Ending It - Does Endwalker Live Up to the Hype? | MSQ&A with Jesse Cox

On this first episode of MSQ&A, streamer and KZbinr Jesse Cox joins for a spoiler-filled talk about the end of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. What the first complete narrative arc of FFXIV means to him. And what it was like for Garrett and Kyle to finally see the end after two and a half years of streaming the game and making videos about it on KZbin.
Val & Tuna thumbnail art by Japhers: / japhers
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[@jessecox]

2 hours?! Daaayum

[@KMCA779]

Whose fault is that Jesse? The people demand someone be held accountable and I accuse... oh, them... right. Good job in the interviews of them by the way.

[@weedgoku69]

hey just a side note, they did include mankrik's wife, decimator olgra, in shadowlands! but they didn't really do anything with her or most of the other characters, so your point still stands

[@tcerathi]

worth it

[@aeolussvichi7680]

I think people misunderstand your comment. I believe there surprised it’s ONLY 2 hours. Makes me wonder what and how much was edited out 🤔

[@prviewer1]

@jessecox You should also follow a new ffxiv player, Koefficient ( twitch - /koefficient) he’s playing HW and he’s invested into the story… basically a new one of us. Give Koe some love.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Ya this was truly a profound experience for me. Glad I got to meet you guys along the way.

[@keito204]

MARCO?? ;O dunno why surprised to see you here too, ya big ffxiv nerd. Anyways hello, love ya channel too! Btw still asking for Stella Glow soundtrack something something cough cough. Song of the Moon a very unique one.

[@chaospudding]

​@@CasuallyEfficientwhat the fuck bro

[@melissas4874]

@@CasuallyEfficientAre you okay? Also, Marco does play games on Twitch. LOL

[@burtwonk]

Love you Marco!

[@Tobeh]

@@CasuallyEfficientI’ve scrolled through thousands of comments, searched the replies, combed through decades of dead threads and yet I still can’t find who the fuck asked

[@ericbright1742]

50:27 I like to think that this is the moment where Zenos finally discovers the RPG staple of "If I help you finish your chores, will you give me what I want?"

[@seekittycat]

When PVP/raider discovers to unlock the PVE raid you need to sit through the MSQ.

[@AlleluiaElizabeth]

That makes us the quest giver, here? XD God he truly was a PC stand in.

[@keithfilibeck2390]

"The joy you have known, the pain you have felt, the prayers you have whispered and answered--they shall ever be your strength and your comfort." The Crystal Exarch.

[@LILTRACUZ514]

Thanks for reminding me of this line fellow WoL

[@skaldi8347]

I really hope Grinding Gear takes its place as one of the flagship streams in the FF14 community. You deserve a spot and reputation as mainstays among those who are synonymous with the game!

[@k2k4]

I don't think the final stream could have gone better. Y'all got emotional, fawned over the final zone, reveled in the music changing, and got the big finale with so many excited followers. I truly appreciate your run through the msq at the pace you did it because you showed me all the bits I speed-read the first run through and other things I forgot. Thanks!

[@adelinefae]

Agreed The GG guys helped me find some new things out of the story I missed! New ways of looking at things etc. I liked the thoughts around why each Scion was taken at each moment especially

[@pedroscoponi4905]

The community too, man. People gave them just the right amount of space as they asked, without completely depriving them of the social experience either. It was super duper considerate.

[@dojelnotmyrealname4018]

I can think of one thing. Which is telling Zenos to sod off and get a life.

[@Yvanne]

GG, y'all are my definitive FFXIV streamers now. I've gone through the ringer - Pyro, Xeno, Zepla, watched all the various MSQ streamers come and leave the game, etc. But what you have crafted here is truly something special. Your format and approach to content is methodical, sequenced and paced just right (kind of like the patches themselves) and, in a bit of nice timing and coincidence - lines up right with the release of Dawntrail. You take an interest in the story, raids, and community aspects of the game - as well as the chiller and more optional stuff. IMO you guys serve the definitive FFXIV 'content' experience that showcases all aspects of the game (hoping for Savage and *maybe* Ultimate soon!!) Been such a great, drama free journey, and you two deserve everything good that has come your way recently. It's so easy to get what Jesse sees in you. Just two genuine dudes havin fun and loving a game and it's story/mechanics. I thought I'd be sad about 6.0 being over, but I'm far from it. I can't wait for you guys to continue your journey. ❤

[@idowhatiwant3557]

Everyone comes and goes from FFXIV, the games director has only spouted to go play other games since 2.0 and it's designed to keep you uninterested for months.

[@katarh]

@@idowhatiwant3557 XIV gives you plenty of other things to do that aren't MSQ, but even the dedicated completionists in the achievement race get burned out and want to go do other things sometimes. And that's okay! The MSQ Vampires will go follow other streamers for their fix, and the genuine fans in the community will stick around to watch them play Lethal Company or Helldivers in the meantime.

