I really hope than Fandaniel and Zenos are not... (spoilers)

[TeraRamis]

... FFXIV's final antagonists.

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So right off the bat I want to say: Kefka is my favorite Final Fantasy villain of all time. Ergo, I am not inherently opposed to omnicidal maniacs. However, Kefka's overt, existence-imperiling nihilism really didn't fully evolve until well into Final Fantasy VI - he started as an upper-level lackey who had been mentally broken by magitek infusion (I've always wondered if Kekfa before that wasn't actually downright heroic - someone who volunteered to take on the risk of being the first, and paid the price for his bravery with his soul), usurped Gestahl, wrecked the world, syphoned the magic from the statues, transformed into a god, and only then seemed to get bored and conclude that the answer was to wipe everything out. This evolution from point A to point Z was not direct - he didn't start at Z; we saw him arrive at that juncture only as the story unfolded.

By contrast, Fandaniel and Zenos are the absolute worst types of anime tropes: the exuberant omnicidal playboy, and the tall, quiet, 'brooding evil' swordsman who, of all things, 'is bored.' They have been presented to us in that way from the get-go, and while we might learn more about them going forward, this is the starting point of their arcs as far as we, the viewers, are concerned: they're very, very, very, very pointlessly evil.

And that's terrible.

While villains can come in all stripes, and be well-written even if their motivations are a slight-bit hollow (Kefka being a great example of this), it feels really, really bad to go from an antagonist in Emet-Selch whose motivations, feelings, and devotion to his cause were not only relatable, but at times sympathetic... to these two cartoon characters.

No, I don't know how the story will unfold. No, I'm not judging a book by its cover. But we've seen these two archetypes done to death in other Japanese media over the years, and if - as all indications thus far point to them being - this is the grand extent of Zenos and Fandaniel's respective identities, I just hope they're shuffled off-stage rapidly. Because, thus far, I'm very unimpressed.

[Wavaryen]

I like Zenos myself. I guess because of anime tropes but nothing wrong with that.


A guy who knows what he wants, willing to run over anyone to get the pleasure he feels he deserves, and is very no BS about it. I mean he embodies everything about being selfish and pleasure seeking and I love it.


And I love he looks BORED out of his mind most of the time. Like I'm going to be very sad when he is gone.

[Seera1024]

If previous trailer videos are any indication of a trend, the final boss has never shown up in a trailer.

Zenos and Fandaniel are in the trailer for Endwalker. So if the trend continues, those two aren't the final boss.

[Awha]

Daddy Zenos can be my final boss any day.

[Vahlnir]

Since this is going to be the end of the Hydaelyn/Zodiark storyline I'm guessing we will be fighting Zodiark, who has been teased since ARR. But maybe he's like the Ascians in that he needs a form. Zenos will probably be the meat suit he uses, or at least that's my theory.

[Infindox]

I doubt either of them are going to be the final fight in Endwalker. Possibly to some extent that Zenos "merges" with whatever it is (possibly Zodiark) to fight but he won't be alone.

[TeraRamis]

Since this is going to be the end of the Hydaelyn/Zodiark storyline I'm guessing we will be fighting Zodiark, who has been teased since ARR. But maybe he's like the Ascians in that he needs a form. Zenos will probably be the meat suit he uses, or at least that's my theory.

I wish we would get an opportunity to know Zodiark. Is he just an entity, or does he have a personality?

[KDSilver]

Yeah I'm tired of vilains being bad because there's has to be a vilain.
I want them to be characters with motive other than "lol i'm bored, plz challenge me or I burn your world".

Hopefully, we'll see more because Zodiark still hasn't shown.

[Theodric]

My guess is that the final antagonist will actually be Venat. Mostly for the sake of the namesake but also because I can easily see Zenos and Fandaniel being dealt with right around the same time as Vauthry during Shadowbringers only for Venat to become a thorn in our character's side.

Venat's counterpart wasn't a benevolent individual in Final Fantasy XII and irreversibly damaged Ivalice for the worse as a consequence of her scheming. Given that the same plot point has been carried over but with the Sundering...I think it'd be pretty disappointing if there were no actual twists and the end boss is Zodiark or Zenos.

[KizuyaKatogami]

Surprised so many people are thinking Zodiark will be the final boss. Considering it seems like the obvious thing, and Yoshi P says he wants to subvert expectations with the expansion, i’m less inclined to believe so, especially with the nod to WoL having an Elidibus like shadow in the trailer whilst on the moon, my guess is on Venat.But yeah i hope it isnt Zenos isnt it. Having him as the final boss of not one but two expansions is ridiculous for how bad of a character he is. I'd much rather it be Venat or Fandaniel. Rather it not be Zodiark since we've barely even seen him and it would be nice to actually talk to someone who we know isnt even evil. We got however many expansions of Hydaelyn whispering in our ear, lets us have our Zodiark time.With how many times we've used hydaelyn's blessing and powers, i think it'd be interesting for us to get Zodiark's blessing to use against the final enemy. Then maybe the warrior of darkness title wouldnt be so much of a sham.I at least hope it isnt more of the same "Hydaelyn power good, lets use it again and again."