Critique of Endwalker Characters

[Skyborne]

Probably a minority here but I never really felt any 'bond' with the Scions for the last 7-8 years I played the game. They feel very bland, inoffensive by design, though they occasionally have their individual moments. It's weird since I generally like the main casts of any FF, even the ones regarded as annoying/dumb like Selphie/Zell, Eiko, Tidus, etc.

I've disliked Alphinaud for a long time. But the worst offense he ever did to us IMO was talking smack to Vauthry in his throne room surrounded by his sin eaters just because we were there with him, and he knew that if Vauthry ordered his execution right on the spot for being a brat we'd have to save his butt.

We were actively used as his personal bodyguard just so he could be a brat to a ruler while feeling safe about it.

I know people always talk about all of Alphinaud's development after HW but I don't really see it myself. As far as I can tell he still has the same ideals, the same preachiness, the same using us as a tool, he merely toned it down after the playing army with Crystal Braves using mommy/daddy's money backfired on him. It's like saying I developed as a person because I learned not to touch a stove burner. It's been a long time and I forgot a lot of stuff, but did he ever apologize for using us? Same with Alisaie, who doesn't seem to have changed since Coils with coming to terms with Louie's death and finding her own path. Funnily enough she complained in-universe about not having any character arc... at least she got a fancy onesie, I guess.