@@TechNMusic Pyra's traits are basically a response to the various insults made towards Mythra. For example: Mythra sucks at cooking => Pyra's an amazing chef.
@@seant1326 Mythra created Pyra as a response to the trauma she brought down on Torna. In the heat of the battle, victory was all that mattered, but as soon as the battle finished and she was able to witness the aftermath and how she played a major role in it, Mythra had a mental breakdown that caused her to hate herself so much that she hid her entire being behind a false identity (Pyra). The teasing about her cooking and Addam's trying to get her rough edge's smoothed out laid the framework for Pyra. But, the destruction of Torna was the catalyst.
One thing to note about Mythra is that from the moment she manifested she is buried under the expectation of others and not allowed to grow naturally. She was an Aegis first and foremost, a powerful tool unleashed to defeat Malos and save the world. Just look at how Amalthus looks at her and how she reacts to him. He compares her to Malos and gives her shallow compliments. This is likely the standard for how people besides Addam interact with her. So of course she gets an ego but becomes insecure as the people around her fear she may become like Malos (We can see this especially with how Addam acts around her, terrified when Mythra doesn't listen to him and scared when she goes overboard).
0:23 HAHAHAHAHA thanks for the mental picture of Zeke just standing there for _three days,_ likely keeping a cool pose at the ready just in case the party turned up early.
I have watched 10 minutes but this is a very good video. I agree a lot with learning about the character through gameplay, that was most of the reason I came to love her during my initial playthrough of the game. (In the future one thing I will say is that don't make the intro so long, while funny, getting straight to the point can help a lot for keeping interest)
Thank you, man! I think Xenoblade is one of the best series at making the battles feel involved both gameplay and character-wise. I can't express enough how much I love the switch animations from Torna for looking cool and showcasing character personalities. Duly noted, I'll make sure to watch out for that in the future episodes. Thanks for the feedback!
During my first playthrough, I liked her gameplay but not her character. After Torna, she became my favorite in the game and one of my favorite characters ever.
7:08 Yeah, this point's always bothered me: the alternate personality I get, but how on _earth_ do you give that personality skills you canonically *do not* have?
For things like cooking, as the Aegis, she could have probably downloaded the skills directly from Jin. For things like personality quirks, well... there are actually people who do just that.
simple: pulled data from the collective pool of data that is the core crystals. The Trinity Processor (Pneuma, Logos, Ontos) is the location where all the data goes, so she could've easily pulled related data for the personality skills from that pool of data.
The video has a Gordon Ramsey background at that point, but I think you can think of it as Mythra being one of those arrogant chefs on one of his shows. She's reckless, uncaring and arrogant - qualities that make a terrible chef. She's a learned chef (having all the information about living creatures, after all), not a good one. She would serve raw, unseasoned fish and think it is amazing, then blame the customer's taste buds when they complain.
People who have disassocitive identity disorder are like this. The other personality have their own well...personalty, interests, talents, range of facial expressions, and even react differently to medicines and have allegies - or lack - the original does not. Pyra is everything mythra is not and wishes she was more like. She knows she's not easy to put up with. Imagine if changing forms wasn't a thing and "pyra" went off on rex, sword changes, and she suddenly starts commanding the light element. I'd be unnerved as hell at the sudden shift. The form change just makes it easier for the player to understand when the other personality is in control.
It's similar to how Doppio and Diavolo is in JoJo's Bizzare Adventure spoilers from Persona 5 Royal. The other self is born from a traumatic experience and may have a different body type, tastes or even "age" of the original. Spoilers: Sumire and Kasumi in Persona 5 Royal.
Ive seen the cutscene where Mythra creates Pyra like 15 times and it always makes me cry. The Xeno Franchise is on another level of writing. Cant wait for whatever Monolith has planned for the future. Also, i love your videos
Mythra was my favorite character in the entire franchise, so when i saw her horrified expression after her battle with Malos, a 28 year old man had a tear in his eye...
A part of me always thought that Pyra was partly born out of an admiration for Jin, as Mythra quickly witnesses his overall experience allowing him to rival her; as well as the elegance of Brighid, causing Pyra to be a fusion of admiration for Brighid/Jin, Elegant, calm, but powerful- she wields the fire element from Brighid, and the strength mod from Jin. She also got a single-edged blade like Jin’s, but that could’ve also been due to Pyra’s design choices entirely determined by a horny Saito. Whatever, have fun, this video brought back my my Torna depression, so imma go cry now.
You know what would make her character waaay better (to me at least) If she had an actual talk with mikhail, talking with him about milton and how she is sorry and whatnot There could be so much growth, there could be such a strong scene where he forgives him or something But nope, the first time mikhail sees mythra, after 500 years, the only thing he sais is something like 'she is so beautiful' Missed opportunity right there
I think this is a very valid point! To me, Mikhail was a character that was the best of the XC2 Torna side characters, but I feel that he never had much time to shine. TTGC definitely boosted him, and since his response to Mythra at the end is a catalyst to the creation of Pyra it would've led to an interesting dynamic in the base game.
