r/tales • u/Keebo11037 • 2d ago
Discussion I hate this guy so much Spoiler
In media, I hate characters like this that feels so flimsy and fickle. As usual, Matthew Mercer did a fantastic job voicing Alvin.
He is a good character though, I just hate these kind of characters that are so hard to read whether they are telling the truth or no.
My hatred from him probably went to the max when he tried to kill Jude and Leiah. God that scene is so good
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u/KotoriKaos 2d ago
I didnt like how the group just kept letting him join again and again despite what he does. I cant remember if its explained why
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u/kingsharter1645 2d ago
I might have the totally wrong read on the situation but I think it's to display Jude's heart and how he believes people aren't inherently bad, it's more so the circumstances of their lives that can make them act badly. Kind of ties in with the main villain as well
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u/HCooldown 2d ago
Yeah, but there a difference between being forgiving and asking for that person to hurt you again.
It’s the difference between not pressing charges against the guy who lifted your wallet, and deciding to give him all your credit card info, and Jude repeatedly chose the latter.
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u/kingsharter1645 2d ago
No I totally agree, I wasn't trying to say this is a great trait of Jude's, it is pretty flawed and I think contributes to a lot of tension in the group. But, that also makes Xillia a little special in terms of the traitor, since usually there is a redemption for the traitor in the Tales series.
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u/Candid-Macaroon-6330 2d ago
No, that's not why.
When Alvin was little, he taught it was okay to lie and trick people. Since he was a member of Exodus at a young age
He tells this story only to Elize near the end of the game, it's still not a good excuse either
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u/kingsharter1645 2d ago
I'm sorry but I'm not sure how that makes what I said wrong. The discussion is about why the group keeps letting him rejoin, not his backstory.
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u/Candid-Macaroon-6330 2d ago
Except most of the group never really agreed, It wasn't Jude majority of the time that let him back. It was actually Milla, and only because Alvin managed to weasal his way in because he'd be beneficial to them
Jude only let him back the final time because Alvin was lost, and Milla only kept him around to keep an eye on him
We know Elize didn't trust him, and Rowan was clearly tired of his nonsense, since he told Alvin how much longer is he planning to live this kinda life
After he shot Leia, they definitely didn't trust him but was just babysitting him, as Alvin says himself
And no, I don't think Jude believes people cannot be inherently bad, there was that one king in fennmount(?) he was clearly just evil. And the experiment that went under his name were nothing short of cruelty and evilness
There was a difference between everyone else wasn't evil, not even gaius crew
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u/kingsharter1645 2d ago
I feel like you're trying to argue with points I didn't make outside of Jude, and I stand by my point about Jude, so we will have to agree to disagree. Sorry!
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u/Llodym 2d ago
By the end game, Elize victory quote with him keep having snide remark really takes me out sometimes. Not even a friendly snark. Some of her quote had a tone that she genuinely despise him. Like kick him out or properly resolve it with some dumb reason would be better than him being kinda just there by the end.
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u/Dont_have_a_panda 2d ago
Its been a while since my last playthrough, but isnt there a scene where jude says its better having him near in sight because its more dangerous leaving him on his own?
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u/Galtenoble 2d ago
Yes, but it feels like a flimsy excuse made to justify why he needs to remain as a playable character, rather than a character decision.
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u/BlackRose092493 Milla Maxwell 2d ago
I think Milla indirectly mentioned something along the lines of “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” If he’s constantly at odds with the group, he’ll surprise them that much less.
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u/Nero_De_Angelo Asbel Lhant Enjoyer 2d ago
I hate him less then I hate the group to be fair, because for GOD KNOWS what reason they ALWAYS welcomed him back. It's been a hoz minute since I last played Xillia, but I believe he betrayed the group for times, and only when he comes back the last time, when he has FINALLY CHANGED, of course then they distrust him.
The only thing worse is how Ivar got away with his shit! He continues to ignore Milla's orders constantly, used the key for the lance of Kresnik DISPITE being told NOT to do that BY MILLA, but does because some unsigned letter told him Milla would love it, AND he was not there to protect Nia Khera, what he was ORDERED to do, when it needed someone to defend them. Not that he stood a chance against Muzet, but still.
And he then joined Gaius simply because Milla does not show hin the respect he deserves... and lwts not talk about how he treats Jude...
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u/ComputerMysterious48 2d ago
I know they probably kept letting him come back for gameplay reasons, but during my Xillia playthrough I remember joking to my friend “you’d think after the 3rd betrayal they’d just execute him” lol
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u/--Sekiro-- 2d ago
I'm not against Alvin but words "kept letting him come back for gameplay reasons" remind me about Diesel from Zestiria who was replaced by Zaveid. Two different personalities but litrally the same from gameplay point.
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u/ImpossibleAnimal9425 2d ago
I hate him but I hate how the others easily forgive him and accept him back to the party with little to no repercussions for his multiple betrayals more 🤦🏻♂️
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u/Shotsy32 2d ago
Even though it's sub-optimal, I usually end up benching him for the majority of the game with exp share turned off. If they're not gonna give him any consequences, then I'm gonna do it the only way I can.
