DID GARLAND'S PLAN SUCCEED? | Final Fantasy IX PS4 celebration story THEORY & LORE dive!

In celebration of the latest kinda but not really remaster of Final Fantasy IX on the PS4, it's time to get juicy with a big story theory and lore dive. Did Garland the villain of FFIX succeed? Did his plan actually work and the ending cinematic held far more meaning than most of us... or certain I, realised :D.
Spoilers from start to finish with gameplay and cutscene from the end of the game. Enjoy the shameless excuse to dive back into this old square soft masterpiece and listen to some classic theme songs from the game :)
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[@Zelink108]

16:45 The Black Mages are made from the Mist, which is actually the expelled Souls of Gaia, so if anything the black Mages are reincarnated Gaians in artificial bodies.

[@Faosify]

.... mind-blow. No wonder the developers wanted to expand on this game... Could you imagine a game where the Gaian souls become self-aware and realize they have been robbed of their lives and try to consume the Terran souls, for example?

[@remem95]

I somehow always just assumed this is what happened at the end. There is a pretty obvious symbolic scene all the way at the end of the credits, where we see the shot of Zidane and Garnet hugging from the end cutscene and then (featuring their respective planets fading in in their place) Gaia and Terra merging to form a new crystal (notably, the shape of the first crystal which Kuja tried to destroy). I always thought that was supposed to be exactly this: Garnet and Zidane symbolizing the succesfull and peaceful integration of Terras life into Gaia.

[@notnownorman5410]

And this is why FFIX is one of the best ff of them all, it's a shame that not as many people got it. It's such an underrated game 😔

[@namefirst4108]

Because game trending now is post-apacolypse and it must takes place in urban. People now just like urban fantasy because it similar and suit the way they live. Not many like some kinds of look-like-childish fairytale or classic folktale.

[@Faosify]

​@@namefirst4108 Agreed. FF9 was my first Final Fantasy. Then, I played 8 but I was slightly disappointed, not because of the story; but because the environment seem devoid of mysticism. I felt no sense of wonder. The switch between classic medieval, steam-punk and fairy tale style to a much modern, urban, sci-fi world did not sit very well with me. Who would have thought that a game that seemed so childish and lighthearted due to its character designs could have such amazingly crafted roles, deep lore, intricate storytelling, imagination, and so many wonderful and complex themes ... ?

[@craig581]

The battle system was extremely slow, which i felt was a turn off to many. I still enjoyed the game, enjoyed the art style, also the story, however the slow paced battle system will always be an issue for a lot of people. I thought FFX rectified that problem.

[@mgsxmike]

Eh not really the best

[@dannywright1317]

Loved it, limit break system was the shits though.

[@aiox82]

Such a damn beautiful game. Everything about FF9 is amazing. Plot, visuals, game play, music. Truly a culmination of Square's skill in making RPGs. Fantastic theory too. Really makes me want to play it again. Gg Pez.

[@conanedogawa4798]

Well, FFIX was supposed to be highly symbolic and allegorical from the start, it was Square's send-off to the previous generation of JRPG gaming. That was the entire inspiration behind the game, that they were bidding farewell to the previous generation of gaming and welcoming in the great changes that were about to occur in the industry in response to the higher spec systems coming out on the market. This being the case, any theory about FFIX should keep this allegory of the older FF games and JRPGs of PSX era and earlier contrasted against the newer FF games and JRPGs of the PS2 era and later in mind. This is not to say that other themes can't be there too, but the shadow of that allegorical meaning will always be a 2nd or 3rd meaning to every case of symbolism or allegory that you might find in the game. In this case, the whole aspect of assimilation and the merging of the 2 world's souls I think is likely the most significant among those allegorical meanings. As to whether or not this assimilation has succeeded, well, that question may have been left vague on purpose. Whether or not the Terran souls assimilated successfully into the new world, or if they were crushed and destroyed. Well, let me ask you, do you think the soul of the older final fantasy games still lives in the newer games we have seen coming out of Square Enix? However you answer that question is going to be the same as the answer to the in-world case of FFIX. (and holy crap, this begs the question as to whether or not the FF staff knew the merger with Enix was going to be a thing back when they made FFIX.)

[@evacody1249]

Well 9 is a send off and love letter to the fans of the first 8 games so to speck.

[@ShiroKreuz]

At the end of FF9 when Zidane goes down into the tentacle monster Iifa tree (when he's going to rescue Kuja), he falls and while he's falling you can see a huge group of what looks like petrified humans holding weapons and whatnot, like a huge terracotta army inside the tree. That's one thing I really want to know the story for.

[@kaylinelemental]

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. Tbh, seeing that part of the scene was a bit creepy. 😨

[@memebump7612]

Qeruberosu Just completed the game and saw that petrified army, what the hell was that about!? O_O

[@ShiroKreuz]

I wish I/we knew. As far as I'm aware, no one knows what that army is nor is there any official information about it, that I've been able to find at least.

[@s-wo8781]

Nah you got to be making this shit up. I've played IX about 15 times I've never seen that.

[@andreabrighenti761]

It's the army of people that Kaguya Otsutsuki is using to harvest Chakra lol

[@Metalders]

If they ever make a sequel of FF9 please make Alexander a functional summon/eidolon!

[@neuro1073]

Isn’t it destroyed?

[@Metalders]

@@neuro1073 By being destroyed it finally became a true eidolon, IMO.

