Really nice editing with the music at the end there! The theory of this being Cloud's death is one that could potentially be very satisfying in many ways, especially as it calls back to Sephiroth's 'Nor will I have you end' line in Remake. It could suggest this is all a grand battle in 'the afterlife' between the two Steward's of the lifestream: Aerith and Sephiroth, with Sephiroth still being reliant on Cloud (or at least Cloud's memories) and the other tormented souls (degraded Soliders, Gi?) in order to manipulate the lifestream, while Aerith is trying to help Cloud and those tormented souls truly move on, and let go forever. Perhaps when Aerith has completed this task, everyone can truly 'let go', and it could be revealed that in letting go, your consciousness finally 'moves on', perhaps revealing that this is the truth behind the idea of 'entering the promised land' - entering a true state of peace. When Aerith's work is done, she leaves too, and left behind is only Sephiroth, too wrapped up in his own ego to ever move on, the only consciousness left, unable to manipulate a thing and alone forever more. Just some thoughts lol. I'm not married to any of these ideas, nor fully thought them through, but inspired by your video, maybe it's a possibility - it would certainly make this seemingly 'multiverse' direction much more interesting, to me at least.
I LOVE the idea that metaphysical elements are more an emotional choice than a "literal plot" choice. As a big Lost defender, EVERYTHING was in service to develop the characters and establish their mental states. We're so hungry for literal explanations that we miss out on the emotional journey media may be more interested in portraying. I think Rebirth is doing something similar and game 3 is going to HEAVILY tackle Cloud's grief and his previous inability to accept reality. Thank you for the thoughtful video and analysis!!
@@Joshiepoo2525 I currently view "Aerith is saved" scene as identical to the Mt. Nibel "Zack died in the river" scene. Cloud's mind is completely fracturing and actively rewriting his memories in the moment to cope. It's why everyone else sees what happened and is enraged (limits broken) and he's not reacting appropriately at all.
@@SpecialK_94 Yes but then again when he clashed swords with sephiroth the same rainbow effect appeared that we had in the Zack scene. Also he can see the rift in the sky while the rest of the party can't. His mind is a complete mess no doubt but he's for sure seeing other worlds
I totally agree with your perspective on the ending. I believe they are going to show us the full death scene in the next game as a part of cloud coming to terms with what happened. Mainly because the water burial scene was cut. That scene confirms her death to cloud and the player, so if cloud doesn’t believe she is dead we can’t get that closure yet.
Love the theory and it explains how Cloud has his visions. "To remember and to let go". Or..to remember and have the peace of mind into entering the "promised land" which is mentioned repeatedly in the game. In the OG, Cloud said in the end to Tifa, now that he understood what promised land was, and believed he it'd be where he could find Aerith again. In my opinion, "promised land" is like "heaven" or something, the final destination, the true place to live. Aerith said, "everyone dies eventually." This makes me believe (maybe) this remake is truly Cloud's experience (and everyone) in the lifestream based on their memories. In the real life, Cloud is never meant to be with Aerith. In the dream with Aerith, I feel somehow it explains, how Cloud picks the gift to Aerith but never allowed. Everything he chooses never approved. But in the "promised land".? The only place where Cloud and Aerith could be together. Same as in the songs they sing. It's prpbably not about saving Aerith in the next world, but maybe about consoling Cloud's heart about his whole life so him to be able to enter the promised land and be together with Aerith again. The story doesn't run backward but forward after event in Advent Children.
For one week man ONE WEEK! My mind was so fuzzy by this hollow/questioning/confused feelings i felt after finishing rebirth. Such a brilliant way of writing the FF7 Re project story.
This video is incredible. Not just the analysis but the emotional relevance too. I know most theories about the ending currently suck and they probably will until Part 3 drops, but for me, I couldn’t help but think about Desmond when I try to explain what happened to Cloud. Desmond is my favorite character from Lost and he’s known for being one of the weirdest characters not because of his personality but because of the multiple times throughout the show where his existence and his memories are split between the past and the future and even this “alternate timeline”. Whenever he jumped between worlds, he retained the memories of each one of them, even if he was there just for a brief moment and that affected him even to an emotional level. Then, for me, Cloud’s memories have been exposed to both timelines when he split them by trying to save Aerith and can therefore “exist” in both at the same time. That’s why Aerith isn’t quite dead for him yet, because he’s communicating with the one who survived and who fought against Sephiroth alongside him. That’s why he can see the tear on the sky, as maybe Aerith was supposed to die in order for her timeline to prevail. The metaphysical emotion aspect instead of a science-fiction is so true, also. I’ve never found a way to describe as well as you did a “genre” of stories which can’t be sustained enough by logic, but because they don’t wanna take that approach. This is something I find in media such as Rebirth, Lost, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and even the Spider-Verse films. They are stories in which a simple “I love you” can transcend time, space and everything we think we know about reality. An “I love you” so meaningful and so ridiculously powerful that is heard through every corner of the multiverse. Great video dude.
Excellent video, I knew I was not the only one that saw some LOST in Rebirth. Specially after a phrase that Aerith's other mom Elmyra says to Marlene. She says something along the words of... "we're all heading to where your dad is" or something like that. Since this was inside Zack's new reality or whatever it is called, I thought they were living some sort of "purgatory", and this idea was reinforced to me due to the fact that by the end, Aerith tells cloud that his is her "dream" world. I like this theory a lot!
This story means so much to me . I don’t mind the changes too much and even Aerith death wasn’t portrayed the sane as OG . Her simply saying “goodbye “ at the end literally wrecked me and I was dying inside all through the credits .
"The thematic purpose of all this remains the same: to inject a familiar story with an extra layer of metaphysicality." FINALLY someone who gets it! Loved the Lost analogy, the best TV show of all time hands down. Thanks for the content. How you don't have more views is beyond me. Top notch video; the writing the editing, it's all there. Looking forward to future videos.
Funny thing, a couple of weeks ago I made a post on reddit saying that they might have copied the plot of Lost, and in another post somebody asked "What would be the biggest plot twist" I wrote that it would be that everybody is dead and they are all in the same purgatory. Happy to see somebody can see a similar conclusion, but I guess we'll have to wait 2-3 more years to be sure.
