The Reason Zenos.

[Kallera]

I won't argue that Zenos doesn't really antagonize the WoL, and even brought it up myself. I like the guy, and support him as an antagonist but also recognize there has been some fundamental errors when developing him as a villain. However, part of the disconnect I feel stems from an expectation of Zenos to be a kind of villain he is not. As an example, you brought up why he does not put more effort in to stop the alliance, but character designed to be a wrecking ball doesn't really have a need for pragmatism, nor has he shown anything that this virtue is a part of his character. Varis expressed the same disappointment in Zenos and considered him to be just a monster, so the game acknowledges this very same complaint about Zenos, which would mean it is intentional.

The battle over the Royal Menagerie is something I think is being misinterpreted. Zenos might have mortally wounded himself, but he was already dying from his injuries from the battle. Content at this point, he was more than willing to resign to death and was just hastening the process. I think much of what was felt about that was expressed through Lyse when she tried to stop him. Again I will point to some fundamental errors in his writing. I personally, would much rather that we received audio cues of his heart slowing, and then it just stops and he falls. Merging with Shinryu and the self inflicted wound were really bad decisions in Zenos' writing that I feel cheated us from the thrill of victory over him.

I think the other part of the disconnect comes from the lack of impact Zenos has made in the amount of time he has been in the game. Not the amount of antagonism shown towards the WoL, but actual impact. Some of this though I fault towards how SB was written and doubling up on the liberation efforts. I won't say that sending Zenos on a solo quest to reunite soul with body was ingenious writing, but it definitely served to keep the guy around longer, and he wasn't really capable of antagonizing the WoL in this state.

In short, Zenos might have got his body back, but he is still in this kind of limbo. It appears to be intentional as the character's themselves aren't quite sure what to make of Zenos' recent actions. However, the "My friend, my enemy" can't sustain him for very long and hopefully 5.2 will bring more answers. Zenos still remains a different villain than we previously had in FFXIV. Refreshing for some; tiresome for others.

What sort of wrecking ball is he if he is only swinging in the enemies direction? Offstage, we are told he is a monster, and while he can go toe to toe with characters and yawn at the same time, what has he accomplished on screen? The deaths of a few nameless fodder on the alliance and...the loss of his legion, two provinces he controlled, slaying the bloody Emperor of Garlemald, and causing the last true Ascian to flee. All while musing about taking the yet chained and weakened Zodiark for a spin. And I may be talking meta at this point, but he is going to take Zodiark and joyride it into the implacable wall that is the primal killing protagonist.

See the problem?

[Gemina]

What sort of wrecking ball is he if he is only swinging in the enemies direction? Offstage, we are told he is a monster, and while he can go toe to toe with characters and yawn at the same time, what has he accomplished on screen? The deaths of a few nameless fodder on the alliance and...the loss of his legion, two provinces he controlled, slaying the bloody Emperor of Garlemald, and causing the last true Ascian to flee. All while musing about taking the yet chained and weakened Zodiark for a spin. And I may be talking meta at this point, but he is going to take Zodiark and joyride it into the implacable wall that is the primal killing protagonist.

See the problem?

That's pretty much the definition of a wrecking ball character. It simply destroys in whichever direction it is swung. Zenos doing things like killing the emperor, stopping black rose, and plunging Garlemald into civil war might work in the favor of the alliance, but they are still extremely destructive deeds. You have to remember that there are good people in Garlemald, and they are suffering extensively right now.

The problems I see, I've already pointed out.