Final Fantasy X Analysis (Ep.9): A Friendly Religious Debate | State Of The Arc Podcast

[@ResonantArc]

We played up to the point where you get the airship after the Bikanel Island sequence for the next episode.

[@dave88861]

Fun fact, for next weeks episode when they fall through the lake after that one boss fight and you hear the "hymn of the faith" they are actually on top of Sin, specifically in that little tiny city on Sin's head that you don't really ever get to see up close. So if you ever wondered what that little city looked like. Turns out we already knew :) Wanted to throw this your way for next weeks episode! Love your work, keep up the amazing job guys!

[@FredMaverik]

what. why is this here lol. this video is 3 weeks old. This is a one year old commentary. My YT is bugged

[@ryananderson1096]

I've been waiting for this moment to discuss a cool gameplay storytelling element in the game: the sphere grid itself. In Rin's Agency in the Thunder Plains, Rikku explains her fear of lightning; a childhood experience where her brother used lightning magic to try to drive off a fiend in the water, but wound up hitting Rikku instead. Lulu, the party's black mage, brings up that it was a good decision because water fiends are weak to lightning. She also suggests that Rikku learn some attack spells of her own. You as the player can either investigate the sphere grid to see how that would be possible or just let it happen naturally, because Rikku's path on the sphere grid naturally comes out right onto Lulu's path, near the part where the second level spells are. In terms of gameplay, this means that one of your three underwater fighters now has access to useful black magic, but in story terms, it suggests that Rikku takes what Lulu said to heart. It's just after this that Rikku scolds the lightning for interrupting her talk with Yuna, and before too much longer there's a scene where Rikku admires how mature Lulu is, though that scene is also a joke about Lulu's boobs. But it can be both a moment of character development and a boob joke. Back in Besaid, Lulu said of Kimahri that he "Learned the fiend's way of fighting." At the moment it seemed to suggest Kimahri was brutish or a dirty fighter, but soon you find out that Kimahri is this game's blue mage, able to learn and use enemies' skills, literally learning their way of fighting. His section of the sphere grid is unique in that it is central, connected to several other characters, and tiny, meaning he will exhaust it and need to move onto someone else's section far sooner than any other character. He can go onto Tidus's, Wakka's, Lulu's, or Rikku's. As gameplay, this is not only an early clue that you should do this as a player to make your characters stronger, but also gives you some strategic choice in which set of abilities you want to have two people using: support white magic, status attacks, elemental black magic, or the steal/use actions. In the story, this suggests that Kimahri is silently observing his companions, watching their fighting styles, and incorporating them, just like he does with fiends, which is awesome characterization. The significance of the sphere grid layout holds true of the whole cast. Lulu comes out on Wakka's path, referencing her growing feelings for him. Wakka comes out on Auron's path, referencing their similar arcs of disillusionment with Yevon. Auron comes out on Tidus's path, watching his young ward grow up like his old friend did. Tidus onto Yuna's, just the central relationship of the game, no big deal. The weakest link in this analysis is probably Yuna coming out on Rikku's path. Maybe it's them ultimately agreeing on , but that only comes up pretty late. Ultimately, the fact that everyone shares the same grid is not only a unique RPG stat growth system, but also an elegant way of showing that journeying *together*, growing relationships with each other, is what makes these people stronger. It's why attempts at similar systems in FF12 and FF13 don't have the same affection; they feel like attempts to create the same mechanic without the thought as to why it worked so well. You guys are doing great. I especially appreciate you pointing out some details in the depiction of Jecht that I had not noticed before. Keep up the good work.

[@Sean-lr7lj]

This is amazing analysis

[@FilipeWLima]

Great analysis!

[@rmsgrey]

Yuna linking to Rikku makes a lot of sense when you remember that Yevon is only one side of Yuna's heritage. Yuna picking up Rikku's skills seems like an obvious reflection of Yuna's Al Bhed side - joining her cousin's path.

[@adiksaff]

I just need to comment about how I appreciate this take so much! Agree with everything!

[@Paul-to1nb]

This is incredibly insightful. I'd add on that one of the central themes of FFX is about challenging what you thought you knew and breaking away from tradition. For most of the game, the characters are locked into their grid, but by end they break out of their section as they break out of their old ways of thinking. Completing the Yuna -> Rikku thoughts, 1. there's her heritage. 2. In X-2, Yuna attempts to mimick Rikku and how she's more chill with life (much to Paine's dismay). Wakka -> Auron is symbolic because he always looked up to him. Tidus -> Yuna is symbolic because he learns from her that some things are worth sacrificing for and eventually does what she planned on doing. I also like the thoughts on Kimahri. To add on to it, I see it as he left Gagazet ashamed - so much so that he barely speaks. All he can do is copy other things he's seen. If you just follow someone else on the grid without thinking, you'll likely think he's the most useless character. But if you think outside the box, and break some traditions, he could become the best character in the party by the time he fights Biran and Yenke, and show them all he's learned by travelling with his friends. To me that's the canon way to do that fight. (Save up his sphere levels, use a friend sphere, then zoom ahead for early quick hit/doublecast/holy.)