[@lotus_rouge]

This production value is PEAK, giving the Jesse grill the full editing treatment was such a good call. I saw the full original stream but this feels like its own thing, like I'm watching something new

[@KhallStream]

Also, love how Zenos took Alisae’s words to heart. Go back to that scene in Garlamald and then the sort of change to his approach by the end.

[@Spookybluelights]

The thing about Endwalker that I find the most interesting is that nobody seems to cry at the things you would expect them to cry at. It seems different and personal for everyone which I think is an incredibly rare and wonderful thing a story that a huge group of people experience can accomplish. Like, for me the things that made me cry was Masuya reciting his teachings while running away with the baby and the very last line of "The Walk." Hearing Ardbert's "Let's end this." at the very end just totally sent me into a fit of sobbing.

[@jtspender]

Seriously. Legit the thing that made me cry the hardest in EW was the scene early on when you're about to leave Thavnair with the warding scales, and Nidhana shows up and is just so incredibly happy that her work was actually going to make a difference. I think after all of the people being recognized for their heroics, this moment of recognition for someone who isn't a fighter but who has just put in a huge amount of effort trying to find a way to put their skills to use to make a difference in people's lives just kind of wrecked me. Also, it was a female scientist "of color" and I know how long and hard women and especially women of color and especially especially women of color in science have worked to try and make a difference, with little respect to show for it. I was just like, yes, all of this.

[@idowhatiwant3557]

@@jtspender Some people reach a lot to make themselves emotional. There is not much in FFXIV's story that honestly bears that much emotional weight for this many people to be crying over this story. Their are heavy moments sure, but not nearly heavy enough to garner that much emotion.

[@anaalvensleben789]

@@idowhatiwant3557 Is there a reason why you feel the need to dismiss emotional reactions by saying they are forcing it?

[@idowhatiwant3557]

@@anaalvensleben789 This person just compared a anthropomorphic elephant to a person of color, and you are asking me why I am dismissing a emotional reaction and saying it is forced.

[@mcihay246]

@@idowhatiwant3557 You seem to lack empathy, and not understanding those that do and assume it to be "forced". Meet a wide arrange of people, and maybe you'll understand then. It matters not if they're an anthropomorphic elephant, they're a person with feelings and aspirations.

[@42tsyde]

Jesse hit the nail on the head. The reason I followed you guys and watched the streams was because it was like nobody else. I enjoyed how you took your time, talked about each section, and thoroughly appreciated the game as a game and took your time with the experience.

[@skilde]

Excuse me this thumbnail? It's amazing!

[@darkedge221]

The part of Emet telling you places where to adventure made me sob harder than I already was at that time. It didn't hit me that time that it was an advertisement for future expansions. I interpreted it as him seeing us feeling sad about another parting and trying to comfort us as how maybe he thinks Azem would be comforted, kindling back your fiery sense of adventuring. And that last line, "I certainly did" just KO'ed me. The implication that because he held the crystal of Azem he journeyed everywhere in his/her memory...it destroyed me. He wanted you to continue being an Azem, being...you, good hearted adventurer. And in your journey, you will remember him again when you step to the places he told you to visit. And that's the final legacy, he will leave you. And it doesn't help that the last shot of him smiling mirrored the one where he told you, "Remember us, remember that we once lived." *sigh* Oh Emet-Selch...what a tragic character you are.

[@sweetpanic705]

Thank you for sharing! I had the same experience. No thought of expansion advertisement. Just my favorite character urging me to keep living and exploring.

[@Nidrog]

53:02 I was very much in the "Man I hate Zenos. He should have stayed dead" Camp. I was that way up until he called me an adventurer at the very end. And that just flipped a SWITCH in me. Like. I went from hating this man to being like. "Nah this man is my best friend and we're gonna fight to the death because he wants it AND because he knows WHO I am!" His reaction to Meteon was like. "Urgh thats a funny reaction but fine. I'll leave you for later!" And now it makes me adore him more!

[@melissas4874]

I hate Zenos still, but from the moon on I was like "he's still here for a reason" and all through UT I was waiting for him to show up to help us. So while I didn't like the end fight or that, I was hoping for him to at least help us and not just be an extra fight, so that did pay off for me either way.

[@Nidrog]

@@melissas4874 Yeah that's fair. For me, I think the main reason why my view on Zenos changed is how he understood me? Like I'm a fight junkie. I love raiding even if I'm bad at times. I love all that. But I also just LOVE FF14's story overall. So for him to call me something I haven't been for... A decade almost. I started in like 2.3ish. I've been a Warrior of Light for so long in FF14 that being an adventurer seems like such a dream from so long ago. But him calling me that just... Clicked something in me that changed him for me personally. The talk after the fight too just hit me in the feels in all the right ways too.

