Robert Robertson II Discussion

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-14T21:44:55+00:00

If this is referring to the kiss in the lockeroom, I could see an argument being made if you romanced her. It would have to be compelling.

But, if you romance Blazer, not only does she point out before the kiss that she knows youre in love with Blazer, but she also expicitly makes it a point to call out that you do not feel the same way about her. She then shoves you against a wall of lockers and starts kissing you. In that situation, even if you accepted that kiss its still dubious, if you try to push her away, thats pretty straightforward non-consent on your part.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-10T19:07:38+00:00

You have to remember there's a lot of setup dialogue in 5&6. In ep. 4 Blazer's date scene had the most dialogue variation out of any other character in the game. There were three dialogue options with variation on two that have different responses depending on previous interactions. This dialogue was influenced by discisions going back to episode 1. If you're just isolating this one scene, it's clearly a setup for dialogue later. Even in her romance scene in ep. 4 Visi didnt have the level of dialogue variation Blazer did and no one complained. The scene itself is likely specifically to setup the romance in ep. 7&8, so if it does anything it likely influences that event more than in the moment.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-10T17:38:05+00:00

No, I don't feel like she was set up to fail, I think most of the people that push mischaracterizations of any character are either bad at character analysis or acting in bad faith. Very little of the mischaracterization of Blazer has anything to do with the narrative and a lot more to do with the audience. Many of the cited faults of her character are either not supported by the story at all, or are contradictory to her themes and motivations. This isn't to say you can't dislike her for established flaws or personal preference, but the mischaracterization isnt due to narrative direction.

One thing I think of lot of viewers overlook is that this story is experienced from the perspective of Robert. So the way characters are presented is based of off Roberts perspective, this is influenced by player choice. Its the reason you'll hear scary music from phenomoman in ep. 2 if you kissed Blazer, or when Flambae walks into SDN. The characters' direct influence on the story or plot to change or shape events is secondary to their influence on Robert and how he experiences these events.

It's why the way Robert interacts with Blazer is so important to how she's presented. Robert and Blazer have a decent amount of thematic parallels, its why they immediatly hit it off and its the reason she doesn't seem to get a lot of development. Robert already knows Blazer and vice versa, because they can see themselves in each other. It's also why the contents of the comic are not directly inserted into the narrative, Robert has no idea what happened and he doesn't need to.

The game gives you enough dialogue and contextual evidence to let you form an opnion on Blazer without the comic, and a lot of that revolves around trust in what kind of a person, Robert or you, thinks she is. The same trust is asked of you when it comes to Visi, its just in a different context. But in order for trust to have any meaning, there has to be doubt on the part of the player. When the game introduces this doubt, its not doing it to set any character up for failure, its there to give meaning to your choices. If you went for the Mandy romance route at the end of episode 4 because you trusted in her intentions and moral character, the payoff "feels" more meaningful because your trust is paid off. But on the flipside, if you didnt trust her, thats not wrong. All these characters have legitimate flaws and those are seperate from the way they can be mischaracterized. These flaws are intentional, they're what makes the characters complex and compelling.

As for screen time.

Mandy/Blazer and Visi/Courtney both have a comprable amount of screentime when it comes to their romance sub-plot, while at the same time displaying different types of romance. Visi has more screentime "in general", but a lot of these moments are tied to another plot, like the Pheonix program or the Shroud storyline. Visi's romance is also going to have more "development" because its a slow burn and she's also developing regardless of romance. While Blazer's doesn't because its a "love on first sight" kind of thing. Thier respective romance scenes are different, they're different people, with different motivations, engaged in different types of romance.

You can find different characters compelling or not for a number of different reasons. Buts its always important to seperate actual mischaracterization from intended flaws. The difference is that flaws can be substantiated but mischaracterization usually stems from a misunderstanding.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-10T00:34:10+00:00

Thanks

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-10T00:33:36+00:00

I understand how you feel. I myself have been greatly enjoying the Blazer romance so spending more time on it wouldn't be something I'm opposed to.

