Endwalker's Answer | FFXIV Deep Dive Analysis

[@BastetMusic]

EW impacted me to the point where I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be alive without it. I played through it while in a very dark point in my life. I still haven't fully recovered from just how wholly I was consumed by despair, but playing through EW genuinely gave me hope for myself. Quite literally pushing me to Forge Ahead. idk how they did it, but it's wild that a game did what I couldn't manage myself for at least a decade and counting lol

[@TheHairline]

I've left comments on so many Endwalker-related videos but was yet to express this exact sentiment. I continue to be in a dark place, but stronger than I was at the beginning, and this game's story and music has helped to carry me as far as I've come. You're not alone in this.

[@TheSaudecas]

EW didn't do it, you did it. The game helped, but you yourself managed to do it. That's empowering. That's strenght. You should be proud of yourself, if you aren't already. I'm always happy to see comments like this for I also had my fair trials and the game showed me how to have hope. Dawntrail specially is hitting me like a train rn. It's wild how much stories can touch us.

[@adrianchaney4331]

i don't usually leave comments on videos because i'm a weenie, but i just wanted to say this was a phenomenal piece of work that i keep coming back to watch! i've been playing ffxiv since about 4.3, and i think you completely nailed explaining the appeal of the community through social media/developing your WOL and the philosophy of the endwalker story itself. your personal anecdotes and stories made everything so much better and i would love to watch more videos about ffxiv from you if you decide to go down that path!

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Thank you so much, it means the world to hear that! XIV became such a wonderful and important thing to me, I'm glad to hear I was able to capture the experience. I do want to do some follow ups to this video, though they'll likely be more podcast-like. Writing and editing for this took me almost a full year.

[@Reycied]

This video reminded me how much I love seeing people take The Walk at the end of the expansion. It always starts as fear and unease as shadowy and vaguely menacing figures appear. But then you hear Ardbert: "If you need a push, I'll be right behind you." There always seems to be a moment, a single second or two of shock and understanding before they push on. And as the words of the past layer on top of one another, like threads weaving into the most beautiful silk, the tears always come. Some people grit their teeth and soldier on, tears like diamonds shining, unshed, in their eyes. Some stop between every shade to break down in fresh sobbing. The voices of those lost and those still waiting are a bitter medicine, a reminder of what's been taken away. But the end result is almost always the same. Conviction. Pure, shining and flawless. They made it this far, and they can go a little farther. For those they have lost. For those they can yet save.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

This is a beautiful expression of that moment. I love it too.

[@LuchaLLibro]

What an absolute *champion* of a reply. Thank you for these words.

[@masterplusmargarita]

The most frustrating thing about Endwalker is that it requires playing hundreds of hours of MMO to get to. Not because those hours are bad - I adore all the expansions - but because it means it's so damn hard to recommend. I've struggled for decades to explain to my friends - especially my religious friends - how fulfilling and beautiful existentialism is a philosophy, how the acknowledgement of the universe's meaninglessness doesn't make the meaning one makes for themselves any less true or beautiful or... Well, meaningful. Endwalker is a dream come true as an existentialist screed, it feels like it distills so many of the emotions I feel about seeing the world this way and puts them on screen for everyone to see and understand. The fact it presents existential dread and nihilism - something I've struggled with pretty much my whole life in my darker moments - as an understandable, sympathetic villain who is ultimately wrong and defeated by the simple act of seeking meaning where there should be none really gets to me on a personal level.

[@mcihay246]

Regarding those that say Zenos has a point, should indeed not forget that Alisiae also has a point.

[@RothAnim]

Zenos has found meaning in existence within himself. The WoL has found meaning in existence through others.

[@etchyasketch2851]

Zenos doesn't "have a point", he has the correct answer, just like the WoL does. It just doesnt take a pretty shape that everyone likes

[@mcihay246]

@@etchyasketch2851 If it were the correct answer then he wouldn't have taken Alisiae's words to heart and go through with helping his "friend", despite it being for selfish motivations. His belief of not finding purpose from others, goes against the fact that he relies upon others to give him purpose to begin with. Whether it be to sow seeds of rebellion to temper would-be opponents, or wanting the WoL themself to fight back. So yes, he has a point that people should not rely too much on another's purpose to find meaning. But Alisiae also has a point that if your purpose involves another, even a significant other or loved ones, then don't be an arsehole otherwise nobody would give you the time of day to fulfill said purpose.

[@smartalec2001]

@@etchyasketch2851 Not quite. He has one half of the equation, which is that everyone must find their own purpose in life. It's not until the end that he embraces the other half of the equation, which completes Endwalker's thesis: everyone must find their own purpose in life, *in other people.* As he says at the end (i abridge), 'I saw something in you, once; *when I understood what it was*, I went to Sharlayan to find you.' That is when he finally manages to empathise with another person. Rather than seeing the WoL as someone who can give him what he wants, he instead offers what he has to give to the WoL; and gets what he wanted, in return.

[@reyjusuf]

Endwalker is simply the best video game story I've ever experienced. It managed to sing the song of hope not only to the characters in the game but also to us, the players. We can relate Endwalker's message our experience and struggle in real life. Hermes is a very interesting villain, if we want to call him that. I cheered when he called out Emet-Selch's hypocritical call to Meteion "who are you to decide whether we live or die" Well Emet, you and your fellow Ancients have been doing it to the creatures in Elpis and you will do it over and over after the Sundering. I personally wouldnt go as far as putting humanity to the test but I totally understand Hermes' snapping at that moment.

[@ahri535]

This video was utterly beautiful, be proud. You are a fantastic writer, speaker, covid tester, survivor and human being

[@DrEldritchPlays]

I think Zenos was referring to our acceptance that we are like him, which is part of why his speech talks about why we also seek mighty foes to challenge. He never felt like an example of nihilism to me; I think another KZbinr put it best. Zenos is the ultimate foil of the Endsinger; despite his complete disinterest in life, which would seem to agree with the Endsinger's message, even he found a reason worth living. Sure, a twisted, immoral reason, but a reason all the same. He only took Krile's advice so we'd finally engage him with our full might.

