As an autistic player, something I REALLY loved about Golden Apple 2022 was that Fischl’s lesson was not “you should stop pretending you’re a fictional character” and instead “you should embrace this thing that brings you joy and makes others cringe.” There’s something very genuine and loving about how the story was like “no this thing that others find weird is actually a part of yourself and who you are and you don’t have to compromise that for others and there are people who will love you for who you are and happily participate in it with you.”
I feel like it would have been really easy to have Fischl “grow up” and tell her the same thing people often tell autistic kids about their special interests or their behaviors, but instead they chose the surprisingly wholesome and nuanced take which I ❤️ and has left a special place in my heart. I’ve seen people be like “that was an unexpected lesson,” but I hope framing it this way may help people who felt that way about the ending reconsider it.
Fischl means a lot to a lot of trans and autistic players and not having her compromise who she is was really a good service for them!
Do you think Dvalin didn't want to stay too long in the Golden Apple Archipelago, not because of divine nonsense, but rather, he knows about the squirrels that have a grudge against Venti
Kazuha's story in the GAA event is amazing. The exploration of his past and all the loved ones he lost, how you can HEAR HIS FRIEND and the Electro Seelie probably represents Tomo, the aesthetics of the domains.
The way the camera restrictions in the black and white scene represent Kazuha being trapped by his legacy as a Kaedehara making us go in one direction only is very symbolic too.
And the concept of his Anemo Vision and freedom is really deep into his character. Him going on his own path instead of confining himself to what was taught to him as a family legacy, him opposing the oppressive Raiden Shogun rule on Inazuma as it went against his principles, and him being able to move past his grief over the loss of his loved ones being another freedom in a way as he lets the wind carry him.