@@KayJulers Could you explain to me why you would consider mikhail the best in torna? To me he was this shallow womanizer, it felt like he liked patroka only because she was the girl in the group, there wasn't any chemistry between them Yes, there was something in his past that happened with amalthus and he is definitely in torna because of jin, it was somewhat clear that he didn't like malos But they never did something with it, or thats how i feel about it Having a line in his death, where he is ?nostalgic? ?melancholic? About the past, isn't doing something with it, imo In ttgc he was the kid with trust issues and just when milton was about to make him open up more, he died So when he sees mythra, he should have had a strong response I think there is something missing Not trying to hate or anything, but i'm just kinda disappointed Xenoblade 2 is my favorite game and mikhail is the only character i don't like So i would love to hear something that changes my mind about him But great video anyway, i loved the nia burn :p I didn't want to turn this into my mikhail rant, but i want to hear different perspectives, so maybe that's the place And if any language usage on my part was wrong entschuldigung, me not english native speaker
@@tugaygunes4816 Sure! Disregarding Jin and Malos because I adore them, I personally didn't really connect with Ahkos and Patroka. As for Mik, I found him a bit better in the base game design wise and having a history connected back to the Aegis War, yet still nothing spectacular. However, I think Torna is a great addition for showcasing how Mik has evolved from a quiet, timid child into someone that is much more self-confident and sure of their place in the world. Even if being a womanizer isn't the best way to showcase it in exchange for thorough, deep dialogue, I think it does give him some form of development. As for his reaction to Mythra at the end of TTGC, it might serve more to progress Mythra's character, but I think it really cements that Mik is damaged. He lost the one person he could relate to in age and world experience, so who can he relate to? I think it's the catalyst leading to his hatred of humanity in conjunction with the assault on Spessia. I think Jin's allegiance to Malos likely influenced his decision to join New Torna heavily. Don't get me wrong, I definitely agree with the sentiment that Mik could've gotten more development and I'm not in love with his character, but I think Torna does add to him. No worries about the rant and I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Phenomenal job. I’ve loved watching this and the Dunban video. Going in-depth on character analyses and development is something awesome. I look forward to more in the future.
You bring up a lot of good points about her relationships with other people and her development from Torna to the end of 2, which I agree with, but Mythra and Pyra aren't different characters. They're the same person. I personally think this quote from the video - "The misguided interpretation of Pyra and Mythra merely being the same person" shows a misunderstanding of what it was that Rex finally learned. It wasn't him accepting Pyra/Mythra as two separate people, but him accepting her entire being and not being afraid to bare all her fears, worries, and hardships with her. He's not afraid of her power like Addam was. Pyra/Mythra thinks that everyone hates her for what she's done, so when she gets a true, honest confession of love and acceptance she has her moment of clarity as "Pneuma" and can finally start to accept herself too, and no longer live in fear. A lot of these points were even said directly in-game.
I cannot fully speak for Rudra on his thoughts, but here's take: I think to consider them as separate characters inhabiting the same person (as unusual as that might sound) isn't inaccurate. The language used in discourse between them I believe is indicative of that as well as the physical representations that are seen at the Cliffs of Morthya and in the final cutscene. For example, Mythra says, "For the sake of the world abandon us," and I think the use of "us" over something like "me" would lead to the conclusion of them being different entities/personalities. I by no means believe that they are completely independent as I mention they are the two parts that comprise the Aegis. I also think that both Mythra and Pyra appearing as separate selves instead of as the whole Pneuma in the final cutscene speaks to their nature. There's an interview with Takahashi where he mentions, "...one of these female characters," which to me leads me to consider them as separate entities in the narrative that compose the one person we know as the Aegis. Resources like the Xenoblade Wiki also label the two characters as one of the two deuteragonists to the story and I associate that with the term, character. That's typically how I viewed their dynamic. Regardless of the situation, thank you for your comment as this is the kind of discussion that I think character analysis encourages and the Pyra/Mythra situation isn't your run-of-the-mill scenario.
I remember a couple months after XC2 came out I saw a post on the xenoblade reddit page asking "why does Mythra seem exponentially more popular than Pyra," with the op complaining that Mythra was brash, non-apologetic, rude, and "generally unpleasant." The op went on to say that all Mythra likely had to offer in terms of likability was her "boob window," and that they could not understand why anyone would like her. In response I wrote a long, multi paragraph comment about why I believed Mythra acted as she does in the base game, and that her past with Addam likely played a part in her standoffish actions and rude demeanor. Torna hadn't come out yet, so I speculated quite a bit on the relationship Mythra shared with Addam, and I was fairly unsure as to if what I was saying was even correct. However, for whatever reason I was simply fascinated by Mythra as a character, and the more I thought about her the more I realized that she had a lot more depth to her than the game showed on the surface. Yes, she was all of those things that the op of that post described her as, and even in my comment I agreed with that part of op's assessment. I even prefaced my comment with "I like Pyra more than Mythra" (admittedly this is no longer the case, although I adore them both). However, as I wrote that long comment I realized that I actually really liked Mythra, and that someone stating that they did not like her forced me to examine why I really did like this brash, non-apologetic, rude, and "generally unpleasant" character. Through writing that comment I realized that I had a feeling that Mythra had a deeper reason for her refusal to embrace her power and bond with others other than that she was simply a tsundere, and I remember praying that the DLC would give us more insight on her as a whole. All of this long-winded comment is here to give proper context so that you and Rudra can properly appreciate how much this video means to me. As someone who had been won over by Mythra since the very beginning, it "makes me reallllll happy" to see people recognizing her true worth and depth as a character. Even almost two years after the game's release I am still thinking about what an incredible character Mythra is, and I have even bothered some of my friends who haven't even played the game by talking about how amazing her arc is. I even now use the "simpleton" tag when I compete at smash tournaments, and I again just want to say thank you to you both for your wonderful work on describing why this "generally unpleasant" character has become one of my favorite characters of all time. I'll also leave my alluded to reddit comment below in a separate youtube comment if you want to read it. It was interesting for me to look back on it now after playing Torna, so maybe it might be interesting to you, too. tl:dr Mythra is breathtaking and you are both breathtaking. Thank you.
