How Terapagos' Battle Theme Defines Kieran's Journey of Self-Worth

[@tempertenchi]

I LOVE KIERAN so much, and I knew the terapagos theme's had ties to Kieran, and had trouble explaining it to people. this video makes me sooo happy because it helped me further understand why I love these themes so much and also as someone who relates heavily to Kieran, it helped me understand more clearly how I can explain/express that to people while also spreading positivity about the character I love so dearly ;; alot of people diss Kieran and only like to point out his flaws. like they forget he's only around 14 cannonically (reference french version) or "teen" in every other verson. he's right at that age where he's going to have trouble with rejection, proper emotional management ect. people completely look over the fact that his story comes to positive conclusion and even apologizes multiple times not only to us, but everyone else as well. I think Kieran is honestly the best character in the whole franshise. Ive been playing pokemon since gen 1 when I was very young and Kieran is the first time I have been truly consumed by a characters story. being autistic definetly plays a role in that but I felt (and feel) a genuine connection to the mass of pixels that is Kieran. the break between Teal Mask and Indigo Disks release, all I could do was wonder what was going to happen to him. I hope they continue to put this much soul into characters for the franchise. we need more characters like Kieran.

[@TheRealMaruki]

I am not surprised to have found you here

[@TheFluffyTheropod]

Had a feeling I’d find you here!!

[@THGMR-ox7sd]

I thought people hated him 🫤

[@RobbyForShort]

I'm so happy that you also identify with him! This is the first time in a long time that I've felt invested in a Pokémon character, and the PCi team's dedication to this narrative definitely shows.

[@tempertenchi]

@@THGMR-ox7sd there are many who do... but I love him to the moon and back! people who cant identify with him tend to dislike him more.

[@elin111]

People were mad that Keiran wasn't brainwashed by some yokai peach monster or whatever, but him NOT being mind controlled makes his character 100 times better. Keirans' villian arc comes not from fictionalized magic power but from very real issues and experiences that many kids with social anxieties and abusive relatives experience on a regular basis and knowing you were partially responsible even if not intentionally hits harder than "fantasy monster did it".

[@RobbyForShort]

It made the story much more relatable, and I think some people weren't ready for that.

[@TheSonicSalviXdlol]

​​@@RobbyForShortyeah, i prefered him being not controlled.

[@Imagools]

@@elin111 it’s like when Digimon Adventure 02 said that Ken Ichijoji was only evil because of a Dark Seed which ruined his entire arc

[@TheJaredPunch]

I’m someone who isn’t against the mind control trope, especially coming from a recent “Fire Emblem fan,” but I absolutely agree that Kieran not being manipulated into his path is the best part about his character.

[@AdamG_6]

I cannot remember the last time I wanted to hug a character as much as I wanted to hug Kieran.

[@buttorianscotch]

Looks like I wasn't the only one who felt the Beast Ball suited Terapagos well.

[@joshuanapier4632]

21:20 Personally, my headcanon is that ogrepon trusted the protag because they are a foreigner to Kitigami, like their old owner.

[@LokiToxtrocity]

Kieran finally became someone he himself is happy to be, hes no longer a doormat either, he's back to being his kind self, but know he knows to not let others take advantage of him, as well as he now uses that anger in a goid way, considering the look he gave Pecharunt when it started to run away, his eyes lost the shine in that very moment, boy locked on.

[@Monossus]

I love how people put so much thought on not only the gameplay but also the artistic sides and story telling of the games. Thank you for explaining and showing us the intellectual telling of those songs! Great video ❤

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you! They truly put their heart into making a better story for S&V after Sw&Sh. That Eternatus story was a flop, mawma!

