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

[CrownySuccubus]

I'm not sure how it's 'weird'. I quite simply don't like the character. He looks strange and acts in a manner I find disagreeable. There's nothing controversial about that stance.

I'm not talking about you liking the character or not. I'm talking about you believing that not liking the character makes it an issue of "consent" which, it isn't.

It's a problem of linear narrative, not consent. Mario can't decline saving Princess Peach for the 1 billionth time, but that isn't an issue of non-consent.

[Theodric]

I'm not talking about you liking the character or not. I'm talking about you believing that not liking the character makes it an issue of "consent" which, it isn't.

It's an issue of consent in the sense that the development team should be more widely aware that 'fan favourites' are not universally adored and that the constant hero worship is not to everybody's cup of tea to begin with.

The G'raha problem is an off shoot of the Venat controversy - this strange insistence that the player character has to like and have this deep connection instead of just...giving us dialogue options that reflect a broader range of reactions. The same result can still be pushed through but with the decency to give our character some agency.

Even if it's as simple as a choice between our character sighing in resignation and happily agreeing.

As it stands of the many reasons I cannot connect with my character the dorky situations he's constantly expected to indulge is very much at the forefront. I think some of us are just asking for such obsessions to be dialled back a bit.

[Lunaxia]

[...] Even if it's as simple as a choice between our character sighing in resignation and happily agreeing.

I'm a fan of the "...okay" head tilt myself, personally.

I frequently appreciate that we often do have the choice between "yeah, let's do this!" and "god, do I have to?", and that typically we are able to respond less enthusiastically when someone gets excited over pairing up with the WoL. We even get the chance to shoot some of the Scions down themselves more than a few times, and I don't think anyone else should be immune to this simply due to popularity. As you say, even the option of a defeated sigh would go a long way.

I wanted the sundered to develop empathy and an appreciation for what the unsundered went through only for the Final Days to be virtually nothing to them outside of a couple of zones.

To be honest, I lost all hope of this the moment the last of Emet's aether faded away, and Alphinaud immediately came bounding up to us with absolutely zero cognition as to what that moment might have meant for the WoL and happily declared that "Emet-Selch is no more!" as if we were ecstatic over our grand victory. Read the room, Alphinaud.

[Misplaced_Marbles]

I'm a fan of the "...okay" head tilt myself, personally.

I frequently appreciate that we often do have the choice between "yeah, let's do this!" and "god, do I have to?", and that typically we are able to respond less enthusiastically when someone gets excited over pairing up with the WoL. We even get the chance to shoot some of the Scions down themselves more than a few times, and I don't think anyone else should be immune to this simply due to popularity. As you say, even the option of a defeated sigh would go a long way.

I, on the other hand, don't appreciate it, since if there is no choice, a stoic nod works just as well. Being a bitch about what they're going to do regardless just makes the WoL seem like some pre-teen whining how "i don't wanna!" while lacking the conviction, willpower and/or autonomy to actually make a choice.

A stoic nod also works just as well, and usually even better than all that stupid self-pointing, fist pumping and palm punching they, for some reason, started forcing on the WoL. I'd just like to know WHY?!
Maybe it adds character to the WoL for some, but i think it's the wrong way to react to anything, and especially everything. Too much enthusiasm and it's usually out of place anyway. I'm sure most people the WoL meets think they're either a clown or a crazy person.

Yes, i do indeed specifically miss the "stoic" part.