Yes Sephiroth IS in Control (NOT JENOVA)! Final Fantasy 7 Explained

Welcome to another Final Fantasy 7 Explained video! Today, I would like to offer some clarity to a common misconception of the original game that persists to this day. Sephiroth and Jenova are two major characters in FF7, but is Jenova really the one orchestrating the events of the main narrative?
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[@FuzzfingerGaming]

If you enjoy these lore explantions videos, please remember to like + subscribe. Thanks for watching!

[@ryuuotaku35]

I always believed that Sephiroth has more control, but Jenova knows it. That’s why she offers power to Sephiroth to succeed in becoming a God.

[@Mangomesh]

I've had this conversation with fans for years. Jenova is considered the mother of all monsters, Cloud is just another sephiroth clone and Vincent is considered a different experiment. I have not played OGFF7 in years, but does Vincent have jenovas cells or not? I don't remember them mentioning him being injected with jenovas cells?

[@kjh4496]

I think people forget that Jenova doesn’t have a head at the start of FF7. She’s no longer a sentient being. All her forms were just Sephiroth using pieces of her body to transform the clones into images of her. Her heart is the last piece used in the crater to create Jenova Synthesis.

[@bbpaulss]

That is true but I disagree because where was Jenova’s head? In the life stream and jenova isn’t supposed to be in the life stream. That’s why the ancients sealed it away instead of killing it. Because killing it allows it to live through the life stream. I think it’s odd how a normal non crazy super soldier guy suddenly loses his mind, loses to cloud (who’s a loser at the time) and is flung into the life stream with jenovas head. Then after that sephiroth’s goal is exactly the same as jenovas. infect the life stream via jenova and take over the planet becoming one with it. Seems like jenova’s will still has a big play in sephiroth’s decision. Even if not, sephiroth is still literally doing exactly what jenova would be doing if it was alive. He’s basically finishing her goals for her and I think the fact that jenova cells have been with him for as long as he’s been in the womb and the fact that jenova had never been fully dead or dissolved in the life stream proves in my mind that jenova still had some will pushing sephiroth to lose his mind and go down this path so that jenovas original goal can still come to fruition. Even if jenova had nothing to do with sephiroth losing his mind and doing what he’s doing, he’s still basically doing the dirty work of jenovas original intentions.

[@belovedducky]

@@bbpaulss really informative reply, thank you for this, and in the context of the video game itself I agree :)

[@belovedducky]

Even bodies without heads are sentient, from what I can tell. Every cell, possibly even every non-"biological" molecule and atom (re panpsychism + philosophical idealism). Not necessarily at all like what a human being or sentient complex mammal/reptile/fish/bird would experience, but some form of "what it is like to be [x, y, z]-ness", nonetheless. I could be wrong though - it could be for example an omnitech hyper-realistic "simulation" with only one total sentience per larger organism, but I have my doubts about that too

[@FreeFlow__]

That wasn't its body. That body belonged to a woman from the cetra absorbed by jenova.

[@kjh4496]

@@bbpaulss Jenova does not influence Sephiroths mind. This has been confirmed multiple times. Sephiroths will is stronger than Jenova’s.

[@Vicioussama]

honestly, I think it's more interesting if Jenova has a part of it beyond "controlled by Sephiroth"

[@Killer_Kris7]

Lol cry

[@hundido9287]

I always imagined that since jenova is like a sentient virus who's only purpose is to consume an propagate, it really had no reason to compete against seph since he not only was the most powerfull and evolved host, he also wanted to rule everything, which is basically the same jenova wanted but with a nicer tune.

[@colmnolan3792]

The same could be said in reverse I don’t like the idea of sephiroth being controlled as it would take away from him as one of the greatest villains in gaming. I do think jenova is like the thing and will assimilate what it can but if it wasn’t for cloud overcoming jenova I would say jenova was more powerful. We see cloud give into the jenova cells at times but he manages to break free, so sephiroth must have as strong a will or greater, which is why jenova aids him. What do you think?

[@Shizuma]

I mean sure. Sephiroth is the mind, and Jenova is the body. But as for Sephiroth's will - if it is Jenova's genetic destiny, who is really in control? That is to say - Jenova is not a person - Jenova is an alien lifeform, and their genetic destiny becomes Sephiroth's. Sephiroth can think and scheme all he wants, but does not his actions prove his is driven nontheless by Jenova? "Become a god? / Consume the Planet?"... is that a human's will? In a sense, I think the two are one in the same. They are Jenova.

[@Killer_Kris7]

No. They are Sephiroth

[@TeamGXOne]

Jenova is the one in control. The only way it works that Sephiroth is in control, is if as Jenova initially took over Sephiroth's mind, that part of Jenova usurped Sephiroth's identity and "became Sephiroth" if you will, and in turn, takes over the "parent" Jenova. ALSO its in the book Reunion Files, that "everything revolves around JENOVA'S will NOT Sephiroth's". That's almost verbatim in the books.

[@ultimamage3]

@@TeamGXOne Jenova is in control even stated in the Ultimania Omega; the only line that suggests Sephiroth is in control is framed as a clickbaity question, but his profile states he "underwent a sudden change. Behaving as if he were Jenova itself", "after discovering the secret behind his birth... he became Jenova itself", "after becoming the embodiment of Jenova, it seems his personality as an individual faded away".

