SPOILERS LTD Remake — It's like New Coke except ... no, it's exactly like New Coke

[Eerie]

I don't know, personally it wasn't the fact that they were twins that made me back off but the imbalance between the two characters lol. Plus the guy gets a true love interest and his dynamic with her is much better xD

I stayed out of the fandom personally xD

 

[Skilganon]

I don't think Cloud's mom calling a prospective girlfriend 'sisterly' should disqualify Aerith as a partner. No mother would say to her son "I think you should get a girlfriend who you have a familial, sister-like bond with." That would be very weird. Claudia was most definitely speaking personality-wise.

I don't say this to support the CA ship. Cloud's feelings are his own and I think he's made them clear in Remake and Rebirth. Claudia doesn't decide who Cloud likes.

I guess it's inevitable that discussions about the LTD get into the weeds about these very slight details.

 

[null]

there is currently a 'theory' in response that Cloud and Tifa are half siblings

I'm gonna join forces with the theory bros: it was Claudia's Man who ran wild on the cul de sac.

We know:

• he was known to have a real handsome face
• he never could settle down
• Cloud looks like his father
• Thea thinks Cloud will turn out hotter than Sephiroth

Conclusion: Thea used to let Claudia's Man come over to borrow a little sugar if you know what I mean.

Now we have our rock solid modus ponens proof but unfortunately the Highwind Scene is still coming. And Han Solo is not walking through that door to save the dignity of the franchise.

 

[LunarTarotGirl]

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.


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 actually agree. I also noticed this about Tifa and why I think it applies to her.

Though I also want to offer another perspective into why such a connection (Claudia's statement and Aerith's character description) would even be there in the first place.

I think since OG Aerith and Tifa have been mirrors of eachother. And like Zack and Cloud are somewhat mirrors this could be part of the narrative too.

Aerith and Tifa in the present are very different from when they were younger. We see Aerith in CC is more reserved and observant than impulsive. Like Tifa is now. And we see Tifa is more confident and spunky like Aerith is now.

I think this is very intentional as even in OG we have a moment near the end where Cloud sees Aerith in the Life stream reaches out and the scene changes to Tifa reaching for him. Other than just a red herring I think this is key to their roles in Cloud's life as guides. Aerith as a Cetra spiritual guide but also Tifa was a literal guide in Nibelheim. The parallels between both girls is I think interwoven between.

Which is why I definitely think that yes that Claudia can't be talking about Aerith literally. It would have to be Tifa But the narrative does want you to think of the both of them here which is why Aerith's description is that way. Because of this meta parallel between them.

As for why: I think it's supposed to bring up more thinking about the narrative, the shell game so to speak and a mystery of Cloud's identity and past. Also his secret feelings for Tifa. Also probably why when Aerith is called that in Costa Del Sol she admits she isn't sure that's who she is. It's hinting at the red herring there you're supposed to think it's Aerith first hence the romance looking stuff like Life stream dream sparkles and dress reveal then later on go wait a minute... (Also when comparing the quest to his quest with Tifa in Costa as well. As a CA I will admit that because it's very blatant and Aerith is questioning the whole quest) That's my thoughts on what you said about recontexualising the CA bond.

Though I will add I think it's a hybrid of friendship and agape but with the framing of romance first for narrative purpose then recontexualising it later in the end like you said as a more friends than anything else thing. And I still don't think this because he's saying nee-san there but just because that's how the story goes he has feelings for Tifa.
In fact I still think nee-san has nothing to do with platonicness or romanticness here and is a description of character traits and yes a bit of a dynamic thing. And I see the point of them trying to recontexualise the CA bond as more spiritual and platonic but I still don't think that's enough to say Cloud himself views Aerith as a sibling and not as just as a friend. When every time that description has been brought up in the past it says nothing about sibling like.
You can argue that being friend zoned is just that too; that he sees her as a friend. Especially when this description of chottoneesan can applies to Tifa too. And we don't say he and Tifa are sibling like. Because the context of when this description was used was in describing an ideal girlfriend.
As for Hamaguchi I don't know but I don't think he's going so far to talk about CA's relationship that deeply here but rather saying Aerith is that type of nee-san character pulling Cloud along but also guiding Cloud to get the White Materia here. At least that's how I read it. Not as a comment on being romantic or not. I took it as what is up for interpretation is what everything means story wise,"with the timelines" etc.

