"Who Will I Be if I Stay?"

Welcome back guys. Been waiting to cover this scene since I started the blog for this film. If you can't tell later on, this is my favorite scene in the film. There is just so much meat to the scenes we'll be covering that I can't help but probably making this a two-parter. We'll see. Let's get on with it then, this is Diana's departure.

We begin with Diana coming to the tower she was taken to many years ago. Maybe she has returned since then(even likely), but the fact that she has to inspect the surroundings show that she has not been here recently.

She sees the major gap between her and the tower. Clear symbolism of the difficulty it is to make between the comfortable side of your self and life, into the difficult part of your life and better character traits.

Diana looks back and forth for a minute to see what it would take to make the great leap and decides to leap to a farther part of the island where she sees a creature that seems to be a cow, however different it came to look between the cultures.

After waiting for a moment to catch her breath and give everything she has, she makes the leap and grabs a hold of a stone on the side of the tower.

Looks back with joy and puts both hands on the stone, not believing that she made it.

The joy doesn't last long as the stone breaks off the tower and she starts to follow until she discovers the strength she has and smashes her hand into the tower itself in desperation.

Shocked at this for a moment, she waits before smashing her other hand into another part of the tower, and then her confidence in this challenge is full and begins to climb it in a scene that cannot be helped but compare it to the 2002 'Spider-Man' film. Which is perfectly fine as that one was one the best scenes in that film.

As Diana enters the tower, the first item she takes is the iconic lasso of truth, followed by the shield. While the point could be made that she takes these first because they were there first, I think the point could also be made that she takes those first because those are defense and interrogation weapons first and foremost. Sure both have there own offensive purposes, but that is not their primary purposes.

She takes both of those weapons before attaining the weapon she has wanted since childhood; The God-killer.

This gives you her main reasons for doing this without any dialogue. The main thing is to defend and glean the truth before executing violent measures.

Even with all that said, of course she still takes time to be in awe of the sword before pulling it out of it's place. Why shouldn't she? This is a weapon that has been told to her to be the most powerful weapon ever created, so she would take her time before she deems herself worthy enough to wield it.

Before she leaves, she glances at her iconic armor. Maybe she wasn't even planning on bringing that piece of equipment, however, she decides to, maybe just to point the outside world at ease. It's never said where this armor came from, it could be history of Themyscira that could be told in later installments. At the moment, it can just be assumed it's another gift from the gods.

All of that in done in two minutes and seventeen seconds without any dialogue.

Diana goes to meet Steve at the oasis. Making the deal that she will lead him off the island if he takes her to Ares.

I have to remark that costume, outside of a brief glimpse when she first enters this scene with Steve, is not revealed in full until half-way through the film. Sure, the reason had that cloak for most of the film is because Gal Gadot was pregnant at the time, but it's still a clever trick. To be revealed in a glorious scene that comes later.

They get to a few boats and are ready to ship out before Hippolyta comes on horseback with a few other Amazons.

Both she and Diana stare at each other for a while, Hippolyta clearly knowing her intent, before Diana makes her way toward her to justify her reasons for leaving. Steve does not follow along clearly knowing that he cannot help in this situation and will likely only make the situation worse if he goes along with her so he starts loading the boat.

The words Diana chooses to begin with are something that shows that her mind is made up already and will not be convinced to do otherwise: "I'm going mother". Making her case that she will not stand by while innocents suffer. Since Ares is an Amazon problem, she states that she will defend the world from him if no other Amazon is willing.

This shows her proactive nature learned from Antiope, but unlike her, she is going to defend the world and not looking for blood outright, only Ares. No human is intended to be harmed, as unlikely as that is from our perspective, she believes she can go on her mission without taking anyone's life that is not a deity that man cannot handle themselves. Something to keep an eye on for later in the film.

Hippolyta states that she knows she cannot stop Diana, but obviously still wants her to stay where she can protect her from mankind. As any good parent would. With her last ditch effort coming to meet Diana face to face.

She states "There is so much you do not understand." and Diana responds with "I understand enough.". Stating that she is willing to fight for those who cannot defend themselves. Which is important in and of itself. Not promoting laziness or dependency on herself to get everyone out of situations some could handle on their own. Whether it's a threat which is supernatural or just something that those specific people cannot handle is who she comes to help specifically. Even acknowledging that her mother had this motivation at one time in her life.

Hippolyta makes her last plea in stating that she "may" never return if she leaves. I specify the word may because it never states that Diana will not be able to return home; if she said that it could make her unlikable. A parent would never say that their child could not return home, especially if they know that this step is needed for them to grow into the person they need to become.

Diana responds with the lines that hit me the hardest, "Who will I be if I stay?". Which, I'm not saying that moving away from the place one grows up is a necessary move for someone to fulfill their own growth, but for most people it takes moving away from a place you have been comfortable with your entire life to break the mold you have been in for however many years one is at that point. Even if the consequences are severe at the time. It need not even be physically moving away. It may be gaining your own views on: Religion, Philosophy, Politics, or any particular way of life that is different from how you have been raised. It is always difficult.

Hippolyta gives her a different version of the tiara from the traditional look in the comics, but it holds just as much emotional resonance as what she is given belonged to Antiope. She even states that she is worthy of it, maybe the only one.

She tells Diana to be careful(typical parent line), but also inserts that "They do not deserve you.", echoing the deserve theme, which shows that no one outside of the island is worthy or deserving of anything good as she has been burned by the outside before and cannot allow the opportunity to be hurt again. A theme that will be revisited several times throughout the film.

Her final words to Diana shows the pain and sentiment that most parents have to go through before sending their child into the outside world "You have been my greatest love, today you are my greatest sorrow.", a line that speaks for itself.

As Diana leaves the island, an Amazon asks why Hippolyta did not tell her, her response is that he will find her faster if she knew. A nice plant for what is to come later on in possibly the biggest revelation for Diana in the entire film.

That's all for this one guys. Thank you for bearing with me as I made this double the size I like to make these. Without making this much longer than I usually make this I would have to make this in two parts and I didn't want to make you guys wait as I haven't touched this part of my blog for three weeks. I would not have done this part justice if I shortened it, and I wouldn't since it's my favorite part. Till next time, thanks for reading.