Time to defend Ansem!
Handsome Ansem (as I have dubbed him) gets a lot of hate in the Kingdom Hearts fandom, and I think it's time that someone stood up for him! Be wary of spoilers!
As we all know, Ansem the Wise is the former king of Radiant Garden. Former because his six Apprentices banished him to the Realm of Darkness for nine-ish years when he told them to stop fucking around with hearts.
As you can guess, he was not happy about his former Apprentices (at least two of which were taken in out of the goodness of his heart) turning themselves into freaky emotionless shells of their selves and banishing him to what is basically hell. During those nine years, he slowly began to nurse a hatred for all Nobodies. Understandable. I probably would, too.
Eventually, he got out and got to see just what was going on while he was gone. In that time, his Apprentices had formed a group comprised of themselves plus seven more Nobodies (and Xion and Namine). Namine and Roxas were unique Nobodies in that they seemed to feel genuine emotions. Unfortunately, Ansem's hatred and desire for vengeance (those years in the Realm of Darkness did not do him much good aside from giving him some sweet darkness powers) made sure he didn't give a fuck, even ordering Riku to dispose of Namine once she was done restoring Sora's memories. That being said, seeing Riku's devotion to his friend softened Ansem's heart somewhat, and by the end of Kingdom Hearts II he feels bad enough for his treatment of Roxas that he explodes himself with his...encoder...machine thingy in order to atone. Said explosion sends him back to the Realm of Darkness ONCE AGAIN. At least this time he has Aqua chilling with him while they wait for Sora.
How does the fandom respond to all this?
"OMG, HE WAS SO MEAN TO ROXAS!!!!eleventy-one!"
"HE'S RACIST AGAINST THE ORGANIZATION!!!!"
(rubs forehead)
These fanbrats seem to ignore the fact that the first Nobodies banished him to the Realm of Darkness (and one of them stole his name). They were his Apprentices. He trusted them. Xehanort he took in without knowing pretty much anything about them and Ienzo was basically his adopted son. And don't get me started on all the shit Braig pulled. He has every reason to hate Nobodies!
Yes, he understood that Roxas and Namine weren't normal Nobodies, and yes, he was cruel to them anyway. Again, those years in the Realm of Darkness were not kind to him. His compassion probably took a few hits. But he understood that he was wrong and apologized to Roxas, even though he wasn't sure the latter could hear him. He took a lot more steps to atoning than the Organization, only one of whom apologized for what he did. Why do they get a free pass? Is it because several of the members are pretty bishounen and Ansem is an "ugly" old man*? Is it because several of their targets were Disney characters and therefore atrocities against them do not count as atrocities? Is it because a small handful of them genuinely wanted their hearts back and are therefore totally justified in unleashing Heartless on innocent people?
Yeah, I don't think so.
* Personally, I think Ansem the Wise is pretty handsome myself. When I was playing KHII, I nicknamed him "Handsome Ansem" (see above).
As we all know, Ansem the Wise is the former king of Radiant Garden. Former because his six Apprentices banished him to the Realm of Darkness for nine-ish years when he told them to stop fucking around with hearts.
As you can guess, he was not happy about his former Apprentices (at least two of which were taken in out of the goodness of his heart) turning themselves into freaky emotionless shells of their selves and banishing him to what is basically hell. During those nine years, he slowly began to nurse a hatred for all Nobodies. Understandable. I probably would, too.
Eventually, he got out and got to see just what was going on while he was gone. In that time, his Apprentices had formed a group comprised of themselves plus seven more Nobodies (and Xion and Namine). Namine and Roxas were unique Nobodies in that they seemed to feel genuine emotions. Unfortunately, Ansem's hatred and desire for vengeance (those years in the Realm of Darkness did not do him much good aside from giving him some sweet darkness powers) made sure he didn't give a fuck, even ordering Riku to dispose of Namine once she was done restoring Sora's memories. That being said, seeing Riku's devotion to his friend softened Ansem's heart somewhat, and by the end of Kingdom Hearts II he feels bad enough for his treatment of Roxas that he explodes himself with his...encoder...machine thingy in order to atone. Said explosion sends him back to the Realm of Darkness ONCE AGAIN. At least this time he has Aqua chilling with him while they wait for Sora.
How does the fandom respond to all this?
"OMG, HE WAS SO MEAN TO ROXAS!!!!eleventy-one!"
"HE'S RACIST AGAINST THE ORGANIZATION!!!!"
(rubs forehead)
These fanbrats seem to ignore the fact that the first Nobodies banished him to the Realm of Darkness (and one of them stole his name). They were his Apprentices. He trusted them. Xehanort he took in without knowing pretty much anything about them and Ienzo was basically his adopted son. And don't get me started on all the shit Braig pulled. He has every reason to hate Nobodies!
Yes, he understood that Roxas and Namine weren't normal Nobodies, and yes, he was cruel to them anyway. Again, those years in the Realm of Darkness were not kind to him. His compassion probably took a few hits. But he understood that he was wrong and apologized to Roxas, even though he wasn't sure the latter could hear him. He took a lot more steps to atoning than the Organization, only one of whom apologized for what he did. Why do they get a free pass? Is it because several of the members are pretty bishounen and Ansem is an "ugly" old man*? Is it because several of their targets were Disney characters and therefore atrocities against them do not count as atrocities? Is it because a small handful of them genuinely wanted their hearts back and are therefore totally justified in unleashing Heartless on innocent people?
Yeah, I don't think so.
* Personally, I think Ansem the Wise is pretty handsome myself. When I was playing KHII, I nicknamed him "Handsome Ansem" (see above).