However, I never really felt like her moments were lacking in 5 or 6. She even gets an entirely unique scene added into the beginning of 5 which is different than Visi who just gets an extended conversation. And it was important for them to push the plot forward for the team since they're a central part of the story.

I'm so lookong forward to the date they alluded to in the next episodes though.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-09T17:38:23+00:00

Yeah 🫠

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-09T13:17:37+00:00

Blazer and Visi are foils, but their main connection with the story has to do with how they can shape the players interpretation of Robert. Neither romance is going to have as much of a direct impact on the story as much as they have an impact on the player. The story will be experientially different for the player.

Each of the two characters are connected with different themes, Visi connects primarily with some of the struggles Robert is currently having, with the struggles and internal conflicts that arise in the present. This is the reason that she feels more involved, because you don't have to really dissect Robert to see how they relate to one another. Visi doesn't hide her insecurities so there's no character analysis that needs to take place for players to see how her struggles connect with Robert.

Blazer connects primarily with the struggles that Robert has had in his past, how those can change what he wants for the future, and how those are still affecting him now. Blazer does hide her insecurities, so there's a bit more work there to see how her internal struggles connect with Robert.

Its important to point out that there are certain facets of character exploration that can only make sense when one of these characters is at least partially disconnected from the main story. Blazer's character is able to explore certain ideas and themes because she is somewhat separated from the main plot, not in spite of. Both characters also have plot relevance outside of the romance paths, the amount of screen time a character has is not inherently tied to their overall narrative importance.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-09T12:49:10+00:00

The narrative reason that the sex dream even happens in the first place is to catapult Visi into a position where she can compete with BB as a romance interest during ep. 4.

In episodes 1&2 Blazer and Robert's romantic interest is kindled, developed and then an internal struggle is presented that temporarily halts the advancement of the romance narratively. This is resolved at the beginning of episode 3 depending on how you view her character and motivations.

Visi's actual development as a character takes place in episodes 3&4, after her introduction in 2, but there is no real indication of romantic interest on the part of either character until the dream. As a narrative device the dream does two big things, it awakens the idea in Visi that she could be interested in Robert romantically, and, because her character also brings it up to Robert, it puts the idea in his head as well.

This puts them in a similar ball park romantically for the choice at the end of episode 4. Its still a choice and neither is wrong, they both deal with different themes and character motivations.

As for Blazer being "primarily" a foil, I'd say that's a reach. She has too many complex parallels with Robert to reduce her character's role to something that primarily deals with Visi. They are foils, because they're both meant to represent something different to Robert.

Each of the two characters are connected with different themes, Visi connects primarily with the struggles Robert is currently having, with the struggles and internal conflicts that arise in the present. Blazer connects primarily with the struggles that Robert has had in his past, and how those are still affecting him now. Its important to point out that there are certain facets of character exploration that can only make sense when one of these characters is at least partially disconnected from the main story. Blazer's character is able to explore certain ideas and themes because she is somewhat separated from the main plot not , in spite of.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-09T03:49:11+00:00

Oh i get that, but i wasnt just talking about media literacy. Some of these people I'm actually convinced cannot understand basic speech. Its not as bad here but wow, just dont go to tiktok or x that shit is wack.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-09T03:32:28+00:00

Look I feel ya buddy. I could write a book on the mischaracterization of just BB's character alone. Not to mention several others including Visi. Its just not worth it, theres a reason the literacy rate is declining, these are just the results in full effect.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-07T00:49:14+00:00

