u/Beneficial_Gur4387

Any theories for what it's name is? I love that some people actually colloquially call it the gayblade, but there's no way it's just "combined keyblade."

I'd also like to note that it creates an almost perfect recreation of the KH logo with the heart and a crown at the top.

Seriously, what is the rationalization for someone who takes KH3 at face value. I've hardly ever seen them discussed.

Why do these scenes exist. There's no reason for these scenes to exist if the light has not become Riku in some way, right? Genuinely, I keep coming back to this when I doubt Riku's significance in the future or previous characterization, mostly due to stigma I asusme.

Like it has to be going somewhere. Why would the team that made Sora and Riku's clothing plot important in the past do this if it means nothing?

Side Note: Do we think Sora remembering his memories with Riku and Aqua in BBS come back, and how? Not something I've seen be talked about, but he still has to remember them, and I believe he's implied to have forgotten them?

Something I would like to note that I don't think I've seen anyone else call attention to is the way Sora's disposition is presented in kh1 regarding the cave drawing. Especially in the kh1 cutscene. The novels give context and offer a plausible interpretation of Sora doing this more so in order to beat Riku at something.

“On the cave wall beside the door there was a little doodle "... There it is." Years ago, Kairi and Sora had drawn each other's faces on the wall, and they were still here. Sora crouched down and softly touched the scenes. If he could just be better than Riku…”

And the statements by his other friends like Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka in-game back this up. "You better share the Paopu with Kairi or Riku might beat you to it." We can infer this was an interpretation that Nomura likely trusted to some extent. Given his past statements and work with Kanemkai. Especially these earlier novels which had game staff oversight. At least for the CoM novel, and I believe and the day's novel in which she worked on the games herself and was brought on by Nomura.

He appears at least a little bit wistful thinking back on the memory of them drawing their face on the walls. However, in this same cutscene where Sora draws his half of the paopu cave drawing, he doesn't seem to be happy? They didn't linger on this scene for too long, but this is not the look of a boy giddily thinking of his crush, but rather a more conflicted complexion. Which I think makes sense for Sora as he probably doesn't even know what romance is really like, how it feels, or is thinking too hard about what he's doing in those contexts. I think it's unlikely anything was truly set in stone at this point, but it is very interesting that we have these scenes like this even in earlier games.

There's honestly a lot more going on here, especially with Sora, when you care to look past the more uncomplex face value level interpretation (which I find so intriguing to do), instead of simply just assuming straightness. Even though I don't really blame anyone for doing so for the straight pairing in mainstream media like this.

In KH2 he sees the drawing reciprocated, is surprised and then smiles, but he never tries to progress anything with Kairi, and he doesn't seem to have any desire to do so. If she didn't offer the fruit, I honestly don't think he would've done anything. At least, that's the impression this gives off. Even though it would make the most sense to have your MC confess their feelings before the final battle.

And I'll try to not go on about this for too long as it's been talked about to death (my main point here was what I brought up in KH1), but when they do share it, it's also very strange. I do like this scene and their friendship (I think its cute), but it just doesn't strike me as romantic the way I think it hypothetically should. If this is supposed to be the biggest romantic throughline of the franchise. Why is Sora so reluctant and visibly not comfortable with doing so until Kairi adds on a qualifier and what she means by the gesture? Essentially downplaying the romantic connotation, and that's not even taking into consideration Sora JP VA saying that sharing the fruit is not necessarily a sign that there are romantic feelings. Which is just a bizarre thing to say for what everyone assumes is the, again, biggest romantic throughline of the whole franchise.

I really hope we get some sort of access to Sora's thoughts on this because it's been kept pretty vague beyond, “I really care about my friends”. And if it is really Kairi, then they really could've done something to show that/make it more compelling.

Like a couple lines sprinkled into KH3 would not be hard to include. Or you know, like how they presented her narratively at the end of CoM or near the end of KH1, but decided to not do it (or make noticeably strange changes) on multiple occasions this time around?! I'm not trying to dowplay anything, but looking back on it, there's really not much beyond their spending time together in the last cutscene montage/boy & girl holding hands at the very end of the story after she's no longer practically dead and trying to revive a dear friend.

in general, It just doesn't sit right with me that KH would really rely on mostly surface level romantic implications like this, with a sizable lack of narrative build up (the paopu drawing honestly slipped my mind until the kh3 intro as well), in order to portray a relationship in a story that is all about connections. Even if "KH isn't about romance," but that's just me. Kind of trailed off at the end, lol. Anyways, thank you for reading and have a good day!

