Wishful thinking: Whilst replaying Cosmo Canyon I listened again to the Gi's descriptions of the Black Materia "From the Planet we claimed the greatest of Materia - a most sacred treasure - and imbued it with our desire for freedom" "The purest Materia made black by spite" Implying the black Materia began as white & that it is unique from other Materia in that it holds hopes & dreams. We have an empty White Materia, and appear to have "seen a glimpse of Clouds dream of a world without death". I think it is highly likely we will experience the continuation of that dream in part 3 and that it will eventually occupy or be drawn into that empty Materia. 2 orbs, a dream of Optimism and a dream of Pessimism. Its funny that Square famously received a petition to resurrect Aerith. Hopes and dreams of the fan base. They will not compromise the story or its themes to do so, but within the context of its world, they may just show us a dream of what that is.

So, everyone’s dream is literally their final fantasy. 🌟

My favorite game of all time. Thank you.

Such immaculate exposition. Thank you.

Gorgeous video! Nothing gives brain candy better then beautifully edited and philosophical discussions on the deep emotional lore of ff7

I think the ff7 remake trilogy has exceeded far and beyond for my initial expectation. Not that i don't have my doubt and even skepticism when it was first announced in 2015. Having played both remake and rebirth, i think kitase, nojima and nomura knew EXACTLY what they are doing, exploring the deeper meaning of the original ff7 even further, probably making it the most spiritual and deepest story that final fantasy has ever told. I can't wait for the part 3 to be released, to experience this incredibile journey and spectacular story telling.

Amazing video. I think a lot forget to that the developers are making this the “ultimate ff7” story brining in all the books, movie, expanding story moments they just could not in 1997.

There's one thing that I'd like to draw attention to: the final date. I've watched a lot of these videos but not all of them. So maybe it's been discussed elsewhere and I haven't seen it yet. In the final date, you have to make a series of 3 choices. I think 3 times. However, these choices don't matter because no matter what you choose, there is a fourth, unforseen, event. This scene is then followed by Zack on the steps of the church, mulling over his 3 options, trying to decide. Then Sephiroth shows up as the 4th result. I don't, as of yet, have a theory as to what this is trying to convey outside of the obvious: choice is an illusion. I'm also coming to speculate that the rainbow light isn't about choice at all. It's simply a representation of the road not taken. So just a visual depiction of "What if I had done things differently?" There are still some questions left as well. These are probably going to end up being potholes but they're worth pointing out. If time travel isn't a thing, then why were there divergences in the first game? Things like Cloud not initially being part of the team on the second bombing run or Barret getting stabbed in Shinra HQ? Or even Sephiroth showing up earlier than he was supposed to? If there is time travel, then I'm guessing it will be similar to what was shown in Final Fantasy VIII. There's also the missing Ex-SOLDIER in the beginning of Rebirth. We see our party being carried away by Shinra and hear a warning that the Ex-SOLDIER who was with them is still at large. I'm wondering if there are 2 Clouds or 2 Zacks in this world. Or if it's someone else like Genesis? Like I suggest, it's probably just a plot hole but it's an oddly specific one. I'm just wondering how that works in the context of that world.

This is by far the best analysis I have seen on FFVII! Amazing!

Beautiful analyzis! Being initially a purist, these games have converted me to caring more about the character's hopes and dreams coming true, about the deepened spiritual exploration and meaning behind the story, about our heroes embracing life and eventually defeating their original fate, more than about having the same story unfolding once again. In this sense I am very much leaning to your explanation of the flip side of the coin, that having a true happy ending, with our heroes surviving and thriving, and this probably even including Sephiroth's redemption and him eventually accepting his finality and of course with addressing the elephant in the room, Aerith's possible survival, after having generations of gamers griefing her ireversible death, will not hurt the original story, but enhance it by laying the emphasis on the the opposite spectrum of "life" instead of "death" This would eventually close the cirlce of yin and yang, of life and death, of loss and happiness, of hatred and love and round up the story to the final conclusion of what makes the human experience meaningful by experiencing the contrasts of reality, where it is impossible to even describe the one, without it's opposite. And what a beautiful way it would be to end this journey on that note.

