Eji Reacts to FFXIV: Dawntrail Part 9 - Well That Got DARK Fast || Blind Playthrough

[@alioness-w-noregrets7471]

52:32 I kept wandering about this so I’m glad you explained it. Hopefully the WoL lies to say that he was defeated by a large group of tonberries and not us, should anyone ever ask us…

[@TheoVorster]

I enjoyed how effectively Bakool Ja Ja's character shifted from like a love-to-hate wrestling heel to one where you really feel for the pathos of their character.

[@eji]

I do like the overall character arc/redemption, but I still wish you could see the cracks in the bully armor a little more before this big reveal. I still think the switchover gave me a bit too much tonal whiplash, but was better a few main quests later.

[@TheoVorster]

@@eji Perhaps, though I guess feel with these kinds of stories the temporal aspect for a lot of things in general gets abridged and/or hand-waved away for the sake of plot and pacing expedience, so stuff like brisk character turns don't come off as that jarring, at least for me personally. But yeah, I suppose a little bit more explicit foreshadowing could have benefited Bakool Ja Ja's character plot-line. Also I think it's important to keep in mind a story not having characters actively hate an antagonistic/formerly antagonistic character and/or feel pity for them, doesn't equal the narrative forgiving them (at least I don't think it does). Though ultimately, I also just still can't help but find Bakool Ja Ja's endearing, sorta like Groose from TLoZ Skyward Sword.

[@MissKashira]

They hatch from eggs, that's what he means by "out of their shell." As for why he acted that way, high school bully with the abusive father trope. Also, keep in mind, by context clues Bakool Ja Ja is like 19 years old.

[@eji]

wow he's 19? lol... I guess it's his very robust adult voice, but I never thought about the age aspect. Doesn't excuse his behavior, but adds a little more to the explanation I suppose. And yeah, hahaha, I figured out the egg shell thing after, I think for a while my brain had been thinking mamool ja reminded me of the ninja turtles, so I think subconsciously that was in my head when I saw this 🤣

[@MissKashira]

​@@eji Yeah, we're supposed to view him as older, stronger, smarter, greater in every way until he runs off to cry in a hole and that's when you realize he's just a kid a saddled with the ambitions of his racist village. There is this old movie called The Explorers where kids make contact with aliens and while on the ship it's captured by "space pirates" and watching the space pirate yell, the explorers realize the aliens they've met are just kids. Bakool Ja Ja is meant to be a similar reveal, once you see him in his element you realize he's just a kid doing an impression of what he thinks a leader would act like based on his father's behavior. Also, compare his size to Gulool Ja Ja, he's not even done growing yet.

[@SmalliHD]

Its part 9 now not 8 title :P

[@eji]

oh good catch, thank you! I had copypasted the first part of the title and forgot to change it, lol