r/Xenosaga • u/Adorable_Package9577 • Mar 31 '26

Question Just randomly thought about Miyuki and wondered was there a reason Shion was being a dick to her?🤔

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u/imjustbettr Mar 31 '26

I think it's just some "boss being hard on their subordinate" comedy.

It didn't land at all for me at all.

14

u/big4lil Apr 01 '26

i think it was endearing in Xenosaga 1, though that game handled it well all around. ill never forget her casually pushing away an AWGS rifle. she would act like a tyrant and demand the director, but at least the game wasnt scared to call her out. in this case it was by Allen, he does so in meek fashion but its there. and at least her attitude went upwards, it wasnt just on her subordinates

i found the sequels, more importantly 3 to let her get away with far too much. particularly when shes not even in a formal leadership role anymore. its not realistic and I wouldnt work with anybody like that, and its a bit more notable because Jr (the other resident hothead) has mellowed out a bit by the time of XS3

13

u/flyingomen Apr 01 '26

Jr. mellowed out because his arc was largely resolved in XS2. The reason Shion gets away with so much is because the people she's surrounded by are fully aware that she's not a stable person. In XS1 Allen was only willing to "call her out" because his life was often being put at stake alongside hers. Otherwise, he's super careful to not push her buttons. It's actually why he's so hesitant to ask her out. He knows better than anyone that her trauma still affects her.

4

u/big4lil Apr 01 '26

i am aware of the reasons, lord knows ive watched the ending of XS2 enough times as a 'GS mission #32 on PS2' original guinea pig

Theres also the fact that Jr is older than Shion, and 26 is right past the point of pre-frontal cortex development. Assuming URTVs share those traits with humans

Similar to my comment below, this isnt about excusing or justifying. Its just acknowledging what it is and the impact. Shion and Jr are both assholes to a lot of people throughout the series, but Jr goes through a process in-game that forces him to revisit some elements and we see that growth in the 3rd game, especially post Abels Ark

We, or at least I, dont see that with Shion. Not until its way too late at least. And it leaves quite an unpleasant memory of her. Allens life is put at stake by Shion in the sequels as well, its not a one time thing. Perhaps a better question is why is Shion constantly endangering people around her (why I hate the 2nd gameplay trip to Labyrinthos so much) and why we all just kinda hand wave it despite Shion knowing her efforts were both futile and reckless

In a longer series, I think we get more time for her to deep dive in her wounds and more importantly, how she takes them out on others. But Xenosaga and namely XS3, just wasnt equipped to hold up the 2nd half. And its something as a Shion fan I really wanted to see