Thirty(?) Days of Fire Emblem
Dec. 24th, 2011 02:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mark_asphodel I was going to take a stab at this meme, but then the latest round of LJ fail happened and I got distracted.
Except thirty-day memes are kind of boring. Let's start with Day Four!
Your favorite character:
My favorite male FE character is, hands down, Innes from FE8. I bet you thought I was going to say Marth, right? Well, no. Marth's characterization is such a damn mess that he takes a lot of contemplation and prodding and work. Everything I like about Innes is right there in the game. One game. No extra sources necessary. No retcons, either.
So, why Innes? Because he's the kind of character I admire and sympathize with IRL-- here in our world, where magical plot devices don't come along and save your bacon when you're in over your head and competence (or lack thereof) matters. Yeah, he's prickly. He's not going to get any Mr. Sunshine awards. But he's not a one-dimensional comical jerk; his conversations with Gerik in particular show Innes at his best, and even if the joke's on Innes during his interactions with Joshua, he's both willing to learn new facets of the world around him and willing to pay the penalty for his own failings (in this case, letting Joshua keep the money). Innes, in fact, is very much about facing consequences-- that's why Gerik warms up to him in the first place. Intelligent and perceptive (with some blind spots), cool-headed (but hot-betting), rational (but far from heartless), and honorable (but not "to a fault")-- yeah, I like him.
And he's the major reason I stuck it out playing FE8 EirRoute when the Seth&Eirika show was boring me to death.
My favorite female character, on the other hand, is definitely Caeda. Hang on, you say, don't all the criticisms about Marth re: inconsistencies and retconning apply to Caeda as well? Not so much, actually. Her character in FE1 was pretty well-defined; even then, she was the charming and savvy recruiter for the cause. FE3 actually cut her down a bit by taking out some of her recruiting hijinks (Jake and Roger) and by giving her not much of anything to do in Book Two except to be selflessly noble. FE11 at least restored said hijinks, which did open Caeda to accusations of promiscuity from certain portions of the fanbase, but oh well. And then FE12 came along and seems to have expanded on her good traits-- charisma, competence, tolerance, and a marked lack of "amusing" jealousy when faced with self-proclaimed romantic rivals.
And Marth never has to rescue this particular princess once. In Archanea, land of noble ladies in peril, that's a pretty good track record. He has to rescue her parents, yeah, but she's right there in the fighting, not to mention she signs up for an perilous adventure overseas when she could've stayed home in Talys.
And, finally-- critically, IMO, when dealing with a "warrior princess"-- Caeda never loses sight of the mission. The end of FE3 made that one clear, as does her conversation with Ogma in FE11. It's not about her, it's about saving Archanea/the world, and the key to that particular mission just happens to be the guy she fancies. And if exposing herself to danger to keep him safe is what it takes to get the mission accomplished, so be it-- she'll give up her own happily-ever-after to give the rest of the world that opportunity. Hardcore Caeda is hardcore, and I adore her.
Don't know what I'll pick next; it'll be a surprise.
Except thirty-day memes are kind of boring. Let's start with Day Four!
Your favorite character:
My favorite male FE character is, hands down, Innes from FE8. I bet you thought I was going to say Marth, right? Well, no. Marth's characterization is such a damn mess that he takes a lot of contemplation and prodding and work. Everything I like about Innes is right there in the game. One game. No extra sources necessary. No retcons, either.
So, why Innes? Because he's the kind of character I admire and sympathize with IRL-- here in our world, where magical plot devices don't come along and save your bacon when you're in over your head and competence (or lack thereof) matters. Yeah, he's prickly. He's not going to get any Mr. Sunshine awards. But he's not a one-dimensional comical jerk; his conversations with Gerik in particular show Innes at his best, and even if the joke's on Innes during his interactions with Joshua, he's both willing to learn new facets of the world around him and willing to pay the penalty for his own failings (in this case, letting Joshua keep the money). Innes, in fact, is very much about facing consequences-- that's why Gerik warms up to him in the first place. Intelligent and perceptive (with some blind spots), cool-headed (but hot-betting), rational (but far from heartless), and honorable (but not "to a fault")-- yeah, I like him.
And he's the major reason I stuck it out playing FE8 EirRoute when the Seth&Eirika show was boring me to death.
My favorite female character, on the other hand, is definitely Caeda. Hang on, you say, don't all the criticisms about Marth re: inconsistencies and retconning apply to Caeda as well? Not so much, actually. Her character in FE1 was pretty well-defined; even then, she was the charming and savvy recruiter for the cause. FE3 actually cut her down a bit by taking out some of her recruiting hijinks (Jake and Roger) and by giving her not much of anything to do in Book Two except to be selflessly noble. FE11 at least restored said hijinks, which did open Caeda to accusations of promiscuity from certain portions of the fanbase, but oh well. And then FE12 came along and seems to have expanded on her good traits-- charisma, competence, tolerance, and a marked lack of "amusing" jealousy when faced with self-proclaimed romantic rivals.
And Marth never has to rescue this particular princess once. In Archanea, land of noble ladies in peril, that's a pretty good track record. He has to rescue her parents, yeah, but she's right there in the fighting, not to mention she signs up for an perilous adventure overseas when she could've stayed home in Talys.
