Noel Kreiss: The Cost of Salvation (Final Fantasy XIII-2 Character Analysis)

[@Maguspwns2]

I'm really glad you made this! For all the problems the 13 trilogy has, 13-2's characterization of Noel, Serah, and Caius are really compelling. I agree with almost everything you said. I think Yeul and Noel's relationship isn't romantic at all. Partially because she's 15 and he's 18 and that would be problematic for multiple reasons, but mostly because I didn't really notice anything specifically romantic between them. Yeul is absolutely the most important person in his life and they are incredibly close, but I read their relationship as very close family members. I think anyone who says that their relationship isn't satisfying is used to thinking that a relationship has to be romantic to be satisfying, but 13 and 13-2 prove that isn't always true.

[@wanderingbardgaming]

Mmm yeah I def agree that relationships can be satisfying without being romantic. Noel x Yeul could def be read either way; whether it is or not, I still think it shows Sarah and Noel having lives/priorities outside of each other, even if there was interest there (which is also super healthy)

[@delsingray5923]

15 and 18 are 3 years. "Adult" is socially constructed in society. Biologically adulthood is mid 20s. Japan, socially, its 20 not 18. Regardless, I saw it more as kinda siblings or just human connection

[@Yukouiro]

i love him sm, hes so underrated

[@GayRiku]

Haven't started the vid yet but so happy to see this in my sub box!!! Edit: Woo, thanks for the vid! Noel is my second favorite character in the FF13 trilogy behind Vanille. I'm not sure exactly what it is that I like about him so much, but I really do feel attached to him. I also think the vocal performance for his character was amazing, and as someone that never saw the goofy movie, I wasn't thrown off by his voice like other people apparently are, lol. I'm not a fan of most of the writing in Lightning Returns/where a lot of the characters go in that game, but I feel like I have a better appreciation for some of the things that happened in LR after watching your videos, and this one was no exception. Looking forward to your next video!! Thanks for making these!

[@wanderingbardgaming]

Oooh both good choices...wait I didn't know Noel's VA was in the Goofy movie lol. It makes sense now I think about it but..wow. Thanks for watching! Yeah I think a lot of people didn't like how LRFF13 was...it is definitely a tonal departure both story and character-wise, but given the ending of FFXIII-2 it makes sense and I feel like it resolves a lot of character arcs really satisfyingly.

[@jahipalmer8782]

I'm not gonna lie, I loved these freaking games and I am loving these analyses.

[@wanderingbardgaming]

You're certainly in the right comment section if you're a Final Fantasy XIII lover! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@ianpage2509]

This was interesting. One for the algorithm thanks

[@nekyokusai6400]

The one I wanted ! 🥰🥰🥰

[@wanderingbardgaming]

Sorry it took so long! Hope you enjoyed it!

[@Gwen1661]

This might be me personally, and I might be wrong about this read I had on Noel, but I think he should've been given the chance to move on without Yeul after Lightning Returns. Otherwise, it just feels like he's stuck only caring mostly for her and tangentially about the others and I don't think that's fair some a character as good as Noel's. I'm not even coming from a Noel x Serah shipper (which... I am, but that's not my point of contention here): yes, his bond with Yeul is important and ignoring that under any circumstance would be foolish, but considering how he's gotten the chance to travel and see and meet so many other people during his time journey, not just Serah, implying that Yeul is the only way to for him to get a happy ending feels a little sad. But again, that's a me thing.

[@wanderingbardgaming]

I think my response there is that it was prophesied that they'd meet again, so it kinda needed to happen. They worked it in a way that had a good theme though-he got his future by staying true to himself and doing what was right, not what he though "had" to happen