I mean she does say she is "Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and i have never known defeat.." So you hit the nail on the head with the confidence she exudes when you are in this fight. Bravo again on another great choice.
She's also a liar. As I understand it Radahn defeated her and she had to force a "stalemate" that was still a pyrrhic victory for Radahn by unleashing the scarlet rot.
@@vitriolicAmaranth As i know she had a curs wich was like mhen shi uses that blossom 3 rimes she will become a godess but she did not want to become one she wanted her brother to assend to a god but she was forced to do that to probobly defete the player but she failed
3:37 is where it hits: "I abandon my pride as a swordswoman who fights while holding back my disease just to be on equal footing. Now come, face me as who I am destined to be, my blade and my festering rot. "
@@AlsoYou not if me and my mimic keep slapping her without even letting her do shit. Both me and my mimic tear just outpaced her healing by dealing more DMG than she heals lmao.
Perfect wording as the whole idea behind scarlet rot is the contrast between beauty and horror, life and death, scarlet, and rot... Even though the scarlet rot is a plague of death, the "bloom" of a new life is everywhere in its path which is the highlight of Malenia's flower blossom transformation that despite being beautiful, has killed so many and caused so much suffering. If you look at an overhead view of Caelid where you cant see the disgusting spoors and creatures, its actually quite beautiful until you notice the sculls of the giants signifying death and decay (though they were placed there for possibly a different reason, its still a cool relevant detail to note) Can you tell shes my favorite boss? lol
@@EBG...The flower begins to bloom when she is on the verge of death. That is why she said that the main character made him bloom for the second time, the first time was in the battle with Radan. By the way, I read somewhere that such a flower exists in reality and blooms before its death.
For me, this piece, especially part 2, emphasizes the beauty of Malenia. Malenia was cursed from birth with the scarlet rot, and her rotting limbs did not stop her from being an incredibly elegant and powerful swordswoman. The rot is devouring her face and her body, and yet she remains gorgeous. Her power is terrifying, yet its beautiful and her wings are made of butterflies. And most of all, she is a broken woman, still technically in her prime but having lost the one who matters the most to her, and having partially lost the fight against the corruption of the one who cursed her... she waits for one who will never come, or for death in combat. I bet that before the shattering, Radahn and Malenia got along well.
I suspect she fought Radahn precisely because he was the greatest threat to Miquella's plans; a real contender. The others weren't even in consideration.
@@popkhorne5372 I actually have a theory for that- if you look at the swamp of Aeonia, it's almost right above where Mohg was keeping Miquella. So she probably came charging into Caelid desperate to find her brother, which Radahn thought was an act of war, and the reason why she lost control and bloomed was because she was desperate to get to Miquella
@@ruthlesslistener She blooms near death not out of desperation, in her fight you can see when Radahn severs her arm she impales herself on his back and then blooms (This is from one of the war grave sites talking about their duel which labels her as "Malenia the severed"). There's a lore entry I forgot where but it mentions her body blooms near death, and that once she blooms twice she will emerge as a rot goddess afterwards. She also mentions that her dream was of her flesh "of dull gold and my blood rotted" and we know that once she bloomed on Radahn she was unconscious and the rot knight Finlay carried Malenia's bloomed body on her back all the way to the Halig tree "fighting every matter of foe along the way" to place her at the base to wait for Miquella. Could very well be the reason why she was in Aeonia though and/or Radahn being a threat/blamed for his kidnapping.
I think Malenia likely secretly wishes to be freed from her curse. I kinda got that vibe doing Millicent's questline, which lead to a showdown with Malenia.
She does want to be free from it, and not secretly at all. But most of all i think she secretely knows miquella is not coming back and that is why she wants things to end.
Your analysis of this OST is perfect. Her intro dialogue is calm and she spends the fight walking towards you, gracefully spinning and slashing. Once her phase 2 starts, she gets serious, telling you to wait, that you will witness true horror, and to “rot.”
I hear pained pride-of someone undefeated, but still thoroughly undone. She possessed all the strength anyone could aspire to, and yet she was at the wrong place to use it. She could not save Miquella. Her purpose is gone, taken who knows where, and she simply…rots. She only fights you for the far flung possibility of seeing her brother again, but has no plan to that effect-only to live long enough to see the day. Her strength is the only thing keeping that dream or, less charitably, illusion alive.
When i first got into phase 2 and she said "now you will witness true horror" i was genuinely terrified because in my eyes phase 1 was already true horror Then she said "now rot" and everything was clear
What I like about Elden Ring is that for the first time ever, the bosses actually compliment you when you defeat them. Well, only 2 of them, but that's still more than ever before. It's refreshing to meet bosses who aren't bad losers...
To be fair, Elden Ring has a lot more bosses that actually talk to you in their fight. I think DS3 only had four or so, (Prince Lothric, Consumed King Oceiros, Friede, and Gael) for example.
I legit had shivers down my spine when the music start at the second phase. Definitely an "Oh shit, I'm going to die after this aren't I?" moment and then, I struggle to defeat her for almost 4-5 hours. She's a badass and really lived up to her "Never known defeat" quote. Also, to everyone that take their time to read this comment. Hi! How're you doing? Hope you got a nice day or night ahead of you.
I think you, once again, got the nuance of the "end my suffering" aspect of things in the second phase of the fight, as Malenia is seriously infected by the Scarlet Rot and will very likely be utterly consumed by it (similar to Radahn) even if she does beat you. Fun fact: this theme was used in the Closed Network Test to score the Margit boss-fight outside of Stormveil Castle, and I think given his lore the theme fits Margit equally well, which speaks to your point about "noble melancholy" being a driving theme of FromSoft games, and this game in particular. Cheers!
@@Luis-hf9ue well she with her brother Miquella are cursed. Miquella is cursed with ethernal yought and Malenia by ethernal rot. She is practicaly embodyment of scarlet rot. She bloomed once when she lost to Radhan and destroyed entire Caleid. She is ephyrean one of three...Miquella Ranni and her and ephyreans are only ones able to become a god like Marika/Radagon and take theyr place.(bcs theyr parents are Marika and Radagon and... Marika is Radagon) In second phase as last efford to kill you she embraces scarlet rot and blooms once more....she transenends into godhood. So second phase is fight literary against newborn goddes. She in that moment embraces scarlet rot... She becomes... Malenia, goddes of rot.
@@firelordwaffle2987 an ítem from her says "Malenia will become a gooddes of putrefaction after the thirt bloomsoming", thats Is the 2 phase bloomsoming.
Imagine not knowing the lore and being able to infer more key story points on a character from the music than most players do in their initial playthrough. The music alone conveys that much. It’s THAT good.
It only just occurred to me that the sound of Malenia's track is similar to that of Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower from Bloodborne. Which is awesome and fitting because both are amazing, intimidating, tragic female bosses.
@@mayonnaise2396 malenia was not really the perpetrator. when radahn cut off malenias arm, the rot outer god took control of her because the arm was made of unalloyed gold designed to hold back the god as well as act as a prosthetic otherwise she would of just had it made from wood like sekiro. the outer god forced her to bloom because it wants malenia to embrace her role as the rot godess but she herself does not want to embrace it because she knows that it will destroy the world. when you fight her in her second form. she is essentially being controlled by the rot godess until you free her by killing her. and when you find her shes basically slowly rotting away doing everything she can to not bloom a third time. (she bloomed a second time which can be seen in a room nearby, she put herself in a deep sleep in order to ensure it would not awaken again). essentially all your doing is killing her before the rot outer god fully takes control and makes her infect all of the lands between with her scarlet rot. malenia fought in this war to ensure that nobody could go after miquella because miquella was her brother and the only person who can cure her. he could make unalloyed gold which had the power to hold back outer gods which is immensely powerful if you think about it so she may of feared that radahn would come after her and miquella thinking that miquella and her could be a threat to him. there are no real perpetrators or evil ones in this war. all were tragically fighting to keep themselves alive
@@rangopistacho6928 Actually this makes a lot of sense, in her first phase she is confident and not overly aggressive as it could leave her open to attack. She even dodges away at times in her first phase. But in her second phase after she has become the Goddess of Rot she becomes very aggressive and also is less cautious, using the bloom many times just to try and kill the player. It would makes sense if she is basically not mentally present anymore and the Rot Outer God is controlling her. She fights so much more recklessly than in her previous phase, as if she was a different person almost.
3:50 it’s right at this moment Malenia dive bombs you and then unfolds into this scarlet rot flower right as the strings start playing and it’s the most unsettling yet beautiful moment. That’s when you’re like “oh f*** there’s a phase 2” and she unleashes her scarlet rot, this fight is perplexing, dangerous and intimidating. The music makes it feel all the more unsettling and terrifying, not super intense like you might expect with the hardest boss fight, just unnerving like you’re in big trouble going against the Rot Goddess.
