FFXIV: 5.0 Finale Ending Reaction!

[@jessecox]

"take it..." never gets old. Every single time it's perfect.

[@MattBrain9336]

Agree, no matter how many times I watch someone else play it, I automatically remember my first play through First time I ever slammed by fists on my desk and screamed LETS FUCKING GO at 3am because of a video game

[@xenovus8282]

I feel that this game lets us enjoy it in two ways. Experiencing the story ourselves the first time, and seeing others go through the same experience.

[@xstreampunk7662]

What made it perfect for me is the accompanying song, it literally amplified the whole thing, more likely each part of the song matches the scene (if the auto play is used)

[@Enderlinkpawnu]

“Take it, we fight as one.” Sends shivers down the spine every time.

[@DemonFireRain]

Loved watching you play, Jesse. Been a fan for years. God, what a good game.

[@theeternalshade2981]

That final scene with Ardbert never fails to get me all choked up. They make it seem like he's finally getting his hero's welcome after a century of bitter scorn. But it's really just his friends, the people he missed more than anything, welcoming him home.

[@SergeofBIBEK]

Not only that, but he redeemed them. He put right their mistakes. His axe is clean and they are warriors of light once again.

[@ApexGale]

remember what he said during the HW patch quests? they were just adventurers trying to make their way. an odd job here, a favor there - they never wanted or intended to be heroes. so of course at the end of it all, all he wanted was to be an adventurer again.

[@rumasai]

​@@ApexGale ... Holy crap, I never thought about that. Thanks for giving me a reason to love this more than I already did.

[@SpartanMK5]

​@@ApexGaleand now Ardbert boy can join us in our new adventure.

[@specialnewb9821]

Duty Finder being canon is still genius. Also I feel like Emet's reaction shows he knows very well that what he is doing is wrong AND that Azem would do exactly what WoL is doing to stop him.

[@kumomeme7852]

deepn inside he actually hoped his friend to stop him.

[@NERIFES88]

To be fair, Duty Finder has always been mostly "canon." Lots of quests that open up dungeons--at least during 2.0 especially--speak of "gathering your adventurer friends."

[@TheBlackSage7]

@@NERIFES88 as far as dungeons go that's true but as far as slaying primal and such the WoL would do that solo to spare their allies the possibility of becoming tempered.

[@manip1980]

@@TheBlackSage7 even the trials. I specifically remember Susano. I think it was alisaie?? that would tell you to gather your adventurer friends to face this primal. It's canon.

[@ApexGale]

Emet knew since the beginning that you were sharing Azem's soul. But he also realized that unlike others who shared souls, the WoL's personality is extremely similar to Azem. Something about them, an incomplete being, has somehow retained that personality even across millenia. Something that the "perfect" beings Lahabrea and Elidibus completely failed at. This is why he was so persistent on trying to sway them to his side. He saw Azem in them and wanted that back.

[@ecyor0]

So many small touches that elevate this entire sequence. For ages I couldn't figure out why Emet-Selch looked almost like a different character in that final post-battle scene, and then someone pointed it out to me: He's standing up straight. The entire time we've known him, he's had a stooped, hunched posture, as if weary and physically burdened. And now, for the first time, that weight is lifted and he stands tall again.

[@etowngftddummy]

As the song plays, "Stand taaaaallll my friend."

[@ericbright1742]

What is happening? Well, you're in an illusion, in an illusion, in a bubble, on the bottom of the ocean, on another plane of existence. Where the hell can reinforcements come from? That's the answer: You summon them in, from any world, any heroes who will answer your call. In other words, the Duty Finder becomes Canon.

[@vaidenkelsier7757]

I love watching people experience the EMOTIONAL DAMAGE that is Shadowbringers. :) Great playthrough, I need to watch more of yours. :)

[@diersteinjulien6773]

Onward to EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 5.3 and 6.0 now :p

[@Kanamon22]

That's the thing... you can never experience the same emotion you felt during the end of SB, the trials of SB (the end hits like a truck), 5.3 and the whole Endwalker. I wish i could erase those memories so i can enjoy them one more time but it's imposible, so watching others experience that never gets old

[@fionamb83]

No joke I think it's desensitised me to everything else. Because people were like "I was crying so much at the end of Endwalker" and I was like, I was a bit emotional but I needed fucking therapy after shadowbringers.

