Relationship Boundaries & Trust | Cloud & Aerith Water Tower Analysis | FF7 Rebirth

This is such loving writing for anyone who grew up in toxic families with unhealthy communication and later encountered this in romantic relationships. Marking boundaries, empathy, active listening, and respect mean so much to healthy relationships and communication.
I also incredibly love how this game subverts your expectations. I'm referring to Cloud, who, because of his inferiority complex and the trauma of rejection, acts cocky and arrogant to avoid showing his softness, sensitivity, and vulnerability. Aerith may initially seem like a childish and superficial extrovert with lots of friends, but as you get to know her better, she reveals herself to be the most mature and empathic character in ff7, who is tragically lonely because of her race, childhood in captivity, and destiny. Tifa, on the other hand, may seem like a successful girl with a big goal and a grown-up to rely on, but in reality she doesn't feel confident because of her personality, she can't even deal with her own emotions, let alone anyone else's, and her attention is too focused on the romantic drama between her and Cloud, who she would like to lean on as a crutch.
I just love so much how carefully the devs have written all these characters.

Can these two just get married please? Gosh I love them T_T Fantastic analysis btw, even after the game I'm still picking up on small things from videos like these I never originally noticed.

Thank you for the video. It's really thoughtful and I hope the devs see it. I think they would really like it.

Yay! I look forward to all your videos. Thanks again for such a great watch.

I remember when I first watched this scene, I found it interesting they had made it a CloudxAerith scene since, up until that point, its always been a Cloud and Tifa memory. Something that the Cloti fans always like to bring up is the water tower scene and now...its a CloudxAerith scene instead. It no longer belongs with just Tifa. And unlike Cloud and Tifa's scene, where it feels like Tifa pressures Cloud to make a promise, this scene is so amazing and, as you said, Cloud feels no pressure here. It just feels like another great scene that showcases the past is the past, but the present/future is what's important (which is CloudxAerith of course). Also, they showed this scene at the FFVII Rebirth Orchestra...

"And is growing evermore..." Love the evermore reference from Promises to Keep at the end ❤

Great video man, interesting insight.

Awesome analysis video

Poor Cloud. He lives in conflict with his feelings, thoughts, and memories. He has been through so much in his life.
Their concern for not hurting each other while also wanting to protect each other is so perfect.

Cloud and Aerith were always meant to be together, they’re soulmates if I’ve ever seen one. I’m not too big on the romance genre in any type of media but Clerith stood out to me in a way nothing ever has before. Their story is one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever learnt about. Everything about them is so beautiful. I love them.

Love this analysis, thank you!

Traces of Two Pasts is very helpful here... without giving any spoilers. It's worth reading ❤

Nice catch on Cloud's hesitation to sit next to Aerith being the same Zack hesitation on their date! I missed that!

Another layer here is Cloud not wanting to hurt Tifa by being in their spot with Aerith, her bff, and unfortunately romantic competition.
Aerith didn't know it's Tifa's & Cloud's spot where she's sitting. When she waves cutely at Tifa, I know Tifa died inside a little bit. Cloud feels this. She knows Aerith doesn't know and smiles and waves like nothings wrong. Tifa once again, can see the Clerith love deepening. Cloud didn't wave cuz he's embarrased, wanted to respect Tifa by not appearing enthused, and he's reliving his painful childhood being left out & unfairly taking the blame for Tifa's benefit/well being.

I really hope the devs have a bff Aerith & Tifa scene where they promise each other whoever Cloud chooses, they'll never stop being bffs. ❤

This whole scene really supports the ending scenes by showing how deep their love, boundaries, communication, and their respect for each other go. Holding hands back to back hits harder thanks to this scene.

Thanx you so much for this vid, your back must hurt from carrying Clerith fandom 🙏🙏

Aerith and Cloud have truth and care in their communication.

I love your videos so much!! Will you ever make a video on all the dialogue options between Cloud and Aerith? And why the "best choices" are the ones that they are.

