Endwalker vs shadowbringers story, which did you enjoy more and why? (spoilers)

[Vahlnir]

Shadowbringers is objectively far better. Hermes's motivations makes absolutely no sense. Emet-Selch's I can believe.

His motivations were pretty straight forward. He wanted to learn about life beyond his planet, so he created Meteion and its collective consciousness to scour the universe for any and all answers to one single question. What he failed to realize, however, was just how loaded that question really was and he was genuinely shocked by what information was brought back to him. Even Emet called him out on this, and rightfully so. He also cared for Meteion a great deal and had a strong bond with her, so he wanted to protect her. He obviously wanted to hear the rest of what she had to say, so he took her to Ktsis to do just that. The whole memory erasure was, at least from my understanding, his last ditch effort to protect Meteion, as foolish as he was about the whole thing. It seems like most of his decisions were motivated by his bond with her, much like a father wanting to protect his daughter. It all made sense. He just let his emotions get the better of him.

[CrownySuccubus]

He obviously wanted to hear the rest of what she had to say, so he took her to Ktsis to do just that. The whole memory erasure was, at least from my understanding, his last ditch effort to protect Meteion, as foolish as he was about the whole thing. It seems like most of his decisions were motivated by his bond with her, much like a father wanting to protect his daughter. It all made sense. He just let his emotions get the better of him.

Yeah, that's definitely not the interpretation I got. It felt like Hermes' "care" for Meteion was merely a means to an end. As I've seen other people mention, despite his disdain for seeing living concepts as tools, Hermes did just that. Despite Meteion's clear suffering and fear of delivering it, Hermes decided he just had to hear it, no matter what. His own existential need was more important than her fear.

On a personal level, I personally just found Hermes to make too many bad/foolish decisions subsequently for me to have any sympathy for him. If he had JUST created Meteion and her abilities in secret, that would have been fine. If had JUST given her sisters their missions and sent them into space in secret, that would have been fine. If he had JUST ignored Venat, Hyth and Emet to hear Meteion's report, that would have been fine. If he had JUST erased everyone's memories, that would have been fine. If he had JUST issued his "challenge" to humanity as an impulsive decision, that would have been fine.

But Hermes doing ALL of these things, one after another, slowly made me lose any sympathy with his character. Whatever sympathetic character he may have once had before Elpis, by the end of Elpis, all I saw was an insane villain.

[Brinne]

I think it's extremely telling that in his final scene as Amon, as he's being dragged to oblivion and giving the final word on his regrets and doubts about the whole of his existence, Hermes doesn't spare a single thought for Meteion. He's still wrapped up in himself, angsting over his search for answers on his own behalf. The one specific person he does call out? Emet-Selch, in the sneering hope that he was anguishing over the pointlessness of his efforts and his love for Amaurot. It sort of sums it up for me--however Hermes presented himself, whatever he told himself, and however he may have started, by the time we actually meet him, his true primary emotional driving force, rather than empathy and compassion, is poisonous bitterness and contempt for those around him.

Meanwhile, in poor Meteion's last scene, she's still thinking of Hermes's happiness, wishing him well, and acting in a way she hopes will help him. He really didn't deserve her.

[Silver-Strider]

Depressed Man condemns the entire world to protect Goth Daughter

Straight forward or not, it was a massive step down from Emet.

[Vahlnir]

Straight forward or not, it was a massive step down from Emet.

Oh, absolutely.