[@neuro1073]

Metalders maybe. I just want my ff9 sequel.

[@readmeplease2077]

I'll just say that the concept of Kingdom Hearts nobodies started hear

[@The_Moe_Szyslak_Exp_feat_Homer]

My personal interpretation (head-canon) of what Terra represents is that of a civilization that became so advanced they all achieved immortality, and along with it, overpopulation. Overpopulation is actually BS myth IRL, but following the themes of the game, their crime was that they are willing to do anything it takes to live forever. And if everyone is literally immortal, then overpopulation might actually start being a thing. The Red crystal of Terra is the heart of the planet, which creates new souls and recycles old ones into new life. The problem was, since nobody on Terra would die, the crystal was forced to create new souls for every new Terran that was born. Eventually the planet became so strained and exhausted, that the planet was actually dying. Trees and plants began to decay, which made food and resources scarce (it was specifically mentioned in the game that flora and fauna had died and Garland was trying to preserve it). Everthing was going to hell for the Terran's fast, untill they found a solution. They all clinged to life so desperately they searched for other planets and absorbed their life force like parasites to save their own planet and their way of life. This saved them for a few thousand years, until it started getting increasingly difficult to find planets to absorb. They needed planets with strong crystals, but weaker than their own. When they found Gaia, it had an unusually strong crystal, and it was already populated by some primitive civilizations. But they where running out of time, so they made a gamble. And like we see in the game, the results where cataclysmic. Gaia's surface was scorched (some Gaians survived by hiding inside Fossil/Gargan Roo) and Terra was stuck in a inbetween half-way dimension. The game says this happened 5000 years ago, but I think 50 000 would have been more fitting. It seemed like they were fucked, plantlife was already mostly gone and it was to late to find another planet now. If they didn't find a new solution chaos would break out and they would destroy eachother before they ran out of food. Fortunately, there was still some hope. They created the artificial lifeform Garland, and every single Terran went into stasis sleep for a few thousand years. Garland couldn't finish the assimilation quick enough so all the Terran bodies died in stasis anyway. But their souls could still be transfered into new bodies, which is why he created the genomes. The rest, we know. Terra was for me basically like our planet (first time I played it, I literally thought it was our Earth in the future), some billion people trying to live forever. Pretty tragic.

[@alexeiharp7676]

I like your interpretation, only thing I would disagree is it's said textually that it wasn't a problem of over population, more like the cycle of prosperity ended (such as every civilization after all) and the cristal getting both older and weaker, doomed to an end so then they decided to fuse with Gaia to preserve their knowledge

[@glassguise3507]

9:52 Oh my god! That's mine! I'm so pleased you would use it, thank you!!

[@patrickweller5254]

You almost sent me over the edge when you said Vivi was a crap character 😂

[@tonigrondahl4465]

Pez! It's called Iifa Tree, not Lifa. I had it wrong too for over 13 years! XD

[@k4yser]

You got to be kidding me.. It was an "I" the whole time? Until today I lived a lie.. Who am I:(? I feel kinda dumb for never getting it..

[@noliva24]

I remember calling it Lifa, and right before beating it i realized it was an I. it destroyed me lol

[@zeroresistance7203]

no dude its called Lifa not life tree.

[@noliva24]

Zero Resistance look it up man. We had the official strategy guide.

[@zeroresistance7203]

depends on version i'm overexcedingly confident that on japanese it was Lifa just not Lifa Tree

[@gvd378]

how funny that garnet's true name is sarah and her real mother is jane.... much reference to the original

[@lightning902]

Umm.. Blue is Gaia, Terra is red. The genomes finds the blue unpleasant. And they said that they will get a soul when the Gaia's blue light turn into Terra's red. Terra looked blue because it's inside Gaia. Kinda like being inside someone's blood vessel makes you surrounded by dark red. And pretty sure the whole plan was to keep Gaian souls from going back to the crystal, weakening it, let it be assimilated by Terra red crystal, and then recycle Terran souls back unto neo-terra/former-gaia surface as living beings (filled-up Genomes). When Genome/Terrans die, the red crystal that ate up Gaia blue crystal recycles the soul like normal. Who knows what would happen to mist-ified Gaian souls then. Probably stay as mist. Probably get sucked into the nothing like the Terrans feared. So... Gaia's crystal is still blue, still processing Gaian souls instead of Terran, and majority of Terran souls got wiped. I'd say plan failed.

[@FinalFantasyPeasant]

Im absolutely flabbergasted that it's iifa tree not lifa tree! :O my whole life has been a lie... I don't even know lmao. This entire time I thought it was an L

[@chrisy2128]

Final Fantasy Peasant I just found that out as well...

[@ArveEriksson]

... And I was just about to give you proper lip about it. Oh well, I'll just leave you to it. Got books to read!

[@ernestomotta5178]

I feel you, bro

[@MatchaOppa]

What kind of monster thought of that name? Must be the same person that thought it was a great idea to stylize "lenovo" without capital L.

[@martineh5341]

MatchaOppa ii means good in Japanese so... Oh well 😆

[@bv7920]

Am I the only one who renamed Garnet as Garnet instead of Dagger? lol

[@KingdomLightEclipse]

No, I do the same thing every time I play the game. Once she becomes queen, it always bothered me that they still refer to her as Dagger. I mean there's no point to hide her identity anymore.

