Final Fantasy X - Main Story

Seymour's first proper appearance is in Luca, together with Grand Maester Mika. He introduces himself politely as Seymour Guado, honored to receive the title of Maester. He vows to carry on his father's legacy and foster friendship between the Guado and humans.

On the surface, he sounds perfect. Calm, graceful, respectful, and exactly what the people of Spira expect a Maester to be.

But then he notices Yuna in the crowd.

That is not an ordinary look to me. Seymour looks at her with an intense, hungry, searching gaze. It is the kind of look that goes straight through you. It already feels like he has found something, or someone, that matters to him.

When the blitzball final reaches its end, fiends attack the stadium and everyone is in danger. Seymour appears and summons Anima. Her ability, Pain, causes instant death to the fiends.

My first thought when I saw Anima for the first time was:

Seymour shows his power and looks almost almighty at the end of the FMV. But this was not only a heroic moment. Seymour had the Guado Guardians release fiends into the stadium. He put everyone in danger for his own plan, just so people would see him as a savior.

That is already very Seymour: beautiful presentation, terrible method.

At the end of the Mi'ihen Highroad, the party is stopped at the gate before entering Mushroom Rock Road. Seymour appears and asks the guard to allow Lady Yuna and her guardians through as well.

Yuna kneels so deeply out of respect for him. It says a lot about his status as Maester, and about how much authority he carries in Spira.

He joins the Crusaders battle against Sin, even though forbidden machina are being used. His sarcasm really shines here. It is so dry!

This part of the Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega really touched me, because she is still his mother and I do not think Seymour wanted his mother to suffer again inside the endless cycle of Sin. That makes their connection even more tragic to me.

For a very short time, he is even playable. I remember thinking: does this mean he is going to join our party? He even gets AP afterwards.

After the battle, Seymour comforts Yuna and tells her that she is a summoner, Spira's hope. Then he suggests becoming her pillar of strength, just like Lord Zaon was to Yunalesca.

This is also something Seymour does. He wants Yuna for himself, but he forgets one crucial thing: connection. He reaches for her through symbolism, duty, sacrifice, and old stories instead of simply being honest.

Sometimes I wonder if that comes from his status as a Maester of Yevon. Could he even simply travel with her? Or is he already afraid of being rejected?

Before Yuna and her guardians arrive in Guadosalam, Seymour meets a wounded Baralai and gives him refuge. He takes Baralai under his wing so that he can use him later. When someone compares this to the High Summoner's daughter, Seymour answers sharply:

That line always makes me wonder again: did Seymour actually have feelings for Yuna?

When Lady Yuna and her guardians arrive at the manor, Seymour shows them Zanarkand through a sphere. Tidus wants to show Yuna his Zanarkand someday, but here it is Seymour who shows them the old city first.

He gives them a history lesson about Yunalesca and Lord Zaon. Yunalesca did not defeat Sin alone. Lord Zaon became the fayth of the Final Summoning, and the bond between them was necessary.

Yuna looks shy, and Seymour looks very confident. To me, the scene is also a little awkward. Seymour does not seem to have many social skills when it comes to real emotional connection, so of course he leans close and whispers into Yuna's ear that she should marry him.

The idea that he uses this story to wrap Yuna in symbolism is very Seymour. But honestly, my first thought is much more straight to the point:

Yuna is so shocked that she drinks the whole glass empty and rushes towards Tidus and Rikku. Rikku immediately notices her red face, and Tidus gets worried, so he comforts her by asking if she is alright. She tells them that Seymour asked her to marry him.

Auron steps forward and asks if Seymour actually understands what she has to do. Of course Seymour knows: summoners are charged to bring peace to Spira. For him, it is not only about defeating Sin, but also easing the suffering of all Spira. He thinks she should become a leader for Spira, and this is why he proposed to her as a Maester of Yevon, placing even more weight on her shoulders.

I agree with Auron. It may amuse the audience, but this endless cycle will never stop. From Seymour's point of view, Spira is like a stage, and everyone has to play their role. He then tries to comfort Yuna, and I am like: thank you, Maester Seymour, for at least letting Yuna think about her answer.

I don't know why, but I have the feeling this line also shows that he is afraid of being rejected.

Auron is about to leave when suddenly Seymour asks him why he is still here. Seymour Guado, professional spoiler of the game, and as a Guado he can practically smell the Farplane.