Uh oh, this is going to be long...
So first I'm not shocked at all because in most Ultimania that is exactly how Aerith is described. As a nee-san type character that takes the lead. Strong-willed , direct, speaks her mind. Assertive type. And that's part of her inner strength. Also in the JP version of Costa Del Sol date she is again described that way by the fangirls trying to ship her and Cloud. It's a way to describe her personality.
I agree fully with you, it's about Aerith's characteristic; I think it's interesting because Hamaguchi clearly is thinking about her character arc there I feel. You once told me (or was it Aria?) that Cloud needed to go through Aerith to reach Tifa, but I personally feel that it's more like Aerith needs to go through Cloud to reach Zack. Take off Aerith and this doesn't change his dynamic with Tifa, but take off Cloud and you'd have a whole new Aerith to me, because her own arc imposes her to go through Cloud.
The Claudia scene reference I think is definitely there [...]
This has always been the case. It's why
Aerith's theme plays in that scene in OG and EC. Because of this connection.
To me, like many OG players, or at least CTs, this scene was always a red herring, and in the end we had Cloud's "not interested" there. So yeah I never thought this scene was too important because there were a lot of scenes that were supposed to play into the LT.
Though I'll also point out Tifa is also referred as mature in Mobius and TOTP which has always been my thoughts that this scene is actually supposed to set up the BOTH of them because remember there is a mystery there and you have an affection system in OG and I think it's supposed to make you wonder what girl she's referring to as part of the narrative. So it actually fits the both of them.
However, it does look like Nojima wants to push a new spine on it; if you think about it, both in the OG and trilogy, then Jenova is meddling with his memories so his mum's speech cannot be fully heard, nor can we fully trust what is said after all. But if we can trust this bit of memory, we also must remember that it's partial, incomplete. We once could've wondered if real Cloud wasn't trying to interfere to try to keep his secret from Jenova, but given the context of him trying to connect with this new persona of Cloud, it does feel more like Jenova is interfering and Cloud cannot access to this whole memory.
I definitely agree that the OG was "red herring" the players there; but for the trilogy, mmh. If you think about it, Teen!Tifa was vastly different from the Tifa we know; she had a lot of spunk in her, while being mature and giving classes to the elderly etc., if we look at her in the Kalm flashback it's like "wow, what a difference". And then, she fits completely Claudia's description -
this is the Tifa Claudia knew! A spunky yet still well-grounded kid. I really do wonder if we'll see this memory fully this time or if like in the OG they'll skip it. And ToTP certainly did give a lot of context with Claudia discovering that Cloud had a crush big enough on Tifa to reveal something to Tifa that he did not talk about with herself. So it really does make you wonder, but I feel that, in the trilogy, Claudia may be more teasing him about this crush. Hence why she's describing him Tifa - but Cloud doesn't catch that at all.
I don't see him as saying they're like siblings just repeating stuff that has already been said. As I said this isn't different from Ultimanias and other references to Aerith.
You know, I really sat down to think about this interview, because there is a lot going on there:
There are connotations about the multiverse and different timelines, but at its core, the extra scenes are about giving Cloud and Aerith the space to say goodbye to each other, to appreciate the beautiful relationship that has been built between them, and perhaps even ease the guilt Cloud will inevitably feel. In particular, there’s a sequence where Cloud goes on a date with Aerith in an alternate timeline – a sequence that brings a quiet break in between some of the most raucous events of the game.
“There can be many different interpretations of what this scene truly means for each player. But Aerith has always been this sort of sisterly character pulling Cloud along and encouraging him,” Hamaguchi says, “She is feeling what is to come, and understanding her fate. She’s still pushing Cloud along and leading him in this way, and it shows her pure heartedness and inner strength.”
I have said it many times, but the end of Rebirth is showing CA reaching its conclusion as a potential pairing, and it looks like the journalist thinks so too - Hamaguchi not commenting on it definitely makes me think that he is on the same page.
But Hamaguchi answers specifically about the dream date "there can be many interpretations of what this scene truly means for each players" - I guess this is why they added the HA and LA answers, though the LA is the one that gives the tempo there. As my husband put it (and he's seen the HA mind you), Aerith has been friendzoned, hard. But I think it's interesting how they know some players will see it romantically while others will try to recontextualise - this is where the Zack scenes that come in between actually make you uncomfortable. Cloud barely feels like himself (is the close presence of Zack and the Lifestream make him adopt a more Zack-coded persona?), Aerith feels... very young (definitely COLW Aerith, even though COLW Aerith is "older" so to speak), Zack is around trying to save Aerith, his friends, doing everything he can and at every turn creating a new story (=world) to fit, alas to no avail.
