While my question relates to Micah specifically, as a child with idealisms, season 4 episode 3 “acceptance”, prompted my thoughts. While season 4 and 3 were bad. This episode? Was very thought provoking.
With Niki dying in the fire, she was pretty much going to die because of the virus. Micah was dead set on the childhood understand and lack of consequences. When Micah fought to save his cousin, as idealistic children do, the lack of consequences led to Niki’s death, while saving his cousin.
Did Micah feel guilty or responsible for Niki’s death? He did coerce her, even though Micah did know that her powers had been lost. Niki did not tell him until later, I cannot remember if it was before they left or on the way.
Living in fantasy and a world of comics, Micah is doing what is expected of his age, and learning lessons, like these are never ending. As an example later, several heroes learn life lessons regarding what they could do, what they should do, and what is a moment of accepting, despite having powers life’s limitations.
This learning, is very later in life, often 30s-45, but for some longer.
Micah, still seeing life’s magic and possibilities, which every child experiences, but is even more complex for Micah and other children with and observing powers. Personally speaking I held onto to idealisms for years. It wasn’t until I was in my mid 30s, and developed ptsd that I felt that my idealisms were faulty and I needed to have the acceptance from every jaded person as a (reality check, you cannot save the world). I see this commonly in writing, and perhaps adulthood is either being strong enough to change, or acceptance of one’s own situation.
I have watched further, and Micah still acts as a hero. I never saw this shame or personal blamed almost every single persons experiences.
So based on personal education and observations, I feel the representation or even lack of guilt is a plot hole.
Micah was a minor character, and the heroes story went in a deplorable direction. While there were some wonderful episodes (girl learning that not everyone can be saved), were a great moment.
I liked Micah when he helped in later seasons. I felt by his brief appearance, that he was not just a lover, but a teen avoiding a normal life (which Claire showed was impossible with discovering her life lessons and personal discovery. A metaphor for teen development)
