#ffxiii-3

Excluding Serah, of course, (because as the 2nd game demonstrated, Serah was #1)

I have played Lightning Returns an embarrassingly high number of times. And every time I play it, I find new things to enjoy, new secrets to uncover.

This last time I began to think more about the relationship between Light and Hope.

We know from the 2nd game and from the fact that Bhunivelze is using Serah as a bargaining chip that Serah is the person Light will do anything for. Literally.

But I think we also overlook the point that Bhunivelze chooses Hope to be the one who looks over Lightning. Out of all the people he could have chosen. He chooses Hope. The person that Livhtning relies on as much as she relies on Serah. Perhaps more in this installment.

But also it is a brilliant move on Bhunivelze's part. Because Light is a naturally suspicious person. She would never open up to a stranger. She would keep her masks up for anyone she didn't trust fully. And no one fits that bill quite so well as Hope.

And so Bhiniveelze takes advantage of their already strong bond to keep his eyes on Lightnong, and to ensure her cooperation. Because Bhunivelze would know that she would never willingly hurt someone she cares for. Something Lumina remarks on when she asks Lightning if she's willing to harm Hope.

There are a number of moments for these two during this game that always stand out to me. The first is in Yusnaan. Light quotes their famous "Keep your eyes front..." She knows what response to expect. And he doesn't give it. She has to prompt him. And he still doesn't answer correctly. I think this is when she starts to become suspicious of Hope. She even remarks in one of the loading vignettes that his response did not sit well with her, that she expected him to answer "I'll watch the rear." But Bhunivelze realizes his mistake and quotes the "Some things in life" quote back to her a little later.

The next set of moments are technically together, but they're related, so I am bundling them. In the Arc before the last day, just as Light is getting ready to teleport back down to Earth, and Hope makes his cryptic remark about it finally being over...I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but Hope's voice changed here. It is older. Tired. More mature. And again, when he answers the comm at the end of that day. His voice is entirely different. This is the real Hope. Released at last from Bhunivelze's grasp. And then comes the heart-wrenching scene in the Arc. There's a lot to unpack here. More than I want to cover right now. But there are a few key moments here I want to draw attention to. The first is when she immediately reaches out to grab him - and her hand passes right through him. This is a double whammy for her, but also interesting for us. Because Lightning is almost never the person to initiate contact. Recall how she pushes Mog away when he goes to hug her. But here it is she who reaches out first. Then there is the last couple of lines. When Hope tells her: "Do you remember what you told me? All those centuries ago? Keep your eyes front. I'll watch the rear." And Light is shocked, disbelieving. Saying "I didn't. I couldn't." And Hope assures her: Oh but you did. More times than you know." It is an interesting exchange. And finally: "I'm not afraid. Even now. Because you're here." There is a level of trust here that is truly breath-taking. Hope never doubted her. And Lightning becomes determined to save him as she saves Serah.

There are a number of other scenes I'd like to analyze at some point, but I don't want to write a novel right now, so I am going to finish with the moment after Light defeats Bhunivelze and rescues Hope.

1. The knife she uses is the one that Serah gave to her. The one that she eventually gives to Hope. A fitting choice.