Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said example to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following contains spoilers for Marvel Studio’s Eternals.
Sersi
Fast Facts:
Sersi (Gemma Chan) is an Eternal, a nearly-immortal synthetic being engineered by Arishem and the Celestials. She was sent to Earth seven thousand years ago to help facilitate life so that the Celestial seed nestled within the planet can blossom into a full-fledged Celestial. Once the Celestial absorbed the energy from humans, it would destroy Earth.
Sersi wasn’t alone — she arrived on Earth with fellow Eternals Ajak (Salma Hayek), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff) and Gilgamesh (Don Lee).
Initially, Sersi and the Eternals thought their mission was to protect humanity from the Deviants but never interfere with human development.
Eternal love and a resurgence
Eventually, Sersi and Ikaris fell in love and married, staying together for thousands of years. After the Deviants were defeated, Ajak, the Prime Eternal, urged Sersi and the others to live their lives on Earth. Centuries before the present-day setting in Eternals, Ikaris inexplicably left Sersi.
Sersi becomes a teacher in London, living with Sprite and dating Dane Whitman (Kit Harington). When a Deviant wreaks havoc in the city, Ikaris returns, and he and Sersi seek to reunite the Eternals once again. They discover Ajak’s lifeless body, and Ajak’s sphere, the one she used to communicate with Arishem, chooses Sersi to be the next Prime Eternal.
Getting the band back together
Sersi, Ikaris and Sprite venture around the globe to reunite the Eternals as they take on their latest threat. Sersi learns the truth about Ajak’s death. As it turns out, Ikaris murdered her after learning Ajak plans to stop the Emergence, thereby preventing the birth of Tiamut, the Celestial growing in the Earth’s core.
Sersi moves forward with her objective to prevent the Emergence and save the planet. However, Ikaris and Sprite try to thwart her mission. Thankfully, the Eternals engage in the Uni-Mind, directing their powers toward stopping Tiamut from emerging. Sersi utilizes her developing matter transmutation abilities to turn Tiamut into stone.
After Sersi and the Eternals save the world, Ikaris, overcome with grief regarding his actions, launches himself into the Sun. Then, Sersi reunites with Dane, and, just as Dane is about to divulge his complicated family history, Arishem kidnaps Sersi, Kingo and Phastos.
Arishem knows Sersi and the others sacrificed Tiamut to spare humanity, and he scans their memories before passing judgment. Meanwhile, Thena, Druig and Makkari receive a visitor from Thanos’s brother, Starfox, a.k.a. Eros (Harry Styles), informing them of their friends’ capture by Arishem.
The Real Deal:
Sersi is the real deal; she harbors a deep love for humans, as evidenced in numerous flashbacks in Eternals. Sersi becomes a teacher, working hard to nurture the minds of future generations. She’s immensely kind and selfless and willing to sacrifice herself to save humanity and those she loves.
Additionally, she embraces a leadership role despite her fears and lack of self-confidence. Sersi’s impressive and downright ethereal transmutation powers evolve throughout the film, playing a pivotal role in incapacitating Tiamut. She defies Ikaris, her soulmate for thousands of years, to do the right thing and save Earth from unnecessary obliteration.
Sersi develops into a strong leader capable of forgiveness and empathy, even turning Sprite human after the latter stabbed her.
Why She Matters:
Why does she matter? Sersi might not be a fierce warrior in the traditional sense a la Thena, but she’s badass in her own right. She seizes a leadership position amid frightening, apocalyptic circumstances and wholly owns it.
Sersi does the right thing even when it’s the hard thing, even when it stares down the barrel of seemingly insurmountable odds. Not only that but saving Earth could potentially cost her since Arishem captured her. Her kindness and bravery know no bounds, and she’ll do anything to protect what she loves.
So, be like Sersi. Wholeheartedly accept your calling, even if you don’t believe you’re up to the task (newsflash: you are). Love with all of your heart. Do what’s right, even if it’s the unpopular thing to do. Oh, and if your beau decides to sacrifice billions of people to help deliver a giant space god, then dump their ass.
RELATED: Who Are The Eternals? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
