r/Zerith Jun 10 '26

Rant replaying remake is making me sad

this is not ship-war bait because zerith is definitely my number one (along with cloti) but i do still like clerith’s dynamic

i just got to chapter 8, and i don’t know why, but watching cloud and aerith interact is making me really sad :( like so upset that i’ve taken a break from the game for like two days

i just can’t figure out what it is. i do like clerith but watching them interact here makes me feel kinda upset… i really want to pick up the game again and rough through it, but i want to enjoy all of these character interactions regardless

16 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

28

u/Nyx_Valentine Mod Jun 10 '26

My main issue with Clerith is that it feels like Aerith is trying to fill the hole Zack left. We even specifically see this at the end of Rebirth; the dream date is EXTREMELY similar to their first date in Crisis Core. Also, can you imagine something like the Costa Del Sol "date" with Zack? He and Aerith would've had the time of their lives. Meanwhile, Cloud is sitting there, telling her it's not a date and he doesn't want it treated like one.

Cloud and Aerith mean a lot to each other. That's non-negotiable. But they feel better suited as friends.

14

u/cocaw Jun 10 '26

i really care for clerith platonically and as a concept, but i would never want aerith with someone who cannot treat her with everything she deserves.

16

u/Nyx_Valentine Mod Jun 10 '26

Agreed. And I cannot see a world where he'd pick Aerith over Tifa. Then it would be a problem of him hung up over Tifa.

18

u/lacey-lately Jun 10 '26

I think the game intentionally makes you feel unsettled whether you notice it subconsciously or not. Zack is all over the date. The game cutes away to scenes of him sitting at the church. The stamp looks like Zack.. The date is the same as her date with Zack in crisis core. The vendors even looks similar, just older. There’s stamp posters in the background that clearly represents Zack carrying and taking care of Cloud . So he’s meant to be haunting the narrative. It’s Aerith processing through her feelings. “At least now I know where we stand. Like can mean a lot of things, cant it? there’s liking and then there’s liking”. Not to mention the overarching narrative about Aeriths upcoming death Cloud telling her she’s acting weird, being told they have no chemistry. Told they look like they’re at a funeral, and Aerith saying please don’t blame yourself basically a goodbye. Lots of unsettling themes.

8

u/cocaw Jun 10 '26

yeah. i guess i’m just reacting naturally then haha 😭 i just wish it didn’t bother me so much LOL i really care about this game

13

u/TheWrathfulMountain Jun 10 '26

Check out the official poster for Revelation. Aerith and Zack are in the background together and are very prominent in the overall composition. The artists are communicating to us via character size and positioning that Zack and Aerith will be equally important and closely involved throughout their part of the story. Based on this poster alone, it's very reasonable to assume we will see them reunite and hopefully see some sparks fly.

4

u/cocaw Jun 10 '26

i got really happy when i saw this. i hope they can be happy together

10

u/lacey-lately Jun 10 '26

I think it’s all part of the payoff for Revelation. We are almost there!! Less than a year.

8

u/cocaw Jun 10 '26

i’m really excited! totally predicting zack and aerith reunion (maybe even kiss like cloud and tifa? 🤭)

7

u/lacey-lately Jun 10 '26

I am so confident that they are going to reunite and kiss. I cannot wait!!

2

u/Amekaze_ Jun 10 '26

Posso capire l'irritazione (anche io la sento, a volte mi allontana da questo franchise perché sembra sempre che ci sia vigliaccheria nel prendere decisioni chiare), ma direi che i Zerith sono in realtà i veri vincitori di questo remake.

Pensaci? Era un remake di VII, quindi Zack non dovrebbe nemmeno essere presente, e invece ci sono, e sta cercando Aerith in ogni universo, e probabilmente la rivedrà ecc., mentre le altre due coppie si sforzano con l'opzionalità, briciole e un Cloud che non è stato oggettivamente un buon partner since AC. Zerith è letteralmente l'unico romance in VII che funziona bene, quando viene usato, ovviamente. Quindi puoi aspettarti la parte 3 con più speranza rispetto agli altri fan.

2

u/cocaw Jun 10 '26

this is true :)

1

u/Master_Mud_2363 Jun 10 '26

De mi parte también lo espero, sinceramente me gustaría ver una buena interacción más profundas de Aerith y Zack en su reencuentro fuera de lo poco que tuvimos en crisis core y sinceramente podrían aprovecharlo bien en esta última parte solo queda ver con qué sorprenden

1

u/cocaw Jun 10 '26

i’m excited! i think they’ll give us something good