FF7 Headcanons and Discussion

[Makoeyes987]

Griffith is an amazing villain. But I hate him so goddamn much.

Almost as much as Miura since he won't fucking finish the goddamn thing.

 

[Guts]

I love historical drama with fantasy undertones like that. Berserk, Souls series, Vinland Saga, Ivalice. It's cool.

Miura slacks way too much, yeah.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

This is probably bollocks. But the only way I've been able to get my head around Sephiroth being more powerful than Jenova is to view Jenova as a purely instinctive creature will no real will of its own, other than to survive. So in that respect Jenova isn't actually evil, its just doing what it does naturally like an animal.

Then Sephiroth, who is human, and therefore has a concept of good and evil is imbued with Jenovas power but is able to wield it and use it to achieve his own ends.

Which makes it all the more ironic that he ends up adopting JENOVA's behavior of space travel and planetary assimilation in AC/C. Even in the original game, his behavior was strikingly like his alien mother's -- he wanted to absorb the Lifestream and assimilate every living thing's spiritual rather than physical essence.

So, in the end, despite his human intellect and ambitions, he's still become consumed by JENOVA's instincts. In his narcissism, probably doesn't even realize it.

 

[Makoeyes987]

I like to think of Sephiroth as more of an evolution of Jenova. Yes, he overcame it's will, but on the flip side. Like you said, he's adopted its behavior. He's kinda like the superior evolution of Jenova's species in a sense. See what I'm saying?

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

That's exactly how I would (and have on a couple occasions) described it. Great minds.

 

[Guts]

If I did a remake I'd find some way to elaborate on Sephiroth's slowly changing psyche. I liken him to Kefka's eventual rise to power in that he's a bread slice people left out to rise for a whee~ee bit too long. An epidemic. Like spiralling bank interest.

I like how he's initially full of rage, then he transcends himself - he's a mistake from birth till death, sure, but his later enlightenment is very real. He has his grudge towards Cloud, his use of psychological warfare in the early stages of the story and some backstory could explain why it took a backseat when he realized his godhood.

I say technology and industrialization, how they screw people up and dilute your humanity are big pillars of FFVII's narrative, but I think Sephiroth's inner psyche and life as one of these mistakes... His story of overcoming, submitting to, fighting, making use of that and everything? Huge part of it too.

He's not too dissimilar from Griffith, but he still has a metric fuckton of potential. Hell, he's so half baked some such as Drake have a justified opinion that he's a trashy nemesis. I like him obviously, but I see why.

I think that's a blank space they could easily fill in with an expanded narrative not done in the complication's shitty style and by the original writers when not stoning.

 

[kitikat]

I just showed FFVII to my GF and, of course, it resulted in my doing another playthrough... ;-). But, am I the only one to think that when Tifa met Johnny in Costa del Sol, they hadn't only talked? ;D I know that there was a girl under the shower, but when you visited Johnny the next day (after sleeping in the Inn), he looked kinda like after-the-make-out position ;-). [OT] Oww, and by the way, it's not true that you cannot control Sephiroth in the flashback - you can run away from the battles Sephy runs faster than Usain Bolt

 

[Octo]

I just showed FFVII to my GF and, of course, it resulted in my doing another playthrough... ;-). But, am I the only one to think that when Tifa met Johnny in Costa del Sol, they hadn't only talked? ;D I know that there was a girl under the shower, but when you visited Johnny the next day (after sleeping in the Inn), he looked kinda like after-the-make-out position ;-).

Are you sure it wasn't the after a 'hand shandy' position?

 

[kitikat]

Are you sure it wasn't the after a 'hand shandy' position?

He looked definitely exhausted....and also, the way Tifa asked Cloud to leave....well....it didn't look like Johnny was going only to go like a crazy monkey with his banana later that night

 

[Guts]

He looked definitely exhausted....and also, the way Tifa asked Cloud to leave....well....it didn't look like Johnny was going only to go like a crazy monkey with his banana later that night

Japanese games will generally clarify anywhere in their expanded narrative that love interests stick, first and foremost, with the heroes. It's a trend. Giving the characters realistic interests and diverting them from the main plot's idealization of them usually alienates nerds and sets the writers feeling in a bad way.

 

[Edley]

Unless Cloud was into cuckolding?

 

[OneWingedDemon]

I honestly think he wasn't originally conceived as the bs that CC tried to sell us.