When that second phase song hits, we as the players feel despair and dread. She isn't the one saying free me from this hell, we are. 🤣 Love your analysis videos! Hope to awe a Champion Gundyr one in the future.
@@OtepRalloma He's joking because this boss is notoriously difficult and fighting her is like being trapped in hell. Your analysis is accurate though since she doesn't want the rot and was waiting for her brother to cure her but he got kidnapped and here she is.
Yeah, and in a boss randomizer if you encounter her for a fight that is normally two phases you still have to fight both her phases before the next boss starts the second phase of the encounter. Her and Godrick both have you fight phase 1 and 2 of their fights because they are not separate models, whereas other bosses that change phases with a cutscene are two different models, for example phase 1 Fire Giant and phase 2 Fire Giant are separate models. So in a randomizer you also can have that sense of dread if she is replacing Godfrey, Fire Giant, Godrick, Rykard, Renalla, Maliketh or Radagon.
Her theme is very much the story of the general who won all the battles but lost the war. She dedicated herself to the service of her twin Miquella after he gave her a sense of hope in the form of her prosthetics and the promise of a cure. But in the end she was too weakened after such a vicious campaign to keep that twin from being kidnapped. And that's how you walk into her boss room. Her sleeping in a chair next to where she thought Miquella would be. But he's gone. Her hope's gone. All that's left is one more fight.
I don't know how but you guessed Malenia's entire story with just the music. "playtime is over" it sure was. Basically Malenia was born with a curse that could also be used as a phenomenal attack. It basically afflicts anything around her with a deadly parasite that consumes their body and brain over time, but also deals tremendous damage to her own body. Basically, this is her final gambit. "Free me" After the loss of her brother (at the hands of Mohg, the intellectual evil) she basically lives in shame of her failure to protect her precious little brother, despite having "never known defeat". So it's particularly accurate. Even more when she apologizes to him for having lost for the first time at the end of the fight
Yeah, and that curse is from an Outer God. Which is why Miquella developed his unalloyed gold needle, because unalloyed gold can resist the influence of Outer Gods.
As soon as I heard those thundering vocals at 3:38 I knew this had to be a Yuka Kitamura track. Reminded me so much of Lady Maria’s theme- excited you’re going to cover that one soon!
"I am Malenia, blade of Miquella, and I have never known defeat." Malenia is known as the undefeated swordswoman, and is arguably tied with Radahn, the Starscourge, for the title of mightiest of the demigods. So, yeah, I'd say the confidence is pretty accurate! She's the hardest fight in the game, and she knows it. Gonna get a quite spoilery past here - it's lore time Malenia and her twin brother Miquella were both born cursed, as a result of their mother and father, Marika and Radagon, being the same person. Miquella was cursed to be a babby forever, and Malenia was born with the curse of the Scarlet Rot. She has spent much of her life trying to keep it at bay, a struggle that actually led to the development of her remarkable skill with a blade, and Miquella was in fact driven to create the Haligtree - which is essentially his attempt to create his own Erdtree - by the Golden Order's failure to cure his sister of the Rot. During her fight with Radahn, she gave in, and allowed the Scarlet Flower to bloom, in order to achieve victory. She does the same with us during the second phase of her fight. As the Scarlet Aeonia incantation tells us, "Each time the scarlet flower blooms, Malenia's rot advances. It has already bloomed twice already. With the third bloom, she will become a true goddess." Our fight was the second bloom. If she ever got around to the third, she would ascend from demigod to true godhood - likely as a vassal for the Outer God from which the Scarlet Rot originates, much like the final boss is a vassal for the Greater Will. After her fight with Radahn, she was carried back to the Haligtree by Finlay, one of the Cleanrot Knights, whose ashes you can find and use in-game. Since then, she has slumbered at the its roots, awaiting Miquella's emergence. Miquella was essentially trying to use the Haligtree's power to bypass his curse of eternal youth - in fact, you can see the body he was growing for himself in the Haligtree's roots. Sadly, Malenia would have waited forever, as Miquella had been long since gone from the Haligtree - kidnapped, in fact, by his half-brother Mohg, to use him in the establishment of a new Dynasty, with Mohg and Miquella at its head. The stories of the demigods are largely tragic, and Malenia is a perfect posterchild for that tragedy. Hers is an incredibly sad story, cursed with a horrific affliction since birth and, when we find her, waiting for a day that will never come, a brother that will never return. To find victory, and to make it back to her brother, she gave herself over to the Rot, and it has all but undone her.
@IkeaChairLeg yeah but we also find the traveling maiden outfit in that bloom, something that is never associated with malenia at all, so I think it's more likely that bloom belongs to someone more akin to Millicent.
@@c.smidgeon2847 the other "daughters" couldn't properly rot. It's there in some item descriptions of one of the sisters(the one who can be summoned to fight commander kneil in aeonia). The only one other than Malenia who can bloom properly is Milicent. So this was her 3rd bloom and she became a Godess and was killed by the player character.
The elegance in the second phase is pure beautiful. She’s so elegant she’s dancing with her blade. Like there’s one character says in the game it’s so beautiful to see the scarlet rot blooms and I totally feel it. She’s so beautiful dancing with her blade that I’m not even mad when she kills me...... at least the first 10 times.
If I may recommend a song, I know patreon does this but I feel like someone there would agree, you should listen to Slave knight Gael's theme from Dark Souls 3. That theme is the pinnacle of music for me.
Totally agree. I would love to see him react to that ost too. Slave knight Gael is my all time favourite boss fight. The fight, cut scene, lore and ost are amazing!
The second phase is basically “alright you little shit, the gloves are coming off. Now, DIE.” She basically sheds her humanity, ascending to godhood in a last ditch attempt to defeat you. Very, VERY similar to Lady Maria from Bloodborne.
Before finding your videos about the Elden Ring OST, I never really thought about the music playing in the background that much, it always just amplified one certain vibe at best. But seeing you feeling the entire theme and story of a boss, only by listening to it's music has really impressed me that such music alone can pass such elaborate messages when you are focussing and maybe even subconsciously. Thank you for showing me this side of the art!
Watching your reaction around 4:35 filled me with such joy lol. Honestly this is one of my favorite tracks. This song brings me feelings of intense triumph and pride. I wish elden ring's soundtrack was on spotify AAAAAAA
I feel like in phase 1, it is more of a duel, two enemies facing eachother on equal footing. The ost and gameplay shows that with the elegance and semi-calmness. And her doing a combo or 2 and then waiting for you to take a move. In second phase, it's not a duel anymore. Malenia has come to either destroy you or die trying. The intenser soundtrack combined with the fact that you don't get any breathing room whatsoever in second phase makes it terrifying. Took me 83 attempts to beat this boss, which I thought was a lot. And then I saw others struggling at 120th attempt. I got lucky lol.
The violin, right at the beginning... It's so mournful and sad, yet eerily beautiful, just like her. It's really who she is, this warrior who has lost everything yet still has a grace about her that takes the breath away.
As others have mentioned, great analysis. I definitely found the first part to be a kind of reserved "You dare face the mightiest warrior that ever lived? Well then, you're welcome to try" vibe if that makes sense, it's extremely intense to play but the music really sells that she's sort of judging you, weighing your worthiness, in a way. The second phase on the other hand is very much "the gloves are off, we are doing this for real", and as she herself says, "You will witness true horror." It's no holds barred, and just like in her fight with Radahn, every weapon she has is on the table, because while she's suffering horribly from the Scarlet Rot, if anyone takes her down it will be a worthy opponent. (Some lore spoilers ahead, I guess.) There's also, lore wise, the added painful layer of her essentially defining herself by her twin brother, Miquella, as his protector. She was born cursed with Scarlet Rot, but he was cursed with eternal youth, and is physically weaker. At some point either while she was away fighting Radahn or as she was recuperating from said fight, Miquella was kidnapped from the Haligtree where you fight Malenia. Essentially, she's always been victorious in battle, but she still failed her one main goal in life. You might've seen the Scarlet Aeonia flower in the story trailer for the game, or the video where Jerren, the steward of Redmane Castle explains how Radahn became infected with Scarlet Rot. It's an enormous red flower that spreads Scarlet Rot all around it, and according to the description of the Scarlet Aeonia incantation you can get from Malenia's Remembrance that you get after fighting her, the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess: "Each time the scarlet flower blooms, Malenia's rot advances. It has bloomed twice already. With the third bloom, she will become a true goddess." The fight was Radahn was one time it happened, and there is a smaller Scarlet Aeonia in a room outside Malenia's boss fight. At the end of her first phase, as your character turns away from her dying form, the Aeonia blooms for the third and final time, and she rises again, spreading her wings as Malenia, Goddess of Rot, both her power and her suffering vastly increased at the same time. It's really beautiful honestly, the artists in charge of her did an amazing job.
