What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[kyyninen_kirahvi]

The whole Elpis episode boils down to here's Hermes and Meteion, justifying Venat's actions to herself and Emet (+ Hythlo) fan service. That whole thing could have really been an echo flashback with no down sides. Sure, pandemonium would have been written in a different palce (or just wholly in Sharlayan). I admit I really like that "has your journey been good"-scene, but even that would have worked before or after fighting her. That scene didn't really answer the question but did it need to, really?

btw, I'm not really taking a stance on the whole did Venat do the right thing debate. I just want to point out that Venat already had all the reasons to do what she did because she met the wol in the past. She knew there was at least one plan that works.