I thought his take on the character was rather interesting. I'm not going to bother doing the hyperlinks, so if you want to see the videos accompanying it, check out the reddit link. [quote]I was explaining this to a friend recently, and he told me to share it here. Reach was a while ago, but hopefully you'll like what I have to say. This contains MASSIVE spoilers for Halo: Reach, so I'll warn you now instead of blacking out most of my post. Halo: Reach follows the story of Noble Team as they live out the fall of the planet Reach from the Covenant invasion. Despite the few problems I have with its story (another time, maybe), Reach is one of my favorite games of all time, mostly due to the incredible individuality and depth written into each member of Noble Team. Well, every member, it seems, except Emile. Emile sticks out, doesn't he? A lot of people regard him as the least well-written Spartan, and they're pretty justified in saying so. He's a walking museum of "badass" stereotypes: big-ass knife, skull carved into his helmet, belts of grenades strapped to his red and grey armor, constantly cracking off-color jokes - At first glance, he doesn't seem to have much personality aside from "I am the token bad boy in this team." And while I see why some people would believe this, I believe he is the most human, and indeed the most relatable of the Nobles. The first time the player encounters Emile, he is sharpening a knife on his bicep. Go back and reread that sentence. You're probably wondering how such a caricature could ever be relatable, and I don't blame you. After all, he keeps this attitude up throughout the whole game: "Command will not be keeping us company on this trip." "I'm lonely already." "She needs a full psychiatric work up." "She's not the only one." "May I [borrow your knife]?" "Don't cut yourself." "It's a regular family reunion." Along with some more quips during actual gameplay. So why all this? Why the attitude, the macho symbolism, why is Emile the only Spartan to never take his helmet off? My theory is that it's all a mask for a major insecurity. I believe Emile is afraid of dying. This is why he hides behind the skull and knife, why he's the only Noble who never says anything positive to 6, why he always makes light of other people's deaths. During the story, there are two major deaths Emile makes jokes about: the scientist in the first mission - he chides Jorge for caring about the dead man's daughter - and the death of Jorge himself - "The big man was sentimental.". What's interesting to note is that both these deaths happen off-screen for Emile. What's very interesting to note is that that joke about Jorge is the last malicious joke he says in the game. After Kat dies - in front of him, mind you - his attitude changes and you don't hear him make light of anyone's death again. You see, up until this point, Emile had no reason to believe that Spartans weren't immortal. After all, there are no Spartans KIA, and he had yet to see one die (I understand we don't know anything about the previous Noble 6, but if this trailer is canon, then Emile didn't see him die either). When he witnessed Kat die in front of him, Emile came face to face with his own mortality, with the realization that not even his intimidating helmet could protect him from a stray bullet. Watch this scene. From the 11:15 mark, look at everyone's position. Jun is lighting a flare, Carter is carrying Kat's body, 6 is beside Jun looking around. Look at Emile. His arms are at his sides, completely passive. He's separated from the rest of the team physically and figuratively. Carter Jun and 6 are illuminated from the front, while Emile, still inside the wreckage, is illuminated from behind.. The BLUE flare heralds their escape out the city, and the continuation of the story, it represents the resilience of the Spartans and their determination to keep fighting for the planet. Emile is bathed in RED. This image is my favorite moment in the game, and I think it's truly beautiful the way it subtly conveys how Emile feels right then. Emile's personality changes after that. Right before Carter's death, he acts uncharacteristically noble, one could almost describe him as "reassuring". After Carter dies, Emile carries on: "Crevice to the east. Let's go." By the end of the game, Emile has come to accept his mortality and the inevitability of his death. Giving his life to ensure safe passage for the Pillar of Autumn, his last words are "I'm ready! How 'bout you?" Is Emile a product of brilliant writing, or a lazy character who accidentally turns deep if you look too far between the lines? I can't say, and I've had people tell me I'm over analyzing the hell out of this character, but I like my Emile. After connecting the dots, he went from the token bad boy to a tragic persona: afraid of dying and cursed with being witness to the deaths of his teammates, he overcomes his fear and faces his death like a true hero.[/quote]