If it does fit (and works) I think Nintendo could use it as an out if they wanted to explain Samus' emotions in Other M. Now, it doesn't change how bad the storytelling is, nor does it change the bad voice acting or script. It's just a theory and I'd like some feedback on this long, convoluted theory. Also, if this theory offends anyone, I apologize.
Let's start with Fusion. Other M is very similar in Fusion in terms of story and design. It's linear and its' layout is similar, and the game's plot is essentially 'Good guys are actually bad.' Heck, even the bosses are copy/paste somewhat. There are a couple of changes, but a big thing is the main conflict is between Samus and SA-X, a physical conflict between Samus and her old powers. At the end of the game, Sakamoto said that Samus got her 'physical composition' back, whatever that means. Going by this, it is my theory that Other M is about Samus' struggle with her emotions.
Let me put some facts out here first (Based on the information the game gave us):
- Samus left the GF after the incident which resulted in Ian dying
- Samus spared Baby Metroid's life
- Baby Metroid saved Samus' life
- MB "gained a soul" thanks to coming in contact with Metroids
Let's start with that last one. During the last cutscene, it's discussed how MB gained a soul and emotions and how the people rejected giving a robot emotions, so much to the point that they decided to reprogram MB. But MB fought back, and rebelled against the humans in a furious rage. This whole discussion strikes me as an analogy for Samus and the Baby Metroid and the series in general, meaning I think the Baby Metroid (either in life or death) awoke the dormant emotions of Samus' heart.
Dormant emotions? Her emotions have clearly been there the entire time you say. Not quite. I believe everything in the games until now have been correct about Samus. Her being emotionless for the most part, being one of those things. But why is she emotionless then? Well, the Ian scene is what caused her to become an independent hunter, correct? Well, what if this also caused her to suppress her emotions for this entire time? Now suppressing emotions, especially for a long time isn't particularly healthy, but it is what it is.
Up until now we've seen Samus as an emotionless/near-emotionless Bounty Hunter. When we think of emotionless heroes, we think 'hey, they've got complete control of their emotions, clearly.' But again, if my theory is to be believed (or stolen) then what we have here is a twist on that idea. She was still emotionless in previous games, but not because she had control, but instead because she buried those emotions deep down. It doesn't change what happened in previous games at all, just our perspective.
So let's get to the mess at hand. What caused these emotions to awake? My guess is the death of the Baby Metroid at the end of Super. Some might say it was the birth of said baby, but it seems far more important that it was the death scene than the birth scene. So now we get to Other M. In Other M she has a lot of emotions going on that we've never seen before, and she has reactions to situations that seem off-base. Fears, doubts, regrets, etc. all of which are coming to the surface in a negative light very fast and very often. Now we only get to see these emotions in physical form twice throughout the game, the two BIG scenes of controversy where she goes against everything we've known her for.
The Ridley scene. Now you might claim 'Ridley's dead for the first time' or PTSD because of what's been presented, but this is where my theory is more of an out, but it does fit with the whole 'she lost control of her emotional stability due to X' theory. In previous games, we get almost nothing from her emotionally. Here, she goes full blown catatonic requiring Anthony to save her. This is definitely out of character, but since her emotions are out of whack, she can't regain her composure in time before she gets taken advantage of.
Next, the Sector Zero scene. This one plays out exactly like the flashback scene, almost word for word. Samus regresses to that child-like state of wanting Adam to trust her, but again Adam says 'no, you can't die, I'll die instead.' She proceeds to bang on some glass and act really whiny, just like the flashback scene. This definitely seems like a big character regression, however, here is where I believe she regains control of her emotions. Adam gives her that "eye-of-the-storm clarity" as she puts it, and for the rest of the game, seems pretty calm, cool and collected. This is sorta like where Samus absorbs the SA-X in Fusion, albeit less sticky. By watching Adam march to his death, this allowed Samus to take her emotions and put them in their place. After all, she was calmer than she usually was.
So at the end of the day, my thinking is that Other M is Samus' transition from emotionless through negativity (death of a friend) to emotionless through positive reinforcement (clarity from a friend). She can now use her emotions naturally as she sees fit, but can still will them under her control without negative reprecussions. This is why in Fusion she has an angry outburst at the end, because she's genuinely ticked off, a natural emotion.