LogFAQs > #975692573

Guess it's time to make my pitch for why I love Selphie as a character and why you might want to throw her some saves. On the surface, she is a normal bubble-pop optimist with the "Booyaka!" catchphrase that organizes the Garden Festival. On the inside, and what actually pours out throughout the game, is the core of a very damaged, very demented sociopath that the entire party is terrified of. Now, most of the time it's a case of, "yes, she's a psycho but she's OUR psycho!" but it does often cross the line into asking "...but is she our psycho?" A lot of the FF8 characters get limited chances to develop, but Selphie makes the most of her time with a full arc of unhinged mayhem that culminates in the best FMV of the game.

From the very first mission, she gets genuinely confused/annoyed at why you don't take unnecessary risks by jumping off the cliff. She has no sense of self-preservation and chases thrills:

Selphie: "What took you so long? It would've been much quicker if you'd just jumped."

During the Timber briefing, she first shows off her penchant for wanton destruction. And you get the first reactions of someone nervously questioning Selphie's mental state:

Zone: "Our plan is to..."
Selphie: "...Blow it to smithereens with a rocket launcher!?"
Zone: "Ahh...not quite..."

And during the briefing she's just a little too excited by the prospect of their catastrophic failure:

Rinoa: "We'll have to complete the uncoupling before the 1st switch point. If we don't..."
Selphie: "BOOM! ...Game over, right?"
Rinoa: "...Yeah. So we'll have to move fast. I'll explain the uncoupling process later."

Also seems to lack empathy or any kind of social cues:

Selphie: "It's one of the... ugliest things that I've ever seen in my life. You must really hate him."

Her words and her actions often clash, and the party itself first starts side-eyeing her in Dollet:

Rinoa: "I know that...! What I want to know is, what is the president going to broadcast!? Why use radio waves? There must be something they want to say to the whole world. What can it be?"
Selphie: "Everybody! Love! And Peace!"
[Everyone kind of looks at Selphie funny.]

By mid disc one, Squall has already learned to give Selphie what she wants:

Train Announcement: "This train, bound for East Academy, will depart shortly."
[Selphie looks at the locked door.]
Squall: "We'll..."
Selphie: "Open, Open, OPEN!"
Squall: "...Make it."
Selphie: "Please... Open up!
Squall: (...Better let her have her way.)
ID Check: "Confirming...Access granted..."
[The door opens.]
Selphie: "Tee-hee! Thanks

Squall: (Yeah, whatever.) "Have a good time..."
Selphie: "Are you being sarcastic!? You are, aren't you! Well, fine then! We WILL have a good time!"
Squall: (Did I say something terrible? Women... I don't understand women.)

Even trains learn to bend to Selphie's will not long after:

ID Check: "Confirming... Access granted..."
[Everyone piles in. Selphie goes to the door and it opens.]
Selphie: "Hee! You caught on!"