[@mizeromni]

The first play through I named her Garnet, after that I named her Sarah every time.

[@bunnydexter7178]

I named her summon bitch. In my ps1 game.

[@krisxd4037]

I did on my 4th?? playthrough. Then I used Namingway to change it to her real name.

[@Luke-tt3dt]

On the 4th disc you can go to Daguerreo and change it to Sarah if you want

[@JoeNeutrino]

This video made me think about FF9 in a new way. Nicely done.

[@jeremobotplays7544]

Awesome. This has got to be one of my favorite videos that you have done, I LOVE these theory and lore dive videos keep it up man!!!!!!!

[@albertm7178]

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from Magic. " Lets be honest, Final Fantasy has some sci fi undertones in many if the games, mostly 7 and 8. And Terra is a perfect example of a high end type 1 civilization, which is a planetary civilization that has complete control of the energy of the planet. Garland can move planets with ease, I like Zidane more, I don't think he is wrong, but I find it doubtful that when Zidane defeated Garland, Garland was like. "Oh no, I have been defeated, they will destroy the lifa tree, it is not like I had more then 3000 years to plan something else that could keep my planet alive! That would be ridiculous to have a contingency plan. By the way, love this video.

[@Thehotdogman]

I think this all hinges on whether or not there's still mist at the end of the game. If there is, we can safely say the soul divider is still active and is still spitting out Gaian souls. If not, then the Gaian souls and the Terran souls that survived (were already in the system) before Kuja done blowed it all up, would integrate and live on normally. Over time, i believe, that both moons, supposing they're represntative of their respective planets' crystals, will either both turn blue, as Gaia's souls' influence converts Terran souls, or both turn a sort of purple color, reconciling both Gaian and Terran souls into New Gaian souls. A new identity for the planet born from the fusion of the two planets.

[@GeekInBelgium]

Little trick to pronounce "Oeilvert" : uh - ee - v - air It means "green eye"

[@jacobfreeman5444]

I like this theory. That the evil of Garland was because he got desperate. His goal wasn't wrong. He just felt the crushing weight of his duty and it made him feel he had to do whatever he could to achieve that goal. It was, after all, what he was made for. He owed his creators all he was for both his life and chance to experience the wonders that it was filled with. To return their trust with his loyalty. And maybe he still succeeded. Just not in the way he intended.

[@momsaid]

Jacob Freeman his goal is still wrong. He permanently wipes out tons of Gaian souls and that was always part of the plan because only too many souls can be sustained by the planet

[@liamvogel4931]

Watching this at work without audio is driving me insane. I can just imagine all the juicy theories... but all I'm getting is a fancy ffix slide show 😂

[@claytalian9091]

I never really felt like Garland was a bad guy when i played a few weeks ago. He just went about things maybe not in the best way, at least IMO. And i assumed his plan succeeded, just didn't really feel like it was a bad thing. Also just saying, Zidane wouldn't become king by marrying Garnet. The highest title he could get is like Duke or Lord or something since he only married into royalty.

[@Ladywizard]

depends on the country's laws... England changed theirs after Elizabeth the 1st I believe because she didn't want a husband crowned higher than her

[@namefirst4108]

If Garland is the king 🤴 of Terra then Zidane is a prince 👲 although Garland is not his biological father.

[@bakacdaz]

What’s he trying to do is absolutely bad for Gaia but he did for his homeland. It’s might be only way to save Terra. Imagine if our world is in the blink of completely destroyed. And UN try to help human survive but takeover some Alien’s planet. They gonna be evil in Alien eye but be heroes in our eye.

[@budakbaongsiah]

You're looking for a Royal Consort.

[@tonigrondahl4465]

Best FF9 lore video ever! Good job pez :)

[@koichama5738]

Years later... I am on a nostalgia trip and replayed this game. It is something truly unforgettable. And you do notice or think about different details of the game each time you play it. Which brings me to your theory video. Since this is relatively old, I'm not sure if you have the same structure. But I really enjoy it and was completely engaged. I can only imagine how much you have improved and added to your videos in five years. The first thing I notice is something you cannot easily fake or hide, and that is your enthusiasm. It's contagious through the video. I felt as if I was talking to a friend I never knew who just couldn't keep their creativity to themselves and wanted me to share in their hype. You aren't like a lot of other theory videos who seem to really want to convince you and use every small point to support their claims. At the end of those videos I feel like they are asking for validation (Don't we all want that though?). In contrast, you shared counter arguments and other possibilities with equal enthusiasm. Just sharing the thought process and taking us for a little ride in your mind space. At the end, I didn't feel as if the destination was important, whether you're theories were supported, I enjoyed the journey with you and felt encouraged to think about how specifically Garland's plan worked. So thankyou.

[@chrisy2128]

Isn't the mist that covers the world at the end of the game because of the terran souls released from pandemonium?

[@davidlydon1594]

Fantastic deep dive into my favorite game. I️ can’t wait to replay it with your thoughts in mind. Thank you!

[@jasonfritzke576]

This vid makes me go back and play ff9 again

[@wrayday7149]

Since FF9 was a throwback to FF1, had the heroes been pushed back in time and ended up at the start of FF1 fighting Garland again and FF1 is a endless loop paradox.

[@rnufharose]

I have missed FFIX! This is a great theory Pez :D Great job!

[@LindarFF9]

Remake / Sequel for FFIX would be so damn awesome! D: Great choice of music as well, really enjoying and intresting theory.