I needed desperately someone to do this comparison: I am 100% in the idea that the multiverse is flashsideways - sephiroth, as part of jenova, as the Gi, cannot "flow back" into the lifestream. He can perceive both (or as many as there are) realities. He is able to look for Aerith in "a world that has accepted its fate" (a flashsideway with no mako that has accepted death, a place for all the souls to accept their fate before flowing back like in the date). Zack not accepting his death (or cloud denying it and carrying his guilt/legacy) makes him flow on these timelines. Aerith being a cetra can go into it to hide with cloud of sephiroth on chapter 13. Everyone is still dead - Jenova is messing with Cloud convincing him there is a world where they can all be together. Sephiroth is not reuniting all the worlds, is reuniting life and death to create eternity. No one can escape from him and Jenova. No one could flow back to the lifestream once dead and escape him. It's not death but a homecoming to HIS eternity. The reunion is still the reunion of jenova's pieces - but Jenova and Sephiroth are also in the lifestream so there is a metaphysical jenova/sephiroth fragment in those flashsideways. Aerith and Zack are dead and accepting it (and thus taking some sort of action) will be important for the final part of the game (as Desmond taking action reuniting everyone on the flashsideways in the final episodes "helped" the main plot)
The Lost music with Aerith sinking at the end made me cry thanks lol 🥲 Stumbled across this video and was surprised to see these two series compared to each other! The original FFVII is my all time favorite game and Lost will always be my favorite tv show. Nicely done. 👏
*Theory time! 4am EST* "The world will be saved, but will you?" - trailer. Me: *holy* "This isn't about me though. It's about saving the world, and you." - Aerith Me: We think we're talking about saving Aerith in rebirth, maybe we're also talking about Cloud in part 3. Maybe also "saving Aerith" in part 3 since Zack said "Save her!" In the final battles... You know what, what some may have seen as an inevitability of her death in Rebirth, we may also see a new inevitability of Clouds death in part 3. A way to break the cycle and destroy Sephiroth/Jenova for all time. And the Loveless play will see its conclusion. Cloud will reunite with Aerith that way. "The Promised Land, I think I can meet her there." - Cloud. End of ogFF7, northern crater. 7 seconds til the end. Me: *Holy.* It may be a good idea for those of us who have fully played Rebirth to go back and take another look at Remake. FF7 Remake Chapter 18 synopsis: "in the world beyond, Sephiroth shows Cloud a vision of the planet seven seconds before it's demise." Now pulling from a Reddit thread from 4 years ago. Chapter 2 "I have a favor to ask of you... Run, Cloud. You have to leave. You have to live!" *I'm aware Claudia says this in Rebirth*. Chapter 18 "Fate is not to be taken lightly, the planet will claim you." Chapter 18 - Edge of Creation "I will not end... nor will I have you end. Let's defy destiny together, Cloud. *Looks up FF7 Edge of Creation.* Sephiroth reaches out for Cloud. Cloud declines. Sephiroth, Cloud fight. Cloud on the backfoot. Sephiroth: "Not yet." Sephiroth disatms Cloud. Sephiroth: "Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it? Let's see." *My otherworldly prediction:* In part 3, within seven seconds before the end, Cloud will sacrifice himself so that Zack can live pushing him to a newly created world. And Sephiroth sheds Jenova who knows she will truly die here. *enter the edge of creation, but with the light and dark world ready to colide.* Freed Sephiroth and Cloud will together vanquish Jenova. Not liking these developments, Minerva intervenes and reveals she is the true Jenova. That, or she's angry about the whole fate=destiny thing. If yes, then leave the possibility for Jenova to attack Minerva directly. A new Aerith emerges... Omni Aerith, but it's The Rebirth one we know. *The promised land, the lifestream within the planet.* Freed Sephiroth, real Cloud, Omni Aerith fight a long ago fallen Minerva. The Lifestream becomes a whiter green. Sephiroth opts to resign himself to the edge of creation while Cloud and Aerith watch over the world from the Lifestream. Aerith allows the Gi to finally rest. The rest of everyone lives in a world safe from the calamity for the first time in 2000 years. Aerith regrets that she couldn't save Cloud, but he hands her a yellow flower and says, "You did." Aerith = Air + Earth. *AirEarth* Cloud... returns to the planet like a healing rain cleansing the earth, only to return to the sky, and then back to the earth. The Loveless play, conclusion. The knight returns to the Goddess. Waiting for him. At their place. *Thinking back.* Now that I think about it. If there is a world that gets hit with Meteor, you'd think Jenova/Seph will survive, right? Yes, normally. However, if the real Sephiroth willingly let's himself get hit by Meteor, that could pose a problem for Jenova, right? And pose a problem for Minerva regarding the fate/destiny thing. This is Final Fantasy, just look at Bhunivelze. It took his true plans being interrupted before he showed himself. And look at Bahamut from FfXV. There is definitely a larger mythology with Gaia than we're being shown. What about knights of the round? My answer to that is that kotr are fallen great warriors of the Cetra.
Your video is great! It gives me inspirations for my theory on Yogachara, one of two keys Kazushige Nojima mentioned in Ultimania that would make player better understand the worlds and even hint us how the game will be concluded, to explain the world structure of VII! Really appreciated!
This is the best video on the topic. Instead of proclaiming the truth of the ending or throwing a, "... But what do you think. Let me know in the comments below", to manipulate the algorithm. You gave us a sharp witted yet heartfelt andendearing analysis. Great job. Only problem I see is people scrolling passed it because they'll assume it's just a purgatory theory. They're missing out.
!!!!!!!! I'm so glad to see another person pointing at the metaphysical nature of the lifestream and how it affects the Re games and why everyone is so ~confused~ in the first place.
You do wonder if Lucretia has a bigger part to play in third part in helping Sephiroth move on Likewise for the other characters who have lost someone: Elmyra and Clay,Marlene with Dyne, …
Thinking about it, Lucrecria was unable to die hence would have never have returned to the lifestream. Maybe there is a quest to help her pass on peacefully and reuniting with Sephiroth to give him the motivation to move on. It would give Vincent a chance to say goodbye too.
I don't think Cloud is dead, He's too much of a SE's posterboy so they would never do that. But the idea that he's experiencing LifeStream could work. In the OG, he is in this state for sort period of time (mideel), what if remake/rebirth is Cloud at mideel's having pseudo flashbacks? that could explain all these time travel, alt timeline, other weird stuff.
Superb video; I bought `Life and Death` (one of the most memorable tracks from LOST) on iTunes many years ago and this video definitely made me want to re-listen to it again. Funny enough I never thought to think of LOST and FF7 Rebirth but it works so well, thanks for your video.
Interesting!! Maybe I’m thinking too much into it but I wonder if at the end of part three maybe we get some kind of after credit scene with all of them together in the lifestream or alternate world whatever you wanna call it. And that can be a way to show a “happy ending” all of them together in the “afterlife” not just Aerith and Zack.
If there's not a living Aerith out there somewhere, they're definitely screwed more than they know. Aerith failed to cast Holy before she caught the wrong end of the sword in the main timeline.
This was so well thought out and well said. Short and to the point. I think you hit the nail on the head. Bravo. I think Rebirth's ending is one people have to marinate over. It's meant to do that. The intro to part 3 is going to be devastating and eventually, cathartic. I can't wait to play it.
I think people are maybe getting a little "lost" trying so hard to figure out "what's going on" when we aren't supposed to know for sure what's going on. It can be fun to speculate but if you get too attached to your theory it can also ruin your enjoyment of where the story goes next.
People get too hung on to their theories. Anything Aeirth related, she lives, she dies, stirs people way too much. It's convoluted on purpose, you're not supposed to know and they throw enough knuckle balls to keep things unknown until the next game.
I agree with this analysis. I see the "timeline" deviations less as literal plot riddles for us to solve but as a way to underscore the emotional journey of the story we know inside out in a metaphorical way. And while Aerith's death is portrayed very differently, the "It's been fun!" line was heartbreaking as hell.
A theory of mine that I like (although very farfetched), is that a version of Aerith that came from the future and is trying to pull a steins gate. She has to trick everyone (even her past self) in order to change the future without creating a paradox in the past. Also in the context of this theory, I believe it was Aerith and not Sephiroth, that was responsible for somehow overwriting the deflection event, and thats why Sephiroth is laughing like that afterwards, cause he finds it ironic that Aerith ended up dead again on her own due to what he thinks is just an attempt to ensure that holy is cast. Anyway, again it is a wild theory but I really like it :)
As much as I do like the theories. This is also asking a more major question that isn't being talked about from anyone. If the truth of reality is shown to us through this version of cloud by a all knowing sephiroth. What exactly is happening in the OG timeline that has already happened if events have drastically changed in this one? Is all this effecting our cast post dirge of cerburus? Is their memory of events fogging or going blank? Will they as well be in part three?
Her me out, the Empty White Materia: Cloud good memories will get locked into it, since that materia carries memories. The main timeline Cloud will be completely dominated by Jenova. He will die. The Cloud that is in a comatose, alongside Aerith, will be our new Cloud. That’s the two of them that the Lifestream worked to make undetectable by not having any sign of life/personality. Current timeline Cloud has nothing in him, besides a creation of his own mind. And for more than once Sephiroth asks cloud to lend him his strength… To defy destiny. Maybe that’s how Sephiroth/Jenova will get a hold of him once his discovers the fate of main timeline Aerith? Also, that’s why Sephiroth calls him Hollow, he still isn’t Cloud. That’s why Aerith tries to “find him”.
Great to adopt a metaphysical perspective however in this context where we are following a series of events, these notions need to be grounded by actual, physical, tangible events/actions that flow logically eg Clouds grief would be borne from whether Aerith died or not (ie no longer existing a meaningful, corporeal form)
Wow, this video hit hard, especially when I thought of letting these characters go after 27 years. I don't think I could and would be no better than Cloud. I also feel like Remake is related to Cloud dying for a purpose we don't know yet. 7 seconds til the end. I think this death is what drives Sephiroth to remake things rather than Clouds life flashing before his eyes. It's just a gut feeling. Cloud's grief and difficulties with mental illness were the most compelling parts of the original game. I hope they lean on the more realistic parallels rather than just blame Jenova for his weakness. Jenova could make it worse, but I want the deep dives into denial, depersonalization, depression and acceptance to be real and relateable.