[@jonathanm7848]

Probably someone made this observation already but it’s interesting that the jecht spheres are a spiritual successor to the laguna storyline in ff8 seeing as this is the same team. On this play through i really enjoyed the jecht spheres and wished i could play that journey as well!-jonathan

[@The810kid]

I always have thought Tidus and Lulu's friendship was underrated as well as the mentor stand in father relationship he had with Auron. Both of those two were his guides throughout the game.

[@mooglemage6456]

Man, Casen is super on point this episode. Sometimes I think he miiiiight be reaching just a bit but I fully agree with all of his observations this episode.

[@ericb.1384]

I'm not a Catholic, but Casen has been wrong about their beliefs EVERY SINGLE TIME he has tried to say something. It's because he's LDS. Again, I'm not a Catholic, but at least I represent them correctly.

[@Wicked061]

I like how the game makes you feel the same way about jecht as tidus does, but over time, you learn that he is truly a good man. He just makes bad decisions and got handed the shit end of the stick of the new world he is in. Jecht is my fav ff10 character. Such a good game. With so many things to initiate emotional responses. Thanks RA

[@dakotawinston7677]

I love Casen’s comment about “awkward” home video recordings because yes, that is 100% a relic of the past in today’s world.

[@RadimuxCisco]

Video cameras were not a thing you always had with you, so it was awkward because it was uncommon. When everyone had a camera with them (on the phone) we embraced it and it became part of our life.

[@ArcadianGenesis]

I believe I can and have risen to the challenge of making awkward videos in today's world. 😅 No matter how common it is, I never feel comfortable when I know a video is being recorded.

[@teddyboiboi7758]

Been doing my first playthrough of FFX alongside this podcast and im having a blast! Keep up the great work :)

[@eminentbishop1325]

Hope you keep having a good time amigo 😊👍 great game and I envy experiencing it for the first time with these two great guys

[@teddyboiboi7758]

@@eminentbishop1325 Thanks alot Bishop! It's been great having this podcast to go along with my playthrough. Since Mike and Casen pick up on details i otherwise would have missed😅

[@RadimuxCisco]

I missed a few of those details (especially the outside lore that Casen brings in) and I have played the game a few times.

[@Klipschrf35]

I let my game go stagnant as life swept me up, this is a good recap before I pick it back up

[@iggyig420]

Currently playing through my 4th time since it came out. Playing along with this podcast as well! This story is one of the greats for sure.

[@ryanbroughton6133]

The Jecht spheres were one of my favorite parts of this game. You can see the bond between these 3 and I always wished any sequel was playing their journey even tho I knew the ending that’s how invested I was. The game did a great job of having me just as invested in them as it did with the party you play as. Watching it all culminate in Zanarkand was heartbreaking. It also allowed Tidus to see sides of his dad that he never got to see and hated him for. It put to life the good things others were saying about him he couldn’t wrap his head around. Also the whole parallel of Tidus experiencing the same feelings his father felt on his journey within his own journey being stuck in Spira. Just masterful.

[@mrbubbles6468]

That’s what everyone wanted X2 to be. Everyone wanted it to be that journey.

[@shiranui2844]

I was thinking that the garment on Braska's waist was a physical representation of the sphere grid, since there are many connected nodes on it like sphere grid itself.

[@drcosmos137]

That's what I thought too when I first saw it

[@RadimuxCisco]

Interesting. So it could be a representation of his experience.

[@chrisfrost7945]

I love Wednesdays. This is really my only sort of day off (I have class in the morning). So I get to have a few drinks and listen to you gents talk about my favorite game of all time with such passion and attention to detail.

[@EdreesesPieces]

I like that you spent the time showing each of the Jecht spheres. I'm not doing a playthrough with you guys because I remember the game really well from previous plays, but that's one part where my memory is fuzzy. Those spheres are a prime example of how good this game is with it's world building and developing all it's important characters.

[@DaytimeOperator]

25:00 I don’t think Braska’s green gem is Al Bhed. That’s maybe reading into it too much. All of the priest of Yevon in the wedding scene have green gems on their head pieces.

[@Paul-to1nb]

Once I saw Braska had both a green and blue gem I thought of Yuna's eye colors. I think it's more of a reference to that.

[@mortalballgt52]

You missed a Jecht Sphere back in Luca. It shows Jecht yearning to return to Zanarkand and see his son again, to the point where he almost starts crying on camera then Auron respectfully turns the camera off.

[@Doomsword0]

that one is so good

[@MINI_JasperJunior]

I definitely wasn't sitting waiting for this to drop... 👀

[@heyitsscottyo]

Me either.

[@swilson2219931]

Dawg I was lmao

[@AWFarmer]

@@heyitsscottyo I definitely didn't watch two episodes last week not realizing that I caught up 🤓

[@heyitsscottyo]

I totally haven't watched where we are up to 3 times at this point

[@caturiges]

Hope you get well soon, Mike! These podcasts and videos makes me look forward to these wednesdays.

[@caturiges]

47:52 I love the humour that you guys put in the intro part. It really hooks to watch the entire thing. 55:40 Spirans are almost like children and Yevon serves as a parent figure for most of them.

