Still getting over-emotional at the commentary during the Valley Exodus and how they just off-handedly mention how thatās literally the last sunset the Onceler ever sees again. I mean itās cool how a lot of fanart and fanfiction nailed that fact, but thereās no way for the viewer to know otherwise and I think thatās a really powerful statement that really settles the finality of the Oncelerās mistakes and the effects heās caused to the environment
because itās not enough that he lost his family and whatever shred of actual friendship he had with the Lorax and animals
or that he lost all his wealth and everything he worked for trying to change for the greater good
but that is the last time he ever sees the sky and sun and stars again, and he never gets to appreciate those last moments as he literally watches his life fall apart
In spite of his decisions, I think the punishment is harsher than he ever deserved. It kinda paints a more realistic contrast to other movies where the main character more or less get their happy ending, because that is not the case for the Onceler. Faithful to the source material, he was destined to fall and never really fully recover
A lot of people outside of the fandom groan and complain about how Oncelings obsess over a character who they think is just eye candy to them (the whole movie is eye candy, thank you very much), but when it really comes down to it, the Onceler is a really tragic character. and I admit, Iām a sap for those kind of people
