We fans all felt a collective shiver run down our backs when we saw those pink twin-tails. It was the reincarnation of the fell dragon Serra. No doubt accompanied by her obnoxiously catchy anthem of hell.
Along with her hairstyle, first impressions before the game was released promised a big headache. Hilda is described as spoiled and lazy, using her looks to charm people into doing work for her. Yes, it seemed certain that it was the return of the FE7 banshee that gave children nightmares.
But she's not. She's actually really well rounded, and it's so weird.
Her behavior isn't really all that grating at all, and her reasons for acting the way she does actually helped me really relate to her. Because she really isn't lazy, her desire to get out of work is exclusive to the battlefield. She believes she isn't suited for combat like her older brother, and when you dig deep into it, it comes from a place of not wanting to disappoint. Her brother's a tough guy to live up to, so why bother? She's excellent in other arts, and she's eager to help out the rest of her fellow students in their various supports.
What I think is interesting about Hilda is that there isn't actually anything all that interesting about Hilda. The development she goes through with Byleth is really good, but typically she's actually showing a great interest in other people. She helps out Marianne when she screws up and lets her laugh at her, she helps Raph with the gift he wants to send his sister, and she's also super perceptive, being one who's able to see through Claude's easy smile. She's a bit of a more static character, like Raph, but static characters are important too, and like everyone in Three Houses there's a definite feeling of maturity in her character post time skip. She's committed to the cause, ready to fight alongside her allies.
There's also something so funny about this supposedly petite flower being a tough as nails buff girl who swings around a holy axe.
Finally, it was my more resent Crimson Flower play-through that actually prompted me to write this. Uh spoilers ahead for Crimson Flower, just to warn you guys. Actually I'm not sure if a similar scenario happens in any of the other routes, because I'm still chugging through the game.
In the Golden Deer path, a repeated sentiment of Hilda's is that she will not die for anyone else. She has a strong love of life and though she's willing to fight for her cause, she has no intention to die for anybody. It's partly because of who she is, and its also a bit of a morale booster; she's going to make it through the war. Byleth actually has the opportunity to say that he knows she would put her life on the line for her friends, and Hilda basically denies it.
In the Crimson Flower route, it's a bit different. Claude is in a position where he is barely holding the Alliance together. He basically knows he's going to lose, so in order to nip the potential war in the bud he purposely puts himself in a place where, upon his death, the Alliance will join the Empire. It's a plan that saves the Alliance, but dooms himself.
It's because of this that Lysithea will join your army if she loses. Claude basically encourages her to do so, and he himself can be spared, I believe. Nader just retreats when you defeat him.
The only character who goes down fighting no matter what is Hilda.
She has that optimistic and friendly persona she always shows, and she's sad to fight Byleth, but claims that she's one hundred percent with Claude no matter what, and when she dies she apologizes for leaving.
You have a character here that often claims to be avoiding work, or that she isn't suited for fighting, or she won't die for anyone else, but actions speak louder than words. She basically always comes through when it matters. And I think that's kinda beautiful.
I may sound sappy, but I just killed Claude without knowing you can spare him so I'm really bummed out.
Submitted August 15, 2019 at 11:29PM by Shuckluck22 https://ift.tt/303xxgI
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