I've been planning this for quite a while... watching the same videos over and over again so finally here it is.
A thread of MY rankings of Persona 5 Awakenings:
(Only one person per day because I don't want to flood your timeline!)
A thread of MY rankings of Persona 5 Awakenings:
(Only one person per day because I don't want to flood your timeline!)
I actually did this on my personal account but looking at it, I wasn't satisfied with it because I felt like I wasn't analyzing and reflecting on it a lot. Also, I changed my original rankings.
This thread will probably be the one where I really put my best effort in it.
This thread will probably be the one where I really put my best effort in it.
7. Haru Okumura
I love this Cinnamon Sadistic Floof but aside from being frustrated at her lack of screentime, I was equally frustrated and disappointed at her awakening. She's a badass character and she deserved to have a better awakening. But let's proceed shall we? (1/n)
I love this Cinnamon Sadistic Floof but aside from being frustrated at her lack of screentime, I was equally frustrated and disappointed at her awakening. She's a badass character and she deserved to have a better awakening. But let's proceed shall we? (1/n)
The main theme of Haru's awakening is betrayal. Haru is chained to his father and her fiance. Haru couldn't awaken Milady to her full power because she's conflicted. In order to help her father, she needs to betray him, but he's still her father. (2/n)
Why was I disappointed? Mainly because it didn't feel like an awakening at all. I understand it was part of the plot to have her awaken her Persona (rather weakly) before joining the gang but this downplays her true strength, thus the impact of her awakening. (3/n)
In my opinion, Haru should have gotten a ripping of her mask to make it feel it was an actual awakening. Another one I thought of was her not having a Persona at the start. Her pretending for Mona's sake then awakening it during the confrontation with Okumura and fiance. (4/n)
Although I was disappointed, there are some things I liked about her awakening. First, Milady's design.
At first glance, you see she looks harmless but once fully awakened, the guns come out. Very reflective of Haru's nice but you're dead to me if you're bad personality. (5/n)
At first glance, you see she looks harmless but once fully awakened, the guns come out. Very reflective of Haru's nice but you're dead to me if you're bad personality. (5/n)
Second, the parallels of Father-Daughter perception of an Okumura. Kunikazu is right, Haru IS an Okumura, just not HIS definition of an Okumura. Kunikazu's perception of an Okumura is distorted while Haru's is more justified and dignified. (6/n)
Because Haru understands that in order to overcome his father's failure of being a good CEO and father, she needs to betray him. In order to gain his father back and to stand above the injustices, she needed to give up being the 'obedient' daughter he expected her to be. (7/n)
Notes:
1. CRINGE at Kunikazu and fiance's perception of Haru. That was difficult to watch. I am glad the engagement got cut off. Haru is not a puppet!
2. Even if I was disappointed at her awakening, I still like her so please more justice for her at P5R! (8/n)
1. CRINGE at Kunikazu and fiance's perception of Haru. That was difficult to watch. I am glad the engagement got cut off. Haru is not a puppet!
2. Even if I was disappointed at her awakening, I still like her so please more justice for her at P5R! (8/n)
6. Yusuke Kitagawa
Eccentric and eloquent Inari takes the 6th spot. I love him but his awakening is just alright for me as I found the others better. There were parts that I really liked though so I'll elaborate on it. Shall we begin? (1/n)
Eccentric and eloquent Inari takes the 6th spot. I love him but his awakening is just alright for me as I found the others better. There were parts that I really liked though so I'll elaborate on it. Shall we begin? (1/n)
The main theme of Yusuke's awakening is truth. At the start, Yusuke has Stockholm Syndrome. It's no surprise since Madarame became his dad after losing both parents. His gratitude blinded him from Madarame's atrocities to him and the other pupils. (2/n)
Then Madarame admits everything. What ticked Yusuke off was how Madarame perceives art, which was the exact opposite of how Yusuke perceives it. Madarame's is distorted as he sees it as merely a business while Yusuke's is pure and art for the sake of itself. (3/n)
Another thing that ticked Yusuke off was how Madarame treated him and the other pupils. He realizes Madarame wasn't the Sensei he admired. The so-called Master artist, who was 'passionate' about art and a mentor to aspiring artists, turned out to be an abusive plagiarizer. (4/n)
In typical Yusuke fashion, he laughs but I think this is his way of assuring himself that even though the truth is strange and even if he finds it difficult to fathom, he's not going to a blind eye to it anymore. (5/n)
My favorite is the hand-scratching with blood part because it perfectly reflects Yusuke being an artist. Let's say it's like his watermark of his awakening. The dialogue is great as it closely reflects the trigger of Yusuke's awakening: not being blind from the truth. (6/n)
Yusuke somewhat loses his idealistic take on reality. He could be referring to Madarame the 'Master Artist' or vices that are disguised as beauty. He perceives them as imitations that look overtly beautiful but are actually covertly evil and despicable. (7/n)
Probably one of my favorite Yusuke's lines. It sucks but it's the truth. In his case, he had to let go of his affection for Madarame. He had to be rational and realistic of the truth about his Sensei. This is different from the Yusuke we saw at the beginning. (8/n)
Notes:
1. One of the worst feelings in the world is letting go of your affections/admiration of someone because they turned out to be different from what you thought them to be.