[@ChocolatierRob]

I do have to wonder just when Bilgen made the thunder plains so much more easily passable. Was a large part of why it took 600 years to defeat Sin a second time due to this dangerous crossing perhaps? Did improved travel make the pilgrimage easier to complete moving forwards. I don't really want a game where we experience Braska's pilgrimage (already know enough about it) but I'd certainly be interested in Gandof's journey as the second summoner to defeat Sin after 600 years of darkness. The Jecht sphere of Kinoc and Auron shows us that they both had an interest in seeing whether Zanarkand was truly at the end of a summoners pilgrimage and Kinoc wanting Auron to tell him of it afterwards. So when he asked Auron whether he had seen Zanarkand he was not making underhanded reference to DZ as you assumed but making a personal comment to Auron to reflect on their old friendship. He is not asking the question literally, he is making an inside reference just for the two of them.

[@turoturothegreat]

I think that Rikku's crawling is inspired by a cockroach scurrying from a sudden light.

[@Souichiro56]

Thank you guys you're doing an amazing job and the way that you are pointing out some details is fascinating. Also I've rewatched the snowbike cut scenes after your video and I have to say that Rikku's dialog is really great. It's really interisting to understand the fact that, at this particular moment of the story, everyone would rather keep the secret about Yuna's fate from Tidus, so that way he would not try to convince her to quit but moreover (and this goes for Rikku) he would keep cheering her up whenever she needs it. That's why he got his name after all, he put some joy in this journey who might have been horrible to live without his presence.

[@M4ruta]

The reason why Rikku is crawling on the ground while she's freaking out over the lightning is probably because lightning always strikes the highest point, so in her delusional fear she might be thinking that crawling is safer than walking upright (despite being right next to a lightning rod).

[@isourou-san8725]

My thoughts exactly. With that point in mind the scene didn't feel so weird anymore. She's just like a little kid who clamps on to your leg when in fear. My 3 year old daughter does it too sometimes.

[@danvgeg]

Hey Mike and Casen, two things I want to bring up real quick, one of which I will bring up again when we get to it. First, I haven't heard you talk about O'aka the XXIII yet. He may be a minor character but he does stick through most of the story and I hope you did not miss him. He is a fun character to interact with. Second, it sounds like you are going to be coming up on a part in the game very soon that I wanted to talk about. Trying my best to avoid spoilers I will say the part I'm talking about is when the party descends into an area that you cannot return to later in the game. Its the part right before you leave Macalania. When you get to that point PLEASE pay attention to the architecture in that area. You may see it later on in the game and it BLEW MY MIND when I learned what it meant. Hope you both are able to piece it together, if not I can bring it up way later when its not really a spoiler anymore. Really hope you read this! o/

[@michaeloconnor1281]

Saw a video recently...kinda..proving it? What you're saying? Is that what your talking about? That was weird because I remember feeling like a new that as a teenager, playing it through a few times and all. And I didn't know it was a point of contention in the FFX fandom...but still, watching that guys video, that "proves" it ( if that's what your talking about) was kinda riveting and it did make me question whether or not I actually did pu the points together or I'd just created a false memory somehow. I reckon they will discuss it. Great comment by the way. I'm interested to see them discuss it too.

[@danvgeg]

@@michaeloconnor1281 yes, there was a video talking about this and you can confirm it with the website that was brought up in that video. It's so easy to miss though and very much explains how they get to the next part. As a kid I never understood the transition and thought it was just lazy writing but it fits so well now that i know.

[@rmsgrey]

A couple of thoughts: In reference to the idea that many languages' words for "spirit" literally mean "air", the English word "spirit" comes from the Latin word for "breath", and English still has words like "inspire" and "respire" where the "spire" part means "breathe" ("inspire" can mean "breathe in" as well as "motivate" - with the latter meaning bearing a sense of inhaling the motivation). Meanwhile, when it comes to the connections between spheres and memories, that's one of the themes explored a lot more in X-2.

[@RadimuxCisco]

Interesting. It's funny how a lot of things are connected because the last breath/exhale when someone dies was thought to be the spirit leaving the body (but it's just the air leaving our lungs since our body is not actively holding it inside anymore).

[@rmsgrey]

@@RadimuxCisco Yeah. In fact, the word "expire" not only means "die" (or, by analogy, "end") but also has a, now significantly less common, but older, meaning of "breathe out".

[@figuures6098]

That western guitar theme in jecht's memories is actually Jecht's Theme, it's a really chill Blues track

[@dreamshield8519]

For the people who go back to get items. In all the temples there is a possibility to do an extra puzzle so keep your eyes open. you can go back later but that is a lot more difficult.

[@Zafarnama111]

Perfect timing after the day I've had. Thank you

[@Billy.gen-X]

Hope you're feeling better Mike. Awesome series!

[@Grebok]

The Thunderplain Jecht Sphere is also your (only) hint, that dodging lightning has rewards. Jecht is trying to dodge 200 times, or so I've always read it.

[@RetepAdam]

I’m so glad I only had to do that once. I hate that I had to do that once.

[@NickLysander]

Found this podcast this week through Spotify. It's fantastic! I've been playing FFX along with you guys and I dig your episodes on Nier. I'm glad I came in late enough to enjoy a back catalog. Gonna try FF8 next!

