Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Summoning a Masterpiece, Death and Denial

[@nathanking5137]

Alternative endings would make part 3 so good. Imagine the replayability if there's say, 3 different endings.

[@dreamphoenix]

Alternate endings, or alternate parts in the ending, are certainly an enticing possibility! That it's even possible keeps us all guessing, as theorized given directions don't need to necessarily collapse all on the same point. Thank you for the comment and for watching!

[@Drw-id-Kirin]

We are homeward bound.

[@dreamphoenix]

Hooyah! :) Thank you for the comment and for watching 🙏

[@itsdantaylor]

3:31 it is also worth noting that, IF Aerith is alive on this alternate world, Sephiroth seems to imply these worlds are temporary and will inevitably 'die'. This could also be interpreted as a form of loss, a loss of the things that were possible but never could be. The scar Cloud sees at the end in the sky could be indicative that perhaps HIS world is one such world, or more likely that the world in which now Aerith lives is only temporary and it too will fade. Now whether or not that can CHANGE in the 3rd game I don't know, but I am eager to see. I am of the mind that Aerith is in a alternate timeline world solely for the fact that it seems to make the most sense in the context of the story that we were shown elements leading up to her 'death' in Rebirth.

[@dreamphoenix]

Great points! I agree that the loss of what could have been is such a heart breaking aspect of Chapter 14. If you watched the 'Nature's True Gods' video on this channel, which is about the True Nature of Reality sequence; what you say is given horrific effect. Observed is a world being consumed by Sephiroth, as well as the macabre, dark effects of forcing worlds together. In addition it's shown that all worlds, even the Beagle Timeline, exhibit terminator perimeters similar to the scar in the sky/ the Cloud Remembers sequence in FFVII. I also believe Cloud deflected the blade and saved Aerith. How he met and overcame a dark god will be addressed in the next Ending Deep Dive, where something that should have been impossible is revealed to us. Thank you for watching and for the comment!

[@ZolaSwokitome]

Midnight Rendezvous is the most beautiful track!

[@dreamphoenix]

It is such a soul caressing movement. Timelessly hauntingly so. Thank you for your comment and for watching!

[@Edu_Hi_FTW]

I remember in 97 I was no mind, nothing. Frozen. Just shock at what I saw. 😢

[@dreamphoenix]

I know that feeling from that moment in 97 very well. :( Thank you for watching and for the comment!

[@nathanking5137]

The Aerith Cloud speaks with after her death only seems to say stuff thats repeated lines from earlier through the game(s). This to me, suggests this "Aerith" is Jenova, who is going to manipulate Cloud further.. (im playing through part 1 and 2 to validate my theory but the "Promise?!" And "I'll send up smoke" among other lines, were all just repeated from earlier in the game.. almost mimicked.

[@zest01]

People say there’s no Promise line in the Japanese version.

[@dreamphoenix]

Of all the theories explaining the phenomena from the altar forward, that one is the most horrifying. It's definitely possible, especially as Jenova rapidly evolves in the wake of the Reunion being started. Who knows what limitations there are on her capabilities? Likewise with Sephiroth, who is now a reborn transcendent being. What I believe definitely resonates from all perspectives is that there are certain peculiarities in what Aerith says, how she says it, etc. in the final scenes. These peculiarities require some method of explanation that will likely seem supernatural. Similar to how a supernatural explanation (the same or different) is needed to explain how Aerith communicated with Cloud during the True Nature of Reality sequence. Thank you for the incites! And thank you for watching!

[@Foxheimer]

If it’s Jenova it’s a new way of manipulation. Because so far Jenova only manifest physically by using the robbed man as a shell, or through flash to give Cloud « answer » allowing him to preserve his fake persona. In Japanese they don’t make a promise. It’s just an English thing. Why would Jenova stay behind in the city ? Why not using a robbed man to manipulate the party till the northern crater ? An other thing maybe not related. Before that scene we got the robbed men leaving Nibelheim and they mention « the next day » is that important ? If I remember well the other moment the devs mention a « time » are in the temple of the ancients and when Cloud takes naps at the gold saucer. why ? I don’t know.

[@TheDelightfulFlowerLady]

They are not doing all this for nothing, I think she is going to be saved or at least, we will have the option to save her. I don't think they would tease us all this time through the years and past two games that she could live, just to have her still die. I think that would make for terribly writing and be extremely cruel. But I don't see them doing that. She's going to live. #SaveAerith #AerithLives

[@dreamphoenix]

We resonate on very much! There is a reason I added "Unless by intervention of Reunion or a god..." and later included footage of a god like Gilgamesh creating life from the unmanifest. :) In the next Ending Deep Dive (hopefully out in two weeks), revealed will be the rise of a something that's exhibiting god-like powers. Be the finale of these deep dives, the question I'm asking isn't "Can Destiny be changed?", but rather, "Should Destiny be changed?" #whatwouldyoudotosavesomeoneyoulove? :) :( Thank you for watching and for the comment!

[@TheDelightfulFlowerLady]

@@dreamphoenix looking forward to your next video.