(Alluded to Reddit comment) I personally like Pyra more than Mythra, but it is interesting to analyze Mythra’s character and compare it to Pyra’s. Mythra is indeed rude and standoffish, especially when compared to the sweet and gentle Pyra, but both of them struggle with emotional intimacy and trust. Remember that their original end goal was to ask the Architect to let them die, and Rex remarks to Pyra after Vandham’s death that he’s glad that she finally has opened up a little, so the characters notice Pyra’s unwillingness to be open as well. Mythra showcases this in a different way in order to achieve the same result. Mythra’s general attitude is certainly somewhat rude, and she would oftentimes brush off the other members of the party. However, such actions actually make sense in the context of her situation. She’s stuck in the present with memories of the past, specifically her times with Addam and the crew, and she, like Pyra, feels intense pain from those memories. For her, bonding with other people will only result in suffering, as she has seen the only people she had cared about (before Rex and crew) die without her even present. Even then, her fondest relationship, Addam, wasn’t perfect either; he remarks to Rex that he was never able to unlock the true power of the Aegis because he feared it. How do you think it would feel for Mythra (and Pyra) to know that even her driver, the hero of legend, was afraid of her? Mythra remarks multiple times throughout the story how insecure she is about her power and how wishes she never had to use it again. Mythra also showcases disbelief that Rex would even be interested in getting to know her better, as shown during that scene while the gang was chasing Lila. It’s possible, or even likely, that Addam and the old gang never actually did that, i.e. wanting to get to know her better. Even if they did, those memories would likely be painful to her, and she might not believe that such happiness is worth the pain that would ensue when she inevitably chooses to kill herself. These memories and experiences all play into why, as she states, “I didn’t want to come back!” Thus, Mythra’s actions as someone that intentionally avoids emotional intimacy and honesty make sense. She is deeply compassionate, as shown by her crying at Tora and Soosoo’s reunion and her brief conversation with Poppi in Morythra. She also cares deeply for Rex, as shown by her awakening her power to save him despite how desperately she wanted to avoid living again. More likely than not, Mythra wants to be emotionally intimate, but she is probably either unused to the concept (see Addam) or too scared to invest in a relationship that she thinks will only end in tragedy. After all, it’s easier to say goodbye to someone you never cared for. It’s even easier to do so if you believe that they never cared about you, either. All of this plays into why Rex’s “JOIN MEEEEEEEE” speech was so meaningful to her. She (and Pyra) never expected Rex to care for her as much as he does, and it was only then that she able to let go of the “fear she carries,” both of her power and of her relationship with Rex. This is why it was quite touching to me when she exclaimed “I’m Rex’s Blade!” In response to Amalthus’s trying to control her. In that moment she not only fully embraced her power as an Aegis but also her bond with Rex. I’m not saying that Mythra isn’t rude or unrepentant, and you are certainly within your rights to dislike her for those qualities. This whole thing is not in anyway a justification for her behavior, but merely a means to understanding it. I think that it’s important to consider Mythra’s backstory before judging her character, for there’s honestly quite a lot there that the game leaves unspoken. Edit: I broke this up into more paragraphs so that it’s easier on the eyes, and I’m also realizing that I like Mythra a lot more than I thought I did. I guess it took someone disliking her for me to realize that.
mythra is my favorite xenoblade character. And being honest this is the best xenoblade video Ive ever watch. Speaking of analysis and in depth of a character development. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart
Okay i just realized this, but Mythra totally have DID ... Like, she litteraly created an alter (Pyra) when she went under a traumatic experience, so if that isn't DID i don't know what it is !
Being connected to an entity that can literally make imagination real makes it something a bit different from DID, especially since Mythra and Pyra end up being separate entities with their own bodies.
1:32 The problem with the word deuteragonist, despite being a good way of describing a character of secondary importance to the protagonist, is every time I use it, which is quite often considering I'm an english major, I have to explain what it means. It's also one of those things that despite being so simple people always get confused somehow whenever I explain it in a variety of different ways, like mistaking it for a supporting character or whatever. It isnt even that uncommon for a story to have a dueteragonist, hell in the example of xenoblade it has two pyra and mythra, and in addition a tritagonist nia (like a deuteragonist but three) Though I love the term, it gets quite annoying that it isn't one of those words everyone knows like protagonist or antagonist.
Idk if the game developers realized this but what happens to mythra is like a sci-fi version of Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID. It’s a disorder that’s created when someone, at a young age, experiences something very traumatic. Children usually about 6 years old or younger at this stage haven’t fully developed their personality, and when this traumatic experience happens to someone so young, they can’t take the experience and so that child has amnesia and gains other consciousnesses; all in one body. In this, mythra experiences something traumatic and a new personality, pyra, is born. Difference is that pyra changes form when she becomes mythra even though they share the same body. 🤯Very bigbrain of you Nintendo
Truth be told, the story of Mythra reminded me of the quote "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure".
@@KayJulers I just felt like it happened kind of at random, most of the time if not always to Rudra. It wasn't a deal breaker or anything, but since you asked for criticism I thought I'd might as well nitpick a bit. In any case, keep up the great work.
Pyra was not created out of what Mythra wanted to be. It's shown multiple time in Torna that Mythra is actually very compassionate, but she struggles to express these emotions, she "keeps herself apart" and "ostracize" herself. Even Lora tells Addam "Deep down she's very kind". Deep down she's Pyra. Pyra is like a personification of her hidden feelings (compassion, sadness guilt etc...), which in turn makes her own hidden feelings what Mythra is. They're one and the same, but split, each representing a side of her. And that's why I think you can't analyse Mythra and Pyra separately, especially in the main game.
Thanks for the comment. When I discuss Pyra as a creation of Mythra, I don't mean that the two are completely separate and unable to display emotions/characteristics of the other side. As you said, Mythra is certainly a troubled individual that hides her emotions deep down. However, I think that the two characters outwardly show dominant personality traits, and Mythra's outwardly hot-headed and confident. Mythra even says in Chapter 3 regarding Pyra's existence that, "she's a separate self that I constructed," and it would make sense that this self was made to not only contain or limit her Aegis powers, but hide away unwanted qualities. I do think that discussing both Pyra and Mythra in large offers a much clearer picture, but I think that there is merit to discussing the individuals since there's some much material to work with and Mythra is in the spotlight for the almost the entirety of Torna since it's a pre-Pyra world.