[@ChocolatierRob]

One nice thing about X-2 is that the Al Bhed tune up the lightning rods so that the Thunder Plains are completely safe to cross. So after all this time Bilgen's efforts in building them is acknowledged by the world at large. The green jewel on Braska's forehead is only on the artwork, in game he has a pattern instead of a jewel there. With Casen pointing out the middle eastern connection to the Al Bhed and that 'Al' means 'The' the Bhed part becomes rather obvious as a reference to the Bedouin - nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions. I hope you'll look at the alternate versions of the snowmobile scenes in the next video.

[@Tigerbro6]

braska's design is a bit more similar to old shinto priest looks I think. but still never noticed the lotus on his clothes

[@denglongfist4270]

Appreciated the nod to Cowboy Bebop. Yes, Jecht’s Theme is fantastic

[@UnrealChaosHD]

And its here! love the podcast guys keep it up

[@TheSpectacledOwl]

I love these sneak peek intros you’re doing now. Great stuff, as always.

[@kevinstreetgaming]

"Brudda!" xD I love the show guys. Have a nice week.

[@tylerconley8761]

New episode let's go!! Can't wait to see how you guys break it down today!

[@ScottWaltonDev]

A perspective on Wakka’s statement about Auron being Al Bhed: I don’t think he genuinely believed that, I think he was just being sarcastic.

[@ChaosN0110]

I don't think Wakka was being sarcastic ever

[@VegasValentineMusic]

I am so beyond excited about this one, mainly because the thumbnail lived rent-free in my head after playing this game for the first time. The conversation with Wakka and Rikku had such a profound impact on my own breakaway from religious tradition, and let me know that it was ok to ask questions and challenge the conversation. It was inextricable to my development as a young adult. Ugh Rikku is my hero

[@Marty-V]

My theory on why Rikku is so afraid of Lightning is that she already knew that FFXIII was comming...

[@electrominded8372]

Hahaha

[@travelsizedlions]

Oh snap

[@lastmanstanding7155]

Buuurn

[@ActionRicker]

Just found this channel and absolutely loving it! This is my favorite game. I have a few questions, what do you think would’ve happened if Tidus and Yuna had a kid (would it have worked)? Also, do you think anyone from Zanarkand ever thought to go beyond the city? Could they have?

[@JackCross3]

I'm always a sucker for seeing flashbacks to the previous journey/generation in these kinds of fantasy games. I love that slow revealing of context and background. And the character building with young Auron, Braska, and Jecht adds a lot. That said, I don't know that we can say Tidus had an inaccurate view of Jecht. The flashbacks do seem to show some interesting growth and a more caring side to Jecht, but I think its important that at the end of his journey, he never had to make good on an of that growth to his family. It's impossible to know if he would have been able to maintain it when he was no longer in a situation that favored his skills (ie having an adventure and slaying monsters). I think that the difference between how the people of Spira see Jecht and how Tidus sees Jecht, mostly goes to show you how people can seem like very different people depending on the context. Presumably Jecht wasn't a drunk when he was a blitzball all-star, the Jecht that Tidus's mom fell in love with. I can imagine he was much closer to the adventuring man we see in the flashbacks. But when he needed to be a parent, a job that requires more emotional skills than physical, he couldn't do it. And in the end, its Auron who tells Tidus his dad loved him, not his dad.

[@andrekanasiro728]

I am an Old Testament grad student and I don't think you're simplifying Adam and Eve WHEN IT COMES to Christian theology. That's pretty much the mainstream orthodoxy in many denominations. I thoroughly recommend the video by @laborkyle on Final Fantasy X and "the death of God", I think it would add many interesting layers to your discussion of religion in Spira.

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

Big respect for plugging FFX analysis I'm not aware of, I'll have a look now.

[@allenklein1446]

Another thing, more relevant to one of the earlier episodes, but I guess I'll write it here. Given that we know that the Fayth of Bahamut had been in Dream Zanarkand since Tidus' childhood, is it at all possible that he, and possibly the other Fayth as well, were responsible for transporting Jecht into Spira in order to kickstart their plan to defeat Sin once and for all and finally bring an end to their dreaming? I know you guys already theorized that maybe the Fayth were responsible for sowing the discord between Jecht and Tidus so that when it was time for Tidus to go to Spira, he would already have a strong motivation for wanting to kill Jecht. Just something to think about...

[@Dzzy123]

I think Wakka's comment about Auron possibly being an Al-Bhed is really funny because Auron wears sunglasses. Wakka wouldn't be able to see his eyes to tell if he's an Al-Bhed, but it's even funnier because he could see Rikku's eyes and couldn't tell that she was Al-Bhed. He has no clue what to look for when identifying these people.

[@mohsensoleymanee6620]

I really enjoy your podcasts, thank you for sharing such a good content.

[@allenklein1446]

Great video. Been loving the series so far. Quick note, at 30:42 you mentioned the music that plays during the Jecht sphere viewings. That style of music is Blues. Uematsu said that's where it comes from in the Ultimania. KZbinr and fellow FFX enthusiast Dansg08 recounts it in this video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/ana7ZmOklKuCmsU skip to 5:36. Cheers.

[@JimmyBackbeat]

I love FFX. I don't think I will ever love a final fantasy game as much ever again. It seems like Square has chosen a direction to evolve into that, to my taste, is for the worst. It might be the right decision financially but my fandom is running on the fumes of past achievements. I'm still a fan of old Square, but I need them to impress me if they want to keep my fandom in the present day.