IMO, Sephiroth really does think of Jenova as his mother even if he knows Lucrezia gave birth to him. I think he really identifies with the (superior) alien part of himself much more than the human part. He doesn't consider himself a son of man, so to speak. He is a narcissist and thinks of himself as a superior, evolved being. He may very well think of Jenova as his mother in the sense that she is the being he became a much better version of. He is her successor and she is his mother.

Seriously, Jenova >>>>>>>>Lucrezia. I don't blame him, I would distance myself from that too

 

[Unlucky]

1. Cloud is a huge perv and likes to get it on frequently with Tifa, and one of the earliest cues he gave off about being depressed pre-AC is flat out refusing her more than once
2. Angeal is not 25 years old in CC, but is in his mid-30's and perhaps the oldest SOLDIER member (as much as I like to think of him being already a husband/father, it's highly unlikely since he is an experiment since childhood)
3. Sephiroth is in his early 30's during FF7
4. Tseng is very fond of Aerith since she is one of the earliest missions given to him as a Turk. He is confused as to whether he is romantically interested in her or simply just emotionally attached.
5. Contrary to popular belief in Midgar, Rufus is not trying to be a fashion icon by dressing only in black and white. He simply does so because having black and white clothes saves him the trouble of matching them and he is too lazy/has better things to do than to worry about his wardrobe.
6. Kunsel is a known blabbermouth in SOLDIER and since Zack likes gossip, they naturally became good friends
7. Zack and Aerith did it at least once
8. Aerith is aware of Tifa's insecurities regarding her and Cloud, but doesn't do anything because she isn't complaining
9. Scarlet is very eager to have Tifa executed partly because she is insecure of her physique
10. Genesis was never present during the Nibelheim incident (or better yet-- he doesn't exist)
11. Lucretia is a bitch who secretly enjoyed being chased around by Vincent

 

[Kassi]

I love this thread! Most of my headcanon is already posted here by others.

Here's my headcanon: there's a ferry between the northern continent and the eastern continent which is how the bikes & truck went between Edge & the Forgotten City in AC/ACC. I like to imagine Kadaj standing impatiently brooding in the prow as it S-L-O-W-L-Y crosses the ocean and Carly Simon sings 'Let the River Run.'

As a result, in an alternate timeline, Cloud was fast enough to get on the same ferry back from the Forgotten City. He and the remnants had their epic throwdown on a comical slow boat while all these tourists and archaeologists huddled behind their cars and abandoned ship in little lifeboats, fleeing the violent men and zombie children.

I have a rich inner life.

<3
Kassi

 

[Vivi]

Angeal is not 25 years old in CC, but is in his mid-30's and perhaps the oldest SOLDIER member (as much as I like to think of him being already a husband/father, it's highly unlikely since he is an experiment since childhood)

I like to think of him as a husband/father too! I do think that he actually is 25-ish, and only looks like he's much older because CC portrayed in Zack's eyes. but this is my own weird headcanon

Angeal's always seemed like the most level-headed of the bunch, so I like to believe that he lead a normal life before jumping off the deep end.

Lucretia is a bitch who secretly enjoyed being chased around by Vincent

Yes.

 

[Unlucky]

I like to think of him as a husband/father too! I do think that he actually is 25-ish, and only looks like he's much older because CC portrayed in Zack's eyes. but this is my own weird headcanon

Angeal's always seemed like the most level-headed of the bunch, so I like to believe that he lead a normal life before jumping off the deep end.

I honestly think it would do his character good if he's portrayed as a family man who had a normal life as you said. I felt I can appreciate him better that way. Too bad it contradicts with the storyline too much

I'm also having trouble accepting that the First Classes are that young (25-ish), it's more believable if they're at least in their late 20's. And just take a look at Angeal. Dude looks like he's bordering on being 40.

 

[S and G]

Never in a million years did Cait Sith have a Scottish accent in the original game. As a Scot, I was offended by the shitty attempt that was made in AC. I mean, we're so far behind that our cats don't even speak.