[@alexeiharp7676]

Don't know for sure, they could also very well butcher that diamond of a game too with a sequel😅

[@TheBandkanon]

I thought the blue moon was Gaia's and the red Terra's. Gaia's crystal is blue and Terra's is red. Bran Bal was just blue-themed and projected Gaia's color so that the Genomes could adapt to Gaia's glow. Great video though! I love listening to analyses and theories for my favorite things-- and FFIX is definitely my FAVORITE thing.

[@hjghjgjhhjkhklk2683]

no youre correct, gaia's moon is blue and terra's is red. this dude's theory falls apart a bit when they use the wrong facts as support

[@Hakazaba]

I just realised something. Garland puts so much emphasis on kuja learning trance, while trance isn't a commonplace thing in the lore of Gaia, but all of the characters that join you are capable of trance after growing up on gaia. What if trance is something only terran souls can do. If its been going on for thousands of years, only makes sense that some of the people born have a terran soul. Maybe the characters that join you and are capable of trance are all holders of terran souls? Maybe that is why vivi has a will of his own in the first place, too.

[@Zayindjejfj]

Interesting idea. Perhaps it might have something to do with the mist. Maybe the mist causes this chemical reaction within a being that allows them to enter into a trance state.

[@h.c.6540]

@@Zayindjejfj Maybe the Trance state is like an Oversoul from ffx2, since both the mist and pyreflies are like some kind of manifestation of energy from souls

[@ruggie.74]

This is amazing analysis. And very entertaining. Great content.

[@glompworthyash]

I just barely am only now finishing this game for the first time and I really am digging the entire discussion of what makes a person a real person. Is it memories, is it a past, is it the ability to see the world like others, and man, this theory was great to hear!

[@jakedeschamps4454]

Huh, my top three final fantasy games: IX: all about death Type-0: all about death (especially if you read the ice reaper manga) X: All about death. Hmmm... I think there is a pattern here.

[@lindthechaoticheretic8708]

Go play Persona 3. I have a sneaking suspicion you'll like it.

[@tinnitusthenight5545]

The theme of making your own soul and choosing humanity is consistent with the themes at the end of FFVI when Terra like believes herself human because love or whatever.

[@silverarrow20xx]

You got it backwards. Terra is red. Gaia is blue. The Terrans are trying to turn Gaia red, at which point it will be Terra. The reason it's blue now is because Gaia still has the greater influence. The red moon at the end is Terra's, also clear from the fact that it's smaller than the blue moon.

[@FinalFantasyPeasant]

aye your right :D elementary mistake :P

[@georgeodowd5345]

I was thinking the same thing myself because the Terrian's hated the site of the blue light from Gaia.

[@sh4d0wfl4re]

I was wondering at that, most times the "red moon" shows up in final fantasy it is a lunar colony ship and I always assumed we finally had a name for the Lunar's world of origin with FFIX. (FFXIII expanded on the name Grand Pulse Terra Incognito, and it even had part of Memoria show up under the name Valhalla (which Freya called Memoria in this game, I love it when FF links up its lore ^^. I do enjoy it when final dungeons go through some version of the Cleft of Dimensions))

[@johnnyscifi]

Thats what i thought...:p

[@mmuklewicz14]

I was instantly enraged when you dug in on Vivi lmao well played sir you got me

[@ironstar183]

That quote at 14:12 is straight outta the ending passage of "the sirens of titan" by Kurt Vonnegut

[@iendrin9152]

It was just a few weeks ago I asked for a Necron-video, the timing!

[@Jexol_AI]

13:26 "Fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate... hate leads to suffering..." Me: (-_-).... Yoda, is that you?

[@user-yl6yx9rm3g]

Final Fantasy always liked Star Wars （＾_＾）

[@usuariofuturista]

The USA translation made the lines sound more similar to those of Yoda because cultural assimilation

[@WizardofEarthsea]

Buddha, is that you? The creators are Japanese, after all.

[@Luke-tt3dt]

I laughed so hard when this line showed up on my screen. The last few hours of the game have been getting progressively weirder and more philosophical, and then they go and drop a goddamn Star Wars prequel quote on us like this and I'm sat there reading it in Yoda's voice just before the final boss

[@botanbutton]

I can finally watch this video!!! Finished the game at the end of last year. ;3 Thanks for helping me understand this game a little bit better.

[@PinguHEHE]

love your vids man!

[@CryingMaxys]

I know it's an old video but I like to watch these again sometimes, and while I'm at it let me share some quick though, about what you said in your counter argument regarding Black Mage; It always made sense to me that Black Mage being created with Mist => Mist being Gaian souls manifestation => Black Mage doll filled with Gaian souls. So to me the souls used for Black Mages were never made, just transfered, or "reincarnate" you might say ^^ What do you think? About OeilVert, it's french for "Green Eye", the Oe together is called a "Digraph", a very much french-made letter, it's almost non-existent in english (exept in the word Phoenix). The right pronunciation for Oeilvert would be "uhy-v-air", the "uh" part is like when you say "huh huh!" when you nod your head, and don't forget the french R, not the english floating R :p

[@martineh5341]

I'm crying I'm so happy you made a ffix vid. 😍

[@double2254]

