Quote Originally Posted by Sauteed View Post
...while finding a means to use white auricite to kill asicans (that we never seem to need to do again for reasons).
uh?

Why was this thrown in again? White Auracite becomes the Scions' go-to idea for killing Ascians after this point, and they even tried to use it at first for another purpose in the patch story of shadowbringers. Of all your arguments against filler content, this one isn't even remotely on the same level as the others.

It's also important to note that you can't just be advancing the plot with drama 24/7. The duel you put on as a show for the Doman Refugees is to show you taking it easy and to bond with Alphinaud a bit, him reminiscing on his desire to protect the world n'd all that, because we all know what happens very shortly after this event. It's a small break before the big climax.

Tataru finding her life's calling you could argue to be filler, yeah, but there are definitely some story beats you seem to be glossing over the purpose of. Not everything you think is filler is actual filler.