
Originally Posted by
Telkira
Well-reasoned critique, but I disagree.
I think his characterization in EN is one is actually more disturbing because we don't actually see where this 'friendliness' comes from. It feels very, very impersonal and artificial, and it felt like he still wanted to 'get with' me but at the same time not? Which contrasted against the other characters, without much of the growth we would normally expect to have. Even Alisaie doesn't hide the fact that she's lusting over the WoL, and that type of characterization is not only comical (and tropish, given her age) but is at least based on having gone thru and seen thru so much as characters.
With this guy, though, it's...so out of left field, and having him be an outspoken debauchee who openly lusts after the WoL, within the context of those who dislike it, are annoyed by it, or disturbed by that, I feel like a real opportunity was missed to have those qualities transcend that for them, because those facets, though integral to his characterization, are only surface-level, and it can still be surmised that he has good intentions.
Watering him down to be a 'bro' from that is exactly what it is, watered down, and completely messes up the atmosphere of the setting and ruins, if not outright dispenses entirely with, other interactions with other characters (like innuendo going over Alphinaud's head because he's a virgin).