As for Cloud, it's a set up the reveal for the buried feelings for Tifa basically. So basically similar to OG but set up this time with more neon lights as hints.

But also something else that stood out to me is this. Cloud gets to act out what he wanted to be for Tifa by being Aerith's body guard. And Aerith gets to act out spending more time with Zack by spending more time with Cloud.

It's a very interesting meta going on there. And I think that meta is in both OG and ReTrilogy. So I don't think it's all just LTD set up either. It gives you information of why their bond is important too from a storytelling perspective in terms of their hopes and wishes.

Though I don't think it was me that said "Cloud needed to go through Aerith to reach Tifa". That's my view on that.

__________

But yes I want to talk about kid Tifa and kid Aerith too because I noticed the new lore seems to be trying to expand on her friendship with Aerith too.
As for Tifa as a kid and kid Aerith I do think the Tifareth just parallel eachother separate from Cloud as well. Both girls lost both parents and both girls lead a new life after losing everything. Both girls have struggles making friends. Both girls are guides. Both girls had fake friends who proved to be fake friends and finally both girls have feelings for Cloud but that's the least of it now after OG especially in TOTP the narrative of their connection is deeper and more nuanced. Maybe to explain why they have such a deep bond even after Aerith's death. AC Tifa literally senses Aerith.

It's interesting how it's all set up pretty deliberately. To the point something that always stood out to me is in wallmarket Aerith in her dress says Heya to Cloud with the same way and voice direction that Tifa says Heya to Cloud on the water tower. Another hint of the parallels.

So in conclusion: Tifareth power FTW lol.

But yeah...

I think it's intentional to have part of the narrative parallel Tifa and Aerith even in the narrative in ReTrilogy as well not just OG for the reasons above. And it also helps to push the red herring of the "which will he choose mystery" while the answer is literally Tifa. In the literal sense.

Edited 1:51pm EST: Added thoughts on the sibling like comparison here.

 

[imach0c0]

Incidentally, while Aerith is absolutely the big sister type, the way Hama's statement was phrased suggested he wasn't entirely talking about her personality or how she is viewed, but inter-character dynamics.

What do you mean by inter-character dynamics? Could you expand upon that?

 

[Ryushikaze]

I don't think Cloud's mom calling a prospective girlfriend 'sisterly' should disqualify Aerith as a partner. No mother would say to her son "I think you should get a girlfriend who you have a familial, sister-like bond with." That would be very weird. Claudia was most definitely speaking personality-wise.

I don't say this to support the CA ship. Cloud's feelings are his own and I think he's made them clear in Remake and Rebirth. Claudia doesn't decide who Cloud likes.

I guess it's inevitable that discussions about the LTD get into the weeds about these very slight details.

The point is more that especially after TOTP it's more than likely Claudia was referring to Tifa in a teasing way, but yes, Claudia doesn't decide Cloud's heart, he does.

I'm gonna join forces with the theory bros: it was Claudia's Man who ran wild on the cul de sac.

We know:

• he was known to have a real handsome face
• he never could settle down
• Cloud looks like his father
• Thea thinks Cloud will turn out hotter than Sephiroth

Conclusion: Thea used to let Claudia's Man come over to borrow a little sugar if you know what I mean.

Now we have our rock solid modus ponens proof but unfortunately the Highwind Scene is still coming. And Han Solo is not walking through that door to save the dignity of the franchise.

You're still gonna fight those theory bros because the nonsense is that it's Brian who fathered both kids, not Mr. Strife.

What do you mean by inter-character dynamics? Could you expand upon that?