I definitely saw some parallels with LOST and FF7 in how they handled the water/light and the lifestream. Unfortunately I hate how the remake project has handled their multiverse content. But LOST is my favorite show ever.
the island = the planet will, very true when biggs died again he served his purpose to give zack a new view on his life, is the same way how multiple characters in lost will only die when the island is done with them doing what they meant to do.
Interesting analysis. I cannot say where the creators are taking the entire project at this point, although I would say that there are bigger fish to fry than simply focusing on Aerith's death as the cruc of the FFVII narrative, as many fans have. Aerith and her role in FFVII is not that much different than the Heroine's in Final Fantasy Adventure, which is, to preserve/regulate the flow of Mana (in FFA). Now whether that's by dying or some other method, the Hero (Sumo) never fully reconciles with his "love" it seems.
I find it funny how everytime i hear any synopsis about the ending of rebirth, most disregard a plot element that is somewhat central to overall story, the multiple timelines, when it comes to the death of aerith. Changes to key points in time basically cause a splintered reality. Zacks survival leading to an alternate reality were tifa, barret and red are dead. They have since dubbed this the doomed timeline. I think the same thing happens when aerith is killed/saved. Aerith was indeed killed by sephiroth, but was also saved by cloud. I think that flash (or glitch) that happens after the deflection is another splintered timeline. It seems unlike the og game where the death of aerith happens and is not supposed to have any meaning beyond sudden tragic loss of someone who didnt need to die for any one particular reason, that the context of her death (and zacks) have a different meaning. And that i think is destiny. They are now destined and preordained deaths that are "supposed" to happen. Aerith was supposed to die, and die she did...in the normal timeline. Clouds deflection caused yet another splintered timeline to occur, one that wasnt supposed to exist. I imagine in the third game we might get to explore that world just a bit at least like how we explored the doomed world with zack. And i imagine there will probably be some kind of messed up element to it, seeing how it wasnt supposed to happen and could be seen as a perversion of reality, most likely also doomed in some way.
Ya, I am thinking we aren't looking at a multiverse at all but alternate worlds of wishful thinking. I think a lot of the stuff going on is Cloud's broken state of mind but in the end will all end the same as the OG and perhaps will all be made clear when Tifa helps bring him back to reality.
Apart from shows like Lost, art films, European and Asian Cinema have always delved into "vibes" and the abstract when conveying complex themes and the human experiebce. I suppose viewing this game with a SciFi lens will detract from the enjoyment (not that it invalidates the confusion of fans and clumsy storytelling choices). I personally find this type of media engrossing from time-to-time but recognize it's not for everyone, heh.
When I got to the dream scene and the end of Rebirth, I thought that same thing "Are they trying to copy LOST?". Honestly, somehow I hope not exactly, but also I believe they are copying it but not exactly. In interviews Nojima has mentioned that Remake, Rebirth and the 3rd game will all link up to Advent Children, and given that it seems that Cloud is apparently going through a therapy session from the Lifestream, it kind of makes sense that it's from a point in time that Cloud dies....but, how is this related to Advent Children? When did Cloud died in Advent Children?...well, actually, my theory is that he did died in Advent Children but was brought back to life. For those who have not seen Advent Children...sorry, but there will be spoilers. There is a part in Advent Children, after Cloud defeats Sephiroth, he is standing at the top of Shinra building, the other party members are in the Shera celebrating Cloud's victory and then, suddenly, Cloud is shot in the back, fatally, by Yazoo, Cloud literally loses his balance and falls to his kness (Blody and bruised, brought to my knees, when beaten down, when broken up). Yazoo and Loz are there, barely surviving the Lifestream rain, due to a huge load of Material they have in their bodies, mostly the purple materia, but also others. Cloud rises and prepares to land an attack on both, basically a desperate move, but Yazoo and Loz charge up all materia they have and basically blow themselves up along with Cloud. Next scene is Cloud floating in a white space, unconscious and then a hand reaches to his forehead, Aerith's hand (You would appear, reach out to me, heal every wound, and make me whole). Cloud manages to muster "Mother" and Aerith replies "Again? Why is everybody calling me mother?" Zack replies "It's because they are fond of you", then Aerith says "This one is too big to adopt", Zack then says "Tought luck friend, sounds like you don't have a place here". For me, at this point, Cloud died and was in the Lifestream and Aerith helped Cloud, healed him, made him whole and returned him to life basically. But, here is the thing, healing him how? I think this is where Remake, Rebirth and the 3rd game takes place, Aerith helped Cloud to heal not just physically, but also mentaly, to let go and move on, but move on with his life, because in Advent Children, it is mentioned that Cloud hasn't been trying to move on as the rest of the Avalanche gang, he seems to linger in the past. After this part, Cloud appears in the Church and heals Denzel and other people with the Lifestream water, and for the first time in the movie, Cloud smiles (to Tifa by the way, but that's another discussion), he then catches a glipse of Aerith, walking away towards the exit, Zack standing waiting at the door looking at Cloud. Aerith reaches the exit, turns around and asks Cloud "Now you're all right?" and then walks along Zack as he says goodbye to Cloud to a white light and dissappear, while Cloud answers in his head and smilling "Yeah, because I'm not alone anymore". So Cloud died in Advent Children, and the whole Remake trilogy is Aerith trying to fix Cloud, but it wasn't as simple as the movie portrays, he was more broken than just physical wounds, he had mental wounds as well, and those neede to be fixed, that is what is being said in the whole movie, and even Tifa sort of scolds Cloud for not moving on and even wondering if Cloud sees her as family (the implication here, that they are supposed to be together, but Cloud still looks back at Aerith, never letting it go). While not portrayed directly in the movie, there are a few extra materials that shows that, after Advent Children's ending, Cloud does move on and, even while Cloud will still be Cloud, is more joyful of what he has and he is. The first is the small short that comes in the original DVD release, I don't remember the name, but Cloud is being called by other members of Avalanche, Yuffie was trying to locate Cloud, to deliver something to Tifa, with the funny part of Vincent saying "How did Yuffie got my phone number? I didn't give it to her, tell her to delete it". Eventually Cloud finds Yuffie and picks the package, telling Cloud that is for Tifa, but also for him, but should open it with Tifa. Cloud returns to 7th Heaven and gives tells Tifa about the package, they open it and it's a "Closed" sign and Cloud chuckles and asks Tifa if she is busy, Tifa ansers no and Cloud tells her "Let's use the sign and have a time together" (basically, I'm paraphrasing). The other appears as a after credits scene on Advent Children Complete. Cloud and Denzel goes to the place where Zack had his last stand, Denzel wondering if it is a grave and Cloud mentions that is where a Hero began his journey with a shot later showing that the Buster sword now is in the church with yellow flowers an white lillies. But, if that's where Zack last stand happened and died, how is it that is the start of the journey of a hero? Well, here Cloud is doing what Zack told him "You are my living legacy", he is embracing that he is supposed to be the legacy of Zack, he is supposed to be the hero after Zack's last stand, so Cloud has chosen to embrace the hero legacy from Zack (You've got to be better if you want to be the hero). So after Advent Children, Cloud did move on, he did start to live his life, meaning that Aerith did heal him both mentally and physically in the Lifestream. At least that is my theory....a lifestream theory aaaaaaaaand kupo! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Well, I understand the discourse and why some people may like this direction but it also explains why I personally don't. Maybe I'm too cerebral as a viewer because I usually can't enjoy emotional scenes that are thrown at me in a blurry context that will never be fully explained. I need to know what is going on, at least to a degree. If I don't, then I'm just watching faces trying to trigger my empathy with big smiles or sad faces. And if you really need to be metaphysical, then keep it simple, don't turn your allegory into a system with mechanisms to understand and plot points that I'm supposed to follow. Also, the whole concept is so self-referential it hurts.
It’s true that some of it requires a little homework, but I don’t agree that it won’t ever be fully explained. Sure there will be a few vague moments but I feel like both Lost and FF7 (at least by the end of part 3) are/will be fairly thorough.