[@briancroyle9388]

Still very much in the I hate Zenos camp. His presence in the ending really ruined Endwalker for me because he didn't belong there and took attention away from the Scions. No matter which option you pick your character is smiling when he jumps on his back which wasn't how I felt. I wanted nothing more than turn my back on him and tell him to go touch grass because his little obsession is pathetic but the game makes me fight him and act like I care. It just sucks because the game was doing so well and then he just Kool aid man's through the wall at the last minute having done jack all, like no one invited you man.

[@ouromov2895]

I still think he was story leftovers that was there because some fans liked him and they needed a reason to not make Garlemald expansion a thing. He was a wet rag storywise and made the ending worse. He felt like he didnt belong there.

[@katarh]

I dislike him as a person and I love him as a character and getting to punch him was SO DAMN SATISFYING YES

[@beatrixkaelin5120]

There is a part of the Emet speech that is such a subtle hit that I don't think people notice on their first viewing of it (I assume everyone turns into emotional vampires after this point and will thus see it a second or more times). Is that if you didn't catch it, -he- was the original bearer of Azem's Crystal. The crystals were made by the Ascians to help remember their cause and uplift their sundered brothers. The Azem crystal was made in secret, and Emet carried it around with him showing Azem the new world.

[@Kasaaz]

A funny thing for me on the last zone; When G'raha sacrifices himself the thing I felt most was relief, because until that moment, for maybe the 20 minutes before, I was convinced they might really have killed everyone off. Why? Because at first I told myself that they couldn't get rid of the Scions because I had to do a Dungeon still and the Trust system exists. But then as they widdled down the members, and I realized it was me, the Twins and G'raha, I realized that combination could make a dungeon party regardless of the player's job. Somehow that convinced me they might really go through with it. But then when G'raha went, I realized, "Okay, well now they have to come back." and felt relief.

[@furanpyon]

I had the same thought process about needing the trusts for the dungeon, but I started doubting their deaths already after Estinien because I'm a child of the 80's so I witnessed both Saint Seiya and Sailor Moon, and their sacrifices felt very reversible in that perspective 😂 I literally was like: "they are pulling a saint seiya on me, lmaaaooo"

[@knicknevin9975]

The point that broke me hit a lot earlier. When you come face to face with Hydaelyn, and she challenges you to prove your worth, and the new rendition of Answers rolls in. Even without knowing the title of the song was literally 'Your Answer', I knew that's what it meant, and everything came crashing down all at once- the entire journey from 1.0 to then, and that was when it finally connected that it was all coming to an end.

[@dancingzombie2]

honestly why I love grinding gear, you dont blow through the content and you take your time analyzing the story so far. It's always a treat watching the discussion videos every week

[@Alissandre_Iskander]

The energy that vibrated through the community in this last stretch of the main expansion of the story was so high and it was an absolute joy to be part of that. You guys and this community... I've never been part of anything like it, when it comes to gaming. Thank you for creating this wonderful space and thank you for letting us take part in following your journey through this beautiful story and I'm excited to see what comes next!

[@msaag5490]

God I love this podcast. I felt for Garrett in the beginning talking about media that has disappointed. We have our own version of "Game of Thrones" in our lives. It's not that we wanted to hate it, we just couldn't help but be disillusioned that this piece of media that gripped my soul is now floundering and rotting right before me. And I really felt that Mass Effect 2 story from Kyle. That is some of the realest emotions I think a guy can go through and would never ever have the stones to actually admit that in public. Maybe it would be told as a quick one off story laced with deprecating humor, but not like this, not like how Kyle did it with all the vulnerability and emotion it came with.

[@seekittycat]

GoT is always striking to me because it felt like one day everyone like the series and the next nobody talks about it anymore. It's like it's got deleted from the collective consciousness.

[@iantaakalla8180]

The funny thing is, the A Song of Ice and Fire series is worth talking about. But it’s incomplete status and the shiftiness of GoT’s ending and in general anything beyond Season 4 or whatever has consigned it to trash. At this point, FFXIV is literally the only grand adventure that has delivered, and considering the state of the world today, it will be the last grand story told that is hopeful and hype-deserved and satisfying and does not cynically cash into trends.

[@msaag5490]

@@iantaakalla8180 I can think of two properties who can potentially match their own hype and deliver. One Piece and the Kiseki games. Granted both haven't finished, but I think those two are some of the best grand storytelling series I've seen.

[@oncesanora]

I played and beat ff14 on patch since 2.4. Watching you two play was almost like me forgetting the entire game and experiencing it again for the first time. Looking forward to the post patch content from yall.