[@robikkupegasus7039]

Emet...is a tragic, tired and frustrated character - I had nothing but a sad respect for him, but couldn't condone his methods - even if some part of me felt he had some manner of a point deeply rooted in his jaded and tired spirit. 5.0 broke many of us...but we loved every moment of it. May Ardbert Rest in peace as he deserves!

[@katomamundara8106]

And what future patches teach us about him and his friends just makes him more tragic, considering how he acts.

[@Hammer1987]

Yeah, what we learn about him in Endwalker really twists the knife. Man just wanted his friends back.

[@danh8804]

Nice, heartfelt run. Seeing Ardbert rejoining "his" Scions, his family, is a good moment. I could watch the pre-trial cutscene a hundred times and not get tired of it

[@shd_samurai9676]

Hades: *throws 12 thousand year long temper tantrum* Azem: I'm going to do what's called a 'pro gamer move'.

[@stavi82]

"Champions from beyond the rift, heed my call!" And the duty finder became canon.

[@myfyp2]

The part where Ardbert, now clean and happy, walking back to join his friends always get me.

[@ariaminamoto5087]

That "dude, you look like shit" had the same energy as a best friend looking at their best buddy after a long and awesome trip. I loved it.

[@Koranthus]

I think its a lot sadder when you realize that Emet is actually fighting one of his best friends' shattered soul pieces.

[@SpartanMK5]

Left with no other recourse, this was his Answer.

[@MinhNguyen-vq9ry]

Jay doesn’t speak much during cutscenes but his facial expressions are priceless Keep being amazing dude

[@kumomeme7852]

haha his shocking eye is something!

[@guitalex2005]

51:08 "The glory of the heavens was ever beyond the grasp of those who never thought to reach for it. But if I've gained anything from all of this, it is the courage to stretch out my hand." This is single-handedly my favorite quote of probably anything, ever.

[@henrikvig6234]

reminds me abit of: "It is better, I think, to grab at the stars than to sit flustered because you know you cannot reach them. At least he who reaches will get a good stretch, a good view, and perhaps even a low-hanging apple for his efforts." From the Forgotten Realms books.

[@SlackersForHire]

There are a only a handful of things in media that give me goosebumps every single time I experience it, and this finale is one of them.

[@seekittycat]

I always ugly cry when he's finally with his friends again T_T

[@yestle7868]

can't wait to see your reactions for 5.3 storyline :)

[@Kanamon22]

Shadowbringers is one hell of a journey and a video game never broke me so bad to the point of ugly crying with Emet farewell at the end and Ardbert for the whole expansion, especially at the end reuniting with his friends... that was so powerful and i can't remember a game that did this to me. You still have the patches, and well.... you still have a long road ahead

[@Chrisfragger1]

Emet is right up there with Darth FUCKING Vader as a good antagonist in my book. I've never seen a game specific antagonist come even close....

[@Chrisfragger1]

You CUT your reaction to the last part of Aumeraut? WOW.... Kinda makes me not want to watch any further.

[@Azmodian]

It's so weird. I didn't even come close to crying on my own playthrough of the game, but I've watched many streamers go through some of the hardest hitting scenes and it always conjures some level of tears on the re-watch.

[@cameo_bitpart5324]

I love watching reactions like this, it allows me to relive such great, emotional moments the same as the first play through once more.

[@WalkerRileyMC]

The Crystal Exarch uses Phone a Friend, it's super effective.

[@GimmeTOKYO]

Man I wish I could give you the biggest hug man. I reacted the same way. I was ugly crying the entire time.

[@MrKevlarkent]

stand tall, my friend

[@Farniro]

Loved your reaction to this Jay. it's such an incredible moment in FFXIV and I was the same! There's so much emotion going on ^^

[@ricardolopes3202]

for me this game has the best story line, impressive how they added DLC's without spoiling the story line great job by Square INX and everyone involved in creating the story line.

[@garethrogue]

It's impossible to believe, but somehow Endwalker smokes even this. Shadowbringers was a perfect 10/10 masterpiece, and yet Endwalker is above even that.

[@novasiri7809]

And you still have more of Feelsbringers to go, then onward.. TO TEARSWALKER!

