#omega can teach shadow how to live beyond what his creators wanted from him

[gayemeralds]

here's the thing about shadow: his role, as the protector/savior of the world, is already being utilized. there's someone else filling his role. sonic.

shadow fulfilling his goal of protecting the world would have been fine as a one off thing. shadow being the protector and dying valiantly thus fulfilled what gerald and maria originally intended for him. he kept his promise to maria, even at the ultimate cost.

but by bringing him back from the dead, sega brought about a very big question- what do we do with him now? the role he wants is already being filled. there's not really a need for him. so what's left for him?

i don't think sega honestly has a concrete answer. the route they seem to take is that shadow's trying to let go of his past but also keep maria's promise. but i think, for both fans and sega, that they put far too much emphasis on maria's promise. i don't think it's a satisfying arc for shadow to save the world just because he feels he has to, just because he promised he would, just because he was intended to do so. shadow 05 was all about a deep exploration into morality and identity. what is shadow, now that maria and gerald are no longer in his life? what is shadow, now that someone is already fulfilling the role of the hero?

personally, if i had been in charge, i would have put him on team chaotix. having shadow align with g.u.n. is frankly a bad move- the very same branch of government that literally killed shadow's family and is filled to the brim with corruption? i don't see shadow joining, not willingly. and i definitely don't see him joining as an alternative to being a hero. the commander and him still have a lot of unresolved conflict and there's the fact that g.u.n. KILLED maria and EXECUTED gerald.

i think him being a part of team chaotix would be a good compromise. shadow's allowed to let go of his past, to no longer live up to the expectations of others. he's not just fulfilling a role, he's not just doing what he was always originally intended to do- he's carving out his own path and his own identity but he's still able to keep maria's promise, just on a smaller scale. he helps the chaotix with smaller level cases, helps keep people smiling and happy, becomes a hero to the little people.

the chaotix could definitely help him loosen up and learn to create his own identity without worrying about other people's perception. shadow fufills his promise without compromising the idea of giving him a life separate to the one gerald and gun intended for him. he's not a weapon or a cure or a saviour or whatever. he can just be shadow.

#there is something quite lovely to me in the idea of weapon of revenge shadow the hedgehog #ends up being some guy that helps old ladies cross the street or gets cats out of trees #its about the choice of living a peaceful life after seeing so much hate and tragedy #its about being able to choose mundanity #its not about surviving or fighting or whatever #its about thriving #sega official speaks #i don't know #like im fond of the idea that shadow wants to keep his promise but i always HATE how much like..... spotlight/focus is on that aspect #i think its counterintuitive to have him only be a hero because of maria #i honestly don't think thats particualry canon #or at least wasn't the direction they were going with him until they jsut gutted his character into edgy sonic rival #in my mind he'd more of a bonus back up character #like he's plan b if something goes wrong with sonic #but he wouldn't be a part of the main cast #also i don't necessarily mind team dark as a family but i just don't really think they would be able to #and i stress #HEALTHILY give shadow a sense of identity while fufilling maria's promise #omega can teach shadow how to live beyond what his creators wanted from him #and rouge can teach him the value of selfishness #the value of your own life #but ultimately i don't think they would give him the color he's looking for #the two of them live VERY exciting lives too #and i think it would be nice for shadow to end up being a bit more mundane. still here to help but in his own way. #after years of thinking youre just a weapon or you just need to dish out revenge #years of straggling and uncertainty. i think he deserves a bit of peace. like emerl/gemerl did. #etc etc etc etc also i think it would be funny for shadow and charmy to be on the same team. thank you for your time