2. It was a fun challenge to have my own interpretation of the eloquent Yusuke awakening.
1. One of the worst feelings in the world is letting go of your affections/admiration of someone because they turned out to be different from what you thought them to be.
2. It was a fun challenge to have my own interpretation of the eloquent Yusuke awakening.
5. Ryuji Sakamoto
Our resident Best Friend Ramen Boy takes the 5th spot. Captain Kidd is personally one of my favorite Personas from the gang. Who wouldn't fall in love with Captain Kidd's voice? Anyway, let's start. (1/n)
Our resident Best Friend Ramen Boy takes the 5th spot. Captain Kidd is personally one of my favorite Personas from the gang. Who wouldn't fall in love with Captain Kidd's voice? Anyway, let's start. (1/n)
The main theme of Ryuji's awakening is Rebellion. At the start, Ryuji is immediately depicted as Vulgar Boy aka your resident Troublemaker. Literally, everyone in the school is telling Ren to avoid him. Why? Because Ryuji is a rebel and no 'normal' society wants a rebel. (2/n)
Because of the ostracization, Ryuji has a hard time accepting his true self, his rebellion. In his heart, he knows standing up to Kamoshida was right. He was protecting his team from Kamoshida's abuses. He was also protecting his mother from Kamoshida slandering her. (3/n)
What triggered Ryuji's awakening is first, his desire to protect others. He wants to prove to Kamoshida that he can protect the people he cares about. In here, it would be Morgana and Ren. But in order to do that, he can't just stay there and watch. He has to rebel. (4/n)
Another is Ryuji's assertion of his true self in a society that betrayed him. It is fitting that he is the Chariot, which symbolizes the assertion to win. Ryuji wants to win/prove to others that rebelling against Kamoshida was no mistake because he's a sexual predator. (5/n)
Lastly, Ryuji's rage. Ryuji is fed up and tired of the injustice. Captain Kidd is telling him to embrace this rage to wreck havoc. You can see the progression here. From Ryuji being powerless to rebel after all the discrimination to him being given the power to do so. (6/n)
Now you see a more confident Ryuji, fully embracing his rebellion. He has all this pent-up anger against those shitty adults and using that to wreck havoc or what I'd call, vigilante justice. I like the terms used, 'Havoc, Wreck' - very fitting of Ryuji's explosiveness! (7/n)
Captain Kidd seriously fits Ryuji. Just like how a captain treats his crew and treasure, Ryuji will protect and cherish them no matter what. Just like a captain, Ryuji exudes courage, confidence, and the battle prowess all while maintaining that troublemaker personality. (8/n)
4. Ren Amamiya
The Silent yet Gentleman Thief takes the 4th spot. I changed my rankings and this makes me sad. It doesn't help that I have crush on Joker. I really love Arsene and this is one of my favorites but the other 3 were too good as well! Anyway, let's proceed. (1/n)
The Silent yet Gentleman Thief takes the 4th spot. I changed my rankings and this makes me sad. It doesn't help that I have crush on Joker. I really love Arsene and this is one of my favorites but the other 3 were too good as well! Anyway, let's proceed. (1/n)
The main theme of Ren's awakening is Justice. There are two amazing parallels here. First, Ren wants to save Ryuji from being executed by Shadow Kamoshida just like how he saved the woman from Shido the rapist. It's reflective of Ren 's desire to help others. (2/n)
However, Ren experiences an internal conflict. When he saved the woman from Shido, he was branded as a criminal even if what he did was right. Being a teenager, it's hard to fathom adults not upholding the values they should have (e.g. having a distorted kind of justice). (3/n)
But then Arsene reassures him to pursue his OWN meaning of justice and not the distorted one of those sickening adults. Ren, accepting that what he did was no mistake and will not let the same thing happen to Ryuji despite what others may think of him, awakens Arsene. (4/n)
The second parallel is Ren as a prisoner. Ren is not only a prisoner of fate but also of society (e.g. delinquent). His awakening also happens in a prison cell.
His awakening symbolizes his rebellion to that - a rebellion to freedom through his justice. (5/n)
His awakening symbolizes his rebellion to that - a rebellion to freedom through his justice. (5/n)
My favorite part: Arsene is in chains just like how a prisoner is then we realize Ren is holding those chains, moves them to free Arsene, unleashing his full power.
I think it emphasizes Ren's desire to rebel - to stand up for his own justice in a society that chains him. (6/n)
I think it emphasizes Ren's desire to rebel - to stand up for his own justice in a society that chains him. (6/n)
It's also symbolic of how Ren will not chain himself when he sees injustice as he is no longer afraid of rejection.
He has fully embraced the rebellious side of him that seeks to do just, even if it's not the standard of society - a vigilante/dark side of justice. (7/7)
He has fully embraced the rebellious side of him that seeks to do just, even if it's not the standard of society - a vigilante/dark side of justice. (7/7)
3. Ann Takamaki
Our confident aspiring model takes the 3rd spot. I don't really talk much about Ann but I love her and believe she deserves to be recognized beyond her looks/sex appeal.
