The Story of Shadow Generations Is Beautiful

[@WindiiGitlord]

It has already been confirmed that story writing is a collaborative effort between Ian, the lore team & SEGA Japan. The script was tweaked until everyone was happy. It's just that putting every name in one credit would undermine how much Ian did. Either way, it's probably not good to make too much of the singular Writer, Story & Script title.

[@Pariah6950]

I hadn't seen that. That makes sense. Thanks for the info. And of course, thanks for all you do!

[@ArtseyHayton06]

Good seeing you here Mr/Mrs. Gaylord

[@DrMecha]

I would make sense that SEGA of Japan have a heavier hand on this one in comparison to Frontiers as they wanted the script to be consistent on both sides. Flynn did wrote the story, but he did so under their supervision (like he aways does). I just wish that he and Kishimoto were to actually collaborate with each other to reach a compromised lore concerning the blue blur, especially when it comes to the conflicting materials they consumed in the first two decades of his existence.

[@theimpersonator7086]

If Star Wars has proven anything with Lucas and Filoni, lots of the best media are a collarboative effort of muitple people covering each others weakness

[@BlurBlizzard]

​@@DrMechawasn't that just for frontiers? He's not a professional writer/translator.

[@ichasedacrow2]

as someone who's experienced loss more than once in my life, i absolutely love this game's subtle message about grief. contrary to popular belief, there's a difference between "moving on," and ignoring your feelings in an attempt to focus on other things. it's important to FEEL your grief, so that you can come to terms with it and use it to better yourself moving forward. i did not expect that level of emotional maturity from a 2024 sonic game but im so glad we have it and i hope it bodes well for the future of storytelling in these games

[@zigzagintrusion]

My papaw died literally two days before I finally got to play SxSG and it was honestly very healing for me. I am 100% with you on not expecting such emotional maturity from a Sonic game again. This is one of the most impactful games for me.

[@Brandon-kt7ss]

Condolences and blessings for you both.

[@bjdadj5011]

So incredibly real man

[@SonicTheHedgehogX15]

@@zigzagintrusionman its like the game was made for you Good stuff Also how did you get that pfp?

[@zigzagintrusion]

@@SonicTheHedgehogX15 It’s from the new music video for Jelly Roll’s “Run It” for Sonic Movie 3!

[@SSL_2004]

Slight Correction: Angels being depicted as both humans with wings and weird eye wheel things are BOTH biblically accurate. There are nine different choirs, or "tiers" of angel. Normal angels are the 9th and lowest choir. "Biblically accurate angels" are actually 'Thrones', which are the third highest choir. Also, I do disagree that ShGens makes Shadow '05 a figurative "bad ending." Shadow wasn't completely wrong in Shadow 05' for throwing away his past. It WAS a decisive moment for him and "a" victory. He just went too far with it by throwing away the good parts too. ShGens is a deconstruction of that mistake. He denied his cursed fate in Shadow 05' and forcefully took back his own agency, and that was good, but in doing so he also deny himself the good elements of his past. ShGens is about him learning to balance. Moving on without disregarding what came before.

[@dgsf9444]

Thrones aren't angels at all, popculture mixes everything together. All that angelology is also a later development (from Second temple and Medieval times), abscent from the Bible.

[@SSL_2004]

@@dgsf9444 To my knowledge, the third choir of angels has also been called Ophanim, but Throne is another interpreted name. The entire Bible is an interpretive work, so Thrones are angels just as much as any other kind.

[@heyimclcktwn9243]

I think shadow 05’s ending helps this story’s ending as well because shadow is able to learn how to cope and move on solely on his own terms. If any other ending of shadow was canonical he would likely need other external characters to resolve and guide him through his own issues in SXSG. The fact that he reinforced his own autonomy in shadow 05 is what allows him to grieve on his own terms now and internalize these things how he sees fit. I find this to be the case because of how no one that isnt black doom in this game tries to think for him and tell him what to do. Especially rouge not commenting on shadow crying at the end and allowing him the space he needs to grieve.

[@crimsonzone8984]

Another delusional fan deceived by the dub. I can tell even by the way you type your comment. You would not be thinking this way if it weren't for the English dub giving you the wrong ideas in this series.

[@galten7361]

@SSL_2004 The game doesn't change Shadow overall. It is just showing Shadow's status quo circa the 2010s in a full plot centered on him. Him having contempt for mankind but still protecting the world with Maria's opinions in mind was already in his bios and the short story centered on him (with Sonic).

[@greatdevourskeleton7685]

i find it funny how in this game he learns how to properly deal with his emotions and let go of his toxicity, but he goes on to bully infinite

[@sonic5993]

Infinite deserved it

[@mcpics4448]

Infinite was at the wrong place at the wrong time lol

[@ChaddyFantome]

Shadow: Never show your face again Infinite: *puts on mask 🤭

[@themissingbits6375]

He just had a bad day. That’s all.

[@galten7361]

@greatdevourskeleton7685 Shadow was always arrogant and still is arrogant post-Generations. Him being someone fine with smacking around Infinite and brutally insulting him is not at all at odds with his development. Shadow is just not the secret softie he is in fanon and Infinite is written as the least sympathetic/most monstrous Sonic villain in the series who's not a one-off god/demon/other.

[@cellperfecto421]

I love how Pariah ended up loving the game more and more the more he looked deeply into it. That's character development lol.

[@AstrodeBastro]

To me it just goes to show how good his “method” of analysis is. Always diving a layer deeper and keeping his mind open to see if he missed anything

[@cristianovogt5586]

​@@AstrodeBastro If only he did that with Frontiers.

[@AstrodeBastro]

@ cope

[@Kelps.mp4]

@@cristianovogt5586 He did that, wdym?

[@missbianca4096]

another biblical reference: in the japanese version of sonic heroes Metal Overlord calls himself "The King of All Things, who reigns over all proud beasts". This is a line from the bible describing the water beast Leviathan, who is associated with the sin of envy. this is why you fight him over the water in shadow gens.

[@ethanhinton4549]

Also evny fits given Metal's "I am the real Sonic!" line from Heroes

[@Brandon-kt7ss]

Don't remember it being associated with envy, though it has been a while since I've read Job.

[@TheKorenji]

​@@Brandon-kt7ss_"Christian theologians identified _*_Leviathan_*_ with the demon of the deadly sin envy. According to Ophite diagrams, the Leviathan encapsulates the space of the material world."_ ... Or, at least that's what Wikipedia says.

[@Brandon-kt7ss]

@TheKorenji and that is why Wikipedia is stupid.

[@ScapeVEVO]

And Sonic heroes had concept art of final fortress sinking too so it’s all come full circle

[@raikaria3090]

What I like the best about the game is outside of cutscenes. It's the hub world interactions: - Big actually has a couple of good ones. Most notably; he actually asks Shadow to teach him Chaos Control; because he thinks it might help with fishing. Then, he has a second thought; deciding it would be too easy, so nevermind. This is Big actually... not being a simpleton. He's also willing to ask *Shadow* for help to *learn* - Omega. Oh god Omega. Firstly; he is legitimately worried about Rouge. Later, he says he dosen't trust anyone... but finds Shadow and Rouge agreeable and basically enjoys working with them. He later elaborates he enjoys that they don't try to reign him in. [So if Shadow or Rouge say; Omega go wild but don't destroy the thing we need, he's happy to go wild] But there's an even bigger moment. In endgame, or if you turn on Doom Mode, there is a conversation where Omega says he is ready to help fight Black Doom [Unusual for Omega to want to fight something not associated with Eggman]. Shadow however is implied to ask Omega to defend Maria instead at all costs. Now; consider WHY Omega hates Eggman, because he was stationed on guard duty; under-estimated and left for newer robots. Omega initially refuses... but then elaborates: I will destroy everything that will threaten Maria instead. This should protect her. Omega HATES defending things. Guard duty is something he would never do. Accepting Shadow asking him to protect Maria would be hypocritical to who Omega is. But Omega values Shadow and understands him and how vital Maria is to him enough; that Omega instead finds a loophole; and re-words Shadow's request in a way that is agreeable to him. Oh; and Omega realises that the Black Arms create their own weapons, and says Shadow should be able to just... spawn a gun if he wants. That's a fun line. - Rouge also shows a very soft side. she is legitimately pleased and surprised when she is told *Omega* was worried about her. When she basically gives Shadow a pep talk; she even jokes she's sounding like Amy Rose.

[@professorwiggs5192]

I really love how omega says that once everything has gone back to normal that he and shadow should go a two man destroying spree on an Eggman base and that it would be fun

[@raikaria3090]

@@professorwiggs5192 "We should wreck an Eggman base to destress after all this, right agreeable partner?"

[@CaptainF123]

Fuck everything else you just said, Big wants to learn Chaos Control??? Dear God...

[@the.bloodless.one1312]

God, I love how much more little moments like these Omega has. Since his character moments in 06 I just love how this like destruction machine hellbent on destroying Eggman and his badniks at all cost has these little emotional moments of endearing friendship with his Team Dark pals. One of the reasons he’s one of my fave characters 🤖🖤

[@castform7]

I loved the fact Omega got to be here, every line he has is either funny or heartwarmingly funny. I never thought about that one part you mention with him protecting Maria like that. Due to the entire reason he hates Eggman, Omega would never want to guard or protect again. But because he values Shadow so much he rephrases what he wants so that it's still essentially what Shadow asked but formatted in a way that Omega can compromise with. This is why I love his character. He's so simple but when he gets the time to that simple "destroy things" mindset is used in interesting and funny ways.

