Don't FUCK with the Underdog.
Also...don't become the underdog.
BLEED BEFORE YOU SECEDE.
One of my favorite underrated archetypes is the Underdog. He’s the character that wins…and no one believes it can happen until it does. He’s the guy that says what the fuck he wants and laughs in your fucking face when you make the mistake of not taking him seriously. He’s the guy so steeped in his lover archetype values that he’d rather die than compromise.
THE LAST TEXT I SENT TO MY FATHER WAS ‘FU*K OFF’.
Mind you, I love my father.
Hell, I might even like him. (There IS a difference.)
But no one who ‘disrespects’ me receives my energy, not even God.
But this is not about what did or did not happen.
This is about one of the strongest archetypes to ever exist.
The man who wins against all odds.
The woman who beats the game and makes no omission to shove that fact down your throat.
That DAWG energy.
You have a deep understanding of what you are worth, even when others are genuinely too stupid to see it, or to stubborn to admit it.
You, as the underdog, NEVER allow that to happen.
If you see someone even slightly second guesses your value or power…you blind them with your light...or you throw a big pile of shit in their face…your choice. You give them absolutely NO space to even JOKE about something being wrong with you.
Underdog:
Underappreciated while over delivering.
Abused while caring.
Talked about negatively even when putting forth positive effort.
Not taken seriously when doing serious work.
Counted out because he’s different.
The thing I find funny about the underdog archetype is that it somehow is a combination of dirty shadow energy and clean energy combined into one character. You’d want to think it’s someone in transition from dark to light, which could be the case. But it’s more like purgatory.
The underdog knows what matters and what he needs to do.
But his fuel is the shadows of external interactions with the people he detests.
Disadvantage/Lower Status: The underdog starts from a position of perceived weakness, disadvantage, or lower status compared to their rivals or the established norm. This could be due to social standing, lack of resources, physical attributes, or any other factor that stacks the odds against them.
I find this not so much a reflection of the archetype…but of society. Easy to make snap decisions and judgments in the court of popular opinion. Men and women have a horrendous habit of categorizing and acting accordingly without asking a single question, which in turn becomes the fuel for the underdog.
Judge me because I’m poor? Treat me like shit because you don’t like the way I look? Consider me ‘less than’ because of my socioeconomic status?
The Underdog says, ‘Fuck You.’
Resilience/Determination: Underdogs possess a strong inner drive and a refusal to give up, despite facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. They demonstrate remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.
This right here, as endearing as it sounds to have that kind of resilience, is still an odd mix of the warrior and victim archetypes.
Once again…purgatory…to always be in both and never realize the full alchemization of stepping into the warrior and fully relinquishing the victim. If you really want a closer look at this archetype, I’d take a look at the Diaz brothers of the UFC. More specifically, Nick Diaz. But both are great.
Resourcefulness/Ingenuity: Lacking the advantages enjoyed by others, underdogs are often forced to be creative and resourceful. They find unconventional solutions and leverage their limited resources in innovative ways.
True masters of ‘If you can’t find a way, make a way.’
Moral Alignment (Often): While not always the case, underdogs are frequently portrayed as having a strong moral compass. They fight for what's right, challenge injustice, and stand up for the marginalized. This makes the audience root for them.
This is where the purgatory really hits. You see, the underdog gets cheered on not because he wins…but because he refuses to lose. The allure is that there is a victim who willingly takes beating after beating just to look death in the eye and say, ‘Still here…’
The problem is that attitude is meant for a special occasion where you need to bring that part of you out. But the more you hold that frame, the more it takes over your entire life. It becomes your identity and you stay stuck in the middle. Never fully accepted, AND never fully accepting of yourself.
I think the underdog is a good archetype in unique circumstances, and it should always be ready to attack when the time is right. But it’s not the character you want in the lead role of your life. He’s a supporting role.
Humility: Underdogs tend to be humble and grounded, often lacking the arrogance or entitlement associated with more privileged characters. They appreciate their successes because they know how hard they had to work for them.
Once again, there’s a lingering of victim archetype in the underdog, which is not a good thing. Grounded is great. Humble…not always.
The athletes we look up to have arrogance.
The geniuses we admire as well.
The attack on the ego, I personally believe, has always been a problem because we don’t need LESS confident people…we need people who are outspoken and willing to brag about things they are good at.
God knows we have a ton of assholes who brag just to brag.
THEN we have AMAZING men and women with great talent and skill who only keep it shut because someone taught them that it was bad to show supreme confidence.
WRONG.
You should talk about what you believe in and what you’re good at and get used to being loud.
Relatability: The underdog's struggles and vulnerabilities make them highly relatable to audiences. People connect with their humanity and their desire to overcome obstacles.
The underdog being so ‘relatable’ is objective proof that the masses in society are feeling like the underdog on some level…a sure sign of a large part of our population being attached to victim consciousness mentality…many of us in purgatory…
I LIKE the underdog.
He’s fun.
He’s a bad ass.
He gets to say what's on his mind and seems free.
He’s also the guy in Independence day who got molested by aliens and gets his revenge by flying a jet into their mother ship to blow it to smithereens, himself included.
Victim to the very end.
Remember…alchemizing is about transforming your shadow and integrating it if need be…NOT allowing it to live off you like a parasite while you struggle to find your success.
We always take the triggers seriously.
At the end of it all…
If the ONLY way you can succeed is by getting triggered or challenged as an underdog, then the success is never truly yours to claim.