[@obviouslykaleb7998]

Shadowfeeler and endsobber

[@Piretfreak87]

You know a story is damn good when grown men and women are starting to cry like babies. And whenever I watch a video of someone playing the end of Shadowbringers they all cry at some point! Me included of course.

[@Null_Experis]

Every time I see someone get past this story point I say this: Hades Shattered the Auracite BEFORE it could trap him. He was NOT trapped when you killed him, and could have retreated to the rift like any other Ascian. He chose to NOT do this and accepted your victory. You passed his test.

[@TheoVorster]

I am pretty sure the Auracite had still be binding/sealing his essence for long enough though that by the time Hades ripped out the last big piece, Hades could no longer escape to the void/Rift. As it’s important to remember the Auracite itself isn’t what destroys an Ascian, the “blade of light”/energy is what does, the Auracite is just a binding/trapping agent. The Auracite shard item description from Hades Extreme also states that Hades was sealed too: “A small chip of the auracite in which Hades was sealed. May you keep it close, and ever remember.”

[@Null_Experis]

@@TheoVorster Spoilers: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1) Extremes are not cannon. 2) The entire point of the sealing is to prevent their essence from retreating to the void. This can happen AFTER death, remember the Sahagin with Echo? 3) If the auracite was removed, it's not sealing them, they can flee at any time. Moenbryda was clear about this. 4) Destroying the body of an Ascian does nothing unless you prevent them from fleeing or they chose not to flee. See Thordan vs Lahabrea. 5) Emet Selch himself confirms this himself in 6.0. He willingly left his legacy to you and says "As a show of respect to the last of us…" showing he has accepted you as an equal.

[@TheoVorster]

@@Null_Experis Extremes may not be canon, but they can inform about the canon. Also after the second phase of the Hades fight, his physical body was already gone, the Hades fight phase transition is literally him shedding "his vessel of flesh". After phase 1 of the Hades fight, Hades’ very soul/essence was being fought. Thus the Scions and WoL weren't attacking/destroying any during the climax of 6.0, they were directly attacking Hades soul/essence. And Hades was bound/trapped long enough for his soul to be permanently-fatally damaged. By the time Hades ripped out the last shard of auracite he had already been weakened significantly by the Scions' aether/"blades of light" and literally did not have enough time (not being an instantaneous process, there’s some delay/conscious intent required) to retreat to the aetherial rift (and was also likely too weakened to be able to even do so). Thus the WoL's final attack was able to connect and finish off Hades, despite the last bits of Auracite being torn out. Once an Ascian’s soul has been directly damaged enough, they can't "retreat" anymore. Hence the hole we put in Hades was through his literal soul not his mortal body. Which is consistent with other overlord/red-masked Ascians who had been perma-killed without white auracite, like Loghrif and Emmerololth for example. And Emet-Selch's dialogue in 6.0 is talking about him leaving his legacy in general to the WoL, he isn't saying he lost on purpose during the fight in ShadowBringers.

[@Null_Experis]

@@TheoVorster The scions never struck him with the blade of light before he removed the auracite. They were gathering Aether for the WoL to MAKE one. You should replay the 2.X story and refresh yourself on how white auracite works. He wasn't being contained by it at all at the end, and it hadn't done any appreciable damage to him because he shattered it, returning any trapped essence to himself. There is also no "delay" required to return to the void, every other ascian does this without issue no matter who kills them. Read Tales from the Shadow. Death means nothing to an ascian. Also, if Emet Selch was TRUELY trapped and destroyed, you wouldn't have been able to summon him with Creation Magics. He willingly dispersed his soul to the lifestream.

[@TheoVorster]

