[SPOILERS]Considering that new Minfilia feature.

[NanaWiloh]

Minfilia is not the only key character who is usless. Plenty of others its just Minfilia is the one we interacted with the most, so makes sense why she is so targeted for hate.

[Eloah]

If anyone was paying attention to the Lightwardens, specifically the ones found in Dungeons, each warden (Philia, Eros, and Storge) represents one of the main characters', character progression; Alisaie, Y'shtola, and Thancred and Ryne. The other trial wardens (Titania/Agape and Innocence) are similar but seem to showcase a character's flaw, or former flaw. Though Agape might be a little more than that. These are for Urianger and Alphinaud.

For those who may not be aware the warden defeated by Titania would be Agape by process of elimination. Which the theme of Unconditional Love fits with Urianger and the fae folk.

[Levy9]

Ryne's comment about being lonely if the Scions had to return to the ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t̶ source right away caught me off guard. By the end of the MSQ I had almost forgot that Ryne is a native of the first and not simply one of the scions visiting from the source. X)

The Exarch doesn't know how to send the other scions back, let alone send a native of the first to the source. That being said, I wonder if Ryne will continue to be one of the prominent story characters post ShB and across multiple expansions like some of the other scions?

Or will Ryne be a character akin to Aymeric, who still shows up in the story but doesn't really play a prominent role post Heavensward?

[Sorimachi87]

snip

Apparently you cant just place a spoiler as an answer. It shows me an error.. Oh well. See down below :3

Ryne is going to be Gaia in the eden series won't she? (The person which was displayed with the hammer back when eden got introduced

[EdwinLi]

----

Well the solution for returning the Scions back to the source is already mentioned being....

that Exarch is planning to awaken G'raha Tia in the source version of Crystal Tower so he can learn to return their souls back to their body at the end of 5.0. However, he has to learn how to master the powers of the Crystal Tower to perform the Summoning skill Exarch has.

This will of course lead to events in 5.1 involving events in the Source.

[QT_Melon]

But that flashback with Thancred and awakened Minfilia clearly says that there was some sort of romantic feelings. He wanted nothing more than for her to return, I dont think it was just him being overprotecive. He cared for her and this care was more then just how you care about your daughter.

I guess clearly if any male and female interact with each other that look close in age, it can only be romantic tones.

The fact they wrote this relationship not as a romantic one, but more of family when you have two characters that certain people's headcanon would immediately pair them as romantic due to how they look age wise, is absolutely incredible writing. I'm so glad that they didn't fall to trope.

I mean think about it, Minfilia wore the outfit of eyecandy. Thancred was just seen as the playboy womanizer.

Instead we see both grow into better characters.


Also since when did "I like this character but she was badly written" even become some logical argument in KEEPING said character? That just sounds like keeping something that doesn't work. In art if something isn't working it's perfectly fine to let it go.

[Bright-Flower]

I never hated Minfilia. But Rhynne was more interesting IMO.

As far as Minfilia and Thancred go it's more of a father/daughter thing than lovers. Thancred has looked after her since she was young as he felt responsible for the death of her parents.

[CaesarCV]

I actually really enjoyed the Minfilia/Ryne/Thancred Drama. It was something that was both interesting on a psychological/character level and perfectly fit the themes of the expansion.

Thancred had a right to be angry with Minfilia, and hate Ryne on some level. The one that he loved (no matter what type of love) could come back finally. She could! The woman that he had cared for since childhood, the woman he had bled and shed blood for, the woman he had gave everything to protect, she could finally come back. But then Minfilia was going to give it up for one stupid girl. How could Ryne (at that point Minifilia) possibly amount to the same thing as Minfilia? How could she matter to the same extent, especially to him? What was he supposed to do, just raise some girl? The past was better....why not just bring that back instead?

Which runs him right into the thrust of this expansions's core themes and narratives.

Minfilia was never going to come back in my opinion, and not just because of angry fans. The core themes of the expansion are impermanence, death and rebirth, memory and legacy. Nothing lasts forever. Not our characters, not the state of any world, not any person, not even the seemingly almighty Amaurot. While it is vital to remember the legacy of the past and push things forward, one cannot return to the past, and has to let new life grow in its place. This theme is repeated various times in the expansion, notably with the primary villains Emet-Selch and Vauthry, who want to resurrect the past and make the present permanent respectively.

