Kairi's role

[Sylvanius]

So..In KH2 you could tell that they really made an effort to try to make Kairi seem like a stronger character...but personally I think they fell short there. She's still a great character but their attempt to make her 'one of the fighters' seemes kind of...half done.

For instance just the image of her keyblade really bothered me. Sure..it was pretty I guess but the fact that they gave her an incredibly girly and rather delicate lookinf keyblade seemed to just be pointing out that she isn't a fighter. They also sent her through the portal before the final battle...so she was just gone...again..

Now, I don't have any problem with her not being a fighter, I love her character the way she is but I think that the fact that they keep trying to half make her into one (lines like 'This time I'll fight too') kind of takes away from her. Either accept that she isn't and her character is great the way she is or follow through with what you are trying to do.

 

[Davey Gaga]

I think you're being too picky with this; we know that she's not a fighter but her pledge to help in the fight was just a way of emphasising that she insists that she won't just be left behind in Traverse Town, this time. She doesn't want to let her friends down.

Also, we never actually see her fighting; she may very well have been an excellent combatant and has a great sword-arm. We can't really comment on her fighting skills.

I don't think that SE had to "follow through" with anything: how can they, when they achieved what they set out to do, anyway?

 

[Ashe B'nargin]

Yeah it's quite sad really how they make her the damsel in distress type.

Though you can't really say that giving Kairi a flower-based Keyblade is sexist when Sora fights with a rose designed keyblade from the Beauty and the Beast world himself.

Though hoping that if she's in KH3 that they give her a proper fighting role.
But doubt it, notice how all the Disney females have to be rescued ??

 

[Saints&Storms]

Sure..it was pretty I guess but the fact that they gave her an incredibly girly and rather delicate lookinf keyblade seemed to just be pointing out that she isn't a fighter.

Don't judge a book by its cover, something can be girlish looking and be strong too, Sora has some girlish looking Keyblades himself, yet they were some of the strongest.

I thought it was cool to see her fight, maybe we'll see more in KH3, It couldn't all happen at once.

 

[Fusionist]

After seeing that vague phrase among the various others in the KH1 Final Mix+ Secret Ending that hint at what's to come in the sequel appearing on screen, we finally know it is Kairi who speaks it in KH2. So for one thing, that cutscene of the fight explains away that one line.

And as Riku said above, it's more about showing her feelings in the game. For such a prominent character, we rarely get a glimpse of her inner self, especially in KH2 after you continue the game as Sora. We know she constantly thinks about "that boy" and wants to find him after remembering who he is, but that's it. Standing side by side with Riku in order to defend Sora says a lot for her resolve in the situation.

And yeah, as mentioned, "girly" looking keyblade is a pretty petty thing to pick on considering the other keyblades Sora himself uses. Even Riku's "Road to Dawn" isn't the most macho design, with it's feather wing at the tip. So Kairi using such a keyblade isn't really an issue worth fretting over.

Kairi's role in the story is being one of the Seven Princesses of Heart who happens to be friends of Sora (also hinted at being his love interest as well) and Riku and thus shares the same destiny with them. So I guess I can understand the "damsel in distress" steroytype she portrays. Although she isn't stupid enough to get in trouble; it just seems to find the poor girl

A theory not very well founded on my part, but I believe that fact that Kairi actually has the ability to hold a keyblade even though Riku apparently was the one who conjured it up for her says a lot and can possibly be setting up a role where she might actually be a keyblade master like Sora and Riku in a possible trilogy game (although who knows if and when that'll come out)

Truthfully, I'm theorizing that Kairi using a keyblade is in connection to Aqua from Birth by Sleep, but I won't know 'til I actually play it