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

[Ixon]

I don't know what it is with streamers getting hoodwinked (tempered? :P) by the post-Elpis cutscene. Even ones who echo our sentiments leading up to that point suddenly turn heel and become #TeamHydaelyn. The only exception I've seen was Zepla, who was thoroughly pissed off at the end of Elpis, but has since changed her tune. They may have tried to portray Venat as some sort of tragic heroine, but anyone with a lick of sense would know she brought that upon herself unnecessarily and at the cost of everyone else.

It's fine to disagree with a story element, but I don't think there is a need to belittle anyone who enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, for however much sense I do or do not have, I enjoyed Venat a hell of a lot more than "giant whisper crystal in the middle of the earth" that we to deal with since before ShB. I'm also not a huge fanboy over Graha Tia, even if he has a massive cult, but I don't go out of my to belittle others over their choice. Besides, half of the people here didn't care at all at the end of ShB, when we found out that us living meant the continued death of the Ancients, they were right on board with "Whoo-hoo, kick Emet's butt!".

[Lauront]

Besides, half of the people here didn't care at all at the end of ShB, when we found out that us living meant the continued death of the Ancients, they were right on board with "Whoo-hoo, kick Emet's butt!".

Possibly but I am definitely not one of those. My preference would've been to find some other way forward while working with him to repair the Source and restore the ancients besides the Rejoinings. The shattered nature of the world and life upon it is something I'd want to see reversed. My fave scene in SHB is during the Hades fight, calling upon the ancient shades to voice their desire to reclaim their world. As of EW, it all could've been prevented at an earlier point, possibly allowing the formation of an AU, so there is that now too. As a player I am able to detach myself from the character, and besides, if it were my character, that is the desire they'd likely have, too, as well as curiosity about their ancient shard.