[@elfilin-to6dh]

Also, about Carmine. Some people are really quick to use the "he's just a kid" thing to justify the weird shit that Kieran does (which can be valid in certain cases, to be fair) But Carmine is also a kid. I mean, she's older, but she's probably like 16 or something whereas Kieran is 13-14. She doesn't treat her brother well, definitely, but I've seen the fandom act like she's Satan incarnate. Like, I know people that were assholes when they were 16, and they actually matured and learned to be better. But nope, in (parts of) the fandom, it's all reduced to "comically evil supervillain Carmine that hates Kieran and treats him like Ghetsis treated N"

[@mothmanshusband3236]

I found this really interesting, so much goes into telling a story and we love to see it appreciated from all angles, especially ones that are really easy to over look.

[@RobbyForShort]

Absolutely! Kieran is one of the most interesting we've had in a while.

[@TheSonicSalviXdlol]

​​@@RobbyForShortSo true.

[@Kieranpokemonsisliterallyme]

Honestly, every autistic person can relate to Kieran. He's been through so much of the autistic experience, including the moment where the player uplifts him and gives him self-worth, showing a positive way to deal with issues faced by autistic people, and to see his demonisation by the fanbase for autistic traits honestly breaks my heart as an autistic person. His battle for self-worth is something almost any autistic person can relate to.

[@aureliamastergoomba1278]

21:45 And also Kieran may or may not have accidentally awaken the Loyal Three but that's just a minor detail because that was the player's fault.

[@BurningFlamesofDivineDragon]

Well done on this breakdown and how it relates to Kierans journey. Keep up the great work.

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you, thank you!

[@MattDustyParker]

So some of this went over my head since I haven't studied music theory, but this was an excellent watch and you explained it all very well. Gonna check out your channel and see what else you got going on. You're very eloquent with your scripting.

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you! I'm so glad all the essay writing during my one year as an English major in college is paying off.

[@Kieranpokemonsisliterallyme]

I caught it in a friend ball because it matches how the battle with Terapagos reforged the player's bond with Kieran.

[@Missingno_Miner]

This is some really good analysis for a really good character! If someone had told me back when Kieran was first revealed that he would become my favorite character in the pokemon franchise as a whole I would have laughed in their face(because the partner from PMD:Explorers had kept an undisputed stranglehold on that position for over half the franchise's lifetime, and even just among mainline games there are some great ones), but here we are lol. Kieran's arc is directly responsible for me sitting at the credits scene and thinking "yeah, this has officially surpassed BW1 for best mainline pokemon story." 11:41 This is a myth. While it does appear that he may have been programmed to *disproportionately* target Ogrepon, which explains how this myth came about, he absolutely does not *exclusively* target Ogrepon. It's not a huge deal, but this bit of misinformation has become a pet peeve of mine. Was immensely confused when I heard it for the first time, still kinda confused as to how it has legitimately persisted this long. 13:05 Like you said, this is Terapagos' leitmotif, which is used in all the Terapagos themes, including the short track that plays when it wakes up, before Kieran smacks it in the back with a master ball. No connection to Kieran except through Terapagos, even less connection to his Hydrapple, and being realistic, the resemblance to Bad Apple is likely coincidental or at most an unintentional source of inspiration. 17:55 I appreciate this being brought up, because even if the characters(mostly Briar) act as if Terapagos is rampaging mindlessly or losing control of its own power, this doesn't actually appear to be the case when you pay close attention. After all, it only shoots one beam of energy, which actively bends to seek out Kieran, whereas if it was actually rampaging at random you'd expect it to shoot beams all over the place without regard for where they hit, and once its broken the master ball, it immediately calms down enough for the player and Carmine to engage it in a regular battle, going on the defensive by putting up a barrier rather than continuing to shatter the floor and break the cavern around it. The literal instant Terastalizing gave it an opportunity, Terapagos specifically targeted its trainer in an attempt to liberate itself, it wanted Kieran Terapagone, and its something I don't think gets talked about enough.

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you for your detailed comment! I'm glad all the points in this video made sense because I really enjoyed Kieran's character. P.S. I've removed the bit of misinformation about Kieran targetting Ogerpon. Thanks for catching that!