@@Joshiepoo2525 A little homework seems to me like an understatement. If they just showed me flashes of different realities where the characters lived a normal life then I would've had no problems empathizing and interpreting them as wishes and dreams. But when they start using rainbow effects, glitchy effects, Sephiroth monologuing about "worlds", items that can be carried from one world to another, memories stolen from a character and given to his clone in another reality... then it isn't just a metaphor or some dramatic gimmick anymore. It's a sci-fi world, a lifestream-verse that I'm supposed to understand if I want to follow the plot. I get that some people enjoy the theory crafting aspect of this trilogy but for me it really gets in the way of feelings.
"Lost" the name is weird but in regarding, FF7. It should be something to do with Aerith at the end of FF7 rebirth. Is she alive or dead or something else like soul or lost soul? FF original story is about bad guy send his fiend back in time and create some kind of time loop thru changing the past over and over. While FF13 series story is about the impact of that happening in FF original, some kind of problem with the planet whether in dimension problem or multiple timeline or multiverse. Whatever the differences. Giving an example, if person A supposed to travel somewhere and create a city. And some else happened in the past and this person A ended up never travel and create and city. What's gonna happen?
@Joshiepoo2525 This what i am hearing from every yt vid i am wishful thinking of part 3. To provide me the emotional experience you haven't given me in this game because i was too busy vacuuming, pressing triangle on crystals and talking to chadley more then my party.. They have already failed as a game because the world building has failed me the npc are not better then souls games, we needed more content. Thats the whole point of making open space.. And a remake. Though idk why they just didn't do a movie called what if and a pure remake. Or both. How many times have you played the original ff7 and how many times have you played remake...or gonna play rebirth Because you want to? This game shouldn't even have a part 3 it should of been focused here and now. Without all the padding bs the team could of spent working not squandering. Then they give you sensory information overload but what happens when that ends and it will end. Your not gonna be always confused so this part of the game will be meaningless later on. You press pause for the next 4 years and then they hit play... Only to give you more padding come on guys are you all mentally ill clouds.. In wheel chairs. focusing on the ending. So basically ff15 all over again good beginning great ending. Also called homecoming. So They really blew there chance to make this part of the game the best it could be. Repetitive, lazy, unfinished, unpolished, barely any atmosphere its always daylight. No weather no rustling of wind in the trees. This was the chance to improve the reward system yet they kept that the same too creative moments such as meta fade the moments with your your party don't go into gongaga tavern and have a cutscene drink away at the end of days coming. Nope. Theres a reason fod limits our days.''Why?''To make each one precious.
Except that it wasn't "thought of stopping" or a leaving to the side said impalement, but a showing that it DIDN'T happen/was deflected. Cloud did arrive on time, he did match Sephiroth to knock him & Masamune away, and then a reality rewrite was pulled in likely to kill one branch Aerith in order to check off the box; while having an alternate branch Aerith survive. They get to have their cake and eat it too. The clash includes the indicator for a branchline in the rainbow/prism effect; Aerith popping up in the finale battle; Zack's "save her" which is intentionally put after the supposed death; and the entire setup of the multiverse all go towards her living in some branch or achieving a state beyond life & death. Funnily enough providing clear proof that Aerith doesn't need to die nor never did, as nothing in that affects the story. Holy has no requisite for life of the caster; it doesn't even stop Meteor; nor does it stop Geostigma (likely an effect of Jenova) or Sephiroth as he still manifests again in AC. So there's literally no reason for her death aside from appeasing a section of purists and edge. As the writers have set it up Aerith's fate is a Schrodinger's cat, they get to proceed along the story generally close to OG likely hitting all the same beats; but afterwards they get to break free of it to give FF7 the proper complete ending. Especially given its already confirmed as the final entry and thus no need to try to cater to the incel/edgelord purist crowd. inb4 any notions I'm a new fan, I'm an OG 20+ years going who has gone through most of the Compilation up to now. However I'm not in the fatalism and death obsession having camp, I'm in the Aerith lives camp. I stand by that if they were truly repeating things as is, then they'd have just redone Aerith's death without the reality rewrite that puts it in aforementioned Schrodinger's cat territory. The good end route with Aerith living is exactly what FF7 needs to be complete, since the bad end route already exists in FF7-OG and AC. As well as the other side/part of the message in regards to death & life, that yes death should be treated as natural and accepted with all its intricacies; but also that LIFE should be valued and fought for tooth & nail + fuck fate.
They should have just saved her or killed her. This whole sequel baiting stuff means noone is happy and if they don't stick the landing tarnishes the whole project.
We'll see. Having us wait 4yrs to grieve is a long shot. But at least for me, Aerith's presence is a pretty easy thing to bring me back into. So I have optimism that Cloud's grieving process will be a powerful series of events.
Agreed. This isn’t even a story about a particular theme (aside from fighting fate I guess), it’s a story about the story of the original FFVII. They tell mostly the same story and in this game, the bombastic twist ending is less justified than in Remake. They promised we’d be going off rails at the end of the last game and now they’re saying the same thing at the end of this one. It comes off as the devs saying “please buy our next game” . Very little weight or reverence. Just kinda subversion for subversions sake which doesn’t seem especially clever on its own
I believe the phrase was “line up with” or something. That could mean anything. Just saying “that timeline still exists” is enough to justify that phrase.
@@Joshiepoo2525i don’t think it’ll be four years. part 3, barring unforeseen delays, will probably drop 2027 with the 30th anniversary and the 12 year commitment that i think nomura has referenced in interviews. plus dude wants to be done. he’s burned out.
They butchered the classic story hoping to get people talking and hyping and theorizing like we did for ReMake. They clearly failed in that regard. So now not only do we not have a good remake, but also a boring rehashing of other stories. Figuratively the worst of both worlds.
@@kittylovemeows They weren’t dead except for the sideways world which had almost nothing to do with the real world, and didn’t exist until the final season. They never lied.
@@Joshiepoo2525 I was there young man. They said no, they aren't gonna end it like ohhh they're dead. At the end they are literally dead all of them together.
@@kittylovemeows I’m 34… I was there too. They said they are not dead. And they weren’t. Adding an extra side story that takes place after death has nothing to do with the island story.
They were not dead. They were only dead in the flash sideways world the final season which had almost nothing to do with the island story. Common misconception.
Really nice editing with the music at the end there!
The theory of this being Cloud's death is one that could potentially be very satisfying in many ways, especially as it calls back to Sephiroth's 'Nor will I have you end' line in Remake. It could suggest this is all a grand battle in 'the afterlife' between the two Steward's of the lifestream: Aerith and Sephiroth, with Sephiroth still being reliant on Cloud (or at least Cloud's memories) and the other tormented souls (degraded Soliders, Gi?) in order to manipulate the lifestream, while Aerith is trying to help Cloud and those tormented souls truly move on, and let go forever. Perhaps when Aerith has completed this task, everyone can truly 'let go', and it could be revealed that in letting go, your consciousness finally 'moves on', perhaps revealing that this is the truth behind the idea of 'entering the promised land' - entering a true state of peace. When Aerith's work is done, she leaves too, and left behind is only Sephiroth, too wrapped up in his own ego to ever move on, the only consciousness left, unable to manipulate a thing and alone forever more. Just some thoughts lol. I'm not married to any of these ideas, nor fully thought them through, but inspired by your video, maybe it's a possibility - it would certainly make this seemingly 'multiverse' direction much more interesting, to me at least.
Oh damn, that's an amazing idea--Seph actually succeeding deep in the future, when only he is left, alone.
I LOVE the idea that metaphysical elements are more an emotional choice than a "literal plot" choice. As a big Lost defender, EVERYTHING was in service to develop the characters and establish their mental states. We're so hungry for literal explanations that we miss out on the emotional journey media may be more interested in portraying. I think Rebirth is doing something similar and game 3 is going to HEAVILY tackle Cloud's grief and his previous inability to accept reality. Thank you for the thoughtful video and analysis!!
1000%
Only one problem tho. Cloud actually did save her in one timeline when he clashed swords with seph
@@ErenDenizMert either that or it’s an illusion or the timeline is now merged or something else.
