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

[Theodric]

A character can easily shift from 'protagonist' to 'antagonist' at a moment's notice. I think Vyreus is correct.

I also think individual players are free to draw their own conclusions about whether or not a particular character is a 'protagonist', 'antagonist' or even both. The writers can certainly try and guide people to draw certain conclusions though asking people to pretend as if genocide is a heroic act is a stretch for many and not really something the writers have any right to demand.

I believe the writers have also admitted to not having a grand plan in mind when it came to many aspects of the story. I'm a bit confused as why this is pointed out when it comes to the Garleans and Ascians but somehow Hydaelyn is pushed as 'never' being written to be an antagonist. We don't know that and many players spoke up over the years to claim that they found her to be suspicious, creepy and needlessly vague.

[MikkoAkure]

A character can easily shift from 'protagonist' to 'antagonist' at a moment's notice. I think Vyreus is correct.

We fight her for 15 minutes and she's up front about the test. We don't go there seeking a fight and in the immediate aftermath she gives us everything we need. It's a bit silly to suggest that she goes from "supporting character" to "antagonist" to "supporting character" in the span of a lunch break just because you want to call her "antagonist".

I also think individual players are free to draw their own conclusions about whether or not a particular character is a 'protagonist', 'antagonist' or even both. The writers can certainly try and guide people to draw certain conclusions though asking people to pretend as if genocide is a heroic act is a stretch for many and not really something the writers have any right to demand.

I believe the writers have also admitted to not having a grand plan in mind when it came to many aspects of the story. I'm a bit confused as why this is pointed out when it comes to the Garleans and Ascians but somehow Hydaelyn is pushed as 'never' being written to be an antagonist. We don't know that and many players spoke up over the years to claim that they found her to be suspicious, creepy and needlessly vague.

Morality has nothing to do with "antagonist" and "protagonist". As I said before, you can have villainous protagonists and heroic antagonists. In a story where we have only 1 point of view character everything happens to, the morality of the characters can be left up for interpretation, but not the role they fulfill in the story. The WoL is the protagonist of FFXIV, and the enemies we face in each expansion are the antagonists. Hydaelyn is never once set up as the main enemy we have to beat in order to resolve the story. We have a quick trial to test our power to save the world and then it's done.

Even without a grand plan, it's hard to walk back a faction wanting to kill everyone and tries to kill you over and over before they make an attempt at communication or explaining themselves versus the being that protects you from them.