I’ve never felt the need to go as far as put in a complaint about the WoW story writing before but after seeing the latest Anduin cinematic today, it made angry.
We’ve had years of half-finished storylines, retcons, and backtracking and the fact that Arthus appears on screen as a quest reward of anima is shocking, and not in a good way. After reading the book “Arthus”, I have never wanted redemption and everyone to forgive him. Yes, he was controlled but I also think some of it was just who he was. Arthus wasn’t truly evil, not like Sargeras or the like. He was just a man who at the time was struggling to do the right thing, and due to circumstances out of his control, is basically enslaved mind, body and soul and never given the chance to repent. He at least deserved the chance to try to make right what he had done. Arthus and Illidan are very similar characters, but only one was given the story arc he deserved. The other cast out of existence because no one had the time/desire/ability? to write a properly cohesive story. The team being so intent on having a Sylvanas expansion due to them not liking her character, wanting a strong female character (sorry but as a female, there is nothing strong or endearing qualities represented that I would want to see in myself!), who knows…
It was implied during the Covenant campaign (one of the quests around “Step into the light” I think), that Uther would try to at least find Arthus’ soul to allow it to have fair judgement, that each soul should rightfully have, regardless of what they have done. I have never been so excited for what was possibly to come since the Blizzcon reveal for Deathwing (I’d literally just finished reading the War of the Ancients and Day of the Dragon books)! This doesn’t happen so Uther can’t have the proper ending to his story that he should and Arthus literally disappears into nothingness. This quite frankly lazy story writing is an insult to Wow’s loyal lore fans! Uther should have faced what he did as he took it upon himself to make judgement and he doesn’t even get punished for it. Some would say, what he went through during Bastion was enough but in my eyes he was no better than Arthus at that point.
What would have been a better storyline in my opinion, would have been for us to go with Uther to find Arthus hidden away in Torghast possibly, just like we did with the others. Uther and Arthus could have had their time to say the things they needed to say. Arthus, being the noble and overly righteous person he was, should have volunteered to stay in the Maw as punishment to become the new Jailer. This would have mirrored WC3 and been a nice tie in to Icecrown (Torghast is literally overlooking Icecrown!). The different areas of the Shadowlands then have their respective leaders again. This also doesn’t give him the redemption players don’t want, and gives you the option to have him appear again if you so wished. Arthus doesn’t deserve redemption as such, but he did deserve to at least allow his soul to be at rest and not violated anymore. It also would of allowed him to evolve as a human being to realise he had done to others, just as was happening to him, through his own choice or not.
Clearly their intent was to try to finish up the storyline direction that Sylvanas was taking as quickly as possible. She has so much hatred for Arthus, it’s a part of her being, that when she finally gets the chance to face him (or the pathetic blob that’s left of him), is to say “I hated you, hunted you and with each selfish act became you. That is my burden to bear.” To say this was a disappointment doesn’t come close. As someone who unfortunately deals with a similar feeling of hatred for an abuser, no way would this have been her first thought to say. She would have raged, gotten emotional and then come to the realisation that she became him. Then she would have gone on her path to put right what she had done. If anything, she deserves to be the “blob” not Arthus as she willing and knowingly did those things. The worst he did was when he was under the control of the Jailer. But because you want to keep her in game as a strong female character (you already have many, Jaina, Thallysra, Tyrande!), she gets let off. Maybe you’ve decided she will get Arthus’ redemption by possibly staying in the Shadowlands etc and we’ve not seen it as its to come in a future quest, if that’s the case, I’m done.
I personally hate all these convoluted systems the team seems adamant on putting into the game, and it’s been the lore that has kept me coming back and paying my subs. The fact that the writers chose such a route leaves me wondering if they actually care about all the hard work that has been put in over the years and have any intention of having continuity going forward. Do they even go back and read their own lore so things to come make sense and flow nicely. I’ve given up on ever having an expansion that flows nicely from the previous ones. From the leaks I have seen regarding 10.0 and the Dragon Isles, this should have been done during Cataclysm! Another example of the lore being brushed off quickly. Galakrond is mentioned in Wrath but unless you’d read the book (which everyone I know who plays WoW has never read!) you’d have no idea of the impact he truly had! He was the reason the Aspects got their powers in the first place!
I apologise if this comes across as “ranty” but as someone who literally owns every WoW storybook and manga ever written and only plays to experience the story, I’m finding it harder and harder to remain loyal to the WoW universe I’ve come to love, and the fact I’ve slowly become more and more disillusioned to the quality of the story concerns and saddens me greatly.