@@Joshiepoo2525 I currently view "Aerith is saved" scene as identical to the Mt. Nibel "Zack died in the river" scene. Cloud's mind is completely fracturing and actively rewriting his memories in the moment to cope. It's why everyone else sees what happened and is enraged (limits broken) and he's not reacting appropriately at all.
@@SpecialK_94 Yes but then again when he clashed swords with sephiroth the same rainbow effect appeared that we had in the Zack scene. Also he can see the rift in the sky while the rest of the party can't. His mind is a complete mess no doubt but he's for sure seeing other worlds
I totally agree with your perspective on the ending. I believe they are going to show us the full death scene in the next game as a part of cloud coming to terms with what happened. Mainly because the water burial scene was cut. That scene confirms her death to cloud and the player, so if cloud doesn’t believe she is dead we can’t get that closure yet.
Thanks! Same.
Love the theory and it explains how Cloud has his visions. "To remember and to let go". Or..to remember and have the peace of mind into entering the "promised land" which is mentioned repeatedly in the game. In the OG, Cloud said in the end to Tifa, now that he understood what promised land was, and believed he it'd be where he could find Aerith again. In my opinion, "promised land" is like "heaven" or something, the final destination, the true place to live. Aerith said, "everyone dies eventually." This makes me believe (maybe) this remake is truly Cloud's experience (and everyone) in the lifestream based on their memories.
In the real life, Cloud is never meant to be with Aerith. In the dream with Aerith, I feel somehow it explains, how Cloud picks the gift to Aerith but never allowed. Everything he chooses never approved. But in the "promised land".? The only place where Cloud and Aerith could be together. Same as in the songs they sing. It's prpbably not about saving Aerith in the next world, but maybe about consoling Cloud's heart about his whole life so him to be able to enter the promised land and be together with Aerith again. The story doesn't run backward but forward after event in Advent Children.
Beautiful.
For one week man ONE WEEK! My mind was so fuzzy by this hollow/questioning/confused feelings i felt after finishing rebirth. Such a brilliant way of writing the FF7 Re project story.
Best video on the ending I’ve seen so far. I was thinking about LOST the entire time I was playing this game.
Aww thanks!
This video is incredible. Not just the analysis but the emotional relevance too.
I know most theories about the ending currently suck and they probably will until Part 3 drops, but for me, I couldn’t help but think about Desmond when I try to explain what happened to Cloud. Desmond is my favorite character from Lost and he’s known for being one of the weirdest characters not because of his personality but because of the multiple times throughout the show where his existence and his memories are split between the past and the future and even this “alternate timeline”. Whenever he jumped between worlds, he retained the memories of each one of them, even if he was there just for a brief moment and that affected him even to an emotional level.
Then, for me, Cloud’s memories have been exposed to both timelines when he split them by trying to save Aerith and can therefore “exist” in both at the same time. That’s why Aerith isn’t quite dead for him yet, because he’s communicating with the one who survived and who fought against Sephiroth alongside him. That’s why he can see the tear on the sky, as maybe Aerith was supposed to die in order for her timeline to prevail.
The metaphysical emotion aspect instead of a science-fiction is so true, also. I’ve never found a way to describe as well as you did a “genre” of stories which can’t be sustained enough by logic, but because they don’t wanna take that approach. This is something I find in media such as Rebirth, Lost, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and even the Spider-Verse films. They are stories in which a simple “I love you” can transcend time, space and everything we think we know about reality. An “I love you” so meaningful and so ridiculously powerful that is heard through every corner of the multiverse.
Great video dude.
Thanks! Great comment. I’ll see ya in another life, yeah?
Excellent video, I knew I was not the only one that saw some LOST in Rebirth. Specially after a phrase that Aerith's other mom Elmyra says to Marlene. She says something along the words of... "we're all heading to where your dad is" or something like that. Since this was inside Zack's new reality or whatever it is called, I thought they were living some sort of "purgatory", and this idea was reinforced to me due to the fact that by the end, Aerith tells cloud that his is her "dream" world. I like this theory a lot!
Thanks! Love it.
This story means so much to me . I don’t mind the changes too much and even Aerith death wasn’t portrayed the sane as OG . Her simply saying “goodbye “ at the end literally wrecked me and I was dying inside all through the credits .
Same.
"The thematic purpose of all this remains the same: to inject a familiar story with an extra layer of metaphysicality."
FINALLY someone who gets it! Loved the Lost analogy, the best TV show of all time hands down.
Thanks for the content. How you don't have more views is beyond me.
Top notch video; the writing the editing, it's all there.
Looking forward to future videos.
Thanks so much. I don't make videos very often, and this one is my first scripted/edited one in many years.
Absolutely phenomenal exploration of the topic
Thanks, bud. :)
Funny thing, a couple of weeks ago I made a post on reddit saying that they might have copied the plot of Lost, and in another post somebody asked "What would be the biggest plot twist" I wrote that it would be that everybody is dead and they are all in the same purgatory.
Happy to see somebody can see a similar conclusion, but I guess we'll have to wait 2-3 more years to be sure.
I needed desperately someone to do this comparison: I am 100% in the idea that the multiverse is flashsideways - sephiroth, as part of jenova, as the Gi, cannot "flow back" into the lifestream. He can perceive both (or as many as there are) realities. He is able to look for Aerith in "a world that has accepted its fate" (a flashsideway with no mako that has accepted death, a place for all the souls to accept their fate before flowing back like in the date). Zack not accepting his death (or cloud denying it and carrying his guilt/legacy) makes him flow on these timelines. Aerith being a cetra can go into it to hide with cloud of sephiroth on chapter 13.
Everyone is still dead - Jenova is messing with Cloud convincing him there is a world where they can all be together. Sephiroth is not reuniting all the worlds, is reuniting life and death to create eternity. No one can escape from him and Jenova. No one could flow back to the lifestream once dead and escape him. It's not death but a homecoming to HIS eternity.
The reunion is still the reunion of jenova's pieces - but Jenova and Sephiroth are also in the lifestream so there is a metaphysical jenova/sephiroth fragment in those flashsideways.
Aerith and Zack are dead and accepting it (and thus taking some sort of action) will be important for the final part of the game (as Desmond taking action reuniting everyone on the flashsideways in the final episodes "helped" the main plot)
Wow, what a great commentary on this fantastic game. The music was also on point. You earned a sub my friend!
Thank you! 😊
Love this analysis!! great video
Thank you!
The Lost music with Aerith sinking at the end made me cry thanks lol 🥲 Stumbled across this video and was surprised to see these two series compared to each other! The original FFVII is my all time favorite game and Lost will always be my favorite tv show. Nicely done. 👏
Thanks! 😀
This is the video I needed. Thanks for putting this together. Well done!!! 😢
*Theory time! 4am EST*
"The world will be saved, but will you?" - trailer. Me: *holy*
"This isn't about me though. It's about saving the world, and you." - Aerith
Me: We think we're talking about saving Aerith in rebirth, maybe we're also talking about Cloud in part 3. Maybe also "saving Aerith" in part 3 since Zack said "Save her!" In the final battles...
You know what, what some may have seen as an inevitability of her death in Rebirth, we may also see a new inevitability of Clouds death in part 3. A way to break the cycle and destroy Sephiroth/Jenova for all time. And the Loveless play will see its conclusion. Cloud will reunite with Aerith that way.
"The Promised Land, I think I can meet her there." - Cloud. End of ogFF7, northern crater.
7 seconds til the end.
Me: *Holy.*
It may be a good idea for those of us who have fully played Rebirth to go back and take another look at Remake.
FF7 Remake Chapter 18 synopsis: "in the world beyond, Sephiroth shows Cloud a vision of the planet seven seconds before it's demise."
Now pulling from a Reddit thread from 4 years ago.
Chapter 2
"I have a favor to ask of you... Run, Cloud. You have to leave. You have to live!" *I'm aware Claudia says this in Rebirth*.
Chapter 18
"Fate is not to be taken lightly, the planet will claim you."
Chapter 18 - Edge of Creation
"I will not end... nor will I have you end. Let's defy destiny together, Cloud.
