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

[linayar]

And so they remained united in hopelessly seeing the world fall to ruin. Who gives a damn about the genocide of your kind as long you can stay united. Oh btw, she went and made a decision for all of humanity when she sundered them. So much for "unity".

No, they remained united in coming up with a solution that worked, even if temporarily.

The sundering is a different matter altogether, although it also helped our timeline.

In what reality does the fear of alienating a single man stand above the lives of the greater whole? He did not matter. He couldn't have done anything to them. And if he tried, like the fool he is, then that's what Pandamonium exists for. And then you get back to the important matter at hand. It's an incredibly stupid plot point and holds no water whatsoever.

One person can matter, both Venat and our character prove that.

And Venat is not placing the fear of one man above the lives of the greater whole, but she is placing the lives of the greater whole in such a high regard that she will take seriously the potential problem that can be caused by one man.

[PawPaw]

It doesn't really matter how many ways you want to phrase it. If anything, he should already be incarcerated and instead is being allowed to take a position of power because of kept secrets. He cannot do a single thing that is worse than what he has already done. He is no longer needed to solve the problem at hand and is only a perceived hindrance because she allows him to be. And upsetting him is a complete nonstarter of a reason. He is absolutely unimportant compared to the problem at hand.

Imagine not telling world leaders about an alien threat because you're afraid of making the President of France sad. Oh no. But he might be the one person to make a difference. Guess we'll all just die instead. Ridiculous.

[Rulakir]

I never cease to be baffled by the claims that Hermes was necessary. Were that the case then we wouldn't have known everything the Convocation knew before journeying to Elpis, yet Elidibus tells us this is the case. We have to travel to the past because we don't know any more than they did when Hermes was acting Fandaniel.

I also feel the need to point out that EW was biased AF to Venat's perspective just as ShB was biased towards the Ascians. We're never shown a factual depiction of events. Everything Venat did was based on her personal beliefs, not objective truth. Unfortunately, due to being the only person who retained her memories and the WoL having zero agency, there was no one to push back on her thought processes.

[Erendis]

Mmh, no I think it's the other way around.
It presents evidences but reaches conclusions ignoring them. For example this infamous scene at the end of Elpis segment. We see through Argos that the ancients in front of Ktisis are witnesses aware of the existence of "azem's familiar", we see Emet-Selch annoyed that his memory got played. But we reach the conclusion that it's better to not try to explain what happened, ignoring that there are elements presented just before that could have weighted in favour of the re-explanation.

I think it's both, whichever is more convenient at the time.

[Kozh]

I read another comment saying if you didn't like Hermes then you lack empathy and have never experienced depression. It's so galling.

Sigh.... I wish I could say I'm surprised by this type of response. Sadly it's a very common method of gaslighting they like to use.

Honestly, even with my rambling about Hermes, I actually relate to him a lot (and I like him quite a bit tbh). Like, really a lot. Because I also struggle with my naivety and idealism clashing with the harsh reality. I sympathize with him, just like how I sympathize with Emet, Elidibus, and Lahabrea (who had to endure 12k years of loneliness). Hmm, now that I think about it, maybe the reason I "hate" him is because how much I see myself in him? Sort of projecting my fears, insecurity, and general depression? Ah, this turns weird lol

Venat though on the other hand... it's very hard to sympathize with her. If they leave Venat as she was before EW (just like what we saw in anamnesis anyder), I would like her more. But in EW they turned her into some messianic figure with an ego of a star, dictating the fate of her people by herself. She reminds me of a Persona game character who choose all the bad choices. The only thing preventing a complete bad ending is because the devs want a happy end.

[Brinne]

Honestly, even with my rambling about Hermes, I actually relate to him a lot (and I like him quite a bit tbh). Like, really a lot.

Hermes fans within the Venat skeptics represent! \o/

[Rulakir]

Sigh.... I wish I could say I'm surprised by this type of response.

I've noticed this community really likes to compare levels of empathy and it's weird. I'm not even sure how you're supposed to prove or argue that (you're probably not because it's dumb :P).

I generally don't believe someone's fictional preferences tell you anything about them personally. It'd be like trying to judge someone's personality based on their favorite song. Having said that, of all the supposed 'depressed' characters the one I related to the most was Emet. Particularly his penchant for using sleep as an escape.

Hmm, now that I think about it, maybe the reason I "hate" him is because how much I see myself in him?

I've thought about that based on the fact that I should understand and sympathize with him, I am a depressed vegan after all, but I've come to the conclusion that's not it. I think it's that despite my having similar feelings, I could never do what he did. I can't even give my cat his insulin shot, my SO has to do it because I don't want to hurt him, I'm really going to condemn all life? Come on now. :P

[Brinne]

I've thought about that based on the fact that I should understand and sympathize with him, I am a depressed vegan after all, but I've come to the conclusion that's not it. I think it's that despite my having similar feelings, I could never do what he did. I can't even give my cat his insulin shot, my SO has to do it because I don't want to hurt him, I'm really going to condemn all life? Come on now. :P

I mean, Hermes - Amon is a bit of a different story, obviously, but - he himself didn't directly hurt anyone! He just decided to let Meteion go ahead and then immediately wiped his own memory of doing so. There's a huge difference! (What I mean to say is, Hermes is a coward and a bad person and I think he is fantastic for it.)

[Rulakir]

Maybe if he hadn't been acting against the Ancients I'd have more appreciation for him but, like Venat, he's responsible for the destruction of my favorite characters/world so I can't help but hate him.

I'm reminded of the classic film "Leave Her to Heaven". The lead actress, Gene Tierney, said a waitress refused to serve her once due to the character she played, a woman whose obsession destroyed multiple lives. I loved the movie and the character, but I fully understand why someone would hate her.

[Lauront]

It's the response of administering a spite-driven 'test' that he should know on some level will doom the world and anything else in Meteion's path where I draw the line. Many people can empathise with his frame of mind, but would balk at subjecting the world to irreversible damnation for the sake of some 'test'. Fandaniel (Amon) had the saving grace that I found his antics amusing. He's a sinister clown.

It doesn't really matter how many ways you want to phrase it. If anything, he should already be incarcerated and instead is being allowed to take a position of power because of kept secrets. He cannot do a single thing that is worse than what he has already done. He is no longer needed to solve the problem at hand and is only a perceived hindrance because she allows him to be. And upsetting him is a complete nonstarter of a reason. He is absolutely unimportant compared to the problem at hand.

Imagine not telling world leaders about an alien threat because you're afraid of making the President of France sad. Oh no. But he might be the one person to make a difference. Guess we'll all just die instead. Ridiculous.

At the end of the day, he could cooperate from a prison cell, by force if need be - maybe with a vampire breathing down his neck. :`) Certainly once Zodiark is conceived, but maybe even before.