Thread:User talk:DocColress/A Case for Cyrus (2)

Given not only your username, but your extensive edits on the Pokémon pages, I'd like your input on a somewhat controversial addition I'd like to make to Pokémon's monster page: Cyrus. I've recently replayed Platinum and I have to say, when it comes down to it, Cyrus is a LOT more deplorable than I remembered. I'd say he's easily up there with Ghetsis, or hell, WORSE than Ghetsis in some ways that I plan on addressing below. I have a feeling you've played the games, but I'll present my case in the fancy TV Tropes way so I can get my point across in an orderly way.

Who is he? Cyrus is the head of the organization Team Galactic, a villainous group that tries to harness different sources of energy to help complete Cyrus' goal of creating a whole new world, a world that they believe is a beautiful utopia. Unbeknownst to them, Cyrus' true vision of a perfect world is a horrifying world without spirit, a world that he also believes is fit for him alone. He believes that things like Spirit and Emotion leave humanity incomplete, which would put him in a more sympathetic light if it wasn't for the fact that he's not only planning on wiping out all life, but reshaping the world purely for himself.

What does he do?: Since Cyrus is the leader of Team Galactic, most of the team's deeds are tied back to him, which range from goofy and harmless like stealing honey to a lot more dangerous such as bombing lakes in order to get access to the legendary Pokémon that live within. When the legendary Pokémon (Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie) are captured, Cyrus has their energy extracted to create an item called a Red Chain that will prove instrumental to controlling Dialga and Palkia, the legendary Pokémon of time and space respectively so he can unmake and remake the world. The extraction process is shown to be painful as the three lesser legendaries are shown to be in a state of horrific agony when you examine them, and a couple of nearby scientists are horrified and disgusted by what they've done under Cyrus' orders.

And as mentioned above, Cyrus is also manipulative as hell, given that he's been able to sway so many people to his side and hooks them in with charismatic speeches as you see when you infiltrate his hideout. However, talking to him later reveals that he was lying to them about wanting to create a beautiful new world for humanity, and proudly tells you to your face that his world isn't suited for them and that his world is going to be for him alone and that it's going to be far more horrifying than he made them believe. While he does let you save the Legendary Pokémon he's captured after you've beaten him, this isn't really dog petting as he feels that they've already served their purpose, and thus would end up being wiped out anyway once his plans are set in motion. And at the game's climax, he summons Dialga and Palkia at Spear Pillar, and starts to unmake the fabric of time and space, only for the Legendary Pokémon Giratina to interfere and drag him to the hellish Distortion World. If the goddamn devil of the Pokémon world goes out of it's way to try to stop you, you know you fit the qualifications of this trope. And even when he's been defeated one last time and Giratina has been captured or defeated, he doesn't show any signs of giving up his dream, he instead goes on a screaming rant about how useless emotions are and that things like spirit leave humanity ugly and complete, even showing disgust for himself due to possessing the emotions he tries so hard to deny. His last words before disappearing deep into the Distortion World is that one day, he'll make sure that the player wakes up in his world: a world without spirit.

Does he have a Freudian excuse or any redeeming traits? This is where it gets a bit tricky: I don't feel that Cyrus is presented as sympathetic in the slightest or that he's justified in trying to accomplish his plan, yet later on in the game, you meet his grandfather who sheds a sympathetic light on Cyrus. Apparently, Cyrus used to be a sweet yet anti-social kid who grew up in an abusive household. His parents were very strict and set unrealistically high standards he could never live up to, and this caused Cyrus to believe that emotions and spirit only bought on suffering and incompleteness to humanity, and by getting rid of them he could achieve peace. Plus, Cyrus' grandfather shows regret that he couldn't help Cyrus and take him in when he could. But does having mommy/daddy issues really justify becoming an Omnicidal Maniac? Does his Freudian excuse hold up to the actions he's willing to commit and his true intentions?

There's also the fact that Cyrus owns a Crobat, which can only be evolved from a Golbat if said Golbat fully loves it's trainer. Yet, Cyrus also mentions to the player that he doesn't view Pokémon as his friends or tools, but that he simply uses them to channel his energy through into battle. And given that it would be a bit anti-climactic to fight him with a NFE (Not Fully Evolved) Pokémon from a gameplay standpoint, it's never made clear if his Crobat's status is due to dog petting or pragmatism on his part.

How is he viewed by other characters in the story? Given his surprising charisma and the lies he feeds to his followers, they're all fanatically loyal and devoted to him as they believe that their actions will make a better world for themselves and humanity in general. However, the ones who do find out about his true plans are disgusted. There's the scientists who worked on the Red Chain I mentioned above, and there's also his commander Saturn, who turned good and is now steering Team Galactic's remnants in a more benevolent direction after learning about the horrific extents of Cyrus' actions. And given how Giratina is stated to more or less be the Pokémon universe's equivalent of the devil (It was tossed into the Distortion World due to the trouble it would cause if I remember correctly), the fact that it was willing to stop Cyrus from unmaking the universe shows that even the Devil has standards.

So all in all, I admit that Cyrus is a weird example who is a bit more sympathetic than Ghetsis, but still nasty enough to meet this trope's qualifications. While he could be written off as a Well-Intentioned Extremist due to the fact that he genuinely believes that spirit hinders humanity and that unmaking and reshaping the universe is the right thing to do. But given the fact that he blatantly lies and uses others only to throw them away later so he can be the sole occupant of his universe (Though also extending that privilege to the player after having his plans foiled as a means to spite you) I feel makes him a cruel, selfish, ego-maniacal Knight Templar who crosses the line and becomes the main series' first true monster.

So there you have it! I may come off as stupid due to arguing for the case of a monster who isn't Ghetsis, but I just feel that Cyrus isn't quite as sympathetic as people make him out to be, but would rather discuss this with others who are familiar with his home series as well. And heck, for all I know I simply misinterpreted him wrong (And given my former stance on Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin, it wouldn't be the first time either!)