I heard that roll into the slow melody so many times…… But like Friede no matter how many times she killed me I loved the ost so much it was always okay
This was an welcome surprise, malenia really was one the coolest and hardest bosses i have ever fought against, while the soundtracks themeselves are beyond amazing there is nothing quite like fighting against them and hearing the music on the background. Once again im blown away on how spot on you were with your thoughts, cant wait for your next reaction.
I love how classy the second phase theme sounds, and I didn’t really think about the idea of metamorphosis as you described, the idea of shedding off her armour to get serious because her design has a lot of allusions to butterflies, and the whole Scarlet Aeonia attack is just beautiful to look at
I loved this video, I really love how you essentially got the whole fight from the song, that shows the people behind the song knew what they were doing. Simply amazing
She's one of the most profound and tragic characters of the whole lore, if not the most. Curious about your thought after you get through the fight and learn more about the lore.
A lot bosses in Eldin really got the short end of the stick. Melania, as terrifying as she is, was cursed to rot from birth and as you accurately pointed out, it shows in her OST. IMO though, listen to Renalla's OST. Her lore points out that she REALLY got the short end. Her husband left her, took her stuff, locked her away, her sons went mad and her daughter killed herself. Now she's stuck in madness surrounded by her "failed attempts". That's metal.
Hardest boss in the game by far. It's a great battle, even though it has some bullshit moves. Wonderful music, suits her elegance very much, and the sad fact that she's infected with scarlet rot.
The second phase begins with her abandoning her pride as a sword master and using her full power in a sort of last ditch effort, a lot like lady Maria.
People often overlook Malenia’s complex character in favor of her boss difficulty, which is fair. However, I think she’s one of the most well-written characters in Soulsborne to date. A divine warrior that harbors a god of Rot within her being and resists it all her life, all for the sake of remaining her twin brother’s undefeated blade. However, in the midst of the Shattering, Malenia finally abandons her free will to the Rot god and lets it lose so as to not fail her brother. Now she’s lost and broken, her brother gone, and this theme follows that tragedy as we first fight her as a shadow of the noble warrior she once was before the swelling strings kick in and Malenia fully gives into the Rot, becoming its vassal and goddess. It’s just amazing and perfectly captures the tragic effects that unwavering duty to another person can bring. Unconditional love also. Glad you reacted to this one! You pretty much nailed the interpretation. Cheers! 🍻
I would genuinely love to see you do your play through of Elden ring/ other games. Watching you experience the boss battles and then reacting to them in their own video (or vice versa) would be amazing
I am really glad that Marco touched on the aspect of 'confidence'. I mean, someone who proclaims to have 'never known defeat', I would certainly expect them to be very confident indeed.
The final analysis that seems like a shot in the dark actually hits the nail on the head, in her lore her master sealed the God of Rot away years ago but now she has been imbued with power as the Goddess of Rot and has been trying to keep it inside until you kill her in the fight and begin part 2. Amazing as always!
i like the conflict between her first and second phase a lot. in her first phase, she's confident but also sounds tired, like she's gotten used to winning and just wants to get it over with. she plays fair and gives you a lot of time in between her moves if you need it. but then when her second phase comes out, she loses that calmness and brings out her last resort. when before she was confident, now she's desperate. but her music comes off as more tragic than powerful, like she doesn't want to do this but feels like she has to in order to win. her greatest power is also her greatest weakness. she was born with the scarlet rot and it ate away at her body through her entire life. instead of boasting her powers in her second phase cutscene, she says "you will witness true horror"
Personally the dramatic and emotional chords and voices almost feel directed at the player, almost like an ode to the hell of a fight you're experiencing, with the imagery and all that from the second phase. Malenia can definitely be described as malicious and the rising tension can certainly be attributed to that as well if you feel like drawing the connection there. Very cool fight and probably one of the only bosses in a souls game to be genuinely scary given the dialogue, imagery, and her lethal attacks. The fact that you're fighting a shardbearer at the pinnacle of their strength in the lore is just so cool to see, you're fighting the daughter of a god and it definitely feels like it.
this piece fits malenia so well, i cant listen to this without picturing her cinematics and i cant look at her without thinking of this piece, it describes her perfectly
This is one of the most cohesive musical expressions in the entire series, even if it isn’t actually my favorite. The second movement almost perfectly accents and uplifts the initial, which was bass-heavy brass and strings, initially offset by a droning alto-soprano choir. It adds a regal characteristic that wasn’t there, almost a theme of “arrival”… This is of course significant if you know anything of the influence on Malenia by an outer god. She is “flowering” in her second phase, because the Tarnished lord-to-be has dueled her to within inches of her life. Im a fan of Liszt and late Chopin. I love frantic melodies that resolve in places sometimes uncertain, and I love playful chromatic progressions that leave you on the edge of your seat, then vanish into the next measure. It’s so neat to me how music can mimic the feeling of always chasing the next finality, but never finding it. This song doesn’t really incorporate that feeling in the same way. It very much remains in the same place musically, and the second movement doesn’t introduce any new ideas as a basis, but fully fleshes out the ideas hinted at in the first movement. This places it in stark contrast with some other themes in the series, which are more about internal conflict or uncertain struggle. It’s almost fair to characterize this song as “Malenia’s song;” it isn’t yours, and it isn’t anyone else’s.
I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella That's all i am hearing lately.
Your analysis of the second phase music transition is spot on. She blooms the scarlet aeonia to enter her second phase, something she only did once before against Radahn. She collapses at first so it’s made clear we’ve pushed her to a limit she’s only reached against the “mightiest demigod”. Her demeanor in how she speaks to the player goes from confidence in her abilities to something more like actual rage. Telling us to just straight up “rot”. She is no longer looking to maintain the image of master swordswoman and is just looking to finish you. Brilliant work as usual! Edit: small bit to add that I picked up listening to the soundtrack on its own and not letting it take me over as I battle the greatest enemy in soulsborne history. Not nearly as competent in music theory or anything of that nature. But given the lore of her character I feel this becomes noticeable. Her master was said to be a master swordsman dressed in a blue cowl and cloak. It’s definitely the set you get for choosing the warrior starting class. He was said to use a curved sword representing the style of flowing water and passed on his flowing “be like water” Bruce lee style of swordplay onto Malenia. The choir in the first phase along with the violin/cello I presume is the correct instrument lol, is indeed sort of flowing from a high to low and back. Just how Malenia even at blistering speed and intensity manages to maintain this flowing graceful posture and style in the first and even the second phase. But again the second phase involves much more emphasis on the scarlet rot and she becomes fed up with going easy on you.
You’ve got great insights, I’ve watched tons of your videos and I’ve played all the soulsborne games and your analyses of the songs actually help me learn more about the bosses and appreciate them. Before this I had never considered that Malenia wanted her suffering to end, when I heard that I got emotional. She’s definitely the hardest boss I’ve ever fought, and now I can appreciate a whole new dimension to her awesome character.
I loved this fight, most frustrating two days of my life and I have to say Malenia brings so much confidence and *grace* and her all to the fight, all while being blind (losing her sight to the Rot), I can't wait to fight her again during my melee run while thinking of the emotions you bring up here
The only time I've struggled more than this fight was the first time I fought the Nameless King in dark souls 3 right after it released, this gave me flashbacks to that.
Your comment about the intro where you said it makes you think "you've come here to die" really nails how I feel about the intro cello too. I get an absolute sense of danger, deadliness, and killing intent from that cello.
God damn. I was sitting there for the first 3 minutes thinking "It has this almost divine or ethereal, or natural/unnatural reverence to it", was gonna type a comment at that point, even being 3mo late to this video... But you nailed it. Basically grabbed the words right from my brain and put them out there. Good shit man, loving the expertise and content you've been sharing with us.
It's always such a joy seeing you react to those songs. The emotions you show and the different interpretations about the tones and melodys always lets me appreciate those songs even more. Thank you for sharing your reaction and thoughts with us :) P.S: sorry for any typos or flaws regarding my grammar :P
I have to say after watching a few of your videos your knowledge on music is awe inspiring. Your ability to pick out character traits from subtle music and vocal notes is extremely cool and impressive. Also love to see the passion in your content. I’m definitely subscribing.
Hi Marco! I'm also a musician (French horn player, big brass guy here). I studied music in college and I happened upon your channel today. I also enjoy video games and especially like to take time and listen to these composers and their incredible portrayals of these fantastic worlds and settings. Your analyses and "senses" you get from the music are right on the spot when it comes to describing these characters and the types of emotions they exude. It's really a testament to the composers for being able to create those senses with the music. I'm really enjoying these reaction videos and I look forward to more! From one musician to another, this gets me pumped up!