Well he talks about her being sisterly to then immediately talk about how she pushes Cloud forward with her cheerfulness, literally talking about their dyanmic with each other. So it's about how her personality informs how she interacts with Cloud.

 

[LunarTarotGirl]

You also see this a lot in China and Korea where they refer to older male and female as gege and jiejie in chinese and oppa and noona in korean respectively. These terms can be used for both family and non family, which can be confusing sometimes.

In my country too. We call everyone our cousin, and people who don't know you call you their son or daughter.

Anyway yeah we need to keep in context the culture of the devs too. And the way other cultures apply these terms. For example the number of anime and JP dramas I've seen where the couple as described as sibling like but is romantic and endgame is not zero. Winry and Edward from FullmetalAlchemist get married and are romantic. Winry is described as a sister worried over her brothers Edward and Alphonse.

Eren and Mikasa in AOT as well. They're adopted siblings because Mikasa is taken in by his family and still the romantic endgame.

And danmei. A whole other ball game where everyone in love with each other yet is described as sworn brothers or raised as adopted brothers, uncles etc. Lol. And it's still not incest it's just the ways these terms are used differs.

That's why yes I think in the story Cloud's feelings are for Tifa but to me it is not because Aerith is called nee-san.
And that line of thinking that nee-san = has to be platonic is one I can't follow at all because it's not an indication in media that characters described as sibling like will automatically be platonic. Or can't ever be romantic and if it is it's incestuous or whatever else. Even shows made in the US do this with adopted siblings.

Of course I believe relationships described as sibling or family like can actually truly be family like. I just don't think it's the rule. Example the characters in FruitsBasket starts out romantic looking very baited with every romance trope in the book then reveals a family like bond in the end. And it's described as motherly and family like. With the author literally saying it was her intention.

So same thing applies with motherly. It could be platonic but not necessarily. These descriptors can be used in various ways regardless of the dynamics.

I especially feel this way when both these terms nee-san and motherly have been applied to both Aerith and Tifa in the compilation.

It's why I don't equate the words sisterly or motherly with "so automatically you're in the friend zone now." I see what else is there and the dynamic as platonic or romantic despite these descriptors.

I just think well he likes Tifa so he would feel differently with Aerith because he is into Tifa. And I go from there.

 

[Ahkseum]

I dont think this interveiw changes anything.

Aerith is being described as the big sister type. I dont think Hamaguchi is directly saying that Cloud and Aerith have a sibling-like relationship. So this isnt really a win for Clotis. With that in mind, Hamaguchi did say that people are free to interpret the final date the way like, however. And as far as Im concerned, you can interpret their relationship as sibling-like as much as you can interpret their realtionship as romantic.

I do think there is some merit to Cleriths saying that Aerith is a big-sister type, and Cloud's mom said that a big-sister type would be perfect for him. But this isnt really a win for Cleriths either. Claudia's taste in women is basically irrelevant. Cloud already has a type of girl he likes...and it's whatever type you would use to describe Tifa. Cloud in the flashback scene is literally sulking over the fact he couldnt become a SOLDIER to impress Tifa.

I dont think this interview ends the Love Triangle Debate....because the LTD ended when Rebirth gave Tifa a kiss at the gold saucer.

 

[Edley]

The point is more that especially after TOTP it's more than likely Claudia was referring to Tifa in a teasing way, but yes, Claudia doesn't decide Cloud's heart, he does.

This. There's a pretty clear line based on Traces:

9/21/02 - Tifa and Claudia chat about Cloud while volunteering on the meal line for the town's monster patrols. Tifa spills Cloud's desire to be in SOLDIER and Claudia is stunned "goodness, goodness" when she realizes the reason why her baby boy ran off to the big city. Nojima goes as far as to have Tifa speculate that Claudia was about to ask her about Cloud and Tifa falling off the mountain as kids. Some dude named Mark Banner shows ups and tells Tifa Fluffy was spotted on the trail. Tifa chases her cat up the mountain and runs into the Before Crisis Player Turk who rescues her from monsters on the mountain. They return to town and Tifa is nominated to be the guide for SOLDIERs.