[@cheeselover7368]

I actually love Marias new characterization so much. In the manga shes portrayed as a deredere and now in canon not only does she work as temperament to Shadow but shes also portrayed as having a sickness, thats actually physically debilitating, instead of it just never being shown and us being told shes sick. Also her optimism and radiance seen in the game which can be interpreted as her adopting a positive attitude due to her disability. I imagine it serves as strong representation to disabled people to persevere and its great characterization for how little she’s on screen. If only this was actually in sa2 to make us care about her.

[@ChaddyFantome]

Considering Amy reminded Shadow of Maria, I always headcanonned she was similar so It's nice! She even glomps Shadow with hugs like Amy!

[@ZealotPara]

As someone with chronic fatigue, I can attest to the fact that being physically low energy does not mean I don't want to have fun. There's so much I want to do but can't, and oftentimes I do push myself too hard because I get passionate or wanna have fun. As far as I'm concerned Dark Beginnings Maria is a very respectful and faithful representation of disabled people. I haven't played Shadow Gens or read this extra dialogue but if it's more of that then that's awesome. I don't want to speak for everyone though, not all disabilities are the same.

[@bridge-moonproductions6823]

“Never mind, absolutely turn back” I’m weak lmao

[@dastanovich2476]

Flynn said in a Bumblecast that the usual Shadow characterization is still in full force. However it was months before Dark Beginnings and the game itself, so hopefully due to high ratings, Shadow's proper character and humans will become the norm instead of an exception for just 1 game

[@galten7361]

@dastanovich2476 Shadow hasn't changed post-06 in the games overall. He was never written to be a furry Batman/MCU protagonist/Steven Universe character or whatever and this game is just reestablishing stuff that was talked about in bios and short stories and other official sources (namely that he protects the world on Maria's opinion that he respects and his contempt for mankind). And Sonic games never focused on other mankind characters than Eggman in most games. Only the Adventure games with Shadow's game and 06 and Unleashed have. Others than Eggman are not needed since Eggman represents mankind to begin with. The games are not supposed to be like in the Archie comics or Sonic X or the Paramount.

[@galten7361]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 Shadow in game canon isn't furry Batman.

[@Hoardman]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 Shadow in 06 was just as if not even more stoic than Shadow Gens Shadow. I actually can't think of a single cutscene where Shadow in 06 shows all that much emotion especially compared to how he was portrayed in heroes and SA2.

[@cozmactudioz9924]

Never completely bought this since forces doesn't really do it, just spinoffs or comics.

[@Titanxzero1]

​@@yrooxrksvi7142 I thought he was ok in the game personally.

[@vaughnbenson3777]

Maria saying “Adios” before launching Shadow out of the ark is pretty funny lol

[@insertnamehere1398]

Perhaps that was her cannonical intent

[@kenrichgumanid9235]

Latina

[@JuliDD]

I always thought the sayonara in the English version was just some wonky translation, which is something SA2 is not lacking at all, but learning she says Adiós in the Japanese version is pretty funny, kinda blew my mind

[@WolfXGamerful]

So English has her saying it in Japanese and Japanese has her saying it in Spanish. That's funny.

[@LeafRazorStorm]

@@JuliDDIt’s one of the only times that SA2 localization was clever. The point was for Maria to say “Good-bye” in a fancy foreign language, and unfortunately, many Americans don’t consider Spanish to be all that “fancy.”

[@necasa4919]

It was very depressing seeing how little you thought about the story at first, but I am glad to see you hit the nail on the head in the end. The whole idea the story portrays is that Shadow's past is not a burden he had to ignore and move on from (as what Shadow the Hedgehog conveyed), but rather a source of his strenght, it is what built him to be who he is now, thus allowing him to come to terms with in it kinder terms. He "accepts" his past and uses it as a means to boost himself further, instead of running away from it. If you think about it, Maria is basically the uncle Ben to Shadow's Peter Parker, his past with her is key to his character, and it would be foolish to pretend it didn't happen, because Shadow's character is built upon that tragedy first and foremost. Of course, and I agree with one of your first ideas, this had and has to be done carefully, as making Shadow an agent for Maria's wish can staple his character. But I think the idea here is that he simply made her wish his own, allowing him to continue on as this sort of tragic anti hero (plus, even Gerald himself tells Shadow in one of his side convos that "his promise to Maria is a good one, but should not limit himself to that alone").

[@necasa4919]

@yrooxrksvi7142 Trauma is not something you get over and be done with it forever, specially if Shadow had no proper closure before this game, so I don't have issues with him shifting between grieving and snapping himself out of it to focus. Plus, Shadow himself has always been rather emotionally subdued except when he is angry, so it was not that bad personally. That said, it's fine to not vibe with how he is portrayed here. If you ask me, this is the best Shadow has been in a long while ever since 06. I'd rather take this Shadow than the average grumpy emo guy the latest games had him be. So Ian is not that bad to me honestly.

[@galten7361]

@@necasa4919 "grumpy emo guy" You need to accept that game Shadow is not furry Batman/Tony Stark or a Benedict Cumberbatch character or a Steven Universe character. His characterization in the games has been overall the same post-06.

[@necasa4919]

@@galten7361 Sonic Boom would like to have a word with you

[@galten7361]

@@necasa4919 So nothing in the game canon. Or is Sonic now a full time superhero who insists on living in one island?

[@DrMecha]

@galten7361 I think it was due to SEGA doesn't have much for the character to do but to be yet another rival to Sonic, at least up until this game. Not sure about his characterization outside of Sonic Team staff as of late (especially with both Sonic Prime and the Upcoming Movie), and Boom Shadow was a misstep on SoA part.

[@TheZeroNeonix]

Ian Flynn actually talked about that inconsistency between Dark Beginnings and Shadow Generations. Shadow went to the Ark because of his suspicions, and he searched around on his own for a while. Between the animation and the game, GUN confirmed the presence of a lifeform on the Ark with their scanners.

[@cb8655]

“Maria” is literally just the Latin and Spanish name for Mary… “Ave Maria” for example. In the Catholic Church, there are many huge devotions and connections between the Virgin Mary and her son Jesus Christ, it plays a huge role in the faith. She dedicated her whole life to bearing, protecting, and raising her son to become the iconic figure he was meant to become, the Son of God… much like what Maria does for Shadow in a sibling way. Not to get too in depth into religion but I see the connection you’re referring to. “Adios” literally meaning “to God” in Spanish though it just means goodbye… If you really want to get into the quote unquote Biblical themes of Shadow, those are elements to consider.

[@EthanMallonee]

Goodbye also etymologically means "God be with ye" Edit: look it up if you dare doubt me

[@cb8655]

@ I forgot about that… thanks for the reminder!

[@Jon-r4p]

yeah but, Catholics are a bunch of Mary worshippers, so it doesn't matter that much. also, what do you mean "meant to become" he always was he always is, and he always will be the son of God.

[@Andi_Thy_Is]

My favorite thing about Ian's writing, it's prevalent here and was one of his most defining traits when writing the books back in the Archie days, was his refusal to just blatantly ignore elements of the narrative people didn't like or care for. Most writers would just their best to avoid reference to material that didn't sit well but he knows people still care, and he cares, so he finds these ways to recontextulize those moments in a way that works for the narrative. It doesn't always work flawlessly, or preferably, but it's still remarkably impressive the way he does it as consistently as he does. Most would've just reverted Tails to the way he was pre-Unleashed, but instead Ian acknowledged that inconsistency, and tries to turn it into a character beat, again, debatable how successful it was, but the attempt is still very commendable.

[@heyguysxd]

You forgot the most important aspect of the story. After accepting losing Maria, he feels emotionally stable enough to tell Sonic that this attack from the Time Eater looks like a homing attack.

[@joaquindiaz3621]

15:19 apparently, Ian based his dialogue with maria of a friend whi had a terminal illness, so he knows what's like to lose someone to something they can't control

[@ytwhattup6128]

I think it should be noted that the reason he even started thinking back to Maria and what happened on the arc is because those memories were FORCED onto him by Black Doom (presumably because that flashback dream started happening in view of the arc when Black Doom resurfaced) so it's not like he's still hung up on his past for no reason after moving on, and even when he's on the shuttle flying towards the arc and he has the visions of a future with Maria, he still says to himself that he has to let go and move on, even if it is hard.

[@commonsensessbu4380]

No way this is the end of the world. Pariah not just liking but praising an ian flynn story. Things are turning upside down.

[@mau2172]

maybe world peace can be achieved

[@Nickika]

​@@mau2172 Maybe World Hunger can be solved

[@hazelbagels024]

There is a god

[@castform7]

I feel like in a week I'm about to see a pig fly.

[@crimsonzone8984]

Ehh. Pariah replied to me in his recent stream that Shadow is NOT an emotional character. He is a rational and level headed character. (As apposed to Silver) Here, I'm like "what the r*ng is he not pointing this out? Shadow should not be this feelings based character."

[@outoffr4me]

20:34 Black Doom: "I hid myself while I tried to rebuilt myself"

[@Desilent49]

Black doom took notes from Zero it seems lol

[@Giffsen]

Bro I was about to write that lmao

[@guliverjham8148]

Isn't this the same bad plot as Zero in Megaman x6? But now that I understand this story, ngl, i'm willing to give it a pass.