@@KayJulers I can respect this view point, and you explained it very well in your video, but to me they truly are one and the same. Mythra's hot-headedness can also be seen as a hidden feeling of Pyra, Rex even comments that she can be pretty stubborn as well. And through Pyra, I think we can see that Mythra's confidence is just a facade. If Pyra is indeed a personification of her "other hidden self", her concealed emotions, then Mythra really isn't confident deep down, and I think that's the case. Regarding Mythra's line in chapter 3 about how she constructed her, I doubt she really consciously made her so she could be an ideal version of herself, she'd have to be aware, but at that point she's completely breaking down. I think it has to be her subconscious creating Pyra, and just as Mythra lets all of her emotions burst out through her scream, she's "bursting out" Pyra out of herself and she takes over. I think the confrontation with Malos further hints at this, Malos tells her how « You’re just like me » and « I will bring it out of you » because he is convinced that an Aegis’ role is to destroy mankind, so he expects her to let it all out, reveal her true self and join him in his game. Instead, what comes out of her in the aftermath is Pyra. She indeed is nothing like Malos, deep down she’s very caring, she’s Pyra (just as she is Mythra). And when Mythra tries to use her true power, only the third sword appears, she doesn’t turn into her true form, instead she enters a stoic state, devoid of emotions, which is what she couldn’t express, what is missing.
Yep, have to agree with you. I agree with a lot of points in the video, but "Pyra being everything Mythra is not" just isn't accurate. You can't have one without the other.
He's not saying they are separate people, they are the same person, but they are different sides of the same person. The events of Torna basically created a sort of conscious DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) within Mythra, thus creating Pyra.
Lovely video, I really enjoy these analysees about XC 2, its one of my favorite games of all time and I always feel like there is a lot that I am missing and much more to learn and do in the game. I wanted to ask tho, I see people saying how Rex behaved foolishly before Pyra and Mythra got taken on Genbu, but I never really figured out what it is or does that is so bad. I know he is inexperienced, but majority of what we learn in chapter 3 before Mythra comes out is something that Nia could have and should have told him. On top of that, if Pyra has some issues that she wanted to talk to him about, shouldnt she be the one to initiate the talk? I mean he is just 15, not exactly worldly person, its pointed out all throghout the story how he is just a boy, yet when something goes wrong it is his fault.. why? On top of that, isnt what Jin is spouting on Genbu a total bs? About how Rex is hurting Pyra and look at the state she is in etc, when he is literally the one who hurt her, they are enemies, of course they will fight. I never really got what he was saying there, I get that he is dissapointed in the drivers in general and that he blames Rex for Pyra's state, but they have a good relationship, they are working together, she is giving herself up so that her friends wouldnt be hurt, that is her decision, its not Rex's fault that he isnt able to stand against a blade that can travel at a speed of light, he only had Pyra for what, few months at that point, at best. Jin is insanely hyprocritical and says so many things that are just incredibly dumb o.O Thanks for answers :) Have a good one.
Xenoblade 2 depresses me, but I love it to death. I might be less upset if we were left with a more concrete, hopeful, and conclusive ending, but alas.
Basically mythra is the exact opposite of pyra One is An arse hole and stupidly powerful and can’t cook to save their life And the other is kind friendly kinda powerful and seems to be very good at cooking
You know, if Saito just admitted he wanted to draw hot anime girls, I would respect that a lot more. I like the designs, the colors are sick and I think they’re attractive. But he should really embrace it and lean into it. He’s a hentai artist, no need to be philosophical. Just own it.
I can see what they were trying to go for. Too bad it was executed in such a haphazard way in which her actual "character" was given very little attention until the end of the game.
Mythra got bullied so hard in Torna she created Pyra
Poor girl
Thats... not how that happened...
@@TechNMusic
Pyra's traits are basically a response to the various insults made towards Mythra.
For example: Mythra sucks at cooking => Pyra's an amazing chef.
@@seant1326 Mythra created Pyra as a response to the trauma she brought down on Torna. In the heat of the battle, victory was all that mattered, but as soon as the battle finished and she was able to witness the aftermath and how she played a major role in it, Mythra had a mental breakdown that caused her to hate herself so much that she hid her entire being behind a false identity (Pyra).
The teasing about her cooking and Addam's trying to get her rough edge's smoothed out laid the framework for Pyra. But, the destruction of Torna was the catalyst.
@@TechNMusic this sounds an awful lot like the white phosphorus scene from spec ops the line
One thing to note about Mythra is that from the moment she manifested she is buried under the expectation of others and not allowed to grow naturally.
She was an Aegis first and foremost, a powerful tool unleashed to defeat Malos and save the world. Just look at how Amalthus looks at her and how she reacts to him.
He compares her to Malos and gives her shallow compliments. This is likely the standard for how people besides Addam interact with her. So of course she gets an ego but becomes insecure as the people around her fear she may become like Malos (We can see this especially with how Addam acts around her, terrified when Mythra doesn't listen to him and scared when she goes overboard).
Somehow almost started crying reading this. Great description.
Mythra's jump smash was actually the first attack pyra uses when she began wielding her blade alone
Jump smash
J U M P S M A S H
"Discussing both Pyra and Mythra at length would take a Moment of Eternity" I understood that reference.
That's one of the greatest references here
0:23 HAHAHAHAHA thanks for the mental picture of Zeke just standing there for _three days,_ likely keeping a cool pose at the ready just in case the party turned up early.
I love how the shadow of Ontos with the question mark is of Alvis. Very small detail but everyone knows it’s true.
I have watched 10 minutes but this is a very good video. I agree a lot with learning about the character through gameplay, that was most of the reason I came to love her during my initial playthrough of the game.
