Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-26512661-20200118161649/@comment-35455126-20200119172830

Granaatti wrote: Motivation and backstory are often linked though. Let's take Emerald for example. Her backstory is that she was a street rat and a thief who was taken in by Cinder because of her powerful semblance. Her motivation on the other hand is her loyalty and love towards Cinder because she is the first person who has "cared" about her. In other words, we can't talk about her motivations without knowing her backstory.

In case of CInder, the lack of backstory makes her motivatios hollow. Her motivation is to become more powerful. But why she wants that power? Why isn't she trying to become more powerful in other ways? What she has that made Salem to want to turn her into a Maiden? The lack of backstory just makes Cinder one of those Saturday morning cartoon villains who are evil for sake of being evil.

One could also point out that a backstory could be used to shed light on a character's motivations...which I guess is basically what you’re saying.