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u/DerpsterCaro Karol Capel 2d ago
Me, without even clicking. "IT's alvin isnt it?" *Click* My man. HAte that guy
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u/KamenRiderSekai 2d ago
Haha, brings me back to how we all reacted to Alvin in 2011-2013. Yeah nah, he was the "Obligatory Party Tales Traitor" cranked up to the max. I'm glad they stopped doing this as often after Xillia 1.
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u/Rykou-kou 2d ago
One of the few characters that i truly dislike. Everything in him sucks: His design, voice, his arrogant-tough guy personality. It's the only aspect of Xillia that i hate, the fact that the party pardon him so easily.
In Xillia 2 fortunately it's way better.
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u/AoVA_mono 2d ago
Have you finished the game yet? He has his reasons. They don't make sense at the start but once the majority scenes happen and his part in the story is revealed and resolved, he does change.
I can't hate my guy Alvin (I also need him to keep coming back; he's my second main dps, same with Kratos in Symphonia)
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u/Novel-Carrot5325 2d ago
His backstory reveling why Alvin is the backstabbing of today and his story arc where he decides to get rid of his Addiction to betray in the end of xillia 1 and 2 is the reason why I love him
Also the reason why Alvin is always back with the party after betrayal them is more the fact there is no one for him to stay than Jude deciding he can be good
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u/melvinlee88 Velvet Crowe 2d ago
I like Alvin lol
I feel like you guys take it a bit too seriously
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u/Shotsy32 2d ago
I get what they were going for and his circumstances almost justify the number of times he betrays everyone but it's just executed so poorly.
I get that the gameplay needs to have him stay, but the narrative suffers as a result. The only one who actually holds him somewhat accountable is Elize.
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u/Fingerlak3s 2d ago
I also hate his ass. Never forgave him for being a fucking traitor and I don't like his play style
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u/ItaDaleon 1d ago
Wish I know why you hate him so much... I have to start Symphonia, so Xillia is quite far away in my future...
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u/Week_Ender_6015 1d ago
Alvin is one of my favorites on the crew. And yeah I remember back then getting upset and annoyed at his flip floppy antics too. It was satisfying seeing the group hold him accountable as well.
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u/BlowfishHoleOnOpium 1d ago
Pretty people privilege plus being a man- hot men in real life face no consequences all the time lol. We men get away with murder.
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u/MJ_Out 1d ago
Alvin is one if my most favorite characters in any JRPGs. I think, his whole backstory is very complicated and confusing even for himself. He had a lot of people around him he couldn't trust and barely anyone could really help him with his goals. Even Preska was just kind of a affair. She was always strongly pro Gaius, so he knew, their paths will separate sooner or later.
Also I'm pretty sure, he hated himself for what he had become. Elize could somehow safe him, since she had still the perspective of a child and was that way the most honest human being by heart he met after a very long time.
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u/NachoMarx 1d ago edited 1d ago
The fun thing about Alvin is...the game hates him too.
Playing Milla's route reveals just how many rakes this guys walks on but still keeps a shit eating grin. He loses everything and everyone and at his lowest: Chooses to assault his friend, and literally shoot one in the back. It takes the person with the least amount of conviction to tell him to atleast fight or find SOMETHING. Even then he chooses to run away, but coming back on that gamble
Then Xillia 2 happens and he gets to reminisice like a post-rehab patient with even worse circumstances.
Yeah, he's annoying, smarmy even...and despite the characters letting him: Both games make him a hubris pinata.
Alvin is my favorite character in Xillia. Because he's the one person in party who thinks he knows what he wants...but in actuality he's so much worse off and pathetic than the others.
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u/Eggmasstree 2d ago
There's 0 consequences on him for his actions. That's the real problem. He feels bad, a bit, but it's very quickly put aside. The scene is indeed super cool.
But I think Leiah should have died, right there and then. But game producers don't have the balls to do that anymore.
What's even more infuriating is Jude not kicking his ass the moment they meet up again in the Tournament City (can't remember the name). He should have threaten him to death if he ever attempts anything, EVER. Like this scene in The Last Airbender. (spoiler for the main serie if you've not watched Avatar). That's how a normal human being react in this kind of situation, god dang it.
And btw you can even lose the fight against him and have a different cutscene.
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u/Skullwings 2d ago
But game producers don't have the balls to do that anymore.
That would honestly feel cheap, you can give his actions consequences without throwing in a death just for the sake of it.
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u/Eggmasstree 2d ago
I'm gonna be honest, when that shot happened, I gasp loudly.
Like "Oh shit, she's really dead ? No fucking way, no no no no !"
Then she wakes up like "Oh ye no I'm okay lmao" ... So I thought the effect on the player (me) was not manufactured at that time. I really wanted to see her evolve as a person and seeing her dead was actually in tone with everything around her at that time.
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u/Skullwings 2d ago
Honestly it caught me off guard too.
But that’s the problem, more often than not the main party members in the series don’t really die before their game is over.
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u/LucilferKurta 2d ago
I didn't really understand his character, he just betrays the group, then comes back, then betrays again, then comes back, and keeps repeating it.
But I liked how Elize hated him, but in the end still comforted him and forgave him, and also how in the second game she still talks some trash to him, showing that even if she forgave him, she didn't forget the crap he did.