From: LeonhartFour | #035
I guess it depends on how define "relevant." If you want to argue "relevant" in terms of Ryu not really driving the plot forward, sure. He just happens to be involved because he's a great fighter with amazing potential, and people around him recognize it. He doesn't actively pursue after Bison or Akuma, for the most part. They seek after him, and he basically fights them off.
But I don't think Ryu being "incidental" makes him less relevant than Vaan.
Because Vaan's basically in the same boat, except without actually being a major force in the story.
I'm defining it as some combination of taking action to drive the plot, responding actively to the events of the plot, having a motivation that connects to the plot, and having some sort of connection to the themes/subject matter at hand. It's pretty nebulous, yes, but I think it makes sense if you think about it (or maybe it makes sense as long as you don't think about it, one or the other). Ryu is pretty much doing his own thing with no connection to the main plot until it drops on his lap, and once he's pushed it away, he goes back to doing his own thing again.
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We clasped our hands, our hands in praise of a conquerors right to tyranny