FF9 is the only perfect game... this game easily became who I am as a person. Every time I hear that FF9 could actually be remade or have a sequel I see it as a new beginning of my own life, that even if things are terrible in the present, it all will be better in the future. The whole plot of Zidane being given a soul by someone else (others trying to bestow a 'purpose and meaning' or 'destiny' onto you) can easily be taken from you. That the path given is not the way to go. But from that path you will meet others who are also trying to find out who they are themselves... and its these people that we find who we really are. Zidane could have easily been another Kuja, who is a what if of Zidane that fulfilled his given purpose and had it backfire in his face. The final scene of Zidane going back to save Kuja was him accepting his other side and truly letting go of what he could of been for who he chose to be... and that is what is beautiful in it all. Vivi gaining confidence and strength from his experiences simulates being new in a harsh world, but not everything is evil. Vivi being the strongest character in the game mechanically gives more fuel to his overarching plot of inner strength. He could easily destroy all that is around him and that scares him. But because he was given help from the rest of the crew he learned virtues of good and with his power he helped. Him creating his own soul is from this and what makes him so lovable. Steiner learning that duty is not steadfast and ridged but what you morally find a good. There is no right answer to a conflict and if you focus too much on your duty who fail to do your job. You shouldn't let what other think get in the way of what is right. Garnet's journey from the adventurous girl seeing her country to becoming the strong leader was such a well drawn arc to a character that it says everything. Freya seeing her whole race be almost genocide and losing her love is true lost, and her recovery of this in accepting what happened to find meaning in the death is empowering. There is so much more, how the use delicacy in handling the themes of death and rebirth, lost and recovery, happiness and depression... it really handles all of these very strong themes so well that the ending finishing off all of these character's stories on so many levels, tugging and pulling on so many different emotions, that it just brings me to tears. FF10 tried to replicate this but failed (although they did nail world building) and since then I don't think they ever have been able to perfect more than 9... Cloud get out of here, your overrated more than Goku and Batman. TIme for Vivi to take your place, the true face of what it means... to be human.

[@totalpartykill999]

you need to move out of your moms basement.

[@sabbe_satta_bhavantu_sukhi7226]

the jake just admit that the length of the post intimidated your feeble brain. You attempted an adult task and you failed miserably to comprehend the sea of text that deluged you. Learn to swim.

[@TakoaLamina]

I loved this video, Pez. FFIX is my favourite. Please do more in the future.

[@ordeppaco]

FF9 was my first final fantasy. I played it over and over for quite a few times. I love it on every level. there was something at the ending that always buged me, that I noticed no one else understood. There was the emotional shock that kuja received upon finding out he was mortal. And there's garland saying to zidane "forget all that, you are meant to live among the stars for all eternity" Zidane is imortal! he didn't survive that fall at the end of the game because "game logic" he survived because he can't die! which leads to the - dagger one day will - and zidane will have to see everyone he loves die, he will out live everyone, and that got me thinking that, a sequel to ff9 would present that zidane won't be happy ever after

[@jgg86rpgs]

Damn. That would be heartbreaking if it's true.

[@FinalFantasyPeasant]

defo an interesting point mate, I think the immortality could be the same as the Terrans immortality. So Zidane is destined to live among the start like the Terrans were, hopping planet to planet again potentially? One way to interpret it as opposed to he can't actually die. Though would explain him surviving the tree heh

[@RM-dq9ne]

Pedro do Paço he died a few times on my watch though ;)

[@ordeppaco]

My theory goes further back into kuja's arrival at his palace after the destruction of alexandria. he comes out of the hilda garde 1 and complains that he almost got killed. But then he laughs, saying the thought was foolish, that no one can kill him. same when he thought he could built an eternal kingdom upon his trance transformation. As we all know garland tells him "you could never build an eternal kingdom (..) you were created to destroy, you are a mortal" with all this, and the idea that he ( garland) gave two more souls to other genomes, I theorize that not only is Zidane immortal, Mikoto is too.

[@martineh5341]

Pedro do Paço I always thought that's was referring to his soul more than his actual body...

[@kauaichan]

Videos like this, are why I love KZbin😂💯👏

[@jprec5174]

Terran's moon was red dude. Biggest flaw in this video. Besides that, I think this is the de facto best theory out there. Yes, the ending is messy and consequentially open to interpretation because it was redone and rushed, but I think that's what makes it the best FF narrative that has been made so far. Flawed, but a masterpiece nonetheless. Garland is also an incredibly complex character who unfortunately was overstuffed with exposition. He actually explains the existence of Necron when he is introduced and just before you fight him. There is also an interesting contrast between him and the Iifa tree/soulcage where soulcage explains that he cannot lie. It being an artificial machine much like Garland, we see can conclude that Garland isn't telling the entire truth. He explains to us what the Terran's designed him to do, but he doesn't make explicit what *his* goals have been. Being that he is an AI he is compelled to carry out the "assimilation of terra and gaia" but decides to do it in a rather albeit convoluted manner he deemed sufficient rather than do it the way the Terrans intended. This seems more concrete in his explanation about memories and the crystal in how one being is actually a part of all memories that existed from the crystal and actually can hold and carry the memories of the world. Meaning, as you say, Zidane alone is all that is needed to carry the entirety of Terra's memories and existence. At one point before you fight Garland, he talks about meeting his counterpart and also the paradoxical nature of life. That in order to live one must take life. He jabs at the Terrans for following this truism but never really understanding what that means. As Garland was created to be a sort of Planetary vampire that kills life in order for Terran life to live, Garland understood that this paradoxical state of being would necessitate a counterpart or antithesis of his existence which is Necron. It's unfortunate that Garland addresses this in like 10 seconds of dialogue, but its there and easy to miss, but it explains Necron's existence as the void's answer to the paradoxical nature of life. Because the Terrans sought to supersede the natural life cycle of their planet's crystal (a balanced cycle between life and death), meant that the universe on a greater scale than planetary crystal cycles needed/must have an answer to the Terran's unnatural existence which was Necron (always a bigger fish theory).

