I’ve been thinking about this ever since I first played Rebirth & got to Cosmo Canyon. Many folks were perplexed at the direction of Cosmo Canyon and found aspects of it surprising or confusing. I would say that it was entirely subversive for a number of reasons, but primarily, I want to focus on Tifa, because it got me thinking about her role in a much larger sense.
When I first played FFVII as a 14 -year-old girl in the late 90s, my first impression of Tifa was that she was an underdog as a character and as a heroine, especially in comparison to Aerith, the other heroine of FFVII. This was primarily due to how she was presented throughout the first disc, but also how she evolved as a character throughout the story, leading up to and through the Lifestream Scene. At the time, underdog stories particularly resonated with me (they were also quite prominent in the 90s) and they are relatable to real people. It’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with Tifa.
That being said, FF7R has really developed all of the characters in ways that gives their arcs more depth and resonance, and I think this is particularly visible with Tifa. It’s especially apparent in Rebirth, especially given what we see in Cosmo Canyon and how it relates to Tifa’s previous character development, while foreshadowingi what is to come for her and her role.
In storytelling, an underdog arc involves a character who starts from a position of disadvantage, either through external circumstances or internal struggles, only to rise and succeed against the odds. The underdog heroine, in particular, undergoes a journey of emotional growth, perseverance, and resilience, transforming her into a capable and powerful figure by the story’s end. This arc creates relatability and builds tension, making the heroine’s eventual triumph all the more rewarding for both the character and the audience. Underdog stories tend to feature heavily in sports and martial arts films (hmmm) but it is a universal archetype in storytelling.
For Tifa, her role as an underdog is critical to understanding her role and ultimate evolution as a heroine, both in the OG and even more so in FF7R, which builds upon this arc more steadily and organically. Through pivotal events in the game as well as her evolving relationship with Cloud, Tifa’s underdog arc is designed to prepare her for her significant heroine arc in Part 3, which will cover disc 2 of the OG.
Let’s start with the OG, where Tifa is an often understated character, particularly in the early portions of the story. In Disc 1, she plays a quieter role compared to more outwardly central characters like Cloud and Aerith. While Aerith has her connection to the Planet and Cloud is thrust into the role of the group’s leader, Tifa’s journey seems more personal and internal. Tifa’s primary focus is her relationship with Cloud, who is dealing with an identity crisis that leaves him emotionally distant, confused, and susceptible to strange behaviors. Although Tifa harbors deep feelings for Cloud, her confusion over their mismatched past memories leaves her vulnerable, confused, and reticent, compared to other characters who feature more centrally.
However, this positioning as an underdog is precisely what sets Tifa up for her eventual role as a heroine. In the OG, she begins as someone overshadowed by more powerful or prominent figures, but proves to be emotionally essential, particularly in the Lifestream scene. It is Tifa, with her quiet strength and deep connection to Cloud, who helps him recover his true self from the fragmentation caused by Sephiroth’s manipulations.
Though Tifa may not have a magical connection to the Planet or the external conflict, her strength lies in her emotional resilience and her ability to anchor Cloud when he is at his lowest. This transition from being in the background to being pivotal in Cloud’s recovery is a hallmark of the underdog arc. Tifa’s most critical strength is not in her outward power but in her deep emotional ties and unwavering support. It is also a huge signal of the game’s propensity to use red herrings and subversion as a vehicle for storytelling.
FF7R takes Tifa’s underdog arc that was present in the OG and expands it more steadily and organically. In Remake and Rebirth, Tifa’s journey is given more focus and depth, allowing her character to grow gradually, especially in relation to her bond with Cloud and her own emotional challenges, such as her internal conflict over her involvement with AVALANCHE.
In Remake, Tifa and Cloud reacquaint themselves after years apart, and their relationship becomes a central focus with far more development, nuance, tension, and prominence than the OG. Early in the story, Tifa is hesitant, unsure of her place in Cloud’s life and the larger conflict surrounding them. Much like in the OG, she begins in a vulnerable position, confused about the discrepancies of their pasts, and struggling with feelings of guilt and self-doubt.
Remake carefully builds up their relationship, showing moments where they grow closer, develop trust, and begin to support each other emotionally in ways they never did before. This slow burn of intimacy is a critical part of Tifa’s underdog arc—while she may not be the most obvious heroine within the scope of the external conflict, her emotional journey is laying the groundwork for her later importance in the internal conflict.
This is reinforced in Rebirth, where Tifa’s relationship with Cloud is tested by the growing threat of Sephiroth and related external forces. From the very first chapter, beginning with their conflict in Kalm, we see the tension, unresolved issues, and external manipulation (Sephiroth) between them that will carry through the story.
This slow burn of reconciliation and tension defines their relationship, as Tifa grapples with her growing trust in Cloud while dealing with his unpredictable behavior. The climax of this arc comes in Gongaga when, under Sephiroth’s control, Cloud attacks Tifa. This moment marks a critical low point in their relationship, meant to test Tifa’s faith in Cloud and her ability to stand by him despite his actions.