[@RothAnim]

Just to add to your comments on the Massively Multiplayer element, FF14 emphasizes co-operation much more than other popular MMORPGS like WoW in some key ways. There is no factional combat; every player is a fellow adventurer, not necessarily someone to compete with. There is no competition over gathering nodes or monsters: helping another person kill a monster will not reduce the experience or rewards they receive from the encounter, while gathering nodes are individually instanced. Job scaling means that experienced players can join friends in low-level content while still receiving rewards. I think that not only fits the themes of the game, but is part of the reason the community is comparatively less toxic than other MMOs.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

This is fantastic and super interesting, thank you so much for the additional details! I had no idea.

[@RaelAkuna]

I am going to be listening to this video for days, maybe weeks. This is the single most amazing FFXIV video on the internet. I love this so much.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Thank you it means a lot to hear it

[@negeo1234]

Your story about your journey into 14 during Covid made me shed a tear. It reminded me of my own darkest time when my depression, anxiety, PTSD, and self identity issues came to a peak when I got divorced and displaced while not being allowed to see my new born sons birth during a transition period of me leaving the military where I will lose my insurance, steady check, and safety net. With the good will of my friendships I cultivated, I was able to sleep in the living room. I almost ended it because I saw no future for me to go. I was baker-acted and was terrified of the things that went on in there. I never cried for my mom that hard since I was a baby. I was helpless but my friends came to visit me. EndWalker brought me to a breaking point to live my life better because if it wasn’t for the WOL friends, if it wasn’t for my friends. I’d never have the ability to forge ahead.

[@Laenthal]

"That is sophistry and you know it!"

[@ctl91]

I'm at 1:15:00 ish and the conversation is centering around Mary Sue and power fantasy stuff. I just want to say, being young is really hard. Sometimes people want to feel powerful, or attractive, or whatever, and it's more of a problem that we're not letting people (mostly kids) feel vicariously strong in fiction than it is that we're some how enabling common fantasies. There are people who take it to an unhealthy extreme, but everything gets taken to an unhealthy extreme. The rest of the analysis has been great, but this moment really resonates with me.

[@IzzetNilson]

thank you for sharing your personal story. I've always wanted to hear the stories of people working on the testing facilities. Its really cool that you guys had a cool community in your workplace, where everyone seems to have something in commonplace that can bond over. That's something I wish I could have in my work place. I'm still not over my own personal social isolation, and after having recently completed Endwalker (and close to post game completion) I too felt the game spoke to me in more ways than I expected it to. I did some reflection and realized my own social isolation started long before the shut downs, and this video inspires me to be more social in FFXIV. And with hope to become more social in other aspects of my life.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Just over a year out from getting the axe, I still look back on it fondly - for the people, and the sense of purpose. It was unequivocally some of the roughest work i ever did, my wrists were permanently damaged from it. Its an oddly precious memory and moment in my life regardless. I'm wishing you all the best in your endeavors. I'm cheering for you!

[@Disapointedmellencol]

oh and its NOT just mermes that feels for the creations there's an ETIRE side quest line that SHOWS not only others that feel bad about how the way things are run is run, but Hyth himself wishes peace int he sea to a boss we have to fight while chasing hermes. the BIGGEST issue this society had was just not fully opening communicating

[@chaincat33]

I will add, they do humanize the regime and imperial mindset of garlemald as a whole. The garleans are not native to ilsabard, no one lived there for a long time. The garleans are native to a region south of ilsabard that is more temperate and condusive to life. But their magic-wielding neighbors conquered and pushed them further and further back, until they were trapped in that frozen wasteland. It's a story similar to the history of Russia in real life, which was conquered countless times by foreign powers, pinning them in a frozen wasteland, why Russia hates the west so much and is so willing to attack Ukraine. Anyone and everyone is a potential enemy. And the only way to truly ensure you survive is to kill them before they kill you. This is why Russia invaded Ukraine, because if Ukraine joined NATO, Russia would be under direct threat from an impossibly wide frontline, and this is why Garlemald attempted to conquer the entirety of the 3 great continents. They both simply desire to be an island unto themselves.

[@Hope-br1oj]

An actual masterwork, Sam. It’s been a true pleasure to experience this game with you ❤

[@sirensong1794]

this a fantastic video essay. I find too many video essays on youtube spend too much time resummarizing the plot and not enough time analyzing, so i really appreciate whenever i find one that includes so much in depth discussion. I especially loved the section of tying nihilism to ishgard and showing how EW's themes have been prevalent throughout the game.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

"video essays" that that are 90% plot synopsis and 10% actual analysis are a huge pet peeve of mine too! It's actually part of the reason I don't include summaries - just my little rebellion against that style of video, lol. No time for that, I need to talk about Hermes some more!

[@Terrace776]

Thanks for making me cry over Endwalker for the 30th time

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

its what I aim for o7

[@rogerith7905]

I think, my issue with ff14 was that I was focusing too much on the fact I needed to play with others. When I say other's I mean friends I already know, the point of the game or more over one the core mechanics of the game is meeting others and socializing with them and enjoying this role playing experience with the wider group. Thank you for helping me realize that.

