In a few different places, when old shows are talked about and the subject some around; people seem to be of the impression that Ma-Ti, from Captain Planet has the absolute worst power of all time, Heart. I’ve heard phrases like ‘What kind of lame power is Heart’ and generally a lot of people consider it completely useless.
I of course do not agree. I’m the kind of person who likes to take an outwardly weak ability and turn it into something truly powerful. I do not have to try hard though in this case. As those who know me probably are aware, I’m a hypnotist and mind control in general is an interest of mine; even if I am not evil aligned.
Whoa whoa whoa! I hear you cry, We’re talking about the power of heart, lovey dovey wimpy heart not brainwashing! Well, as it turns out, the power of heart is exactly the power of mind control. There is an episode in the series meant as a play on an older movie, in which Wheeler wishes he had never become a Planeteer and so we get to see what the world and team would be like without him.
When he visits Ma-Ti, he is begging on the street for money. A man passes him by and declines to give him money so Ma-Ti uses his ring’s heart power to MAKE him hand over some money.
That’s right folks; Ma-Ti can use his ring’s power to control other people to the extent that they will hand their hard earned money over to him against their own better judgement. Technically this means he SHOULD be able to just use the heart power on any villain and win every fight without ever having to summon Captain Planet.
So, why doesn’t he? Well, as it turns out, Ma-Ti sucks, just not because of his power.