[@MeSharkk]

You three are the best and honestly an incredible representation of the FF14 community. You show that you can make great content without having to rely solely on farming "drama". Keep up the great work gents and Forge Ahead

[@NakuruKouChannel]

the 7+ hours that went into the rendering of Jesse and Garrett's HD captures was worth it, the video looks amazing! great job 🙏 thank you for the content as always, hope you guys get on the media tour because the interviews/talks coming out after endwalker has been amazing

[@NakuruKouChannel]

WAIT, G4? THE G4? THE G4 WITH THE TOMMY TALLARICO?

[@Final.Family]

@@NakuruKouChannel i hear his mother is very proud.

[@nslater1388]

Yours is a journey I have closely followed with joy and eager anticipation at each step, seeing a hesitant hope that this world of XIV just might be something special grow into complete immersion. It was a blast. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

[@strawberryastronaut]

10/10 thumbnail for a 10/10 bromance ❤ Congrats on ending Endwalker and congrats to Jesse for maintaining his poker face this whole time!

[@Jacqli-Rivoli]

It was an honor to follow you guys throughout your entire journey from the very beginning.

[@RaikaMaelyn]

I've been playing this game since ARR. I have been watching streams of XIV players for a long time. I can without a doubt say that your playthrough of this story was my favorite experience to watch. I'm usually a lurker and don't comment in general but want to thank you for getting this far. I've been hiding and lurking since your HW streams, the character growth between you two through your XIV history has been amazing. You two compliment each other well in content. To also showcase two close friends playing this game together, thank you for sharing your journey with us. Back to the shadows with me ~

[@Boreas4]

What got me was the Hermes voice line and with it ending with the "I will gift you a beautiful flower." was just a punch to me... fuck me this game is so good.

[@DrazzyDrazzan]

Thank you for allowing me to re-live them Endwalker memories once again. It never fails to hit.

[@AuspexAO]

The stupid Emet scene with the future expansions got me too. It’s because it reminds me of the “Tears in rain” speech in Bladerunner. All these cool places Emet has scene and now he’s gone and we have to go make our own memories.

[@paiz3505]

This is like the perfect FFXIV podcast, great editing, various topics to discuss without getting boring and just overall comfy to listen while feeling really genuine and not overdone in the FEELS territory. Emotional retrospective while having moments of levity, its got it all! Thanks for the great vid.

[@seekittycat]

For me the whole end zone of Endwalker felt like a dev holding my hand and going "There there gamer, it's going to be ok. Endings don't have to be so sad, we'll still be here." It was a very gentle ending even with all the BIG FAT TACOS and as a player I deeply appreciate it. YoshiP mentioned many times how he doesn't want people to become one-game Andys, and it really shows when characters talk about their joy and curiousity of exploration. Afterall we are gamers, so let's go explore with delight.

[@chiekokurokumo]

Like Jesse, I played EW during Covid. I played through Christmas Eve. Christmas morning, I reached that part where the song starts, having "lost" my fav character (although I knew he'd be back)... and I just started to cry. A rarer thing for me to experience, but the weight of life and things... It just got to me, and the whole thing was like a cleansing. I was basically crying on and off from "Make me a promise" right up until we summon two people. It reminded me that I have people in my life, and that although I was spending Christmas alone, there were people IRL and in the game that I was connected to. So wholesome. Now I'm playing it again with my sister, and we are finishing ShB patches. Can't wait to see how she responds. :)

[@svenornitier]

4:42 I really think that Ishikawa has an RDA of 1 cupful of gamer tears per day

[@seekittycat]

More tears for our primal!

[@Wray62]

Yesssss! Jesse connects the dots with the early LOST podcasters. You are so correct, Sir. Garret and Kyle you guys are doing some great work in the content creator oeuvre 👏👏👏👏

[@lockheartmac]

I watched this live, but this edit is absolutely amazing. Great job!

[@Amovetv]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@iantaakalla8180]

The fact that you have been at this for fourteen years is very obvious, and has resulted in your fun theorycrafting mature takes. You know how to savor good stories; it certainly helps you have been through properties that have consistent let you down. You know how to cultivate a community properly. You have also remained friends with resorting to drama or controversy. In the end, you deserve every bit of whatever success you have and I hope nothing shuts you down except your being tired of the project you have done or your deaths.

[@divinedragoonkain]

Congratulations on getting together so many followers that it wouldn't let you back out of the instance. I've literally never seen that until your stream.

[@GimmeTOKYO]

I was crying all over again watching you guys go through this. I don’t think I’ve ever had a game hit me in the feels so much over and over.

[@MasterChibi]

You two have never let off an air of being content creators running for clout and clicks and anything else of that sort. Just two friends passionately enjoying the game sharing that joy with the world. Thank you.

