User:Cukie Gherkin/Dedue Molinaro

Dedue Molinaro is a character in the 2019 video game Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Reception
Waypoint writer Rob Zacny praised Dedue's dynamic with other characters, feeling that Dedue alone justified playing Three Houses. Fellow Waypoint writer Ricardo Contreras was disappointed to find out that they could not recruit Dedue outside of the Blue Lions route, while Austin Walker felt strongly about Dedue despite not picking the Blue Lions route. The Mary Sue writer Madeline Carpou was appreciative of Three Hopes for giving a support conversation between him and Petra. She felt that Three Houses did not adequately touch upon the "alienation" of people from foreign cultures in the game's story, appreciating how Three Hopes allowed them to connect with one another as two foreigners learning the language and culture of Fodlan.

The relationship between Dedue and Dimitri has received commentary, with Game Revolution writer Jason Faulkner felt that the relationship was "incredibly complex" due to him being loyal to Dimitri despite Dimitri's kingdom having committed genocide against his people. Kotaku writer Gita Jackson, while discussing the regional struggles in Three Houses, noted how Dedue's relationship with Dimitri is informed by the treatment of people from Duscur over the assassination of Faerghus' King and Queen, as well as Dimitri nevertheless treating him as a friend. They stated that this led to Dedue devoting his life to Dimtri, regardless of whether it means he engages in "indiscriminate slaughter." Fanbyte writer merritt k felt that the handling of the commentary on ethnic conflict and discrimination was handled well with Dedue's character. Paste writer Substitute Thapliyal, while discussing queerbaiting in Three Houses and the relative lack of gay male relationships in the game, noted Dimitri and Dedue's paired ending as being "vaguely homoerotic." He also stated that he chose the Blue Lions route to "see Dedue smile." Fanbyte writer Ib hunktears felt that the ship between him and Ashe was among the game's best, feeling that they stood out among the Blue Lions as people who want to "get the hell out of there and just be great guys together" despite both fitting into the "mess" of the Blue Lions.