[@chrisy2128]

Also, glad you found a new appreciation for ff9, it's my fav!

[@user-yl6yx9rm3g]

「Necron」 is called 「永遠の闇」(Eien no Yami) here in Japan. It means 「Eternal Darkness」. It is called 「Ewiges Dunkel」 in Germany, which also translates to 「Eternal Darkness」. Don't know why it's 「Necron」 in english (only in USA?). But I'm not a native english speaker, so can't tell if it means the same. A recent poll here in Japan had the following result: Elemantary school children (age 6 - 10) were asked what their biggest fear is. #1 Answer (40 %) : To Die

[@aizeroth8858]

Necron sounds very similar to the Greek word "necros" (νεκρός) which means someone is dead. Maybe they are implying that death equals to eternal darkness and there is no afterlife?

[@jay9368]

楽 楽 What were the other fears in the list?

[@user-yl6yx9rm3g]

Jay Smith #1 to die (40%) #2 being not able to make friends / not having friends (24%) #3 bad grades in school (17%) #4 speaking in front of others (presentation in school etc.) (9%) #5 being not cool/handsome/beautiful/cute (8%) #6 other (2%)

[@jay9368]

楽 楽 Thank you.

[@user-yl6yx9rm3g]

Jay Smith You're welcome.

[@JeffRB]

i thought you were talking about garnet in the beginning and that made me confused when you said the main evil villain in the begging lol

[@messihr]

I would love an FF9 sequel where you play the next generation of characters (a la 4) where the main threat are the Terran possessed Genomes led by a corrupted Mokoto.

[@themonarchsarchives8453]

I've never understood the concept of Mist hardening hearts. I understand that the Mist creates monsters which leads to death, and to escape these monsters people fight amongst themselves for higher ground. This was all eventually resolved when Mist airships came about. But I don't get how the Mist itself seeps into hearts and causes them to start conflicts. Could this just be like how the stagnant souls of Gaia creates monsters--the influence of the souls causes the people to "mutate" just like the monsters?

[@onelitefeather]

What are the statues in the scene as Zidane wants to rescue Kuja? I am wondering for years!

[@jzblue345]

What a great ff9 analysis video.

[@scott09g96]

This video was very thought provoking.

[@PlushrhinoJB]

Memoria is an undeveloped explanation that Zidane's Terran soul was there when Madain Sari was attacked by the Invincible. The characters can only see the memories that they have experienced, which Zidane openly questions when he can see the memories of the Madain Sari attack that you would only expect Dagger to know about. Garland even openly mocks Zidane for being unable to figure this out on his own, indulging in Zidane's confusion. Zidane was there, attacking Madain Sari forcing Garnett and her mother to flee. Like Necron, Zidane is the end and the beginning.

[@LupusArcavius]

Fucking shit mate... why you gotta make me wanna play IX again? I just started War of the Lions...

[@XxFakeJakexX]

Dude best one to date. Ff9 was the first one i beat and it was so deep that its probably why i got into philosophy.

[@lloroshastar6347]

If Garland did 'win' then it's a very hollow victory, especially after Kuja went psycho on Terra. It would be like finding out that the whole human race, including all your family and friends, were wiped out but technically some human souls live on in some plants. That is if anything a consolation, certainly not a victory.

[@The_Moe_Szyslak_Exp_feat_Homer]

I honestly have a hard time believing Kuja destroyed the ENTIRE PLANET. That was at most what you could compare to a city. Surely they had other fungus buildings in other places that he didn't get to...

[@Rettomus]

@@The_Moe_Szyslak_Exp_feat_Homer We see the entire surface burning when the Invincible escapes Terra, and both Amarant and Mikoto refer to Terra as destroyed. Mikoto even calls Zidane crazy for his intent to go after Kuja, because he is going after a person "who destroyed a world by himself". (The artbook shows those fungi-like structures are apparently giant skyscrapers, and that Bran Bal is actually situated on top of one of them not unlike Cleyra.)

[@user-od7hh8qg9d]

At first Garland's plan was to discard Gaian's souls and replace them by the Terran's ones (and that's enough reason to have a magic nuclear ship). But in the end the soul stream was normalized and all the souls returned there. No more mist, no more stagnating souls. The assimilation went peacefully.

[@manaswin123]

Now you make me want to play the sequel of FF9 so much(if it ever happened), damn it!!! May i suggest something, you should you text more in the video, somehow like a bullet point in PPT, to summarize and make it easier to follow up. Gonna wait for more!

[@DaddyHensei]

I would love a FF9 remake or sequel.