[@rynobehnke8289]

@@guliverjham8148 Well The X6 Zero thing is a case of afoul localization In Jp Zero has no idea how he returned and its heavily implied that Issoc rebuild him being just Wily in another robot body

[@galten7361]

@@rynobehnke8289 Both the Eng and the JP version have Zero not know how he returned. And Serges at least wasn't envisioned as Wily but rather a robot Wily made in his image who he used for experiments on memory.

[@Bestmotion2389]

Pariah just did a complete 180°

[@theotakuguy8957]

The pariah apology arc

[@Breakaway-ic5gj]

Pariah did a trick for that score

[@CanaldoZenny]

Sonic Frontiers blackpilled him so hard he couldn't have fun with Sonic games anymore.

[@Breakaway-ic5gj]

@@CanaldoZenny Which was a bit strange too because he really liked some of the stages in frontiers

[@tek3576]

Ya he was kinda trashing it in his first stream but he switched up instantly

[@JustCallMeKnux]

The Black Arms are a hivemind. It’s speculated that the alien in the tube onboard the Ark that we saw in Dark Beginnings became Black Doom.

[@cb8655]

But that doesn’t make sense bc Gerald came to Black Doom for his help and DNA to make Shadow… I think that was just some random ass larva on the Ark that was used for study by Professor Gerald to advance studies on Shadow’s abilities. We see him using Black Arms abilities that are inherent to him even though he never learned to use them until the events of Generations.

[@JustCallMeKnux]

@@cb8655so a hivemind means all the Black Arms are connected. Black Doom was revived by that larva on the Ark becoming Black Doom. Does that make sense?

[@cb8655]

@@JustCallMeKnux It’s definitely a possibility but never outright confirmed to be the case… it does make sense when put that way.

[@JustCallMeKnux]

@ it’s actually confirmed in Black Doom’s bio that the Black Arms are a hivemind.

[@rynobehnke8289]

It doesn't even have to be that larva from 50 years ago as the Ark was invaded during Shadow 05 by Doom anyway. Plenty of time to leave a backup plan behind on it in case things should go south (which also works well with the line Doom gives in the regular endings of Shadow were you defeat him proclaiming that the Black Arms will rise again)

[@Rainyar4779]

Sega: You... you did it, sir! Ian Flynn: …I did it? Mayor: (in disbelief) He did it! Ian Flynn: I did it? Everybody: He did it... Sega: You did it, sir! Ian Flynn: (excited) I did it!

[@endosaurus1404]

If we are talking about the games here then I would say this is accurate.

[@Rainyar4779]

@@endosaurus1404 The joke is that Ian Flynn has finally managed to make a story Pariah695 liked. Which is something that never happened before.

[@endosaurus1404]

@@Rainyar4779 When you put like that, yeah I agree fully.

[@greensoda123]

35:27 hate to be that guy but defiantly Ians run on archie preboot had a lot of iconic lines. Like I lot of people always mention the moment when Sonic says "Limit,?! I got your limit right here!" Arguably for the wrong reasons but still there. Like there where some line references to the games but there where never the lines from the scene they where more just an added bonus. LIke that one monologue Eggman has after locking his nephew Snively in an animal capsule that ends with him saying "thanks for playing." Is pretty dam iconic. Like that Flynn preboot era is honestly some of the best stuff that mans ever written. And honestly part of its just how he was able to like complete 40 unsolved plot lines in just one or two arcs.

[@greensoda123]

If I had to recommend any pre boot Flynn Sonic story it would be Sonic Genesis or Treasure of Team Tango just because you don't really need any like major archie context for them and there also just really good.

[@heyimclcktwn9243]

I also think for frontiers the “careful? Wheres the fun in that?” Is one i think about a lot.

[@technicallyinept2120]

Also think of the game speech from Eggman to Lienda or whatever her name was

[@greensoda123]

@@technicallyinept2120 ooh thats a good one!

[@galten7361]

@greensoda123 Archie is Archie. Not the games. IDW shows the problems of trying to mix them.

[@fawkesthefox912]

In regards to the Fake Emerald's continued existence, technically the Hero Story ending of SA2 isn't what happened. The Last Story starts back up where the Dark Story left off, where Eggman placed the final Chaos Emerald into the Eclipse Cannon successfully, unwittingly activating Gerald's world-destroying failsafe.

[@jaylenpage3137]

I was just about to comment this lol

[@Jon-r4p]

No, I hate when people say this if the eclipse cannon was still functional then why wouldn't it just fire instead of the Biolizard making it fall to earth.

[@jaylenpage3137]

@Jon-r4p Eggman tries to fire it in the opening cutscene of the Final Ending but Gerald's Doomsday plan overrides that function. That's why the Biolizard attaches itself to the Ark when Knuckles stops the Chaos emeralds from fueiling the Ark

[@lordpeeps1]

Alright who is this pariah doppleganger

[@themissingbits6375]

Good Pariah took over The Evil Pariah Channel. Lmao

[@sackboyjr0775]

28:03-28:12

[@themissingbits6375]

@@sackboyjr0775 That was both really funny & endearing.

[@DARS_04]

they have the real one in some gulag in siberia, the ops got him

[@ThatLinuxDude]

To be fair, the Shadow '05 ending can still make sense despite Shadow Gens if you consider the ending of Shadow this way: In Shadow '05, it can be argued that Shadow DID NOT deal with the trauma and instead naively thought that if he just 'chucked it away' (symbolised by throwing the photo) - mental equivalent being to suppress the traumatic memories - then he would move on. However, as anyone who's had trauma will tell you, myself included, suppressing trauma, trying to ignore it, etc. just DOES NOT work, and left unchecked WILL come back to bite you (especially when you go to places, landmarks, etc. that even in the slightest relate to it in a sense akin to nostalgia) - the only way you can truly end trauma is to accept it happened and find closure in that fact, made easier if you're able to fight the trauma at its source. Now, come Shadow Generations, and the trauma is coming to bite Shadow back (albeit, likely forced to by Black Doom per Doom's plan to make Shadow succumb). However, when the Time Eater does its thing and Maria and Gerald appear in the same space as Shadow is sent to, Shadow is now able to fight his trauma directly at the source (the real Gerald and Maria). By the end, Shadow is reminded of Maria's desire for Shadow to be a good person and that he has friends to be with now, and through the ending goes through the various stages of grief, starting with the denial that, now he has them again, wants to at least TRY to stop the inevitable, before Maria obviously stops him from preventing their demise, before ending with visible pain as he hates but accepts that they're dead and nothing will bring them back. Most importantly, that acceptance, and Maria and Gerald personally stopping Shadow from trying to save them throughout the story (and especially at the end), gives Shadow the CLOSURE he needed to finally put an end to his trauma once he has the chance to finally let the emotions it had given him out (seen via Shadow tearing up as he runs towards the Time Eater, presumably now he no longer feels that anyone he doesn't want to see that side of him can currently see that side of him).

[@gmaster2647]

This is a good analysis of the overall character development of Shadow. This made me realize Generations wasn't just a rehash of something Shadow already went through. Chariii also has a great video comparing all the bosses Shadow faces as being mirrors of who Shadow could be or could represent, which makes me wonder if everything in Shadow Generations was chosen very deliberately including stage choices. I know Radical Highway was chosen as something Black Doom keeps sending Shadow to because that was the point where Shadow was the angriest and he wanted to harness that anger again.

[@castform7]

@@gmaster2647 Oh I also watched the Charriii video and it presented some very interesting points about Shadow and how connected he is to the fights he has in this game. I think my favorite part of that video was the connection to Sonic and how when divorced from his past, he seems to become a lot like him whether he realizes this or not.

[@galten7361]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 What would Shadow work for G.U.N. for

[@galten7361]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 Shadow is not going to be a tool for the organization that killed off his home and family. Especially when G.U.N. in the present has no issue with locking up civilians without trial (see Sonic) which shows that they aren't Sonic S.H.I.E.L.D. unlike in fanon. Even Flynn talked about how he doesn't see G.U.N. in the games as heroic rather than antagonists who just happen to fight other antagonists like Eggman or Black Doom.

[@caveirainvocada9438]

Personally, I think this story is about Shadow retrieving his past, he wanted it to go away so he could be his own person, but in SXSG he notices that not only he can both allow his past to drive him while not being completely defined by it, but he is better for it. His past is full of pain, but the little good there was is useful towards making him stronger and kinder. Between trhowing everything away and being shackled by his past, he finally found a healthy balance. This is why it orchestral All Hail Shadow feels so earned honestly

[@Willie_Pete_Was_Here]

“There’s nothing left to lose. You win.”

[@mavrickindigo]

"First hit after many misses" Dude single handedly fixed archie when he first started lol

[@galten7361]

@mavrickindigo Archie Sonic is not and will never be what the series was made to be.

