I wrote a Tifa defense on Tumblr, just want to share it here:
Defense of Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII)
Defense of Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII)
as a response to this.
(May contain spoilers)
Tifa Lockhart’s fanbase is probably one of the largest in any Final Fantasy title but has also one of the most rabid hatedoms. Though it’s true that Tifa is definitely not a perfect character, a lot of baseless and highly subjective accusations had been used against her and her fans.
Though not always the case, the hatred for Tifa generally stems from the fact that she is Aerith Gainsborough’s rival for the hero’s (Cloud Strife) affection in probably of the most passionately debated and controversial love triangle in the history of gaming. Tifa surviving and being the mother of Cloud’s family earned the ire of people who felt that if Aerith wasn’t murdered, she would have been in Tifa’s place instead.
Also, Tifa is so popular she has a lot of rabid die-hard fans that annoys people. It also didn’t help that her sexy outfit and voluptuous figure easily make people objectify her at first glance or make people think that she was created solely for that purpose at the first place.
In this defense, we will examine the most common and prevalent accusations to her. Our goal is not to make people stop disliking her since she is a flawed character and people have their own tastes and preferences. The aim here is to discuss baseless accusations, misconceptions on her character and the convenient excuses to hate her; hopefully, better understanding and open-mindedness will be promoted in the fandom.
She’s not Aerith Gainsborough
Remember this very well since this is the backbone of many anti-Tifa sentiments which will be included in this defense. Tifa gets hate just by being compared to Aerith. From her outfit to her personality, there are fans who hate Tifa just because she didn’t possess a quality Aerith has, or just because Aerith is “better” than her in doing it
Aerith is very forward, Tifa is shy and reserved. Aerith seemed cheerful despite the horrible things, Tifa has a lot of anger inside her early in the story because of Shinra. Aerith has time for humor even in scary circumstances while Tifa is almost always serious. Aerith flirted with Cloud while Tifa didn’t (or is making a poor job out of it.)
Aside from personality we need to note that Aerith and Tifa were from different backgrounds. Aerith lost her parents at a young age but found a new family, she was also struggling to survive in the slums for years but it became her new home. However, Tifa lost her hometown and family all at once so joined AVALANCHE to avenge everything. In terms of love, Aerith had her heart broken before when Zack never returned while Tifa didn’t experience anything like that. Tifa is also 2 years younger than Aerith. Comparison of them without considering these goes to nowhere.
In short, Tifa and Aerith are meant to contrast each other in specific ways rather than best each other. They both have roles fitting their abilities and personalities. You make like the other better but that’s not a reason to hate the other. Loving one does not mean you have to hate the other. Many fans, including the writer of this defense, love both women.
She is nothing but fanservice/Her choice of outfit makes her whorish
The simple answer for this is that unlike humans, fictional characters are born with their clothes on. In Tifa’s case, her outward appearance is defined by her large chest and outfit. It’s something Tifa didn’t choose to have but her appearance is like an irremovable body part.
It wasn’t her choice to wear what she likes, she was born with it when they drew her. We cannot use the standards that we use in real life in terms of decency and practicality. If we use the standards of the FFVII universe, see that everyone, everyone in the story does not disrespect her because of her outfit.
But to be fair, even if Tifa has a large chest, her main outfits don’t show her cleavage and unless you hack the models, you never get to see what’s under her skirt.
She wasn’t important in the story
Tifa is very important for Cloud and we all know that Cloud is the protagonist and hero of FFVII. Tifa is the reason why Cloud left Nibelheim to join SOLDIER and she was also the one who requested Cloud to join AVALANCHE.
More importantly, Tifa was the one who held the key to Cloud’s past. When Cloud was broken once he realized he has a false persona, Tifa’s memories of him allowed him to find his true self. After Cloud reconstructs himself he set out to defeat Sephiroth once and for all. If he wasn’t helped by Tifa, he wouldn’t be able to do the job and will stay as a person who doesn’t know himself living in false memories.
Officially, as stated by the creators themselves, Tifa’s role is to be the heroine that will stay with Cloud until the end.
She’s weak and makes bad decisions
She caused the deaths of lots of people
Yes she did
, as well as Barret, Cloud and the rest of AVALANCHE and they regretted it. They didn’t know that blowing up the reactor will be disastrous and they didn’t expect Shinra would drop a whole plate to get them. When Tifa was actually doing it to save the Planet and get revenge on Shinra Cloud was doing it becausehe was getting paid!
-Too soft to be a fighter
Simple answer: play the game
. If you cannot, try to read the script and wiki /watch playthroughs at least which the writer of this essay did before she played the original game.