However, the following Lifestream scene acts as a turning point for Tifa’s underdog heroine arc. In this scene, Tifa is essentially given a “tutorial” of sorts, which accomplishes three vital things:
1) Prepares her for her coming role in Part 3 (aka Disc 2) by reinforcing her emotional resilience and resolve;
2) Reveals that Tifa, too, has been gifted with an important connection to the Planet for a specific purpose—becoming Cloud’s heroine, the one person who can help him reclaim his true self; and,
3) Fortifies her faith in Cloud, reaffirming her belief in him despite the trauma of his attack. All of these elements are crucial in building Tifa up for her ultimate role in Part 3, where her emotional strength and deep bond with Cloud will prove indispensable.
Following these climactic events in Gongaga, Tifa’s role as an underdog becomes even more pronounced during the events in Cosmo Canyon, revealing her heroine arc with greater clarity through a clever subversion of expectations. Traditionally, Cosmo Canyon is a section of the game that focuses on external conflicts, especially tied to Aerith’s role as a Cetra and her connection to the Planet.
However, in Rebirth, Tifa is also unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight in a setting that purposefully marginalizes her, with the narrative now drawing attention to her internal struggles. This shift in focus gives weight to her emotional and personal conflicts, contrasting with the larger planetary issues central to the external conflict, although centered in the same setting where those issues are the focal point.
Bugenhagen and the elders, who represent the epitome of knowledge about the Planet and the Lifestream, ridicule Tifa’s personal experiences, dismissing them as heretical and uneducated compared to their teachings. This organized structure of Cosmo Canyon, revered for its wisdom, alienates Tifa, making her feel further out of place. She is sidelined in a place where the spiritual wisdom of the Planet should matter most, yet her direct experiences within the Lifestream are discredited.
This subversion is essential to Tifa’s arc: although she is overlooked by those considered authorities, it highlights her position as an underdog whose true power lies in her emotional resilience and connection to Cloud, not in abstract spiritual knowledge. Her ability to persevere beyond what she encounters in this scene is what will make her triumph in Part 3 further rewarding. The fact that the planet itself has facilitated this experience to some degree (in Gongaga) makes this arc even more compelling.
All of these events in Rebirth subtly prepare Tifa for her role as a heroine in Part 3. Despite being undervalued by those who should understand the power of her connection to the Lifestream, Tifa is destined for a crucial purpose. The Planet has clearly chosen her to be the one to save Cloud, “the boy who is destined to save the world.”
This culminates with a powerful emotional contrast that sets up her lowest point just before the game ends, perfectly priming her for her ultimate heroine role in Part 3. After the events in Cosmo Canyon and Gongaga, the narrative takes a softer turn during Tifa’s date with Cloud at the Gold Saucer. This scene is crucial for both Tifa and the player, as Cloud finally gives a clear indication of his feelings for her by kissing her, offering a moment of happiness and intimacy. For Tifa, this moment of connection and affection from Cloud is deeply validating—after their long, slow burn of building trust and emotional closeness, this kiss solidifies that Cloud returns her feelings. It creates the “calm before the storm,” giving them both a brief moment of peace and joy before the dark trials ahead.
*disclaimer* it doesn’t matter if the moment is “optional”. All of the dates are “optional” in that sense and all of them are narratively important. It is much more honest to consider the date “expanded” rather than “optional”. They expand our understanding of the narrative and characters, not alter it.
Anyway, this moment of emotional relief is soon followed by the unraveling of Cloud’s mental state, marking the descent of Tifa’s arc into its lowest point yet. The game transitions from the joy of the Gold Saucer to the Temple of the Ancients, where Cloud’s spiraling intensifies under Sephiroth’s manipulation. Tifa is forced to watch as the man she loves loses control, and her devastation grows as she realizes how powerless she is to stop it.
The situation worsens at the Forgotten City, where not only does Cloud continue to deteriorate, but Tifa also witnesses the loss of Aerith, one of her closest friends. The combination of losing Aerith and seeing Cloud fall deeper into Sephiroth’s influence leaves Tifa emotionally shattered, hitting rock bottom.
These events at the end of Rebirth set the stage for Tifa’s ultimate rise in Part Three. Her devastation, watching Cloud spiral and suffering the heartbreak of losing Aerith, pits her at the lowest emotional point in her journey. This is essential for unfolding her heroine arc in Part 3 (Disc Two of the original game), where she will be pivotal in the events at the Northern Crater, the escape from Junon, Mideel, and ultimately, the Lifestream scene.
The Lifestream scene is the culmination of Tifa’s entire arc—everything she has experienced in Remake and Rebirth has been preparing her for this moment. Despite the many challenges of the journey thus far – many of them internal – Tifa will be the one to guide Cloud back to his true self, using the deep emotional connection they’ve forged. It is here that her resilience, emotional strength, and faith in Cloud, despite everything that has happened, will solidify her as the heroine destined to play a critical role in not just Cloud’s recovery but in the party’s fight against Sephiroth.
In this way, Tifa’s underdog arc is not just about personal growth; it is about the power of emotional resilience in a world where traditional heroism is often defined by strength and cosmic or magical power, a core message of the game’s overall subversion. By the time she reaches her role in Part 3, Tifa will have transformed from someone who was dismissed and overshadowed into a heroine whose quiet strength proves to be indispensable.
Her journey, both in OG and FF7R, shows that true heroism often lies not in grand gestures but in emotional endurance and unwavering support for those who matter most – those we love.
