Endwalker was "meh" (for reasons other than technical issues)

[juicybug]

Because... the WoL could literally kill every single one of them then and there if he wanted to? If the point was to subjugate them, we would already be doing it lol. Also, we had no problem knocking out tempered Garleans on our way there. It would've made much more sense if, instead of letting ourselves be captured, we just knocked everyone out and left them with some supplies that they would wake up to. Then they could choose whether to eat the food or not, and they could find out after the fact (when they aren't subjugated) that we were honest when we said that we're just there to help and not take their country over.

Also, they say that accepting the "barbarians" aid is a trap to some degree, taking advantage of the Garleans weakened state, & the eorzeans only motive is to control them after getting their guard down. like extending a hand for aid with the other behind your back holding a knife. basically.
If you're taught something for years and know of nothing else about a people, you will not throw away those ideals just because the "enemy" offers support and aid. There must be some ulterior motive, it just hasn't revealed itself.

When the US military invaded the Japanese islands, some of the villagers (unarmed women and children) upon seeing the foreign enemy soldiers either A: committed suicide by jumping into the sea onto sharp rocks while others hid in fear, Why? Due to propaganda fed to them by their government, even though the soldiers displayed they meant no harm. Fear and hate are powerful driving forces, and the things they used to promote hate is that magic be ebil and primal summoning's are the debil's foosball and the southern nations are primitive barbarians who know nothing else.

It's very reasonable for the Garlean civilians to have their doubts and fears and to act on them. Many of the people you meet are younger, and grew up on that stuff and know nothing else. Racism isn't born, it's taught.
Is the writing top-notch? No but it gets the story across.
its okay to pick apart the things you didnt like, im not disagreeing with anything you said. just adding an explanation as to why didn't the Garleans happily accept you guys with open arms just because the WoL said she/he was nice and there to help.