Final Fantasy VII: Machinabridged Episode 6 Review
Originally posted on November 5th, 2015
The one where Cloud actually crossdresses.
So two weeks ago I talked about how Final Fantasy VII: Machinabridged has shown the extent by which Team Four Star has grown, especially in regards to their handling of representation of the queer community, and how Cloud’s crossdressing arc showcases the utmost respect they have for trans and gender nonconforming folks. And this episode is no different, with Cloud’s crossdressing only being seen as degrading by one character, and praised by the rest.
Now, if you’ve been following me for a while (or read my last review of FFVII:MA), you’ll recall that the first time Team Four Star had a character make fun of a masculine woman, I was very critical, pointing out that being demeaned is something that trans and masculine women are forced to deal with on a regular basis.
I also argued that in the context of the show, having the only masculine woman be treated this way during the only time she is asserting her proper gender feels more like the intent is to make fun of masculine and trans women in general, rather than being the bit of representation they likely intended.
With FFVII:MA, however, Takahata101 seems to be going out of his way to assert something different: namely that trans and masculine women’s genders are valid, and it is only reasonable to treat their gender as such.
With that in mind, Tifa making fun of Cloud for crossdressing works, because it matches the cruelty and emotional carelessness of her established character without being the only voice we hear speaking of Cloud’s crossdressing.
The Church of Brodin has been more than supportive, a group of Chip ‘n’ Dale dancers gladly gave Cloud panties, Giuseppe is more proud of Cloud than his own son, and Aerith has been nothing but supportive since the beginning. And to top that all off, not even Don Corneo rejects Cloud upon discovering his true gender; if anything, he seems more excited once he knows the truth.
None of that is to say that this episode is perfect, of course. It suffers from some pacing issues, which is par for the course when Team Four Star is dealing with slower and calmer material. In particular, the scene in the “sex dungeon” feels slow, and while the slowdown is necessary to develop character (and expand upon Aerith’s innocence and jealousy), it feels like a significant shift both from the rest of the episode and the series as a whole, in regards to both pacing and tone.
The tonal shift in that scene might pay off later, of course; it could easily be a sign of the kind of moments we can expect to see in the future, and if that’s the case, then it means Takahata101 is working to overcome Team Four Star’s weaknesses in slower storytelling.
Rating: 4/5
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Stray Observations
Cloud: “One drugs, please.”
Cloud: “Grapefruits and three bras.”
*sigh* Rookie mistake, Cloud. Everyone knows for a quick and dirty breast form you use nylon socks filled with grain and tied shut.
Cloud: “You don’t want me. I’m a virgin!”
Poor, sweet, little Cloud, unaware of predators love for innocent prey.
Before I close, I want to take a brief moment to talk about the importance of representation. To do this, I’m going to take a small tangent. Back when I published my review of Dragonball Z: Abridged Episode 15, not long after KaiserNeko decided to reblog it and spread it, I received a message whose sender I am making anonymous, and in it I was asked “who are you and what makes you think Team Four Star needs to pander to tumblr gender politics.”
Well, sender, the truth is, I am but a humble critic, and my personal reasons for wanting to see proper representation of gender nonconforming folk is not a sufficient reason for them to want to do better (well, it kinda is, but I’ll get to that). There is, however, a sufficiently compelling reason for them to do so, and that reason is respect.
By acknowledging criticism of their representation and working to better it in the future, Team Four Star shows that they have respect for their viewers that they may have misrepresented, and for the actual experiences that they must go through every day. “Tumblr gender politics” in general is based upon this same notion, and through efforts to raise awareness about what these people’s experiences are, they imply the need for respect of their person, and show the harm of disrespecting someone’s identity.
The next question you might ask, then, is why I personally care so much about this notion of respect, and specifically how it relates to the treatment of trans and gender nonconforming women. And the answer, reader, is pretty damn simple: I’m a trans woman.