Also, coincidentally, Happy Birthday to our crepe-loving Panther! Let's start. (1/n)
Our confident aspiring model takes the 3rd spot. I don't really talk much about Ann but I love her and believe she deserves to be recognized beyond her looks/sex appeal.
Also, coincidentally, Happy Birthday to our crepe-loving Panther! Let's start. (1/n)
The main theme of Ann's awakening is Agency. At the start, Ann has been restrained by the Shadows in Kamoshida's Palace. Kamoshida believes Ann is nothing but his sex slave, going as far as his cognition of Ann as someone under his control and will follow whatever he wants. (2/n)
Ann is also internally restrained. She feels she has no power to stand up against Kamoshida as doing so will affect Shiho. However, it's a lose-lose situation as Kamoshida, the fucking rapist, sexually abuses them both. Ann probably didn't want to make matters worse. (3/n)
Ann feels a lot of guilt as she feels responsible for Shiho's attempted suicide after Kamoshida rapes her. She feels she is a bad friend because she should have agreed to Kamoshida (but no please!). Kamoshida feeds onto that guilt, preventing Ann from awakening her Persona. (4/n)
But after some encouragement from Ren to not let Kamoshida and his gaslighting/victim blaming get to her. Ann is now showing her angry side. She's realized she should have stood up against Kamoshida a long time ago and is now going to do something about. (5/n)
Kamoshida's perception of her and Shiho as slaves is probably the trigger of Ann's awakening. She's going to give him hell. Ann is regaining her agency that she is MORE than whatever Kamoshida and society thinks of her - a derogatory term that I refuse to say. (6/n)
Carmen reiterates that Ann always had within her the agency to stand up for herself and others. Ann was holding back because of how she is treated. Breaksing free from the chains, it's symbolic that she's finally listening - that she is a badass fighting against injustice. (7/n)
My FAVORITE scene is when Ann goes "Fuck you!", grabs a sword from the Shadow then jump slashes her cognitive copy - the death of the old Ann. No longer restraining herself, she's ready to avenge because she now has the confidence to assert her agency and will of rebellion. (8/n)
Also one of my favorite scenes. Ann refutes the distorted notion of love. Knowing she deserve better - that she is not Kamoshida's slave who treats her that way because he 'loves' her . Love isn't a form of power play - it's a commitment to see/treat each other equally. (9/n)
Just wanted to add this too. After beating Kamoshida, Ann is now control of the situation. She's tempted to kill him but says, "There are fates worse than death." she wants him to atone for his crimes as she purposely misses the fireball directed him.
Stan this badass. (10/10)
Stan this badass. (10/10)
Before I continue, I actually was able to do this thread because I watched Youtube videos on the awakenings and I feel ashamed and stupid for not crediting them. Without them, this thread wouldn't exist. I apologize for the miscalculation and will be more careful next time.
Giving credit where it is due. Thank you very much for the screenshots and letting me do this more easily!
1. Haru (Fairy Fantasy):
2. Yusuke (Fairy Fantasy:
3. Ryuji (xPervetedkida):
1. Haru (Fairy Fantasy):
2. Yusuke (Fairy Fantasy:
3. Ryuji (xPervetedkida):
4. Ren (xPervetedkida):
5. Ann: (xPervertedkida):
So again, I SUPER APOLOGIZE for the oversight and this will not happen again. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to again make the content I wanted to make!
5. Ann: (xPervertedkida):
So again, I SUPER APOLOGIZE for the oversight and this will not happen again. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to again make the content I wanted to make!
So this thread is back and my goal is to finish it this week. I apologize for the wait but LAST TWO. HERE WE GO.
2. Futaba Sakura
The witty hacker takes the second spot. An emotional awakening that had a good build up. I have not played P4 so this awakening was pretty unorthodox to me, which I think added to its appeal. (1/n)
(Screencaps from Fairy Fantasy )
The witty hacker takes the second spot. An emotional awakening that had a good build up. I have not played P4 so this awakening was pretty unorthodox to me, which I think added to its appeal. (1/n)
(Screencaps from Fairy Fantasy )
The main theme of Futaba's awakening is Illusion. When Futaba enters her Palace, she is greeted by her Shadow self, whom I've perceive to be the anti-hero of this arc. Her Shadow self's actions have been contradictory (2/n)
Her Shadow is helping the Phantom Thieves yet at the same time shutting them out, which I believe to be Futaba's internal struggle. She wants to be helped but because of the illusions caused by her trauma, her perception of reality and trust of others is distorted. (3/n)
However when it comes to Futaba, her Shadow is guiding HER to see through the illusions. I love how she's prompting Futaba to remember what Wakaba really told Futaba shortly before her died ON HER OWN. In that way, it's more impactful and it did help Futaba a bit. (4/n)
But as Futaba sees distorted Wakaba, she crumbles again. Hence, triggering again the severe illusions of the time after Wakaba's death.
The suicide note is pretty significant... it's the only source regarding Wakaba's death that Futaba has ever known - it was her trigger. (5/n)
The suicide note is pretty significant... it's the only source regarding Wakaba's death that Futaba has ever known - it was her trigger. (5/n)