Aw man this makes me so excited to read Taylor. I really feel this is the evolution of the music we studied in college. I’m glad you’re here. Please join the discord so we can chat!
The song has a very somber feeling, even in the second half. Like a lot of the fights in the game, theres more to it than just a difficult enemy, and the song reflects that. It gives a feeling of complete confidence, but not arrogance. She knows exactly how easy it is to kill you, and she probably will kill you numerous times. I love the fact that they made the song to focus on the character rather than the fight itself, even though the song does kind of clue you in on the best way to beat her. Slow and methodical, doing chip damage instead of trying to burn through her health as fast as possible.
I personally think the song is The Scarlot Rot itself, the disease that afflicts Malenia, causes her to amputate her limbs, destroying her family relationship with her and her brother Miquella whose trying to cure it. When we find her she’s just slumped in a chair sleeping, even since the hardest fight in her life she almost lost the title of “Undefeated,” but she gave i to her disease, letting it grant her the strength to defeat her opponent. She does the same in the fight too, we kill her and she revives with scarlet Valkyrie wings that have never known defeat. But she is desperate to win at any cost. If there’s one theme of this song I love is the sense of dread of agony, phase 1 sounds very quiet, normally a quiet song in fromsoft games give you the chance to think better but here Malenia is too vicious. Then second phase starts and whoa, you know she is no longer holding back. Despite her disease killing her it gives her a strength to revive from death to gain another chance to kill us. People who worship the scarlot rot consider Malenia a goddess who has forsaken her power and her “people,” even though she has nothing to do with them. They often talk about how if she were to “blossom,” she’d become the goddess of rot they desire. And phase 2 emphasizes that, something horrifying and twisted but also beautiful, its almost like watching the sun explode, sure its going to kill you but could you deny yourself the sight? Malenia has problems as a boss but lore wise i love her both story and gameplay. Love fighting her.
This song used to be Margit's theme when he fights you on the bridge and I wish it was kept that way. The first phase is about the same melody as the story trailer when it shows the demigod war and then the second phase when Malenia fights Radahn. Hearing it during Margit's fight felt to me like the game was telling you that this is the beginning of the end for the dark age and that the Tarnished character is about to push forward and change history.
Honestly I didn't point it out until now, but I do appreciate how you don't put any boss fight footage in your video! I always like to go into bosses blind, especially for bosses I've been excited to fight ever since I saw the first trailers (for eg Maliketh, Maliketh is a fight I've absolutely looked forward too, and I know he's called 'Maliketh' because I saw some screenshots and stuff), but I also like to see how people react to the boss music. So your channel is basically a win-win situation for me lol!
Malenia's music sounds like a normal boss (?) in her first phase and when that 2nd phase music immediately hit, I was like, "I am fighting a GOD" and yeah, true enough it's the Goddess of Rot. The form that she is ashamed of. She became what she is ashamed of.
You nailed booth phases, the Blade of Miquella the undefeated phase, and the second phase Goddess of rot, she unleashes her rot power to try to anhilate you (like another Demigod she fought) but at the same time she vbecomes afflicted by her own power
4:51 i dont know if its just me but this reminds me too much of a certain passage from gael's theme but the way it just (sorry im not too versed in music terminology) takes a different route instead of going the way it did its just beautiful
I really gotta say that I love your reactions and therefore your videos! You are great and I can really agree with your opinion on this soundtrack! It's just cool to have someone with real (music) experience to further look into soundtracks that I for my part really love. Thank you very much man!
Her second phase really shows the danger of the situation you're in. Her life was suffering from the day she was born to harbor the scarlet rot. She doesn't say it but I'm sure she wants to die that's why when you beat her she apologizes to her brother for being defeated even though she compliments our strength
I’ve always interpreted this theme as somewhat of a slow dance in the first phase. It’s just you and malenia, and it’s a duel to be the victor. However, second phase was where she throws away all her inhibitions, all of her honor in fact. Now she wants you to die and she won’t go easy on you.
I took me a while to remember this but butterflies are associated with scavengers as they often suck blood from rotten corpses. So it kinda explains that despite her being the goddess of rot she is adorn with butterflies. Its theres a good chance the butterflies have emerged to feast on bloody and new flesh from her wings or devour her already rotten arm or face.
WOW. I know some of the lore (wont mention it here cuz might spoil), but the fact that youre reading these things just from music. Is insane, both from a listening perspective and its amazing creators.
This music transmits many emotions, it is an intense mixture of epicity, the choir is majestic showing that you are facing a very powerful boss, but it also transmits great sadness, the violin chords show the tragedy that Malenia suffered throughout her life, she born afflicted by the scarlet rot and despite being very powerful the rot is almost completely consumed her. Despite her enormous power, this power was of no use to her because she failed in all her objectives, she could not finish the war, she could not kill Radahn and, moreover, she was forced to unleash the rot destroying all of Caelid only to disable Radahn, condemning to all her enemies, allies and all those who inhabited the area, sadly with this she was one of the ones who contributed the most to the devastation of the Shattering and the end she could not gain control of the elden ring, then she returned afflicted by the rot only to find that her dear brother MIquella was kidnapped and she has no trace of him... We find her alone in Elphael Brace of the Haligtree contemplating with pain and loneliness the place where her dear brother was, alone, empty, with no one around to relieve her pain... Maybe That's the only thing we can help with, maybe by finally defeating her she can rest and have peace.
![Elden Ring - "I am You, Blade of Miquella" (Malenia VS Malenia) [NG+7, No Hit]](/img/n.gif)
I mean she does say she is "Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and i have never known defeat.." So you hit the nail on the head with the confidence she exudes when you are in this fight. Bravo again on another great choice.
🤣 she’s like this is me you’re done. 🤣
@@MarcoMeatball you also guessed with the part she says finally a worthy opponent music is so representing her
She's also a liar. As I understand it Radahn defeated her and she had to force a "stalemate" that was still a pyrrhic victory for Radahn by unleashing the scarlet rot.
@@vitriolicAmaranth if anything I'd say it was a pyrrhic victory for Malenia considering she is still in her right mind while radahn is not.
@@vitriolicAmaranth As i know she had a curs wich was like mhen shi uses that blossom 3 rimes she will become a godess but she did not want to become one she wanted her brother to assend to a god but she was forced to do that to probobly defete the player but she failed
3:37 is where it hits: "I abandon my pride as a swordswoman who fights while holding back my disease just to be on equal footing. Now come, face me as who I am destined to be, my blade and my festering rot. "
“Now, rot.”
3:24 her final words are "Your strength, extraordinary... I've finally met my match."
the mark of a true lord
Your MIMIC, extraordinary! : D
@@Pegla43 bahahah bro speak facts
@@Pegla43 mimic is just a infinity crimson flask for her
@@AlsoYou not if me and my mimic keep slapping her without even letting her do shit. Both me and my mimic tear just outpaced her healing by dealing more DMG than she heals lmao.
malenia in her second phase looks like a beautiful painting lenoard/davinci would paint. she is the definition of "beauty can be horrifying"
They managed to make a naked woman tasteful, which doesnt happen often nowadays
Perfect wording as the whole idea behind scarlet rot is the contrast between beauty and horror, life and death, scarlet, and rot... Even though the scarlet rot is a plague of death, the "bloom" of a new life is everywhere in its path which is the highlight of Malenia's flower blossom transformation that despite being beautiful, has killed so many and caused so much suffering. If you look at an overhead view of Caelid where you cant see the disgusting spoors and creatures, its actually quite beautiful until you notice the sculls of the giants signifying death and decay (though they were placed there for possibly a different reason, its still a cool relevant detail to note) Can you tell shes my favorite boss? lol
@@EBG...The flower begins to bloom when she is on the verge of death. That is why she said that the main character made him bloom for the second time, the first time was in the battle with Radan. By the way, I read somewhere that such a flower exists in reality and blooms before its death.
True, she reminds me of Botticelli's Venus painting
For me, this piece, especially part 2, emphasizes the beauty of Malenia. Malenia was cursed from birth with the scarlet rot, and her rotting limbs did not stop her from being an incredibly elegant and powerful swordswoman. The rot is devouring her face and her body, and yet she remains gorgeous. Her power is terrifying, yet its beautiful and her wings are made of butterflies.
And most of all, she is a broken woman, still technically in her prime but having lost the one who matters the most to her, and having partially lost the fight against the corruption of the one who cursed her... she waits for one who will never come, or for death in combat. I bet that before the shattering, Radahn and Malenia got along well.
I suspect she fought Radahn precisely because he was the greatest threat to Miquella's plans; a real contender. The others weren't even in consideration.
