[SPOILERS] Stormblood Ending

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

I found Hien's lack of involvement during motivating the people not that much of a issue as it was explained that the reason he did not approach the people was because the people had lost hope and would have just turned Hien in to the Garleans right on the spot because of their fears unless someone else motivated them to fight.

Thus he had to keep a distance until he knew for certain his own people would not just turn him in to the Garleans before returning.

But that totally removes his own agency in the matter, and makes him into a character that it's difficult to view as an inspirational leader. What's his role, if it's not a Return of the King type scenario that inspires others and instills in them the strength to lead their own in victorious rebellion? The only thing he does is get a Xaela army, which anyone winning the Naadam could have done - least of all Yugiri and/or Gosetsu, who were at least involved in winning back the trust and fire of the Doman people.

[EdwinLi]

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You are looking at Hien the wrong way as he has been establish to be not a King but a inexperience Prince that was just thrown the responsibility of a King without any knowledge about What it means to be a King.

If Hien's father had lived instead he most likely would have that "Return of the King" Scenario you were expecting.

Hien's story is more about the Inexperience Prince that is trying to fill in the place of his Father who was far better and more experience than he is. He grew up during the Garlean occupation constantly on the run with only stories about what Old Doma was like. He had no education nor actual experience leading the people. It was his father who did all that as he grew up and for Hien he did not know what to do with that responsibility since it was suddenly placed on him when his father died.

His lack of involvement outside of the Au Ra tribe recuiting was, as mentioned in the story, a action of one who was not ready for the responsibility of a King.

In a way being disappointed with Hien not meeting the expectations of a "return of the King" scenario is exactly how you should feel about him story wise.

The 4.1 to 4.4 MSQ are most likely going to expand more on this later and have him learn what it means to be a King since he has no actual experience what it is like being King while also exploring more of what old Doma was like and how young and idealist Hien's view of Old Doma was when in reality it was still a corrupt place long before Garlean rule.