Thancred and Minfilia could have repeated their sins. It's a microcosm of the same ideas that exist on a greater, cosmic scale elsewhere. Thancred could have sacrificed the new (Ryne) to resurrect the old (Minfilia). He could have given up on the new, wonderful life in front of him to finally get his godsdamned love back. All it would cost is one stupid girl. Minfilia could have kept herself alive, lived with Thancred, have all of her friends back and save the world again. All it would cost is one stupid girl. They could have just been like Emet-Selch and Vauthry. But they didn't choose that path. They chose to give into the cycle of death and rebirth, and let new life spread throughout the world.

But that doesn't mean they have to forget Minfilia. Instead they pledge to remember her forever, to hold her high in their minds as they build a better world. For what would be a better legacy than a new hero to hold up Minfilia's ideals in her stead?

[Antoine_Lenheim]

Need to break my long ass post lol.

I'm also legit curious in regards to what you liked about her character? What was there to like about her - except her looks, maybe?

Looks are among the reasons, yes. I mean, having an eye candy character was a quite common feature throughout FF series, like, Tifa in FF7, Lulu in FF10, Cindy in FF15 and Minfilia in FF14. I dont get why she recieved so much hate for her looks and attire, her accomodation was Waking Sands in Thanalan, a desert. It should be pretty hot there so I completely get why they decided to give her such outfit. And again, eye candy is a common thing.

But looks arent the primary reason. Among all Scions back in ARR, she had the most personality. Well, maybe on par with Tataru but Tataru's personality was quite exaggerated in my opinion. Like, every other Scion were one-dimensioned: Alphinaud being all about ideals and his own sense of justice, with Yda always wanting to be a saviour, with Papalymo doing nothing but snark at Yda and being a smartass, with Yshtola always having that eerie vibe coming from her. They form a perfect party if you want to save the world. But you dont really see them as just an ordinary human beings. But you can see it in Minfilia. Shes just a human, despite having an Echo and being in control of Scions. It wasnt her choice also, she was just thrown into the position of leadership because Lousioux thought she was pretty rad, like she just reluctantly goes along with it because someone has to do it. And she tried to do it but she self-doubts herself a lot like every one of us would do would we be on her place. And I wont agree that she was useless, yes, she doesnt fight along with you... because she's a diplomat and negotiator? Not every character has to be a physical or magical powerhouse to be useful. She acts as the mediator with the Grand Companies, and is effectively the reason you gain access to any of their aids. She also effectively finds the closest thing to a solution with the Domans when pretty much every city state told them to piss off, which in turn gained you some very reliable allies like Yugiri. She was determined that there can be a way in killing Ascian and contacted Moenbryda to share notes with her and come up with a method later used to strike down Nabriales. She helped you in killing Leviathan! Yes there were times when she was kidnapped and you can say it does nothing to the story but if you remember the second time she got kidnapped it was when she refused to hand over Tupsimati despite standing zero chance of winning. So in my opinion shes not a total pushover -- shes just a human with all imperfects and thats what I liked the most about her. She is also one of the few characters to express genuine concern for the WoL as a person and treats you as an ally instead of a weapon.

[Antoine_Lenheim]

I'm also legit curious in regards to what you liked about her character? What was there to like about her - except her looks, maybe?

Her story is the second reason. But the better word would be, the outcome. As I mentioned earlier, I found it pretty cruel that Minfilia was never meant to see happy end. She lost her parents, got thrown into a leading position she didnt want, suffering kidnappings and tortures. And all that just to become a vessel of Hydaelyn without any reasonable means of escaping this fate. Just because fans covered her in hate. I felt for her and hoped for her return since it was never outright said that shes dead, shes just... there.

So yeah thats basically this. I like Minfilia for being an actual diplomatic presence and for being practically the only Scion to get anything done, even if she had to do it behind the scenes. Yshtola certainly has yet to do much of value, and Alphinaud basically fucked everything up and has since replaced Minfilias role but somehow gets far less hate. Papalymo basically does nothing but snark at Yda and people seemed to care about him more. Oh, yes, The Ultimate Sacrifice!!11

Dude Thancred even outright said he wasnt into Minfilia like that back in ARR. that he loved her like a daughter. how stubbron are you to forget that?

He just said he wanted to take a role of her father since he was guilty of his death. This doesnt mean he couldnt have romantic feelings for her.

I wonder if Ryne will continue to be one of the prominent story characters post ShB and across multiple expansions like some of the other scions?

I do hope that I wont see Ryne ever again but I guess they will find some stupid way of bringing her to the Source and make her fight with us. Bleh.