#KH discourse

[mey-amor]

I feel for fans who feel the need to make kairi respected more in the fandom. However, I think it’s okay to acknowledge that she hasn’t been utilized properly for a long time (if ever tbh). I think we can like her AND want more for her, and saying you want more for her or criticizing the execution of her character over the years doesn’t mean you hate her etc.

But I get being frustrated by statements like “she’s useless,” etc. because I think that’s such an annoying (arguably bad) take. (I think the criticism should be, what she has been claimed to do was not executed in a way that is actually convincing).

I do also think the fact that her character is so weak, not just physically, but her presence in the franchise, could make for some really interesting character development. So I think maybe that’s a stronger argument than trying to claim she’s had a much bigger influence than she actually does atm?

[matcheadz]

I'll never regret a single second of it.

[rat-rosemary]

"I wish there was more queer mcyts"

You guys couldn't handle Dream

[pkrockinon]

I need the misconception that shipping=sexualizing to go away cause, like how am I supposed to share the stupid headcanons of my ships if that's the first thing people assume when I mention them.

Like, no, I'm not asking you who's top or bottom(especially if the ship has minors, you're the one bringing it up, not me, buddy...)

I wanna ask you which goober would stuff the other into the couch cushions if the other cheated in Uno.

Or if they're playing Minecraft, one of them would ask the billion dollar question of "Will you be the Mine to my Craft? 🫶"

Also, you can not convince me shippers aren't chill when they're probably the ones making the deep ass character analysis' because they understand both characters and are able to explain how the dynamic functions on a molecular level.

[ro-botany]

Terra Kingdom Hearts is AroAce!

On the grounds of I Say So!

Happy valentines or whatever!

[distantkairi]

Has the fandom ruined SoRiKai for you?

Yup. Unfortunately.

Today’s soriku fans have seemingly devolved back to how they were in the 2000’s, many of the exact same arguments and all. They are so adamant their fanfic sleeping realm fan theory is canon (when it is literally just a google doc someone who isn’t associated with Square Enix at all typed up in their bedroom), they usually refuse to even give leeway for sorikai anymore. Riku is the one and only light, Kairi didn’t do anything, Kairi is dead apparently and Sora doesn’t love her, etc. They deny Sora is in love with Kairi outright and don’t you dare suggest Riku once had a crush on her when he was younger. Riku hates Kairi! (apparently)

Ngl, it also felt like people just begrudgingly included her as a third wheel when they in truth just like soriku. A compromise they don’t actually have their heart in. I’ve run into too many toxic Riku fans (including irl years ago when I was still at high school, and all I said is “my favourite character is Kairi” and that was enough for a girl in my year who liked KH to be mad at me) to trust that they’re coming from any kind of sincere place with it.

And then the whole Strelitzia thing just threw my preconceived notions of the fandom out because it immediately proved it’s not about it being a straight ship (as much as people love to use that) but just that they hate Kairi. Not all, but many of the exact same people calling sokai “heteronormative” and “poorly developed” will apparently jump to ship Sora with a girl who has less characterization and screentime than Kairi, a girl he just met, who he has spoken to once. Just like how people called zelink “cishet and boring”, then shipped him with Sidon’s wife instantly despite previously slandering how flat and boring she is. “Het bad” until it is a different female character, apparently.

People are both hypocritical and if you give them an inch they will take a mile, so screw it and I’m going back to my stance I held on the 2012 forums.

[mortisbane]

I meet your Sora working part time jobs to pay for his expensive apartment in Shibuya and raise you Riku working part time jobs to pay for all the Kingdom Hearts merch with Sora on it he keeps buying

[cometrose]

too many people asking why sora has semi-realism ff-esque aesthetics and not enough people asking why the kingdom hearts equivalent of hell is shibuya, japan what did the game devs mean by that?

[enbycupcake]

if relevant, in your tags/replies you can specify the version of what game you picked (example: chain of memories vs re:chain of memories).

this poll is ONLY about the plot/narrative! not how well you thought the gameplay was.

[ worst kingdom hearts game narratively poll ]

[confession-of-the-heart]

Honestly, as a huge fan of Kairi myself, it is actually really draining to see recent rampant discourse about her going to the point of insulting Nomura and hating Kingdom Haarta. I actually do adore Nomura’s writing, but there’s no doubt he is a misogynistic writer especially when it’s not intended — I adored Kairi’s roles in KH1 (heartbreaking) and KH2 (romantic, dreamy lol) but her role in KH3 was especially disappointing.

That being said, I understand it can still be mended. I wish people would stop being overly vocal in positive spaces to share their anger because the most that it does is just kill the mood. I still enjoy the character despite the heavy flaws in writing. You can say that just about for any other typical character, right? No series has perfect writing.