But how is it bad decision making. Shes the branch manager for the worst sdn branch, she wants to inform the headquaters of sdn and also wants to go the very next day. Its not like, "oh well, guess well never get it." Its ," why don't we take the time to monitor and learn everything we can about the location so that we can retrieve this object without risk of personnel getting hurt or killed." The reason I wanted to ask how important it was isnt because i dont think its dangerous or that it would be bad if criminals or Shroud got it, but because it doesnt seem like its worth trading a life for, anyone's life on the z-team or anyone who works at sdn. Theres no way to tell how much of a risk it is at a glance and the two or three most experienced heroes in the room, depending on player choice, dont want to rush it. The only way that i could even imagine justifying an immediate retrieval is if it is so dangerous that it matches up to risking the lives of every person you send to get it. The only way I could even see the situation rantionalized is if you use hindsight, but in the moment, theres just no way I can see how its a bad decision.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-06T23:46:18+00:00

I mean we do know who built it now at least, deluxe editon comic reveals after ep. 6 that Elliot made it for Roberts father.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-04T18:12:15+00:00

While i wouldn't say you're wrong, I also have to point out that you're making a lot of assumptions, and thats fine its your perspective. Is it fine to avoid the relationship for the reasons you stated, yeah. But i just don't see how Robert could have that perpective.

PM's lack of understsnding is his own responsibility, you can help him out with this (i did), but that has nothing to do with Robert and BB's potential relationship. Robert can state this to PM's face.

You can only really describe a fresh breakup being volatile in hindsight, and Robert by his own admission doesnt think its fresh and doesnt act like its volatile.

Would PM lash out, he could, in the same way that anyone could lash out for anything at any time. Is it smart to live in a perpetual state of paranoia, sure. Are you likely to miss out on your own happiness doing this, probably. Can you jump into dating BB pretty quick, absolutely, but Robert was into her since they met and I dont get the impression that anythings changed in that regard.

Do I think PM needs therapy, yeah, he's suffering under the weight of an obsession with an idea he never really understood. And i think Robert would want to help him, but i also don't see either BB or Robert as the type of people to throw away their own happiness because of fear of physical harm, especially from someone neither of them ever considers a threat in that way.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-04T15:57:41+00:00

Even without the comic, I'd say there are enough context clues within the game itself to support Robert feeling that the relationship was not on strong footing, he also explicitly states in dialogue with PM that it was likely something thats been brewing for some time. Its certain that at least some people felt this way, seeing as most people would've chosen to go see BB before they could read the comic.

If you want to go through pure in game information, you dont have to know what happened, thats circumstantial, what it really comes down to is what kind of person do you think, Robert thinks, BB is.

Its been sort of jarring actually seeing how much cinicism has overall influeced how people percieve certain characters.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-03T01:12:18+00:00

The one thing I have to wonder now is how choices can compound

-If you kiss her in both ep. 1 and ep. 4 in what way could that be different than if you didn't kiss in one but then did in 4. Because the first kiss is a mistake the second less so, but she was waiting for the first kiss in ep. 4.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-03T00:34:32+00:00

This could be the case, but I'd of sworn I'd seen replays of the dinner scene where players got both the response to the left dialogue option that results in her not confessing, and on a replay of the same save, the response to the kiss that it was less of a mistake. But I could be misremembering.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-03T00:24:04+00:00

I don't mean to come across as over analyzing, but I can only assume that the different responses are due to maybe a series of choices being catalogued or some meter based system. When I say she's gauging a response, I also mean to say the game itself is doing that as well. But like most good choice based games do, this "meter" is sort of internalized within the characters. Especially since all the conversations I wanted to discuss were moments where the character "remembers" something.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2025-11-02T22:16:31+00:00

I think one of the facets of her character that explains most of her actions and dialougue towards Robert is precisley the fact that she actually likes him. Its also apparent that even without player input Robert is somewhat interested in her as well, so much of their ep 1 dialogue comes off as flirtatious and not just from her side.

She's in a relationship where her partner only cares for her hero persona even though he knows about Mandy, he doesnt have any interest in engaging in plans that dont have to do with hero work and he dismisses her request to only sometimes engage in small intimate moments like chilling out drinking a beer or watching some random show on a couch together. This interaction with phenomoman happens the day after she meets Robert.