[@TeamGXOne]

@@ultimamage3 Exactly, I forgot about that! That's even more proof of what I'm saying. Sephiroth was overtaken by Jenova, and in him becoming JENOVA'S embodiment, his true self was lost, becoming a shell of his former self, and operating purely out of Jenova's will. There's a LOT of theories that Sephiroth from Remake (the end version that is) is his true self trying to free himself. If that is the case (and I honestly believe it is), that'll finally shut down these misconceptions about both characters.

[@rpgfanatic9719]

So it should be noted that Sephiroth's lifestyle philosophy is the opposite of Cloud. Cloud learns throughout FF7 that your rank, fame, and your birth have nothing to do with who you are. Sephiroth strongly believes that his birth determines his right to the planet. Before, he believed himself to be an ancient and so he felt it was his right to take back the planet from humans, but after falling into the lifestream, he gained knowledge of everything that ever came in contact with the planet including Jenova. He knows now who Jenova is, and the truth of his own origins of being tied to Jenova, and because of his lifestyle philosophy of following the steps of his birth, he aligns his goals to Jenova. Sephiroth's physical connection to Jenova in fact was completely erased in AC, his will, his hate for Cloud keeping him alive and conscious, in AC he summons clones of himself through his powerful will as they seek out the dormant Jenova through his will like a drug so he could create a body and control it with his mind from the lifestream.

[@TeamGXOne]

I have to politely disagree with this. There's a lot of discounting material that suggests Jenova being in control, and there's no acknowledgment of the expanded story (like Crisis Core), of which Jenova exploited Sephiroth's mental breakdown to turn him into its ultimate tool. It also contradicts Sephiroth's expanded narrative prior to Jenova, as he NEVER showed any inkling or behavior to suggest its in him to desire power, and do anything to achieve it, traits belong to Genesis. Where is the transition, the plausible reasoning and events leading to the kind Sephiroth, becoming the evil, god-complex Sephiroth, OUTSIDE of Jenova's influence? It doesn't make sense for him to suddenly turn evil on his own merit. But what DOES make sense, is Jenova is controlling Sephiroth's psyche. He may be controlling Jenova on a physical level, but Jenova has him psychologically. Also, this review only focuses on the US LOCALIZATION of the game, which was translated to make Sephiroth more the villain with the belief the story would sell better. But in the JPN version, its much clearer that Jenova is in control. Also... in the book "The Reunion Files" from Square Enix, there's a line that almost verbatim states "Everything revolves around JENOVA'S will, NOT Sephiroth's". That's the actual sentence from Square themselves, centering on Jenova's agency and being the ultimate mastermind. My problem with this notion also, is it takes away from Jenova's agency and how intelligent the entity actually is; it clashes a bit with the lore of Jenova coming to the planet, manipulating its inhabitants and attempting to bond with Cetra and ended up turning them into monsters. And as a commenter mentioned before, FF games have always had humans being manipulated by some cosmic horror, mysterious being with mysterious intent, WHY would Sephiroth/Jenova be any different? The ONLY way it makes sense that Sephiroth TOOK control, is if the Jenova part of him morphed into its own entity, usurping Sephiroth's identity and from there, also takes control of the "parent" Jenova, which Jenova would have no qualms with, as its only focused on achieving a particular goal, by any means.

[@Killer_Kris7]

Or you could admit you just want Sephiroth to be woobified and have a redemption arc where he's an innocent wittle cinnamon role who didn't do anything wrong. Grow up

[@TeamGXOne]

@@Killer_Kris7 Ok boomer.

[@The3rownie]

⁠@@Killer_Kris7Ifalna clearly states that even the Cetra themselves who were infected by Jenova the virus went mad and turned into monsters… whose to say the same didn’t happen in this case with Sephiroth? Clearly they wanted to show a different side of him during the Nibleheim flashback in Rebirth (saving Tifa, looking for the missing trooper for two hours, even acknowledging his team for their efforts). Heck, even in Ever Crisis we see a vulnerable young Seph at one point being upset/bothered by the fact that Glenn called him a cyborg, basically something devoid of any care or human feelings, to which Glenn apologizes and even hugs him. In Crisis Core we see him going out of his way to offer his blood to Genesis for the transfusion required, the same Genesis that wanted to one up him right before and who was always jealous of him. He also didn’t want to believe that his friends betrayed him and purposely thinks of failing the mission so he doesn’t have to take both of them out So no, Sephiroth before Jenova wasn’t an evil person, he could’ve been a lot worse. It’s a complex case because of his upbringing while forcibly having to work for Shinra as a ‘secret’ experiment/weapon. Not to mention having Hojo around as a primary influence too. He never had the choice to ever live the life he wanted, everything was decided for him the minute he was conceived. The one thing he truly wanted like a family and a home was something he never got

[@Geekella]

It's either verbatim or it's not. What did the book actually say?

[@MetalMiIIs]

Good vid, it's made quite clear that Sephiroth is manipulating events from the lifestream through the Jenova cells and that Jenova itself is extraterrestrial. Side note, I've been hoping for years that Square would make a game about the Cetra's fight with Jenova, how cool would that be???

[@jamesshelton3827]

That would be awesome.

[@WardenOfTerra]

That's not true at all. It's Jenova that's manipulating the lifestream.