9/22/02 - Zack, Sephiroth, and Trooper Cloud show up. Cloud visits Tifa's house. A couple of things here I found interesting. Tifa readily admits to the group that she and Cloud weren't close as children and Cloud backs her up saying "we had our reasons". Cloud goes to his mom's house where the first thing she says is "Cloud, is that you?". This is a big hint that Cloud's actually wearing the trooper uniform and helmet here. We get visible Jenova rewrites about her being proud of Cloud being in SOLDIER & Claudia sitting at the dinner table talking to a blank space, but not when they have the silly goose convo. I'd be shocked if we don't get the actual version of this convo (perhaps with a real SOLDIER involved) in part 3.


Who are you talking to?

 

[Ryushikaze]

We get visible Jenova rewrites about her being proud of Cloud being in SOLDIER & Claudia sitting at the dinner table talking to a blank space, but not when they have the silly goose convo. I'd be shocked if we don't get the actual version of this convo (perhaps with a real SOLDIER involved) in part 3.

I do think the part about Claudia being proud of Cloud is genuine, just edited to work around that he's working with SOLDIER, not actually one.

 

[null]

Y'all have been really bringing the goods with the Claudia theories. I always took that OG version at face value, but now it's starting to feel like an aborted arc that ReTrilogy will bring to fruition. Claudia just might be the dark horse of the new Lifestream Scene. At the very least, I hope she's shown to be as important to Cloud's broken psyche as Aerith and Zack.

You're still gonna fight those theory bros because the nonsense is that it's Brian who fathered both kids, not Mr. Strife.

I'm always happy to read desperate nonsense, but we've simply got to have standards. It takes more than a measly chest tease and a Ron Burgundy stache to make Claudia Strife drop her apron. I'll fight the Brian bros, the Zangan bros, the Vincent sisters, and anyone else hollering that low effort cope.

 

[Skilganon]

Conclusion: Thea used to let Claudia's Man come over to borrow a little sugar if you know what I mean.

Brian did act jealous when Thea went off about Cloud's attractiveness. That's hard evidence according to some shippers out there.

 

[Eerie]

I certainly do hope to see Claudia’s role expanded because I’m pretty sure she’s the root of him denying his friends’ deaths: he did not have the time to mourn her properly so when Zack’s death happened, it was just too much for him - and right at the corner he lost Aerith too.

 

[Heartstation]

I certainly do hope to see Claudia’s role expanded because I’m pretty sure she’s the root of him denying his friends’ deaths: he did not have the time to mourn her properly so when Zack’s death happened, it was just too much for him - and right at the corner he lost Aerith too.

I think this as well, I am wondering if his mother’s death parallels Aerith’s in some way, (an impaling?) or if the connection is that—unlike Zack’s death—Cloud was present for the cause of the kill & couldn’t prevent save his mother or Aerith while they were murdered in front of him by Sephiroth.

 

[Yoru]

Just popping in to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays !

May 2025 hold good things in store for you, and keep your sanity in spite of the horrible takes seen on twitter while waiting some part 3 news.

Can't wait to have some new things to discuss with you all, take care !

 

[Skilganon]

What do people think about LTD arguments based on compatibility? How 'good' two characters are together in a romantic pairing.

To me, psycho-analysis of fictional characters is completely subjective. But even if you can make definitive statements about compatibility, it has no bearing on the author's intent nor the characters' feelings. Hypothetically, if two fictional characters were romantically incompatible in every way that matters, yet still liked each other enough to begin a relationship, that would still be canon.

If you find the canon pair of any piece of media to be incompatible, then that seems a critique of the writing rather than a dispute over canonical romance.