[@justcallmekai1554]

@@galten7361 I don't think that was there point tbf

[@ctf_2fort152]

⁠​⁠@@galten7361what’s that supposed to mean? It’s a fictional universe, what the series is supposed to be is completely subjective

[@castform7]

Gerald's Journal is literally one of my favorite Sonic related things in recent memory. It basically ties together every game he's had some sort of mention in. It even references the Ifrit from Sonic Rivals 2. That's how deep we're cutting here. I loved the use of the ring with the engravings, I find the idea that Abe's birth was an accident very funny, Maria having a baby sister even if it probably won't lead to anything was a cool detail, the reason the Biolozard is the way it is is fun, them directly quoting the journal entries from Battle was really neat, the fact that they're putting details that weren't widely known "front and center" is greatly appreciated. I could on and on. That book felt like it was made with love of Gerald and the stories he's apart of and I couldn't be happier it exists.

[@ChaddyFantome]

the fact they referenced the Ifrit had me pogging!!! I bought the game physically just to get it Gerald's journal! I love it!

[@freshporkbun]

Maria telling Shadow why she picked his name was a really sweet moment and probably my favorite in the story.

[@franklycentral48]

I used to think as you do, but after a conversation I had with a youtuber named Kotytang, I've switched my perspective because when Black Doom abandons Shadow to be devoured by his Black Leeches and Shadow is consumed by his inner turmoil its Maria' voice that pulls Shadow back and helps him to overcome said turmoil and kill the leech that was feeding on him and only after that is when he says "Ive left my past behind me." Because in a world where everyone was telling Shadow that he was a monster or only wanted to use Shadow for what they wanted, Maria showed Shadow kindness and compassion. And its the message from Gerald saying Shadow is meant to save the world that gives Shadow the strength to break out of Black Doom's mind control, Shadow even says "I see, this is my truth... I dont need to search for anything now... Finally, I will fulfill the Professor's hopes, and today, ill say goodbye to my past!" Shadow isn't completely erasing his past, he's clinging to the only good he's ever known and deciding that all those horrors surrounding his creation no longer define him. He is choosing to become what Gerald and Maria wished for him to be and rejecting Black Doom.

[@ChaddyFantome]

I really don't think the implication was supposed to be "Maria's voice snaps him back". I think it was "All these people telling Shadow what to do and who to be building to a critical mass and Shadow going "enough". If it was just Maria's voice that played, I might be able to see your point but she was just one of many in that scene.

[@gatorssbm]

Only as I get older I really appreciate Shadows character more, Ive always had the habit of not wanting to face the pain thats happened to me growing up and even pretending like nothing happened and I should just move on didnt help my parents were very dismissive of it telling me I should just be a man and not let it affect me. But its never that easy, youll feel depressed even angry at some times and I didnt truly solve it until I had someone who could re assure me that despite the mistakes I made I dont need to let that define me. Its just a really tough habit to break of letting yourself actually feel sad and properly grieve from those poor experiences instead of beating yourself over it. Even before this game came out as messy as the story from SA2 was it really did help me kind of process what angle I even wanted to go when dealing with so much unresolved emotions. Its really nice to see Shadow get proper closure and finally let him start chosing what he wants to do, I really hope Sonic Team keeps him this way and not just a generic rival character hes definitely my favorite when hes written like in this game.

[@Giffsen]

Not trying to imply anything bad, but it's nice to see you slowly liking it more and more of the game as you gave more in depth looks into the game. I'm by no means a huge sonic fan like most ppl here in the comments, but I do enjoy a cohesive and overall cool story to follow through

[@theimpersonator7086]

Story driven(and especially well written) platformers are hard to come by. Last ones that did it really are like the Sly Cooper triology and Megaman Zero Quadrilogy, which both ended very naturally. Honestly forget Sonic team writing or forgetting the lore, biggest issue for story in Sonic games is that Sonic is unlikely to ever end and have a def conclusion that wraps everything up nicely.

[@Breakaway-ic5gj]

@@theimpersonator7086 That's not really an issue, Sonic is a flat character, he started off fully developed and his thing is that he helps out others and goes on a ton of adventures. It makes sense to make an infinite number of stories out of that, if it's done well like the storybook games where they tackle new themes, and Sonic opposes the ideals of the worlds he's stranded in

[@espelhodasconstelacoes]

​@@theimpersonator7086 check out freedom planet man, it's at least really entertaining! God bless ya and Jesus loves ya!

[@TheBoneHeadClan]

Being brought up can also be used to mean raised by. Meaning Abraham could have been born on the ark and then raised by his two parents. But also the parents mom could have been pregnant and they brought him up and then he was born on the ark.

[@Etrodecim]

"never mind absolutely turn back" this had me in tears, I love your humor so much. Please don't change, I'm crying! anyway, I completely agree with you on this video. On my second playthrough I realized a lot of these too. The story is really good and I saw it was a collaborative effort so that's why it feels like such a continuation of Shadow The Hedgehog. So we finally got Shadow 2 the game.

[@TheBioneer]

Hey man! I love these videos - you've helped me to appreciate my favourite franchise even more. Including this story! What a great theme! I don't mind that you have to hunt for the deeper meaning and it isn't spoon fed... But I really do wish they included the journal and the anime with the actual game disc/download. That said, I think that the story of Frontiers is actually pretty beautiful, too, in some ways. Especially if you read it as a meta-commentary on the Sonic franchise (which I think is intended). You're battling a foe literally called "The End" and I think that represents the threat of the Sonic franchise going away due to the poor reception it has gotten lately. I think that we see the cyber corruption slowing Sonic down to represent this - but he keeps moving forward. Because "real world" Sonic the franchise is an unstoppable force of nature, just like "fictional" Sonic the character is. Sonic's friends (maybe representing the fans here?) are moving away from Sonic in their various ways. But they're still loyal and when the moment comes - they band together and bring him back. Again: just like the fans. In order for the series to move forward, it needs to learn from the past. And this is clearly a big theme in the game with all of the flashbacks and helping the Koco to find closure/speaking with the ancients. Even the fact that the cyberspace levels are built from memories. We even see this with Sage - who is analysing the data from past encounters to find the best way forward. She clearly can't understand what it is that makes Sonic continue to survive the odds - his X factor. But when he teams up with her and follows her advice, he becomes an unstoppable force once again and literally destroys "The End." The Sonic franchise lives on. This is all echoed by the lyrics of One Way Dream. And the name of the game itself represents the hope for the future of the franchise - as all the characters also head for new horizons. Seeing as Frontiers actually WAS a successful turning point for the franchise - giving us Shadow Generations even - I think this is a really moving sentiment. Sonic team tried and tried inspite of setbacks and turned it around. Sonic prevaled because he IS.a force of nature and because he has the support of his fans who know that. Now the series is learning from its mistakes and moving on to new frontiers.

[@WindiiGitlord]

The journal and the anime are in the game though. Or at least on PS4/PS5 with the anime.

[@JuliDD]

36:36 I think there's probably a good reason why Shadow doesn't want to use the fake chaos emerald. Whenever the real emeralds are discussed, the games nearly always make sure to let the audience know they have unlimited power, whatever that means in practice, so I think the implication is that the fake ones aren't nearly as reliable, maybe you can only do chaos control with it a handful of times for example. Of course it would be great if they spelled to us exactly what makes them so different, but I think there's a reason why the characters don't just make fake chaos emeralds and use them on the regular as replacements for the real deal

[@robertkovarna8294]

All we have to go off of really is Tails word back in Adventure 2. That they have the same wavelength and properties, but aren't as powerful as a real one. Which for gems said to hold unlimited power, what does that mean?

[@JuliDD]

@ that’s a good question, we don’t really know for sure (unless I’m missing something), but there are things we can assume and speculate about with the information we have about both real and fake emeralds

[@BlurBlizzard]

Also it wouldnt make sense for a fake emerald to activate super sonic.

[@totempoleman7810]

34:46 Correction, they did officially translated those manga strips into english, but the thing is that those Sonic Comic strips are compiled into two volumes as an extra for Tomy's Tails and Metal Sonic Comic 2-pack figures circla 2018. - Yes, as an extra for random action figure releases, so I won't blame you for assuming otherwise.

[@daseal1479]

If you've ever read the OG Archie run, and even the short lived reboot, you'd see that when Ian Flynn is given the chance to work with Sonic and stretch his wings with no mandates or restrictions, his work is some of the best the franchise has ever had.

[@shaggy1628]

Pariah's fans will say that he already did because he made a video on the comics. It's not true. He didn't even scratch the surface. He didn't give them a fair shake, and unfortunately, that has colored the view many Sonic fans have on them as well as Flynn's writing for the worse.

[@galten7361]

@daseal1479 "Muh mandates" Tell us more on how mandates make Sonic tell speeches about ideals and redemption without at least downing his opponent first or Eggman making a world killing nano zombie plague without any actual backup plans in case it was turned on him or he lost control. In any case, Archie's themes and style is not the games'. Archie is pretty much a superhero high fantasy world with characterizations reflecting it (hence Sonic and the overall main cast operating full time as superheroes/paramilitary with Sonic actively seeing himself as such). Game Sonic pulls from stuff like Dragon Ball and Studio Ghibli and the same overall pop-culture stuff like Doraemon.

[@daseal1479]

@galten7361 What do you mean??? Sonic has always tried to see the best in an opponent, and give them the benefit of a doubt before defeating them. The fight it like sport to him, but he knows when to get serious. And don't you sit there and say Eggman hasn't fumbled a plan with NO backup in several different games, knowing full well the consequences if he lost control.

[@shaggy1628]

@@galten7361 The themes are the same, it's just presented in a different way. It's like you guys just want Sonic to be one thing and get mad when it's not exactly like you wanted it.