(In the future one thing I will say is that don't make the intro so long, while funny, getting straight to the point can help a lot for keeping interest)
Thank you, man! I think Xenoblade is one of the best series at making the battles feel involved both gameplay and character-wise. I can't express enough how much I love the switch animations from Torna for looking cool and showcasing character personalities.
Duly noted, I'll make sure to watch out for that in the future episodes. Thanks for the feedback!
Mythra: haha titan go boom
More like-
Addam: You can't destroy Torna! It's my homeland, thousands will die!
Mythra: haha titan go boom
Could you make a Dramatis Personae of Amalthus please?
We need this!
Great analysis that intertwines the outer and inner layers of Mythra’s character that many may not have noticed while playing.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed!
During my first playthrough, I liked her gameplay but not her character.
After Torna, she became my favorite in the game and one of my favorite characters ever.
its like: first playthrough pyra is best girl
after torna and replay mythra is best girl and even beyond
7:08 Yeah, this point's always bothered me: the alternate personality I get, but how on _earth_ do you give that personality skills you canonically *do not* have?
For things like cooking, as the Aegis, she could have probably downloaded the skills directly from Jin. For things like personality quirks, well... there are actually people who do just that.
simple: pulled data from the collective pool of data that is the core crystals. The Trinity Processor (Pneuma, Logos, Ontos) is the location where all the data goes, so she could've easily pulled related data for the personality skills from that pool of data.
The video has a Gordon Ramsey background at that point, but I think you can think of it as Mythra being one of those arrogant chefs on one of his shows. She's reckless, uncaring and arrogant - qualities that make a terrible chef. She's a learned chef (having all the information about living creatures, after all), not a good one. She would serve raw, unseasoned fish and think it is amazing, then blame the customer's taste buds when they complain.
People who have disassocitive identity disorder are like this. The other personality have their own well...personalty, interests, talents, range of facial expressions, and even react differently to medicines and have allegies - or lack - the original does not. Pyra is everything mythra is not and wishes she was more like. She knows she's not easy to put up with. Imagine if changing forms wasn't a thing and "pyra" went off on rex, sword changes, and she suddenly starts commanding the light element. I'd be unnerved as hell at the sudden shift. The form change just makes it easier for the player to understand when the other personality is in control.
It's similar to how Doppio and Diavolo is in JoJo's Bizzare Adventure spoilers from Persona 5 Royal. The other self is born from a traumatic experience and may have a different body type, tastes or even "age" of the original.
Spoilers: Sumire and Kasumi in Persona 5 Royal.
Ive seen the cutscene where Mythra creates Pyra like 15 times and it always makes me cry. The Xeno Franchise is on another level of writing. Cant wait for whatever Monolith has planned for the future. Also, i love your videos
This video made me love Mythra. This is a fantastic video, right here!
Milton Ramsay is terrifying
Mythra was my favorite character in the entire franchise, so when i saw her horrified expression after her battle with Malos, a 28 year old man had a tear in his eye...
A part of me always thought that Pyra was partly born out of an admiration for Jin, as Mythra quickly witnesses his overall experience allowing him to rival her; as well as the elegance of Brighid, causing Pyra to be a fusion of admiration for Brighid/Jin, Elegant, calm, but powerful- she wields the fire element from Brighid, and the strength mod from Jin. She also got a single-edged blade like Jin’s, but that could’ve also been due to Pyra’s design choices entirely determined by a horny Saito. Whatever, have fun, this video brought back my my Torna depression, so imma go cry now.
You know what would make her character waaay better (to me at least)
If she had an actual talk with mikhail, talking with him about milton and how she is sorry and whatnot
There could be so much growth, there could be such a strong scene where he forgives him or something
But nope, the first time mikhail sees mythra, after 500 years, the only thing he sais is something like 'she is so beautiful'
Missed opportunity right there
I think this is a very valid point! To me, Mikhail was a character that was the best of the XC2 Torna side characters, but I feel that he never had much time to shine. TTGC definitely boosted him, and since his response to Mythra at the end is a catalyst to the creation of Pyra it would've led to an interesting dynamic in the base game.
@@KayJulers
Could you explain to me why you would consider mikhail the best in torna?
To me he was this shallow womanizer, it felt like he liked patroka only because she was the girl in the group, there wasn't any chemistry between them
Yes, there was something in his past that happened with amalthus and he is definitely in torna because of jin, it was somewhat clear that he didn't like malos
But they never did something with it, or thats how i feel about it
Having a line in his death, where he is ?nostalgic? ?melancholic? About the past, isn't doing something with it, imo
In ttgc he was the kid with trust issues and just when milton was about to make him open up more, he died
So when he sees mythra, he should have had a strong response
I think there is something missing
Not trying to hate or anything, but i'm just kinda disappointed
Xenoblade 2 is my favorite game and mikhail is the only character i don't like
So i would love to hear something that changes my mind about him
But great video anyway, i loved the nia burn :p
I didn't want to turn this into my mikhail rant, but i want to hear different perspectives, so maybe that's the place
And if any language usage on my part was wrong entschuldigung, me not english native speaker
@@tugaygunes4816 Sure! Disregarding Jin and Malos because I adore them, I personally didn't really connect with Ahkos and Patroka. As for Mik, I found him a bit better in the base game design wise and having a history connected back to the Aegis War, yet still nothing spectacular. However, I think Torna is a great addition for showcasing how Mik has evolved from a quiet, timid child into someone that is much more self-confident and sure of their place in the world. Even if being a womanizer isn't the best way to showcase it in exchange for thorough, deep dialogue, I think it does give him some form of development.
As for his reaction to Mythra at the end of TTGC, it might serve more to progress Mythra's character, but I think it really cements that Mik is damaged. He lost the one person he could relate to in age and world experience, so who can he relate to? I think it's the catalyst leading to his hatred of humanity in conjunction with the assault on Spessia. I think Jin's allegiance to Malos likely influenced his decision to join New Torna heavily.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely agree with the sentiment that Mik could've gotten more development and I'm not in love with his character, but I think Torna does add to him. No worries about the rant and I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
@@KayJulers thx for the response :)
been binge watching your anaylisis videos. Love them
Great Video! I'd love to see more of these
Thank you! I currently have episodes on one Xenoblade and two non-Xenoblade characters in the pipeline, so I'm looking forward to those.
