What's your favorite Vivian moments? :>
I will attempt to give a descriptive answer that isn't "all of them".
I like the part where she becomes long cat. :3
More seriously, of course I have to mention the pivotal scene in chapter 4 where Vivian finally breaks away from Beldam and joins Mario. Aside from me being a classic sucker for the Because You Were Nice To Me trope, it's elevated by everything that preceded that point in the story: Mario's identity was stolen by Doopliss, reducing him to a featureless shadow with no name, and everyone stays clear of him and even his own partners disappeared with the doppelganger. With all of this shit going on, he surely wasn't obligated to help someone who, as far as he knew, was an enemy due to their earlier encounter in chapter 2. He didn't even know that helping her would end up helping him in turn. But he did it anyway, and more importantly, for her of all people to then be the sole person to hear him out and resolve his situation, because she knows firsthand what it's like to struggle with identity for obvious reasons, is really quite beautiful.
Then there's the part during the end of the same chapter where Vivian briefly feels conflicted upon finally finding out that the guy she's been helping all this time is Mario... only to rejoin him minutes later upon realising she prefers his company and is better off with him.
Another obligated mention is the Shadow Sirens' rematch in chapter 8: if you have Vivian out for it, she confidently says that this time, it's Beldam's turn to be punished. >:] Yet interestingly, she still apologises to Beldam's unconscious body after the fight if you go up to it. And I know Vivian's decision to give her sisters another chance in the ending has always been controversial, and I was mixed on that for a long time as well, but the remake's wording helps to make it clear that this is no Aesop Amnesia scenario. She's still able to stand her ground now thanks to her time with Mario, so she won't be a pushover anymore. This is why I decided to go along with it for PM:TEE rather than dismiss it like some writers might... that and because rewinding the dynamic is less interesting and tragic than "they did change, but Eggman dragged them back in against their will because he wants to antagonize Mario and Vivian as much as humanly possible". :P
And if you decide to return to the Glitz Pit post-chapter 4, and go through the bouts again, Vivian gets really into it and delivers some hilarious smack talk that you wouldn't expect out of her. "No forgiveness! No mercy!" "You're about to have a really terrible experience!" Then she instantly expresses concern post-battle and asks if she overdid it. XD
As minor as it is (you can go through the whole game without seeing it), I also like the partner hint in which she brings up the Trouble Center and says she would like to solve them all, if possible. Sounds like standard good guy dialogue on the surface, but what makes this stick out to me is that none of the other partners bring up the Trouble Center in their hints, so clearly the writing specifically emphasized that it means something to our purple sweetheart in particular. And note her saying she'd like to help them all: she doesn't have to do it, she wants to do it. Like Sonic. :P It was this minor dialogue that inspired my idea of her taking up the role in PM:TEE, so she could give others the kindness that Mario gave her. :3
Speaking of wording, there's that little bit during the final Shadow Queen fight where Vivian flat out says she will follow Mario to the end. Tell me that isn't something you'd hear in Castlevania. Is this or is this not Hector-coded phrasing? 👀
Alas, I WOULD say the bit in the ending where she's about to confess to Mario before he leaves... but she backs out of it because Peach is there. 😭 And then we never see her again for the rest of the franchise. 😭😭😭 Luckily this was rectified when Eggman invaded and they confessed their feelings for real after dealing with the doctor's brand of shit. This is a real thing that happened in the Mario canon.
I hope one day, I can add the part where she's in Mario Kart to the list. 🙏
Also shout out to the Spanish version having her constantly call Mario her cariño. She's so down bad for him lmao.