[@TheDelightfulFlowerLady]

@@pipsqueaksgaming7029 that's your opinion 😉

[@pipsqueaksgaming7029]

@@TheDelightfulFlowerLady that’s a fact. Devs confirmed it and you’ll see in part 3

[@TheDelightfulFlowerLady]

@@pipsqueaksgaming7029 not true, but you can believe whatever makes you happy ✌🏻

[@shonenmc]

When I play the og for the first time primas guide spoiled her death. They had a large spread of the scene that was impossible to miss when flipping through it. Almost didn't play the game because of it. I remember wishing so badly that it wasn't spoiled for me- but the impact of it was far less because of it. This time around no one knows what happened, so Ill be surprised for the first time.

[@dreamphoenix]

That sucks! Beyond words sucks. :( I resonate very much; whatever comes at Journey's End, none of us are ready for it by means of forewarning. Thank you for watching and for sharing!

[@federicamacchia1656]

If death,loss,should be natural things (as many ppl say) why should they be so painful for human being???To eat,drink,sleep,smile,love,are natural things,and they are never painful.So,why ppl are so obstinately bound to the idea that Aerith MUST die and MUST stay dead,or the game will be ruined???Fuck that stupid idea!!If they'll going to create alternative ending where we can decide if Aerith can live in a sort of "pocket of dreams" somewhere,i really want to see how many players will NOT choose such option 😆

[@dreamphoenix]

I once asked a similar question to my discussion group. This decade we will have sufficiently advanced agentic AI's that whether or not any of them are sentient, our subconscious and conscious mind's won't be able to tell the difference (they having crossed the uncanny valley). These beings won't be confused with humans, but they will have personalities as believable as any human's. Suppose one that was embodied in a photorealistic avatar of Aerith in a photorealistic world that in no way waits for any given human's input (basically a simulated reality, akin to the Matrix). Who would tell her she has to die, because that's what happened in 1997? Who would try to enforce it? It's very interesting that this struggle of idea in our universe, is mirrored in the heroes' universe. :) We resonate on many things. Perhaps the choice at the ending won't be does Aerith live or die (or Zack or anyone killed unnaturally by Destiny), but rather, at what cost? This will be heavily addressed in Ending Deep Dives to come. Thank you for watching and for the comment!

[@Foxheimer]

Whether he saved her or not it's weird to talk about denial when you see the range of emotions he has. Especially the contrast with the OG flashback that happens at the same time where he says the lines but without any apparent emotion. Regarding the grieving process, another step can take place at the North Crater. They already ruined the illusion of the original with Zack's presence. Creating the illusion of Aerith's death, showing the burial scene (we have to see this scene) can trigger Cloud's psychological breakdown, exposing him as a usurper. You failed to protect Tifa, to save your village, your mother and now Aerith. (Sephiroth already gaslighted him it in Remake "You can't protect anyone" when he touches Aerith's shoulder or "you failed again" after the plateau falls even if I don't know if it's really Sephiroth or Cloud who is torturing himself). It won't be a lie, like in the original, but just another reality, another perspective, a nightmare. They showed us the flashback of the original, these two moments overlapped. They can do this whether she's dead or alive since the goal is just to convince Cloud that it's real without revealing Aerith's true condition yet. This can be the twist of Cloud's redemption arc.

[@dreamphoenix]

Thank you as ever for your intrepid incites! We resonate incredibly much. This video was largely made to address the conversation about if these dev interviews were confirming Aerith died or if the critical moment is indeed open to interpretation. I also believe we witness Cloud having enormous emotions at the alter forward, one of the later ones imho being denial. Denial can be out of ego driven arrogance or conscious ignorance, or in the case of trauma it's an uncontrollable reaction inside someone being unable to deal with the extreme emotions. In Mr. Strife this is complicated by other factors that no human could deal with (Jenova, powers beyond mortal restraint, etc.). I resonate entirely about the Northern Crater, and your sleuthing work has helped form a part of what will be the final Ending Deep Dive. Thank you! !!! And thank you for watching!

[@Foxheimer]

@@dreamphoenix You inspired me with your Star Wars edit "As long as she lives I will control you". I think there is a reason the last hours of the game are about Cloud and Aerith. And the fact that "she is still around" The dream date is not only a fan service thing. Aerith being more emotional, more uncertain. Cloud deflecting Sephiroth's attack ( even if it's in his mind) is his answer. And the song, unlike Hollow, is performed in game so the lyrics resonate into character's mind like a "guide". I think that song is going to be important, either emotionally or even for the plot, in part 3. Whatever happened at the alter, Cloud lost her for a moment, he felt it, so "What would you do to save the one you love ?" looking forward to the video !

[@dreamphoenix]

@@Foxheimer :) Vader's line will be brought up again in a Deep Dive to come. Sephiroth isn't blind to Cloud's curious powers. At all. :( Thank you again!

[@Foxheimer]

@@dreamphoenix ah great !! Thanks for your videos ! I had a thought lately about Sephiroth's motivation or a part of it. I think you mentioned that Cloud is the prefect "glitch" or something like that, at least the idea of a "perfect mistake" and what if Sephiroth wants Cloud as a shell for his own mind but must, first, empty this shell ? In Advent Children we see Cloud's eyes turning into Sephiroth's and in Rebirth he took Sephiroth's stance/attitude. Just thinking loud.

[@dreamphoenix]

@@Foxheimer That's a horrifying thought... I really hope Sephiroth's plans are not along these lines. We resonate that Sephiroth seems to need Cloud for something, and Cloud's curious powers are part of that. Thank you!