All of the right people are mad about this video, so mission accomplished! Follow me on twitter to get more FF7 cold, well-reasoned takes.
https://x.com/EvanDrawsStuff/status/2026791394031829351

I do like how her design juxtaposes with her personality/characterization and subverts expectations, especially compared to Aerith. She is designed to look more like a tomboy, but is depicted as somewhat timid, reserved, a bit of a peaple-pleaser and non-confrontational a lot of the time, whereas the reverse to all that is true for Aerith.

It's a character contradiction I think works great in terms of writing.

If "I can fix him" was a person

Glad you mention Jessie as yes she was too playful at times but in my opinion she was the most successful one out of team Avalanche to crack Cloud's icy shell. The remake kinda upgraded her character.

As a diehard Aerith fan, it's really bizarre how Tifa fans mischaracterize her while I'm over here loving how she can be both physically strong yet emotionally introverted, partially due to her DEEP trauma.   It's why I really love how the Remake Trilogy expanded Aerith and Tifa's relationship to the point it can read as a sapphic; because when around the more socially forward Aerith, Tifa is noticeably more extroverted and playful but they also gain a true confidant in each other.

Great video and analysis. Tifa is an interesting character, and you hit on a lot of key aspects about her. I think it's true that fandoms' perceptions of certain characters are certainly at odds with how the character actually is.

Your observation about Tifa being a stand on her own character I think matches up well with Traces of Two Pasts portrayal. I’ll admit I’m more of an Aerith fan, but I preferred Tifa’s story of the two in that book. It really builds the idea that Tifa had a life of her own and numerous obstacles to overcome prior to Cloud reentering her life.

Her character is deeper than a prize to be won and her life success is not solely dependent on her relationship with Cloud.

9:24 It's funny how you said Cid's a larger then life weirdo, when what you just described, somehow makes him, arguably more relatable then Tifa. Like, if you delve into Cid as a character. He's pretty much the most human character. He doesn't have any ties to Jenova, or the Cetra, or has an mechanical arm, or an animal, or even an immortal vampire. He's just a flawed human being, who once dreamed of going to space, and is just there along for the ride.

The idea of a character being warped from their original depiction over time from occupying the zeitgeist is really fascinating. I feel similarly about Aerith, in that subsequent depictions (and general gamers) turn her into more of a virginal healer archetype. Aerith in the OG is very brassy and bold and flirty. She’s not afraid to stick up for herself. She will bust some skulls if need be to protect herself and others. That character has faded into the impression of one - very hollow shell of what came before.

I haven’t played the remake games yet so I can’t speak on her depiction there. From the clips I’ve seen I do see some of that old spark, but I also get a sense that she’s too cutesy in demeanor. I imagine her more down to earth.

FFVII was my first in the series (the original) this crew is ALWAYS my top choice.
I can’t wait for part 3

I swear, FF7 and everything that came after is a freaking Rorschach test. A new, blind player will approach it and PROBABLY come away with one of two "main" interpretations in regards to the ships and everything tangentially related (especially if they have veteran fans whispering in their ear...) such as what character's personalities, motivations, and dynamic with others really are. But they might have something entirely unique or at least rarer, but still totally valid. While I am very much a Clerith,  I can at least imagine where Clotis are coming from. Honestly I think the series is just vague enough in certain areas that fans can have radically different yet still in-line with the text interpretations. The PROBLEM is that those interpretations clash horribly amongst themselves, causing the Great Debate. Honestly it's hard for me to understand why people are so passionate about Cloti, I read their arguments and still feel like "how on earth did you get THAT idea?", or that they're ignoring vital things that go against their beliefs. But I'm sure the reverse is true too. Each side has a list of reasons and receipts a mile long, and the evidence might be a valid interpretation of things in the games but they contradict EACH OTHER. I just wish both sides extended courtesy to the other instead of clamoring over who's right. Especially when the devs are unlikely to fully commit to one side when it'd lose them money. And if they're angling to make everyone happy they can't do that by spurning one side of the ship war. Anyway, great vid. Definitely aligns with my interpretation, which helps. I like the canon Tifa well enough but boy do her passionate fans, particularly the shippers, make me like her less.

Lmaoo that damn was hilariously accurate.
But I didn’t play FF7 until the pandemic but was introduced to Tifa in KH. But always preferred her play style over Aerith when I did finally play FF7.
But it’s also Cloud should know all about the Nibilheim incident with Tifa and Sephiroth he was there, Tifa just didn’t know that. So it’s not really that Cloud knows things that he shouldn’t, but Tifa and Cloud refusing to have that tough conversation does lead to the events of the game

11:05 IDK man, maybe I wouldn't dehumanize my childhood friend by referring to HIM as an IT like he's some kind of animal, or metagame with knowledge that no one knows about until chapters later when the antagonist reveals it?

That's the main thing about the Kalm argument that falls apart immediately. Tifa's suspicions rely on her "knowing" that Cloud thinks of her as an impostor/shapeshifter, or herself believing he's an impostor/shapeshifter, when NO ONE knows what Jenova can even do at that point in time. The infodump about Jenova being able to mimic people's appearances and words comes from Sephiroth aboard the Shinra 8.

Someone who finally understands Tifa!!!
I always talk about how her primary flaw is her insecurity and fear of confrontation. It’s her downfall and causes a lot of problems within the story that may have been resolved sooner if she had just fessed up.

There are so many people who say things like Cloud and Tifa should be together because they were childhood friends so they deserve each other. Then I will say, but they weren’t childhood friends, and then I get looks like I have three heads. I think to myself, did these people even play the game?  This isn’t about preferring her or not, it’s like people don’t follow the narrative.

I’m with you this whole video.

Thank you for this, I was turned off of Tifa so much by certain people attacking ccs for even implying she is a flawed character, and not allowing her to be flawed except for the "cool" flaws, usually toxic masculinity type of girlboss flaws. She was one of my idols but I have a hard time looking at her in fandom now. So it's good whenever I get to see the real humble Tifa 😢❤

Like the video, learned a lot even just from a writer's standpoint.

I was always lost in the bigger characters of ff7 and never took as much notice of her own contributions as much and that's on me as a player.

Thanks for the take.

I don't want herself to be portrayed as more assertive that would be ooc

A true Clerith never speaks ill of Tifa

I been a fan of Tifa since 1997. This is probably one of the best videos you did on her and I agree as much as think Cloti is cute, I think she is more than a love interest

Tifa perhaps lets wounds fester because the last time someone found out the truth (Sephiroth) it lead to everyone she loved dying.