Phenomenal job. I’ve loved watching this and the Dunban video. Going in-depth on character analyses and development is something awesome. I look forward to more in the future.
still one of my favorite videos on your channel
Also 0:55 As always there will be ophion size spoilers. New players, what's an ophion?
You bring up a lot of good points about her relationships with other people and her development from Torna to the end of 2, which I agree with, but Mythra and Pyra aren't different characters. They're the same person.
I personally think this quote from the video -
"The misguided interpretation of Pyra and Mythra merely being the same person"
shows a misunderstanding of what it was that Rex finally learned. It wasn't him accepting Pyra/Mythra as two separate people, but him accepting her entire being and not being afraid to bare all her fears, worries, and hardships with her.
He's not afraid of her power like Addam was. Pyra/Mythra thinks that everyone hates her for what she's done, so when she gets a true, honest confession of love and acceptance she has her moment of clarity as "Pneuma" and can finally start to accept herself too, and no longer live in fear. A lot of these points were even said directly in-game.
I cannot fully speak for Rudra on his thoughts, but here's take:
I think to consider them as separate characters inhabiting the same person (as unusual as that might sound) isn't inaccurate. The language used in discourse between them I believe is indicative of that as well as the physical representations that are seen at the Cliffs of Morthya and in the final cutscene. For example, Mythra says, "For the sake of the world abandon us," and I think the use of "us" over something like "me" would lead to the conclusion of them being different entities/personalities. I by no means believe that they are completely independent as I mention they are the two parts that comprise the Aegis.
I also think that both Mythra and Pyra appearing as separate selves instead of as the whole Pneuma in the final cutscene speaks to their nature. There's an interview with Takahashi where he mentions, "...one of these female characters," which to me leads me to consider them as separate entities in the narrative that compose the one person we know as the Aegis. Resources like the Xenoblade Wiki also label the two characters as one of the two deuteragonists to the story and I associate that with the term, character. That's typically how I viewed their dynamic.
Regardless of the situation, thank you for your comment as this is the kind of discussion that I think character analysis encourages and the Pyra/Mythra situation isn't your run-of-the-mill scenario.
I remember a couple months after XC2 came out I saw a post on the xenoblade reddit page asking "why does Mythra seem exponentially more popular than Pyra," with the op complaining that Mythra was brash, non-apologetic, rude, and "generally unpleasant." The op went on to say that all Mythra likely had to offer in terms of likability was her "boob window," and that they could not understand why anyone would like her. In response I wrote a long, multi paragraph comment about why I believed Mythra acted as she does in the base game, and that her past with Addam likely played a part in her standoffish actions and rude demeanor. Torna hadn't come out yet, so I speculated quite a bit on the relationship Mythra shared with Addam, and I was fairly unsure as to if what I was saying was even correct. However, for whatever reason I was simply fascinated by Mythra as a character, and the more I thought about her the more I realized that she had a lot more depth to her than the game showed on the surface. Yes, she was all of those things that the op of that post described her as, and even in my comment I agreed with that part of op's assessment. I even prefaced my comment with "I like Pyra more than Mythra" (admittedly this is no longer the case, although I adore them both). However, as I wrote that long comment I realized that I actually really liked Mythra, and that someone stating that they did not like her forced me to examine why I really did like this brash, non-apologetic, rude, and "generally unpleasant" character. Through writing that comment I realized that I had a feeling that Mythra had a deeper reason for her refusal to embrace her power and bond with others other than that she was simply a tsundere, and I remember praying that the DLC would give us more insight on her as a whole.
All of this long-winded comment is here to give proper context so that you and Rudra can properly appreciate how much this video means to me. As someone who had been won over by Mythra since the very beginning, it "makes me reallllll happy" to see people recognizing her true worth and depth as a character. Even almost two years after the game's release I am still thinking about what an incredible character Mythra is, and I have even bothered some of my friends who haven't even played the game by talking about how amazing her arc is. I even now use the "simpleton" tag when I compete at smash tournaments, and I again just want to say thank you to you both for your wonderful work on describing why this "generally unpleasant" character has become one of my favorite characters of all time.
I'll also leave my alluded to reddit comment below in a separate youtube comment if you want to read it. It was interesting for me to look back on it now after playing Torna, so maybe it might be interesting to you, too.
tl:dr Mythra is breathtaking and you are both breathtaking. Thank you.
(Alluded to Reddit comment)
I personally like Pyra more than Mythra, but it is interesting to analyze Mythra’s character and compare it to Pyra’s. Mythra is indeed rude and standoffish, especially when compared to the sweet and gentle Pyra, but both of them struggle with emotional intimacy and trust. Remember that their original end goal was to ask the Architect to let them die, and Rex remarks to Pyra after Vandham’s death that he’s glad that she finally has opened up a little, so the characters notice Pyra’s unwillingness to be open as well. Mythra showcases this in a different way in order to achieve the same result.
Mythra’s general attitude is certainly somewhat rude, and she would oftentimes brush off the other members of the party. However, such actions actually make sense in the context of her situation. She’s stuck in the present with memories of the past, specifically her times with Addam and the crew, and she, like Pyra, feels intense pain from those memories. For her, bonding with other people will only result in suffering, as she has seen the only people she had cared about (before Rex and crew) die without her even present. Even then, her fondest relationship, Addam, wasn’t perfect either; he remarks to Rex that he was never able to unlock the true power of the Aegis because he feared it. How do you think it would feel for Mythra (and Pyra) to know that even her driver, the hero of legend, was afraid of her? Mythra remarks multiple times throughout the story how insecure she is about her power and how wishes she never had to use it again.