[@MetalMiIIs]

@@WardenOfTerraYou are incorrect. Sephy hijacked Jenova's cells and brought the reunion to him so that he could summon the meteor from his location. Jenova was his pawn.

[@ashflowex7777]

I was playing FFXII again ... I know i commented this before but once again your guides are helping me. 🙏🙏🙏 Thank you

[@FuzzfingerGaming]

Thank you 😊

[@Koniving]

So, rebirth basically refutes this to a point. Jenova-roth is still Jenova-Roth and very much Jenova. However the two are now distinguished difference characters with separate goals. Robed figures appear around Jenova-roth. Feathers appear around the real Sephiroth when he interjects. In remake we largely see the real sephiroth, as Jenova will not learn Cloud's name until the ship. In rebirth, Jenova-roth will not refer to Cloud by name, or any other character by name, until it specifically hears the name. Jenova hears Cloud's name on the cruise ship in rebirth and after uses Cloud's name but pronounces it differently and without emotion; Jenova-roth is terse, concise, and emotionless in its delivery. It also points out that Jenova was alive when found, and Jenova cannot die much like the Gi. The ultimania Omega states Jenova freed herself, confirmed in rebirth on the cruise ship as when we receive the warning specifically the Shinra building Sephiroths are referenced; which violates the established rule that Sephiroth cannot fly without a wing, and that flight in the OG was a means to show possession. Every compilation version states that he read like a man possessed, and in rebirth as he leaves the library they got rid of the flight and instead had him walk as if his head were empty, no expression or facial animation, with a unique walk cycle that is almost robotic, after a depiction of a shadow picking up a puppets control cross, and rapidly doing scenes where Jenova's head replaces Sephiroth. It is true that later in the story Sephiroth takes over, but it was never at the start of the story, it happens much later and in rebirth it happens towards the end.

[@Chris-es3wf]

I think the story is much more intriguing with the Jenova or Hybrid theory so that'll always be my head Canon.

[@VogtTD]

It's Sephiroths doing, but he was influenced by Jenova.

[@ResDogsMrPink]

Firstly, that was an excellent spot on explanation. Secondly, I cant believe people didnt understand this to begin with as the game does tell you. And third, I LOVE that you compared jenova to the thing! I love that movie and I always always got that vibe when I was a kid and the game shows it for the first time. Love the video!

[@brijor6ff7]

Well to be fair, FF7's translation is barely passable for English at the best of times, and complete utter non sense at the worst of times 😆

[@ResDogsMrPink]

@@brijor6ff7 you're not wrong. I was 12 when this game launched in 97' and I know for a fact I didnt get the full scope of the story back then. It was probably my 3rd go round when I was old enough to really pay attention to the story and read between the "lost in translations" the game is riddled with 😂

[@WardenOfTerra]

The game literally tells you that Jenova is in control due to Sephiroth saying and showing you so... lol

[@onewingedangelsephiroth1561]

Hey! Who dyed my hair in your thumbnail? The original color is true perfection and doesn't need to be fiddled with 😂

[@JonnyPeace07]

Excellent video! I’m replaying 7 now and I’ve always been a bit confused about the Sepheroth/Jenova dynamic.

[@Athlynne]

:) Am disagreeing, mainly for two reasons. One, Jenova originally came to the planet and proceeded to go all super-villain annihilating the Cetra. Yet now, she's just fine being completely passive while Sephiroth is conceiving of and enacting all the evil plans? She's doing nothing? Two, the Sephiroth we met in Crisis Core was a good man. So, what, he goes to Nibelheim, exposing him to Jenova, gets retcon-traumatized by Gackt, I mean Genesis, and that's enough to make him all mwa-ha-ha, I'm a bad guy now? It doesn't make sense to me. I fully expect and hope that the last battle of the Remake trilogy involves us ending the space-bitch at last, and restoring Sephiroth to who he truly is.

[@crossroads8370]

Yeah I wouldn't call Sephiroth a good man. Sure he was friendly to his brothers in arms in times of war and all because he and them worked for the same goals. Before he ever ran into Jenova he was pretty much just a puppet for Shinra to do Shinra's bidding. If they wanted him to go kill a whole town of innocent people then Sephiroth would do it because he thought he was doing the right thing by spreading Shinra's influence to the world. He was basically trained from childhood and brainwashed to be a killing machine for Shinra when they needed him as a last ditch effort to win a battle or something and he never let them down until the Nibelheim Reactor. Then he finds out that he was created to be a monster by Hojo and that his true destiny and his true strength is because of Jenova's cells within him and that he can be the ruler over the planet for his own bidding.

[@TeamGXOne]

I can't agree more. Also, keep in mind that the US localization chose to demonize Sephiroth more, to make him more of a threat, but I've spoken with Japanese players that state it was way more clear that Jenova is the puppeteer. Regardless of what others say, Sephiroth WAS a GOOD guy, and the game Crisis Core really goes out of its way to show Sephiroth being a good natured person. Yes he was a soldier (therefore, killed a lot of people) but under the belief and dedication to what he had been told is the right thing. JPN players have also cited some very small but important nuances from FF7R that definitely points to Jenova being the real big bad, and that Sephiroth may be secretly fighting to free himself (and for the right reasons).