Then comes his commentary about Aerith as a character and... yeah this is making me stop. Because
this is also supposed to be an answer about the date, so he's not only commenting on Aerith as a character, but what's to expect there.
"Everyone has a different interpretations but Aerith has always been this chotto onee-san pulling Cloud along and encouraging him" is exactly what he says and in a way, I find that
this strips out the romantic implications that could be between Cloud and Aerith, especially since the end of this sequence is her getting friendzoned (and still encouraging him, may I add).
And his last part is all about Aerith, which tells us that she knows her fate (it's probably a different Aerith that is why) and how this scene is about her showing that she wants to save the world (there is no this materia is going to save you, that's one of the most AWFUL mistranslations out there) despite knowing it's going to get her killed. She knows where they stand, realises that maybe her feelings aren't what she believed, that Cloud doesn't feel the same way anyway, still feels wounded by the friendzone but needs to do what's needed to save the world.
Now the way Hamaguchi talked about her in this question, makes me feel that they
may be going to reframe the CA relationship as a family-like bond. Often in this game it does feel that Cloud treats Aerith as a little sister that he wants to dote on; there is no desire from him to change their relationship, he is fine with what they have and for most of the game, I'd argue that so is Aerith. Even her GS date is still her more using Cloud as Zack than her trying to reach Cloud beside her telling him that he's not really himself and maybe a bit too much like Zack for his own good. And after that they basically have no time until she dies, except for this specific date, which doesn't even happen with "our" Aerith (I mean come on, she calls Cloud 'Cloud-kun' and herself 'Aerith-san'??? Does this sound like "our" Aerith? It's no wonder Cloud is like "wtf is happening" there).
However,
all of this doesn't prevent people from seeing this on a romantic angle, as he said at the start. And it's ok. But there is definitely more going on there, and that church scene, to me, is really a sad one. So yeah, I feel that Hamaguchi really thinking about Aerith herself rather than "her and Cloud" and what does this scene convey (it conveys
from Aerith and not
from Cloud) is an interesting way to look at, but it definitely strips out the romance tone because what mattered there was Aerith more than anything else.
And I will say it but a lot of CT do know the "Aerith is Cloud's sister" is a meme, that Hamaguchi is talking about her character.
It's heavily heavily implied that yeah the dream date Aerith is a different Aerith. My thoughts are on probably Life stream White Aerith. That knows her fate.
Yes we definitely agree there, and the fact that Hamaguchi mentions how she knows her fate makes me even more suspiscious.
You know, I think that even if the author says that characters A & B are like siblings, it shouldn't be a reason for anyone to stop shipping them. Because ultimately you (general you, lol) saw something there that appealed to you and nobody's words should take it away from you. But I also think people are free to ship actual (still fictional) siblings, for whatever reasons they personally have, because ultimately shipping is just playing with paper dolls so it's like, whatever.
Well, then you step on ASOIAF and its whole world and it's a whole new debate lmao. I mean there are even shippers for the twins so xD
To me it's always just seemed like a conversation that while not irrelevant, doesn't necessarily need to have some deeper meaning or foreshadowing into Cloud's love life. [...]
Maybe it's literally just a parent giving their 2 cents on their kids lives as parents are wont to do?
I think Claudia was just teasing Cloud about Tifa, really.
I've definitely seen a chunk of the fandom that believes strongly in a Dom Cloud.
Yeah because he has rizz! lol. When you see him with Tifa there is definitely a very strong yearning, and a physical one at that: in her bedroom in Remake where he thought he'd get some action, in Rebirth when during her date her makes her spin hard into his arms before the gondola where he pulls her into a hug, makes a very decided face and kisses her.
Cloud definitely has some rizz, though the dom part is mostly joking.
I've seen CT fans say that too, lol.
Yeah it's more like an inside joke lol please don't take everything the fandom says seriously.
Weirdly enough, I've seen Tifa/Aerith shippers turn Tifa into the "butch" partner of that relationship. And I'm wondering if it's because she's the sporty one or...?
Yeah that one is more cringe as they ship a lesbian ship but making Tifa the "butch" partner when Tifa is actually not butch at all and inside still very girly. It's also almost racist in a way, Tifa representing Eastern Asian norms, but being the one treated this way. Nah it really makes me mad.
lol.