[@theembodimentofsuffering1532]

For some reason it makes me think of the galaxy that is colliding with our galaxy right now

[@SubduedRadical]

FFIX has always been my favorite. Even at the time, when it was called inferior to the prior games (namely 6 and 7, but also 5 and 8), I liked it. I remember saying to someone once that 7 was a deep and dark story, but 9 was a fun romp around the world. The scene where the airship takes off and is escaping but then your boat appears on the horizon and chases it, having to swerve around islands and stuff, is enduring even to this day in my memory. That said, there were a lot of questions I never got answers to. The final boss always seemed kind of tacked on for no reason without explaining anything. A lot of the cryptic words about the memories that Zidane was seeing in Memoria "You'll find out..." well...we never actually found out. Particularly that flooded room that seemed to be in NO ONE'S memory for Zidane to even "share" it. There were a lot of little pieces and parts like that that were never QUITE explained, really. So I kind of think your theory is kind of cool. The first part, in particular - that the two planets merged instead of Terra becoming dominant - I think is an elegant ending. Though I did always wonder what became of the souls in the Mist. Further, Why there was (initially) only Mist on the first continent. They even made it a point to say that there was no Mist on Eiko's continent. Yet there were still monsters (random encounters) there. And Eiko remarks on the Mist that is found at the Iifa tree, too, as I recall. Though I always did wonder why Garnet, on getting the summon there, bemoans it being weak (if I remember right, it's Leviathan - which is one of the most powerful), and how Arc is a ...summon, somehow, even though it appears to be one of the earlier versions of the Invincible that you see in the history lesson. Oh, and how the talking faces mention things like people being chosen and sacrifices being made...but isn't really specific about any of it. ...well, then there's the end of the game where the entire planet is covered in Mist - which, again, isn't ever really explained. So yeah, cool seeing some theory crafting on the game, particularly since most people don't and it has a lot to think/talk/theory about!

[@arturogutierrez8342]

Let me try and answersome of those questions. The party saw the flooded room in Memoria because, as Garland said, memory is not an individual's collection of events, but a collective source that remains even after you die. That's why, if you make your way to the crystal -the origin of everything-, you can see memories and events that happened before your time, because a memory is not just "yours", it's everybody's-. There IS Mist in Eiko's continent: at the Iifa Tree. However, Garland wanted strife and war in places that were heavily populated, which is why the roots of the Iifa tree, which cover ALL of Gaia, transported the Mist to the Mist continent, so it would inspire warmonging and conflict. The Lost and Forgotten continents were hardly populated, and after he destroyed Madain Sari, only the dwarves remained in Outer continent, so the Mist wasn't necessary there. Garnet doesn't specifically say that Leviathan is weak. She says that "it can't help her mother". The reason is: Leviathan calls forth a huge tsunami. Considering her mother and the entire Alexandrian fleet were on boats, that would have endangered them even more. And Ark is the polar opposite of Alexander: a mobile airship instead of a immobile fortress, bearing Dark against Light. But more than that, it is stated that Eidolons are born from legends and not the other way around. That's why Ozma, a forgotten Eidolon, is a shapeless mass of energy, since its legends have all been forgotten. Taking that into consideration, the airship that Ark is may have been born as a Terran legend, thus being a Terran eidolon. That's pretty much it.

[@awakenow7147]

I hope your theory is true! You've provided a good amount of evidence...and regardless, its how I choose to see this game now..

[@General_reader]

Had no idea as a kid! So deep!

[@beedee5593]

great vid. Thank you. Funny and meta af.

[@levitastic]

These vids make me wanna play it again.. dammit ;D

[@sonicrocks2007]

Now with strangers of paradise. Watching this again

[@growlxking]

I don't know if this was already asked but is it possible Terran souls and the trance ability are linked? It would explain why kuja, zidane can use it as well as the main cast.

[@yrevra2407]

FFIX is my second favorite in the entire series. I played it at the darkest point to date of my life and I do believe that game saved me from suicide. I love all the FF games but after 7 even though X was also a huge part of my life. Final Fantasy IX has such a quiet but important message hidden within it & so looking back on it? It was almost vital for me to play that game when I did, that I can't imagine never doing so. I found at times every character even Quina & Kuja relatable, the ending was hard to understand, but ironically because I was struggling with real life issues outside the game, those same issues allowed me to better understand what the game was trying to say! I now have the ending song memorized and I sing it occasionally just because. My life has gotten leaps & bounds better and I feel without spoiling much like perhaps Vivi did. Grateful & Thankful.

[@sciverzero8197]

Oeilvert is french and is pronounced "wee'y vehr" Like 'oui' , followed by a soft L that sounds to english like the Y in yogurt, followed by the V in vertical, followed by "air". Zidane is pronounced Zih DAHn, just as Zinedine Zidane's name is. Blank is pronounced "Blahnk" Steiner is st'EYE'ner Iifa is pronounced EE fa (like the Irish Aoife, given name) Eiko is pronounced A-ko Quina Quen is pronounced Koo E Nah, KOO en. (distinctly NOT like qu in "quit", because the kana specifically is kuina kuuen, meaning "EAT!", "Cannot eat." in japanese) Vivi Ornitier is pronounced "V V Or nit tier" Madain Sari is Mah "Dine" Sah 'ry Gulug is Gooloog Lindblum is pronounced Lind like Wind, blum like book, not blum like plumb nor blum like plume.

[@glassguise3507]

That's really interesting! I'm trying to pronounce Oeilvert.

[@nanamikado999]

Oeilvert is not pronounced like that

[@moondoor9031]

There is a few FF villains who somehow destroyed the world or left it in ruins, take Kefka and Sephiroth as an example.