This is why i'll always defend the fact that "This Trilogy is more FF7 than the Original FF7" When The Promised Land played in Rebirth at the Forgotten Capital i started to cry. It was joy, nostalgia, and pure happiness. In that moment i realized that those days of my first playthrough of FF7 Rebirth were days i'll forever be grateful for being alive and being able to experience them. As an OG FF7 fan and as a person who has a deep connection and feelings with this universe i have no words to express how much joy and happiness FF7 Rebirth gave me. Since 2015 i knew that Remake Project was going to be something truly special and this whole trilogy so far has been an experience of a lifetime. That's why every time i hear fans saying that Rebirth is tearing apart and being an absolute disgrace to the original story of FF7 i think to myself "Did you get what FF7 is all about?" "You know what the Lifestream represents?" all what they can say everytime these metaphysical concepts begin to shine these people just say "it's Kingdom Hearts bs" "Nomura destroyed FF7 (Ignoring the fact that Nojima is the father of the FF7 Story)" The way i see it, and a lot of more people, it's a work of love and passion in every single corner of this entire project so far. Cannot wait for Part 3 and the potential ending of the entire FF7 Compilation.

Fantastic work. You just got my subscription lol! I'm probably going to have to watch this twice. I tend to compare the workings of this world to the brain itself. The actual body it controls, the conscious, the subconscious, the nice dreams, the intrusive thoughts, and the filters that allow thoughts, dreams, and nightmares to keep a balance with reality. If something were to poison or damage that brain, these filters might not work. Another idea is thinking of this story as a stream or a river; one that flows, separates, and reconnects. Water can evaporate, condense, fall as rain, run off back into the stream, and of course be full of bubbles that expand and eventually pop. Not to mention all the things that sink and float in the water. But lately I've been thinking about story telling and subversion. On this there are two questions I've been asking myself, and considering the gold you're giving out here, I wanted to share these: Are the different methods of injection for Jenova Projects G and S (Genesis and Angeal being indirect, and the superior specimen Sephiroth being direct) the reason for the projects' respective results, or was it the mental state and actions of the carrier? Gillian, who decided to stick it to Shinra, marry someone outside of the company, and ensure her son gets a normal life, with the other boy who would go through something similar being nearby with a normal life too. And Lucrecia, in despair and guilt over the death of Grimoire, who shunned the man she loved because of this guilt, partook in an experiment that she might not have done otherwise? With Jenova's nature, I wonder if Lucrecia's regret was the perfect 'food' for Jenova to make her vessel. The other thought: This story has one hell of a romance to it. Tifa and Aerith do a lot of incredible things for Cloud, and what a great friend he had in Zack. But if we're talking about doing things for Cloud, what about the person who raised Cloud and taught him what love is by example? Deep love that has nothing to do with romance, but a kind that allows a person to grow and one day make their own family. Considering the opposite dynamic between Cloud and Sephiroth, and Sephiroth's obsession with his parentage, what if the worst loss for Cloud was the first. How brutal was the death of Claudia Strife? Has Cloud all but forgotten her? Did Sephiroth lift her by the blade and throw her into the burning house? Is there another Sephiroth in the flames when instead of turning away from the audience, he advances? While the relations Cloud has to his mother, Tifa (whom he thought died before the complex locked), Zack, and Aerith are all different, what if by not getting over the first and the worst, the next time is the first again, and again after that. Each time adding up to more and more feelings of helplessness and pain. Has the incredible story with Cloud, Tifa, Zack, and Aerith led us to overlook Claudia Strife? Will Cloud have to face the death of Claudia before he can see the deaths of Zack and Aerith?

That's such a deep and beautiful analysis. I like the 3rd road. Aerith is related to hope and wisdom, not denial. And she is the one who says the future can be changed. Tifa also asks if the lifestream can be strenghtened. Maybe there is a path where the Gi are accepted by the planet and help it regenerate without humanity dying. In the books, Barrett is on a quest to find other kind of energies instead of just fighting the use of Mako. This would be so satisfying and inspiring if the conclusion was building on this. Aerith herself maybe allowed to come back without conflict with the main theme because all of these characters have already experienced losses. They can grieve together Myrna, Claudia, Ifalna and so many people. One more death may actually be too much. Hope must be alive. And OG didn't go that far, Aerith's death was not leading Cloud to safe acceptance in the end.