One of the things I haven't seen many people comment on is the use of Beauty and the Beast. What I'm talking about specifically, is not just the consistent throughline and theme of believing to be that of the power of love. I know people have pointed that out, but also how it's used in the character files.

As most of you likely already know, Beauty and the Beast is one of Sora and Riku's most well known, and even overarching, parallels to a Disney couple.

In KH1 Beast is found in Hollow Bastian looking for Belle. His world fell to darkness, and he should have been consumed by said darkness, but the strength of his heart, desire to find Belle, and the fact that he “simply believed” is what allowed him to make it to hollow Bastian, despite this supposedly being impossible.

A lot of people have pointed out how this continues in CoM, with Riku resonating with Sora and making it to Castle Oblivion that way. That, and the, honestly pretty obvious to anyone who digs a little deeper, Repliku and Belle parallels. With Belle being manipulated by Maleficent and pushing the Beast away in order to protect him. Strikingly similar to Riku's previous situation, but also quite luminary to how Repliku is being utilized to lure Sora into the Castle. I remember there being a tumblr post that juxtaposes the GBA dialogue that makes it really apparent, but I can't find it anymore.

This is continued in Days and KH2. Riku has to undergo a beastly transformation, that he clearly was uncomfortable with Sora seeing, in order to protect him. He is then able to transform back after Sora accepts him, (I know this isn't the only reason, but I'm talking about the narrative and themes here) just as the Beast does in KH2. And in Days we are shown the Beast protecting Belle with the power of love as Roxas sees it. The power being derived from wanting to protect those important to him. Specifically Belle and those in the castle. Sounds familiar, right? This, of course, has been discussed before.

However, the connection I do want to make, that I haven't really seen many people talk about, is the usage of Beauty and the Beast released in the most recent character files, when Sora starts questioning what true love is when thinking back to Beauty and the Beast.

The whole story is a nice read, so I suggest you go check it out, but I want to focus on the throughline of this story. That same phrase "I simply believed. Nothing more to it” is used when discussing Beast's perspective and the power of love. And, Sora reasons “If the power to believe is also love — then maybe the "power of love" is similar to the power of connections between hearts.”

I find it really interesting that this was included regarding Sora's perspective on love. And, of course, this seems to clearly tie back into Riku for me. Sora does start questioning his own abilities a decent bit in KH3, but it's Riku who places all of his belief and faith in Sora. “His heart and his mind are made up. Now believe in him.” And the infamous, “Sora I believe in you. You won't give up,” or “Sora you don't believe that. I know you don't” in English. This line is referenced in the Final World with Nameless Star, and more than once at that over the course of the game.

And then, I just wanted to bring up Riku's kingstagram post that essentially reiterates the same thing about him believing in Sora before he goes off to save Kairi iirc. And he tags it with #Wish 🥹. Lastly, of course, we also have Riku traveling to Quadratum to go save Sora as well.

Even though the chances of Soriku becoming canon are very slim, in large part due to the stigmatized world we live in (kind of why I'm hoping for an open ending where we can HC whatever we want), I really do love this connection. To me, it's just too good and thematically resonant for it to not be intentional, but who knows.

Finally, one last thing I don't think I've seen anyone point out is Riku in the Remind ending cutscene. His smile towards Namine is super toned down, that's been discussed, but when the camera moves from Riku's pov looking at Sora and Kairi on the paopu tree he smiles. This was an addition in the DLC, as in the original KH3 ending cutscene, Riku is actually quite blank faced when the camera cuts to them from his pov. We know that this level of detail is something they put deliberate and purposeful thought into, so what do you guys think of this? https://youtu.be/8zi3z3WQH-E?t=225

Anyways, if you managed to read through this, thank you. And please have a good day :).