 

[Eerie]

I think it's both fair game and useless xD

It's fair because it's what the writer presents to us. It's interesting to know the characters and their interactions; however, in the case of the OG and Compilation, a lot of people actually misunderstood CT because they have been badly presented (both in the OG due to the limitations of the game, and in the Compilation with CoT setting up AC but not focusing enough on the good things in their relationships and AC being the disaster we know until ACC which did give a bit more CT consistance but it still too hard to follow). And this image has stuck with them, especially in the context of the LTD where CA was way more a "what if" situation until the Re-trilogy. And we know it: "what ifs" are always prettier than the reality.

In the case of the Re-trilogyxCT however, we see how they have been developped, and how, even if they're not especially good at it, they manage to communicate, to actually want to be together, to talk together, to date each other (she is the only one he wants to go on a date with at the GS, twice). They are both shy, yet they get to talk about their feelings in the deepest way, something that they don't do with others. Their scenes are always intimates because their scenes often happen in bedrooms too! So I'd say that Nojima has managed to show how CT actually works, how compatible they are together, as they are very similar yet manage to overcome their shyness and miscommunication troubles.

For the CA counterpart though, I will I think always refer to Nojima saying that it would be Aerith's emotional burden, and this is how they were depicted, IMHO, in both Remake and Rebirth: she is always the one to have to make that extra step, and I would argue that a couple cannot function like that, when there's this imbalance. Most importantly, I think that their couple cannot work in the FFVII frame because they both have limitations called "Tifa" and "Zack". Their feelings for these characters make Cloud unwilling to change his relationship with Aerith into something romantic, and when Aerith tries, she find herself cornered by both Cloud's feelings for Tifa and her own feelings for both Cloud and Zack.
Maybe we could say CA would work in an AU where neither Zack or Tifa exist, and neither had known them prior, but it would be a completely story and not "Cloud" and "Aerith" anymore, seeing how the two have been shaped by their feelings for respectively "Tifa" and "Zack".

So it's useless because the story is already written, has been for 27 years and if you don't like it, well there are plenty of other stories to discover.

 

[pxl_pushr]

Y'all have been really bringing the goods with the Claudia theories. I always took that OG version at face value, but now it's starting to feel like an aborted arc that ReTrilogy will bring to fruition. Claudia just might be the dark horse of the new Lifestream Scene. At the very least, I hope she's shown to be as important to Cloud's broken psyche as Aerith and Zack.

I certainly do hope to see Claudia’s role expanded because I’m pretty sure she’s the root of him denying his friends’ deaths: he did not have the time to mourn her properly so when Zack’s death happened, it was just too much for him - and right at the corner he lost Aerith too.

I love that Claudia Truthers are becoming very much a thing lol because I’m betting the farm on her being the key to everything in terms of Cloud’s character arc in FF7 proper.

Especially if she convinced Cloud to reveal himself to Tifa right before everything went down in Nibelheim, and her saying she’s proud of him becomes a point of shame if he fails to do anything to protect her that night, or is protected by her instead.

Toss in the Sephiroth stuff from First Soldier and it all clicks imo why Sephiroth’s manipulation methods only start working once he adjusts his attack angle to include Tifa and recreate his failures with Aerith as the ultimate theatrical recreation.

 

[null]

What do people think about LTD arguments based on compatibility? How 'good' two characters are together in a romantic pairing.

To me, psycho-analysis of fictional characters is completely subjective. But even if you can make definitive statements about compatibility, it has no bearing on the author's intent nor the characters' feelings. Hypothetically, if two fictional characters were romantically incompatible in every way that matters, yet still liked each other enough to begin a relationship, that would still be canon.

If you find the canon pair of any piece of media to be incompatible, then that seems a critique of the writing rather than a dispute over canonical romance.

Yeah, it’s like Stan Lee said in that “who would win” rant, but for relationships: it’s literally whatever the writer wants. “If I want Spidahman with Cloud, he’ll win. If I want The Thing with Cloud, he’ll win.”