Love the transition from the Lost theme to Aerith's theme during the Moving On segment. thanks for sharing your talents with us, Josh.

Thank you for helping me cry again. The tears felt good.

Excellent video, great work man. 🎉

Really enjoyed this.

Great vid. Road A would be my absolute (pardon the pun) dream ending. It betrays nothing, it delivers on both the themes from OG and the Remake trilogy, and it gives the finality that OG didn't, in an emotionally satisfying way. I'm in the minority but I loved the nature of the flash sideways in Lost, and the finale is still one of my favourite episodes of television ever. I think a similar treatment for our FFVII family would be perfect tbh.

Amazing theory and tbh something I agree with that's why I love the game so much!

Great vid. Liked and subbed.

As much as I would like for the story to go a different direction in the final chapter, I think this explanation makes more sense than some others and seems more in keeping with the original. Personally, I loved the idea that this was actually sequel rather than a retelling/remake/remix/etc; that OG FF7 already happened, and that Sephiroth and Aerith in the lifestream, which seems to connect to all points in time, entered a tug of war - first when he attempted to ressurect himself foward in time in Advent Children, and again when he reaches backward to try and prevent his death and defeat as Aerith continually works to stop him. But that notion gets messy and is less in keeping with the original message of FF7, as you addressed here.

Nice analysis. I just wish Zack and Aerith survived somehow and had their happy ending as well.

I think fighting the Harbinger of Fate was Sephiroths plan to take a precious memory of the planet away from Aerith: the power to pray for Holy...therefore actually changing fate itself since Holy would not be able to be summoned in order to fight Meteor. It also allowed for Cloud to be able to believe he could have a choice in saving Aerith, knowing at best it only creates a temporary world in the lifestream where she is alive. He needs Cloud "in between" worlds to get the true black materia, which he suddenly had in his pocket in the end even after giving it to Sephiroth. Aerith countered all this by giving Cloud the white materia to swap, which angered Sephiroth and he made it clear that it doesnt belong in the real world. He was well aware of the white materia being drained, hence why i believe that was his plan from the get go

Why aren't more people watching this wonderful video 😢

I'm looking forward to seeing what they plan to do. I just hope they don't piss on this beloved world and story in the end, like so many of these large AAA companies seem to be doing with their games. All I can say so far is, the first two games have been great. Hope the 3rd is the best of all.

I just realized certain cue in the FF7 Rebirth orchestral segements remind me of Hymn to the Fayth from FFX.

I'm not a Remake/Rebirth hater. It's a decent game. And I'm a huge FF7 OG fan. I've played it a dozen times and pick it up every few years to relive it again. But anyone saying this is a faithful retelling of the original story is lying. This is a different game with the OG IP slapped on top of it. There are so many changes made on it that it's clear that the developers are telling you that not only are you not in the same universe, you're not even on the same planet. Not only have events been changed, but locations have been moved or removed entirely. Having Fort Condor taken off the continent and placed in an unreachable distance with the condor flapping it's wings to taunt you that you can't go there was like a big middle finger by the developers that this isn't the world that you know anymore. And they didn't just add multiverses, they added time travel. Even the Remake end game whispers descriptions tell you they're from the future. For sephiroth to even be fighting you requires him to know what the future in the other multiverses are and he's come back in the past to defeat you in this multiverse. So quit saying this is a "faithful retelling", because it's anything but so

A lot of interesting philosophical contemplation on what it means to live and die. I have long wondered and thought about these topics, and for the (heh) life of me, I can not understand the resignation that people have about the idea of simply accepting death. Every second that were alive is a defiance of death. We’re constantly trying to deny entropy. Medicine? Suspension of injury and illness that lead to death. Safety? Threat reduction to avoid death. Fitness and dieting? Habits to promote function and longevity to avoid death. All of our technology is geared towards it and now the full might of it will soon be used to create life extension and preservation technology. No. I don’t accept death. And when people really examine themselves, they’ll realize they don’t either. We painfully and uncomfortably endure our loved ones dying, we have to negotiate with our grief until it loses some of its power over us. But if there were some way to bring our loved ones back or prevent them from dying altogether, we would do it in a heartbeat That said, I’ll never understand the people who want to preserve the original depressing, reductive, myopic core of FF7’s theme. Death is ok, really because you can’t fight fate. It just isn’t true. We are collectively, over time, through our combined efforts beating entropy. Why the hell can’t our fantasy stories where magic and monsters and solar system destroying fireballs exist not allow us to defy death? Some people really just can’t accept hope.

