Revelations from Patch 5.5 (Part 2)

[YianKutku]

I just find it funny how people assume the worst from someone we’ve seen for 5 minutes tops lmao. Have we learned nothing from things like ARR and HW.

Personally I've learned from ARR and HW that the writers will try to create "sympathetic" backstories and motivations for characters, but only after trying to show them in the worst light possible, and then kind of ignoring how the later "revelations" of their motivations make the earlier terrible actions even more problematic in hindsight. Simply because the characterization had to serve different purposes at different points in time.

I still haven't forgiven Ysayle for massacring that shipment caravan of crystals for Revenant's Toll. I would have forgiven her if she's apologized about it, but she never did, and I can only assume it's because the writers themselves forgot that she did that.

In Fourchenault's case, it's probably because no matter what his motivations, it still doesn't excuse his actions. Currently every potentially sympathetic reading of his possible motivations lead to the conclusion that Fourchenault is either very stupid, or still a jerk for choosing this method anyway. My expectation is that if Fourchenault is revealed to have the twins' best interests at heart, the writers will again conveniently forget that he chose to use this method, instead of any other.

[Theodric]

problematic

That word again, eh? Well, I suppose it's all a matter of perspective ultimately. Much like humans in the real world, realistic characters in fictional settings are complex and hypocritical.

Personally I don't need a character to grovel in apology for their past actions in order to find them relatable, interesting or sympathetic. I'm also inclined to think that there's plenty of threads present in advance to suggest that a character is worthy of a second look instead of being immediately branded 'unforgivable' and 'unhinged'.

I'm reminded of Yotsuyu and how many here claimed she had zero redeeming qualities or reason for doing what she did only for 4.3 to further highlight already present elements of her backstory and suddenly the tune changed quite drastically.

I suspect we'll see a similar situation come into play with Fourchenault.