I think romantic compatibility is just a tool in the writer’s kit and it can be used for any purpose. Just look at Geralt and Yennefer. They’re toxic as all hell, and also canon as all hell, both passing up far more compatible partners:

“Why, it doesn’t matter, because Essi smells of verbena, not lilac and gooseberry, doesn’t have cool, electrifying skin. Essi’s hair is not a black tornado of gleaming curls, Essi’s eyes are gorgeous, soft, warm and cornflower blue; they don’t blaze with a cold, unemotional, deep violet. Essi will fall asleep afterwards, turn her head away, open her mouth slightly, Essi will not smile in triumph. For Essi…

Essi is not Yennefer.

And that is why I cannot.”

 

[Skilganon]

For me, I couldn't tell you how incompatible Cloud and Tifa are (or Cloud and Aerith for that matter). The reason I like CT more is because of their shared backstory and the reveals in the life stream scene.

But even looking at the compilation as a whole, I think we are lacking scenes of them being happy together as a couple. And the games have already given scenes of CA being happy in a couple-like context. There's the rooftop walk, the wall-market section, the dream-date.

With CT, there's the constant angst, the push-pull created by Cloud's alienation and memory issues. There's the physically intimate moments and the shyness. But when do we see them just be happy together? I don't know what that would look like. If you take away the drama, what's left?

 

[Eerie]

I do think the Compilation is lacking in the showing CT as a happy couple, which is kinda normal since the Compilation focuses on problems to solve. But I did think there was some happy CT in CoT, though maybe not enough, and TKaA voiced Cloud’s happiness.

The wallmarket wasn’t about CA as a couple, it was about them wanting to save Tifa. And during the Honey Bee Inn scene, she gets excited when he acts the most like Zack so yeah…

The dream date still ends with Aerith coming to the conclusion that they’re not a couple, and even during the date everything turns wrong so I’m not sure where you’re seeing the happiness because there’s more happiness coming from Cloud in both GS CT dates in that yes, she was the one he wanted to be with.

I don’t really see the rooftop as a couple thing, they’re barely meeting each other - again a contrast with Tifa showing Cloud’s Stargazer Heights, if you follow them from 7th Heaven. They do have a lot to relearn from each other, which they have been doing since tho. And yes I wish they had chosen the faces Cloud makes off camera there but it’s something already that he was modelled that way but they chose not to show it.

Overall I will say it: the pretty CA scenes are for a lot of them very superficial and mostly about Aerith, not about Cloud, while the CT scenes are about themselves as a couple or hints about their future lives, or about Cloud. This is why Rebirth feels extremely CT, it’s because they are being built as the canon pair, and they are needed for the intimate plot to take place. Now it is true that after the Lifestream scene in p3, I do hope to see more PDA and a non skippable date, as it was hinted at during Remake.

 

[Ryeleigh]

For me, I couldn't tell you how incompatible Cloud and Tifa are (or Cloud and Aerith for that matter). The reason I like CT more is because of their shared backstory and the reveals in the life stream scene.

But even looking at the compilation as a whole, I think we are lacking scenes of them being happy together as a couple. And the games have already given scenes of CA being happy in a couple-like context. There's the rooftop walk, the wall-market section, the dream-date.

With CT, there's the constant angst, the push-pull created by Cloud's alienation and memory issues. There's the physically intimate moments and the shyness. But when do we see them just be happy together? I don't know what that would look like. If you take away the drama, what's left?

I think the devs have shown that in Re-Trilogy pretty well, though? I'm not sure if I still remember all the instances but there's Cloud relentlessly flirting with Tifa as soon as he gets back to her after the first bombing. For example, going around Sector 7, their talk in Cloud's room, the train tunnel, the Costa del Sol gym quest (which was a big OUCH right after Aerith's fashion quest), the frog quest, etc.

I also think that the best way the devs have shown CT's compatibility is how Tifa respects Cloud's boundaries. It's honestly very obvious when compared with the other girls. It's also hilarious because I think Cloud wants Tifa all over his boundaries, lmao.