Mythra also showcases disbelief that Rex would even be interested in getting to know her better, as shown during that scene while the gang was chasing Lila. It’s possible, or even likely, that Addam and the old gang never actually did that, i.e. wanting to get to know her better. Even if they did, those memories would likely be painful to her, and she might not believe that such happiness is worth the pain that would ensue when she inevitably chooses to kill herself. These memories and experiences all play into why, as she states, “I didn’t want to come back!”
Thus, Mythra’s actions as someone that intentionally avoids emotional intimacy and honesty make sense. She is deeply compassionate, as shown by her crying at Tora and Soosoo’s reunion and her brief conversation with Poppi in Morythra. She also cares deeply for Rex, as shown by her awakening her power to save him despite how desperately she wanted to avoid living again. More likely than not, Mythra wants to be emotionally intimate, but she is probably either unused to the concept (see Addam) or too scared to invest in a relationship that she thinks will only end in tragedy. After all, it’s easier to say goodbye to someone you never cared for. It’s even easier to do so if you believe that they never cared about you, either.
All of this plays into why Rex’s “JOIN MEEEEEEEE” speech was so meaningful to her. She (and Pyra) never expected Rex to care for her as much as he does, and it was only then that she able to let go of the “fear she carries,” both of her power and of her relationship with Rex. This is why it was quite touching to me when she exclaimed “I’m Rex’s Blade!” In response to Amalthus’s trying to control her. In that moment she not only fully embraced her power as an Aegis but also her bond with Rex.
I’m not saying that Mythra isn’t rude or unrepentant, and you are certainly within your rights to dislike her for those qualities. This whole thing is not in anyway a justification for her behavior, but merely a means to understanding it. I think that it’s important to consider Mythra’s backstory before judging her character, for there’s honestly quite a lot there that the game leaves unspoken.
Edit: I broke this up into more paragraphs so that it’s easier on the eyes, and I’m also realizing that I like Mythra a lot more than I thought I did. I guess it took someone disliking her for me to realize that.
mythra is my favorite xenoblade character. And being honest this is the best xenoblade video Ive ever watch. Speaking of analysis and in depth of a character development. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart
Okay i just realized this, but Mythra totally have DID ... Like, she litteraly created an alter (Pyra) when she went under a traumatic experience, so if that isn't DID i don't know what it is !
Being connected to an entity that can literally make imagination real makes it something a bit different from DID, especially since Mythra and Pyra end up being separate entities with their own bodies.
This deserves a billion views
gameplay analysis: DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE DOUBLE SPIN EDGE
Yes
1:32 The problem with the word deuteragonist, despite being a good way of describing a character of secondary importance to the protagonist, is every time I use it, which is quite often considering I'm an english major, I have to explain what it means. It's also one of those things that despite being so simple people always get confused somehow whenever I explain it in a variety of different ways, like mistaking it for a supporting character or whatever. It isnt even that uncommon for a story to have a dueteragonist, hell in the example of xenoblade it has two pyra and mythra, and in addition a tritagonist nia (like a deuteragonist but three) Though I love the term, it gets quite annoying that it isn't one of those words everyone knows like protagonist or antagonist.
Non-villainous split characters are few and far between, so as a neurodiversity advocate I love XC2
Now she is in Smash 🥳🥳🥳🥳
Idk if the game developers realized this but what happens to mythra is like a sci-fi version of Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID. It’s a disorder that’s created when someone, at a young age, experiences something very traumatic. Children usually about 6 years old or younger at this stage haven’t fully developed their personality, and when this traumatic experience happens to someone so young, they can’t take the experience and so that child has amnesia and gains other consciousnesses; all in one body. In this, mythra experiences something traumatic and a new personality, pyra, is born. Difference is that pyra changes form when she becomes mythra even though they share the same body.
🤯Very bigbrain of you Nintendo
One joke aged like milk under the sun
Truth be told, the story of Mythra reminded me of the quote "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure".
You made me cry more than the ending dude...
Great video, mythra is the best heroine of all nintendo
Very funny, and great perspective.
Mic quality could've been better, but I love the attention to detail in this video.
Thanks for the feedback! Was the quality dip you noticed in the transitions between us? Just curious so I can look to improve my content.
@@KayJulers I just felt like it happened kind of at random, most of the time if not always to Rudra. It wasn't a deal breaker or anything, but since you asked for criticism I thought I'd might as well nitpick a bit. In any case, keep up the great work.
Thanks so much for this. Stay cool and safe Kay
This needs way more views for the intro alone
Awesome video
I think my favorite mythra and Pyra moment is when Pyra blew the shit out of link with a forward smash
A moment of eternity
Ah, yes, enslaved tears
Wow I didn’t think this would turn into a therapy session
A dynasty warriors reference, in a xenoblsde video?
Makes me want a Xenoblade Warriors even more.
Pyra was not created out of what Mythra wanted to be. It's shown multiple time in Torna that Mythra is actually very compassionate, but she struggles to express these emotions, she "keeps herself apart" and "ostracize" herself. Even Lora tells Addam "Deep down she's very kind". Deep down she's Pyra. Pyra is like a personification of her hidden feelings (compassion, sadness guilt etc...), which in turn makes her own hidden feelings what Mythra is. They're one and the same, but split, each representing a side of her.
And that's why I think you can't analyse Mythra and Pyra separately, especially in the main game.
Thanks for the comment. When I discuss Pyra as a creation of Mythra, I don't mean that the two are completely separate and unable to display emotions/characteristics of the other side. As you said, Mythra is certainly a troubled individual that hides her emotions deep down. However, I think that the two characters outwardly show dominant personality traits, and Mythra's outwardly hot-headed and confident. Mythra even says in Chapter 3 regarding Pyra's existence that, "she's a separate self that I constructed," and it would make sense that this self was made to not only contain or limit her Aegis powers, but hide away unwanted qualities.
