Okay, so most of us have seen the secret ending to Kingdom Hearts 3D, and judging by the clip, its pretty safe to say that Kairi will FINALLY get some more screen-time in Kingdom Hearts III. So what does this mean? Well, since Kairi hasn't really done anything for the past 5 games, everyone say's that she will start to be more useful now that she has a Keyblade. But to me, its not really a matter of whether she's useful or not, its a matter of whether she will be interesting or not. Because, lets face it, Kairi has gotten very little character development since the beginning of the series....Well, sort of.

 

It might not be that she didn't develop and change throughout the series, it might just be that she hasn't been around enough to actually show it. Most of her time in Kingdom Hearts II(Where she got the most screen-time in)was spent searching for Sora and Riku, and she was actually shown to be a very wise and mature individual, one who was able to stand up for herself; I mean, she at least TRIED to protect herself throughout the game. But unfortunately, this didn't really go anywhere; or at least, it hasn't gone anywhere yet. Because there was actually no reason to include her in the future games, she's been pushed aside in favor of characters that can do her job for her. However, Kingdom Hearts 3D changed that.

 

Now that they actually need more Keyblade Wielder's, her character has been given relevance once again. Hopefully, this means that we can finally see more of the character she actually is, this will in turn make her not just necessary, but more interesting. That's what I'm expecting of her; because its Nomura's job to make us care about these characters, and he really hasn't done that yet for Kairi.

Tbh, the thing I most look forward to seeing her feminine girly graceful moves.  Like Aqua's double jump/flight move.  

 

EDIT: I suspect the whole reason she is going to be guardian of light is because she needs relevance again.  Really the first story is the only one she really had a place.  She was what was driving the plot forward (for Sora and Riku).  Since then she's gradually faded more and more into the background.  As time goes on, more and more people call for more productive female characters (less Peach princess characters, more Zelda like characters (even in the beginning of that series she was simply saved but with more recent installments she's actually helped in end boss fights)) so it seems natural for Kairi to receive the same treatment, though the more I read from fans the more I feel like either way you can't win.

 

Example:

"Kairi sucked because she done nothing all the games apart from  be kidnapped"

or

"Kairi sucks she can't be a guardian cause she's done nothing in the past games"If she isn't given a chance to evolve then how can she?  When people complain they don't want to see more of her because she's been given no development how can you actually expect her to be developed at all.  I actually wanted a side game dedicated to Kairi's personal journey and training after seeing a fanmade game logo "Kingdom hearts: Path of Hope" (POH: Also a anagram of Princesses of Heart)

Seriously, I feel some people are so backwards in their thinking ._.'  

 

Making her one of the seven lights (and allowing her to be a keyblade bearer) will help to remove this "damsel-in-distress" character she's had to fit since the first game.  

Edited January 2, 201312 yr by Caity Raindrop

I agree. It is what they do with her.

I don't want her to feel forced in like in KH2. That could really ruin KH3. A mix of KH and KH2 Kairi is asking for trouble.

But I wished they would have waited until the next saga to develop her character. It is too late now.

 

 

Tbqh, not to be mean or anything, but I hope Roxas is the last light. It would feel really forced if she was.

People say that the Secret Ending comfirms it; however, BBSFM secret ending hinted to BBS volume 2 and where is that?

 

Being involved with things typically overlaps with being interesting.  Being a keyblade wielder won't inherently make you interesting, since everyone's getting 'em these days, but putting Kairi in the front lines will hopefully give her enough spotlight to put her character to better use.  It's not like they took advantage of her Princess of Heart status since KH1 and a little of BBS, but with a keyblade, she'll have no excuse.  Or rather, the story writers will have no excuse.

TBH I don't think Kairi will get the character development and attention that the fanbase has been wanting since the first game (well some of the fanbase) because of a mixture of her track record until know and because KH3 just isn't a great game to delve into her more. KH3 will be the climax/ending of the Xehanort Saga and with all the lose ends to wrap up and and characters to juggle that also need addressing there's simply no time to make sufficient contributions to her character, or at least not the way people want it.

 

During the next saga though it's a whole different ball game because there's a chance to start over. That's really where they should spend flushing out her character.

 

Though it depends on what you mean by "interesting character". IMO on a conceptual level I already think she's "interesting", she's just more interesting as a plot device but even then they don't really do anything with her. And I wouldn't say it's because it's necessarily because because of a lack of screen time either because screen time means nothing if there isn't a real reason for it. That's why KH2 Kairi feels forced, for what they had her do it that game she actually had too much screen time and it became noticeable that the writers just had her running around doing...stuff because they weren't sure what to do with her.