[@mariusyandereini7031]

at 45:50 that shot is very sommonly used in anime and other Japanese media. It is usually ment to display a form of ignorance or naivite. Now the way you explained it could be the case and reason why that shot is used in such situations but I am not exactly sure. All I know is what that shot is usually used for.

[@randallsavage827]

Maybe this gets addressed later on, but the Jecht spheres make me curious about how Yuna developed her opinion of him. Braska met him in prison, and she only met him briefly the same day they left on the pilgrimage. In the earlier Jecht spheres, he still appears pretty rough and arrogant around the edges, then Auron explains how the journey changed him. So when she tells Tidus he was a "kind and gentle man", what is she basing that on? Simply that her father chose him as a guardian? From stories passed down about the journey? Does he present himself differently around others' children?

[@laureveller1046]

It could be that they stopped back at Bevelle before continuing on to Zanarkand.

[@randallsavage827]

@@laureveller1046 Oh yea that's possible. I sometimes forget Yuna was set up very conveniently to start her pilgrimage

[@laureveller1046]

@@randallsavage827 I'm not convinced they would, though. I think it would be hard for Braska to see his daughter before going to Zanarkand. It could be that Yuna met Jecht very briefly, Jecht was kind and sweet to her (as one generally is when they meet young children), and she formed a picture of Jecht in her mind based on that encounter and stories she's heard since. We do know that they spoke for long enough for him to tell her about Zanarkand. Yevon also seems to whitewash any successful summoners and guardians, too. Nobody had good opinions of Braska, Auron, or Jecht when they set out on the pilgrimage - now they are heroes. Nobody talks about the fact that Braska was married to an Al Bhed; maybe they conveniently forget that Jecht was a drunk and a nuisance, too.

[@randallsavage827]

​@@laureveller1046 Good points! I'm guessing it's most likely all based on Auron's stories about him. He's the only one who would've known the real Jecht at his most vulnerable, and nobody else in Spira would have much to say about him at all. Add in a little bit of nostalgia, and also Braska's trust in him, and there's Yuna's recollection. The "kind" part is ok, it's the "gentle" part that trips me up. That seems very experiential and not how I'd even describe "good" Jecht. So I went all Casen and thought I'd check out the original Japanese, and sure enough they instead had her describe him as kind and "fun". Now that's something I could see imprinted in a kid's memory from just one meeting.

[@loganl8440]

I believe the music that plays in the background of the Jecht sphere flashback (that Casen said reminded him of Cowboy Bebop) is Jecht's Theme. Interestingly, I saw a comment on youtube that observed that the melody of Jecht's Theme bears a remarkable similarity to the song "I Drink Alone" (George Thorogood). Coincidence...?

[@masterkl16]

I dunno about you guys but I'm so glad this is turning into a Xenogears-length podcast. :D

[@megamike15]

whitch i find werid as the game isnt as long. if anything it's one of the shorter ff's.

[@TheSami12345677]

Could you guys go over and discuss the scenes on the snow mobile with the other characters besides lulu? I always seemed to get Lulu in my play throughs and would love to hear your comments on the other scenes.

[@smiteey]

Damn it I messed up big time. Got halfway through your podcast catalog in only 2 days (playback speed is a powerful, yet dangerous tool), AND I binged all the current FFX videos, so now I'm doubly screwed in waiting for the rest.

[@HighSummonerBWM]

Oh yea! Also, with the Chocobo eater scene jecht sphere, this is in relation to way earlier in the game when Tidus said let's get it and Auron said that Jecht always say the same thing, which means only trouble for him and Braska.

[@DaytimeOperator]

32:20 From this scene between Kinoc and Auron we see that Marriage in Spira is usually arranged, and political. Kinoc received the promition of 2nd in command (under the rank of maester), because Auron rejected it. Auron rejected it, we learn, by rejecting an arranged marraige. Could it be that in order to achieve that rank (2nd IC of the Warrior monks) you must marry the daughter of the Maester to keep power in the family. Also, why did he turn it down? It isn’t explained.

[@markritchie584]

Auron didn't reject the promotion. He rejected the marriage proposal so as punishment the promotion itself was instead given to Kinoc despite it originally being intended for Auron. A likely theory is based on how Auron is, especially when he is younger. He's very serious, loyal and dedicated to his job. He doesn't seem the type to accept an arrangement in exchange for potentially furthering his career. He would much rather be promoted based on merit alone. Auron's character also suggests he's not the type who would marry someone for the sake of politics. He's certainly not the type who would allowed himself to be used as a pawn or tool in another's machinations. If he was to marry, it would seem much more likely it would be to someone he wants and without conditions attached.

[@Americansikkunt]

46:00 Wakka doesn’t know Summoners are sacrificed. That’s the “change” Rikku is referring to, which Wakka is blind to…

[@floriangailliegue6760]

All affection scenes (like the Snow Mobile Ride) are really interesting. They can be found here kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGSknpaKhpaVoac&ab_channel=JechtSphereCentral, from 6.00 and onwards (+ some additional in Guadosalam and later in the game (watch at your own risk there if you have not completed the game)

[@dakotawinston7677]

I think I already said this but I love the joke clip intros.