[@ilustreguilherme]

This video appeared on my dashboard and i believe it was destiny (or just the fact i was watching lots of XIV stuff, but i digress). I was feeling terrible, just recently i passed through a break up that utterly destroyed me, specifically because i was with someone i loved so deeply and with such intensity and while she said everything was okay, all of a sudden it wasnt and it was a shock. Im still confused and while i tried to get some closure and learn from this all, asking what had i done for that should that be the case, or what had happened that drove her to that conclusion and to her behavior on just acting like nothing happened. I felt like i was completely meaningless, like nothing i did mattered, like i never did good, and while she said that wasnt the case, i just felt horrible. I got confused and felt abandonned. On my birthday on september 4th she sent a message making her birthday wishes to me and wondering if i was going to reply to her, and i did but i still felt terrible nonetheless. The peoole that kept me going were my friends who managed to keep me mentally healthy, who checked on me, who were there to hear me and to try and keep me focused on what i should do which was fo keep going and to keep doing whats right for me and for the others around me, to not keep grudges and to work on what i feel, recognize and admit i felt bad so those feelings dont overcome me. I resonate a lot to what you said about how we cant do things alone, that most often we will need connections, and how those connections are what keeps us in check and leads us on our paths. Its always so damn hard to go on our way, gather small moments of joy only to keep being destroyed and then, rebuild, but its the only thing we can do if we want to forge ahead. Its even harder to rebuild yourself and let yourself love again, but like i mentioned, my friends were the ones that could help me, and i love then, so in the very end, we hurt ourselfs with love heal with love, connection is necessary but it can hurt and heal. On the very end, all we can do is hope we'll get better after our trials, and surely those who love us will be there to keep us on check.

[@boogiesama]

this video nearly brought me to tears and the feeling of warmth I felt was so powerful it felt like endwalker's message had finally reached me. Thank you for this video, thank you for letting me find my own answer to the meaning of my own life.

[@SamusKitsune]

I really love this video, especially as someone who is deeply interested in Nietzsche's works. For all his problematic elements he inevitably had a massive influence on Jewish anarchists during the Shoah and on nihilist anarchism in general. I absolutely love Endwalker and this was a pretty solid analysis

[@ForsakenSan]

I listened to this video while doing my daily roulettes and on multiple occasions, I would tell my team to hang on, rewind a bit of the video that interested me and was in awe how it was connecting with me at such a deep level, at this point I am in my life. Brilliantly worded piece, I'm normally a lurker but I had to come out of the woodwork and congratulate you on this beautiful marvel of media that is so relatable and doubles as an intense form of catharsis, especially for someone who needs it. Keep on keeping on!

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

This is such high praise, thank you! I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed it and connected with it - especially enough to pause mid roulette!

[@1eagle547]

I'm sure your group appreciated waiting for some random dude to catch up with his video essay! :)

[@ForsakenSan]

@@1eagle547 luckily it was brief moments to rewind lol.

[@مطبخمنى-ر6ط]

أستمر اتمنى لك التوفيق والنجاح أنا صديقه جديده في انتظارك احلى لايك 👍🏻

[@ShaunMacdonaldTQ]

I've really wanted to see somebody really give this work the love and care it deserves and it helped me ruminate on my own feelings and throughts about EW and about hope. You've made a fantastic finished product, amazing work :)

[@claudiasilva1140]

Regarding Zenos, I have to disagree with your take that he finds pleasure only in battle or the hunt. In the short story you described, as he kills the Eorzean swordmaster that trained him by beating him up daily, Zenos reflects that there was no pleasure to be found in the act of battle. That what he wanted - what he craved for - was "despair". When the Warrior of Light inflicts a defeat upon him, that's when Zenos once again felt that "despair" the one he had been seeking since childhood, and that only his Eorzean OP swordmaster could inflict on him - because he was so much more powerful (as an adult and as a wielder of magic) than Zenos was. Zenos likes to feel overpowered, and brought down low. That's when he strives, that's when he finds motivation. After spending more than a decade without fulfilling that need, I think he reason that he does what he does to himself at the end of Stormblood is because he is now happy and fears that he will have to live another decade in agony without being able to be brought to despair again. Note that Zenos's despair is not the "despair" in the sense of hopelessness that Meteon finds or what breaks Fandaniel. Zenos's despair is closer to that of a masochist. He likes to suffer. Failing, and being brought low are what I think fill him with rage and motivation and the fuel he needs to improve himself. When properly motivated, Zenos is capable of feats that are almost godlike (like as a child, learning on his own, a super combat technique and then use it to defeat an adult who was both a trained warrior and a magic user).

[@whoopsie2623]

beautifully put. this video helps remind me of endwalkers message and how it inspired that hope in me again. thank you

[@sailor_anna9924]

ok i wasn't expecting to get called out so hard during that loneliness bit. T_T aiight imma go cry now

[@TheAsvarduilProject]

Your bit about headcanon reminded me of my WoL, miss Fratley Scalentail's general Azim Steppe experience. She culturally Eorzean, but a Xaela Au Ra. Her first time there basically had all characters accompanying her be like, "Oh my Nymeia, this explains SO MUCH about her! The need to fight powerful foes? Seeking out unusual challenges? Eclectic fashion choices? THIS IS HER!!" While she spends her days in the Crystarium and Old Sharlayan working on becoming a master Goldsmith these days, every once in a while she can be found flying above the Steppe, revisiting fond memories, and staying out of Sadu's reach. That woman is NUTS. Also, bro - much respect for your work on COVID. You are a hero.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Oh I love this, everything just slotted into place for the scions. Thank you!

[@Sunila_DragonladyCH]

My AuRa Raen WoL had a very similar experience. I had her personality worked out pretty well by the time I got to Yanxia. So to see that the game actually confirmed my backstory for her was an incredible feeling. She was born in Sui No Sato, (which explained her absolute love of water and swimming, as well as the origins of her companion : Nami, the Odder Otter, whom I named after meeting Isobe, a litter mate of hers) but never felt she belonged until she visited the Steppes. She often travels back there to sit with the Xaela and listen to them play music by the fire. BTW I love your character's name. Freya Crescent is my favourite FF character of all times.

[@TheAsvarduilProject]

@Sunila_DragonladyCH Yep, my character was originally a FF9 reference! I made her back in Heavensward, her primary job was LNC/DRG. She was also originally male, like OG Sir Fratley, but after Endwalker, she had a revelation (and a Fantasia potion) and rather liked her new form, and found it worked better for her, all the better to save Azdaja with.