If you’re going to complain and constantly hate and hate and hate… then what are you even here for, anymore? You should take it easy on yourself and just leave the fandom/game if it upsets you so much.

~~~

[lucemferto]

The dichotomy between redemption and damnation is … really stupid and has poisoned fandom discourse for so long. Like, I am still so salty and frankly confused, that someone can look at the last few cutscenes of Kingdom Hearts III - Xehanort defeated, his ideals and plans crushed, forced to realise that the "dull, ordinary boy" is more worthy of the χ-Blade than he is; HIM BEING ALONE IN THE SHADOWS WHILE ERAQUS IS EMBRACED BY HIS CRYING PUPILS IN THE LIGHT C'MON YOU GUYS THIS SHIT IS NOT SUBTLE - and think:

Yep, he got redeemed, the narrative says: "Well done, Xehanort, your ways were slightly off but you made a good effort."

Like … in what world, you guys?

[fisherrprince]

feel like I have to fire rent lowering shots now that I posted my tumblr link on twitter though

[youngerfrankenstein]

Man I have seen WAY too many complaints exactly like that.

>looking into the official English release of Japanese media

>fandom says the translation is horrible

>ask them if the translation is actually bad or if it was just localized

>they don't understand

>pull out illustrated diagram showing what is a bad translation and what is localization

>they laugh and say 'it's a bad translation'

>check it out anyway

>it's localized

[luxuriainash]

my totally 100% serious not at all a joke made while half asleep getting ready to shower for a fucking 9 AM grocery trip tierlist of video games i've played or watched playthroughs of plus games i'm waiting for that could be considered RPGs, by the way

[distantkairi]

I like sorikai but I hate the "soriku in denial" sorts of fans, the ones that ship it just to get kairi fans off their back and then cuck her

100% for real anon. It’s frustrating that there is so often that bait and switch they pull. People who are actually sincerely shipping them as a throuple that isn’t toxic seem few and far between. So many stories are just what you describe and Riku being jealous, as if he hasn’t progressed as a character at all since KH1, or either Riku or Kairi just forcing themselves to go along with it just because they don’t want to lose Sora.

[jois-trinketbox]

Headcanon Radiant Garden Apprentices education & majors I'm convinced they have

₊˚ ‧₊ ⨯ ˖˚ ⊹₊˚ ‧₊ ⨯ ˖˚ ⊹₊˚ ‧₊ ⨯ ˖˚ ⊹₊

Ansem TW - He's like in his 70's but also ruler of a whole world, he does not have the amount of degrees and doctorates he wished to have. Of course let's not forget they're all researchers but special to himself are biology and physics, also computer science because in the KH universe, computers are as old as fairy tales! ☝️🤓

Even - Chemistry and mathematics absolutely, though as Even was starting with astronomy little Ienzo came along so he had to quit to watch him. Once he became Vexen and Zexion got older he totally picked up data science/statistics, that's where his whole valuable data deal comes from. He's probably also responsible for them figuring out the Dark Corridors because sci-fi shows (The 100) taught me it needs a bullshit amount of maths to figure out wormhole placement.

Ienzo - No formal degrees since he was a Nobody hustling for half his life. Probably never saw a school from the inside because he was castle schooled. Biotechnology in the bag and it was really easy. He's more likely to go into any other major than STEM related fields because on god that boy is done. I do think he's creative. He could do art related majors so what? His dads can support him for years of studies in whatever, he deserves it!!!!! Just get the child out of that castle.

Braig/Luxu - This is special. Braig not once considered doing anything academic, school was just not for him. But Luxu heard it ALL a thousand times. First aced through it all and got degree after degree until things didn't stimulate him enough to care so his vessels started slipping in grades. The others caused him to try and chill as a scientist this life because Luxu figured it was easy money, but Braig hated the few months stuck in the lab. It was like school all over again and even with Luxu's parasitic holy bible of knowledge it sucked bad. Even got super agitated when Braig switched to being a guard instead. Scientists and guards definitely fought over him for years <- Headcanon is the reason why Braig slacks at the guard job and gets to do stupid shit cause this guy's position isn't at stake no matter what.

Aeleus - Everything was about strength to him, but when he didn't spend each waking second grinding he was pondering. Even's stupid astronomy talk and the universe made Aeleus feel really small in comparison and he thus decided it must be conquered. Astronomy free-loader was more upset than Even himself when he quit. He also taught himself smithery. Ever wondered why his eyebrows look like that? Definitely charred them off.

Dilan - They were good at kidnapping for several reasons. And Dilan was a big one because one thing he basically never mentions is that he in fact majored in forensics. He knows what crime scenes look like, it was easy for him to get rid of proof. He did it for love of crime solving there he was, caught up in a grim twist to it and his friends all up for it.

ApprenticeNort - Also no formal paperwork, Ansem and Even taught him chemistry, physics and computer science within the timeframe of him being found and doing the Heart experiments. That's what? A year or 2 maximum unless he's a very very fast learner?? But something was missing. He started picking up history and Luxu found it ironic he'd choose that when he doesn't even remember his own history. Once Xehanort split, Ansem SOD kept the knowledge and between having no physical body and the time travel stuff he focused on chemistry. Xemnas had the extra 10 years for engineering and architecture. Man hustled.