I do think that discussing both Pyra and Mythra in large offers a much clearer picture, but I think that there is merit to discussing the individuals since there's some much material to work with and Mythra is in the spotlight for the almost the entirety of Torna since it's a pre-Pyra world.
@@KayJulers I can respect this view point, and you explained it very well in your video, but to me they truly are one and the same. Mythra's hot-headedness can also be seen as a hidden feeling of Pyra, Rex even comments that she can be pretty stubborn as well. And through Pyra, I think we can see that Mythra's confidence is just a facade. If Pyra is indeed a personification of her "other hidden self", her concealed emotions, then Mythra really isn't confident deep down, and I think that's the case.
Regarding Mythra's line in chapter 3 about how she constructed her, I doubt she really consciously made her so she could be an ideal version of herself, she'd have to be aware, but at that point she's completely breaking down. I think it has to be her subconscious creating Pyra, and just as Mythra lets all of her emotions burst out through her scream, she's "bursting out" Pyra out of herself and she takes over.
I think the confrontation with Malos further hints at this, Malos tells her how « You’re just like me » and « I will bring it out of you » because he is convinced that an Aegis’ role is to destroy mankind, so he expects her to let it all out, reveal her true self and join him in his game. Instead, what comes out of her in the aftermath is Pyra. She indeed is nothing like Malos, deep down she’s very caring, she’s Pyra (just as she is Mythra). And when Mythra tries to use her true power, only the third sword appears, she doesn’t turn into her true form, instead she enters a stoic state, devoid of emotions, which is what she couldn’t express, what is missing.
Yep, have to agree with you.
I agree with a lot of points in the video, but "Pyra being everything Mythra is not" just isn't accurate. You can't have one without the other.
He's not saying they are separate people, they are the same person, but they are different sides of the same person. The events of Torna basically created a sort of conscious DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) within Mythra, thus creating Pyra.
When the secondary (main) character outshines the main character figuratively, and Literally!
Addam best dad.
I think this video gave me an emotional breakdown but it’s really good
Almost as good as Mythra
Mumkhar: Monado boy Malos & Kratos: boy
awesome video
So about that Nia joke...
Truuuue
Lovely video, I really enjoy these analysees about XC 2, its one of my favorite games of all time and I always feel like there is a lot that I am missing and much more to learn and do in the game.
I wanted to ask tho, I see people saying how Rex behaved foolishly before Pyra and Mythra got taken on Genbu, but I never really figured out what it is or does that is so bad. I know he is inexperienced, but majority of what we learn in chapter 3 before Mythra comes out is something that Nia could have and should have told him. On top of that, if Pyra has some issues that she wanted to talk to him about, shouldnt she be the one to initiate the talk? I mean he is just 15, not exactly worldly person, its pointed out all throghout the story how he is just a boy, yet when something goes wrong it is his fault.. why?
On top of that, isnt what Jin is spouting on Genbu a total bs? About how Rex is hurting Pyra and look at the state she is in etc, when he is literally the one who hurt her, they are enemies, of course they will fight. I never really got what he was saying there, I get that he is dissapointed in the drivers in general and that he blames Rex for Pyra's state, but they have a good relationship, they are working together, she is giving herself up so that her friends wouldnt be hurt, that is her decision, its not Rex's fault that he isnt able to stand against a blade that can travel at a speed of light, he only had Pyra for what, few months at that point, at best. Jin is insanely hyprocritical and says so many things that are just incredibly dumb o.O
Thanks for answers :) Have a good one.
KaiSaeren
Jin was scaring Rex into giving up.
Xenoblade 2 depresses me, but I love it to death. I might be less upset if we were left with a more concrete, hopeful, and conclusive ending, but alas.
Basically mythra is the exact opposite of pyra
One is An arse hole and stupidly powerful and can’t cook to save their life
And the other is kind friendly kinda powerful and seems to be very good at cooking
6:22 Ah, yes.
*Cooking*
Mythra, *SIMPLETON!*
Nero, *DEADWEIGHT*
You see the similarities.
pyra all day Everyday
Pyra's my personal favorite of the Xenogirls (but you didn't hear that from me)
@@KayJulers I like Pneuma the most myself.
@Minicle Best of both worlds, am I right?
PYRA GANG!
18:30-18:45 might wanna update that line there. Seems like you were a bit too soon in more ways than one.
Can we get one for Pyra I like Mythra but I think pyra’s better
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
❤️💛💚
Adam one of the worse drivers ever
Mythra was "meh" to me in the base game. But after I finished Torna, I went: "That poor girl!!!"
Didn't Mythra and Pyra let Nia join there love triangle with Rex? New Game Plus anyone?
It's Canon now
Who are the 7 people who disliked?
You know, if Saito just admitted he wanted to draw hot anime girls, I would respect that a lot more. I like the designs, the colors are sick and I think they’re attractive. But he should really embrace it and lean into it. He’s a hentai artist, no need to be philosophical. Just own it.
I had to stop watching for a bit after your Burned Nia like that Bruh
Mythra has 2 quite big personalities
Yes, aggression and rudeness
@@skylandersfan6954 Hehehe
I can see what they were trying to go for. Too bad it was executed in such a haphazard way in which her actual "character" was given very little attention until the end of the game.
I was enjoying this... until Monadomudra came on with his monotone script reading.
Like, dude...where is your passion and excitement?
Really wish their visual designs didn't look so stupid...
greatest jrpg
dont make me laugh
oh wait i will
*laughs in ff7*
An annoying piece of cardboard poorly designed by artist who is just the second tsundare in a mediocre sequel. There saved you 35 minutes.
?
I swear, it's always the people with Banjo profile pictures that have the bad opinions.
Are you sure you watched the video?
She is more complex than you think.