[@IzzetNilson]

I once had a psychology instructor ask us "are we thinking beings or are we beings acting as a consequence of outside stimuli?" and the entire class hated him for it because he was never satisfied with any answer we gave him, and our first week of class was wasted literally day in and day out trying to answer this. Whatever answer we gave for one side over the other, he always responded in favor of another side, but the answer had to be one or the other. It was clearly a philosophical question, so I personally answered with a philosophical response, he responded with "great philosophy, horrible psychology." and me and the class were just like "😐"

[@dumbdoggie]

listened to this while at work and it made be cry multiple times. such a good analysis!

[@Lichtverbunden]

What you are describing about Meteion in the first hour, I recognize part of me in it. Being very sensitive, partially because that is who I am, and partially due to many traumatic experiences. Feeling intensely, often times wondering who's emotions I am feeling in any given moment. Never being taught in my past how to walk the earth as a human. I feel like a stranger on this planet. Having been able to keep part of my innocence from the start, where others might have lost it with time. Thus being able to sense that things are off. That instead of empathy towards each other; instead of working hand in hand, humans seem to fight each other for their own survival, and a sense of superiority often times. Often times I long for my true home, that I perceive to be outside of Earth, potentially another planetary system. But I also remembered that it's about for me to learn to walk the earth with the support of others. And that's exactly the steps I am already taking. First, we as humanity need to learn to walk the earth as humans before seeking other stars, other beings. If we don't, we will mess up the lives of other star beings along the way. Let's nurture our hearts first before we venture on.

[@Funnywomangaming]

Incredible video. FFXIV also found me at a rough time and endwalker really helped me reframe my post religion life and really opened my eyes to a more optimistic nihilism where we each find our own meaning.

[@retzerbil867]

This video is MASSIVELY underrated. Your script and line delivery gave me chills multiple times! Amazing work!!

[@MaikeruX989]

33:07 So this becomes another point where I wonder if different writers at Square/Enix were involved on different parts of 6.0. On the one hand, the MSQ story strongly implies that Hermes feels isolated because of his empathy with creations and the lack of a forum on which to work out his frustrations with his peers. But then on the other hand, the side quests in Elpis depict some other individuals with their own misgivings about 'returning to the star' and empathy toward creations. This 2nd feature would suggest Hermes isolated himself from society, not society rejecting Hermes. An interesting contradiction which helps explain the debate among fans, often heated, regarding Hermes.

[@theprideling]

I think it serves to illustrate that it’s also very human to isolate and not talk to each other. If you live in a society that rejects an idea, you don’t speak it out loud and can more easily believe you’re the only one that thinks it. The amount of times I’ve learned about my own queerness now that I’m older because it wasn’t talked about when I was a kid or young adult…

[@gojirafan123]

I take it as a bit of a "bystander effect". Very rarely do people want to be the ones to "shake the boat", as it were. Maybe some other workers in Elpis sympathized or shared Hermes' view on death and dismissal of creations. But Hermes was viewed as a bit of an oddball and an outsider because of his views. It's not hard to believe that others, especially in a super-homogeneous society like the Ancients, would hesitate to cast their lot with him and openly show support.

[@flintlocke1344]

God, the Multiplayer Made Medium section has me wondering if I’ve been playing the game wrong. I haven’t joined a free company, and in general I don’t directly engage with the social aspects of the game beyond queueing into raids. In part this is because I play on console with a controller and therefore communication is inefficient at best, and in part this is because I mainly play single-player games, and maybe there’s more parts that I’m not consciously aware of. I have some lore for my WoL, but I honestly didn’t know there were spaces where people share their personal lore. Maybe I’m just not on the right socials? For me, I’ve always approached FF14 as a solo experience that countless other people are also participating in, who I’ll see running about and with whom I’ll occasionally team up with. In the metaphor of MMO as a third space, I’m the girl at the coffee shop who orders a latte and then just sits at her own table reading a book. Now that I’ve written it out, I think that’s a valid approach.

[@quilynn]

Not only is that a valid approach, that's the main way that most people play through most MMOs, and perhaps FFXIV even more so. Personally, I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum, somebody who plays the game very socially, but I play a lot of other MMOs from time-to-time as well and I'll usually just be the person enjoying the shared presence of other players without necessarily interacting with them. It's nice, and that experience is one of the main reasons I love MMOs so much.

[@wolfore]

EW hit at a point when I was struggling with work. I had lost my dream job to the plague. The message of hope including the Endsinger theme song "With Hearts Aligned" (silly though it may seem) have been a beacon of strength for me sense. More than that I picked up the game during a low point a divorce... 14 through both story and community have since seen me through other low points. And for all the low points... The high points shine all the brighter

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

I don't think its silly, its incredibly human to be moved by art and music - especially when its this good.

[@Hawksquest1955]

You should do more deep dives into the philosophical/psychological of FFXIV. You were point on and I so enjoyed the comparisons. Made me think a lot!

[@Jykinturah]

After playing EW I thought of a quote by Jean-Paul Sartre, “Life begins on the other side of despair.” It felt the game really tried to embody that idea.

[@Zeppenfeldgarden]

Easily one of the best videos I have listened to. Not once did I feel like taking a break. Made my work shift very enjoyable. Towards the end I started to think about the Nier video games. How they touch on the darkest parts of humanity but also express the new beginning to every end. Even when characters are at the lowest of the low, we still understand why they feel that way. The theme of there is no good or evil just different people with different ideals or different experiences. Anyway, loved the video and thank you for taking the time to make it! 😊

[@emvippy]

this was everything ive ever wanted in a video essay and deep dive analysis, not to mention everything ive ever felt about ffxiv and endwalker. this message is something the game has been yearning for us to pinpoint since the beginning, with the quote "dawn may banish even the darkest night" echoing in my head throughout endwalker despite it being so many years ago that it was written into the story. to live is to suffer, and yet we hope for tomorrow. even at the edge of the universe does the sun rise over the horizon and bring forth a new day. thank you for this, what feels like a love letter to ffxiv.