And, finally-- critically, IMO, when dealing with a "warrior princess"-- Caeda never loses sight of the mission. The end of FE3 made that one clear, as does her conversation with Ogma in FE11. It's not about her, it's about saving Archanea/the world, and the key to that particular mission just happens to be the guy she fancies. And if exposing herself to danger to keep him safe is what it takes to get the mission accomplished, so be it-- she'll give up her own happily-ever-after to give the rest of the world that opportunity. Hardcore Caeda is hardcore, and I adore her.
Don't know what I'll pick next; it'll be a surprise.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-24 10:56 pm (UTC)I have to say that I am not really surprised to see Innes listed! IDK, I always kind of assumed/knew you had a special little soft spot for him. He is one of the more "relate-able" FE8 characters, and by extension, probably one of the more relate-able characters in general for Fire Emblem.
Caeda, also an easyish guess, imo. But it's still cool to read why you like her. You do make her seem even more likeable.
Then again, I am sort of of the opinion that, if everyone would say why they LIKE what they like (more than saying why they hate what they hate), things would be more interesting in the FE fandom-- less drama, but at least we can attempt to see from the POV of someone else!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 01:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 02:17 am (UTC)In general, when I look at, idk, Raven, I am pretty meh about him. But if someone who legitimately likes Raven has a list of reasons they like him, and those reasons also sorta explore his character too? There's a chance that, even if I don't fall head-over-heels in love with Raven myself (hahah not going to happen), I might have an easier time liking him-- or at least understanding him, not only as a character, but on a sort of "personal" level-- because a human being has put his situation and reactions into perspective on a level I can better understand.
That, and at least that way I can see why other people might like him.
Though there are some characters I doubt I'll EVER understand that much about. (I'm looking at you, Karel.)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 03:55 am (UTC)I admit to getting a little scared when people glom onto FE7!Karel. At least FE6!Karel has a functioning conscience and... like, a soul.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 03:54 am (UTC)It's nice to see someone say that, given how 'fic makes it seem that a lot of people don't relate to him at all, except as a punching bag of sorts. :(
But with Innes I can at least see why some people wouldn't like him. I don't agree with them, but I can see it. When people say that don't like Caeda and they mean the game character and not the anime adaptation, I just kind of mentally sputter "Wh-wh-why?" because I can't for the life of me see what they'd object to.
less drama, but at least we can attempt to see from the POV of someone else
Heheh. True.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 03:56 am (UTC)Yes! Oh, yes. <3
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Date: 2011-12-25 01:30 am (UTC)And Caeda is most definitely awesome. Have to say, I kind of look at later romantic leads sometimes and wonder what happened. :/
(Also, curious - do you have commenting on LJ crossposts turned off deliberately?)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 02:46 am (UTC)Mind you, my journal import still isn't complete after two entire days. :/
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 02:54 am (UTC)Last time I did an import it took like 5min. So they must REALLY be backed up with folks leaving LJ.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 04:00 am (UTC)His support convos with Gerik are great, too. I mean, you have an actual in-game progression of someone looking past the surface ("high-handed dandy") to see that Innes is an admirable man, and it just doesn't seem to count for much with a lot of fans.
OK, I kind of ship Innes/Gerik. Oh well.Have to say, I kind of look at later romantic leads sometimes and wonder what happened. :/
So do I. So do I.
do you have commenting on LJ crossposts turned off deliberately?
Yeah. I wanted them all in one place. If I decide not to kill the LJ account when my subscription runs out, I'll turn x-post comments back on.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 07:16 am (UTC)It really does bite that not a lot of people look at Innes as anything other than a strawman for Seth to plow through. :/ I mean, I guess I can kind of see why -- when the game shoves Seth down the player's throat so often, I imagine it's tempting to write everyone else off as just "competition".
The number of people -- people who've played FE11, mind you -- who denounce Caeda as a "stupid bitch" is really alarming, though.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 02:36 pm (UTC)I admit I might re-evaluate Innes/Ephraim myself if it was done carefully and with respect for the characters.
The number of people -- people who've played FE11, mind you -- who denounce Caeda as a "stupid bitch" is really alarming, though.
Yeah. I don't get it. The only thing I can think of is that the active role she plays does... alarm people somehow? Like how she briefly ended up on TV Tropes as being a potential Manipulative Bastard if Team Marth weren't the good guys. And I do admit, that does strike me as a case where the world would have some serious problems if the good guys... weren't.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 03:16 am (UTC)Hmm.
Going to have to ponder this meme. May or may not do it.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 04:02 am (UTC)Don't sound too pleased yet. Question #5 is "Favorite Lord," after all!
May or may not do it.
I don't have an opinion on a lot of the questions. Favorite stat? I got nothin'.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 06:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 06:35 am (UTC)I absolutely agree with you that they're wonderful. They're both such deep, interesting characters. I can understand why people might not like them, but I find it sad when they're treated unfairly by fandom. There are so many facets to their characters and I love that about them.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 03:45 pm (UTC)Indeed. As I said to Manna above, I don't totally understand why people don't like game!Caeda. Fangirls who want Marth to themselves, OK. People who know her from the manga and anime, OK. But FE11 Caeda? FE3 Caeda, even? I don't get it.