[@CometX-ing]

@@daseal1479 He really doesn't. Sonic is a "fight first, ask question later" guy most of the time. The only real exception was Merlina, and that was because he was genuinely confused at her motives of having him stop King Arthur only for her to do what he was going to do.

[@DannyBenS94]

I really enjoyed the story for this game. But now that you've pointed out the deeper meaning behind it, I like it even more. It seems like they looked at Shadow Generations during development and said "everyone...let's just put in almost everything we've been holding back from this series for over a decade into this game that's just meant to be a 'Bowser's Fury' to Sonic Generations Remastered". Shadow Gens is now one of my favorite Sonic games. Not at the very top of my list, but it may be within my top 10.

[@RazyPINK]

Avrage Ian Flynn W Black doom reformed from the larva from Dark Beginnings. They literally show that to you at the end of dark beginnings him in that room restoring his energy. Also, any archie fan could tell you Ian is hyper critical of the idea of Shadow living for maria's wish. Shadow gets his teeth kicked in every time he thinks its ok to think so bianary or dehumanize himself as just her agent. Ian has this whole conversation in the comics line for line. Sega has failed to give him a motivation beyond maria. Shadow can say "I do things my way" all he wants, but 15+ years later we don't know what that is. O6 was the only nuance take of his and what his life direction would be, and they just deleted it. If anything this retcons the deletion of 06 and his resolution. Now he was finally given proper closure. In this game he reminds me a lot of Archie Shadow. Aka the best version. So I'm happy.

[@felipe_drawmania1604]

Apparently that's only shown in the full episode compilation rather than in the individual episode.

[@joaquindiaz3621]

​@@felipe_drawmania1604 Also in the PS4/5 versión of dark beginnings, It includes an exclusive scene of María

[@galten7361]

@RazyPINK Archie Shadow was pretty much a furry superhero. And in any case, it's been already established well past Generations that Shadow protects the world since Maria valued the world and he values Maria's opinions. Shadow would not protect the world otherwise especially since he has contempt for mankind.

[@insertnamehere1398]

Ngl Ian Flynn might be a bit heavy on references but honestly I find his storytelling really good overall. It takes a lot to make me Stan a brand new character 2 seconds after meeting them but he did that with starline

[@Not-Sumireko]

44:28 you know the overreaction of fans over the rewrite is really bad when one of the biggest Flynn haters on youtube says, "yall gotta come down"

[@sonicfoamyfan9805]

28:27 2006 because so much of this story had the dna of his run on the ARCHIE comics. Team Darks dynamic, and Maria's goodbye are practically lifted directly from it

[@galten7361]

@sonicfoamyfan9805 Team Dark were always a band of warriors/coworkers rather than a set of friends or family.

[@lazaroskarmaniolas7410]

"Wait, Ian Flynn is a good writer?" "Always has been."

[@whaleping]

Pariah never read Archie. Like, really read Archie.

[@rocky-my5ck]

​@whaleping yeah, he read 3 chapters and said, "This isn't what i like about Sonic" and then jumped to IDW

[@GrayvyFellow]

​@@whaleping I haven't read much of Archie but from what I have read that he has done and inferred from some scenes/others talking about it, I do find the criticisms he says about him odd. Especially in terms of how surface level the common criticisms come off here. The reference and lack of theme thing rubs me wrong in particular since for what I know he's typically pretty good at applying the themes of characters to the themes of a story, being well informed on where they go and what the result of that is. In terms of Sonic and for all the stuff I know he did with Archie, for every 1 thing I disagreed with how he done things, there were 3 or so other things I adored and resonated with. Pre-reboot Archie is probably where most of his strongest stuff with Sonic comes from with how seemingly limitless the growth for that world was even still feeling satisfying with how sincere the farewell to that world was when the demand to reboot came around. The reference thing is more an issue I find with the theme of recent games having to be retrospective, where to be so overtly referential is an easy trap to fall into. I appreciate the story of Frontiers but I would be lying if I didn't say it fumbled with the aformentioned overtly referential dialogue. Definitely something Ian dropped the ball with and went to pick back up with Shadow Generations' direction. Probably due to Shadow Generations being a smaller more focused game which itself was informed by Sonic Frontiers. I do think he is a big component in some undesirable aspects (he mentioned in a Bumblecast that he doesn't see Amy as toned down as some fans are claming for the Sonic Generations rewrite which comes off as oddly tonedeaf, especially with how that kind of underminds her character development over the years of maturing as a corporate mandate and less as natural progression) but I'd rather take more of the good he can offer than the half hearted meta humour and odd desire to include Zavok in everything with the same milk toast bad guy demenor (something Ian somewhat fixed with IDW). Maybe I need to look at Pariah's Frontiers video to get a better gauge in terms of where he's coming from but the oddly straightforward criticism bugs me.

[@whaleping]

@@GrayvyFellow Well put 👏 👏 That’s a thought analysis. I would recommend reading all of Archie tho. Archie Sonic is interesting on how well it works as educational reference for long running stories. It asks strongly from the reader to analyze what works and doesn’t work, and what necessary evil is needed for storytelling. In its own way, of course.

[@solidusgadget]

Somewhere in parallel universe

[@dutczar5436]

I have not played Shadow 05 and know nothing about Black Arms lore, but in between the Doom Eye on the Ark added in ShGen, the Black Arms probably residing in other parts of space besides the Black Comet, and supposedly them being a hive mind (which, again, I only saw a theory in a KZbin comment section, but if he already does that somewhat with Shadow, it should go even more for the purer black creatures?), Black Doom coming back just sounds like it's to be expected.

[@JonyPlayz1]

It’s kinda wholesome seeing you liking the game the more you analyze it honestly. And yeah the story is just really awesome, Shadow actually crying is just something

[@smokermegadrive]

Evil Pariah be like: Ian Flynn was always good

[@carlnotaurus]

One thing about dark beginnings.... the field of flowers Shadow is in are lilies which can symbolize grief and mourning....and are often sent as sympathy flowers or used at funerals.

[@chozochiefxiii3298]

That is one way of looking at it. I do think the imagery makes it clear, though, that it's shadow dreaming of what could have been if Maria and him made it back to Earth. Theres so much symbolism and different ways to read into sonic stories sometimes, and it makes them very interesting.

[@sometf2player752]

20:10 i dont know if you are aware but there is a bonus scene in the full animation for dark beginnings that shows black doom on the ark while shadow is going towards it on the space shuttle so I think he grew back from that larva that was on the ark

[@JosephJohns-xi1qb]

You're telling me no one ever found and/or eliminated that thing?

[@SugarPunk420]

​@@JosephJohns-xi1qb pretty sure no one has ever returned to the arc ever since shadow 05

[@JosephJohns-xi1qb]

@@SugarPunk420 But there was A, the raid brought about in part by Gerald's research so they should have thoroughly checked the place over, B, there was Eggman on the Ark with Rouge, a government agent meant to snoop around, and then there was the invasion where there should be plenty of interest in tracking anything from them down. There was plenty of reason to search the ARK top to bottom. If nothing else they should have checked post invasion to see if any were on the ARK after the comet was destroyed. Or Shadow could have if he regained his memories. Especially cause Abraham Towers *saw* it! He knew at least one was on board at one point.

[@SaddieMoon]

17:00 Ian explained that he forgot Chaos Control can teleport people, he just assumed the characters were just freezing and slowing down time and that’s how Shadow warped. It was until he remembered that Sonic teleported from the capsule in Space to right in front of Knuckles is when he realized that Chaos Control does teleport people. Ironically, he realized this while criticizing people’s criticism about Shadow needing a rocket by bringing up Shadow teleporting Rouge out of Prison Island. Or something like that, correct me if I’m wrong.

[@bryandacote8109]

I can see your point about it being a retcon. But I don't see it that way. I look add it the same way you did with Shadow the hedgehog's original ending. That he's just trying to bury his past and forget about it. But when it comes to traumatic events like what shadow went through, it makes sense for him to have occasional relapses. I've lost people too. And getting through the initial grief is very hard. And then afterward being fine until years later and something comes up and makes you relive the trauma. I happened to go through this right after the game came out. My mom died almost 3 years ago from a heart attack. It took me about a year for me to finally sort through my complicated emotions regarding her death. And the day after the game came out I saw someone having a heart attack. Seeing paramedics doing compressions on that person gave me bad flashbacks to my mom's fatal heart attack and by extention my father's death 14 years ago. I recovered after a night to sleep on it. But it was a reminder that recovery from trauma is not linear. You occasionally stumble.

[@With2Ls]

Thank you so much for making this video. I was super disappointed with this story for all the same reasons as you at the start, as the main reason I love shadow is his whole arc of becoming his own person in shadow 05. But this really changed my mind on this games story and now I really like it

[@mementojc9260]

Holy fuck we actually ended on a great note best birthday gift ever

[@xxfishious]

happy birthday !

[@themasonator99]

Happy birthday to you!

[@mondaindoodles8667]

Happy Birthday

[@carlnotaurus]

happy birthday

[@Hyp3rSonic]

HB!!!

