Is Squall Dead? Exploring The Crazy Final Fantasy VIII Theory

Comments · 1.3K

• BE

  @Beeman616 · 3 years ago

  My biggest argument against this theory is that I don't think squall has the imagination needed to create the rest of the plot.

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• EC

  @EclipseHighroller · 3 years ago

  I think the “squall is dead” theory ties in to the “rinoa is ultamecia” theory. One way to look at it is ultimecia is Rinoa from a timeline where squall did die, and she goes mad trying to bring him back eventually leading her to the time compression plan to find him again. That’s also why her beast is griever, the necklace that squall wears.

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• AN

  @annoiki · 3 years ago

  Whether or not the theory is literally true, the flashbacks where Rinoa becomes increasingly distorted at the party is one of the most conceptually intriguing things the series has ever done. It makes you stop and wonder to what extent YOUR perception is built on some delusion or expectation. When someone I know is in front of me, am I seeing them or am I seeing what I want to see? Am I erasing them by replacing them with my delusions? Are my perceptions so distorted as to be that of a dream world, and nothing more? <br><br>Most importantly, how can I make sure I&apos;m actually living my life with presence and compassion for those around me?

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• RA

  @rafaynoman1180 · 3 years ago

  I think projared put it best, &quot;Yall pretend as if weird shit didnt happen before&quot;

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• CE

  @Ceefo.Fuentes · 3 years ago

  “No, that is not true,” Kitase said, laughing. “I think he was actually stabbed around the shoulder area, so he was not dead. But that is a very interesting idea, so if we ever do make a remake of Final Fantasy VIII, I might go along with that story in mind.”

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• SK

  @skyserpent14 · 3 years ago

  I&apos;ll never forget reading this theory and seeing Squall&apos;s black hole face for the first time while I was alone in my basement, late at night. My stomach dropped and I was utterly disturbed in that moment 🕳

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• JA

  @jasonguarnieri4127 · 3 years ago

  To me, all the fantastical elements introduced from Disc 2 onward showed the point that the world is much bigger than just Balamb Garden. That point was part of why Cid and Edea started the SeeD program in the first place.

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• PI

  @pixienyx4306 · 3 years ago

  Child soldiers using magic, limit breaks, fighting T-Rex’s, an exam fighting and capturing a literal deity, sorceresses, and being telepathically transferred into the past…. But disks 2-4 were unrealistically weird. Okie dokie. <br><br>8 has always been my favourite, and honestly, I agree with your input. Rinoa is unclear in Squalls mind, so he cannot ‘anchor’ himself to reality, because he can’t visualise the time, place and who he wants to be with. His mind is racing, he’s terrified, and he feels that he is nothing without Rinoa. The face is simply to represent that. His identity, or lack of, if he can’t find her. That’s why the next image is Rinoa, dead in space, with his ring floating. His fear that he can’t get back so he can’t be with her, he can’t save her. He can’t protect her and therefore he is nothing. She finds him, using the feather from the first cutscene, because time loop, and every time you start the game it’s the start of another loop. <br><br>There is another possibility. The faceless Squall is his interpretation that she forgot him. If he can’t remember her clearly, did she remember him? If he can’t make it back, could she? He has no idea, and that absolutely would explain the image of Rinoa. She’s dead, he is terrified, the fear causes the tear to fall and him to pass out. The image isn’t Squall is dead. The image is that Squall is terrified that Rinoa is dead.

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• OW

  @OwtDaftUK · 3 years ago

  I love the blending of CG into gameplay in PS1 era Final Fantasy. The bit that stands out to me the most is always the sewer bit where your walking though and then suddenly the camera pans up in a video. It&apos;s so impressive. The Opening bit in Parasite Eve 2 is super impressive too.

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• NI

  @nightdragonzero · 3 years ago

  I&apos;m always amazed at how much we look into it now. When I played this in 1999 as a kid, I automatically assumed that Edea healed him after knocking him out at the end of disc 1. It seemed like a very villain thing to do to the hero, especially if they wanted to question him.

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• TH

  @TheOneTrueOtaku1 · 3 years ago

  I’ve always had a… contentious relationship with this theory. <br>Like, it assumes that a lot of the more fantastical moments, the flashback dreams, the Brother in the temple, and other little moments, don’t happen and that disk 2 onward is only when the game gets magical.<br>And the area of the injury is near his right should, an area not exactly fatal, even with the Axillary artery nearby. <br>It’s always felt like a theory for people that don’t like the base narrative and wanted something that would make it more “interesting”.<br>Nothing against anyone that likes it, but it’s always smacked of Headcanon that’s taken on a life of its own.

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• LE

  @LegendofCloud93 · 3 years ago

  Playing final fantasy 4, 6, and 7 before this I never believed squall dying just because he got and ice shard in the shoulder considering people in the other 3 games before got blown up, jumped off a cliff or stabbed in the stomach then lifted off the ground then survived I didn&apos;t believe squall died from that

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