[@samniel]

Oh, PLEASE have a Lore Q&A with Frosty and Anonymoose/Anwyll! Moose in particular has been archiving lore and the development process since 1.0 (though Sounsyy has a larger lorebrary) and it'd be GREAT to see you bounce off theories and events.

[@melissas4874]

I understand the pain. I can say that having read the GoT books a few times, I do feel the last episode is what the author intends somewhat, but the writers started to diverge drastically from the books in season 4 which is why the ending is so bad. What all these "bad" examples show is that many of today's producers and writers don't understand that a dramatic ending alone doesn't make a good story. A good story has layers and for many of these the layers were just bad and the dramatic ending couldn't save it.

[@HandlesAreStupid2024]

Example 2, Look how bad their version of 3 body problem is too.

[@iantaakalla8180]

They actually developed a series out of 3 Body Problem? Another wasted thing

[@midnighmiqo]

Ok, I am.... 1 minute and 19 seconds in, and gods fucking damnit, we need more Garrett narration. I just had to pause and say that.

[@midnighmiqo]

No I lied, I have to circle back to this. The fact that the Arthas video doesn't get as much love as it should is just criminal. More Garrett Narration! Sorry, unpausing now and watching the rest... I made it to 3:07 before I had to rant again.

[@tenebraequeene]

I've followed your journey for a while. And even though I couldn't catch every stream live, I made sure to catch every VOD and video about it. I love your enthusiasm and intelligence and had fun with your thoughts on your adventure. You got a full on fan! I followed you to the End. And I'll continue to follow you beyond it! Forge Ahead, my friends. May our journey never end.

[@Amovetv]

Aw thanks Tenebrae! This was a nice read. We're both stoked for what comes next. See you soon!

[@MrThiccc]

I am loving this long form edited content from the podcast, im doing my part to help push the algorithm

[@RabidJohn]

The thing I like most about the Trust/Duty Support system is being able to learn the fights at my own pace before queueing with roulette randoms who might be doing it for the 1st time. Just gave me more confidence. I did the MSQ dungeons with the Trust throughout ShB and EW, and it worked perfectly, including the Hydaelyn fight. I was green dps, though. I suspect programing AI NPCs to deal with everything a blue dps could do is harder, because just about everyone I saw complaining about the NPCs in the Mothercrystal was a tank...

[@HUSK3RGAM3R]

Just this opening minute, I can relate. All too often shows and games hype themselves up with the promise of a good story, either to never have a good story to begin with, to fall apart not long in, or to fall apart completely at the finish line. Even when the story isn't as strong, FFXIV's story is still enjoyable and not something you need to force yourself through. Edit: Almost forgot to say, while I wasn't with you all the way through or with you all the time, I am glad to have been with you all there at the end. Might be one of my new favorite game memories, just sitting by the fire Jesse, a few FC mates, and some other random people as you all went on the walk. It'll be something that sticks with me for a while.

[@Goodman_Grey]

Yo that intro though!?! Also loved the Japhers thumbnail. Top tier content as always guys.

[@Veishan]

After seeing you guys laud the Alphatron part of Ultima Thule and how it puts Omega into new context... Looking forward to you lads getting into the Pandemonium story.

[@chan742]

This was fantastic to catch live, and again in an edited version!

[@Purplewreck]

watched this on the unlisted video, very happy to watch it again with the amazing edits!

[@TheUbberman]

Every Q 'n A with Jesse is an absolute delight. The biggest downside is that these only really happen for MSQ... so we'll need to wait a long while for the next one :(

[@GamingFoodie]

Well done editing this one. What an amazing journey. So happy you got to experience it!

[@cathryntruebloood3913]

Amazing outstanding work. I watched the live, but I adored this. I thank you sincerely for your time and hard work

[@Eiensakura]

It had been such a joy and pleasure to witness your journey from the first few videos posted. Forge ahead, GG, may your journey never ends.

[@amymcwilliams24601]

Fantastic edit! I watched all of the original and all of this one. Love the thumbnail, Japhers!

[@user-jm1rt5yc5w]

Watching your journey through FFXIV has given me many hours of joy. It’s been so fun watching you make your way through this game. I hope it brings you both many more hours of awesome adventures.

[@eorzeanECM]

I have been transfixed on GG channel for the past 2 weeks. And it is with good reason. One example is this curated video of y’all cooking…and of course the lovable JC interview. Thank you!!! Great job Garrett and of course Congrata Kyle.

[@DXDragon38]

What an incredible experience. I'm glad I was able to be part of the Mount Wall in Mor Dhona :) Can't wait to follow your experiences in the Raids and Patch Content!

[@TheLastLoneWolf]

I've yet to watch the episode but I just want to say - thank you. To the both of you. Watching two best friends play this game together filled me with so much love and joy. Playing this game myself was one hell of an experience, but reliving it through the two of you was even sweeter. I can't wait to experience Dawntrail alongside the two of you.