[@blur7491]

pariah liking Ian Flynn is one of the most insane things i have seen good LORD I will say, seeing the usually calm Shadow practically yelling like a kid "But you don't know!" during the ending legit got to me on my first playthrough. This is really the first time I have ever been sold on the idea that Maria really meant something to Shadow, and I personally couldn't imagine losing the people I rely on for emotional support to just go out like Maria did. It is a very thoughtful story and it is the only Sonic story where I actually had to fight back tears. They really cooked.

[@blur7491]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 Shadow wasn't stoic aboard the ARK though, guy was emotional and always said what he felt outloud, it was only after Maria dying that made him what he is right now. And, about the ShTH ending...growth isn't really linear. You can't go "I will forget about this and move on" and then nail it first time. Say you lost your mother or whatever, then after grieving and getting your shit together, you move on and make a name for yourself. Then, she suddenly pops right back up from the grave, alive and well. Most people would react how Shadow did, it is a very oddly grounded take from an otherwise dramatic franchise. He runs off because he doesn't accept the fact that she's alive, he is too fearful to grab onto her because he *knows* she is gone. He tries to deny the fact that he sees them again because it would mean confronting what he already let go of, that's the point.

[@galten7361]

@@blur7491 Shadow hasn't changed overall post-06 when you account for how the games haven't any stories centered on Shadow for so long and even the games where he did show up mostly had him there in a small role. The point of the plot is to tell the audience what Shadow's status quo circa 2020s is and informs information mentioned in bios and Sonic Channel like how Shadow was named.

[@codified_]

My interpretation about Shadow's thoughts about his past since Dark Beginnings was a bit different You interpreted it as him not wanting to feel pain by thinking about his loss, while I thought that he indeed didn't regain any memories in Shadow 05, so his approach to his past was solely based on the two things he could know: the tragedy involved and Black Doom, two things he really wouldn't want to be associated with, he thought his past was only tragedy, so screw that, but no matter how much he is told about his past, one thing he can not recover are his feelings The key part here is the start of Dark Beginnings, where the first thing that happens is Shadow receiving a bunch of memories due to Black Doom's return, memories that do shake him a bit, but he is still focused on getting answers and stopping Doom, so he really didn't give himself time to really process those feelings, feelings that he is experiencing for the first time again That's why the one time he actually starts to think about those is when he's alone at the rocket, all of those feelings come pretty much at once, but he still chooses to focus on the mission It's not that he didn't want to think about his feelings, but that he literally couldn't To me, a big part of Shadow Generations' story is accepting the good and the bad about one's past, Shadow couldn't previously, he easily left it behind because he only knew the bad about it, but getting his memories and feelings back along with meeting Maria again lets him understand everything, and due to it, he is now able to grow from his past instead of discarding it

[@sunler5451]

Damn it, just like how you did with older sonic stories, you've made it again, you made me see the good in a Sonic story where I didn't see anything worthy. Felt nostalgic and ironic that the last sonic story video does what this whole section of the channel has done to me since ever and why it made me fall in love both in sonic and your channel. Good stuff!

[@prestige8477]

It's funny how the best Sonic stories mirror the gameplay, where most people will either not understand it, or outright hate it the first time through, but it gets better and better with each revisit.

[@Langas_Konoe]

"Adiós, Shadow." "Amo a las latinas, Sonic." so that's why.

[@koolooc726]

34:40 who the heck would even think this is a reference?? It's such an obscure fact 36:36 you literally answered the question, also why would Shadow want to keep the fake one if he's still in an ongoing adventure? Using chaos control is supposed to be reliable with a real one

[@gessekaii]

It 's nice to see Ian actually take the criticism and apply them to his writing. Even though I still don't like his writing, I will acknowledge when someone does something right. I hope he continues to improve and listen to the valid feedback.

[@bluefire9285]

@@yrooxrksvi7142Shadow is a stoic character tho, that’s who he is.

[@galten7361]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 Rouge and Omega aren't supposed to be locked to Shadow's hip like Tails and Amy are towards Sonic.

[@galten7361]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 That's how they're envisioned since Heroes. Tails and Amy follow around Sonic day after day while Rouge and Omega don't really do that. Shadow comes across Rouge in 06 when carrying out a request from the president and comes across Omega on his journey rather than either being like Amy just following Sonic all over the world.

[@DoritoGOD2811]

Totally agree that Shadow should have just kept the fake emerald the whole time. I get that he was shocked that Sonic used for chaos control in SA2, but I feel like after that Shadow would kinda challenge himself to do the same. The "if HE could do it, then I can do it too and BETTER" mentality would totally fit in this situation I think.

[@caveirainvocada9438]

Idk, Shadow is cocky but never to the detriment of the mission, maybe he'd take his chances if the stakes were lower

[@Jigsaw2th]

my headcanon has always been that the fake emerald is really unstable, especially with continous use. maybe a reason that sonic could use chaos control was because of a surge in energy? idk its fun to fill in blanks. i personally saw shadow losing in that fight as him wanting to be on equal footing with sonic without tapping into his doom powers, leading him to forfeit when he realised he couldnt control himself.

[@catnoir4670]

Wouldn't that portray him closer to vegeta tho?

[@mmy2k48]

My headcanon is that the fake emerald only worked because of the chaos drive in the pod. In the cutscene, you can see the fake emerald on the ground on top of a chaos drive, which could imply that it may have transferred its energy to the fake emerald. It's been stated numerous times that it's pretty much a 1:1 copy of the real emerald (or at the very least insurmountably close), so it'd be easy to assume it can harness chaos energy in some capacity. It would just need a source, and there just so happened to be one in the pod.

[@jaylenpage3137]

Both him and sonic used chaos control with the fake emerald in their fight on the Ark

[@runningwithscissors8612]

35:50 For OG Gens’s sake, they had to explain why Shadow fought Sonic and why Shadow had a yellow emerald to give him in the first place. Making it so Shadow gave him a fake emerald is good compromise and also prevents having to write that Shadow legitimately lost to Sonic in a fight and had to give up an actual emerald.

[@LucidTUN3S]

Very good video. Its actually a sort of jumpscare seeing you like it so much lol Some things ill add: *1: The Fake Emerald* Sonic using the fake emerald to destroy the Eclipse Cannon is a *false idealistic conclusion* similar to fighting games having characters having their own individualized idealist conclusions regardless if it’s canon. Ive always said that SA2’s Hero is the idealistic perspective and the Dark side is the reality / canon, and that _Shadow_ won that fight against Sonic on the Ark (because then the Last Story scenario wouldnt happen / Shadow’s own words “everything is all going according to plan) and SxS Gens confirms it even more so whether people realize it or not. The fact that the fake emerald is _already_ on the Ark further proves that Shadow *did* in fact steal it from Sonic during that race to the Eclipse Cannon to stop Sonic from intercepting the cannon (Sonic quite literally says that Shadow stole his fake emerald in SA2 during the fight, a crucial detail practically everyone that Ive known in this fandom have missed) and that the Eclipse Cannon was _never_ meant to be used to fire in the first place (it was used as a *bait & switch* to trick the greedy human thats already trying to take everything away from everyone else that Gerald suspected would fall for, proving his point on humanity as a whole. It NEVER opened in order for Sonic to even jam the cannon with the fake emerald in the first place, literally stated by Eggman in the beginning scene of the Last Story). *2: How SxS Gens Shadow got to the Ark* Another crucial detail that’s being mandela effected within the fanbase. For some reason, everyone just remembers SA2 Shadow only using the Green Chaos Emerald that he demonstrated against Sonic in their 1st encounter to then warp to the ark, and people use that to say “well why does Shadow need a rocket now!?! He only needs a Chaos Emerald!” The thing is, somehow, NO ONE remembers the White Emerald, the literal first emerald introduced in SA2 canon. It’s the emerald that Eggman used to free Shadow in Prison island in the first place. If Shadow truly only needed 1 emerald, then why would he not use the White Emerald thats already in Prison Island with him literally in his possession? Also, NO ONE EVER questions how is Shadow able to even FIND the Green Emerald in some random bank in the entire world within Radical Highway, too. The answer is the that Shadow, when he told Eggman to meet him at the Ark with some emeralds to discuss further, was take the White Emerald first, used the magnetic attraction of that emerald to then find the 2nd Green Emerald to THEN Chaos Snap into the Ark (Tails already confirms this is how they find Chaos Emeralds in SA2 and how both Eggman and Tails have jewel radars). THAT’S what happened. Shadow needs 2 Chaos Emeralds to Chaos Snap that far. There’re no holes in the SxS Dark Beginnings story regarding that. People simply never really sat down and actually understood the finer details within SA2, and then just mandela effected themselves into thinking Dark Beginnings had a consistency error.

[@Pariah6950]

We don't know the rules of chaos control. Whether Shadow needs 2 emeralds to teleport that far is never established. You just made that up. It could be a valid explanation, but without confirmation it is literally a plot hole.

[@LucidTUN3S]

@@Pariah6950How could I have made it up? I just told you exactly how the scenes went. You and everyone else ran with the idea that Shadow just needed 1 emerald to chaos control that far and then question the Dark Beginnings scene. I've shown that he needed two because that's the limit SA2 has shown of Shadow when using Chaos Snap that far to reach the Ark. No other instance does Shadow travel that far outside of earth with less than 2 emeralds. Idk why you're strangely going against me on that. You just simply misunderstood. Edit: I will add that it makes sense that Shadow would give Sonic the fake emerald. Its less powerful than the real one and Shadow views his goal as more important than Sonic’s. Its simply a cute nod thrown in that otherwise would've been undermined if the OG Gens writing was left untouched.