[@Chicken3Pie]

My gosh you outdid yourself with this one. We are used to high quality and entertaining videos from you for real, and this one is such a peak. I lost all words Robby you really amazed me with this one. When clicking I did NOT expect to get emotional (had to wipe a couple of tears) from this video, both for the content and the creator. Much appreciation from all of us for making your qualities shine like this, you should be extremely proud. Also like do you have anyyy kind of theoretical or practical background in music? I lost all words

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you! That really means a lot! I've always been passively interested in music since I was a kid. I have a decent singing voice, too. But I've never gotten any formal practice.

[@Chicken3Pie]

@RobbyForShort We totally support you on this path ;) Beautiful video anyway, so proud of you

[@GamingRedBirb]

This video is freakin awesome man! I’m subbing, i can tell you put a lot of research into this one and it’s such a great analysis of Kierans character! Great work!!!

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you so much! I felt connected to Kieran in a way, so I had to analyze his character.

[@PitterPomCB]

I caught it in a Dream Ball, personally. Thematically speaking, I thought it was appropriate.

[@TyltalisRam]

truly amazed with your analysis. not only a character analysis but also a music theory one??? your mind!!!

[@RobbyForShort]

I was not kidding when I said this is my favorite video I've ever worked on.

[@MorrisPXG]

Terapagos is my second favourite Legendary and I am glad his theme got some love and Kieran’s Story and how it connects it

[@madisonyomans9004]

Point out the religious undertones in "Scarlet and Violet." Some have noticed Christian and other mythological undertones while removing undertones with Area Zero, Kitakami Siblings, and Terapagos. Area Zero can be seen as a Garden of Eden. The in-game lore states that people need to be granted access to certain areas and cannot simply enter them. According to the AI, Sada/Turo, the security system overrides their systems, and this is called The Paradise Protection Protocol. In Christianity, the Garden of Eden is considered a paradise and sacred place no one should enter. However, there is another place where humans are generally not allowed to go while living: the underworld. I say this because Arven and Blair are the two characters that lead you into area zero. Arven's purpose for going down there is to search for their parent, the professor (Sada/Turo), who we learn is dead when we get down there. This journey feels like a trip to the underworld. As for Blair, it is a quest to find Terapagos or to find God. 2. The Kitakami siblings, Carmine and Kieran, can be seen in the details of their designs. The two characters both have eyes that resemble snake or demon/oni eyes and wear headbands that look like a pair of horns. The caretaker even says the siblings often cause trouble and are rambunctious. In Japanese mythology, Onis are known to be rowdy, causing trouble and being boisterous. The siblings are the local onis in their village. It can also be a design choice to link them to Ogrepon. Their matching bag and headband are yellow, a color that can symbolize friendship, happiness, and hope but can also represent dishonesty, betrayal, danger, hazard, jealousy, and weakness. The siblings' story reflects these traits. He also exhibits characteristics of the seven deadly sins. Kieran embodies envy and wrath, while Carmine embodies pride and wrath. Kieran's ace Pokémon is Hydrapple. The forbidden fruit was an apple, and Original Sin was the Hydra's serpent-like appearance. which you could say it’s a metaphor for the serpent in the garden of Eden. Terapagos. Well, like I said before, with Blair's journey being to find God, this is Terapagos. This is seen in Hindu and Native American mythologies as well. When you go into the depth area zero in one of the cave entrances where you fight with the Pokémon, there's a giant tree. This could be a prayer to the tree of knowledge. Both the professor and Blair share an obsession with knowledge, with the professor's focus being on time travel and Blair's Terapagos.

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you for this analysis! I didn't know about all the religious themes that could be found in the game. This could be a whole video by itself.

[@raywt]

this is such an amazing video!! the way you picked apart this beautiful song made me realize a LOT of new things, the effort that must have gone into this is insane :0 definitely one of my favorite video game themes, even more so now that i know more about it!! thank you for making this video!!

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you so much! I listened to all the Kieran and Terapagos themes in the car so many times just to study them while driving.