[@mystrawind4587]

More Likes, Ya'll! Enjoyed rewatching this with background shots and zoom-ins on who was speaking. Amazing lead-in and editing! Enjoyed every moment.

[@TheFrantic5]

One of the best stories I've experienced. I'm glad that so many are able to experience it with us.

[@phi8287]

It has been such a treat to watch you both play through this game together. Truly. Even if I missed a stream along the way, I would always go back to watch, just to experience the story with you both. I came into the game around the 5.3 patch, and Endwalker was the first expansion I got to experience fresh with the friends I made and I'm so super excited that we will get to play Dawntrail right alongside yall!

[@pozziellen]

The comparison with Lost podcast is so real....please keep doing this for Downtrail!!

[@sweetpanic705]

Garrett's narration for the intro with the clips leading to FFXIV🎉 Well done! The journey of finding and living this story after so many disappointments always hits hard❤

[@daysmithjr]

First of all, having watched the first video, congrats on the intro!!! It is really amazing and loved your intro! To avoid repeating what I said in the other video, beating 6.0 for me is invariably thinking and reflecting upon the whole journey and boys, what a journey it has been for the bromance and also for us following you! The way CBU3 cares for this game (and makes us care too) explains why the community is so passionate about FFXIV. And that's what this podcast is all about. Three guys, passionate about this game hanging out and talking all about it. It was really nice to watch. (Though I still defend my idea that Jesse is the primal we'd get if all of us emotional vampires decided to summon one 🤣) Again, congrats on beating 6.0, hope you have enjoyed it! And again, Kyle, congrats on the new baby and hope everything is well with you and family! Will continue following you guys' content and in game when the schedule permits!

[@AzureBladeXIII]

Being there with yall while you streamed you could definitely feel the energy. I even walked away with a new fellow Lala friend. Hope to make it to more streams in game.

[@terrancenightingale1749]

Strangely enough, both of the times I choked up involved dragons. When Vritra and Estinien plummeted down just in time to save Matsya and the baby, all the tension and fear in my body just left. It literally felt like divine deliverance. The other moment was the final walk and hearing the voices of shadows cheering you on, pushing you forward - and of all people, Midgardsormr tells you that you are strong. You are STRONG; you can endure this. You can win. That one got me.

[@JC-eq3ml]

Yes there is a massive conversation out there about whether Zenos is alive or not. Yoshi P has said that they are done with him. Also I will say, you must do gatherer quests - but also crafter quests. Which just means you have to do combat tribe as well so you can get the epilogue. Good thing you have 12 a day and only need to do 9!

[@renmage2311]

I've been watching since yall were mid-Stormblood and have been following closely ever since, though i mostly lurk in the streams. It was a treat to tune in to the finale! Keep up the good work! Also i for one would love to see you guys tackle Nier Replicant. Its a top 5 game for me and has stuck in my head for years.

[@reyennarhel2505]

I'm late to this party, but god do I FEEL you on the Game of Thrones thing. Dany helped me through so much trauma and then they just did...THAT. Couldn't take it. As an act of rebellion I got a dracarys tattoo, and i wear it with pride. Ill probably edit this comment as I watch but already hooked.

[@Dudding5720]

Well. Your endwalker ending video and this video are the first I've seen of you guys, and it CERTAINLY will not be the last. Absolutely so excited to see you guys in Dawntrail! Thanks for the positivity

[@fluoritaceles3144]

Ohhhhh, didn’t think you were going to do a whole video edit of the podcast as well! Today I started listening on Spotify, so cool to see the context for some of the audio edits ❤ Wonderful job, this is top quality guys. You’re always aiming higher and never disappointing, stop spoiling us 😂

[@Amovetv]

It’s a two way spoiling! Y’all keep watching we’ll keep putting in the hours. =)

[@aerieleah533]

Im glad I'm still following you guys and finishing thoughts on Endwalker. Also, see you in Pandaemonium. 🙃

[@marcieconrad9413]

What a fantastic video. Editing on point. Clips and conversation A+. I live for these videos. I will be so damn bitter if GG doesn't get invited to the Media Tour. Not only will it be great for the channel, but I know these guys will bring something special to it...and they deserve it! GG...like its name...has been grinding like mad these last two years...and it shows. ❤

[@Amovetv]

This is beyond kind. Serious thanks for sharing.

[@rjwojo1]

Easily my favorite podcast of ’s infancy! I look forward to the next decade or 2 (🤞) of BANNGER content from the both of u 😁

[@kaleiohulee6693]

I remember there were some pre-EW interviews where they discussed using deaths in narrative. They made the case that it wasn't an absolute requirement to raise the stakes and they really proved it. There was a lot of uncertainty before release about who would survive with Thancred usually topping the deadpool. They really threw up every death flag in and out of game at the time so there was a strong sense of uncertainty until reaching the end.