[@outoffr4me]

Or maybe they just wanted to do a level for Shadow on Prison Island and that's why he doesn't teleport in that part 😬

[@LucidTUN3S]

@@outoffr4me iiidk about all that lol. That seems extraneous when SA2's story had levels matching the plot, not the other way around. The limiter for Shadow going that far into space is 2 as far as SA2 has shown. SxS shows Shadow only has 1, so the story of Shadow then needing a rocket still works.

[@outoffr4me]

@@LucidTUN3S Hmmmm yeah ig that makes sense

[@manuelrojas7843]

I love that I had (and still have) no idea who the hell ian Flynn is so that I can enjoy the game with no baggage

[@Rainyar4779]

He's just a writer, not much to it. This guy (Pariah695) was just not into his writing, Until this game.

[@cramlink6455]

Maybe the larva of black arms in dark begginings stayed alive and black doom revived in the larva’s body as the black arms are a hive mind or something idk

[@joaquindiaz3621]

It's the most likely answer, the black leech that was left alone in the ark manage to evolve into a new black Doom, even in the short It behaves weirdly when It sees shadow directly, that Also could explain how he knows about the tragedy that befell the ark

[@theking8347]

Omega also says this to Shadow regarding Sonic. "You were designed to be the ultimate life form. A living weapon. Sonic was not. All of his talents are latent. Natural. He is your equal in speed and strength. Does not compute." Everything Shadow was created to be, Sonic just IS, naturally. No genetic engineering, Sonic was just born like that.

[@Evixyn]

This is a more indeft understanding of shadows story from every sore and adjusted to make the perfect lore origin of shadow.

[@joaquindiaz3621]

31:28 the Ifrit is in the second page of this part, maybe gerald found out about it at some point but the page is burned

[@AllardRT]

One thing of note is that Shadow doesn't voluntarily start remembering Maria in Dark Beginnings, it's a dream brought on by Black Doom's influence - and one that clues Shadow in on somehting being fishy too which makes me think he doesn't usually have these dreams. And Black Doom doesn't just go straight for the #capthatkid gunshot, he starts off with the happier times, then makes Maria vulnerable, then does the same for the Professor and only THEN it all goes into a nightmare - he reminds Shadow about why he loved Maria in the first place, then he tugs at his heartstrings by making her vulnerable and then he reminds Shadow of the heartbreaking moments in his life. All done with a very definite purpose of destabilizing Shadow's psyche, of getting under his skin and making him vulnerable again. And sure, you can put your past behind you, you can stop it from defining who you are... but not when it comes back and hits you right in the face.

[@DynastyZero1]

I also really enjoyed this story. It's great to finally see a Shadow story that builds upon the games he was previously in. This was also the first Sonic game I decided to play in Japanese because I didn't think the English voice sounded cool enough lol

[@Fractorification]

I don’t think that since Shadow 05, Shadow never thought about Gerald or Maria again till Dark Beginnings came along. The comic where he reminisces about how Maria named him is canon and according to Ian, those Sonic Channel comics don’t have a definitive placement in the game’s timeline. That’s up to us to estimate. Given how it’s referenced in Shadow Gens, it’s likely to have taken place before that game, so Shadow does remember his past and Maria even after Shadow 05. One of his upgrades in Team Sonic Racing is even named Maria’s Boon, presumably by him. Although that game takes place after Gens. But he still carries her memory with him. This whole story feels very vindictive to me, because when Izuka made that infamous interview explaining that Shadow still remembers Maria’s promise to protect the planet, so many people got upset that she was still a part of his story, robbing him of any agency. But, ultimately, my takeaway was always the same one that this game finally confirmed, that he’s moved on from his past, it’s just that he kept the good parts of it with him to grieve and influence him to become a better person. If he wants to protect the world, then it’s his choice thanks to someone who taught him to let go of his anger. So I’m so happy to see this was were the story was going, finally capping off a satisfying end to his character. It was honestly kind of annoying and disturbing the lengths that some people would go to justify the original ending of Shadow 05, on how he had to be an emotionless drone who didn’t care about his past of his loved ones. These people clearly never experienced loss or grief and were getting upset over something they didn’t understand. Some dude even showed me some concept art of Shadow 05 (which later turned out to be fake) showing Shadow choking Maria to death in a metaphorical sense as if to show that he killed his past. That made me laugh at how insane this argument was 😂

[@monicabrauer7489]

Regarding that little inconsistency at the beginning of sxs gens proper, my head canon is that shadow doesn't want to tell rogue that the entire reason he went through the trouble of getting a rocket to go up to the ark is because he "had a feelin" so he makes up a lie that sounds somewhat believable

[@HyperSonic1999orJTH]

It's interesting how Maria's influence on Shadow is so strong that it has pulled him out of the darkness many times now. It really makes the duality of Supporting Me that much more powerful.

[@supergogetamario]

I always viewed Ian as a good writer. For comics. I felt that he was the type of writer who needed a lot of help translating his writing too videogame form. Shadow generations kind of proves my point in that mindset. He seemed to have a lot more help in Shadow Generations, which was a smaller game by comparison to Frontiers.

[@jacksondavis3355]

29:12 Never thought I’d hear actual applause for Ian from Pariah

[@EdgardoJCruz-dk5kv]

Shadow Generations is basically him finding closure for his past trauma as a whole. There is no retconing here, but rather Shadow was in purposely trying deny his bad memories to forcibly move on rather than forgetting wholesale. Without properly facing or accepting it healthily. I also argue that despite Sonic 06 literally writing itself out of existence inuniverse, (& sort of out), his arc continued with others judgement of him. With what the future and what Mephiles said occured to that version of Shadow was another person trying to manipulate & gaslight Shadiw to their narrative. Then of course we got Shadow's epic response in "the rings comes off" speech cutscene. So Shadow Generations is the current timeline version epilogue for Shadow's character arc from SA2-Heroes-Sonic Battle-Shadow-06. With Shadow Gens replacing 06 for the tail end of his character arc path. For now. At least that is my observation regarding how it plays out currently.

[@SonicLegends]

I agree with you. Just to clarify, Battle has to take place after Shadow 05 given he knows who Maria and Gerald are. It's also fitting since it's the game before 06 given yes Shadow's speech to Mephiles trying to persuade him to join him on a vengeful path again because humanity betrays him in the future once more, but because of his epic response it goes to show while he's not returning to his SA2 beginnings, he's also not just going to lie down and just let himself be killed for humanity's comfort as he was prior in Battle given his talk with Sonic which really showed how depressed he was after the fallout of Shadow 05. From the very moment in Tails story: Shadow: There's no need to repeat past tragedies! Nobody else ever needs to go through the things that I have! Out of the way! I'll finish it now! Shadow: Hmph. Looks like you'll never understand. The builders will never know how their creations truly feel. Shadow's story: (What's neat is Dark Beginnings's episode 2 Maria's reassuring speech to Shadow that he ultimately has a heart that separated him from the Black Arms resembles Sonic very speech here, just that Shadow's disillusioned so very neat callback) Sonic: I don't think he has it in him. The Emerl I know would never destroy the world. What about you?! You say he's the ultimate weapon, but weren't you supposed to be the military's ultimate secret weapon?! Maybe you've forgotten, but I seem to recall you saving humanity at some point. Shadow: ...That was for Maria. Sonic: Exactly! If you have a heart, you would never use your power for the forces of evil! There's no way you could! Weapons aren't supposed to have "hearts." But, both you and Emerl do! You guys... You aren't just weapons! Shadow: Hmph! No, you are wrong. We were created as weapons. If the people of this world ever want peace, they must destroy us. Sonic: Shadow?! Chaos Gamma: Destroy... Destroy... [crackles] Destroy... Destroy... Shadow: Fool... Emerl, do you see? This is the fate for weapons of war. Emerl: ... I don't understand. I'm sad, Shadow... Shadow: I know...

[@snazzydrew]

Me: "oh Ian Flynn is on this.... it's gonna be awesome!" I don't understand why anyone feels the way they do nor do does it seem accurate.

[@Gnidel]

Same, especially after Metal Virus arc which is one of my favorite stories in the series.

[@lanthelancer]

We got a report from the Ark and it confirms the worst… somehow Black Doom returned.

[@qutiepai2172]

43:08 i think another way to look at shadow the hedgehog's ending and how shadow generations reflects on it is that instead of the ending being a bad one due to shadow bottling up his trauma and refusing to grieve, his throwing away of the past *was* a crucial, emancipatory moment for him *in that given context.* it allowed him to move on from all those expectations of who others think he should be, gave him time to come to terms with his own sense of self. but with time, that pain can nonetheless resurface. his neglect of his emotions and memories and grief has outgrown its usefulness and has come back to haunt him, and the events of the story give him more of an opportunity to process it on his own terms and, as you said, make him realize that maria was foundational in making him who he is. i think this also ties into how the doom power/eventual possession is an extension of shadow 2005's theme of agency. as you mentioned, him opening his heart up to maria again is what allows him to thwart that process- to use those powers to defeat black doom instead of succumbing to his will. shadow doesn't technically *need* maria to be himself, and surely shouldn't only exist to enact her will, but her influence is still a fundamental part of who he is regardless, and that fact is what actually keeps shadow true to himself.