[@wastingsky5479]

This video is so under-rated. Thank you for doing this story so much justice

[@Zantier]

Its been almost 3 years already, and you made me cry again remembering all the emotions i felt playing endwalker. Thank you for your esaay

[@dyna9444]

When I finished Endwalker, I retroactively came to despise it for reasons including my interpretation of the MSQ and its execution. I feel like already having an existential crisis and going through a lot of the motions in middle school has made it hard for me to appreciate the narrative of this expansion (I promise this is not an attempt to ego-boost, I won't deny a bias of "been there" but I genuinely consider it a barrier to appreciating what the game is doing, good or bad). Feeling constantly surrounded by uncritical consumption, whether or not that assumption has foundation, I've been pretty distraught wondering if everyone's just insane, fandom-ing it up because "oh em gee so emotional! yoshi p's a genius!" or if it's just me. I don't find the former assumption very conducive to understanding the phenomena, and I've generally accepted that there is something, perceivable to me or not, that is so potent in the story to be such a success beyond what could just be some use of wide-appeal subject material (Not to imply that's inherently a bad choice, but I can't help but be suspicious of the commercial decisions made by the #1 MMO right now). Regardless I was admittedly scared to click this video I'd stumbled upon, that I'd get a little bit in and realize this was 2 hours of the blind praise I perceive myself drowning in waves of as I tiptoe through the game and what bits of its community I dare observe. That paranoia sounds pretty silly in hindsight, a bit antisocially rooted perhaps, but I'm glad to say it was dispelled pretty quickly. This video's been a breath of fresh air, reminding me of some of the highs of the journey and helping me better articulate my actual grievances with the expansion. I feel like I've been waiting for this video's perspective of the Nibirun in particular since 6.0, the ideation of pain as a necessary source of meaning was as far as I could interpret that sequence and it had mired my feelings towards that dungeon ever since. I'd never taken Emet-Selch's word for it that his world was as perfect as he believed it, I'm staggered that I took Meteion's recognition of their society as utopian as truth, that they had not perhaps lost something vital to living even in a supposedly painless world. I was also surprised to hear convincing justification for Zenos' presence in the story. I don't think I ever really disagreed on most of this video's perspective of the ideas he represents, but I had felt previously his role seemed like it was interjecting the story rather than serving it (god I was about as pissed as my wol was to see him last minute, that duel was inevitable in my world). For now I still have nitpicks towards the plot and such, but I'm happy to say I think my criticism is now a lot more game design oriented as of watching this video. Maybe in a sense it's my fault I hadn't gone looking myself, but I wish someone had shown me this video sooner. Thank you, sorry if this overgrown paragraph is a bit incoherent and sickly with discontent for a game so loved but I wanted to be as honest and articulate as I could muster on the rare occasion I'd take to comment on a video, even if I regret the outing later. Now I can focus more on complaining about the paladin rework like the fucked up gamer I am!

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

My friend, as a tank main I feel you on the PLD rework. Ugh. Thank you so much for sharing all this, it was really a treat to hear the perspective of someone who didn't some out of Endwalker singing it's praises. Double thank you for hearing out my points even when you weren't keen on the premise coming in. I'm absolutely elated that you found insight and worth in my work, even if you didn't come out totally loving the expansion, my main goal is to make people think about things. By the way, I'm actually a huge Zenos hater - I thought he was a poor main antagonist for Stormblood and stuck around too long. Dissecting his role in Endwalker was a huge exercise in not letting personal bias cloud my judgement. Mostly I'm glad to meet another Zenos hater lol

[@dyna9444]

@@TheDigitalDreamClub OMG YES IM NOT ALOOONNEE I HATED THAT MAN!!! *ahem*. I'm glad you enjoyed the comment! I woke up this evening worried I'd made a really dumb verbose reply so I'm glad it was well-received. Thank you for the reply in kind! I definitely noticed you describing Zenos as more of a vessel for theme than a character, but narrative-ly (auto correct says that's not a word? hopefully u know what i mean) I wouldn't have guessed you necessarily loathed him similarly, and ultimately your discussion of him made me get more out of him than I thought I ever would at this point. Basically, I think you succeeded in that regard, and as a whole the video was very engaging, I was glued to my chair for the whole thing contemplating my time with this game. Thank you again for making it :) New appreciation being said though, glad Zenos is gone, jesus. Zero's first appearance gave me a heart attack for the split moment of misinterpretation I had.

[@florence9606]

This was such a pleasant surprise find, the analysis was very well written and researched and put forward a lot of thought-provoking ideas based on real world philosophies. Love it ❤ +1 sub 🎉

[@desdenova1]

My new favorite Endwalker analysis, thank you. The journey was good, it was worthwhile.

[@SchrosDinger]

Endwalker is one of the most therapeutic games I've played that wasn't a high art style horror game. Amazing video for an amazing game.

[@thegneech]

Great stuff here. :)

[@MinhNguyen-vq9ry]

A FF14 STORY VIDEO ESSAY! LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@danmarshall4812]

Brilliant video and discussion. Subscribed!

[@mattpedia1933]

Endwalker came out about a week after i was released from suicide rehab. It was a healing experience to play through an entire campaign centered around overcoming despair and pushing through even though all you desperately want to do is lay down and die. I will forever hold endwalker as one of the greatest stories ever told because it felt like it was made for me in that moment

[@mattpedia1933]

Also i find it shocking that one of the most horrific events in the expansion is just a little vignette in a dungeon In palakka or whatever it's called, the mother elephant person gives in to despair and turns into a blasphemy, then all her children freak out and panic before also turning into monsters. (Haven't played in a long time so i forget the names of things)

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

I'm glad Endwalker was there for you, thank you for sharing your story

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

@@mattpedia1933I agree. I was playing with friends the first time I ran that dungeon. I didn't want to slow the group down but I remember tears pricking at my eyes and straining not to cry when I saw that

[@coltonbunja]

im in awe of people who click their abilities. but anyways, holy shit was this an absolutely amazing video.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

IT FINALLY HAPPENED... I was so scared someone was gonna dunk on me for clicking. It just works okay.