I just recently found out that the novelist for the KH series, Kanemaki, has written for a few other works. Two of which are BL

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38610908-boku-ha-kare-no-niku-ni-naru-gunsu-noveljam

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35197868-lamento--beyond-the-void--expiatio

And we know that the novels very obviously feel like the story points way more towards Sora and Riku, has more romantic connotation, and some very interesting implications as well. That coupled with the fact that Nomura trusts her for her understanding of the story and characters stated explicitly back in the KH1 to KH2 days, and that's why he trusted her to write scenarios and work on Days.

I don't know why they would allow/request her to work on Dark Road, character files, etc. if her interpretation of the story was off. And she follows Nikutsune (a well know Soriku in the fandom). It just feels crazy to me that KH technically has a link to BL. 😭 Honestly though, I do think it'd be hilarious if novels really are just biased for no reason, lol. Though, I'll reserve judgment for now

I also wanted to bring up that Nomura is giving Utada a plot synopsis for the game's songs when she's in the process of creating them, and we have the series producer Shinji Hashimoto saying that, "the main focus of the story is about Sora and Riku, how their friendship develops, but also how they grow up" on kh3. Also the fact that the series is literally about them. Sanctuary is literally confirmed to be about them and their reunion, Chikai works so well when you look at it from Riku's pov, and the songs are clearly romantic.

The rabbit hole really never ends huh, but dang does stuff like this really keep me up at night. Anyways, if anyone has any personal favorite novel sections/quotes they would like to share, that would be great. If not, good day. Thanks for reading this, I guess, lol.

Just wanted to leave this here, because I was honestly a little surprised when I found this. I got these images from the Daily Soriku twitter account, so as far as I know, I think that these photos are "real/somewhat official" from the cafe, if anyone can confirm.

Most of these come from the KH café event that Square Enix did a while back. Despite Sora and Riku often having merch released together the most often, I know that this obviously does not have any impact on the canon of the story/games. And I know that similar things have been done in the past a few times for promotional content when it comes to Sora and Kairi as well.

Idk what the management of the cafe/events/promotional content for this sort of thing are like, but like ... who does this. Square and the KH team have to know about Soriku if they knew about AkuRoku or when Nomura essentially deconfirmed RikuNami.

The fact that all these years later they've never deconfirmed the ship or confirmed anything when it comes to any potential/assumed romance in the games, or gone, "wow, their just like brothers, they think of eachother just like brothers, or they have such a brotherly bond", in supplementary material, ultimanias, etc. If anything, for anyone not being purposefully obtuse, it's the opposite.

It just drives me a little crazy sometimes that this is the case.​ It would be so easy to do something like this as well, I actually think it's a little cruel that they haven't if Soriku and the mountain of subtext means nothing. Anyways just wanted to open this discussion, and to see if anyone has any corrections to make, thoughts, or insight into this topic. :)

Edit: These aren't all of the photos of Sora and Riku in the displays/merchandise section together supposedly, just the ones that looked the most interesting.

If they just turn Skylor into Kai's lovey dovey girlfriend, as she was characterized as such in the letter at the sketch during comicon this year.

Regardless of the quality or how contrived kailor may be in canon (seriously you can count the number of notable interactions they have from S5 - DRS4 on one hand, and that's not even hyperbole), I am perfectly fine with it being canon, however, I would hate to see her get the Pixal treatment.

Hunted was one of my favorite, if not favorite, seasons, and Skylor was one of my most beloved characters from that season, as well as the dynamic she had with Nya and Lloyd. I know it's just a sketch, so it's not guaranteed that this will translate to show, but I still feel like this isn't out of the question given Dragons Rising's track record so far.

I'm starting to loose hope in her return, as their addressing, not even her character, the relationship in a panel. Even if she doesn't show up in DR, maybe in the next show with a set of new head writers? Anyways, thoughts?

The fate of these two characters was pretty unadressed and ambiguous until the canon scene at this most recent SDCC panel.

The scene kind of felt like the writers were trying explain away what happened to Skylor and Misako. They didn't see a place in the story for them, so they have just been absent for 4 seasons now. Similar to how they were in the previous show, but they aren't even mentioned in DR.

It kind of felt like they were just saying, Misako is not lost and Kailor is not dead. Is that just me? I want to have hope that they'll show up, but it would be kind of awkward to explain why they're in the story now. Especially since DR is ending next year with Dragons Fury. Maybe a cameo similar to Dareth and Fugidove?