I really do not want this game to copy the show Lost. That’s my issue with this theory. I hope they have more creative people at Square. This would be a really disappointing way to finish the game. About as bad as the other theory with Cloud dying and sacrificing himself. Hope part 3 is better…

Ah, finally. Someone else whom is in the Sleeping World/Dying Dreams of the Planet camp. If you played KH Dream Drop Distance, I think FF7re is doing something similar, that various dreams have become reality (awakened) after the Fate Divergences made new realities, real. Similarly Sephiroth and the Black Whispers seem to be consuming these Worlds like Nightmares and the White Whispers seem to be enforcing the World’s borders(fate) in order to protect these same dreams acting as Spirits. The brown whispers from remake are a grey in-between, Dream Eaters that can act as both Nightmares and Spirits, but were nonetheless protecting Fate

Could you please tell me where can I find these versions of themes: Tifa(Metaphysical Evolution 03:12) and Aerith(Dreams & Expectations 09:20)? Thanks

I would like a ff7 prequel set when jenova comes to the planet.

i think shes alive

anyone analyze the linitial loveless play, when they are deancing, there is a dark and a light version, the dark version showing suffering with the light version showing a happy scenerio

I just find it frustrating that people dismiss the potential of this story due to outside perspectives related to other IPs that have nothing to do with this kind of story; in short an incorrect lens. There’s something truly beautiful with the Remake Project and it’s getting dunked on unjustifiably. Could this be a case of Square expecting too much of their audience in 2024?

I just hope the world we explore will not be also the lifestream in the end. It would suck if one of this world is not the "real" world just because it is a Remake. It really needd to be like Lost if they go this road wherr everything on the island happened. And I don t mean the og FF7 here but the "main" world.

I recently learned that the simplest answer is the way to understand what seems complex, but isn't. This isn't even the first time we've seen certain types of narrative decisions in FF. What Sephiroth plans to do isn't even the first idea a villain in FF wants, it's very similar to what Ultimecia wanted to do in the FF8 universe. And about Aerith, I don't know why they still insist that she's "alive somewhere", that doesn't make sense to me and even less so after Ultimania. What's clear to me in this trilogy is to instigate you with the power of choice and in the end deliver something you didn't want, but need to accept, even though before all this existed everyone wanted it to be the same as the original game. In recent years we've seen people feeding on fears and false hopes about "changes", but at the core of the work it's all the same thing. Now, in this waiting period for the last part, things are going the same way, people saying that the third part will deviate far from the original and so on, everything is the same, the same feeling and the same fears. What I think is that the third part will end in the most pragmatic way possible, with the same scenes that require an in-depth look, but that in the core it is the same thing.

I totally align with this view. The “less is more” crowd won’t admit that they don’t love Final Fantasy VII enough to really appreciate its intent.

Sooooooo it’s like final fantasy where it’s dream within a dream

This video didn't require 59 minutes. So wordy

To anyone reading this, please repent and believe the gospel! There’s a loving God who wants to know you and save you. He died on the cross and resurrected so we can be forgiven of our sins and be saved. Please consider the state of your soul! Believe in Jesus and follow Him so you may have salvation. Life is short, please make the right choice today!

Awesome work. Great clarity. And thought provoking insights continue to abound. Thanks for voicing your journey with this wild FF7 death dream that this ReTri project feels like its shaping up to be 🪽 Lost, Evangelion, The Matrix, OG FF7, this has happened before and it will happen again. This echo of the dream within the wombs at the origin of our making that had to die one day in order for the birthing into reality so we can ultimately bare the power that comes from awakening forgotten memories.