 

[Unlucky]

Moar random headcanonz:

1. Like Snow, there is only one Jemnezmy and Pollensalta (not sure if this is already the case, correct me if I'm wrong). Unlike her, however, they aren't able to talk like humans, but they can understand them, remember their faces, and even bear grudges.
2. Tseng's indifference fuels Elena's fascination.
3. Tseng doesn't care much about his appearance and wardrobe as long as he looks clean. He does pay extra attention and care to his hair, though.
4. Reno dyes his hair, and Rude loves cats.
5. Surprisingly, Rufus is not whiny and is easy to get along with (as a friend, if he ever has one). With business matters, he is a cunning, tricky, almost unlikable bastard.
6. Cloud lost Tifa's stolen underwear during the Nibelheim raze.
7. The First Class SOLDIERs do not have official fan clubs as portrayed in CC. They are admired but feared, thus, no rabid fan girls.
8. As a child, Genesis has a deep appreciation for art and became an enthusiast. Hence the flashy costume/sword and fascination with LOVELESS (seriously, if this is canon, I don't think I'll hate him that much)
9. Yuffie is increasingly becoming aware of her immaturity and becomes slightly insecure about it, although she is too stubborn to change.
10. Vincent is incredibly bored with his life and wants to die, but is too busy moping to figure out how.

 

[Dark and Divine]

I believe that the reason why Sephiroth's Will is so strong is because it was a hybrid between normal Spirit Energy from Gaia and alien Spirit Energy from Jenova.

If all living creatures have lifestream inside them, then Jenova would have one too, which would be in its essence different from the one in Gaia.

When injected with Jenova cells while still a fetus, Sephiroth became physically one with the cells, while his spirit energy became one with Jenova's spirit energy present in the cells, creating a third kind of Spirit Energy.

And it would be that hybrid lifestream that turned Sephiroth's Will/Spirit so strong that allowed him to overcome Jenova's Will and resisting his dilution in the normal Lifestream.

Of course, after that, his Spirit became even more powerful by absorbing lots of Lifestream during FFVII and by corrupting the Lifestream and creating his own during the time skip between FFVIII and AC/C, but, in its essence, it would be that duality of Sephiroth's will that make it so strong.

 

[Octo]

^Y'see now that seems plausible, I just wish Square had spent as much thought on it!

 

[Unlucky]

While on the subject of Jenova (and Sephy), I also like to share this idea I have which explains why I think Jenova is a 'she':

Shortly after its arrival, and while infecting the Cetras with its cells, it had observed particularly that women have the capability to carry and nurture their young, as opposed to men, who have no direct interaction with their offspring while in the mother's womb. Thus, it had thought of a way to duplicate itself, to reproduce while at the same time, blending among the populace for protection-- and that is to turn itself into a woman, at least superficially. Couple that with DnD's idea of merging Spirit energies within a hybrid fetus: Jenova will now be able to give birth to a new breed of 'Sephiroths'-- more powerful than itself and more capable of bringing destruction. (This idea is also inspired by an Anne Rice novel I read, 'Lasher', in which the male entity tries to impregnate women, but due to them being a 'weaker species', they died with the offspring as a result).

After being defeated by the Cetras, it used its remaining energy to transform itself, but Gast found it before its transformation is complete (hence the appearance). Ironically, Shinra completed its purpose through Project S, although via a different method. (Also, I'd like to think that should Jenova had succeeded and was able to carry the infant on her own, it will be more powerful than Sephiroth, who was born to a human mother).

Am I making any sense? Lol sorry

 

[S and G]

1) Never mind terrorist activities, Barret should have been locked up for allowing his 4 year old daughter to run the bar while he was off on a mission. That has got FAIL written all over it.
2) Forever trying to convince yourself that the church roof and the flowerbed could plausibly have broken Cloud's fall.
3) The physical form of the Promised Land was actually the Forgotten City
4) That it seemed perfectly reasonable to allow a toy cat, a 16-year-old Ninja who had just attacked you, and a weird-looking guy you found in a coffin join your party.
5) How does the rocket, having been at a 30 degree angle for years, manage to take off vertically?
6) Bugenhagen was not on a floating ball...he could just float.
7) Many other things

 

[Octo]

2) Forever trying to convince yourself that the church roof and the flowerbed could plausibly have broken Cloud's fall.

Especially weird given that in CC Zack falls through it too and lands in the exact same spot (more or less)

 

[Dark and Divine]

Especially weird given that in CC Zack falls through it too and lands in the exact same spot (more or less)

Maybe the flowers have some magnetic properties?

 

[OneWingedDemon]

1) Never mind terrorist activities, Barret should have been locked up for allowing his 4 year old daughter to run the bar while he was off on a mission. That has got FAIL written all over it.

It's not really that uncommon. I've personally seen it. Granted it wasn't 4, but still.