[@landonech]

Three FFX games? Two games to be sure, and then I believe a novella or something of the sort. But I am solidly with Mike on this. A prequel would be fantastic. Never though this game needed a sequel but a prequel I could get behind.

[@GamingWithSpoons]

Yes!! One hundred percent a prequel is needed

[@megamike15]

@@GamingWithSpoons not really. we got the jest of what braska's journey was like in the game. prequels should be there to flesh out the setting or add what wasn't there. and just showing the previous journey seems pointless to me.

[@landonech]

@@megamike15 To each their own, but I for one would love to know more about Braska and see his character development with regards to the journey as a summoner. I’d also love to see the *SPOILERS* post-Yunalesca slaying events with Auron play out, especially his traveling to “Dream” Zanarkand. That said, I don’t think FFX needs a prequel. I think it’s a fantastic stand alone title. My own personal feeling is that a prequel was always more compelling than a sequel, and that I’d readily play it, versus the years of resistance I’ve had to even starting a playthrough of X-2.

[@jeffpalaganas7404]

They wanted to do a X prequel but those plans fell through after the reception of X-2 I think. I would love a far off, future or past, Spira game. Though we would most likely get X-3 post will with Sins return.

[@VarusDraske]

@@jeffpalaganas7404 I believe a far off future to FFX has been made already, its called FF VII. XD But for real, that would be nice to see more in the series for sure.

[@FrozenAXL]

Really good episode :) About the secular eligious argument, I was really glad you mentioned it because in my teens somewhere in the middle 2000's I was always arguing about religion and that was exactly how I reacted to that scene, it instantly clicked how it felt like those arguments I had, the basics. Also, I must say that I am not sure if Wakka's hate can be specifically stated to be racism, because he hates the fact that they are anti Yevon and his religion and not specifically their racial traits, but because they are all known to unanimously be anti Yevon (religion) that he hates them as a group.

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

I get what you're saying, but it definitely qualifies as racism. When he rants, he always makes reference to them being Al Bhed, it is the focus of his hate. Also, they won't all be anti-Yevon. Yuna is half Al Bhed and a summoner. Yuna's Al Bhed mother was married to a man of Yevon, and so probably not too strongly opposed. To assume a race of people all think the same thing (even if most do) is bigoted. Presumably, most Guado were anti-Yevon before Jyscal. If people assert that all Guado are anti-Yevon, it would've prevented their assimilation.

[@rosh_lal_music]

@@santinopaone-hoyland This is a great comment. I think it's really important to emphasise how groups of people can become 'racialised' too. Since race is a social, and not a biological category, people with heterogenous origins can be classified as one 'race'. Jewish people are a great example - Sephardic, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi Jews have different ancestries and live in various countries but would be considered one 'race' due to how their Jewishness is understood (and due to anti-semitism). The same can be said about Muslims. Also, I'm from Sheffield!

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

@@rosh_lal_music Yeah I specifically had Jewish people in mind when considering this topic, thanks for your input. I'm from Doncaster but from a family of Blades. Sheff Wednesday = Luca Goers.

[@Fellipe2k5]

49:31 Not being afraid is dangerous. I don't trust a man who isn't afraid. Where I live, not being afraid can lead to death. If I'm not afraid to walk down a dark alley at night, it can have bad consequences for me.

[@reenchanted]

To be fair, if I died as often as Sean Bean, I’d be afraid of a lot of things, too. XD

[@hian]

The scene in the woods with Jecht showing Tidus the tree with the crystal growing out of it and him explaining how it works is very similar to the scene where Sephiroth explains materia to Cloud in the Nibelheim flash-back 😅

[@ChocolatierRob]

Yeah, the Pyreflies/Farplane system of FFX is very much like what you would get if the Lifestream of FFVII were in a symbiosis with the water systems of the world.

[@MichaelIbsenGuitar]

The classic burden-of-proof back and forth between Rikku and Wakka made me laugh out loud as an atheist who grew up in the evangelical church as a missionary kid. It was so on point, having seen this argument from both sides with the existence of God or other religious claims.

[@colpugno7]

45:56 i think animes/mangas do this a lot when depicting certain characteristics. In my opinion, something resembles 'lack of emotion' or 'being very cruel'.

[@PureBlackDragon]

Great episode, also reminded me inadvertently that Sean Bean is amazing.

[@ToxDrawace]

*slight spoilers for next week* Not sure if this will make it in time for the next recording, but I saw a video recently showing that when the party falls under the ice at Lake Macalania, you are actually on Sin's back - the part of his back with all those buildings you see. Here's the link to the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iofCpYp8ls18arM

[@SokiHime]

I've been waiting for this one Wakka is my favorite portrayal of a racist character in all of fiction. It's so impactful in large part because you get to see what type of person he is apart from his prejudice.

[@LrnecBuma]

The affection system was scrapped late i cant belive they were struggling to find enough scenes because the conversation with lulu is great.

[@Jyukenmaster95]

A few comments are saying it; the tone of the jecht spheres has a similar goofiness to the laguna flashback sequences from FF8. Since we know that much of the laguna storylines were cut from the final development of 8, i wonder if the writers/devs have any commentary about these flashback scenes. Like, perhaps they approached it with an "Ok, we're gonna do it the way we intended, this time" intention.

