Folge 13: After the Gods Fall Silent: Wagner, Valhalla, and the Ethics of Inheritance
This episode explores the philosophical parallels between Richard Wagner's operatic cycle and the video game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, focusing on the burden of toxic legacies. Both works illustrate a world where inherited power structures have become morally bankrupt, forcing their protagonists to navigate systems built on extractive authority rather than genuine connection. The author argues that characters like Wotan and Odin represent the failure of trying to engineer destiny through manipulation and control.
Ultimately, the comparison suggests that true progress requires a conscious refusal to inhabit the roles assigned by history or myth. Instead of seeking divine transcendence, the narrative path toward meaning lies in embracing finitude and letting dead systems expire. The core message is that the future is reserved for those who decline to become gods, choosing instead to live ethically after the old myths fall silent.