@@cursedkei66 she fought godrick, crushed him and let him go. No, i don't think it's that. But the reasons why they fought remain a mistery.
@@popkhorne5372 she’s a total brocon so that’s why she fought radahn.
Unfortunately for her so is mohg.
@@popkhorne5372 I actually have a theory for that- if you look at the swamp of Aeonia, it's almost right above where Mohg was keeping Miquella. So she probably came charging into Caelid desperate to find her brother, which Radahn thought was an act of war, and the reason why she lost control and bloomed was because she was desperate to get to Miquella
@@ruthlesslistener She blooms near death not out of desperation, in her fight you can see when Radahn severs her arm she impales herself on his back and then blooms (This is from one of the war grave sites talking about their duel which labels her as "Malenia the severed"). There's a lore entry I forgot where but it mentions her body blooms near death, and that once she blooms twice she will emerge as a rot goddess afterwards. She also mentions that her dream was of her flesh "of dull gold and my blood rotted" and we know that once she bloomed on Radahn she was unconscious and the rot knight Finlay carried Malenia's bloomed body on her back all the way to the Halig tree "fighting every matter of foe along the way" to place her at the base to wait for Miquella. Could very well be the reason why she was in Aeonia though and/or Radahn being a threat/blamed for his kidnapping.
I think Malenia likely secretly wishes to be freed from her curse. I kinda got that vibe doing Millicent's questline, which lead to a showdown with Malenia.
She does want to be free from it, and not secretly at all. But most of all i think she secretely knows miquella is not coming back and that is why she wants things to end.
...what do you mean secretly??? It's literally her entire goal that she is famed to seek
Your analysis of this OST is perfect. Her intro dialogue is calm and she spends the fight walking towards you, gracefully spinning and slashing. Once her phase 2 starts, she gets serious, telling you to wait, that you will witness true horror, and to “rot.”
I hear pained pride-of someone undefeated, but still thoroughly undone. She possessed all the strength anyone could aspire to, and yet she was at the wrong place to use it. She could not save Miquella. Her purpose is gone, taken who knows where, and she simply…rots. She only fights you for the far flung possibility of seeing her brother again, but has no plan to that effect-only to live long enough to see the day. Her strength is the only thing keeping that dream or, less charitably, illusion alive.
"You've come here to die"
He guessed 99% of the experience from just the starting part of the song, impressive
The only thing I'll say about her is: u will witness true horror
the only thing i know about her is that she is Malenia, Blade of Miquella
@@arthurian4033 and she never knew defeat
@@pedrinholl1921 until she has to tell Miquella that she finally met her match
Now rot
When i first got into phase 2 and she said "now you will witness true horror" i was genuinely terrified because in my eyes phase 1 was already true horror
Then she said "now rot" and everything was clear
What I like about Elden Ring is that for the first time ever, the bosses actually compliment you when you defeat them. Well, only 2 of them, but that's still more than ever before. It's refreshing to meet bosses who aren't bad losers...
Malenia and...Godfrey?
Also when the bosses kill you some of them show respect like Gideon Ofnir or Godfrey, Godfrey truly seems like a nice guy
To be fair, Elden Ring has a lot more bosses that actually talk to you in their fight. I think DS3 only had four or so, (Prince Lothric, Consumed King Oceiros, Friede, and Gael) for example.
Godfrey compliments you even if you die to him in phase 1
@@kcyccyck6556 Godfrey is the biggest chad of Elden Ring
@@slayeroffurries1115 i thought radahn was the biggest chad
I legit had shivers down my spine when the music start at the second phase. Definitely an "Oh shit, I'm going to die after this aren't I?" moment and then, I struggle to defeat her for almost 4-5 hours. She's a badass and really lived up to her "Never known defeat" quote. Also, to everyone that take their time to read this comment. Hi! How're you doing? Hope you got a nice day or night ahead of you.
Thank you I am doing well! I hope you´re ok too!
I've never believed a boss or a villain more than when Malenia speaks.
I think you, once again, got the nuance of the "end my suffering" aspect of things in the second phase of the fight, as Malenia is seriously infected by the Scarlet Rot and will very likely be utterly consumed by it (similar to Radahn) even if she does beat you. Fun fact: this theme was used in the Closed Network Test to score the Margit boss-fight outside of Stormveil Castle, and I think given his lore the theme fits Margit equally well, which speaks to your point about "noble melancholy" being a driving theme of FromSoft games, and this game in particular. Cheers!
I think in 2phase she become a god and take control of the corruption
I did not remember this theme being used in the network test, always surprising what new things there are to learn about from software games
@@Luis-hf9ue it’s explicitly stated that, while she is a goddess, she has always wanted a *cure*. She did not win, she gave in.
@@Luis-hf9ue well she with her brother Miquella are cursed. Miquella is cursed with ethernal yought and Malenia by ethernal rot. She is practicaly embodyment of scarlet rot. She bloomed once when she lost to Radhan and destroyed entire Caleid. She is ephyrean one of three...Miquella Ranni and her and ephyreans are only ones able to become a god like Marika/Radagon and take theyr place.(bcs theyr parents are Marika and Radagon and... Marika is Radagon) In second phase as last efford to kill you she embraces scarlet rot and blooms once more....she transenends into godhood. So second phase is fight literary against newborn goddes. She in that moment embraces scarlet rot... She becomes... Malenia, goddes of rot.
@@firelordwaffle2987 an ítem from her says "Malenia will become a gooddes of putrefaction after the thirt bloomsoming", thats Is the 2 phase bloomsoming.
I love that Fromsoft always give the toughest bosses the quieter soundtracks (Malenia and Sister Frieda come to mind).
Imagine not knowing the lore and being able to infer more key story points on a character from the music than most players do in their initial playthrough.
The music alone conveys that much. It’s THAT good.
It only just occurred to me that the sound of Malenia's track is similar to that of Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower from Bloodborne. Which is awesome and fitting because both are amazing, intimidating, tragic female bosses.
As far as I know Melania is kind of the perpetrator. But I’m open to have someone prove me wrong,
@@mayonnaise2396 malenia was not really the perpetrator. when radahn cut off malenias arm, the rot outer god took control of her because the arm was made of unalloyed gold designed to hold back the god as well as act as a prosthetic otherwise she would of just had it made from wood like sekiro. the outer god forced her to bloom because it wants malenia to embrace her role as the rot godess but she herself does not want to embrace it because she knows that it will destroy the world. when you fight her in her second form. she is essentially being controlled by the rot godess until you free her by killing her. and when you find her shes basically slowly rotting away doing everything she can to not bloom a third time. (she bloomed a second time which can be seen in a room nearby, she put herself in a deep sleep in order to ensure it would not awaken again). essentially all your doing is killing her before the rot outer god fully takes control and makes her infect all of the lands between with her scarlet rot. malenia fought in this war to ensure that nobody could go after miquella because miquella was her brother and the only person who can cure her. he could make unalloyed gold which had the power to hold back outer gods which is immensely powerful if you think about it so she may of feared that radahn would come after her and miquella thinking that miquella and her could be a threat to him. there are no real perpetrators or evil ones in this war. all were tragically fighting to keep themselves alive
this is old, but, they were both composed by yuka kitamura
@@rangopistacho6928 Actually this makes a lot of sense, in her first phase she is confident and not overly aggressive as it could leave her open to attack. She even dodges away at times in her first phase. But in her second phase after she has become the Goddess of Rot she becomes very aggressive and also is less cautious, using the bloom many times just to try and kill the player. It would makes sense if she is basically not mentally present anymore and the Rot Outer God is controlling her. She fights so much more recklessly than in her previous phase, as if she was a different person almost.
3:50 it’s right at this moment Malenia dive bombs you and then unfolds into this scarlet rot flower right as the strings start playing and it’s the most unsettling yet beautiful moment. That’s when you’re like “oh f*** there’s a phase 2” and she unleashes her scarlet rot, this fight is perplexing, dangerous and intimidating. The music makes it feel all the more unsettling and terrifying, not super intense like you might expect with the hardest boss fight, just unnerving like you’re in big trouble going against the Rot Goddess.
When that second phase song hits, we as the players feel despair and dread. She isn't the one saying free me from this hell, we are. 🤣 Love your analysis videos! Hope to awe a Champion Gundyr one in the future.