Also, side note, why did they continue the trend of Dareth being unnecessarily rude, and maybe still probably kind of sexist, from Skybound. Why was he arbitrarily sending hate mail only to Sora. 😭

And why did they try to imply through Sora and Kai's dialogue that there might be undressed emotional and familial baggage between Lloyd and Misako, even though that hasn't been a plot point in around 14 years, and Lloyd has been shown to care pretty unconditionally about Misako since.

Anyways, thoughts?

I know it's unlikely he'll ever enter the main story again as a central /side character the way he was during the original series, but I would like to see him reunite with the ninja and interact with the new ninja.

Especially Arin and Wyldfyre. Thoughts?

Now that we know Dragons Rising will end next year, what kind of format of storytelling are we hoping for? As much as I did enjoy a lot of the aspects that the 11 minute era of Ninjago gave us, I've certainly enjoyed the return to the 22 episode format.

However, now that it's pretty confirmed 2028 will include a new series, do we think that were going to be sticking to the large overarching whole series spanding format of storytelling DR has, go back to the single season format where it's set up with the "this is what were doing this season" (Even though Ninjago still kind of does this with DR), something in between like the Oni Trilogy (which is what I'm personally hoping for), or something new entirely.

GIven how Ninjago has gone through many "eras" and how DR has struggled in the past with building up certain concepts for several parts, such as the forbidden five, only for it to kind of go to waste, do we think the formatting for "parts" or seasons will be changed at all?

What are some of the funniest or most comedic images or gifs from the show. I'll go first with Wu fighting the ninja from everyone's favorite episode of S11 /j.

Now that Season 4 Part 1 has been released and are waiting for part 2 (I pray everyday for no leaks, depsite how badly I want to see more Ninjago), what are your favorite ships or rare pairs? What are you hoping to see in Part 2 in relation to character interactions/relationship development?

I hadn't given much thought about it in general before, so I decided to make a tierlist. That's still a thing the internet does right?

I tried to include the best ship, Destiny's Bounty, but I couldn't. It was too peak.

Jaya, and Pixane: Just the OG's, what isn't there to love. Although I wish Pixane, and Pixal in general honestly, had more development or relevance. I'm not holding my breath for Part 2 Pixal Content given what Doc Wyatt has posted, but I can dream about Pixane being involved and working together in a major plotline. One day maybe.

Lloykita, Lava, Techtonic, Airjitzu: I know that technically these aren't canon, but their just adorable. I know not every ninja needs a relationship, but Part 1 gave us Airjitzu and I'm willing to ride that gust. Part 1 also really made me like Techtonic. I didn't really care for it, but we got bonding over shared parental struggles, mutual trust, and cute moments! Yes! Also loved the Lloyd and Akita plotline from SotFS, and I really hope they bring Akita back and give something to develop their relationship more in Part 2 (now that we know it'll be set in the never realm).

The only ship here that I expect to get some eyebrow raises is lava, but I just like them and I feel like the way the show frames their relationship, particularly in the second half of the OG show isn't strictly platonic, it that makes sense. It's not something the casual viewer would pick up on, but if you look, there's always something to chew on. Also the first thing Kai decided to do after reuniting with Cole in S4 Part 1 was to flirt. Liiiike, Alright bro.

Couple Goals tier: RobyFyre is cool and I love my rare pairs. I wish there was more faith x jet jack content. I'm happy Wyldfyre found someone that loves her for her, and I totally support the dynamic that if Roby ever broke up with her that Kai would be ready to end that man, lol.

I could see Conia, Wolfcat, or even greenflower, to an extent, happening, but I don't think it'll ever happen in the show with the direction Dragons Rising is taking. Although I can see the appeal of these ships.

Alright tier: Ships are alright. I can see why people ship it. Not really my cup of tea, but I can enjoy the fanworks that come out of it (Garmasako and Geode, Cough cough). Everything else I just don't really care for much, or I feel is very underdeveloped by the show.

Anyways, what do guys think? What are your favorite ships or pairings? Doesn't even have to romantic. I really love Arin and Sora's friendship (sciepie duo is a genious name) for example. I'm sure the comments under this post will be very kind and civil. /s