I don’t think it is basically magic. I think they added contemporary layers to the source material and this is one of them. I’ve written it as another answer next to yours below the same question you just answered. I’d love to hear your feedback as a book reader.
check my half-assed theory. I’m too proud with it.
My money is on it having to do something with the jump and concsiousness. Gaal was partially awake, and Salvor survived the non-linearity she experienced even though she was not sedated.
Opposed to it being pure magic:
my non-book-reader, 21st century minded theory is that it has to do with “quantum consciousness”, a fringe idea that tries to combine the wave function collapse + entanglement + the mind-body duality with the hard problem (of explaining consciousness). (which is pseudo for now and thereby “magic” tho)
as the empire has the space jump tech, it already demonstrates their space-time-gravity manipulation capabilities (which requires quantum physics). Apparently, all minds “collapse” (or go into psychosis) due to the non-linearity. (except the two.)
I, in a non-physicist bogus armchair way explain that as a sort of frequency interference between the wave fields of our consciousness and the extreme waves fields (?) created by the space jump.
Gaal and her daughter Salvor’s mind does not collapse due to it. Furthermore, their memories’ / minds’ can apparently even “fold” the space-time (the telepathy and the visions from future / past), just as the ships that can jump (maybe not “just as”, but prolly using some similar physics). Therefore, I believe; they possess a certain subconscious capability of “manipulating their mind’s quantum field or space/time” (sorry, this is getting out of hand) - (I also think this could at one point partially tie into the luminist reincarnation and the “soul” )
In any case. I think, water peeps are not Gaal’s bio parents. I think she was in the womb of someone during an “old-school” analogous jump. I think the ship that carried her bio-mom was escaping something or having certain difficulties and Gaal prenatally or as a baby experienced a jump. But because her mind was not fully developed, she survived it and it altered her brain forever thereby gaining this second nature and somehow past it on. Eventually she somehow ended up in a sci-fi version of a floating cradle in the water planet a la superman. (because the jump was problematic and their ship went down and her parents sent her to the closest planet)
Water planet family is the Kents to Gaal. I call this theory: Gaal Kent, who prenatally (or as a newborn) experienced a jump that altered her brain forever. (And the brains of her offspring). She was always meant to be once in a century level intelligence and inherently curious due to her bio-parents, but this altercation gave her and her future offspring, the ability we talk of + the magic-level intuitions. Or I don’t know. Maybe it is just pure magic. But I just can’t let it go like that.
I also believe the first missing piece in Hari’s puzzle is not Gaal’s choices, but the event that Gaal experienced as a baby or unborn. Oh oh! Maybe she was actually on the Invictus as a baby? And her cradle was cryogenic?
more edit: Gaal’s coming back to the water planet in cryo-pod was foreshadowing to the past we don’t know of yet… My mind just removed a rib and sucking itself off
some of them also became Austrian (or stayed in Austria) and went into politics after a very short while… (which is the origin story of the Austrian populist right-wing party “FPÖ” - their first leader was the former Nazi Minister of Agriculture and an SS officer) No need to hide your nazism if you’re in Austria (even today)
more importantly: the time she compared the Avatar film to the Israel-Palestine conflict, in a room with peacemakers from both sides, talking to them about “the great mother in the film not taking sides” and then proudly telling it to Cameron with cringe-meter-breaking confidence and smug head tilts sprinkled twice with “and do you know what they said” (meanwhile Cameron is just literally speechless at what’s going on). Then she proudly acts out the reaction she got from the peacemakers which was… “slow nodding” (I’m not exaggerating) It’s like a Tina Fey sketch.
She is beyond being “too California” (as some outlets try to downplay it as). It’s just so randomly tone-deaf, not knowing how to contribute in a very serious setting, verbally shitposting out of awkwardness(?), then incorrectly evaluating people’s politeness as a profound moment of unanimity that she fostered. So she proceeds to boast about it to Cameron.
Her campaign promises and positions does seem picture-perfect and social-progressive, but these instances does make one question what goes on between her synapses. It’s not hard to copy paste what the youth and the progressives (like me) want into a list to score tiktok points. No wonder why brilliant intellectuals with legit academic backgrounds like AOC and Warren and Sanders back Biden instead of her; an esoteric dropout self-help author with loose-cannon potential in interviews. There is no need for dems to unfairly discredit or disadvantage her. She is one goop away from paltrowing.
Her self-help background and esotericism in pre-covid times, I could’ve squeezed myself into tolerating for the sake of her policies, but what is beyond infuriating and discerning about this particular fuckup is: People in that room that she was invited to in Israel have given their life trying their best to collectively come up with a peace deal to end an extremely long, historical and ongoing conflict that costs lives and communities. And her reaction is “you know in Avatar…” Like, is she high? Clinically daft? Mocking? What the actual fuck.
That’s why the greencrush is questioning the meme. Greencrush does not read. Likes history channel tho.
I disagree. I think the constant self-congratulations were brilliant in rubbing it into all the darn nay-saying media executives. And when coupled with their constant self-degradation; it was chefs-kiss.
For me no.2 one was a bit of an uneven ride starting with the brilliant idea of 20-years-long plot connection but then spoiled with too much random stuff leading nowhere.
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obviously getting help from the aliens. no way she can be so brilliant. if you don’t believe me, check the chart
Because maybe… just maybe… it was also critiquing and making satire of the expectations from a ken? and emasculation? the mental effects of always being seen as a himbo? as well as how the company’s marketing idea of strong women was also enforced without consent and thereby removing agency as barbies had to fit into the box the boardroom made as well as the kens? i feel like I hear a whoosh.
even this tiny civil exchange already makes me happy for jumping the boat. (also was always kinda sad for missing out on the early years of reddit; lemmy have no mo fomo)
the stones were put onto her as a baby and is not part of their biology. I remember the scene but can’t remember which ep. Kinda gave me similar vibes to baby circumcisions due to religious reasons.
Ill check the quantum magician, seems intriguing, thanks!