[@RadimuxCisco]

I would have loved to see the conversations on the bike with the other characters. I didn't knew there was another option. I am going to see what I can find about that right now.

[@RadimuxCisco]

Man, after watching the scenes, I wish I had gotten Riku in Guadosalam or on the ride. EDIT: here is the video I saw. It does contain a future scene so if it is the first time playing maybe you don't want to watch it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGSknpaKhpaVoac

[@heyitsscottyo]

I'm pumped

[@kelvinkegel2304]

I really love this game, and this podcast is reassuring why I do.

[@MewSassafras]

I noticed in the Jecht spehers Auron has a ponytail, but afterwards his hair is short. I think this may be more of a gypsy tradition I'm thinking about, but I wonder if Auron cut his hair in grief before he went to zanarkand to look over Tidus? That seems like something Auron night do.

[@donnierhoads5956]

Hey guys! Been loving this podcast and LOVE this game. Even made a movie edit of the game back in 2007. I was wondering if you two could take a moment to talk about a topic I’ve seen about the message of the story regarding religion, and is the overarching theme of the story anti-religion. Being familiar with the game I do not think the message they depict about Yevon is anti-religion but at surface level I can understand how some may conclude to that. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[@gbjon9044]

Yoooo I just realised the significance of the Al Bhed having the ability to create an anti-summon field 😳

[@jvsm42]

Have you huys thought of doing a Miyazaki game? Would be interestung to see how you guys organize the story

[@HighSummonerBWM]

I see no one here mentioned it as well in the vid. Rikku explains in the al bhed shop if you speak to her. Her and Brother was attacked by a fiend when they was little. Brother cast a thunder spell but missed and smacked her instead. 😂 That's why. When Lulu said she can teach her some, she panicked and said maybe later face palming. She got over it in X-2.

[@DarkSol13]

Not sure if this was pointed out already but Wakka isn't necessarily racist, but he is definitely xenophobic. That's slightly different especially because Wakka doesn't even know what the Al Bhed look like. Now, racism is like a specialized case of xenophobia but still, one is more focused on appearances and other such external qualities, while the other is more about the culture, actions and behaviors and the way of life.

[@Msoulwing]

I think it's worth bringing up that Wakka *isn't wrong* about the Al Bhed. They *are* a bunch of heretics. He's wrong about Yevon.

[@markritchie584]

An interesting add on to this is that most of Spira is racist / xenophobic towards the Al Bhed. It's just that this hatred is largely presented through Wakka's perspective from such a degree that it creates the appearance it's more him as the racist / xenophobe and not Spira in general. This tends to get overlooked by many. A crucial clue as to Spira's racist / xenophobic nature is how BOTH Guado AND Humans branded Seymour as an abomination for being a half breed. Another is how the only reason Jyscal Guado and Kelk Ronso were Maesters of Yevon was the result of Mika's Sub-Races Appeasement Policy. It served only to created the appearance of being inclusive towards other races. Mika himself displayed bigoted views when he described Kelk as "Ever the Ronso. Hard headed, but hardly useful".

[@markritchie584]

It would be interesting if this could be addressed in future episodes

[@yyoksetioxd]

yay here we go

[@gaugebarlow5811]

Can someone tell me what song is being played at the end of these episodes? I’ve tried Shazam but it’s to amazing for the app lol

[@randallsavage827]

31:25 I did the backtrack at this point, and now the saddest part of this game for me was finding the two dogs in Luca 😢

[@DaytimeOperator]

Not mentioned!! 25:00 Braska has a Sphere grid on his chest. Is this how he levels up? Are sphere grids a physical object in the world of Spira or more of an abstract understanding of growth and experience?

[@shiranui2844]

Garment Grids and the dresspheres you place on them in FFX-2 are actual objects that people can wear to give them access to various abilities, so that may retro actively suggest that the Sphere Grid in FFX is actually physical.

[@agent_11]

I always thought Braska's chest piece was his sphere grid

[@Kairikey]

You know what the funniest and the cruelest thing about Rikku's fear of lighting is? (a bit spoiler-y, but the spoiled scene is pretty short and negligible and is probably in the next session anyway) You know how the first time on the airship, Lulu randomly mentioned that since only Tidus, Wakka and Rikku can fight underwater, it'll benefit them if any of them were to learn magic which is to foreshadow the underwater section that might come up in the future. Out of the 3, Rikku happened to be the one with highest magic with highest MP, and since when you fight underwater, it stands to reason that the fiends there would be water-based and would be weak to lightning. You bet I would use that Black Magic Sphere to teach Rikku Thundara/ga without fail anytime. I pity the poor girl. The game is designed to be this way, lol. I'm not sure if it's the same with both standard and expert sphere grid or not, but if you follow along her normal grid, Rikku is going to have higher magic out of the 3 swimmers. Edited: Okay, I went and checked, Wakka probably has the higher magic stat, but his MP is pretty terrible, so I always give it to Rikku. And I think it made sense a bit that her grid is this way since on standard grid, she would transition to Lulu at the end. On expert grid, she's surrounded with path to Yuna's and Lulu's grid and flanked by Tidus's at the start and the end.

[@shiranui2844]

Is the expert grid meant to be for extra difficulty or for balance?

