Indeed, I believe there is a chance this could be a Tenzen/Ramza situation, but isn't the ongoing theory (maybe even confirmed) that those were also past reincarnations of us - Azem? Suzaku in specific even mentions our soul as being familiar.

Quote Originally Posted by Cilia View Post
While all of that is true, there's reasonable doubt enough to conclude the contrary. This game's messaging and foreshadowing are rarely subtle, but we don't know how the Memoria crystals work exactly; it could be that anyone holding / viewing Golbez' memories could be interpreted therein by Durante as Golbez.
That's true, it definitely could be just a fake out or I could be misinterpreting it. Keep in mind the game never did (or if it did, it was very subtle/brief) confirm that Ardbert was a shard of Azem, they just made it painfully obvious to the point where there was almost no room for doubt.

Quote Originally Posted by Cleretic View Post
Golbez isn't the only first-person flashback scene in the game, and I don't see anyone arguing that G'raha Tia is an Azem shard.
To be fair, in this case they didn't show Graha's face because they couldn't, as it was still a secret who the Exarch was at the time. I see what you mean for sure, but also I have a feeling you might be slightly biased given that you hope he's nobody in particular.

Also I just realized, the cutscene in which we see through Golbez's eyes is voiced!! And yet Golbez still had no voice, only subtitles. Has this ever even happened before? I know it sometimes happens when the character in question is thinking and not speaking. But has it ever happened when they're actually asking questions in subtitles and have them answered voiced? I don't think so! The only time this happens is when we, the WoL have to choose an option.