Tales of Symphonia Stray Thoughts #7: Pre-Tower of Salvation
Right, so, after leaving the Tower of Mana...
-ever notice how the party just ends up at Lake Umacy somehow
-actually how did all those trees/logs fall into the lake anyway
-"Wow! So there are still unicorns left on this side!"
...are they a frequent sight in Tethe'alla or something?
-The "Lloyd's Bad Habit" skit highlights one of those weird mean-spirited quirks I've discussed before; in this case, Lloyd getting bored with everything. I could buy an argument that it's meant to emphasize Lloyd's unpreparedness for the rigors of a world-saving journey (the post-Water Seal skit between Lloyd/Kratos -- wherein the latter reminds Lloyd of the task he willingly signed up for -- makes a great advocate here), but the "comedy" never lands and it just comes across as overly cynical. (Especially in silent dialogue, where stiff language abounds)
Thankfully, it only really plagues the first act, but Symphonia (or Tales, really) has a weird knack for character traits that're there just to check boxes and this one's easily my least favorite.
-you think sheena snuggles with corrine every night. imagine
-What's up with how the Undine cutscenes bookend with non-voiced dialogue? This game's priorities, man.
-"Mithos is a common boy's name. It's not necessarily Mithos the Hero."
-Man, Fighting of the Spirit is such a badass boss theme, huh? It originally hails from Tales of Phantasia, right? I'd like to know the context behind that...
-Undine, being attacked : EH UH UH UH EH UH UH UH UH UH EH UH UH UH
man I am sure am glad there's no one in the room right now
-"Right now, at this very moment, there are people who are suffering. I vow to save those people."
Undine: lol bitch I saw what you did with the Giant Kharlan Tree. Pact annulsted
-Raine: Kratos, you have an impressive display of knowledge.
Kratos: I had an acquaintance who knew a bit about Summon Spirits, that's all.
-Sheena: ...although...I hated being a summoner.
-Only "pure maidens" can approach the unicorn -- combined with Raine's "because I'm an adult" reasoning, some have taken this to mean she's not a virgin. Personally, I always thought that was just an excuse not to get near the water, but it's an interesting theory.
-...so the Unicorn Horn can just up and restore Colette back to normal? Geez, girl, think of yourself for once!
-Kratos called the Mana Cannon "Thor's Hammer" -- had history distorted the name? Actually, now I wonder how often it used back then. Must've been brutal.
-They're very few and far between, but I LOVE these moments where the party takes a moment to decompress and takes the opportunity to bounce off Lloyd as they face whatever comes next. The apprehension involved reveals them at their most intimate and the party really comes together in these scenes.
-"Tethe'alla's chosen. I can't stand that guy."
13-year old me wondered if we'd ever meet him. Little did I know...
-"I want to kick her for doing this."
Sacrilege!
-"Clinging to the Chosen?"
You know he's right, Lloyd. Even Kratos can see the Colloyd. Embrace it.
-"But hey, if I make a mistake, I can just do it over again, right?"
Oof.
-The Colloyd scene!!! 🥹🥹🥹
The debut of "No matter what happens to you, you're still you"! Her little smile at Lloyd's gentle "*I won't ever think you're weird. Ever"! The implied tragedy of "I'll wait forever"! The gradual despair of "Oh, that's right, you can't feel it..."!
Pure, undiluted Colloyd!! The trust and concern they share remains unparalleled!! It's just the sweetest thing AAAAHHH!!!!
Lloyd's ultimately still in the dark over the true nature of the World Regeneration, but as the gears have begun to churn since Colette's confession, the seeds of his ideology have well begun to sprout by this point. "Damn, isn't there anything we can do?!", he asks -- knowing that Sylvarant's well-being shouldn't depend on one girl sacrificing her humanity.
An age-old question -- should prosperity come at the cost of sacrificing the few? Lloyd, in all his infectious idealism, shatters that false ideal and makes the impossible possible. But you knew that.
There's a whole essay in how Colette romanticizes her ultimate fate --like how she's lying to herself as much as she's lying to others. Maybe there's some family history at play -- could Phaidra have done the same with her sister? Dark stuff, that ol' religious trauma.
(...actually, speaking of "even if you become like Marble, can you imagine the visual of Colette turning into an Exbeula and Lloyd just treating her like normal? Imagine -- her rage tempers at the sight of recognizing Lloyd and she just lives life as is. Be it a tragic beauty or absurdist/wholesome hiijinks, there's a whole fic there!)
-Dose sleeping poses in the inn. Oh my god -- I never stopped to notice. Look at how Lloyd's just sprawed out on that mat! Raine and Genis are sleeping on the floor! What kinda hotel service is this?!? They should've complained.
-One of the rare scenes where Noishe is voiced!
-"I imagine it's that assassin."
...okay, Kratos, we gleaned that, but who? Translation flub, or...?
-Yuan's ring is relevant! ...for like one line of dialogue. Mmkay. Much to say about that sidequest later.
The first act ends soon!!! Finally, it's here where Symphonia really comes into its own.