[@The3rownie]

Yup, even Ifalna says that similarly when the Cetra were infected by the virus (Jenova) they were also overcome by madness and turned into monsters just like Seph did with his random switch up Also she never confirmed that Jenova ever died, she just said that it could come back to life meaning it’s not dead in the traditional sense, and seeing how the cells influence those that have been injected I’m sure Jenova has many ways of sticking around and using those that it can get it’s hands on to further it’s original plans like deceiving Sephiroth into thinking she’s his mother and using him as a powerful vessel

[@stevo-kun3924]

I’ve been trying to figure this out for 25 years lol. Great video

[@windwaker0rules]

Taking quotes from Hojo a guy full of jenova cells isn't a reliable source. And quoting square is stupid, if you quote square then the answer will always be "the answer that makes square the most money"

[@JohnDoe-ib4xe]

I think people that people cant see the forest for the trees on this subject. After Sephiroth learns of Jenova, and gets a rebirth through the lifesteam his goals, and Jenova's goals became one and the same. Who is in control has always been up for debate, I say what does it matter? The Jenova creature feeds off of the life force of planets, then moves on. That is exactly what Sephiroth wants to do... hence the confusion. He no longer cares about friends, soldier, or anything besides that goal. So sadly the author of this video is incorrect.

[@ephemeral_phantom]

If jenova is similar to the thing that can copy a person perfectly then the sephiroth that we knew in FF7 is no longer him and even the way he knew cloud is just the jenova thing trying to instill paranoia to cloud using sephiroths memory and if he infects cloud that was close to aerith then she can kill the last remaing threat to her which is the last line of cetra. Even at the back story of sephiroth the moment he was injected with the jenova cells he was no longer him or human, theres a jenova thing on him that waiting to takeover when the right time comes.

[@MyRealityIsProof]

He (Sephiroth) had Jenova's head. 1:19

[@dalepittaway725]

Buzz finger gaming I believe both sephiroth and jenova were the ghosts of sephiroth with the exemptions of jenova boss battles and sephiroth boss ending.

[@kikiblair5132]

I was so sad when my old copy stopped working. I bought a green label off of Amazon last summer along with Legend of Dragoon and Grandia because I got an itch to play games from my early childhood. Got send a black label. I really miss the age of JRPGs. I really don't miss all those random encounters, but I would love to see these kind of games come back full force.

[@WardenOfTerra]

The'yre not random encounters.

[@mo_musashi_284]

Fascinating indeed thx 🤔

[@CDunn322]

Holy crap! You're the best man!

[@user-ix6ic1bw2i]

its pretty clear after playing rebirth its clear Jenova is in control not Sephiroth and using Sephiroth body as some sort of vessel

[@Killer_Kris7]

That's false.

[@thefinalfantasynation]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL this video is all sorts of wrong, with many misconceptions about the dynamics of Jenova, and how Jenova actually operates. And stuff like this stems from the innate misbelief Sephiroth is actually the main villain. He is the main "antagonist", but the one true villain, is in fact Jenova. Explaining it here will be too much in a single type, but we will release a video at some point to deconstruct and reconstruct the PROPER perspective of the ordeal between Sephiroth and Jenova, and the true timeline of events that proves well beyond anything, Jenova is in fact in charge, and has always been.

[@Shaneyislive]

I thought I was the biggest ff7 fanatic I was wrong , bro ur god 😅

[@Heymrk]

I disagree.

[@ZxChrono]

Nah

[@TeamGXOne]

I also disagree. The Reunion Files clearly stated that everything is all about Jenova's will, and explicitly said "NOT Sephiroth's".

[@Killer_Kris7]

@@TeamGXOne bullshit no it doesn't lol. How many times have they said Jenova controls Sephiroth besides that one time? Exactly. Sephiroth controls Jenova. They said that in every interview

[@TeamGXOne]

@@Killer_Kris7 ok boomer

[@TeamGXOne]

@@Killer_Kris7 also, context is very important. I've seen in other official material where it says Jenova is in control, and I've discussed it with Japanese players, who also stated that in the JPN version of the game, its clear that Jenova is puppeteering Sephiroth. But how about you believe your bullshit, and I'll stick to my own lemonade.

[@BANKSREGIME]

Glad to see people finally are making videos off my old theories. I am Ex and Ominous Angel and I figured all this stuff out way back in 2004. There are also 2 Life Streams. I am glad to see others are comparing Jenova to John Carpenter's the Thing. Honestly Jenova and Sephiroth are one Organism though just that The Sephiroth Persona is dominant over the rest of the cells

[@frankanderson2239]

What about the Jenova's body you fight in the crater, is that being controlled by Sephiroth and used as a bodyguard?

[@WardenOfTerra]

Nope. Sephiroth was never in control.