@@Null_Experis I have recently rewatched the 2.x cutscenes, and I realize I shouldn't have referred to the Scions attacks as being "blades of light" in their own right, but they also weren't gathering aether for the WoL to make one either, they were still using their aether to offensively damage Hades in the form of empowering the white auracite shards (the white auracite was already being used in an unconventional matter to begin with, what with Thancred shattering it into multiple shards/spears). They were essentially sending their aether to "stake" Hades and bind him long enough for the WoL to hit them with the blade of light that was in the form of Ardbert's axe. And I have read the Tales from the Shadow, and there is delay before an Ascian retreats to the Rift, now to be clear it is just a delay of a few seconds, but that's all the WoL needed to strike Hades with their blade of light. Now, I don't doubt Hades' rage and pride were also contributing factors to rushing to face the WoL head on after he succeeded in pulling out the last white auracite stake/shard, but the Scions efforts of binding Hades were also undeniably also significant factors in weakening Hades and had contributed to him not immediately being able to retreat to the Rift. Also Emet-Selch was truly destroyed/killed by the WoL, and doing so is what caused his soul to be sent to the Lifestream/Aetherial Sea in the first place (which is where he was summoned from it). Ardbert had done the same previously with Loghrif/Gaia, with his blade of light killing/destroying Loghrif (and mutating Mitron/Artemis into Eden) and sending her to the the Lifestream to be reincarnated as Gaia. Now Emet-Selch had definitely accepted his defeat/death after being hit with the WoL's blade of light, but he was definitely defeated in a way that he couldn't heal his soul/retreat anymore, he got sent to the Lifestream whether he wanted to or not.

[@StarkKarstVT]

I just recently got thru this part and my goodness did it hit me HARD in my feelings and blew my mind~! My friends have been ahead of me so I'm catching up and they warned me I was in for an incredible ride and they weren't lying.

[@riftwalker9296]

One neat little touch is that Emet says "Let us cast aside title and pretense" and he's the only boss where it's just his name "Hades" without any other titles.

[@kpenn100]

when i finished shadowbringers i simply typed to my FC chat " this is the greatest video game i have ever played". and it is.

[@PogausorusRex]

Glad you're enjoying the game so much. And yeah Ardbert being able to make a difference in the end when he was so powerless in Lakeland was... a very big hit :D Take care and hope you enjoy 6.1 forward too.

[@pennythejet]

I played through this for the first time last weekend. So many goosebump moments. From Ardbert to the beginning of the trial seeing the other Champions enter through the columns of light. I'm creating a new character to get to this point again so maybe I can reenact my first playthrough.

[@itsyaboiherman]

Man....endwalker is gonna take my man's soul....

[@tickledpickle5671]

I imagine being married to Dulia is like being married to a *really* bad chiropractor.

[@PetarBladeStrok]

Ardbert is one of my favorites. The part that broke me most though is Emet. Such a tragic character...

[@yorha42s]

You may have averted the rejoining... but there are still many matters to deal with in this refletion. The journey hasn't ended, it has just began.

[@yatohex2939]

freakin good expansion

[@Bokugo1]

Nice seeing all of the bigger streamer emotes in all these other streamers chats. Community is addicted to these reactions lol Plus a metric shit ton of shared love. Also this mans gunna need a bigger tissue box. Ishikawa will get her tears.

[@DehydratedHumor]

I will never get tired of watching people go through this content for the first time.

[@Baal93Ash]

29:30 heartbreaking.... Fok this i did 4 times the MSQ and i cry again because of you >

[@Froggsroxx]

No matter how many times I see this, it's never not intense

[@chrisashley5206]

Ardbert is amazing. I love him. He is now part of is forever.

[@wontononionslicer1004]

man...5.3 is going to be a huge huge emotional damage to him.....

[@Daecoth]

Congrats! NOW FORGE AHEAD!!!

[@Cheedynamic]

Dude, Male Rogas are stonken awesome. XD Seeing yours makes me want one, alas ;

[@tomh6671]

What an incredible journey it was! So much more to see. So much more. ;)

[@kippert1987]

I feel you, brother

[@Phyrefly6]

I didn't think that any of the scions were killed in the pre-Hades fight confronting, but I for sure thought Ryne was toast with the way she got hit and went down.

[@Reycied]

Your face when Ryne gets shot by Emet should be a FFXIV meme. There are SO many "WTF JUST HAPPENED?!" moments, especially in Endwalker. :D

[@christiansolid1098]

5.0 broke most of us for sure ..even tho Emet had some weird ways of doing things I COMPLETELY understood WHY he did it ..BEST VILAIN/FRIEND ever...and ofcourse Ardbert 💪😭

[@brokye]

Cool Sephiroth callback with the walking into fire bit. =]

[@wstone2010]

Captions caught Ardbert as hard bird and I fucking laughed so hard lol

[@nlgarmdevil4411]

The best is yet to come :)

[@henryshin6187]

I seriously cannot come any reasonable conclusion trying to understand my behavior as of late. Maybe you fellow FFXIV veterans have experienced this as well. You know of what I speak of, the involuntary "click" whilst hovering over the thumbnails on a reaction content. Containing within, the many emotional moments throughout your FFXIV journey, triggering a memory that tugs your heartstrings. Perhaps it is because you wish to watch the amazing story cutscenes once again, perhaps a it is a form of addiction, or perhaps... it is because we have all reacted the same exact way. So I think I speak for all of us when I say.... GOTTEM!!! - also a big fan of your covers Jay, thank you!

