All the weak points of the current story aside:
Whatever the end of this Addon will be. One thing is clear. Sylvanas will not stay in hordes charge. So there will be a new Warchief. And, according to the new cinematic it will not be Thrall.
Thrall: I will not lead the Horde.
Saurfang: I didn’t ask, but I hoped you would at least fight for it.
I think, his words are writers agenda. We will see Thrall fight for the Horde. But he will step back again. I am uncertain if the end of BfA is planed as the conclusion to his story. As his creative “father” is not at Blizzard for 2-3 years this would be logical turn to give his story a “satisfying” end and let him fix the collateral damage he done to the horde.
However. All the altitude and acts of Saurfang show clearly, that he also will not be the next on the throne of the mad leaders.
It will be Baine. His presence, his importance to BfAs Story. His active counterplay to Sylvanas actions… Even his posture in prison shown on all the screenshots. Strong. Upright. Unbroken. The whole Setup points to him.
To me it seems clear, that Blizzard plan is to give the horde the new face. Replace the old, well defined guard like Thrall, Saurfang and Sylvanas by new generation that is easier to form and is more… flexible.
While I do have “some” problems with the execution of this whole act, I do believe it is absolutely needed process (like alliance also desperately needs some new, resolute faces).
But well. What will be the outcome? Sylvanas, Thrall and most likely Saurfang will either be not the part of the horde, or at least not plot driving devices anymore. What will happen?
As already said, I believe we will likely get Baine as new Warchief. All my antipathy to him aside: In my eyes he is still the wrong person for major changes in the horde. Not because his Char. It is because of his closeness to the alliance.
Without major events in the story he does not stand for rivalry to the blue team. Combined with his counterpart, Anduin there will be nearly no potential for conflicts between the two factions… until the next out of nowhere manabomb or burning tree…
I would love to hear your opinion on this topic. Am I wrong believing Baine will be the new Warchief?
Will Thrall/Saurfang lead the horde?
Is Baine actually more “Vol’jin” then I believe and would play a strong counterpart to team blue without mutation to the new chaotic evil of Azeroth?
What would be the most positive way out of BfA with potential for new red/blue conflicts without making one of the two factions to the evil plot device.
And please do not forget, we are all players. WoW fans. Even if you are Horde, the Alliance want a nice Story too… and visa versa.