[@lfestevao]

Moon Door, Seph tried to ruin the world, but failed. Unbelievably, he was the one vilain who did accomplish less, but is highly regarded as evil and powerful.

[@Zelink108]

Not really, the ending was pretty vague, and can’t smoke be seen in the background of the FFVII ending screen?

[@Zelink108]

Uhh, yeah I’m just going to refer you to what BennettheSage had to say about Kefka in this video: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpDKi2uXrql7atk (at 18:55)

[@dc7981]

James Gravil lmao not really, it was kinda of rushed Actually

[@TGDLeefa]

OMG Now I want a ff9 remake & continuation :3

[@krisxd4037]

I love FF9 but then again, I love them ALL.

[@Panikdemet]

15:27 The two moons are actual moons of Gaia. They can be seen in the night sky in a few cutscenes (behind Alexandria castle early in the game when Vivi sneaks in the castle)

[@brunosilvamuniz]

You had me at "Necronphobia" lol

[@sh4d0wfl4re]

This game was the one that first overtly validated my habits of connecting the histories between final fantasy games. It also inverted my view on Garland turning him from a fallen paladin in my mind to an unsung hero. (whom is actually an antihero in disguise as the villain)

[@sh4d0wfl4re]

Before anyone mentions it, I am aware that FFIX's garland is a replica of sorts of garland, but I view it as a continuation of his soul. (after all in FFI garland did die and make use of the four fiends and/or time travel to resurrect. Also Disidia does have the origin of both chaos and soul cloning, so between the two I assume this games garland is at least a continuation of the original's will)

[@carlosdiego444]

peasant, have u played the legend of dragoon for ps1? it's a final fantasy like game, and it's just as good as a ff. you definitely should give it a try

[@Jononaterz36]

I agree, pez thats a game you really should check out

[@General_reader]

By far best rpg of all time!

[@VervaraRozthan]

Please make it happen!

[@beastofdarknesss5822]

I played legend of dragoon loved it right after i completed ff7 great memories

[@albionflux]

really though, forget ff7 remake i want dragoon remake

[@reflion3688]

Pez the invincible was the ship that you could use at the end we do know where it went it's under the control of Zidane and the crew.

[@guyinapandasuit2691]

I just finished playing through on the switch. Good lord this game was incredible. I never finished it as a kiddo. We NEED a sequel/prequel. I have numerous unanswered questions

[@Zelink108]

15:33 You mixed those up, the blue moon is Gaia’s while the red moon is Terra’s.

[@Edge1588]

Rewatching this video after replaying 9 and I have a short and simple addition. Those who can trance are terran in origin. Almost hinting towards the dreams of the fayth in 10 producing transformed bodies with new abilities rather than aeons.

[@Sacrengard]

who is singing the last song? the voice cover of you are not alone

[@louisgrafenstine6699]

When disc 4 starts, the party returns to Gaia and not only is the mist BACK but it now covers the intire planet. Could these be all the souls lost when terra when kaboom??

[@gyehlove6420]

Sequel??? Would be great O_O Great theories btw I also think Garland succeeded, though not the way he wanted.

[@SirJoelsuf1]

Iifa Tree. Spelled with a god damn "I." It even spells it out in the damn description when you enter the place. Great analysis, makes a ton of sense, but it gets me furious when people call it the "Lifa" tree.

[@sh4d0wfl4re]

Final fantasy games often focus on Souls; Kingdom Hearts games focus on fledgling hearts; The same Crystal had made both (Gran Pulse) Terra (Incognito) and Gaia, as FFXIII-3 shows during its endgame. Memoria is the Crystal of Beginning's (Bhunivelze) Chain of Memory stored within the Cleft of Dimensions that spirals around, sealing, the Void. Chain's of Memory fade as the Heart birthing dies and becomes a Soul, but not all Hearts are intact enough to form a Soul. (See the Final World for examples of those that were partially intact). Either Mwynn or Etro was Necron after being twisted by the Void as Exdeath and Enou had been. Thanks to Final Fantasy VI we know the appearance of Etro (and her mother whom she resembles) and Necron looks the part. Since FFXIII let us know that Bhunivelze had banished Mwynn to the Void, it would make sense that she shows up when his Crystalline (Magicite?) Core is shattered; it further explains why she would be filled with destructive rage. Without viewing Final Fantasy as a multiverse a lot of details about the trippy final boss fight's, and the gods that just show up at the end, don't make much sense. But as part of a greater meta-narrative they make quite the tale. Also: I am pretty sure that the Souls of Terra are in fact Chaos from Final Fantasy 1, as Final Fantasy xiii-3 alludes to

[@agravain9006]

In all honesty, I do believe in an afterlife

[@shibbyxoxo]

[@666stryder666]

nice to know you don't know your capital I(s) and L(s)

[@MalakiaLaGattaNera]

FF9? What happened to you Pez?? Are you ill??? Or insane??? Please do more :3

[@JeffRB]

i didn't notice this til now but was final fantasy ix quoting Yoda from Star Wars

[@JeffRB]

as a kid I didn't quite understand the story but I always thought that the ending was some what you said and that the other souls were able to assimilate and pass on just that the two bad guys needed to be punished for there actions so they were killed.

[@nicodemous52]

I have never seen the ending in FF9 as "happy", I've always seen it as a bittersweet ending.