[@sh4d0wfl4re]

I was expecting FF7Rebirth to focus upon a succession crisis between Sephiroth/Jenova and Aerith/Gaia. Sephiroth while he is in control of Jenova… her instincts also control him, sure mind over matter… but I think Jenova and Sephiroth are actively vying for full control

[@Killer_Kris7]

That's false

[@sh4d0wfl4re]

@@Killer_Kris7 my expectations are neither true nor false. They are a prediction of a future event. As for my supporting claim, Sephiroth definitely acts on Jenova’s instincts starting when he burnt down Nebilheim in og FF7. And even after he wrests control of the reunion instinct from her, he still technically is under that instinct. This is made clear with his desire to remain close to Cloud, the only surviving Sephiroth clone, as well as his intent to spread geostigma (the same infection that Jenova threatened the world with prior). My prediction that Sephiroth will want to be cleansed of this geostigma infection/instinct as Genesis was in Crisis Core, Cloud was in Advent Children, and data-Hojo needed his vessel to be in Dirge of Cerberus (in order to pilot Omega Weapon as a means of surviving past the death of the Planet). I also assume Jenova (whether she is in control of herself, or past-Sephiroth is) will clash with future-Sephiroth. These points are all speculation and prediction based off of past events

[@KJames2345]

Not in the trilogy, he isn't, the main villain is going to be the true Jenova.

[@brothersandsistersofvalhalla]

You covered the lore of the original game around Sephiroth fairly well here so no qualms about that. However you aren't taking into account Crisis Core, Advent Children, and Dirge of Cerberus which all have hints that Jenova is a much stronger being than originally shown in the original first game. In Crisis Core we learn that Genesis becomes obsessed with Jenova the same way Sephiroth eventually does and it's clear Sephiroth isn't controlling Genesis so that would rule out Sephiroth being in complete control of Jenova on every level. And in Advent Children there's Kadaj and his gang as well as the poisoned lifestream which was all ultimately caused because of Jenova's cells. You could make the argument Sephiroth is in conscious control of Jenova but even that can be debated because we know for absolute fact he lost his mind and went insane when he learned about his creation. Another thing to point out is that in Advent Children he directly states wanting to "ride the planet into the cosmos just like his mother did." Personally I'm of the view that Sephiroth is urged by Jenova's cells even if Jenova's cells aren't directly mind controlling him. Like the same way humans have impulses that sometimes we can't always control. Edit: One last thing I forgot to mention. During Sephiroth's creation we know he was injected with a large amount of Jenova much more than other SOLDIER members got so it seems a reasonable conclusion that Jenova is baked into his genes which is what ultimately is what gives him the abilities he ends up having.

[@-ITH]

All that compilation garbage no one wants.

[@MetalMiIIs]

It's quite clear in the OG FF7 that Sephiroth is enacting his will through Jenova from the lifestream. Sephiroth wasn't dead in Crisis Core so why would you think he would be in control of Jenova when Genesis was around? That makes 0 sense, just like all the other convoluted bullshit that pretty much ruined the source material.

[@theOneThatWas]

@@-ITH I disagree. AC was a good movie and crisis core is amazing. DoC was not great.

[@-ITH]

@@theOneThatWas did you actually play the OG? I'm talking first, not after all the compilation stuff.

[@theOneThatWas]

@@-ITH Yes. And I'm actually replaying it right now using the 7th heaven program using mods. Still the best one. But again crisis core and AC were great and made sense to me. I disagree with the original post too btw but I couldn't help let you know I disagree with your opinion as well.

[@WorthlessWinner]

In the original game alone, sephiroph is dead when he falls in the lifestream and it's all Jenova from then on. In the stupid sequels Square popped out after, it's edgy black cape boy

[@WardenOfTerra]

You're totally wrong. Jenova has been in constant control since Sephiroth's will was broken after he found out about his origin, which led Jenova to go on a killing spree whilst controlling Sephiroth - hence Cloud saying that Sephiroth would never do such a thing, because it was Jenova that was manipulating Sephiroth. Cloud killed Sephiroth, and then Jenova yearns to make Cloud its avatar due to Cloud's will being superior to Sephiroth's. So, Jenova turns Sephiroth into its own 'weapon' in the Northern Crater. Sephiroth was NEVER in control after Cloud kills him in Nibelheim. Sephiroth is dead from that point onwards. Why do you think 'Sephiroth' can fly after he was killed? It's literally Jenova using his appearance as a visual shroud. That's why pieces of it drop off when it flies away as it's degrading due to it not being whole enough to keep itself together. This is also the exact same reason as to why SOLDIER's degrade. Bizzaro Sephiroth literally has Jenova over the top of Sephiroth, controlling him. If that doesn't blatantly tell you that Sephiroth was never in control then nothing will.

[@eazeprestige8853]

youre wrong on so many levels , jenovas dead , hojo made a baby named sephiroth using jenovas cells , since sephiroth was thrown into the lifestream his body was injured but his mind lives , he can control all people with jenova cells i.e cloud and the cloaked figures , jenova is a shapeshifting alien he uses her body to to make bodies for himself since hes locked in the crater, understand that sephiroth is a clone of jenova so to speak thats why when he learns this he wants to finish what his mother started, bizzarro sephiroth looks that way cuz hes literally made from jenova , cloud at the end enters the lifestream to kill sephiroth and thats why holy can come through since he was blocking it from there, the game explains this clear as day

[@thosetwodudes]

I love Fuzz - he's a great resource, but this video is not for me. I'm not even sure what Jenova is - I've scene a few pics of Aerith in a bath or something but ... FFVIIR was my first true experience with this story. I know that at the end ... gosh if it happens in the Remakes I'll be a wreck for a month. I believe though that the Remakes are not just a remake but an actual sequel? oy vey!

[@SigmaElement]

I am willing to bet that the 2nd part of the remake will clear things up. And Sphiroth will be a good guy by the end, as old sephiroth will be now free of Genova's influence, and he traveled to another dimention to make things rigth.... just a guess, i dont know. But by the end of the 2nd part of the.... "remake" (sequel) we will know.

