The Better love story?

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I have to say that i loved the love story with laguna, it was very emotional.
heres a recap
Out on a mission for the army, Laguna and his friends get lost and end up in Deling city, there he watches his love interest Julia heartilly sing in a local bar. The two eventually get close, however it is short lived as Laguna is sent out to war shortly after.
During the war he is injured. A young woman named Raine takes him to Winhill where he is nursed back to health He falls in love with her and marries her. However, he is drawn away from his new home when Ellone is kidnapped. He finds her in Esthar, where he helps liberate the people of Esthar from the rule of Sorceress Adel. The people of Esthar elect Laguna as their president and Ellone is sent back to Winhill without him. Unable to leave Esthar due to his position in power, Laguna remains in Esthar. Raine however during this time has died. Laguna never got to go back and see Raine and his child.
Then theres Julia she lost her true love without ever knowing what happened to him, he went to war and never returned.

I think this love story is very well developed and thought out, and is often overshadowed by the Squall~Rinoa relationship. I think this stands as the best love story in the entire final fantasy series actually.

Thoughts? Oppinions?
 
Despite my general discontent with the way FF8 panned out, I actually quite liked the main characters (Squall/Laguna/Rinoa). I was just disappointed with the lack of involvement of the minors.

Anways, regarding Laguna's romance - during the first encounter with Julia I took an instant liking to the pairing. They obviously took a liking to another and it was just so endearing seeing Laguna get all nervouse when trying to ask her out. Not to mention, their relaionship produced "Eyes On Me", which is complete sappy lovey-dovey romance song, something I can be a total sucker for :sad:
Their relationship is sort of bittersweet because you can see the attraction, but I guess it was never meant to be. Sometimes that's just the way it plays out.

Now, Laguna/Raine is a much deeper story. You don't see the development quite as much, but you can tell how they came to deeply respect and love one another. They make a sort of makeshift family comprised of them and their adpted daughter Ellone. The whole Adel situation made the whole thing end in tragedy. Laguna goes to save his adopted daughter, leaving his wife and unborn child behind. While he's gone, she dies and he (probably) loses track of where his children went. It's almost something pulled straight out of a sad war movie.

Of course, this development gets overshadowed by the Squall/Rinoa story - which I also liked (go me! :P). It sucks because my problem with FF8 is that everything takes a backseat to Squall and Rinoa. Their relationship can be so overbearing on the rest of the story, it sort of alienates the rest of the characters.

That said... to me, the best FF romance is between Zidane and Garnet. I adore those two, they don't get quite as much recognition as they deserve considering FF9 overall is vastly underrated IMO.
 
You're all wrong. Cecil and Rosa are the best love story in FF, and I'll cut anyone who says otherwise.

Seriously though, Laguna and Raine is also quite good, and nicely understated. I liked Zidane and Garnet as well. They are quite an interesting pair. Kind of like Zack and Aerith, in personality, though not looks. I suspect had Zack managed to make it back to Midgar, a similar greeting as Zidane got from Garnet would have awaited him from Aerith.
 
Actually I have to agree with LD on this one, it was a great love story and I do think it was overshadowed. You can argue that the overshadowing was for good reason, as they it was superseded by the main character's romantic development. Even so, it's one of the few things in Final Fantasy VIII that reached me emotionally. I remember actually having to stop and collect myself a little after learning the full story. It was probably the only part of the game that was able to impact me in that way.
 
Yes, I wholehearted agree that Laguna's love story was a very deep and poignant one, almost to the sense of taking that realistic part of a relationship, which I really like since it took a whole different step than the others that we're typically used to seeing in a Final Fantasy game.

looneymoon said:
Anways, regarding Laguna's romance - during the first encounter with Julia I took an instant liking to the pairing. They obviously took a liking to another and it was just so endearing seeing Laguna get all nervouse when trying to ask her out. Not to mention, their relaionship produced "Eyes On Me", which is complete sappy lovey-dovey romance song, something I can be a total sucker for :sad:
Their relationship is sort of bittersweet because you can see the attraction, but I guess it was never meant to be. Sometimes that's just the way it plays out.
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I'm definitely with you on this one. I liked their pairing and I think even now, I still don't know if I prefer it to the Laguna/Raine pairing (that was a very touching one as well). It probably has a lot to do with the song Eyes On Me and the fact that both had to lead separate lives even though they truly were attracted to each other. I don't know if they loved each other exactly as the development was short-lived, but I'm sure if given a chance, it would have blossomed into a beautiful one. So bittersweet and realistic, and I'm sure a lot of people can relate to that. It was never meant to be but it's been accepted as both learned to love other people. It's quite sad if you think about it, but at the same time there's a feeling of happiness thrown into the equation as well.