Aside from blowing up the reactor Tifa was a very important member of AVALANCHE and that means going against a corporation able to conquer countries (Wutai!) Also she’s willing to go to danger (Don Corneo’s mansion and Shinra HQ) to get a job done or to rescue a friend. She doesn’t complain if you include her into your party and is even excited when picked. When Cloud was missing, Tifa was the leader of the Highwind.
And too soft? Just watch the slap duel between her and Scarlet and judge for yourself.
-Her hiding the truth from Cloud about Nibelheim makes her responsible for his mental breakdown
Okay, you meet your childhood friend after seven years and he’s fully convinced that he’s there at the scene where your hometown was burned. Not only that, his story is from a perspective of another person named Zack. Not only that it’s creepy, it’s also confusing as well.
What if her memories are the ones that are false? Also, said friend have psychotic fits every now and then, murmuring stuff that didn’t make sense. Tifa is not a doctor and she didn’t know what to do. Say it’s business as usual and nothing happened in the story, Tifa planned to try to tell it to Cloud little by little. There are moments where Tifa tries to say something but can’t because they’re in a middle of a discussion with other people.
Even Sephiroth said “don’t blame Tifa,” she’s also confused. But even if the Cloud she was with was possibly not the real Cloud, even if there is a little hope that he’s the real one, she stayed and took care of him. She feels responsible even if it’s not exactly her fault.
Also, if Tifa told the truth to Cloud earlier, who he have believed her? Or if he did believe her, do you think he will react nicely and everything’s fine? We don’t know.
Tifa is selfish, she only cares about her own satisfaction
-She ignored Cloud when they were children then forced him to make a promise to her. Only then did she take notice of him.
Being oblivious of Cloud’s feelings is not the same as ignoring him. Also, Cloud, having poor social skills wasn’t able to get through Tifa’s group. Tifa had no idea about Cloud’s crush on her and probably thought Cloud was just some other troublemaker in Nibelheim. She also didn’t know that Cloud followed her when she went to Mt. Nibel.
About the promise, Tifa agreeing to meet Cloud in the well is already something. Despite her not knowing him as someone great, she agreed. Though it was her who strong-armed him into making a promise to help her if he gets famous, keep in mind that is was Tifa actually believing that a small, awkward boy like Cloud could join SOLDIER. She believed in him and that was more than he asked for; just to be noticed by her.
-She tries so hard to push Cloud to be her ideal “knight in shining armor” and it only causes Cloud suffering
The funny this is that Cloud
wants to be one for her, and
she believes that he can be one but it didn’t work that way! Cloud never made it to SOLDIER and was mentally weak that he needs emotional support from others.
But one thing important in this is that Tifa believed in Cloud. Like I said earlier, who would think that a small, unimpressive loner like Cloud can be great? Tifa did. And she was not pushing him,
she’s supporting him not only in battle. Cloud was far from the ideal knight in shining armor but it turns out that Tifa loved Cloud as Cloud, someone full or faults and flaws.
Also, even if Tifa wanted to be the damsel she’s actually a
hypocrite. Yes. She wanted to be the heroine waiting for rescue but while wishing for it she trained herself martial arts and was a tour guide for Mt. Nibel at the age of 15! If you want to know how dangerous the mountain is, try playing the game and then suffer.
- Can get jealous easily of Aerith
Well to be fair, just the mention of Tifa’s name already made Aerith ask Cloud if she’s his girlfriend! Aerith can get jealous as easily as Tifa, the only difference is that Tifa was too shy to approach Cloud directly that Aerith was scoring points when she couldn’t.
And beside that, every human being gets jealous during competition regarding affections. Siblings can get jealous of one another, friends can get jealous of their friends’ friends! If Tifa should be hated because of this then we might as well hate a lot of people we know.
She’s clingy and obsessed with Cloud
Cloud was the one who had a crush on her ever since, watching her from her window, getting into fights with her boy buddies because he couldn’t approach her directly and also, he care about her life and knew how painful it was for her when he mother died. Cloud even followed her to Mt’ Nibel out of concern.
To be fair, they were children that time but an adult Tifa never displayed anything half as close to that level. She wanted Cloud to stay in AVALANCHE because there was something wrong with him and she wanted to find out. Also note that Tifa continued her mission rather than seacrh for Cloud when he fell from the reactor. Cloud was also the one who went on great lengths just to “rescue” her from Don Corneo.
Also, the creators themselves said that they made Tifa “independent and can function without a man.” Unless you think they’re lying you should take it as it is.
- She suddenly becomes weak and emotional from being a fighter when Cloud was Mako poisoned
Like what was said, Tifa cared a lot about Cloud and knew there was something wrong with him. She planned to fix it before it can damage him but it was too late. Even if it was not exactly her fault, she felt responsible. Also not that before finding Cloud in Mideel, Tifa was the party leader while searching for him, only where she saw his situation did she broke down in sadness.