[@dnmaster99]

The answer to that is both simple, and not at the same time. Since FF14 is a story-driven game, those are the moments we remember. The ones we want to share, relive, discuss and feel. This is why, when a new player comes in, chat is innundated with :) emotes from the watchers as the streamer progresses through. We know the payoff, and want to experience it again through someone else. I also believe there's some form of "confirmation bias" going on, where we sympathise more deeply with someone who experiences those scenes the same way we did, or someone who noticed that detail hidden in plain sight (like Urianger washing up at the end) that we thought was funny or clever. Perhaps we also want to confirm some suspicions we had about where the story is going, or just talk about who our favorite characters are. Thing is, once you've experienced it, and had time to process it, you are there... Just waiting for the next patch... So, instead of waiting, we do other things. Such as reexperience the story through a fresh pair of eyes. That's my best guess, though. Hope this helps, and sorry for the long text.

[@henryshin6187]

@@dnmaster99 i can confirm the confirmation bias LOL

[@ogrimbothesour2976]

watching people react to key moments of the story is a drug i swear

[@diamonds_13]

WHY AM I CRYING AGAIN

[@evilgibson]

You know, never noticed that they don't upscale the axe to fit Rog characters. It **is** really Ardbert's axe.

[@ApexGale]

They don't downscale it for the Lalafells either

[@tc-tm1my]

took me a second to realize you were doing the VA for the unspoken dialogue lol

[@Z4gle]

We love a good facial journey

[@SUPERSONICGIRLIFY]

Emet-Selch, his title. Hades, his true name. What a finale, am I right?

[@kumomeme7852]

no it is otherway around. hades is a title.

[@characterlimit12345]

@@kumomeme7852 No, he got it right. He wears the title of Emet-Selch of the Convocation of 14, but his true name is in fact Hades.

[@fargonthebrave]

so many people miss him in the corner

[@yzzy8422]

this best game ever created❤

[@yusuke6217]

I just found your channel and man I enjoy this intro lol

[@TironaBloodspiller]

30:12 The exact moment where your heart breaks and want to reverse time and take back what you did.

[@KasperCoei]

Ah, damn... It starts in Aumorat. I was hoping to see your reaction to when the scions first see it. It's sure to be an excellent watch regardless, though! Edit: "It's-- the Ardbert part. The Ardbert part got me, guys" As any good twitch chatter who's ahead of the streamer would say... :)

[@wingedparagon4448]

Have fun with 5.3! :D

[@rosieweaselby]

I cry every time I watch it. Also, man you are a really good VA???

[@ice-manjyu-umai]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎉

[@LadyShoko101]

i just finished shadowbringers a few days ago and it was so fucking cool and im just sitting here now like idk how they're gonna top the hades fight

[@waltwhite8126]

You know the bast part? it's not even over yet, he has 5.3 and 6.0 yet :P

[@mjs3188]

Hey, boss. Do you upload your VODs anywhere?

[@TheZenaku69]

a little late now, but Hades is a super boss from FF9.

[@Baal93Ash]

hmmm the good and tasty EN voice of Feo Ul....

[@zirilan3398]

This man is not prepared for 5.3 nor Wherlyt

[@austinblades8903]

Really excited for when you reach 5.3. If you though 5.0 was emotional, just you wait...

[@ye9945]

who asked

[@Baal93Ash]

Emet didn't deserve to die T_T

[@andreykabakremix]

17:57

[@1LuvMLPFiM]

ARDBRO!!

[@Oliver_Nexus]

very kupo!

[@3ps3ab]

This is thancard

[@beaglebeagle8094]

Good thing he reacted emotionally so he wasn't bullied in chat like Nobble was LMAO.

[@rajabuta]

What the hell is going on? He's queueing on DF 🤣

[@akinasgreatest01]

When u realize what emit lost in endwalker. He did nothing wrong.