As for Laguna and Raine, yet another sad love story. At the end of the game I really felt sorry for the poor guy, but then I can't help thinking that he's definitely led a fulfilling life despite the two relationships he's been in that never really ended in a happy ending. I think he loved Raine more only because in the end, when he had that flashback, his memories were that of Raine and when he gave her that ring. It really made me reach out to him and all the other people who can also relate to something similar. It's hard to lose a loved one, especially when you're away at war and you come back having to face yet another dissapointing scene in life. As he walked up to her tombstone, I just had that feeling - she was truly the one meant for him and that he had loved her with all his heart, moreso than he could have ever loved Julia, although again, that's also questionable since they never really had a chance. But it just shows us that sometimes, a chance is not what we always need but the reality that's in front of us and we learn to love that someone deeply because it's what's meant to be.
 
Oooh I love the little love story going on with Laguna and Julia, then eventually Raine. When he hears about Eyes on Me for the first time, I was just like aww, he's still holding a cnafdle for her :gasp: Then he (obviously) ends up with Raine, and then has to leave her behind aswel D:

It's quite the tragic love story really, AND both wimminz die.....he doesn't really have all that much luck. It was really sweet though, and beter thought out than the Squall/Rinoa relationship IMO. I thought the ending was sad, where he goes to visit her grave and thinks back about giving her the ring D:
 
I always thought that this was the best part of FFVIII's story tbh. Or at least the Laguna and the 'dream world' as a whole. Always got me thinking. Ya'know what if's and what else has happened due to Sqaull n' co's influence on Laguna in the past. If Laguna didn't end up in Winhill like he did then Rinoa may have never even exsisted etc, or if she did she could have been Squall's long lost sister.....
But the Squall/Rinoa love story annoyied me as it complely over-shadowed an otherwise awesome story with far greater potential in it that was shown.

Ryushikaze said:
You're all wrong. Cecil and Rosa are the best love story in FF, and I'll cut anyone who says otherwise.
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Ahem, what about Black Mage and White Mage! THATS the best love-story in FF!
 
Mitsuki said:
I don't know if they loved each other exactly as the development was short-lived, but I'm sure if given a chance, it would have blossomed into a beautiful one. So bittersweet and realistic, and I'm sure a lot of people can relate to that. It was never meant to be but it's been accepted as both learned to love other people. It's quite sad if you think about it, but at the same time there's a feeling of happiness thrown into the equation as well.
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True but I think a lot of people have "that one that got away". It's one of those things that everyone looks back on in fond remembrance but realize the circumstances to make it work just weren't there. I'm sure he'll always have a certain place in his heart for Julia but he also knows it wasn't ever really in the cards from the beginning either. Even so, I'm sure he wouldn't change the short period of time when they cheated fate for anything.
 
Mitsuki said:
As for Laguna and Raine, yet another sad love story. At the end of the game I really felt sorry for the poor guy, but then I can't help thinking that he's definitely led a fulfilling life despite the two relationships he's been in that never really ended in a happy ending. I think he loved Raine more only because in the end, when he had that flashback, his memories were that of Raine and when he gave her that ring. It really made me reach out to him and all the other people who can also relate to something similar. It's hard to lose a loved one, especially when you're away at war and you come back having to face yet another dissapointing scene in life. As he walked up to her tombstone, I just had that feeling - she was truly the one meant for him and that he had loved her with all his heart, moreso than he could have ever loved Julia, although again, that's also questionable since they never really had a chance. But it just shows us that sometimes, a chance is not what we always need but the reality that's in front of us and we learn to love that someone deeply because it's what's meant to be.
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Yeah Laguna definitely led a good life despite his tragedies in love, he did so much to be proud of. I think having Kiros and Ward with him was definitely a big help, you always get the feeling that they were very close friends, they definitely played a part in helping him get over Raines death. Although i find it hard to picture Laguna crying or weeping.
I also think Raine was the one destined to be with Laguna but i cant help but think that given the time with Julia they would have became just as close.

If laguna was never sent off to war and stayed with Julia they would probadly still be together, which wouldve gave Laguna a happier ending.
The woman he is destined to be with and who he will truly love (Raine)will die without him getting to say goodbye. Or if it were different he would stay with Julia whom he lives with happily but never finds true love.

Does it explain how Julia died? If it was a terminal illness he was destined for tragedy either way.
 
It was quite a sad story I feel sorry for the poor guy. :D
Although when you see some of the totally stupid shit he does you can't help but laugh. xD
He probably didn't have much time to think about it anyway running Esthar and all. But I've always wondered if he didn't goto war how much different would it be. Well Julia wouldn't have married Caraway thus no Rinoa. Thus Squall never opens up as she's the one who cracks him. If you ask me Laguna is more important to the storyline of FFVIII than most people think. Laguna was in no way a bad person either, he just did his job as he was told, although he may have not done it properly. :P
EDIT:
OH WAIT! Me being the silly dick I am...I forgot that if Laguna never went off to war there would be no Squall either, xD so therefore no FFVIII. God i'm hopeless at times I tell ya. :wacky:
 
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lagunas dream said:
Does it explain how Julia died? If it was a terminal illness he was destined for tragedy either way.
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Yes actually, although it's one of those side-story that you have to go check for yourself to find the answer. It tells you in that Tutorial part in the Balamb Garden computer or something. She died in a car accident when Rinoa was only 5-years-old.
 