Where they sit is important too. Just like in the Tifa/Cloud scene. The sword is layed down (emotional guard's off) but there is a corner between them and they can't easily look at each other. Cloud sitting in front of Tifa's window, Tifa barely visible but waving. Always the conflict : he desires to be close and intimate with these girls, but he's just too shy and troubled. I love the empathy in the second scene. This is "Superkind Cloud", a bit of the true Cloud, the one who could spend his day chasing after Tifa's cat even if she wouldn't know. Being able to show it to Aerith is a sign of their deep bond. He is quite secure around her.

Why did they change Cloud's line 😭 he just invited Aerith down, I think that line of dialogue doesn't need to be localized, direct translation would be much better

It's interesting, This whole scene happens with Aerith's knowing that Tifa told her Cloud was never there 5 years ago. So when Cloud points the inn he stayed 5 years ago, she lets it go and continues to talk about other things.

Once again fantastic character breakdown. I really enjoy watching these.

Oh my goodness!!! It's finally here. This is just one of my most favorite Clerith scenes in Rebirth. Their emotional maturity made my heart warm. Their at the point where they truly understand each other.

Aerith is usually hiding her sadness and feelings with her smiles but at this moment, she opened up to Cloud. And she has learned that Cloud is going to accept her anger even though he's not at fault on anything. Her reply to him made me shed a tear I guess when I first seen this haha. I just love how she didn't treat Cloud like an emotional punch bag. Because that would've hurt a lot.

And thanks to this analysis, I realized that I've missed one great point. And that is Cloud going down alone and not pushing Aerith further. Ahhhh!!!! I love this water tower scene and Nojima-san described it perfectly💗.

Thank you so much for another amazing analysis!☁️🌸

Aerith would have killed to have had someone like Cloud to watch over her as a kid...

Great video! Loved it! ❤❤

This is a brilliant breakdown of another Cloud-Aerith scene! It really reinforces my observation that while Cloud and Tifa has chemistry, no denying that, Cloud and Aerith's chemistry is just better.

I always loved Cloud and Aerith’s relationship. While Rebirth has squashed the love triangle and cemented Cloud and Tifa to be the defacto couple, I appreciate the warm comradery and spiritual connection they share.

Him coping on Aerith’s demise is gonna be rough.

Lmao I haven’t watched a CA vid in a bit but it’s appaling how CTs still can’t stay in their own lane smh… it’s an obsession at this point. Great analysis, love these two lovebirds! Here’s hoping for great things in part 3 ❤

Good stuff. I know this is a Clerith channel, but of course would love Tifa scene analysis as well! Uhh..Clifa?

The funny thing is, I actually opt not to talk with her after the affinity scene in my first playthrough because I just thought it's gonna be another short line like how the previous interactions work. The beach, Gongaga, etc. Why would the 1 important scene that happen is when I decided not to do it? So unfortunate.

This scene is so cute. I also find Aerith’s confidence and emotional intelligence a really inspirational trait. The way she just calmly stated her boundaries and knew her limits. 🥹

In the next dialogue, I always found it odd that Cloud immediately jumped to the conclusion that Aerith was angry at him even he answered honestly (3 stars). I think Cloud was putting his feelings into Aerith's shoes to judge, meaning he was thinking, worried that Aerith was angry at him because she was romantically jealous like he was upset when she mentioned Zack.

Your video cleared the mystery again! I had the same question too when I heard cloud says I’m gonna head down, it just doesn’t make sense. It seems like there are a lots of misinterpretation🤦🏻‍♂️. Is there some kind of conspiracy against clerith in the English dub 🤷🏻‍♂️

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love your channel

Clerith are such relationship goals 😎💅

Why are people acting like tifa didn't try to calm cloud down at times as well. There's more evidence of tifa and his relationship of being a future couple than aerith and not even including the kiss date.

Relationship boundaries? Trust? What the fuk is this? Therapy?
I still haven't ended the game because of how boring it was and bought the game on day 1. It still doesn't hold a candle to the original which was edgy, brutal, dystopic, dark and it was for grown ups. The remake was alright. Rebirth is just sludge. The card game is literally the highlight of the game. Everything else just sucks. I don't know if I will ever complete rebirth now. It was a disappointment.