[@coltonbunja]

@@TheDigitalDreamClub not a dunk, I pinky promise! Whatever works. I do not have nearly the finger-eye coordination to do it. MMO mouse is my savior as a RDMain.

[@nicocuccarese3032]

This is every thing I could ever want and more. Oh my gosh. I know the analysis must have taken so, so, so much time and effort. Im a college student working on a fictional analysis, and this is such a good resource. Your voice and little anecdotes deliever such an interesting analysis; I listened to everything you had to say in one sitting. I was particurally interested in your point about the fundamental philisophical questions that Endwalker poses, and how it's used to drive empathy and complexity. Again, LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS ANALYSIS! It's so so, so, so cool to see a game I love be explained in such a manner. Thankkkk youuuu!!!!!

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Thank you! It makes me so happy to hear you say this. I always assume most people will have to watch this in little chunks, but hearing that you watched it in one sitting means a lot! You saw it in its purest form, you know? Wishing you luck with your analyses!

[@katrinascarlet5637]

​@@TheDigitalDreamClubI couldn't to turn it off. Even though I felt called out on a few points. Joining 14 was a bid for connection when I felt unbearably alone, one that worked out well so far.

[@SuperCrazf]

Marvelous video as always. Congrats and lets drink for the future of us all.

[@RobotSavetheworld]

Hermes' inability to deal with his society treating life as a science project in which every element has to prove its purpose to the world to deserve to live was the more prominent plot point, but there's another example. Hythlodaeus is CONSTANTLY talking down on himself. He mentions how he was originally considered for the position of Emet-Selch due to his soul-sight, but recommended Hades instead because Hades has far greater magical skills. His chatter in the Ktisis Hyperborea dungeon trust is quips about him not being "entirely useless." He willingly became one of the sacrifices to summon Zodiark because he believes that giving himself up for the benefit of others is all he's good for. Our sweet, charming, funny, New Old Friend is constantly struggling with the idea that he's "worthless", he's just a bit better at masking than Hermes. If the Unsundered World operated in such a way to make a guy like that feel like was worthless, then it SURE wasn't as perfect as we had be told it was up. I've been thinking a lot about Endwalker lately, given that it came out during the pandemic, and for good or for ill, it is now connected with that event in history. It really is an incredible coincidence of circumstances that this story arc, about trying to find a reason to continue living in the face of overwhelming tragedy, debuted during a time in which we were all made to confront mass death, alienation, the failure of government systems assumed to be working for our safety, and the simple horror that Nothing Will Ever Be The Same After This. I have innumerable thoughts about how it affected me, and how i still keep the story close in my heart several years down the line. Your essay was beautiful, and put words to many of the feelings I had in a way that brought me to tears several times. A traveler's charm indeed. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@metaphorium1328]

7mins in. Already the feels hit

[@Blaktimus]

I'm not even 25 minutes into this video. I'm not commenting to praise you for what seemingly is going to be a very philosophical and intellectual take on Endwalker. I'm not here for that. I'm here to say that you having the quote of Engels Fredrick, in the style of a FFXIV chatbox is CUTE AFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF and because it's on a video so serious i just thought it good to comment on that lil piece I found cute ^.^

[@ViewTube_Emperor_of_Mankind]

Thanks. I watched this during MSQ roulette and daily dungeon

[@UltaFlame]

"Even as I could see the numbers." As someone who stocks shelves at a supermarket. I saw them, too.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Makes me feel a little less alone to know it was felt elsewhere. Glad you made it through.

[@HoneyDoll894]

i started watching this video, but soon started wondering if i actually should. even just remembering the story of meteion many of the horrors seen in thavnair or garlemald still makes me cry. And while I'm at work, I don't know if i want to just sob while remembering all of that again, put into beautiful words. Now having watched the video, that bit towards the end, about how all or most of us have had those feelings or wishing we didn't exist at all rather than continue the suffering. its such a strange feeling, i remember it from the time in highschool with my own identity and unrequited love along with awful relationships had me crying almost every night, wishing I'd simply stop existing. or now when i consider myself mostly happy, excited about things I'm doing and seeing, the loneliness and self doubt sometimes creeps in and i just cry and wonder if it wouldn't be better to simply disappear

[@NutWarking]

hi this is the best youtube video i watched this year, thank you

[@perrydunetz882]

Ironically nietche proposed nihilism to be argued, he didn’t actually believe it himself

[@dracodevil.]

Just finished EW. What a piece of art. A beautiful and tragic fable, a metaphor for life.

[@KriiiTravelNut]

This was such a beautiful video essay. Well thought out, and genuinely moving. Thank you for sharing your story as well. ♥

[@Beosker]

why you gotta make me cry

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

It's my job

[@Zyantastic]

I did not expect this video to be such a good watch! I was not mentally prepared for Endwalker. And have cried for days. a lot of the songs played still make me emotional when i come across them in the game. Especially Close in Distance is hard to listen to. It was such a good story and a beautiful ending. yet it felt soooo final. I grew very attached to my WoL and the Scions. I almost feel EW needs a trigger warning at certain story points. I love how the overall story of the game links back and relates to a lot of whats happening around us in the real world at the moment and humanity in and of itself. Square Enix did an amazing job on this. Thank you for this deep dive!

[@miguelnightingale2668]

28:42 Sounds like the average first-child experience.

