona doesn't wait for an answer; she fires on the gargoyles. Coldstone dives in front of the blast to protect his brother and is struck. Damaged, he falls back over the bridge into the water and Goliath dives after him. Demona then moves to attack the Trio, but Xanatos blasts the weapon from her hands (again telling her that he wants the gargoyles alive). Suddenly, Bronx comes bounding through the snow and tackles Xanatos to the ground. Hudson and Elisa arrive as well to make an end to it. Xanatos, seeing that they are beaten, escapes Bronx, grabs Demona, and flees.
Elisa was slow to arrive since she had to lose Matt and get Hudson (and Bronx). She is concerned about the clan and wonders what happened to the monster. Goliath emerges from the river with no Coldstone in sight. He tells her that it was not a monster, but family. And now he is gone. The clan stands in silence for a moment and Goliath tells them, "Let's go home."
The clan stands atop the bridge looking out over the city and Lexington notes that Goliath told Coldstone that gargoyles protect. Brooklyn asks what it is that they protect. Hudson suggests the Clock Tower, but Goliath ascertains that in this modern age that is merely where they sleep. Instead, he offers that the city of Manhattan is their protectorate. He vows that from this day forth the Manhattan Clan will protect all who live there, human and gargoyle alike. The clan looks out over the city with a new perspective. Elisa asks Goliath if he is all right and if he needs anything. He smiles at her and tells her that he needs "a detective" (pronouncing it in the same syllable-by-syllable manner as when he first met her). Goliath picks her up and the clan glides off into the night.
The next morning, the armed robber again enters Mr. Jaffe's store terrified. Mr. Jaffe is concerned he is being robbed again, but instead the criminal returns all the money and asks for the cops to be called so he can turn himself in. Mr. Jaffe is shocked and asks why and the robber whimpers that, "six monsters just told me to . . ." Outside, Elisa stands atop a nearby building with the sleeping clan and tells them that the city feels safer already.
Featured Characters and First Appearances
| Gargoyles | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|
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| Places | Magic | Media | Miscellaneous |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
- "A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air." - Hudson
- "We don't even live in a castle anymore." - Lexington
- "And you my love, I never lose sight of." - Goliath
- "You mean the Police; your clan."
- "Right, my clan. Who will disown me if I don't get to work." - Goliath and Elisa
- "It's ALIVE! ALIVE!!...I've always wanted to say that." - Xanatos
- "Boy, that surround sound sure is great."
- "I don't remember any explosions in Bambi." - Broadway and Lexington
- "You told him these lies. I lived for my clan!"
- "And they died for you! Smashed to dust by the humans you trusted!" - Goliath and Demona
- "We have each created our own clans now, Goliath. You have yours and I have mine."
- "You have no clan; you don't know the meaning of the word!" - Demona and Goliath
- "There has been enough death. There are so few of us left, my brother." - Goliath
- "Hey, looks like we beat em' here."
- "Remind me to be fashionably late next time." - Lexington and Brooklyn
- "Gargoyles protect. It is our nature, our purpose; to lose that is to be corrupt, empty...lifeless." - Goliath
- "This Island, Manhattan; this is our castle. From this day forward, we protect all who live here, human and gargoyle alike." - Goliath
- "Are you alright? Is there anything you need?"
- "Yes, I need a detective." - Elisa and Goliath
- "Not again. Can't you rob somebody else this time?"
- "I'm not robbin you man. Do me a favor. Call the cops so I can turn myself in."
- "What?!?! Why?"
- "Cuz six monsters just told me to." - Mr. Jaffe and Armed Robber
Continuity
In this episode, New York City is covered in snow. It started snowing in the previous episode, "Her Brother's Keeper".
Coldstone appears for the first time. He is introduced in an early scene as one of the last gargoyles that Goliath spoke to before the Wyvern Massacre (before tracking the Vikings with Hudson as shown in "Awakening: Part One").
The Magus has a cameo in the flashback sequence.
The spell Demona uses to "reawaken" Coldstone is one that she stole from the Grimorum Arcanorum in "Temptation".
Travis Marshall and Officer Morgan have cameos in the episode, and Mr. Jaffe (who would reappear in "Eye of the Beholder" and "Protection") is introduced. Phil Travanti also appears at Times Square with Morgan and other police officers, although he has no lines of dialogue.
In a well-devised continuity link to "The Edge", Goliath continues to assume that the "red-armored Steel Clan robot" is only that, and when he addresses Xanatos, does so believing that Xanatos is at home directing the operations through a remote communications link and receiving Goliath's message through it. It is not until Xanatos removes his helmet in the battle at the George Washington Bridge that the gargoyles discover the truth.
Brooklyn again displays his grudge against Demona from "Temptation", during that same battle, even asking her if she has any spells to save her this time.
At the end of the episode, Coldstone falls from the George Washington Bridge, apparently disabled. He resurfaces again in the episode "Legion".
Tidbits
"Reawakening" was originally entitled "Awakening", but that name was later on applied to the series opener instead. The final title, of course, serves as another link to "Awakening".
The first draft of Brynne Chandler's outline included the Canon-in-Training character Madame Serena.
The flashback to 994 (the night before the Wyvern Massacre) immediately follows the line "We live in dangerous times".
In a flashback error, Hudson is seen with his sword even though he did not obtain it until the next night.
VHS/DVD Release
Links
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