Right, Cloud and Tifa's realtionship is way out of sync - there's zero balance. Their out of sync melody would never change its' tune either. They just don't belong together. Whereas Cloud and Aerith are complimentary one to the other, a melody well written. Cloud could never find true inner and outer happiness if he ended up with Tifa as he would with Aerith, she is whom he'd find his true Promised Land.

Great video and analysis!. Except that tifa did not ignore cloud when they were younger. This beleave is one of the confusing reasons why people hate her. It was cloud who refused to play with them. In remake, the first flash back of tifa will confirm this. Cloud DID NOT LIKE the other boys, its very obvious he was jealous of the other boys.

Aerith is 💀 so of course Cloud will choose Tifa 😅

Hi, saw your second video after the “secret scene” one. Really like your explanations, sometimes it provides a new perspective. I didn’t attribute Cloud not sitting next to Aerith to his worries about her feelings for Zack - that makes a lot of sense. I thought he was just being awkward.

This scene was significant to me since it added a lot of humanity to Aerith. Before she seemed almost too perfect - always cheerful, optimistic etc. I liked they showed she had some emotional struggles as well. I remember how I immediately felt she got much more balanced as a character during my first play through.

Xdddddd

I don't get it, does cloud have 2 girlfriends? Is he that guy

Why would cloud ask her “are you angry?” Instead of something like “what’s wrong?” Could it be that he thought that aerith was jealous when cloud answered “ sounds like something I’d do”

Cloud showing Aerith his home reminds me of Tidus wanting to show Yuna Zanarkand

I am suprise of this scene. Is that suppose to be « the spot » of Cloud and Tifa? The spot of there childhood memory about the promise they make? But, it now share bye Cloud and Aerith.. it’s meen a lot.. never ever .. Cloud and Tifa got to Arith place ( whatever places) and share moment.
It could easily be a great moment of Cloud and Tifa by returning in they town and share great memories. Up here..that was a big opportunitie but no.. its a new memorie of Cloud andAerith togerher. Aertih want to know Cloud and Cloud share to her.. it’s cute! ( sorry, i speak french normaly)

I realized that you get high affinity with Aerith for honest responses and high affinity with Tifa for responses that you think she would like to hear. This would be a great video analysis.

It caught my attention in their goodbye scene that Cloud didn’t hesitate to hug Aerith back. They definitely have a bond beyond friendship.

bUt ThIs IsN’t ThE OG fF7

Was Aerith with Cloud on water tower already in OG or is it Rebirth's addition?

Im so glad i found your channel! I love Cloud and aerith romance and your break down in great detail key important scenes so well. Subscribed and loving these videos.😊😊

I loved this scene and almost missed the second half because I picked up she wanted to be alone and didn't want to bother her but fearfully pressed triangle anyways.
A thought about the childhood promise to Tifa always struck me as far from romantic. Cloud wanted to become a Soldier to impress Tifa, and then she added another layer of expectations upon him about being a hero and saving her as well. Although not malicious it was selfish to make his goals about herself, it was why Cloud hide his identity when he came back home. He felt like a failure and was embarrassed and a core reason I believe he was easy to manipulate and delude by Jenova.
He was so unhappy being Cloud, and that is why Aerith and his relationship is so poignant. She wants to know Cloud, the Cloud who hides behind walls and pretends to be cool while Tifa doesn't seem to ever see his real self behind the mask.

Scene in Gold Saucer, when Cloud sees Sephiroth, noticed how Aerith helped him to snap out of it? I mean, why her, not Tifa or Barret or anyone else? I think it's because Aerith just feels when Cloud is not right, cuz usually when Cloud gets his visions, he acts, like placing his hand on head and grunting, but in that scene he wasn't doing that, he was just standing, and his pupil got wide, and only Aerith noticed and felt that, if he showed that by act (again placing hand on head as usual) everybody would notice right away, but no