to help Sir Lionel and Susan get to the Himalayas. She and Sir Lionel have a complex emotional history, which means she can continuously rebuke him for not having changed enough, or grown up enough, over the years. She is not a stereotypical ‘wailing harpy,’ nor is she a ‘nag.’ She is more of a mirror, really – an artefact from his past that can reflect his nature back to him, and show him where improvements can be made.

Every time Susan is upset or rejected, Adelina rebukes Sir Lionel and instructs him on how to respond with empathy. In this way, Adelina becomes the architect of Sir Lionel’s evolution. She facilitates his progress. Writer-director Chris Butler tries to redeem this by having her declare that she is heading off for her own adventure at the end.

Whe...

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