Endwalker's plot is loosely based on Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator (Spoilers)

[Viirin]

I cross-posted this from the lore forums for increased visibility.
In short, Meteion was created by mankind and then turned on her creators upon some profound realization, much like how in The Terminator, Skynet was created by humans and then began exterminating humans once it became self-aware. There's other similar elements between the two fictional universes, such as FFXIV having The Final Days, and The Terminator having Judgement Day. In both cases, the entire planet’s population suffers an apocalyptic event. Hell, both fictional universes even have methods of time travel where the time traveler is sent into the past in order to either do something or find something out to save the present timeline.

TLDR: This is just a showerthought. Meteion essentially is Skynet

Yes, but this basic idea didn't originate with Terminator, it also borrowed from things that preceded it... as most every story does.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this expansion's story is how much they made me LIKE Hermes and Meteion.

[kpxmanifesto]

Yes, but this basic idea didn't originate with Terminator

I never said it did.

[SigmaOZ]

I also found some similitude with "Terminator 2", not story wise but the music, part of Endwalker's battle theme sounds similar to said movie's main theme. Pretty cool actually, makes me want to watch the movie again.

[kpxmanifesto]

I also found some similitude with "Terminator 2", not story wise but the music, part of Endwalker's battle theme sounds similar to said movie's main theme. Pretty cool actually, makes me want to watch the movie again.

Yeah, Soken is known to draw some inspiration from popular pieces from time to time. For example, his song Figments, the OST for the dungeon Dohn Mheg, appears to be inspired by Peter Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker Suite. It's fantastically composed IMO.

[Floortank]

I don't see any similarity. Her decision to wipe out existence is born of despair and suffering. It is not the emotionless logical algorithm of a machine made for killing.

Skynet is also not a remotely philosophical character. It cannot be argued with, and it has no cosmic agenda.

[kpxmanifesto]

I don't see any similarity. Her decision to wipe out existence is born of despair and suffering. It is not the emotionless logical algorithm of a machine made for killing.

Skynet is also not a remotely philosophical character. It cannot be argued with, and it has no cosmic agenda.

This analysis entirely misses the point of this post. I'm not saying the game's plot is a copy The Terminator's. I'm saying that FFXIV captures that same spirit where a civilization's seemingly harmless creation ended up being its own undoing. There's obvious differences between the two universes.

[Floortank]

This analysis entirely misses the point of this post. I'm not saying the game's plot is a copy The Terminator's. I'm saying that FFXIV captures that same spirit where a civilization's seemingly harmless creation ended up being its own undoing. There's obvious differences between the two universes.

"Based on" means "a recreation of." And it's not. Not only is it not based on Terminator, but also, Skynet was never "seemingly harmless." It was given the capability to wipe out the human race deliberately, and decided to. Its entire mechanism was a murder machine and it did what was predictable to it. It is nothing like Meteion.

You have failed to understand not only Endwalker but also Terminator.

[kpxmanifesto]

"Based on" means "a recreation of." And it's not. Not only is it not based on Terminator, but also, Skynet was never "seemingly harmless." It was given the capability to wipe out the human race deliberately, and decided to. Its entire mechanism was a murder machine and it did what was predictable to it. It is nothing like Meteion.

You have failed to understand not only Endwalker but also Terminator.

Title says "loosely based." You have to read things carefully, man. Also, "seemingly harmless" as in its creators didn't think it capable of turning on them. They didn't predict Skynet becoming self-aware.

[Exosapien]

Title says "loosely based." You have to read things carefully, man. Also, "seemingly harmless" as in its creators didn't think it capable of turning on them. They didn't predict Skynet becoming self-aware.

Man you need to chill out. People don't agree with your take because it's wrong, telling people to read better isn't going to make your argument more sound. You're just wrong. 100%

[kpxmanifesto]

Its called the Frankenstein Complex, its a standard writing theme and has been for close to 70 years, starting with Frankenstein, going along to films like Colossus the Forbin Project, Gog and a host of others.
Meteion wasnt part of that btw, the writing themes are far more complex.

I wouldn't necessarily exclude Meteion from the Frankenstein Complex. Yeah, she's a biological creation as opposed to a mechanical one which is what the Frankenstein Complex usually refers to, but I'd still say Meteion's character represents that idea quite well because she is a creation who is a danger to the creator.