What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Teraq]

What up everyone, it's me getting a second character through MSQ, on my way to fixing the timeline:


I am heartbroken to report she survived with 10% HP.

I'd forgotten how much of a mood literally every single one of Emet's lines in Ktisis was, too. In fact, Emet throughout the last third of Elpis is, frankly, the most relatable character in Endwalker (I mean beside the one Ea lying flat beside a pond, going "Aaaaahhh" when you walk by). This dude has had it with Hermes, openly musing he doesn't get him and frankly doesn't even care what he thinks if push comes to shove, which it does, and I am here for it. The way he replies with irritation every time Hermes opens his mouth in Ktisis, complaining about this whole ordeal being a waste of his time (chef's kiss) RIP pre-BS-memory-wipe Emet-Selch, you were too good for this convoluted plot that needs Olympic gymnastics to work.

The Twinning dungeon having us go in and break the time machine in the Crystal Tower felt like the writers not-so-subtly saying "Okay, there isn't going to be any more timey-wimey nonsense." then they doubled back on that and made it have much further reaching implications/effects then any of the prior instances of it did.

Oh my god I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that was the point of the Twinning too. We destroyed the Ironworks Alexander! Doc Brown here shouldn't be able to send us back in time, no matter how much delicious Primal Juice he's hopped up on. Or... if that wasn't it, what was the point of the Twinning? Am I just naive for asking what the point of a side dungeon was?

Of course, I'm one of those weirdos who enjoyed the ascians since 2.0, as they kind of had that OrgXIII thing going on where it seemed like there was more to them and their 'dark god', each one was a (loveable) jerk in their own way, and that each member seemed to have their own agenda and clashed with each other ala Nabriales, and the scene where Elidibus has to tug the leash on Lahabrea, and Fandaniel. And the rest of 4-5 left who we haven't seen yet. The cool robes and masks and the extradimensional crystal clubhouse with the chairs also helps.

God, yes. Not going to lie, at one point in Elpis I dared to dream we might see them all as the Convocation in a cutscene, even if just as a cameo each. Maybe finally give us definite info on their respective seats, masks, sigils, idk, something, come on Square Enix you're the ones who told me this storyline would wrap up Hydaelyn/Zodiark things and that I was free to let my expectations run wild (he said this before the February EW reveal, didn't he?).

I legit wanted 6.0 to feature at least a couple of remaining Ascians as allies against Fandaniel. Thoughts and prayers for Pashtarot who actually had a voiced line in the 2.0 epilogue.

I’m happy i’m not the only one that was upset at this. This major character built up over expansions just one and done within 2 patches and then there’s just a tea party after as if we didn’t just exterminate an entire race of people??? Honestly all the writers have shown me from 5.3+ onwards is that they’re either lazy or just can’t handle finishing a product to the end.

Sweet baby Zodiark look at the time, it's almost Day 100 of mourning the expectations I had for the longest-standing antagonist that had just recently been revealed as being literally Zodiark's acting consciousness just a couple of patches before the grand finale of the Hydaelyn and Zodiark arc which he was surely going to play a major part in. To this day I'm still not sure who I should be angrier at: the writers, or my dumb-ass self, for thinking 5.3 was actually just the Part 1 to Actually Zodiark As A Character and that it being rushed was going to be redeemed in 6.0.