In contrast, Cloud was still pretty standoffish and huffy with Aerith in the rooftop walk and the wall-market section so I can't say they were "happy". Aerith, maybe? Cloud, not so much. And even in Rebirth, he still gets that way with her when she's pushing their dates to be romantic. Which is why I keep saying that their most romantic moments are, ironically, when they're friends.

Not sure if this reply answered anything, though?

 

[Hellenic]

For me, I couldn't tell you how incompatible Cloud and Tifa are (or Cloud and Aerith for that matter). The reason I like CT more is because of their shared backstory and the reveals in the life stream scene.

But even looking at the compilation as a whole, I think we are lacking scenes of them being happy together as a couple. And the games have already given scenes of CA being happy in a couple-like context. There's the rooftop walk, the wall-market section, the dream-date.

With CT, there's the constant angst, the push-pull created by Cloud's alienation and memory issues. There's the physically intimate moments and the shyness. But when do we see them just be happy together? I don't know what that would look like. If you take away the drama, what's left?

They do lack some actual chill time between each other, which is why i do hope they can fulfill that date night they promised to each other in Remake. Perhaps in Wutai if we get some fun times there. Not sure if there are any other places where we could fit in something like this anymore though.

There's also all the teasing from Andrea wanting Tifa on stage and even Cloud suggesting she could be on stage sometime so i'd love to get some actual followup to all of this finally in the third game, but we'll see i guess.

 

[pxl_pushr]

For me, I couldn't tell you how incompatible Cloud and Tifa are (or Cloud and Aerith for that matter). The reason I like CT more is because of their shared backstory and the reveals in the life stream scene.

But even looking at the compilation as a whole, I think we are lacking scenes of them being happy together as a couple. And the games have already given scenes of CA being happy in a couple-like context. There's the rooftop walk, the wall-market section, the dream-date.

With CT, there's the constant angst, the push-pull created by Cloud's alienation and memory issues. There's the physically intimate moments and the shyness. But when do we see them just be happy together? I don't know what that would look like. If you take away the drama, what's left?

Part of the issue is that a story worth writing requires conflict. Nojima initially wanted to write a mundane slice of life story for Cloud and Tifa’s life with their family, but once it became a full on production more needed to be done.

I imagine part 3 of ReTrilogy will give us some view into how Cloud and Tifa interact when what looms over them is a more external threat than internal angst. Rebirth kind of gets there since I think it says a lot that twice Tifa and Cloud commit to figuring things out between them and getting to know eachother better. That’s big for Cloud who usually a steel trap with his emotions and thoughts.

All said, I’d gladly take some lighthearted happy scenes between Cloud and Tifa. Some of my favorite fanart of them is just snippets of their domestic life together. I’m one of those hoping for the ending to Part 3 including those views into their future, that they’re okay after everything and I can imagine the details of that peaceful life for them.

 

[Empyrea]

For me, I couldn't tell you how incompatible Cloud and Tifa are (or Cloud and Aerith for that matter). The reason I like CT more is because of their shared backstory and the reveals in the life stream scene.

But even looking at the compilation as a whole, I think we are lacking scenes of them being happy together as a couple. And the games have already given scenes of CA being happy in a couple-like context. There's the rooftop walk, the wall-market section, the dream-date.

With CT, there's the constant angst, the push-pull created by Cloud's alienation and memory issues. There's the physically intimate moments and the shyness. But when do we see them just be happy together? I don't know what that would look like. If you take away the drama, what's left?

I personally found this was caused by the trend in the 90s where the writers seemed to focus more on the mutual pining and just ending the story when feelings were confessed. I was never a fan of that.

That said, I always found the CA moments a little too on the nose about it, only to then backtrack by showing Cloud being disinterested (or going along, at best), with only Aerith doing most of the leg work. It's part of why I could never quite see the appeal of that pairing.

Their scenes that focus more on them being friends are super cute, though. Really, there should've been more of those -- but also with everyone (which is a separate issue).