The Cloud she loved was there barely conscious, unable to recognize anybody, unable to talk and very weak. It was a painful sight for anyone to see someone so strong and proud fall into a pitiful state. Because of this she made the decision to stay with him and nurse him.
Think of this; she’s feeding, cleaning and watching over an adult that does not respond to her. IS that obsession? Being clingy? Note that it was what Zack Fair did for Cloud for 10 months! Is that clingy, obsession and weakness?
As what the nurse said, “she must love him very much.” Hard not to agree.
- Proof: In Case of Tifa, she asked him “Do you love me?”
Case of Tifa works in a premise that things will be different for Cloud because he has Tifa
in a different way than before. Though interpretations of their relationship range from familial to romantic, asking the question fits the whole story of two people working out to build a family together. The second question was
“We’ll be alright won’t we?” then when Cloud woke up,
“Do you love Marlene?” in which Cloud answered his issues. Tifa wasn’t trying to keep the attention to her and her alone, she was working out something between her and Cloud for the family.
- In Advent Children, she kept on calling Cloud even if he doesn’t want to answer
Tifa is also the owner of the house along with Cloud and it’s her right to know why a resident is gone. The children were worried that Cloud moved out without saying a word. And keep in mind that during this time, Denzel, the kid whom Cloud said that Aerith gave him was dying because of Geostigma. Tifa has every right to call him over and over.
Also, instead of aggressively searching for Cloud when he was gone, Tifa let him have his space. When she found out that Cloud was staying in the church her reaction wasn’t about related to being jealous to Aerith or Cloud not paying enough attention to her. She was saying how Cloud was running away and don’t want to fight. Clingy and obsessive? No.
She didn’t understand Cloud and picks on his faults and weaknesses rather than support him
- She blames him for “being late” twice, Aerith never blames Cloud
At the first instance, Tifa got just slashed, her dad got killed and her hometown burned to the group. She was in despair and wanted Cloud to help her but she uttered that line without even knowing that Cloud was there. At the second time, Cloud was indeed late (like the first time!)
And to make this short; why is commenting “you’re late” be considered blaming?
- In Case of Tifa, instead of comforting him because of being depressed because of Aerith, she walked away angry
In the greater context, Case of Tifa has Cloud saying to Tifa that because he has her, he can go on. It was a promising future for the both of them but then it turned out remembering Aerith’s death was still painful to Cloud that he turned to alcohol. Tifa wanted to talk to him so she asked if she could join him in drinking. What Cloud replied was “leave me alone.”
Tifa has the right to be angry because before she could even talk, Cloud shut himself off. They were family and they were starting a life together- a mutual decision, not something Tifa forced on him but he was isolating himself again. Instead of shouting at him, she just actually left him alone and told him to drink in another place- not really something that would embarrass or anger him.
- In AC, she nags him for being depressed
Scroll up and return to the quote I posted and I recommend the full dialogue. Cloud was indeed depressed that time not just because of remembering Aerith and Zack’s demise but because Denzel was dying and
he was dying himself! But at that time, powerful men had kidnapped the children yet Cloud doesn’t want to act saying that he’s not fit to help anyone. Tifa hit him right at the spot:
Stop running!
I know, even if you find the kids you might not be able to help them. Maybe something will happen that can never be unhappen that scares you, doesn’t it?! But you need to think about now, really take it in! Look at you; you think you got it so damn hard!
Well you hate being alone so let people in! Sure, you don’t answer the phone, but I don’t see you throwing it away either
—Tifa Lockhart, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
According to the writers, they had intended to make Tifa apologize after for being so blunt but they decided they won’t. It’s as if they really wanted to point out Cloud’s weakness and Tifa trying to man him up. I recommend you to watch the entire scene where Tifa tells Cloud that “we can do this together.”
She tries so hard to take Aerith’s place in Cloud’s life but fails
This works on the belief that Tifa has no place in Cloud’s life when
she has.
- Cloud considers Denzel as a child Aerith brought to him, but Tifa says “To our home…” as if trying displace Aerith in his heart
One must consider that at this point, Cloud is really guilty on Aerith’s death and blames himself. He desperately wants forgiveness and then a sick child appeared in front of Aerith’s church. When Cloud picked up Denzel,
Tifa actually told Cloud to bring the boy home!
Cloud admitted that he felt Aerith must have brought the child to him. Tifa must have said “to us” because of two reasons; affirming Cloud that they’re family and will take care of the boy together and second, he’s not the only one who feels responsible.