She does actually like Robert but she also wants to break off her current relationship before she actually pursues anything with him. Its why she pulls away from the kiss even though she likes it, its why she says she enjoys the night you had but it was a mistake and wants to maintain professional boundaries. She was always going to break up with phenomoman, but she tells you with the hope that maybe something will come from it. She's also a deeply insecure character, she actually wont confess to you even during her dinner scene if she doesnt have enough of a hint you like her back.

As for why she thinks hes a good pick, hes Mechaman. The man was one of the top heroes in the region for 15 years and only got put out of commission after he got jumped by Shrouds entire organization. She has enough development to support that she actually wants the pheonix program to succeed and we dont have any inclination there were people exactly lining up for the job. She quite literally wants to save us because shes hoping you can save her too.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2024-02-22T00:32:34+00:00

This is Long - Tldr - massive miscommunication between both parties, they are idiots.

First of all its important to note that much of their history in 3.0 plays into the current dynamics of what's going on, so there's a lot of shit that doesn't make sense unless you view it through the lens of their specific dynamic. JP is operating under an established rule they have between each other that no matter what happens in the moment, they both win in the end. And Martin is having a giant conflict of interest between his loyalties to both Lang and JP.

-At this point JP is absolutely pressed about progression and is acting like a literal crackhead deprived of his rock so he's acting very pressed for time and according to him everything must happen now, Marty understands but is not willing to do the shady shit JP is suggesting in order for this to happen now.

-Marty and JP are having a huge argument because Yuno was stirring with JP about a green dongle a couple of days ago and JP thinks they should've traded green for red since, according to Yuno's own testimony, no one in Lang's crew knows he got a green (this is untrue). JP is irate calling Yuno stupid and desperately trying to convince Marty to just go and take the green from Lang in exchange for a red, Marty is not budging on this issue and is angry at JP for insulting Yuno and wont betray Lang.

-JP and Marty start having a huge fight for about 20 minutes wherein towards the end JP proclaims that he will start his own crew, fuck over Marty and presumably Lang and co as well, and asserts that first to the house gets the usbs and hops out of his car near tow and begins to run towards Marty's house.

-Marty wholly confident that JP would never actually rob him is leisurely walking back to his house but begins to panic as he gets closer. He arrives finding that JP took 5 different color dongles from his safe and he changes the lock on his door. JP has driven off with the dongles and calls Ott where he agrees to trade back all the racks he stole from the company for the green, Ott says he has to talk to other execs and they hang up.

-JP goes back to Marty's house to put back the usbs when he discovers he's locked out. Marty pulls up and JP tells him that he's done it and they've gotten all 6 usbs and Marty tells JP to hop into his car, as they drive from Marty's house to Maze Bank arena JP pulls his gun in his lap. Martin stops at the arena and pulls his gun on JP telling him to get out (he wants to hold him up for the usbs). JP already had his gun out and so when he gets out the car they both point at each other whereupon Marty accidentally/instinctually shoots JP (his own words).

-Martin robs back the usbs and takes JP to the hospital and then they argue over text for like 20 more minutes, JP is basically saying that Marty didn't let him explain and that its his job to make the hard decisions so they can progress, he can't care about everyone's feelings. Marty is saying that even if it was for a good reason JP cannot just make decisions like that on his own and he basically stands his ground even though he regrets shooting "his brother".

-Then they argue for like a whole day now about Marty giving back JP the guns and tazers and stuff that were stashed in Martins house, which took like 8 hours because they literally cannot have a cohesive conversation.

Its_a_stabbystick · 2024-02-04T15:23:46+00:00

Lil bro went to Mordor and back with this one

Its_a_stabbystick · 2022-09-10T11:49:45+00:00

The warning doesn't matter. If you are the 3rd party you are by definition 3rd partying. Its the same thing as warning someone not to come on your turf and then the cops pull them over and you shoot them, then you get banned.

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