Could go both ways! I see ending her in the rot state as a mercy kill, since I don't think she actually LIKES being the Goddess of Rot
@@OtepRalloma He's joking because this boss is notoriously difficult and fighting her is like being trapped in hell. Your analysis is accurate though since she doesn't want the rot and was waiting for her brother to cure her but he got kidnapped and here she is.
well considering her lore, she is slowly rotting away so yeah she kinda wants to be freed from her hell
Yeah, and in a boss randomizer if you encounter her for a fight that is normally two phases you still have to fight both her phases before the next boss starts the second phase of the encounter. Her and Godrick both have you fight phase 1 and 2 of their fights because they are not separate models, whereas other bosses that change phases with a cutscene are two different models, for example phase 1 Fire Giant and phase 2 Fire Giant are separate models. So in a randomizer you also can have that sense of dread if she is replacing Godfrey, Fire Giant, Godrick, Rykard, Renalla, Maliketh or Radagon.
The second part of this song really hammers home exactly what she tells you you'll experience when she blooms; true horror.
This is the hardest boss ive faced in any game, you will witness true HORROR
I’ve heard this theme too many times…
But only once on TH-cam
...and her name as well.
I am Malenia Blade of Miquella and I have never known defeat….
Her second phase when she says "you will witness true horror" first play through was absolutely terrifying...
If it hasn't been requested yet, Lord's Apparition. It's not very long, but definitely worth the listen.
Her theme is very much the story of the general who won all the battles but lost the war. She dedicated herself to the service of her twin Miquella after he gave her a sense of hope in the form of her prosthetics and the promise of a cure. But in the end she was too weakened after such a vicious campaign to keep that twin from being kidnapped.
And that's how you walk into her boss room. Her sleeping in a chair next to where she thought Miquella would be. But he's gone. Her hope's gone. All that's left is one more fight.
I don't know how but you guessed Malenia's entire story with just the music.
"playtime is over" it sure was. Basically Malenia was born with a curse that could also be used as a phenomenal attack. It basically afflicts anything around her with a deadly parasite that consumes their body and brain over time, but also deals tremendous damage to her own body. Basically, this is her final gambit.
"Free me" After the loss of her brother (at the hands of Mohg, the intellectual evil) she basically lives in shame of her failure to protect her precious little brother, despite having "never known defeat". So it's particularly accurate. Even more when she apologizes to him for having lost for the first time at the end of the fight
Yeah, and that curse is from an Outer God. Which is why Miquella developed his unalloyed gold needle, because unalloyed gold can resist the influence of Outer Gods.
Man those words "I am malenia blade of miquella" are burned into my brain.
4:50 the way he reacts gives me the confidence to say this was my favorite segment of the song
Yep, that’s exactly when she straight up kamikaze my ass
As soon as I heard those thundering vocals at 3:38 I knew this had to be a Yuka Kitamura track. Reminded me so much of Lady Maria’s theme- excited you’re going to cover that one soon!
the second part of this theme always gives me tears
"I am Malenia, blade of Miquella, and I have never known defeat."
Malenia is known as the undefeated swordswoman, and is arguably tied with Radahn, the Starscourge, for the title of mightiest of the demigods. So, yeah, I'd say the confidence is pretty accurate! She's the hardest fight in the game, and she knows it.
Gonna get a quite spoilery past here - it's lore time
Malenia and her twin brother Miquella were both born cursed, as a result of their mother and father, Marika and Radagon, being the same person. Miquella was cursed to be a babby forever, and Malenia was born with the curse of the Scarlet Rot. She has spent much of her life trying to keep it at bay, a struggle that actually led to the development of her remarkable skill with a blade, and Miquella was in fact driven to create the Haligtree - which is essentially his attempt to create his own Erdtree - by the Golden Order's failure to cure his sister of the Rot.
During her fight with Radahn, she gave in, and allowed the Scarlet Flower to bloom, in order to achieve victory. She does the same with us during the second phase of her fight. As the Scarlet Aeonia incantation tells us, "Each time the scarlet flower blooms, Malenia's rot advances. It has already bloomed twice already. With the third bloom, she will become a true goddess." Our fight was the second bloom. If she ever got around to the third, she would ascend from demigod to true godhood - likely as a vassal for the Outer God from which the Scarlet Rot originates, much like the final boss is a vassal for the Greater Will.
After her fight with Radahn, she was carried back to the Haligtree by Finlay, one of the Cleanrot Knights, whose ashes you can find and use in-game. Since then, she has slumbered at the its roots, awaiting Miquella's emergence. Miquella was essentially trying to use the Haligtree's power to bypass his curse of eternal youth - in fact, you can see the body he was growing for himself in the Haligtree's roots. Sadly, Malenia would have waited forever, as Miquella had been long since gone from the Haligtree - kidnapped, in fact, by his half-brother Mohg, to use him in the establishment of a new Dynasty, with Mohg and Miquella at its head.
The stories of the demigods are largely tragic, and Malenia is a perfect posterchild for that tragedy. Hers is an incredibly sad story, cursed with a horrific affliction since birth and, when we find her, waiting for a day that will never come, a brother that will never return. To find victory, and to make it back to her brother, she gave herself over to the Rot, and it has all but undone her.
@IkeaChairLeg yeah but we also find the traveling maiden outfit in that bloom, something that is never associated with malenia at all, so I think it's more likely that bloom belongs to someone more akin to Millicent.
The 3rd bloom is with our fight. Thats why she called goddess of rot. The 2nd is near the grace b4 boss room. I guess..
@@c.smidgeon2847 the other "daughters" couldn't properly rot. It's there in some item descriptions of one of the sisters(the one who can be summoned to fight commander kneil in aeonia). The only one other than Malenia who can bloom properly is Milicent. So this was her 3rd bloom and she became a Godess and was killed by the player character.
The elegance in the second phase is pure beautiful. She’s so elegant she’s dancing with her blade. Like there’s one character says in the game it’s so beautiful to see the scarlet rot blooms and I totally feel it. She’s so beautiful dancing with her blade that I’m not even mad when she kills me...... at least the first 10 times.
Her theme might be one of the songs that I have heard the most in my entire life. Let's say she is quite... strong
If I may recommend a song, I know patreon does this but I feel like someone there would agree, you should listen to Slave knight Gael's theme from Dark Souls 3. That theme is the pinnacle of music for me.
Totally agree. I would love to see him react to that ost too. Slave knight Gael is my all time favourite boss fight. The fight, cut scene, lore and ost are amazing!
Midir's theme is the best in the souls series for me
especially if you also know his lore, it’s so damn good
Twin Princes ost is a bit better imo
Abyss walkers
I literally beat her 2 days ago after 1 complete week of suffering and pain, now I can appreciate the music without being destroyed trying to do it
The second phase is basically “alright you little shit, the gloves are coming off.
Now, DIE.” She basically sheds her humanity, ascending to godhood in a last ditch attempt to defeat you. Very, VERY similar to Lady Maria from Bloodborne.
This song gives me ptsd flashbacks
Before finding your videos about the Elden Ring OST, I never really thought about the music playing in the background that much, it always just amplified one certain vibe at best.
But seeing you feeling the entire theme and story of a boss, only by listening to it's music has really impressed me that such music alone can pass such elaborate messages when you are focussing and maybe even subconsciously.
Thank you for showing me this side of the art!
I am elated to read this. I am so thankful this has shown you the power of music. Thanks for being here, truly.
Watching your reaction around 4:35 filled me with such joy lol. Honestly this is one of my favorite tracks. This song brings me feelings of intense triumph and pride.
I wish elden ring's soundtrack was on spotify AAAAAAA
"Instead of her shedding her armor..."
Oh, she sheds her armor alright.
I feel like in phase 1, it is more of a duel, two enemies facing eachother on equal footing. The ost and gameplay shows that with the elegance and semi-calmness. And her doing a combo or 2 and then waiting for you to take a move. In second phase, it's not a duel anymore. Malenia has come to either destroy you or die trying. The intenser soundtrack combined with the fact that you don't get any breathing room whatsoever in second phase makes it terrifying.
Took me 83 attempts to beat this boss, which I thought was a lot. And then I saw others struggling at 120th attempt. I got lucky lol.
When I heard the second phase music along with her dialogue I got goosebumps for real, then proceeded to die a million times
The violin, right at the beginning... It's so mournful and sad, yet eerily beautiful, just like her. It's really who she is, this warrior who has lost everything yet still has a grace about her that takes the breath away.
As others have mentioned, great analysis. I definitely found the first part to be a kind of reserved "You dare face the mightiest warrior that ever lived? Well then, you're welcome to try" vibe if that makes sense, it's extremely intense to play but the music really sells that she's sort of judging you, weighing your worthiness, in a way. The second phase on the other hand is very much "the gloves are off, we are doing this for real", and as she herself says, "You will witness true horror." It's no holds barred, and just like in her fight with Radahn, every weapon she has is on the table, because while she's suffering horribly from the Scarlet Rot, if anyone takes her down it will be a worthy opponent. (Some lore spoilers ahead, I guess.) There's also, lore wise, the added painful layer of her essentially defining herself by her twin brother, Miquella, as his protector. She was born cursed with Scarlet Rot, but he was cursed with eternal youth, and is physically weaker. At some point either while she was away fighting Radahn or as she was recuperating from said fight, Miquella was kidnapped from the Haligtree where you fight Malenia. Essentially, she's always been victorious in battle, but she still failed her one main goal in life.