*Looks up FF7 Edge of Creation.*
Sephiroth reaches out for Cloud.
Cloud declines.
Sephiroth, Cloud fight.
Cloud on the backfoot.
Sephiroth: "Not yet."
Sephiroth disatms Cloud.
Sephiroth: "Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it? Let's see."
*My otherworldly prediction:* In part 3, within seven seconds before the end, Cloud will sacrifice himself so that Zack can live pushing him to a newly created world. And Sephiroth sheds Jenova who knows she will truly die here.
*enter the edge of creation, but with the light and dark world ready to colide.*
Freed Sephiroth and Cloud will together vanquish Jenova.
Not liking these developments, Minerva intervenes and reveals she is the true Jenova. That, or she's angry about the whole fate=destiny thing. If yes, then leave the possibility for Jenova to attack Minerva directly. A new Aerith emerges... Omni Aerith, but it's The Rebirth one we know.
*The promised land, the lifestream within the planet.*
Freed Sephiroth, real Cloud, Omni Aerith fight a long ago fallen Minerva. The Lifestream becomes a whiter green. Sephiroth opts to resign himself to the edge of creation while Cloud and Aerith watch over the world from the Lifestream. Aerith allows the Gi to finally rest. The rest of everyone lives in a world safe from the calamity for the first time in 2000 years. Aerith regrets that she couldn't save Cloud, but he hands her a yellow flower and says, "You did."
Aerith = Air + Earth. *AirEarth*
Cloud... returns to the planet like a healing rain cleansing the earth, only to return to the sky, and then back to the earth.
The Loveless play, conclusion.
The knight returns to the Goddess.
Waiting for him. At their place.
*Thinking back.*
Now that I think about it. If there is a world that gets hit with Meteor, you'd think Jenova/Seph will survive, right? Yes, normally. However, if the real Sephiroth willingly let's himself get hit by Meteor, that could pose a problem for Jenova, right? And pose a problem for Minerva regarding the fate/destiny thing. This is Final Fantasy, just look at Bhunivelze. It took his true plans being interrupted before he showed himself. And look at Bahamut from FfXV. There is definitely a larger mythology with Gaia than we're being shown. What about knights of the round? My answer to that is that kotr are fallen great warriors of the Cetra.
Your video is great! It gives me inspirations for my theory on Yogachara, one of two keys Kazushige Nojima mentioned in Ultimania that would make player better understand the worlds and even hint us how the game will be concluded, to explain the world structure of VII! Really appreciated!
Thanks!
This is the best video on the topic. Instead of proclaiming the truth of the ending or throwing a, "... But what do you think. Let me know in the comments below", to manipulate the algorithm. You gave us a sharp witted yet heartfelt andendearing analysis. Great job.
Only problem I see is people scrolling passed it because they'll assume it's just a purgatory theory. They're missing out.
Haha thanks! Yeah I too wonder if the clickbait thumbnail could backfire.
!!!!!!!! I'm so glad to see another person pointing at the metaphysical nature of the lifestream and how it affects the Re games and why everyone is so ~confused~ in the first place.
You do wonder if Lucretia has a bigger part to play in third part in helping Sephiroth move on
Likewise for the other characters who have lost someone: Elmyra and Clay,Marlene with Dyne, …
Thinking about it, Lucrecria was unable to die hence would have never have returned to the lifestream.
Maybe there is a quest to help her pass on peacefully and reuniting with Sephiroth to give him the motivation to move on. It would give Vincent a chance to say goodbye too.
I don't think Cloud is dead, He's too much of a SE's posterboy so they would never do that.
But the idea that he's experiencing LifeStream could work. In the OG, he is in this state for sort period of time (mideel), what if remake/rebirth is Cloud at mideel's having pseudo flashbacks? that could explain all these time travel, alt timeline, other weird stuff.
Superb video; I bought `Life and Death` (one of the most memorable tracks from LOST) on iTunes many years ago and this video definitely made me want to re-listen to it again.
Funny enough I never thought to think of LOST and FF7 Rebirth but it works so well, thanks for your video.
Thank you!
Okay. You really got me at the end. Tears are flowing. thanks
😊
Interesting!! Maybe I’m thinking too much into it but I wonder if at the end of part three maybe we get some kind of after credit scene with all of them together in the lifestream or alternate world whatever you wanna call it. And that can be a way to show a “happy ending” all of them together in the “afterlife” not just Aerith and Zack.
If there's not a living Aerith out there somewhere, they're definitely screwed more than they know. Aerith failed to cast Holy before she caught the wrong end of the sword in the main timeline.
Well I wouldn’t say the Aerith that saves the planet from the lifestream is “living.”
This was so well thought out and well said. Short and to the point. I think you hit the nail on the head. Bravo.
I think Rebirth's ending is one people have to marinate over. It's meant to do that. The intro to part 3 is going to be devastating and eventually, cathartic. I can't wait to play it.
Thank you!
Great, well-structured video. Really like this theory.
Thanks!
Superbly edited video. Thank you!!!
Thank you!
I think people are maybe getting a little "lost" trying so hard to figure out "what's going on" when we aren't supposed to know for sure what's going on. It can be fun to speculate but if you get too attached to your theory it can also ruin your enjoyment of where the story goes next.
People get too hung on to their theories. Anything Aeirth related, she lives, she dies, stirs people way too much. It's convoluted on purpose, you're not supposed to know and they throw enough knuckle balls to keep things unknown until the next game.
I agree with this analysis. I see the "timeline" deviations less as literal plot riddles for us to solve but as a way to underscore the emotional journey of the story we know inside out in a metaphorical way. And while Aerith's death is portrayed very differently, the "It's been fun!" line was heartbreaking as hell.
Exactly like Shepard Sr. said to Jack "remember and let go", Cloud is remembering in OG disc 2 and letting go at the end of Advent Children!!!
Beautifully said!
A theory of mine that I like (although very farfetched), is that a version of Aerith that came from the future and is trying to pull a steins gate. She has to trick everyone (even her past self) in order to change the future without creating a paradox in the past.
Also in the context of this theory, I believe it was Aerith and not Sephiroth, that was responsible for somehow overwriting the deflection event, and thats why Sephiroth is laughing like that afterwards, cause he finds it ironic that Aerith ended up dead again on her own due to what he thinks is just an attempt to ensure that holy is cast.
Anyway, again it is a wild theory but I really like it :)
That would be wild.
As much as I do like the theories. This is also asking a more major question that isn't being talked about from anyone. If the truth of reality is shown to us through this version of cloud by a all knowing sephiroth. What exactly is happening in the OG timeline that has already happened if events have drastically changed in this one? Is all this effecting our cast post dirge of cerburus? Is their memory of events fogging or going blank? Will they as well be in part three?
i've always loved lost and i love rebirth. your video made me cry haha
Aww thanks 🌝
0:50 Sephy: Don't talk about mother that way! 😠
Her me out, the Empty White Materia:
Cloud good memories will get locked into it, since that materia carries memories. The main timeline Cloud will be completely dominated by Jenova. He will die.
The Cloud that is in a comatose, alongside Aerith, will be our new Cloud. That’s the two of them that the Lifestream worked to make undetectable by not having any sign of life/personality.
Current timeline Cloud has nothing in him, besides a creation of his own mind. And for more than once Sephiroth asks cloud to lend him his strength… To defy destiny. Maybe that’s how Sephiroth/Jenova will get a hold of him once his discovers the fate of main timeline Aerith?
Also, that’s why Sephiroth calls him Hollow, he still isn’t Cloud. That’s why Aerith tries to “find him”.
It only ends once, whatever happens before that is just progress” Jacob RIP
Great to adopt a metaphysical perspective however in this context where we are following a series of events, these notions need to be grounded by actual, physical, tangible events/actions that flow logically
eg Clouds grief would be borne from whether Aerith died or not (ie no longer existing a meaningful, corporeal form)
The names of the characters foreshadow and give depth to the characters. Look up what Sephiroth means and if foreshadows his character development.
Wow, this video hit hard, especially when I thought of letting these characters go after 27 years. I don't think I could and would be no better than Cloud. I also feel like Remake is related to Cloud dying for a purpose we don't know yet. 7 seconds til the end. I think this death is what drives Sephiroth to remake things rather than Clouds life flashing before his eyes. It's just a gut feeling.