- Can’t get along with the children, not a very good mother
Tifa and Cloud are both young and weren’t exactly prepared to take care of children but are doing their best. Marlene has no problems with Tifa and CoT even says they were sleeping together before the house was completed. It was Denzel whom Tifa had problem socializing with. Cloud was able to bond more with Denzel because the kid sees him as his hero. Also, the fact that Denzel was a boy was something we should take note of. Sometimes it’s just difficult for mothers to relate with young boys, same with fathers and young girls. Still, Tifa wanted to be closer to Denzel by asking advice from other children!
- Always Cloud’s attention all to her, “A memory or us?”
The faithful translation of this is actually, “Did we lose to our memories?”It’s not about forcing Cloud to choose between her and Aerith, it’s about reminding Cloud that he should not lose to his past. At this point, Sephiroth’s remnants kidnapped the children of Edge, including Marlene and Denzel but instead of having a fighting spirit, Cloud was saying he wasn’t fit to help anyone. Tifa was actually telling him not to depreciate himself because he has a family he should protect.
If Aerith had lived, Cloud would be happier and not be miserable being with Tifa
Short answer: It’s not like Tifa killed Aerith or it’s as if she could have done something to save her right?
Cloud is happy with Tifa and the kids as stated by the writers themselves. The more he is happy, the more he became afraid of losing them so when Denzel got sick and he got sick too he ran away because he was weak. It wasn’t because Tifa’s such a pain that he doesn’t want to be with her, it’s because he didn’t like to be seen helpless.
- Cloud leaves her to be with Aerith
Cloud wanted meet Aerith again I’m sure of it but leaving Tifa is not really needed for the equation. Aerith is already engraved in Cloud’s heart and like I was arguing, Tifa wasn’t clawing her out. Cloud didn’t leave Tifa to be with Aerith, he ran away from Tifa because he was afraid of losing his happiness with her and their family. Even if Cloud did went to the church to remember Aerith, it’s not Tifa’s fault or it’s not because Tifa’s wrong!
- She’s not enough for Cloud
Tifa had nothing to do with some of Cloud’s issues especially regarding Aerith. Cloud and Aerith had their own special world that Tifa was not part of. Blaming Tifa or hating her because of Cloud’s personal problems with Aerith is definitely
wrong. Also, it doesn’t make her inferior to Aerith or a bad emotional support for Cloud, it’s just that Tifa’s not a perfect person or a divine being that can make Cloud’s suffering go away.
Cloud has his
own struggle that he must face himself, alone. If Cloud wins, it’s his merit not because Aerith or Tifa was there. If Cloud loses he has himself to blame not because Tifa or Aerith wasn’t enough. The two women are needed by Cloud, but they’re not everything to Cloud. Cloud has himself too.
Tifa’s character is essentially defined by her relationship with Cloud, without him, she’s nothing
This is probably the most reasonable critique on Tifa’s character but still not a reason to hate her. Even if Tifa’s past and present are all connected to Cloud, it
wasn’t her that needed him, it was him who needed her. Cloud easily becomes depressed while Tifa has a tougher spirit. And even if her role in the story is to support Cloud, she displayed independence and choice. It’s her choice to join AVALANCHE, it’s her choice to rescue Aerith from Shinra, and it’s her choice to fight Sephiroth. She also has a lot of dimensions that does not really concern her romance with Cloud. Tifa was really guilty blowing up reactors and causing the death of many people. Her sins continued to to haunt her but she wanted to live on. She was struggling as a young mother and thinking a lot about family.
When Cloud displays the illusion of an ideal hero when hiding a complex character underneath, Tifa was the same. Her outfit gave us the illusion of sexy archetype character when she was actually very modest and reserved. Even if she fights with fists, Tifa was actually very motherly and caring. And most importantly, she gave us the illusion of a mere love interest needing a hero when she was the one whom the hero needed. When heroines usually have something to wear like wings, flowery skirts, well done hair and dresses to exemplify beauty, Tifa in a simple manner remains beautiful in the outside and inside as she is.
Final words, tips to not to hate Tifa:
- Tifa should not be hated for the qualities the she possesses to contrast with Aerith.
- You should not think that whatever Tifa does wrong or lacks Aerith can automatically do it better than her, especially that Aerith isn’t even present at those times
- Do not blame Tifa for Cloud’s suffering and don’t put her into a bad light if she was not able to help him right away. Cloud’s weaknesses and inner demons are his own issues.
- Tifa never took or tried to take Aerith’s place in the story and in Cloud’s heart, she was doing the role given to her by the writers from the start. If you think she’s doing a bad job read the whole defense again and try to refute it.
- Tifa is human and she has flaws, selfish desires and bad decisions, before you nitpick them make sure to look at the whole picture.
The serious version of the defense here:
Anti-Tifa arguments RIPPED APART
Part 1 and
Part 2
Essay by
Danseru-kun
). But it definitely felt... off. I had accepted it as his post-FFVII mourning phase, and understood that he 
