Conspiracy Theory (spoilers)

[BG-57]

*Spoiler* While I admit is possible, I don't think it's likely that Sephiroth is completely under Jenova's control. He seems too strong willed. Also, although the flashbacks of him before Neibelheim are sketchy and subjective, he struck me as being cold and mentally unstable even before he went balistic. IMHO

[The Man]

Originally posted by BG-57
While I admit is possible, I don't think it's likely that Sephiroth is completely under Jenova's control. He seems too strong willed. Also, although the flashbacks of him before Neibelheim are sketchy and subjective, he struck me as being cold and mentally unstable even before he went balistic.

He certainly wasn't the most stable individual at that point, no; Jenova's control is what pushed him over the edge. Still, I don't think Sephiroth, on his own, would have killed Aeris in cold blood as he did under Jenova's influence, especially since he wouldn't have had the motivation of wanting Meteor to strike and thus wanting to counteract the force of Holy.

I have no idea why I've been marking spoilers in a thread that has a spoiler warning in its title.

[Big D]

...since he wouldn't have had the motivation of wanting Meteor to strike and thus wanting to counteract the force of Holy.

Well, actually Sephiroth would've wanted the Meteor to fall anyway, since he, and not Jenova, was going to benefit by joining with the Planet. But then, without Jenova's influence/presence, Sephiroth never would've become the world's greatest soldier, and then a deluded but powerful madman. So really, speculating on what Sephiroth would be like without Jenova is kind of academic.

[Kahless]

Aren't they like joined together anyway?

[Big D]

Yup, in a lot of different ways on different levels. Every few months, someone starts a thread speculating about whether Jenova was actually the 'real' villain, and claiming that Sephiroth didn't actually do anything at all. However, it gets boring pretty fast, so I'm hoping this thread will stay on-topic...

[The Man]

Originally posted by Big D
Well, actually Sephiroth would've wanted the Meteor to fall anyway, since he, and not Jenova, was going to benefit by joining with the Planet.

That's true, but I always got the impression that when Sephiroth was just about to succeed in his evil plan, Jenova would've wrested control from him and ultimately triumphed over him. She certainly had the power to do as much.

But then, without Jenova's influence/presence, Sephiroth never would've become the world's greatest soldier, and then a deluded but powerful madman. So really, speculating on what Sephiroth would be like without Jenova is kind of academic.

Indeed. He certainly wouldn't have had all those delusions without Jenova's presence.

I, for one, am of the "Jenova is the real villain" school, but as Big D said, turning this thread into such a debate would probably be a bit boring.

[The_Muffin]

The point is that whatever name you give the villian, you hate him. If it was Jenova, then you still hate them for their actions. At that point you don't know it's Jenova anyways. Whatever name you attribute to Aeris' killer doesn't change the possible anger you have towards them, so squabbling over who it was doesn't do anything, as his point was that he hated the villain (whoever it might be) and he thought Aeris' ressurection would have made that softer and less fun. Besides in the end you kill Sephi AND Jenova.

[BG-57]

Thanks, The_Muffin, you expressed it more clearly than I apparently did.

Although I wouldn't be against bringing back Aerith or Sephiroth if it was done right.

I wouldn't mind an approach like 'Solaris' (either version), where a woman apparently comes back from the dead but it is clearly not the same person. Even so, she has a profound emotional impact on the other characters. That would be interesting to see how Cloud and Tifa react to an Aerith 'clone'.

Conversely if Sephiroth revived along the same lines it would be interesting as well. Especially if he thought he was the 'real' Sephiroth but was merely following some programming. That would address issues like destiny and free will.

Having said that, I would be against bringing them back as they were, memories, personalities and all. Strange that phoenix down doesn't work under these circumstances.