Cloud's grief and difficulties with mental illness were the most compelling parts of the original game. I hope they lean on the more realistic parallels rather than just blame Jenova for his weakness. Jenova could make it worse, but I want the deep dives into denial, depersonalization, depression and acceptance to be real and relateable.
That sounds amazing.
Feel like the cloud life stream scene in part 3 is going to emotionally destory everyone in the best way and i'm all for it
Can't wait.
I definitely saw some parallels with LOST and FF7 in how they handled the water/light and the lifestream. Unfortunately I hate how the remake project has handled their multiverse content. But LOST is my favorite show ever.
the island = the planet will, very true when biggs died again he served his purpose to give zack a new view on his life, is the same way how multiple characters in lost will only die when the island is done with them doing what they meant to do.
Interesting analysis.
I cannot say where the creators are taking the entire project at this point, although I would say that there are bigger fish to fry than simply focusing on Aerith's death as the cruc of the FFVII narrative, as many fans have. Aerith and her role in FFVII is not that much different than the Heroine's in Final Fantasy Adventure, which is, to preserve/regulate the flow of Mana (in FFA).
Now whether that's by dying or some other method, the Hero (Sumo) never fully reconciles with his "love" it seems.
Wow.. amazing video
Thanks!
I find it funny how everytime i hear any synopsis about the ending of rebirth, most disregard a plot element that is somewhat central to overall story, the multiple timelines, when it comes to the death of aerith. Changes to key points in time basically cause a splintered reality. Zacks survival leading to an alternate reality were tifa, barret and red are dead. They have since dubbed this the doomed timeline. I think the same thing happens when aerith is killed/saved. Aerith was indeed killed by sephiroth, but was also saved by cloud. I think that flash (or glitch) that happens after the deflection is another splintered timeline. It seems unlike the og game where the death of aerith happens and is not supposed to have any meaning beyond sudden tragic loss of someone who didnt need to die for any one particular reason, that the context of her death (and zacks) have a different meaning. And that i think is destiny. They are now destined and preordained deaths that are "supposed" to happen. Aerith was supposed to die, and die she did...in the normal timeline. Clouds deflection caused yet another splintered timeline to occur, one that wasnt supposed to exist. I imagine in the third game we might get to explore that world just a bit at least like how we explored the doomed world with zack. And i imagine there will probably be some kind of messed up element to it, seeing how it wasnt supposed to happen and could be seen as a perversion of reality, most likely also doomed in some way.
😂😂😂😂 I love the analogy
Ya, I am thinking we aren't looking at a multiverse at all but alternate worlds of wishful thinking. I think a lot of the stuff going on is Cloud's broken state of mind but in the end will all end the same as the OG and perhaps will all be made clear when Tifa helps bring him back to reality.
Apart from shows like Lost, art films, European and Asian Cinema have always delved into "vibes" and the abstract when conveying complex themes and the human experiebce. I suppose viewing this game with a SciFi lens will detract from the enjoyment (not that it invalidates the confusion of fans and clumsy storytelling choices).
I personally find this type of media engrossing from time-to-time but recognize it's not for everyone, heh.
Really good video
Thanks!
When I got to the dream scene and the end of Rebirth, I thought that same thing "Are they trying to copy LOST?". Honestly, somehow I hope not exactly, but also I believe they are copying it but not exactly. In interviews Nojima has mentioned that Remake, Rebirth and the 3rd game will all link up to Advent Children, and given that it seems that Cloud is apparently going through a therapy session from the Lifestream, it kind of makes sense that it's from a point in time that Cloud dies....but, how is this related to Advent Children? When did Cloud died in Advent Children?...well, actually, my theory is that he did died in Advent Children but was brought back to life.
For those who have not seen Advent Children...sorry, but there will be spoilers.
There is a part in Advent Children, after Cloud defeats Sephiroth, he is standing at the top of Shinra building, the other party members are in the Shera celebrating Cloud's victory and then, suddenly, Cloud is shot in the back, fatally, by Yazoo, Cloud literally loses his balance and falls to his kness (Blody and bruised, brought to my knees, when beaten down, when broken up). Yazoo and Loz are there, barely surviving the Lifestream rain, due to a huge load of Material they have in their bodies, mostly the purple materia, but also others. Cloud rises and prepares to land an attack on both, basically a desperate move, but Yazoo and Loz charge up all materia they have and basically blow themselves up along with Cloud. Next scene is Cloud floating in a white space, unconscious and then a hand reaches to his forehead, Aerith's hand (You would appear, reach out to me, heal every wound, and make me whole). Cloud manages to muster "Mother" and Aerith replies "Again? Why is everybody calling me mother?" Zack replies "It's because they are fond of you", then Aerith says "This one is too big to adopt", Zack then says "Tought luck friend, sounds like you don't have a place here". For me, at this point, Cloud died and was in the Lifestream and Aerith helped Cloud, healed him, made him whole and returned him to life basically. But, here is the thing, healing him how? I think this is where Remake, Rebirth and the 3rd game takes place, Aerith helped Cloud to heal not just physically, but also mentaly, to let go and move on, but move on with his life, because in Advent Children, it is mentioned that Cloud hasn't been trying to move on as the rest of the Avalanche gang, he seems to linger in the past. After this part, Cloud appears in the Church and heals Denzel and other people with the Lifestream water, and for the first time in the movie, Cloud smiles (to Tifa by the way, but that's another discussion), he then catches a glipse of Aerith, walking away towards the exit, Zack standing waiting at the door looking at Cloud. Aerith reaches the exit, turns around and asks Cloud "Now you're all right?" and then walks along Zack as he says goodbye to Cloud to a white light and dissappear, while Cloud answers in his head and smilling "Yeah, because I'm not alone anymore".
So Cloud died in Advent Children, and the whole Remake trilogy is Aerith trying to fix Cloud, but it wasn't as simple as the movie portrays, he was more broken than just physical wounds, he had mental wounds as well, and those neede to be fixed, that is what is being said in the whole movie, and even Tifa sort of scolds Cloud for not moving on and even wondering if Cloud sees her as family (the implication here, that they are supposed to be together, but Cloud still looks back at Aerith, never letting it go). While not portrayed directly in the movie, there are a few extra materials that shows that, after Advent Children's ending, Cloud does move on and, even while Cloud will still be Cloud, is more joyful of what he has and he is. The first is the small short that comes in the original DVD release, I don't remember the name, but Cloud is being called by other members of Avalanche, Yuffie was trying to locate Cloud, to deliver something to Tifa, with the funny part of Vincent saying "How did Yuffie got my phone number? I didn't give it to her, tell her to delete it". Eventually Cloud finds Yuffie and picks the package, telling Cloud that is for Tifa, but also for him, but should open it with Tifa. Cloud returns to 7th Heaven and gives tells Tifa about the package, they open it and it's a "Closed" sign and Cloud chuckles and asks Tifa if she is busy, Tifa ansers no and Cloud tells her "Let's use the sign and have a time together" (basically, I'm paraphrasing).
The other appears as a after credits scene on Advent Children Complete. Cloud and Denzel goes to the place where Zack had his last stand, Denzel wondering if it is a grave and Cloud mentions that is where a Hero began his journey with a shot later showing that the Buster sword now is in the church with yellow flowers an white lillies. But, if that's where Zack last stand happened and died, how is it that is the start of the journey of a hero? Well, here Cloud is doing what Zack told him "You are my living legacy", he is embracing that he is supposed to be the legacy of Zack, he is supposed to be the hero after Zack's last stand, so Cloud has chosen to embrace the hero legacy from Zack (You've got to be better if you want to be the hero). So after Advent Children, Cloud did move on, he did start to live his life, meaning that Aerith did heal him both mentally and physically in the Lifestream. At least that is my theory....a lifestream theory aaaaaaaaand kupo! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yes, but most of people only wanted a HD experience of ff7, at the end it will be the only one without acceptable remaster.
I hope they take the Ever Crisis assets and make a real remake. Though side note, I think the “remasters” of 8 and 9 are awful lol.