[@TheKidThatWas]

Ive watched this twice, and will probably watch it more times. I love everything about this.

[@kreiveroriginal]

This was a great KZbin recommendation and it was a nice way to spend the time. I'm happy that you found this game when you needed it and that it helped you explore things. Good work on the video and good luck out there. Be safe,warrior of light

[@0g00n8]

My journey has been good. And it has been worthwhile. And it took me quite awhile for everything to sink in and break my tough facade. I had a long long time for myself, crying and reflecting on everything so far. Thank you for such a great video and thank you Final Fantasy XIV for this journey and forever more.

[@Laenthal]

Thank you.

[@SophieTeles]

this is AMAZING AND I ONLY FOUND IT NOW?? Really amazing work

[@karlklein2263]

Living an existence that is transient makes caring for one another all the more sacred.

[@adrianlynch8716]

I had to come back to write this a few days after I watched this video to fully encapsulate the feelings I have for it. The emotional toll it took on me to sit with your words, your writing, it needed to stew a bit and sit in the back of the fridge to really ruminate and come to it's final form; that being that this is quite possibly one of the most important videos I've ever seen in my life, and I thank you for making it. There's always a point I feel whenever I recommend people to play 14, where I go "the first part is a bit of a drag but it gets so good once you get into the swing of things" and honestly, due to this video, I'm going to go play ng+. I want to go through and see all the things I scoffed over at the start because I, too, had started playing at the top of the Covid outbreak. I wanted to go through and see the "cool stuff" that was at the end that I had heard a lot about (this being 5.2 content) and I had really glossed over the words of what had come before. It wasn't until at least level 40~ I had started to really pay attention to the story as a whole (solely due to one incredibly kind and absolutely precious Elezen man who has overtaken my heart and was the love of my WOL's life until plot happened at level 57). I want to go back now with the knowledge i have of the story, to really sit with the words and deeds that I may have unfortunately skimmed past to get to the "good part" missing the exposition of the history of this world I have fallen so deeply in love with. The emotions you convey, discussing the hopelessness, the horrors of your daily life, the fleeting connections you dealt with as time grew everlong and the world came crashing into its current state of "everything is fine" when it is quite literally not fine at all -- they deeply resonated on an almost cellular level, the great chasm of regret, of loss, bringing every emotion to the brink of what one could easily handle. We handled it. Did we win? Is this what winning looks like? I get sick so easily now because Covid has ruined my immune system. Am I winning? Did I beat it? Endwalker feels a lot like that. The world is permanently changed from the horrors of life, the nightmare of despair. The intense urge at the height of the pandemic for me to just, throw away everything and hide away forever, it was falling into this mentality of nihilism that you so succinctly described. But we got through it. We all, hell or high water, got through it. And we'll keep going through it no matter what things have thrown at us, because we're here and g-d damn it we're gonna fight this thing. My body is broken, the world of Etherys, the lands of Eorzea and beyond, are scarred. Both of us have to rebuild from the ground up to make life worth living again and that's what Endwalker is about, to me. And it helps that we both, myself and the lands of Eorzea, have such kind, considerate people to help do so. I met some of my closest friends playing 14, I bonded with people in a way I didn't know was possible, and they helped me get through this life when I was so, so, so ready to throw in the towel. I bonded with the love of my life playing 14, we're currently engaged and now that Dawntrail is out, their character is finally in their final form, as a big Hrothgar lady. We had to stick it out to see it to the end. Thank you for making me cry the biggest, ugliest, snottiest, most bitchiest of baby tears I have in a very, very long time. Fuck you for it also, but thank you.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

This quite literally brought me to tears, thank you so much. If there's one thing this video has done, it's prove to me that I was right to hope people would understand, and that I'm really not alone at all. So many people are right there with us. I'm glad you made it this far and that you're continuing on surrounded by so much love.

[@artemisjohns2209]

Thank you so much for sharing this. Your writing on despair really struck a chord with me, and whether I knew it or not, was what I really needed to hear. I promise that this is a compliment when I say that I write this while crying tears of catharsis that were a long time coming. Sometimes I need a bit of help remembering that despite everything, that my journey has been good. That it's been worthwhile. ❤

[@SuperSugar]

This is absolutely incredible. Such great points and well said/written! Sharing this with my FF discord groups.

[@vazazell5967]

People findng the idea of bodies being eaten is crazy

[@Cactuar001]

This is one of the best video essays I have ever listened to.

[@rampant1apart]

1:34:18 That callback. Oof. Ouch. My heart.

[@souls-of-mist]

I want to be like Matsya when I grow up.

[@SirSailorStar]

Awesome video 🎉 That was a very relaxing video with excellent coverage of the topics involved. Definitely has me excited to play the game in the future!

[@dragoon3266]