You might've seen the Scarlet Aeonia flower in the story trailer for the game, or the video where Jerren, the steward of Redmane Castle explains how Radahn became infected with Scarlet Rot. It's an enormous red flower that spreads Scarlet Rot all around it, and according to the description of the Scarlet Aeonia incantation you can get from Malenia's Remembrance that you get after fighting her, the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess: "Each time the scarlet flower blooms, Malenia's rot advances. It has bloomed twice already. With the third bloom, she will become a true goddess." The fight was Radahn was one time it happened, and there is a smaller Scarlet Aeonia in a room outside Malenia's boss fight. At the end of her first phase, as your character turns away from her dying form, the Aeonia blooms for the third and final time, and she rises again, spreading her wings as Malenia, Goddess of Rot, both her power and her suffering vastly increased at the same time. It's really beautiful honestly, the artists in charge of her did an amazing job.
I heard that roll into the slow melody so many times……
But like Friede no matter how many times she killed me I loved the ost so much it was always okay
This was an welcome surprise, malenia really was one the coolest and hardest bosses i have ever fought against, while the soundtracks themeselves are beyond amazing there is nothing quite like fighting against them and hearing the music on the background. Once again im blown away on how spot on you were with your thoughts, cant wait for your next reaction.
I love how classy the second phase theme sounds, and I didn’t really think about the idea of metamorphosis as you described, the idea of shedding off her armour to get serious because her design has a lot of allusions to butterflies, and the whole Scarlet Aeonia attack is just beautiful to look at
Malenia is in my top 3 favorite bosses in ER, everything about her is amazing imo
This is actually the theme for "let me solo her", whenever he invades Malenia's bedchamber.
There is actual “fanart” of this btw
I sawthat video, utterly based
Also rule 34
@@furanduron4926 I must see for myself
I loved this video, I really love how you essentially got the whole fight from the song, that shows the people behind the song knew what they were doing. Simply amazing
0:36 The sound of summoning my mimic tear is so ingrained into my memory that the beginning sounds really weird without it lol
I have waited for this reaction the most i just adore this boss im in love with her and i love her lore.
She's one of the most profound and tragic characters of the whole lore, if not the most. Curious about your thought after you get through the fight and learn more about the lore.
A lot bosses in Eldin really got the short end of the stick. Melania, as terrifying as she is, was cursed to rot from birth and as you accurately pointed out, it shows in her OST. IMO though, listen to Renalla's OST. Her lore points out that she REALLY got the short end. Her husband left her, took her stuff, locked her away, her sons went mad and her daughter killed herself. Now she's stuck in madness surrounded by her "failed attempts". That's metal.
Hardest boss in the game by far. It's a great battle, even though it has some bullshit moves. Wonderful music, suits her elegance very much, and the sad fact that she's infected with scarlet rot.
3:37 Second part of this track is the definition of epicness, permanent goosebumps.
I mean, she literally presents herself saying "I am Malenia, blade of Miquella. And I have never known defeat."
The second phase begins with her abandoning her pride as a sword master and using her full power in a sort of last ditch effort, a lot like lady Maria.
People often overlook Malenia’s complex character in favor of her boss difficulty, which is fair. However, I think she’s one of the most well-written characters in Soulsborne to date. A divine warrior that harbors a god of Rot within her being and resists it all her life, all for the sake of remaining her twin brother’s undefeated blade. However, in the midst of the Shattering, Malenia finally abandons her free will to the Rot god and lets it lose so as to not fail her brother. Now she’s lost and broken, her brother gone, and this theme follows that tragedy as we first fight her as a shadow of the noble warrior she once was before the swelling strings kick in and Malenia fully gives into the Rot, becoming its vassal and goddess. It’s just amazing and perfectly captures the tragic effects that unwavering duty to another person can bring. Unconditional love also.
Glad you reacted to this one! You pretty much nailed the interpretation. Cheers! 🍻
I would genuinely love to see you do your play through of Elden ring/ other games. Watching you experience the boss battles and then reacting to them in their own video (or vice versa) would be amazing
Perhaps it’ll come. You do not want to watch me suffer elden ring incessantly but perhaps I will.
The second phase tract will haunt me till the end of my days. Yet I find it so beautiful.
Similar boss but with a parallel/contrast in their track is lady Maria of the astral clock tower. Both malenia and her fights are very rhythmic
Coming next week. Astounding piece.
I am really glad that Marco touched on the aspect of 'confidence'. I mean, someone who proclaims to have 'never known defeat', I would certainly expect them to be very confident indeed.
The final analysis that seems like a shot in the dark actually hits the nail on the head, in her lore her master sealed the God of Rot away years ago but now she has been imbued with power as the Goddess of Rot and has been trying to keep it inside until you kill her in the fight and begin part 2. Amazing as always!
i like the conflict between her first and second phase a lot. in her first phase, she's confident but also sounds tired, like she's gotten used to winning and just wants to get it over with. she plays fair and gives you a lot of time in between her moves if you need it. but then when her second phase comes out, she loses that calmness and brings out her last resort. when before she was confident, now she's desperate. but her music comes off as more tragic than powerful, like she doesn't want to do this but feels like she has to in order to win.
her greatest power is also her greatest weakness. she was born with the scarlet rot and it ate away at her body through her entire life. instead of boasting her powers in her second phase cutscene, she says "you will witness true horror"
Personally the dramatic and emotional chords and voices almost feel directed at the player, almost like an ode to the hell of a fight you're experiencing, with the imagery and all that from the second phase. Malenia can definitely be described as malicious and the rising tension can certainly be attributed to that as well if you feel like drawing the connection there. Very cool fight and probably one of the only bosses in a souls game to be genuinely scary given the dialogue, imagery, and her lethal attacks. The fact that you're fighting a shardbearer at the pinnacle of their strength in the lore is just so cool to see, you're fighting the daughter of a god and it definitely feels like it.
this piece fits malenia so well, i cant listen to this without picturing her cinematics and i cant look at her without thinking of this piece, it describes her perfectly
“You will witness true horror…
Now, ROT!”
This is one of the most cohesive musical expressions in the entire series, even if it isn’t actually my favorite.
The second movement almost perfectly accents and uplifts the initial, which was bass-heavy brass and strings, initially offset by a droning alto-soprano choir. It adds a regal characteristic that wasn’t there, almost a theme of “arrival”…
This is of course significant if you know anything of the influence on Malenia by an outer god. She is “flowering” in her second phase, because the Tarnished lord-to-be has dueled her to within inches of her life.
Im a fan of Liszt and late Chopin. I love frantic melodies that resolve in places sometimes uncertain, and I love playful chromatic progressions that leave you on the edge of your seat, then vanish into the next measure. It’s so neat to me how music can mimic the feeling of always chasing the next finality, but never finding it.
This song doesn’t really incorporate that feeling in the same way. It very much remains in the same place musically, and the second movement doesn’t introduce any new ideas as a basis, but fully fleshes out the ideas hinted at in the first movement.
This places it in stark contrast with some other themes in the series, which are more about internal conflict or uncertain struggle.
It’s almost fair to characterize this song as “Malenia’s song;” it isn’t yours, and it isn’t anyone else’s.
I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella
I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella
I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella
I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella
I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella
That's all i am hearing lately.
@1:44 when you describe the feeling of coming to your death. Just wait until you watch the cutscene!
Great Video as always am still looking forward to your Reaction to Dragonlord Placidusax theme
Your analysis of the second phase music transition is spot on. She blooms the scarlet aeonia to enter her second phase, something she only did once before against Radahn. She collapses at first so it’s made clear we’ve pushed her to a limit she’s only reached against the “mightiest demigod”. Her demeanor in how she speaks to the player goes from confidence in her abilities to something more like actual rage. Telling us to just straight up “rot”. She is no longer looking to maintain the image of master swordswoman and is just looking to finish you. Brilliant work as usual!
Edit: small bit to add that I picked up listening to the soundtrack on its own and not letting it take me over as I battle the greatest enemy in soulsborne history. Not nearly as competent in music theory or anything of that nature. But given the lore of her character I feel this becomes noticeable.
Her master was said to be a master swordsman dressed in a blue cowl and cloak. It’s definitely the set you get for choosing the warrior starting class. He was said to use a curved sword representing the style of flowing water and passed on his flowing “be like water” Bruce lee style of swordplay onto Malenia. The choir in the first phase along with the violin/cello I presume is the correct instrument lol, is indeed sort of flowing from a high to low and back. Just how Malenia even at blistering speed and intensity manages to maintain this flowing graceful posture and style in the first and even the second phase. But again the second phase involves much more emphasis on the scarlet rot and she becomes fed up with going easy on you.
