Usually I don’t comment because Ri is pretty sufficient at taking care of people shitting on Vaan, but I feel like she’s always doing it alone.
Vaan isn’t a bad character, at all, and people who have this imagined hate for him are ignorant and rude to say the very least. FFXII doesn’t have a story where you’re constantly reminded of everything that’s happened and comes with a lot of inference. He’s not “owo i want to be a skypiwate wif balthiew” like everyone thinks he is. He isn’t a happenstance character. None of them are. If you think Vaan is a plain or boring character, then you haven’t played the fucking game with your eyes open, with a want to know the characters. Sorry everything is spelled out for you and poorly written so everything is apparent like some other games.
Vaan suffered consecutive losses at a young age and took it upon himself to feed the orphans of Dalmasca. Everything he does is to better his people and then when he sees an opportunity to seek revenge for the death of his brother, he does. His dream of being a sky-pirate is more or less him seeking freedom from a heavily burdened life that he never asked for. Yes, he ASKED for his parents to be taken by the Plague. Yes, he ASKED for his older brother to be tried as a war criminal. Yes, he TOTALLY ASKED to see his half-dead brother be kept alive long enough for a trial to go on. (That was sarcasm, btw.)
When he finally saw that little glimmer of hope, that chance for action, he took it because it was something. And something is always, always, always better than nothing. That’s when he stumbles into Balthier and Fran, all swaggered and smooth. They give him more adventure than he bargains for and he does his very best to keep up with everything while trying, as a 17-year-old teenager might I add, to process his emotions. Which is when Basch, who is perceived entirely as the one responsible for his brother’s death, comes in. Of COURSE he’s going to snap. Y’all would, too. Don’t even fucking play.
Everything that they go through from that point on is development for Vaan. It’s a young man finding his purpose through wars, hunts, flying, falling, losing, and gaining plenty. He’s growing up, changing his views and stances. His mission in life changes and if you think his snub comments of “I’m here for my brother” while he’s pissy are the ONLY thing going on, then you have no concept of depth as to characters and should shut your fucking mouth in terms of critique. Balthier eventually says he’s just along for the ride and yet he and Fran do so much for the team, he lets Vaan fly the Strahl.
Vaan’s a great character. He’s young and he’s learning. Responsibility was shoved onto him at a young age, but he went with it and gave it his all. He was angry and spiteful, but he grew up as time went on. He did what REGULAR HUMAN BEINGS DO. He GREW. I’m tired of hearing that Vaan is boring and unnecessary. Don’t give me that because all it is to me is noise.
Learn what character depth and development are and then come talk to me.
Final fantasy XII &co 