[@moonie.e]

I can't believe it took me 2 months to see this video!! I'm absolutely in love with Toby Fox's work in Scarlet and Violet. And Kieran being my favorite character EVER as well?????????? I was literally in a 2 hour yapping session about this topic a couple days ago I SWEAR TO GOD. It's like this video was made for me to enjoy!!! This is so well made, it deserves more recognition!!! Keep it up!! :DDDD

[@Kieranpokemonsisliterallyme]

I wouldn't call Kieran's desire greed, I'd call it delusion. He's delusional, as he believes that inherently he is worthless, but if he just manages to somehow beat you, he'll get the respect he deserved and never got from people like his sister, like the player, like other kids at blueberry. That delusion cannot be fixed by Drayton's attempts at tough love, which drive him further down, as that makes him believe less in himself. The player uplifting him is what makes him snap out of it.

[@PokeImpact_Rail]

Yes you do know why we’re here🎉🎉FOR KIERAN!!

[@RobbyForShort]

And you'd be CORRECT!

[@TheSonicSalviXdlol]

​​@@RobbyForShortYIPEEEE.

[@brandongreen4439]

I didn't have a Beast Ball on hand. But I did use a Love Ball, in honor of Kieran's journey of self love. He'll get there.

[@EvosDumbStuff]

Amazing video! I genuinely love this theme so much

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you so much!

[@arkiisums]

I used a premier ball to catch terapagos because I like using premier balls for one-time encounters! Great video btw

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you! Premier Balls are for events in Pokémon GO, so that makes total sense!

[@xAdrielChambers]

Absolutely loved listening to this! Tbh I never listened to the soundtrack because I like to watch videos while playing pokemon but this this was just beautful and now I should find the full theme. I love love LOVE story in music so thank you for such a fun video!

[@RobbyForShort]

You're welcome! I'm glad you loved it!

[@aureliamastergoomba1278]

Kieran is the best thing of the DLC, which confuses me as to why people are hateful of him.

[@RobbyForShort]

The fandom unfortunately values competitive strength more than anything, and that translates to Kieran being "weak."

[@aureliamastergoomba1278]

And even then, he’s the second hardest trainer I’ve battled, only beaten by Nemona. Heck, Drayton was a push over so I don’t get why people say he’s stronger.

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@RobbyForShortwhich goes against the message of the series

[@TheSonicSalviXdlol]

​​@@RobbyForShort yep.

[@kieranpleaseforgiveme]

I wasn’t having a very good day thank you for making this amazing video i feel much better

[@RobbyForShort]

You're welcome! I'm glad I could help brigthen your day.

[@WithYouInTheDark]

Thank you so much for making this video. I absolutely ADORE this game’s storytelling and music so much, so finally seeing someone get into the specifics of what makes it so great is very wonderful to see. The Terapagos theme is my favorite Pokémon song of all time, and Scarlet and Violet’s usage of motifs and musical storytelling is just perfect. In general I find the idea of the Terastal energy to essentially be the essence of wish granting energy is also really interesting, especially with Tera’s relation to the stars (Stellar, Starstorm, Wishing on stars etc.). It’s just so damn cool all of it. I love Scarlet and Violet so much.

[@RobbyForShort]

Absolutely! I played the Terapagos battle twice to experience in full! I loved it!

[@madnessarcade7447]

18:38 u forgot turtle all the way down

[@daniellelondon439]

I caught Terapagos in a master ball, it seemed thematically appropriate. I thought this was very interesting, I love when musicians talk about game music.

[@Scoo212]

Angers me a video this good only has 5 thousand views. Criminal

[@TheSonicSalviXdlol]

This is why in my opinion, kieran is one of the best characters in the pokemon franchise, He even won the contest of the most popular character in japam, and no wonder why, his storytelling is perfect. Thats why he is my favorite character, he is just like me fr, i always had moments where i only wanted to win and i've been manipulated for a time by a friend just to gift him fortnite skins, but now i realized and mature how things really are, can easily suprass those moments Good video, Definitly recommend to watch, I still dont get why people hates Kieran, i absoluty LOVE HIM, HE IS SO CUTE. (If you wonder, yes, he is my favorite character of the entire franchise lol).