[@rmsgrey]

@@shiranui2844 the expert grid is meant to be more flexible - the standard grid guides you along certain paths, while the expert grid gives you a lot more freedom to choose to switch paths much sooner.

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

I think the point is that she overcomes the fear, and so learning a Thunder spell is a gameplay representation of that.

[@Kairikey]

@@santinopaone-hoyland It'd feel better if it's auto-acquired. But with sphere grid system, you, the player, are constantly making choice for the character to progress, so it does feel like cruel fate. But of course, your interpretation is a nice outlook. I think there's a comment somewhere in here saying the same thing too like the sphere grid path seems to represent something about character growth. I was immediately reminded that after Macalania there's a scene with Rikku wanting to be more like Lulu. The fun part is that at the start of FFX-2, Rikku actually has the highest magic stat because of her Thief dressphere. In the end, it's not like you can't pass Via Purifico without magic. It's totally doable, so it's still player's choice whether or not they wanna have Rikku learn to do lightning magic.

[@darius410]

2 questions I would like to hear you guys cover is .. 1. How long or how much time do u guys thing pass during the summoners pilgrimage. Obviously in game it feels like maybe 2 or 3 days but it has to be more then that. 2. Often times when they speak of Zanarkand the say things like well no one knows how it looks now or no one have seen it in how ever many years. The Ronso live literally right next door to the place. Shouldn't they be able to tell people some sort of information about the place. If the Ronso can travel all the way south to besaid surely Zanardkand is a place they could see or gone.

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

I assume the pilgrimage takes at least months, if not years to complete. They are travelling the whole world on foot. Zanarkand is on the other side of Mt Gagazet and the Ronso revere it as a holy place. It is for summoners only - they won't have gone to check it out themselves.

[@darius410]

@@santinopaone-hoyland even if they haven't gone there they are on a mountain they should have clear view of the place.

[@megamike15]

@@santinopaone-hoyland it never felt like spira was the whole world of 10 just a single continent.

[@JohnOethGuitar]

Thanks as always for the episode! I always look forward to Wednesdays because of you guys.

[@Real2KRosters]

Pretty sure Gandof and Bilghen are a light LOTR reference.

[@RetepAdam]

“He’s a… he’s a Wakka.” No, that’s an entirely different character! The 23rd of his name!

[@caturiges]

5:00 I think Brother hit her with a Thunder spell when she was little, accordingly to FF X-2.

[@ToxDrawace]

I believe I was able to get that story from her in this playthrough; I think it might have been dialogue from talking to her when they stopped at the shop for a break in the middle of the Thunder Plains.

[@sh1yo7]

She explains on the airship later

[@ToxDrawace]

@@sh1yo7 I haven't gotten that far in this playthrough yet, so if she mentioned it there, I think she also talks about it earlier, too.

[@TheBeird]

Well all religious debates are friendly. Ar-aren't they? You know, this makes me think of the His Dark Materials trilogy. Throughout college, I had people telling me, "HD, you gotta read this thing, it's so radical and different." And I read the whole thing, and thought to myself, "this is just a JRPG in book form, only with the story being hijacked by an insufferable Gary-Stu." Makes me wonder, where did the JRPG formula of "Power of Friendship Kills God" thing come from? I mean, I know FFX and Xenogears drew from Gnostic thought and Jungian thought, among other things. But, if the heroes journey is the typical story structure for Western fantasy, what made the Japanese choose deicide as theirs for these adventures? Is it a cultural thing going back hundreds of years, or do the developers just know their audience really well?

[@pickerofnits3066]

I’d say there are multiple contributing factors. For one, Japan is one of the most secular nations in the world, and Abrahamic beliefs are nowhere near as ingrained into the culture compared to most western ones. As such, having a(n oftentimes thinly veiled Christian analog) religious institution and/or its deity as antagonistic forces wouldn’t be seen as being as taboo in comparison. Japan’s own history with Christianity as an arm of colonialism would also likely contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, when you’re writing a fantastical story with supernatural elements, having a literal deity as an antagonist is an obvious way to have said antagonist come off as that much more imposing.

[@megamike15]

i think from what little we see of their journey braska's pilgrimage was not that eventful. besides the shoopuff incident there isnt that much there to have a full prequel game.

[@shhhvcnear]

Was it not showing wakka's eyes because of the 16:9 cutting off the top and bottom parts of the screen?

[@LouisianaOtter]

Bit behind currently, but I was thinking the farplane visions of people may be what the person seeing them imagines them to be? Haven't played in a few years though so I'm not sure if this is proven wrong with some dialogue or something else

[@royaltyalign417]

Half way! Nice! More to come then

[@curryrice3705]

I know it's unreasonable to expect you two to put in the game time required, but you would do a really good analysis of FFXIV Shadowbringers and Endwalker

[@Kodiie]

Rikku is an Albhed? Is Master Auron an Albhed?!? Are you an Albhed?!? Am I a Albhed?!?

[@dillflynn]

Already watched the whole thing on 100x speed, it was a great

[@sh1yo7]

During backtracking random npc also talk a lot about the wedding and there seem to be more guado out and about

[@joevader10]

Did I miss something? Will all episodes be this short from here on out? Not complaining, just curious.