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[dancingspiral]

Squall Isn't Emo! (And Other FF8 Characterization Issues)

Squaresoft created a game that presented so many often overlooked opportunities with Final Fantasy VIII. Major plot holes that beg to be filled aside, we have characters with just enough definition to be unique and more than enough room to be expanded on that are often lumped into horrifying

Comments

[lassarina]

Word, word, word. Have an internet.

[dancingspiral]

*takes the internet proudly*

[andromeda3116]

I think, of all of them, the fanfic portrayal of Seifer annoys me the most. Seifer is willing to cling to his dreams to the absolute end, so why would he just crawl back to Garden with his tail between his legs? I like the idea of him returning - and I can see him accepting a few conditions, simply because he's not stupid - but he'd be far from docile while there.

Also, Selphie, see also, Rikku. Both of them turn off the energy at certain points and show that they are not happy and hyper 100% of the time. I think the clearest indication of Selphie's character is when you return to Trabia and she's crestfallen, but tries desperately to keep up the optimistic facade.

...So, yeah. Much hugs and love for writing this.

[dancingspiral]

Thank you. :3

[starlight83]

Here via ff_press.

I agree with pretty much everything you've said, and I've been working on a similar (longer) post about Quistis and Seifer in particular. I think the problem is that most people haven't actually played the game in several years. So they pull most of their characterization from other bits of fan fiction they've read recently -- and that allows for generalizations about the characters to be magnified across stories. And since readers probably haven't played the game in eons either, they'll sometimes accuse people who don't honor their favorite stereotypes of writing someone out of character.

Irvine's drawl, for instance. He talks like a valley girl in the game. But since he's got a cowboy hat on, and everyone clearly remembers that, he suddenly talks like he's from deep Texas in a lot of fics.

[dancingspiral]

I got submitted to ff_press? x__x

I'd be very interested to read your piece on Seifer and Quistis. It's a pairing that, theoretically, I adore. When it's put into action? Not so much.

[starlight83]

Seifer/Quistis is totally my OTP. And I've been writing it forever, so I'm definitely guilty of all the various Seifer/Quistis characterization sins.

But it seems like everything I read anymore has the same old "Ice Queen" Quistis who is a hyper-competent man eater, and a just slightly rough around the edges but totally soft and squishy on the inside Seifer who really has been in love with Quistis since they were four. And it's getting boring. :\

[auronlu]

This probably explains why I don't read as much FFVIII fanfic as one would expect from someone who first came to the FF series through 8 and for years considered it my favorite.

I was a little shocked by all the stereotypes when I first started browsing the fanfic.

I used to joke about the game as the Legion of Moody Teenagers, but that was mainly because I was amused/horrified at Squaresoft for putting the FATE OF THE WORLD on the shoulders of kids who are of an age when most of us were angsting about teen crushes, biochem grades and Mom buying us ugly clothes! I hadn't yet gotten used to the young ages of video game characters at the time.

They handle the mess the adults throw at them (thanks Matron, Cid) with a lot more maturity than most of us would've, I'd warrant.

Anyway, yeah, good analysis. Though I'd say Irvine makes his move on Selphie the moment he finds her again. Hormonal teen, but he seems genuine despite the silly playacting (and in a way seems to be using the goofing around to hide it).

[ex_karasu511]

Thanks for that! I have had a similar thought brewing in my head for awhile, and this definitely makes me feel a sense of relief that others do realize this, even if this is one of the most hated on games in the FF fandom