The second part really moved me and the second phase really brought it to another level. These ost's made me tear up
You’ve got great insights, I’ve watched tons of your videos and I’ve played all the soulsborne games and your analyses of the songs actually help me learn more about the bosses and appreciate them.
Before this I had never considered that Malenia wanted her suffering to end, when I heard that I got emotional. She’s definitely the hardest boss I’ve ever fought, and now I can appreciate a whole new dimension to her awesome character.
Grateful to read this ❤️
I loved this fight, most frustrating two days of my life and I have to say Malenia brings so much confidence and *grace* and her all to the fight, all while being blind (losing her sight to the Rot), I can't wait to fight her again during my melee run while thinking of the emotions you bring up here
The only time I've struggled more than this fight was the first time I fought the Nameless King in dark souls 3 right after it released, this gave me flashbacks to that.
Your comment about the intro where you said it makes you think "you've come here to die" really nails how I feel about the intro cello too. I get an absolute sense of danger, deadliness, and killing intent from that cello.
God damn. I was sitting there for the first 3 minutes thinking "It has this almost divine or ethereal, or natural/unnatural reverence to it", was gonna type a comment at that point, even being 3mo late to this video... But you nailed it. Basically grabbed the words right from my brain and put them out there. Good shit man, loving the expertise and content you've been sharing with us.
thanks!!!!
It's always such a joy seeing you react to those songs. The emotions you show and the different interpretations about the tones and melodys always lets me appreciate those songs even more. Thank you for sharing your reaction and thoughts with us :)
P.S: sorry for any typos or flaws regarding my grammar :P
I am grateful that you feel I am being non performative and present and I'm glad you feel more connected to them too. :)
I have to say after watching a few of your videos your knowledge on music is awe inspiring. Your ability to pick out character traits from subtle music and vocal notes is extremely cool and impressive. Also love to see the passion in your content. I’m definitely subscribing.
Thank you so much for your sweet words
@@MarcoMeatball you deserve them and more. Much respect and please keep up the amazing work.
Hi Marco! I'm also a musician (French horn player, big brass guy here). I studied music in college and I happened upon your channel today. I also enjoy video games and especially like to take time and listen to these composers and their incredible portrayals of these fantastic worlds and settings. Your analyses and "senses" you get from the music are right on the spot when it comes to describing these characters and the types of emotions they exude. It's really a testament to the composers for being able to create those senses with the music. I'm really enjoying these reaction videos and I look forward to more! From one musician to another, this gets me pumped up!
Aw man this makes me so excited to read Taylor. I really feel this is the evolution of the music we studied in college. I’m glad you’re here. Please join the discord so we can chat!
@@MarcoMeatball Will do!!
iam astonished, you are absolutely right on the second part, just incredible how musique is litterally a language
I recommend listing to Sister Friede’s OST, it’s one of my favourite’s.
>>"playtime is over"
>>casually turns into a God
spot on though, hahahah
The song has a very somber feeling, even in the second half. Like a lot of the fights in the game, theres more to it than just a difficult enemy, and the song reflects that.
It gives a feeling of complete confidence, but not arrogance. She knows exactly how easy it is to kill you, and she probably will kill you numerous times.
I love the fact that they made the song to focus on the character rather than the fight itself, even though the song does kind of clue you in on the best way to beat her. Slow and methodical, doing chip damage instead of trying to burn through her health as fast as possible.
I personally think the song is The Scarlot Rot itself, the disease that afflicts Malenia, causes her to amputate her limbs, destroying her family relationship with her and her brother Miquella whose trying to cure it.
When we find her she’s just slumped in a chair sleeping, even since the hardest fight in her life she almost lost the title of “Undefeated,” but she gave i to her disease, letting it grant her the strength to defeat her opponent.
She does the same in the fight too, we kill her and she revives with scarlet Valkyrie wings that have never known defeat. But she is desperate to win at any cost.
If there’s one theme of this song I love is the sense of dread of agony, phase 1 sounds very quiet, normally a quiet song in fromsoft games give you the chance to think better but here Malenia is too vicious. Then second phase starts and whoa, you know she is no longer holding back. Despite her disease killing her it gives her a strength to revive from death to gain another chance to kill us.
People who worship the scarlot rot consider Malenia a goddess who has forsaken her power and her “people,” even though she has nothing to do with them. They often talk about how if she were to “blossom,” she’d become the goddess of rot they desire.
And phase 2 emphasizes that, something horrifying and twisted but also beautiful, its almost like watching the sun explode, sure its going to kill you but could you deny yourself the sight?
Malenia has problems as a boss but lore wise i love her both story and gameplay. Love fighting her.
This song used to be Margit's theme when he fights you on the bridge and I wish it was kept that way. The first phase is about the same melody as the story trailer when it shows the demigod war and then the second phase when Malenia fights Radahn. Hearing it during Margit's fight felt to me like the game was telling you that this is the beginning of the end for the dark age and that the Tarnished character is about to push forward and change history.
Honestly I didn't point it out until now, but I do appreciate how you don't put any boss fight footage in your video! I always like to go into bosses blind, especially for bosses I've been excited to fight ever since I saw the first trailers (for eg Maliketh, Maliketh is a fight I've absolutely looked forward too, and I know he's called 'Maliketh' because I saw some screenshots and stuff), but I also like to see how people react to the boss music. So your channel is basically a win-win situation for me lol!
This, Maliketh and Lichdragon’s ost are my favs
I’m glad people are showing love to the ost
Malenia's music sounds like a normal boss (?) in her first phase and when that 2nd phase music immediately hit, I was like, "I am fighting a GOD" and yeah, true enough it's the Goddess of Rot. The form that she is ashamed of. She became what she is ashamed of.
You nailed booth phases, the Blade of Miquella the undefeated phase, and the second phase Goddess of rot, she unleashes her rot power to try to anhilate you (like another Demigod she fought) but at the same time she vbecomes afflicted by her own power
4:51 i dont know if its just me but this reminds me too much of a certain passage from gael's theme but the way it just (sorry im not too versed in music terminology) takes a different route instead of going the way it did its just beautiful
I really gotta say that I love your reactions and therefore your videos! You are great and I can really agree with your opinion on this soundtrack! It's just cool to have someone with real (music) experience to further look into soundtracks that I for my part really love. Thank you very much man!
I thank you so much for your generous words!!!!!!
Love your reviews marco! Keep up the fantastic enthusiasm with your listens!
This is nise to see the same pleasure of hearing that ost, as same as me. Nice reaction🎶
Her second phase really shows the danger of the situation you're in. Her life was suffering from the day she was born to harbor the scarlet rot. She doesn't say it but I'm sure she wants to die that's why when you beat her she apologizes to her brother for being defeated even though she compliments our strength
I’ve always interpreted this theme as somewhat of a slow dance in the first phase. It’s just you and malenia, and it’s a duel to be the victor. However, second phase was where she throws away all her inhibitions, all of her honor in fact. Now she wants you to die and she won’t go easy on you.
I took me a while to remember this but butterflies are associated with scavengers as they often suck blood from rotten corpses. So it kinda explains that despite her being the goddess of rot she is adorn with butterflies. Its theres a good chance the butterflies have emerged to feast on bloody and new flesh from her wings or devour her already rotten arm or face.
WOW. I know some of the lore (wont mention it here cuz might spoil), but the fact that youre reading these things just from music. Is insane, both from a listening perspective and its amazing creators.
Her second phase music is amazing. One of the best in the whole series. Up there with midir, gehrman and godfrey.
This music transmits many emotions, it is an intense mixture of epicity, the choir is majestic showing that you are facing a very powerful boss, but it also transmits great sadness, the violin chords show the tragedy that Malenia suffered throughout her life, she born afflicted by the scarlet rot and despite being very powerful the rot is almost completely consumed her. Despite her enormous power, this power was of no use to her because she failed in all her objectives, she could not finish the war, she could not kill Radahn and, moreover, she was forced to unleash the rot destroying all of Caelid only to disable Radahn, condemning to all her enemies, allies and all those who inhabited the area, sadly with this she was one of the ones who contributed the most to the devastation of the Shattering and the end she could not gain control of the elden ring, then she returned afflicted by the rot only to find that her dear brother MIquella was kidnapped and she has no trace of him... We find her alone in Elphael Brace of the Haligtree contemplating with pain and loneliness the place where her dear brother was, alone, empty, with no one around to relieve her pain... Maybe That's the only thing we can help with, maybe by finally defeating her she can rest and have peace.