Yeah, I think Square meant to have a sort of dual-storyline going on in FF8, with Squall as the hero of one story and Laguna as the hero of the other. I kind of wish the emphasis wasn't so skewed on Squall so much.

If you think about it, you could almost say that Laguna and Julia sort of get another chance through Squall and Rinoa. For some reason, I tend to see this situation play out alot in Eastern stories (two lovers are reunited through their children). I dunno if it has to do with their culture or it's just a popular concept or what.
 
Eyes on Me was basically about Laguna wasnt it. Its sometimes easy to forget that. Pretty sad as its such a wonderful and moving song, still moves me to tears today. Its also upsetting as Laguna never again had the chance to meet and see Juila, whom loved him back. Well, I believe it was love, most probably dont.
 
Mitsuki said:
Yes actually, although it's one of those side-story that you have to go check for yourself to find the answer. It tells you in that Tutorial part in the Balamb Garden computer or something. She died in a car accident when Rinoa was only 5-years-old.
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So it could be said that if he never went to war, then Julia would not have been in the crash that took her life. They couldve lived happily ever after.
Without this side story about Laguna the game would lack so much depth. Im appreciating this game on a whole new level now, as it is really quite deep.
 
I remember when i played it through the first time, I felt bad for Laguna that he never got to be with Julia. Then in Winhill with Raine, I never knew if he loved her because she saved him, or to help Ellone have a family or genuinely loved her.

That is until I finished the game and you see the moving end sequence with Eyes on me playing which was the best bit in the game, sitting down and watching that after all your hard work! Was very poignant!
 
Well, I found Laguna's story as a whole to be one of the highlights of VIII, and that includes the story of his lovelife. I've got no problem with Squall and Rinoa, or the portrayal of their relationship, but it was more typical, albeit endearing.

I was never all that keen on Julia, though, to be honest. It was instant love with me for Raine. She's a good character(and it's so bittersweet to take Squall and the gang to Winhill to see her ghost, and the way the townspeople talk about her). I think his admiration for her(Julia)would've gotten in the way of him being himself. He seemed to really like her, but I'm more inclined to think it was a crush rather than love. But it's pretty obvious that Julia was in love with him.

That said... to me, the best FF romance is between Zidane and Garnet. I adore those two, they don't get quite as much recognition as they deserve considering FF9 overall is vastly underrated IMO.
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I agree with you completely. ^^
 
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Christmaschild said:
Ahem, what about Black Mage and White Mage! THATS the best love-story in FF!
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There was no love story in FF1. Plus they're both dudes.

Remember kids, 8BT isn't FF1.

Also, I did warn you. ::Cuts christmaschild::

Seriously, though, Raine and Laguna was a good story. Quite subtle.
So subtle, some might say it never occurred under slightly different circumstances. ::whistles innocently::

Now, given the theme of fate, I can't really be too dissapointed that Laguna and Julia didn't get together. Cuz, y'know. It had to happen. That's sort of why I couldn't really get amped up about the plot once I understood it was all about fate. That time wasn't compressed kind of meant that Ulti didn't win.

Or that the writer didn't understand time/space in the slightest. Either or. Or Both!
 
I loved the Julia and Laguna sidestory so much that I don't know if Raine or Julia was better for him, it is a love triangle I will never resolve in my head.
Of course it is better for the story if Raine was the girl for him(there would be no Squall and Rinoa otherwise) but what could have happened between them? they were defineltely unresolved soulmates.It is so sad to think they never saw eachother again... but the moment they shared was always engraved in their hearts.
 
(there would be no Squall and Rinoa otherwise)
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You say that as if it's a bad thing. :monster:

Anyway, I always preferred Laguna and Julia together, putting all of my bias aside. They had such a sweet side-story... I was a bit disappointed that things worked out so differently. I really liked Julia's character for some reason, and Raine came across as boring. However, what Laguna and she have is rather heart-tingling! And, how I love that feeling. :) Laguna and Julia seems more heart-WRENCHING. </3 (Also a very addictive feeling. When it comes to other stories. )
 
I loved the fact that Laguna and Raine were the real love story at one end, and Rinoa and Squall at the other. In my opinion it was right because Laguna was almost like Squall but totally opposite in the way he react's. We only saw a little of Laguna and Julia together, but in the end i thought Laguna suited being with Raine.
 
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