[@nefertimon69]

I want to congratulate you on your very detailed analysis of Kieran and his themes, it means a lot to me as someone who relates to ( and loves) Kieran . The Terapagos battle is very deep and there are many things that can be obtained from all the DLC. It hurts me that people overlook such a good story due to poor game performance, but the DLC story complements SV's theme: Obsessions, Idealization and Connections. I love Kieran, such a complex character that he may just dethrone N. Kieran is not a monster or a villain, he is just a teenager with trauma and self-esteem problems due to Carmine's abusive manipulation, the coldness of his grandparents and the contempt of the people of Mossui, The Blueberry Academy also has some influence on Kieran's change of attitude. Kieran is based on the Red Oni from an ancient fable called "The Red Oni Who Cried". a strong oni who was looking for love and friends because everyone feared him because of his fierce appearance , but like Momotaro's story, Pokemon has reversed this fable between the Kitakami siblings . The harder Kieran tried to be dominant and strong, the more alone he was becoming, losing his identity in the process. The player is the one who must relocate Kieran from his self-destructive path, and also thanks to the player, Kieran discovers who he is. Kieran decides to be a help, like the Oni of the fable, a guardian and protector. That of course, reinforced in the epilogue. Thank you very much for your analysis and video, it makes me cry and at the same time I find it interesting.

[@RobbyForShort]

I wish I knew about this before making this video! I would have loved to include it in the video! I knew that Kieran's story was more than just about wanting to be strong. There's also an implicit commentary there about how being the strongest isn't always the answer, especially when the majority of the fandom has grown to enjoy Pokémon exclusively from a competitive viewpoint.

[@TheSonicSalviXdlol]

​​@@RobbyForShorti agree.

[@madisonyomans9004]

And I didn’t know that either if this does make sense, Kieran makes has a battle cry in champion fight before you fight him and again with Terapagos.

[@vrose23]

Great job! I was excited about this video when you first mentioned it. I found it really interesting!

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you! Honestly, I'm so lucky to have a close friend who studied music theory. She was a lifesaver!

[@Spoopy-Ryan]

6:55 he said it! he said the thing!!!

[@Soul12480]

I just caught terapagos in a master ball fully knowing the catch was guaranteed with any ball anyways. Call me whatever you want but I got so many from the machine in the clubroom somehow so I threw it for the memes

[@brawlmasterjoelstudios]

I caught Miraidon in the Master Ball because it's purple and has an "M" on it

[@RobbyForShort]

That part of the video is a bit of satire. A Master Ball for the lols is funny!

[@Kieranpokemonsisliterallyme]

As an autistic person, Kieran is a character that means so much to me. He is very obviously intended as an autistic character, that much in his character is very clear, and his experiences of insecurity and a feeling of a lack of self worth resonate with me and a lot of other autistic people. He deserved so, so much better than what he got.

[@goli8699]

I forgot to check if I had a Beast Ball before beating Terapagos, so sadly that opportunity has passed for me even though I really wanted it.

[@Kieranpokemonsisliterallyme]

I JUST WANNA HUG AND COMFORT KIERAN AND LET HIM KNOW IT'LL ALL BE OKAY

[@JK_Jirachi]

I caught my Terapagos in a Dive Ball cause the colors worked really well + turtle/tortoise

[@mr_fredfyre9121]

oh god, why am I crying?!

[@RobbyForShort]

Because it's a beautifully told story, of course!

[@TheSonicSalviXdlol]

​​@@RobbyForShortYes.

[@owenbridgers]

Toby Fox is great, just my biggest annoyance is seeing people attributing songs he never worked on to him. It completely discredits the people who actually made them.

[@RobbyForShort]

Confirmation bias goes crazy!

[@Kinra_Jade]

What are your thoughts on Carmine ?

[@RobbyForShort]

Carmine is a product of her and Kieran's upbringing. She's the older sibling, and that usually comes with the added pressure of being a role model for the younger sibling(s), or the arbiter of right and wrong when the parental figures are missing. She contributed to his trauma, and while her behavior wasn't right, it's not her fault.