[@FishSkeleton-]

Great podcast, Kyle, Garrett, and Jesse. I'm so happy the Bromance has gotten the success they've always deserved, speaking as a diehard Into the Nexus and Nexus Gaming News listener.

[@Miingno]

Great first episode! I can hardly wait for more :D I'm sure you've heard this already a few times, but there will be an optional quest soon popping up for you in Old Sharlayan (I think after one of the optional dungeons) called "Beyond the Rift". I'm quite certain, you'll enjoy this one a lot ;D And also, I've also set myself the goal to one day be on this podcast as a guest! 😁

[@Avaene]

Man, that opening narrative by Garrett is so good ❤

[@JelisW]

lmao regarding that trial fight with duty support: yes, they do bait you a little bit, but that specific problem that Jesse had only ever happens if you go in as tank AND you are going your own way instead of following where they're all going. For the lightwaves, the NPC AIs are programmed to go to the same safe spot that we use for the extreme version of the fight, namely, the spot directly opposite from the two lightwaves that are close to each other. They will head there, and then they will continue to attack the boss. The problem arises if you, as the tank, have pulled the boss away from the safe spot that they're programmed to go to. When their programming tells them to reengage the boss, that is exactly what they will do, even if they have to run straight through the lightwaves that are still crossing through the middle of the arena to get to the boss. As a general rule of thumb for running with NPCs, keep a close eye on them and just follow where they go any time they all run as a group somewhere.

[@linnilotus]

Amazing podcast

[@JDSleeper]

54:45 I honestly thought it was Midgardsormer busting through when Zenos arrived.

[@SticktheFigure]

Not to totally and completely miss the point but YES! KINGDOM HEARTS! I should've known you were one of my people, Garrett

[@aetherwind3884]

Nothing to say in this comment but this is an interaction to help push the damn youtube alg to put this in front of more eyes. Y'all deserve it!

[@Scottoest]

I still can't believe Arthas' story went out with Sylvanas forgiving HIM, lol. The guy's only crime of his own free will prior to being basically corrupted by a sword, was making a hard judgment call about a town of people literally being turned into zombies - something there isn't a topical cream or vaccine for, as far as I'm aware. Sylvanas basically genocided the Night Elves and burned down their capital city, and she gets sentenced to community service because "something something split soul". Arthas, on the other hand, is reduced to a little wisp of light before he blinks out of existence for good. But not before Sylvanas forgives him for what he did to her when he wasn't Arthas any more, lol. Fuck me.

[@cparle87]

1:22:54 And here's the Jesse Cox poker face again as they're cooking. 1:30:50 Such a magnificent poker face. 1:52:45 I am setting my notification. The video doesn't even exist yet and I'm setting my notification. Jesse Cox voice acting for GG doing Hildibrand is just ME bait. Come for the FF talk, stay for the Jesse Cox torture. ^.^

[@astarothk2273]

so happy seeing yalls reactions to 14, especially the end...walker funny enough, im doing a fresh replay week by week and interspersed with all the refeeling the story in small chunks is pointing out ways people can use all the side content to weave relics into it (except maybe eureka, not touching that till after i hopefully get to current content in time for dawntrail, pathos will be a trip to watch yall go through)

[@lunariumpictures]

I have a lot of complicated feelings about Zenos showing up at the end of Endwalker, but the one thing I can't get over is that you don't get a choice to just leave him there, alone, at the edge of the universe, and deny him the one thing he always wanted.

[@sootythunder3111]

The 2 things that broke me was watching Metion break down when she saw the flowers, and after the end singer boss, where she reaches out to the WoL. I was in a really really dark place at the time, I’m not a social guy, many people view me as very stoic person to the point of being borderline emotionless. It wasn’t until the Lockdowns did I realize how dependent I was on the small little interactions, small little gestures, these small things which I never thought about During the lockdowns I found out one of my friends (I don’t have many) committed suicide, he was a recovering drug addict, he moved away from the place he grew up hoping to start over and avoid the places/people that he would associate with drug use and relapse. He worked as much as he could partly for the money and partly just so he could be doing things. Being lockdown weeks on end I guess it just left him alone with his demons in a dark isolated place We couldn’t go to his wake, couldn’t go to his funeral Playing this game and reaching the end with metion in that field of flowers, seeing something other then this all encompassing despair that had filled her life I spent a good ten minutes crying. Even now writing this I’m tearing up

[@evrfreez]