[@MarcusSanchez2525]

It always made sense to me that Sephiroth was in control. Many people seem desperate to paint Sephiroth as a victim and to a certain point he was but I always believed he ultimately chose to be a monster. Also I believe the Jenova’s goals are simple compared to Sephiroths. Jenova wants to infect the lifestream and consume the world as she has to other worlds. Sephiroth of course wants to carry on this legacy but he wants to absorb the lifestream and become a god, and in Rebirth it says in his Reborn form that he wants to create “Eternity”, when has Jenova ever cared about this? Why would Jenova go through all of these extra steps if she was in control? If Jenova was in control she would have stopped using Sephiroth’s image once she got the black materia and she would have been the final boss. Also why would Jenova even be working to give the black materia to Sephiroth at all if she was in control? She could have called the Meteor at anytime. I honestly think people give Jenova’s intelligence to much credit, all she seems to care about is consuming the world she is on and moving on, even with the black robed Sephiroth clones she absorbs all of them except for Sephiroth who maintains his own sense of self. No matter how many times I look at it its clear to me that Sephiroth is pulling the strings unless Square Enix decides to completely retcon this, he made his choice and became a monster as Sephiroth feared he was. Also wouldn’t Aerith be able to tell if Sephiroth was being manipulated? She never even questions this, she knows Sephiroth is doing this of his own free will, even in the book on the way to a smile Sephiroth is dead and in the lifestream but he is inflicting the world with Geostigma and he is searching for ways to bring himself back by creating his 3 avatars and having them search for surviving pieces of Jenova’s body so he can be reborn. Again it looks to me like Sephiroth is in control and has a will of his own. Let’s remember also at the end of Advent Children Sephiroth tells Cloud “I will never be a memory” not “Mother will never be a memory.”

[@colinireland6169]

Always love your content Simon. Truly the man. But I'm saying hard disagree, Jenova is a planet destroying hyper being. It assimilates a planets life force and beings and then departs to rinse and repeat. Sephiroth died that day, the Jenova inside of him was running the whole show from that day forward, building up power to destroy the planets life force and move along. Just like it always does. Simple as,

[@colinireland6169]

The main villain is literally Jenova. It was never Sephiroth. Even his will is literally just Jenova doing what it does. What makes sense to me. Don't get me wrong, Sephiroth is and always will be my favorite villain, literally get a tattoo of him embedded in my flesh. But the hyper being is in charge.

[@skysetblue9578]

@@colinireland6169more like Hojo he knows everything

[@federicamacchia1656]

Pity that the devs themself in Advent Children Réunion Files tell AN other story...in AN interview to Nojima,he says textually that when they had to find a motivation to Sephiroth's return,they all came to te the conclusion that was not Sephiroth Will,but JENOVA'S WILL.....which means that,if he wanted or not,Jenova made him return from Lifestream under the three aspects we see.What causes this misunderstaning, Is that the form Is the One of Sephiroth,so everybody call It with this name whitout doing any distinction

[@federicamacchia1656]

Jenova in clearly the dominant....Just ask yourself how can a man that have Lost his mind in madness,ence cannot dominate even his own personality,be able to dominate and extrairdinary powerful alien being,Who was able to almost destroy a strong race as the Cetra....

[@ryukthegodofdeath5906]

Man, i don't need to watch the video to tell you you're right. People easily forget that jenova herself is dead she can't do anything, and in fact, her cells didn't have as much magical property except for the fact that it made a bunch of soldiers and gave em super strength. But it was only until sephiroth fell into the live stream that they had properties and gave the cells magic, but only to sephiroths control, if jenova herself was in control thab we would've fought jenova as the last boss, it is true that sephiroth looks like hes minipulated but than why did he not act on that before he became Evil? And spehiroth became evil before merging with the stream. Another huge example of it being spehiroth in control is advent children, the remnants out seraching for jenovas head saying there doing the work for her, and thats her willing them too, but that is far from the truth as kadaj fights cloud and gets a hold of jenovas head, and out comes leaking wat ever fluid, idk jenovas dna, and sephiroth appears now if it was jenova controlling the whole seen she would've appeared, but it wasn't, instead it was spehiroth, everything you hear in the stroy is mostly about defeating sephiroth or the main plot point anyways, you do hear of jenovas cells but no one really knows what jenova was like other than the fact she was calmity hell bent on destroying and ruling the planet and heck on the ruling part, but yeah, to anyone saying jenovas in control has not been paying attention to the story enough

[@Johan92Johansson]

Jenova is not dead. It's clear by Ifalna that the cetra could not Kill Jenova.