 

The issue she had in KH2 wasn't that she didn't have enough screen time, you can take away about 90% of it and lose nothing of value, rather it's the execution. That's the real key because you can show Kairi sitting in an empty room sipping on tea for two hours and gain nothing from it except learning that she likes tea but can't find an interesting place to drink it. You can get great character development and moments from just five minutes of screen time, you just have to know what to do with it. Hell, a character doesn't even technically need screen time to be developed or characterized, that's what direct characterization is for.  

 

Some of Kairi's best characterization actually happens when she's not there and I kind of wish we had more of it sprinkled here and there, it's just that these moments don't get taken into consideration if it's not from the character itself which is a shame. All in all, as far as screen time goes I'm not concerned about that, I'm worried about what they'll do with it.          

Tbh, the thing I most look forward to seeing her feminine girly graceful moves.  Like Aqua's double jump/flight move.  

 

EDIT: I suspect the whole reason she is going to be guardian of light is because she needs relevance again.  Really the first story is the only one she really had a place.  She was what was driving the plot forward (for Sora and Riku).  Since then she's gradually faded more and more into the background.  As time goes on, more and more people call for more productive female characters (less Peach princess characters, more Zelda like characters (even in the beginning of that series she was simply saved but with more recent installments she's actually helped in end boss fights)) so it seems natural for Kairi to receive the same treatment, though the more I read from fans the more I feel like either way you can't win.

 

Example:

"Kairi sucked because she done nothing all the games apart from  be kidnapped"

or

"Kairi sucks she can't be a guardian cause she's done nothing in the past games"If she isn't given a chance to evolve then how can she?  When people complain they don't want to see more of her because she's been given no development how can you actually expect her to be developed at all.  I actually wanted a side game dedicated to Kairi's personal journey and training after seeing a fanmade game logo "Kingdom hearts: Path of Hope" (POH: Also a anagram of Princesses of Heart)

Seriously, I feel some people are so backwards in their thinking ._.'  

 

Making her one of the seven lights (and allowing her to be a keyblade bearer) will help to remove this "damsel-in-distress" character she's had to fit since the first game.  

I will play Devil's advocate:

They could remove her damsel in distress character by just letting her fight, not making her a light. They can develop her without making her a light.

 

I will say this, I personally don't want Kairi as a light, but I would like her as a healer and helper and fight and provide logic and reasoning to Riku and Sora. I want her to use her keyblade wielding abilities. She still can be important with out being a light remember KH1

 

First of all, it would be a stupid decision to risk her in battle. She will be trained but will need someone to protect her. TAV and Mickey together could not beat Xehanort alone and they were some of the best fighters in the series. It took Sora and Riku to beat Xemnas; Sora, Donald, and Goofy to beat Ansem. Don't say Sora could do it on his own. Sora needs his friends for power; that is what makes him strong. You can't use Drive Forms with out his friends right? Sora was manipulated and he is one of the strongest in the series. Xehanort plays on people's weaknesses. Kairi alone is pretty strong but is weak. For example, her in KH2. Kairi needs someone she can trusts and is strong in her weak area.

 

Secondly, we have other characters that are equally capable to be a light. (Roxas and Lea) Roxas is hinted to become his own person and can wield a keyblade. He had a game and prologue to himself; we spent so much time on his character and his connections it makes sense that he could be one. Lea is fighting for his friends Roxas and Isa. That drive is what made him get the keyblade. His story and Roxas's story is very similar. It is the connections that keep them together and drive them forward.

 

Overall, Kairi does not need to be a light to be developed as a character. I think her having a keyblade is enough to spark something. All I ask is that they further explain the relationship she has with Riku and Sora and make her awesome as a magic based fighter.

Edited January 3, 201312 yr by HikariYami

Personally I don't have a problem with DiDs or Kairi being one but, once again, it's the execution. The DiD trope CAN be used well and be used as an excellent way to flush out a character but with Kairi it didn't do much for her because it was used more to enhance her as an epic plot device than for development. Which is generally the problem with DiDs, it's a status that's easy to abuse at the sacrifice of the character that has it. 

 

I don't think she even really needed to be a wielder or combatant to further her character, they just needed to flush out the attributes she already had, namely being a PoH. Which it looks like they are going to do anyway but while simultaneously fleshing out her wielder status. I actually think it'd kind of sad that in order for them to include Kairi properly into the plot that they to make her a wielder like 99.9% percent of the other protagonists. To me it feels less like they're expanding or improving her character and are fitting her into a more comfortable mold because it's easier to handle if they just slap a Keyblade on her and make her an action girl.

I think Kairi could and should take a level up. She's a barely explained character even though she's supposed to be one of the most important.

I think Kairi could and should take a level up. She's a barely explained character even though she's supposed to be one of the most important.

 

THIS. 

 

What I'm also wondering is, are they (Sora, Riku, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Lea, Kairi) all splitting off into groups?