[@CaptainF123]

Interesting thing to note about the Chaos Control/Fake Emerald thing. In Sonic Battle Shadow is able to perform ALL of his Chaos moves including Chaos Control because "he has Maria in his heart". Interesting thing to note. EDIT: Oh you alr mentioned it mb gang

[@mokuroh3046]

I really like Maria here, when not having to make a death wish the thing that she wants the most is go back home and for Shadow to be happy, she would have never wanted Shadow to die or hurt himself for her, or humanity for that matter, she wouldnt have been a fan of Shadow dying in SA2 for her me thinks Even in the animations, shadow is upset he isnt the cure for her, Maria is just happy he is there, Shadow believes he is a heartless creature, Maria reassures him he is what he makes of himself She always encouraged him to love himself and be happy, but Shadow let her death define her, made her another person telling him what he should be, when she was probably the only one not doing that I thinks its beautiful that he renconciles with her image and lets her back in his heart not as a painful memory or a dream of what could have been, but for what she really was, a friend who wanted everyone, including and most importantly himself to be happy

[@TheJaredPunch]

Shadow: I fight with your wish in my heart.

[@Kiezly]

Pariah I want to specifically clarify with you that Ian Flynn has not ruined Amy’s character. in the latest episode of his podcast he literally says Sonic is still the most important thing in Amy’s life and she truly does love him and care about him and he just simply says but now that’s not her only character trait. she’s now more detailed and multifaceted and she has more things that she cares about and does in life and she recognizes that throwing her self at sonic isn’t what’s going to get sonic to like her so she’s more subtle and respectful towards him and recognizes that if she wants to win his heart, she must do it in a different way, not like how she used to be with the crazy fan girl thing.

[@deanmoriarty6015]

tarot cards!

[@jasonblack2477]

Making her different in past games is so dumb tho. That makes the development non exsisting. Saying shit in Interviews doesn't matter if it's different in the games

[@cheeselover7368]

The thing is though he’s just saying that her character was already doing that in games like heroes, adventure, and superstars. You need to show amy’s relationship with Sonic actually develop for her character to act the way she currently does or else thats an entirely new character direction. And obviously thats not going to happen as they retconned her character in generations to fit the current direction with modern Amy’s character.

[@Pariah6950]

I loved when we got to see all that character development for Amy.

[@mr.unsmiley8656]

Because now we're expected to watch a damn podcast to see him do damage control.

[@mavrickindigo]

"WAIT, Ian is a good writer?" Always has been

[@BritBox777]

The whole Shadow no longer caring about Maria and Gerald thing from 05 was a weird fan idea that split the fandom for a while. From what I understand, it was never intended to be the case.

[@Amsel_616]

What the english script does to a mf.

[@Flash-Light-Hope]

No? it was always intented to be the case

[@castform7]

He literally threw away the photo of Maria and Gerald and said goodbye to the person he used to be. What the hell else could've been intended.

[@IZZYCHAN13]

Moving on isn't wrong; "Never Turn Back" was an important song

[@sudokupro5579]

Lol it was Pariah who spread this idea.

[@MansafUTD]

There’s an issue in Archie Sonic (#171 I believe) which Ian also wrote that has a very similar plot to Shadow generations with Shadow dealing with the grief of losing Maria and finally learning to live without her but with her always in his heart, after speaking to a Memory of Maria I think the mandates is what really hampered Ian for the longest time as like you, I’m not really a fan of IDW sonic or Archie post-reboot but Ian’s work pre-reboot from #160-251 was an elite run and I’m glad we finally get to see a glimpse of that Ian again

[@gottendesert069]

media literacy final boss holy shit when i first saw the title of the video i genuinely thought it was sarcastic from what you said at the end of your first shadow gens stream, how you said you werent even sure you were gonna make a story video for this game. but now you've made me story see this in a whole new way thats been right in front of me this whole time, i just never understood it

[@xavierparis2789]

While I absolutely understand the feelings about Ian’s reliance on references, I totally disagree about the Sonic and Shadow Dialouge here. At the end of the day, this is still an anniversary game about going through the past and hitting a lot of the hits. It mostly does a good job telling its own story with those as you’ve gone over, but I’m more than willing to allow the direct references in that scene because. . . well, it’s SO obviously the point. It’s not like this just happened when they randomly met at some point, it’s here, when they’re both meeting again and directly confronting their pasts. The vibe of it and the way they say them (especially Shadow’s delivery of ‘date to die for’) almost indicated to me that it wasn’t just a reference for us as the audience, but almost between the two of them, referencing their history in this moment where it seems relevant. I can absolutely understand not liking it, and I can’t argue that it’s perfect and new dialogue wouldn’t be fine too, but it felt like an acceptable usage of it to me. It honestly gave the interaction MORE intrigue and fun to me. I like it when my two hedgies are almost fucking around with each other.

[@matiosmenta]

I actually thought the same as you when I beat the game for the first time, I was so disappointed because Dark Beginnings was just so amazing, it felt like a little taste to what was to come, but when I played it I left with a bitter taste on my mouth. After I gave myself time to reflect about the story I realize that I didn't actually disliked it, just the way that it was told. The fact that Dark Beginnings is essencial so you can understand Shadow and Maria's relationship kinda undermines the theme they're going in this at least to me, since a big part of what makes this narrative so good is stablished out of it. It is a shame because they got this amazing cinematography with great animations and shot compositions that really makes these moments feel more impactful but the substance just ain't there you know. The story of this game is great, I just wish it was told better.

[@Rimeruu]

Impossible, this video must be the work of Metal Pariah.

[@ryananthony2869]

One thing that's really cool about Shadow Generations' story is that they had a little video on the title screen made to introduce people who may not know about Shadow to him and his story. Kind of wished that they did the same thing for Sonic to give the Sonic Generations a bit more value even if it's small,maybe not something like a real origin story but maybe like a history about his creation as Sega's mascot and his impact on the gaming industry,or maybe a video based on that weird origin story about the jacket with a hedgehog on it worn by a pilot to give him good luck and his wife making children's books about the hedgehog.

[@quasar4780]

One small little thing that would have been cool to see is to go back to the relationship between Shadow and Rouge/Omega, to give them a bit more of importance to the story after being on the sidelines for so long. Like when Gerald tells Shadow to not forget his own goals in life, or when Maria tells him he's not alone, and that she'll always be with him in his heart, there could have been a moment there where one of them tells him "No, you're not alone, you've made some friends among Team Dark, you don't have to carry this burden alone" or something like that. They could have developed their relationship a bit to the point when after Shadow says his farewells to Maria and Gerald and they dissapear, and Shadow fights Black Doom, there could be a moment when Shadow gets angry in spite of him and Rouge manages to talk him down. Kind of a throwback to her line where she says "there's only one person that could talk him down" and she manages to do that, because Shadow managed to find the support he needed among his friends. I know this story is more about Maria so they couldn't really do that, but it would have been a cool idea I think.

[@jjjolyne460]

Love the analysis, I want to add that personally I don't think this game makes Shadow the Hedgehog's last story a sad ending or cheapens it in retrospect. in the moment, Shadow standing on his own and making his own decisions for the first time was the best thing he could have done. He just took it slightly too far in the moment by trying to completely forget about Maria. with sa2 it's a great three-game arc: Shadow goes from honoring but being consumed by his past, to not letting it consume him but losing part of who he is, to honoring his past but not being consumed by it.

[@fordthelord1133]

Shadow gens is really a game that at first feels kinda just… good. But as you replay and go back through it you find the promise within it. With both the gameplay mechanics and story in this case. I just wish it did *more* with its concept. I would’ve waited longer if it meant adding more content and being able to not have to rush content out, such as just throwing frontiers in there with no explanation from shadow. Imagine if we had dialogue in-game by shadow for the locations, his memories and recalling things that happened! But as it is, the game is great, not perfect but great.

[@SonicSwift99]

@@yrooxrksvi7142 There's no pleasing you 2000s elitists, is there? You know what, bring back Pontaff at this point. We're finally getting something good and y'all still find a way to complain. At least with Pontaff, we can all reunite and be miserable together.

[@furious_pie466]

36:36 to be fair in SA2 it looked like Sonic’s Chaos Control barely worked as he was pretty exhausted for a moment, now that could just be because he was unexperienced with the technique or maybe he was partially caught in the explosion but maybe using a fake emerald doesn’t work as well as the real one and could cause harm to the user, though he does use it in their boss when you’re playing as Shadow but that could just be for gameplay reasons. Edit: Also didn’t Shadow himself say in SA2 that there’s no way to do chaos control with a fake emerald but Sonic just did because he’s _that_ guy?

[@ChaddyFantome]

That line was a fumbled dub line. in the original, he is just expressing shock, surprise and being impressed Sonic did it even with just a fake emerald.

[@andersonsansonowski5644]

In shadow 05 shadow wanted to leave his past behind but dark begginings shows that NO matter how much he tries we will never be able to do levae his past behind and that ties everything together even when shadow's past was never talked about post shadow 05 makes pure sense now

[@NotSpecialDude]

I do like the detail where, just before the final boss with Doom, if you talk with Gerald he admits that he figured out the sad truth. Not the details, but the general idea that him and Maria die. But he hides it from Maria, who is still unaware. It's a somber moment, and I wish it got a dedicated cutscene.