[@ArcanisUltra]

This explanation makes some bold assumptions. 1: Hojo's "moment of clarity" was just that, clarity, and not more confusion. Either is equally plausible. 2: The producers of Final Fantasy VII are not lying so as to not just going to give away a major plot twist. 3: Everything Sephiroth wants just happens to be exactly what Jenova wants? Why would Sephiroth want all of the Jenova cells gathered together? He's his own person, with his own will and body right? So there should be zero necessity to gather all of Jenova together, the "Reunion" event. That is something only Jenova would want. More important, Sephiroth says something very telling, in Kingdom Hearts. Now, I know you may not feel it is canon, but it struck a huge chord with me. Sephiroth says, "Cloud, I am you." As in, Cloud who was brainwashed and controlled, who lost his mind...That's what Sephiroth is referring to, I believe. Also, why wouldn't Sephiroth just kill Cloud and the gang in the Remake, knowing their eventual victory? Why does it feel like he's building up Cloud, somehow. Most importantly, I feel, is the very end of Final Fantasy VII. When spirit Cloud defeats spirit Sephiroth, and Sephiroth shatters into lifestream motes...They are red. Which I feel means "tainted." Then green motes come in, swarm them, and it explodes into all green motes. The taint has been cleansed. The true spirit of Sephiroth is left at peace. I feel like, maybe, Advent Children isn't Sephiroth, but purely Jenova, who has taken to using Sephiroth's body as an avatar.

[@kidzes9704]

It looks like it..... for now But it will turn out that it is Genesis' doing afterall :P

[@vincentgraymore]

Yea if Rebirth do acknowledge the ending of DoC, it might actually turn out that way :S

[@TeamGXOne]

I don't mind if Genesis winds up becoming the big bad. He was the only person that was truly an ass to begin with, and its his fault Sephiroth befell Jenova's grip. I think with the right rebooting of Genesis' character, bringing him as the one who ends him being the main villain, and a version of Sephiroth winds up fighting him, it would be a cool twist and a nice way to complete a story arc that's in real need of more development and depth.

[@Killer_Kris7]

@@TeamGXOne no redemption bullshit. You're just trying to woobify Sephiroth. Face facts bub. Sephiroth is not getting a redemption. He chose his path, he controls Jenova. Leave it.

[@TeamGXOne]

@@Killer_Kris7 PFFT the only thing I'm leaving is you 😜

[@Killer_Kris7]

@@TeamGXOne you need to grow up and face the facts that your precious little Sephiwoth is actually a psychotic cold emotionless cold blooded killing machine who is able to take control of aliens. What the devs say go. End of discussion. They said Sephiwoth controls Jenova 5 times now.

[@Killer_Kris7]

Thank you for saying the truth!

[@todorstojanov3100]

Jenova is referred to multiple times as a virus. Its actions suggest that it is intelligent, since it is capable of emotional manipulation, but it differs from sentient beings in the sense that its mind is singular. It has one goal and one goal alone: Destroy any life it comes across, migrate through space, repeat the process. Now let's go back to Sephiroth. Sure the game tells us that he controls Jenova's body to exert his own will. But what IS this will? Let's see: Destroy the planet along with all life on it, absorb its lifestream, then migrate to the next one. These are EXACTLY Jenova's intentions. Again, Jenova's mind is singular. It cares about destroying life. It does not care about its own role in the process. So when someone who bears the exact same intentions comes along, Jenova has no reason to defy him. Sephiroth may be sentient and may think that he's in control. But why does he have such desires to begin with? Either Jenova got extremely lucky that Sephiroth just so happened to share its exact intentions or Sephiroth's intentions come from Jenova. Either way, Jenova would have zero reason to resist him. No matter which of these options you choose to believe in, Jenova ultimately gets exactly what it wants. Personally, I am of the following opinion: Both in fiction and in real life, all humans have dark desires that they must fight with. Cloud has shown us that Jenova's influence can be resisted. Sephiroth IS his own person in the sense that unlike Cloud, he chooses not to refuse these instincts. So long as this remains true, Jenova will never resist his control. But if Sephiroth were to one day have a change of heart, Jenova would swiftly take action.

[@Johan92Johansson]

I think of Jenova and sephirot is like god and jesus. They are two diffrent beeings and one at the same time. Jenovas cell was a foundation i Sephiroths development inside Lucretcias womb. He's actions and goals suddenly becomes what was jenovas goal have been for over 2000 years ago. I think Jenova laid dormant inside him waiting. When he got hes mental breakdown inside Shinra mansion that's when Jenova hijacked hes mind and Sephiroth becomes the puppet.

[@ashflowex7777]

❤️

[@annikamyren3026]

👍

[@ashflowex7777]

❤️❤️❤️

[@Haganeren]

Yes, unfortunately. But still Sephiroth suddenly have the same goal as her and wants to use the same means. Sephiroth prior to the nibelheim accident was way more emotional and JENOVA is described as manipulative. Only a manipulative being would have lied so much to Cloud, to make him think he is a clone even if he is not. The ONLY line from JENOVA we have in FFVII is "because you are a puppet" so JENOVA really is conscient somehow of what's happening and seem to taunt Cloud about it. ( well, the part that the player beat at this moment ). Let's not even talk about the part where it says that Cloud memories come from Tifa, it's a lie that is EXACTLY how JENOVA itself changes into another being. Everything line up so perfectly ! The only thing that didn't is indeed Hojo saying that Sephiroth must be in control for him to attract all the JENOVA bodies... As if Shinra can ever be trusted about what JENOVA is ! If it was Sephiroth who said it why not but that's really not the case and that's because after having the black materia, Sephiroth don't ever talk back to Cloud after that, as if it was dead all along and the identity of Sephiroth was only necessary to control Cloud... Again, that would have been awesome. But you are right, the script is very clear : Sephiroth is in control... It doesn''t make any sense but it's Sephiroth. It's repeated in the Ultimania, i checked the one from 1997 so there is no error. I feel like it was a last minute change in the scenario but i can't prove it so... So that's just how it will ever be~ ( Let's not even talk about Crisis Core / Remake which double down on this because they were made later )