I feel "REMAKE" Is directly referring to the future.
So who or what received a "REBIRTH"?.
The ending boss needed to be what it is, otherwise it would be quite anticlimactic as in the OG, it was just a 5 min boss fight.
8:02 I really hope they patch these voices. They slightly ruined my immersion in the moment 😅
Yes please.
@@Joshiepoo2525 "Nothing personal!" had me laughing because it was like THE MOST personal you could possibly get
I was so fucked up at that point I didn't even register the silly in game dialogue, I was on auto pilot and utterly melted Jenova
Well, I understand the discourse and why some people may like this direction but it also explains why I personally don't. Maybe I'm too cerebral as a viewer because I usually can't enjoy emotional scenes that are thrown at me in a blurry context that will never be fully explained. I need to know what is going on, at least to a degree. If I don't, then I'm just watching faces trying to trigger my empathy with big smiles or sad faces. And if you really need to be metaphysical, then keep it simple, don't turn your allegory into a system with mechanisms to understand and plot points that I'm supposed to follow. Also, the whole concept is so self-referential it hurts.
It’s true that some of it requires a little homework, but I don’t agree that it won’t ever be fully explained. Sure there will be a few vague moments but I feel like both Lost and FF7 (at least by the end of part 3) are/will be fairly thorough.
@@Joshiepoo2525 A little homework seems to me like an understatement. If they just showed me flashes of different realities where the characters lived a normal life then I would've had no problems empathizing and interpreting them as wishes and dreams. But when they start using rainbow effects, glitchy effects, Sephiroth monologuing about "worlds", items that can be carried from one world to another, memories stolen from a character and given to his clone in another reality... then it isn't just a metaphor or some dramatic gimmick anymore. It's a sci-fi world, a lifestream-verse that I'm supposed to understand if I want to follow the plot. I get that some people enjoy the theory crafting aspect of this trilogy but for me it really gets in the way of feelings.
"Lost" the name is weird but in regarding, FF7. It should be something to do with Aerith at the end of FF7 rebirth. Is she alive or dead or something else like soul or lost soul?
FF original story is about bad guy send his fiend back in time and create some kind of time loop thru changing the past over and over.
While FF13 series story is about the impact of that happening in FF original, some kind of problem with the planet whether in dimension problem or multiple timeline or multiverse. Whatever the differences.
Giving an example, if person A supposed to travel somewhere and create a city. And some else happened in the past and this person A ended up never travel and create and city. What's gonna happen?
@Joshiepoo2525
This what i am hearing from every yt vid i am wishful thinking of part 3.
To provide me the emotional experience you haven't given me in this game because i was too busy vacuuming, pressing triangle on crystals and talking to chadley more then my party..
They have already failed as a game because the world building has failed me the npc are not better then souls games, we needed more content. Thats the whole point of making open space.. And a remake. Though idk why they just didn't do a movie called what if and a pure remake. Or both.
How many times have you played the original ff7 and how many times have you played remake...or gonna play rebirth Because you want to?
This game shouldn't even have a part 3 it should of been focused here and now. Without all the padding bs the team could of spent working not squandering.
Then they give you sensory information overload but what happens when that ends and it will end.
Your not gonna be always confused so this part of the game will be meaningless later on.
You press pause for the next 4 years and then they hit play... Only to give you more padding come on guys are you all mentally ill clouds.. In wheel chairs. focusing on the ending.
So basically ff15 all over again good beginning great ending. Also called homecoming.
So They really blew there chance to make this part of the game the best it could be.
Repetitive, lazy, unfinished, unpolished, barely any atmosphere its always daylight. No weather no rustling of wind in the trees.
This was the chance to improve the reward system yet they kept that the same too creative moments such as meta fade the moments with your your party don't go into gongaga tavern and have a cutscene drink away at the end of days coming. Nope.
Theres a reason fod limits our days.''Why?''To make each one precious.
Except that it wasn't "thought of stopping" or a leaving to the side said impalement, but a showing that it DIDN'T happen/was deflected. Cloud did arrive on time, he did match Sephiroth to knock him & Masamune away, and then a reality rewrite was pulled in likely to kill one branch Aerith in order to check off the box; while having an alternate branch Aerith survive. They get to have their cake and eat it too. The clash includes the indicator for a branchline in the rainbow/prism effect; Aerith popping up in the finale battle; Zack's "save her" which is intentionally put after the supposed death; and the entire setup of the multiverse all go towards her living in some branch or achieving a state beyond life & death. Funnily enough providing clear proof that Aerith doesn't need to die nor never did, as nothing in that affects the story. Holy has no requisite for life of the caster; it doesn't even stop Meteor; nor does it stop Geostigma (likely an effect of Jenova) or Sephiroth as he still manifests again in AC. So there's literally no reason for her death aside from appeasing a section of purists and edge.
As the writers have set it up Aerith's fate is a Schrodinger's cat, they get to proceed along the story generally close to OG likely hitting all the same beats; but afterwards they get to break free of it to give FF7 the proper complete ending. Especially given its already confirmed as the final entry and thus no need to try to cater to the incel/edgelord purist crowd. inb4 any notions I'm a new fan, I'm an OG 20+ years going who has gone through most of the Compilation up to now. However I'm not in the fatalism and death obsession having camp, I'm in the Aerith lives camp. I stand by that if they were truly repeating things as is, then they'd have just redone Aerith's death without the reality rewrite that puts it in aforementioned Schrodinger's cat territory. The good end route with Aerith living is exactly what FF7 needs to be complete, since the bad end route already exists in FF7-OG and AC. As well as the other side/part of the message in regards to death & life, that yes death should be treated as natural and accepted with all its intricacies; but also that LIFE should be valued and fought for tooth & nail + fuck fate.
So.... you're saying Sephiroth is the smoke monster? lol. jk
They should have just saved her or killed her. This whole sequel baiting stuff means noone is happy and if they don't stick the landing tarnishes the whole project.
We'll see. Having us wait 4yrs to grieve is a long shot. But at least for me, Aerith's presence is a pretty easy thing to bring me back into. So I have optimism that Cloud's grieving process will be a powerful series of events.
Agreed. This isn’t even a story about a particular theme (aside from fighting fate I guess), it’s a story about the story of the original FFVII.
They tell mostly the same story and in this game, the bombastic twist ending is less justified than in Remake. They promised we’d be going off rails at the end of the last game and now they’re saying the same thing at the end of this one.
It comes off as the devs saying “please buy our next game” . Very little weight or reverence. Just kinda subversion for subversions sake which doesn’t seem especially clever on its own
LoL they literally said these games lead to Advent Children
Meaning nothing is changing :D
Still thinking something will????????
I believe the phrase was “line up with” or something. That could mean anything. Just saying “that timeline still exists” is enough to justify that phrase.
@@Joshiepoo2525i don’t think it’ll be four years. part 3, barring unforeseen delays, will probably drop 2027 with the 30th anniversary and the 12 year commitment that i think nomura has referenced in interviews. plus dude wants to be done. he’s burned out.
LOST copied Advent Children back in the day
They butchered the classic story hoping to get people talking and hyping and theorizing like we did for ReMake. They clearly failed in that regard. So now not only do we not have a good remake, but also a boring rehashing of other stories. Figuratively the worst of both worlds.
I aint letting go of shit. Aerith lives.
Most fans hated the ending of Lost so ya no thanks.
Most people also misunderstood it, thinking they were dead the whole time.
@@Joshiepoo2525Because the Devs Lied to us and said no they're not dead repeatedly. You gotta end it in a way you are getting the point across.
@@kittylovemeows They weren’t dead except for the sideways world which had almost nothing to do with the real world, and didn’t exist until the final season. They never lied.
@@Joshiepoo2525 I was there young man. They said no, they aren't gonna end it like ohhh they're dead. At the end they are literally dead all of them together.
@@kittylovemeows I’m 34… I was there too. They said they are not dead. And they weren’t. Adding an extra side story that takes place after death has nothing to do with the island story.
Lost said that the writers quit in season 3, so they won’t going to end up all dead
They were not dead. They were only dead in the flash sideways world the final season which had almost nothing to do with the island story. Common misconception.