This video really hits on the reason why I dislike story skips, even though I understand their mechanical importance for existing. Endwalker’s message only hits as hard as it does for me because of the previous stories. In a sense, the struggle for meaning and purpose in a broken world has always been the thing the game explores. A Realm Reborn shows us a world that has survived the end, a world on the brink of disaster at every possible moment. The struggles for meaning and purpose are, quite literally, desperate struggles for survival. The banality of that task might seem incongruent with Final Fantasy, a series steeped in power fantasy, but making the player start from that low level gives us a very deep and intimate connection with those people who lives will one day rest in our hands. Even in Endwalker, when the fate of the universe is literally at stake, the game always takes time to slow down, bring you down to the level of mere mortal, and require of you to engage with your fellow man. To see what simple struggles give their lives meaning. Heavensward shows us a society that believes it has found the answer to what gives life meaning. The Ishgardian Orthodox Church is, in essence, a microcosm of those worlds Meteion found, where the people believed they found a preferential solution. And yet, Heavensward is committed to showing the flaws of the system, the way in which it rigidly polices the participants of the system, the way it fails those who slip through the cracks. The Brume stands as a living testament to the failures of Ishgardian society. Ultimately, Ishgard can only move forward when it comes to understand its true history, casts down the oppressive system, and allows all people a chance in deciding the way forward. Stormblood is in many ways quite similar to Heavensward in its connection to the theme. The Garleans represent an oppressive system that believes itself the preferential way to live life. All over the empire’s territories, we run into people who are failed by the system, people who have been broken by it into obedient husks, doing the system’s bidding out of fear of retribution or the malformed belief that doing what the system wants is the best a person can do. And yet, through uplifting one another, joining hand, and participating in a cause greater than oneself, that system can be overcome. It’s very similar to Heavensward as I said, but even more focused, because it narrows in on a few select characters (Fordola, Yotstuyu, etc.) through which to convey the message. If Stormblood is like Heavensward, then Shadowbringers is like A Realm Reborn. It again shows us a world that has seen the end, and asks how one can find meaning in the face of so much wanton death and destruction. Much like Stormblood, Shadowbringers narrows in on the story through the use of an important character: our main antagonist Emet Selch. Like the people of Norvrandt, Emet has drunk deep of calamity. Like them, he struggles to rebuild, to keep going. The depths of his despair in the face of the end of the world is such that he’s even given up on his own humanity, rejected empathy, and deluded himself into believing that the past he love is worth the lives of beings that he knows, deep down, he cares about. Like the Warrior of Light, Emet-Selch bears the weight of a world on his shoulders, but whereas the WoL has chosen to bear that responsibility judiciously, constantly showing empathy to others and helping them to uplift themselves, Emet has rejected everything. He believes that he alone knows the future of the Star, and that he will shape it by his hands. If Final Fantasy XIV has a point, I think it’s this. The world is full of suffering, always cruel, often pointless. Happiness is fleeting. But in the face of suffering, the answer is not to seek to eliminate it, nor to see to find a single answer that fits all. The answer is to uplift one another over and over again, to show each other compassion, and help every person find their own meaning. I think the quote from Alisaie when confronting the Endsinger summarizes it best, “No one is unbreakable. What pains one may weather may bring another to tears. But therein lies our strength, for when we fall our brothers and sisters are there to lift us up, again and again, without end.” That, to me, is what the game is about, and what Endwalker wants to convey.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Beautifully put, I couldn't have said it better myself

[@elenhin]

mosquitos may be a minor annoyance, I agree. People actually die from hornet stings though. Lovely vid.

[@theprideling]

Mosquitoes transmit deadly diseases too. They both have their place.

[@scarothgaming3]

A wonderful and thoughtful reckoning with endwalker

[@ponds812]

there is no clinmate crisis. If there was the rich wouldnt fly with there private jets or have mega yachts. therte is NO crisis. I LOVE meat

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Normal people: Hey what's up

[@ItzToF3rni]

How did I just found this video?! Great job on it, I was hooked the whole way 🤗

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

Thank you so much! I've been a bit disappointment with how little traction this vid got, but I'm happy anytime someone enjoys it, so thank you!

[@Cayenne_Flavorpacket]

endwalker changed me

[@chewbaccasinnerwookiee869]

Loved this... gonna go plagiarize the shit out of it... I KID I kid. ... Unless.....

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

lmao I have a guess about how you found this vid

[@ox5606]

thank you for telling your story

[@steakdriven]

Listen, lots of people are depressed but most of them don't try to destroy the world.

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

I'm married to Hermes so he gets the pass

[@javaclown]

listening to this at work and I was suddenly like, "HOMESTUCK?!" lmfao. beautifully written essay though!

[@javaclown]

whoever was performing was probably referencing undertale but, well... I read homestuck before I played undertale 😂

[@TheDigitalDreamClub]

@@javaclown That's the other owner of this channel, and we are both homestucks. We got a video about it, even

[@4mb127]

If hell on earth exists, so does also heaven. This you can not deny.

[@mcihay246]

A heaven on Earth, agreed. Earth or Life in general is not strictly one or the other.

[@gojirafan123]

"Hell is other people, but heaven is each other"

[@steakdriven]

Jullus' shock, disbelief, and sorrow when the cure for tempering was brought up reminded me of Dr McCoy and his father from Star Trek 5. Bones had to end his father's suffering by pulling the plug only for them to find "a cure, a god damned cure" just a few years later.

[@4mb127]

Great work.

[@AppleshyJedi]

Fantastic essay, the rare kind that makes me want to turn right back around and watch it all over again. I was hooked immediately and constantly struck by both your writing and your delivery. I especially wanted to say how much I appreciated the sharing of your personal stories both with the game and with life at that time. I'm reminded by your points at the end about Endwalker's relentless hope in the face of such despair of the ending lines of Revenge of the Sith's novelization: "The dark is generous and it is patient and it always wins - but in the heart of its strength lies its weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back. Love is more than a candle. Love can ignite the stars.”

[@MalahkAngel]

man that bit about RP forums made an AARP membership attach to my soul funny enough, I was a member of an FF themed forum that had RP way back in 2001 and reconnected with a bunch of those folks recently... and lo and behold a bunch of us play FFXIV together now XD

[@lordstrawberry6933]

Lovely video! I was initally deeply emotional over Endwalker, until I organised my thoughts a bit more and had my view soured by (my perceived view of) its take on suffering and pain as a a source of ultimately strength and growth. I have been in more than a few painful places in my life and none of them has made me feel stronger for overcoming them or pulling myself out of them, rather it made me relieved and hopeful for better in my future. In the present though, I don't believe this to be Endwalker's primary takeaway, a belief shared by you in your video and other excellent FFXIV video essays I've seen on the topic. I've come full circle in appreciating it all the more for acknowledging and giving credence to these ideas and showing examples of "answers to the question", even when they are flawed and incorrect sometimes.

[@Skitz470]

Well wasnt fully expecting all of this. Very well done!

[@alexfishing88]

Good job. Don't know what else to add.