Foreword

One of the biggest misconceptions in Final Fantasy X-2 is related to the relationship between Shuyin and Tidus. Many think that Shuyin is a sort of “template” for Tidus or that Shuyin reincarnated in Tidus. This theory usually goes hand in hand with Yuna being the reincarnation of Lenne. All of this is explained with Spira’s temporal loops. Before trying to explain why Shuyin and Tidus look a like, I’ll show why both these theories aren’t completely correct.

No loops

A dialogue¹ between Tidus and Rikku in Final Fantasy X seemed to imply that with Sin’s arrival in Dream Zanarkand, Tidus was thrown 1000 years in the future. It was thought that Tidus’s Zanarkand was the Zanarkand destroyed by Sin. However, Dream Zanarkand was created by the fayths one thousand years before the events of Final Fantasy X. Since then, the city lived a life on its own: people born, lived, got together and died. Furthermore many in-game situations prove that time passes the same way in Dream Zanarkand and Zanarkand. For example it’s been ten years since Jetch disappeared from his home, and it’s been ten years since he arrived in Besaid². And, back to Tidus, he is only 17 so there’s a huge temporal gap between him and Shuyin.

No reincarnation

A reincarnated person usually preserve some memories from his former life, but Tidus doesn’t seem to remember anything. And furthermore, it’s not possible for Shuyin to reincarnate in Tidus. Albeit it’s true that he died, he didn’t go to the Farplane. Instead he remained on Spira in the form of Unsent, so he still exists.

Reincarnation doesn’t work for Lenne/Yuna either. Lenne’s memories mix with Yuna’s, but she (Yuna) feels that these emotions don’t belong to her. While Shuyin’s emotions lead him to become an Unsent, Lenne’s emotions crystallized in the Songstress Dressphere. During the “1000 words” concert, her spirit comes out of the dressphere without affecting Yuna. The very same thing happens at the end of the game when Lenne’s spirit leaves Yuna’s body to fade away with Shuyin.

But then why?

From an external, strictly gaming point of view Shuyin is clearly the “device” used to set the story in motion. Hadn’t him beard such a strong resemblance to Tidus, Yuna would have remained in Besaid and never joined the Gullwings. The resemblance also provides a plot twist later in the game when it is discovered that the man seen in the sphere isn’t Tidus, but someone else. The internal reason of why the two look alike is more unclear.

When fayths recreated Zanarkand, they probably recreated Shuyin as well. If not all, some of them must have known him because of Lenne. But due to Dream Zanarkand dynamic nature, there wasn’t an exact relationship between real people and their dreamed replica. Any “Dream Shuyin” would have long since died before Tidus even existed. However, it is possible that Tidus is a descendant of the Dream version of Shuyin.

1. Rikku: Yeah, there is no Zanarkand anymore. Sin destroyed it a thousand years ago. So…
   no one plays blitzball there.
   Tidus: Huh? What you do mean a thousand years ago? But I saw Sin attack Zanarkand!
   You’re saying that happened a thousand years ago? No way! [↩]
2. Tidus: My old man, he died. Ten years ago, off the coast of Zanarkand.
   Yuna: Why, that’s the day that Jecht came to Spira. It’s true! I first met Jecht ten years and three months ago! I remember, that was the day my father left. The date fits, doesn’t it? [↩]