[@federicamacchia1656]

Jenova Is in control...go to check in Advent Children Réunion Files the book,the section Réunion Files Untold stories,the interview to Nojima,and you'll see What the devs themselves Say about this matter

[@Haganeren]

@federicamacchia1656 I think you never read my last paragraphe. TL;DR : "The additional material is very clear : Sephiroth is in control. Even if it doesn't make sense and feel like a last minute change in the scenario." That's just how it is

[@federicamacchia1656]

@@Haganeren dame for you,think as you want.After all Is Just a game,we live in a free world,and every interpretation Is personal,so that everybody can have free thoughts about everything 😉

[@Haganeren]

@federicamacchia1656 ..... wait... I'M the one that didn't read your message. JENOVA is in control ? From all those years discussing that game I never heard about something official that say that... But since for me it makes SO MUCH MORE SENSE for JENOVA to be in control I will have to check that. Thanks !

[@federicamacchia1656]

@@Haganeren Just go to check that interview to Nojima near the end of Advent Children Réunion Files

[@kamerondonaldson5976]

geostigma is in control. neither sephiroth nor jenova. just a biological weapon developed by hojo.

[@aroccoification]

Well that's not as cool... I preferred playing the game as if jenova was an ethereal/extraterrestrial being that is influencing both sides like pawns for its ultimate goal. You know like pretty much every other FF? FF9 had a Garland who was pulling the strings not kuja, in ffx yuyevon and yunalesca pulling the strings not seymore or sin, in ff4 it was zemus not golbez, in ff8 it was ultamecia not edea why ruin the trend like that by making Sephiroth the big bad and not jenova?

[@Killer_Kris7]

Oh shut up. Because Sephiroth wouldn't be interesting at all. Enough of this "this is the villian being controlled by a bigger bad" bullshit. Keep crying

[@federicamacchia1656]

Go on playing the trilogy,and you'll see...Surely the big bad Is not Sephiroth,and you'll have some good surprises in the end,cause the devs are cooking good things for him

[@aroccoification]

@@federicamacchia1656 why are you saying that if you have no idea if that's true? I suppose I appreciate the sentiment but there's really no reason to say that you're just guessing

[@federicamacchia1656]

@@aroccoification I'm saying this Because i can see the direction the devs are taking about Sephiroth,and i noticed(but i'm Just One of the many) the presence of a different kind of Sephiroth that act in a very weird way in Rebirth...you can see him in at least two Moments,but i don't want to spoiler you this,if you are still playing...Just keep a keen Eye on him,and probably you'll see What i mean when It Will happens...

[@aroccoification]

@@federicamacchia1656 cool I haven't played rebirth yet But from what I've seen in remake it seems like he knows a lot more than he should meanimg this may not be his first go around with this story. But that's just speculative

[@NihonNoMajin]

I completely agree with you sir! As I am someone who has always idolized Sephiroth and treat him as my own personal Jesus (see what I did?), that's how it always felt like to me. I just didn't really find anything in the game of Jenova being in control. I would like to think if that were the case, wouldn't someone have figured it out by now and be trying to bring Sephiroth back out of Jenova's control? Idk I personally don't see it. Only thing that would hint at thay would be how Seph seems to not really feel or show emotion. Though you can argue if you found out your life is basically a joke, would that not make you become empty? Voided of emotions? Not to mention we don't know what happened during his childhood (yet) and Crisis Core doesn't really give much except that he was kind, yet quiet and perhaps somewhat arrogant maybe. I could go on and on with how Seph/Jenova being basically God/Jesus since their names are drawn from Christianity even Sephiroths birth in a way, to how we don't know what all he can do what he inherited from J that allows him to do, or if he can even die! Because like you said the thing about him is he is very strong will and can control the lifestream/is one with it. OK I'll stop before I keep rambling 😅 thanks for the vid!

[@tempestwolf067]

Here's the Thing: "Hojo even says Sephiroth is responsible for everything" And Hojo, as a rule in the FF7 universe, is always wrong. Even if there weren't plenty of other evidence, that one fact alone is proof enough. Not: "Until his big moment of clarity!!!" Always.

[@FuzzfingerGaming]

No the point is, he WAS wrong about the reunion theory when he thought Jenova was in control. Then at the Northern crater he realised the truth, that the will of Sephiroth was so strong he did not allow himself to be absorbed into the lifestream and took control of the Jenova cells himself. The developers confirmed it in the Ultimania. The english translation wasn't the best, hence the confusion over the years.

[@tempestwolf067]

No, the Point Is, Hojo's theories Are ALWAYS wrong. It's a Story About unreliable narrators, false memories, propaganda, and illusions. Like: "It's implied!" That Hojo Is Sephiroth's Father. But It Is Not Stated and It Is Not True. Anyway, I'm Not Gonna Change your Mind but If You Dig long Enough You Can Find the Story In FF7 That Answers All of It's Questions Without paradox or Mainline Story plot holes. It Is a Mystery To Be Solved. It Is Not In the Spirit of the Game To Solve the Mystery For You In an interview. Thank You For Your reply.