[@chessd12364]

Very interesting! They obviously put a lot of thought into these themes. I think the story of scarlet and violet is one of the best in pokemon. It honestly deserves more credit.

[@Xtreme-qk5qg]

Me who just used a random ball in my inventory: 👀😳

[@RobbyForShort]

😅 A bit of satire on my part! You are still welcome here!

[@Xtreme-qk5qg]

@@RobbyForShort *phew* I thought I was about to get crucified lmao 😅

[@ravefritz2037]

Gotta love the Patterz voice

[@RobbyForShort]

It needed to be done.

[@madnessarcade7447]

Toby samples Rick and Morty in AZ theme I’m the only one who’s talking about it/noticed it

[@-SeaSnake-]

I feel Kieran so much- I pity him even-...

[@madnessarcade7447]

3:42 area zero Samples Rick and Morty Toby definitely Did It Intentionally

[@seangunnell9451]

I used a luxury ball for Terapagos.

[@RobbyForShort]

That's a great pick, honestly!

[@iceghost27]

Who caught Battle Against a True Hero in the tera raid theme? Toby Fox is something else. 🎵

[@BocchiTheRock-mv7rd]

Great video! I'm just curious where did you get the citation that Toby Fox composed the Kieran and Terapagos theme? Bulbapedia seems to solely attribute it to Rei Murayama and Go Ichinose though you're definitely right considering he composed the area zero leitmotif used in it (and is cited in all other uses of said leitmotif) which is evident if you slow down the song to .5 speed and Minako Adachi composes Kieran's leitmotif which is also clearly heard in it yet isn't cited. Just curious if there's a source citing both of them that I missed. I saw in the description that the sheet music sites all of them but idk if that's official

[@RobbyForShort]

I'm very intentional when writing my scripts, which is why I specifically said that "his name appears in the credits."

[@edwardloveshotdogs]

Roberto Christian Cheloniodis Galápagos de la Tortuga? I won’t be fooled Robby! (Also really interesting video)

[@RobbyForShort]

That's my full legal name, I promise!

[@edwardloveshotdogs]

Yeah, sure………..

[@teslobo]

On the "Kieran is programmed to exclusively target ogerpon" point, it's unfortunately not true. When I heard about it I combed through various videos of the battle and there's plenty of evidence of Kieran having the opportunity to attack ogerpon and not taking it. Two examples below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHW0nXaMfdSmhtk kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqeWZWqJd7h6iaMsi=h8NWQ3YQN7XfrvSp&t=668

[@RobbyForShort]

Thank you for pointing this out! I can remove that part from the video. I don't want to participate in misinformation. 😅

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

That is all fine and dandy, however, I wonder how Horizons will interpret Kieran as character. His sister is already confirmed, so he might as well exist and come in the near or far future to the story...will they give him also a good theme for his storyline there too? Answer in the comments below!

[@Wolfie54545]

I didn’t have a beast ball 😭I used a master ball

[@ravefritz2037]

Buenas señor Tortuga

[@RobbyForShort]

Hola, thank you for referring to me using my totally real, not-made-up name!

[@Rage_Blocks]

Imagine getting into a pokemon battle and megalovania starts playing

[@Kieranpokemonsisliterallyme]

11:21 EXACTLY. He's not a villain, he's just a misunderstood autistic-coded teenager with trust issues, a history of being bullied, and self-hatred

[@rosestrikeCarrot]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I'm not trying to be a whiny nerd but Toby Fox's involvement in this soundtrack is a lot less then most people realize. The whole bad apple thing is especially not true as the official soundtrack list Go Ichinose as the composer for both Terapagos themes. The only thing Toby Fox contributed was the area zero motif.

[@BocchiTheRock-mv7rd]

He also contributed the tera raid theme motif heard in it but I get your point. I'm also trying to find any citation at all that he's involved in the Terapagos leitmotif (the bit people cite as bad apple) but can't find anything. I think that one is Go Ichinose