MSQ Critique
So I had high hopes for the MSQ after 5.3 and the 0.4 generally stir up some fantastic set pieces, 2.4 Ishgard confrontation with Iceheart, 3.4 has some rousing forshadowing for both Ala Mihgo and The First, 4.4 although cryptic at times had some really stellar moments so wtf happened here?

5.4 feels like filler besides the very last moments which dont add nearly as much to the narrative as one is required due to the fact 5.5 is the end of the expansion. Emet, Iceheart, The Griffon felt like great additions to the narrative not a bland Kefkfa knockoff and a even blander Psychopath which we have battled like 4 or 5 times to the point i can name his attacks and would inevitably be a unfulfilling to battle yet again

Essentially all the cool Garleon crap is sidelined alot for Porxie stuff, ya its cool they found a way to cure tempered souls and Ga Bu but that dragged on longer than it should, Nero has like 2 lines and no comment on Giaus (but thats abit too petty) the whole "oh no Limsan pirates dont want peace" comes and goes so quickly i doubt the plot would loose any girth if they removed it or minimized it to not take up such a bizarre chunk of the MSQ. We should be introduced to the bare minimum of what 6.0 will have not bum around in minimal affairs when larger threats are among us.

Fandaniel was introduced in the very last quest, says hell end the world with towers and leaves. We know his motives its just its no where near as interesting as literally any other villain we had and contrast Zeno's bland personality and motives incredibly poorly to the point of boredom. Still we know the towers enthrall people somehow but i still have no real grasp on how the plot will go and not in a "so many paths" type of way but a "oh...theyre doing that" sorta way but somehow more vague

5.4 feels like a massive step down in the SHB saga but perhaps its my fault for having expectations 5.5 will either be a huge dud or redeem this MSQ patch