This might be a bit of a ramble, relating to the scene where Emet talks about possible future activities. So I've been playing since 2.0's launch (I played some 1.0 but let's not go there). I started on Gilgamesh, because at the time it and Balmung had been decided by the excited community to be "the RP servers", on third-party sites and forums and stuff, and I wanted to roleplay; I actually come from WoW, and EverQuest before it, where I first learned to RP (probably before I should have been). By the end of 2013, I'd migrated to Balmung, because it was said to be FAR more RP-heavy (and it was, and still is to this day), and took part in all the shades of RP you can imagine. From big FC-run plots to dice-and-character-sheet-based in-game tabletop, from date auctions to beach parties to casual house hangouts to private RP adventures to shaking my butt in the Quicksand (yes, that's where people gather on Balmung, not in Limsa like on every other server), to fight clubs and adult content... you get the idea. Through it all, there's always been the community. First in forums like the RPC (the Role-Players' Coalition, once the main site used by FFXIV Roleplayers, ffxiv-roleplayers.com/), and Skype groups, then on to Tumblr and, regrettably, Twitter.. and finally onto Discord where such groups flourish to this day. In these places players, RPers especially, have always talked about *the lore.* We love to, because it relates to our characters. Long before one could actually visit Ala Mhigo, Doma or Radz-at-Han, you'd have players who made characters who came from such places, because the game already drip-fed us lore about them, just enough to tantalize and entice. You saw the Thavnairian dancer-looking set, read the lore about the 2.0 Relic Weapons, and you'd be like, oh my, Thavnair is about exotic silks and alluring dances and incomparable alchemy.. and later on, much of what was theorized and expounded upon was proven right. And that's the thing. Through the years.. we've seen that the FFXIV writers and devs *paid attention to what we talked about.* We, not just RPers but the community as a whole. The expansion of the lore and flavour and LIFE of Eorzea, of the game.. the addition of emotes and house decorations and outfit sets.. so much of it has been signalled and explored beforehand, ideas tossed around and theorized about and lovingly explored by so many of us. As such, by the time I got to that wonderful encounter with Emet.. I'd seen and engaged in countless discussions about Meracydia, and the New World, and the Twelve, and more. If there's a long-hanging plot thread, you can bet there's player interest. There's someone who's like, "man this THING really relates to my character's story", and we (RPers especially, I think) take personal story seriously! None of us is playing the Warrior of Light, because you can't, while existing organically in the world (though many of us have headcanons about the "alternate version of our character who happens to be the WoL"). Instead our characters range from shopkeeps to mercenaries to performers to ordinary adventurers who live in and share this world. And when we get new ideas, we make alts with their own stories. When new lore is hinted at, a thousand character concepts fly forth, borne upon wings of imagination. As such, Emet going through those points, those loose threads.. shining LIGHT on them was, to me, like the Devs saying.. "Hey. We're still listening. These things you all keep talking and asking about? We hear you. We care. And now that they've been brought up? You KNOW we're going to give them to you." And I just felt such.. gratitude, and affection, for this game and its world and especially the team behind it. I've wound down a bit. My character, Anstarra, is (and I am) ten years older than when I made her. She's got two kids, a husband, and a life of drama and adventure behind her. Much of the MSQ has been stuff that's happened AROUND her.. she's no world-saving champion, she just cared about keeping her family alive during the Final Days. But now with Dawntrail opening up the New World, she's already started talking with some of her other friends about taking a vacation. I can't wait to see you all there 💙Just don't be surprised if I'm adventuring in a bikini~ P.S. This is mostly a nostalgic yarn, and in no way is meant to sound preachy or derogatory over how others play the game. Yeah, maybe in *2014* there was *discourse* about being Angry About People RPing WRONG but man, that's so long ago now. FFXIV has had so many flavours of community drama - the Billboard Incident was delicious madness, in particular - that I can't ever imagine myself getting mad at someone for not "RPing properly". Even if kids these days with their darn plugins and animation replacers are RUINING IT FOR THE REST OF US-

[@SkeletonFlower]

Lalafell vs Zenos is SO jarring to me. I play as a max size Roegadyn, and that fight feels BRUTAL. Also, whenever a fight devolves into just raw punches without any technique my mind always goes toward the final fight between Kenshiro and Raoh in Hokuto no Ken. I love it.

[@Darklover15]

Aww I love the thumbnail!

[@zfezzani]

MSQ+A ... *clap* *clap* that was beautiful I love you guys Best final ffxiv stream ever

[@AGrumpyWitch]

It was worth staying up until 5am to watch you finish EW. Don't regret it for a second. And grats Kyle on babby three! Hope you are all doing well 🥳❤️

[@Meikyu1]

YOU GUYS HAVE REACHED IT!! THE END!! BUT THE JOURNEY YET CONTINUES!!! We will all be there every step of the way with you guys.

[@tibowmew]

For me, the Matsya reciting his prayers while he ran almost got me, but the first moment that I really cried was such a surprise that I actually shocked myself. When Estinien gave himself up, I suddenly burst into tears because i have such a deep love and connection to Estinien. When Thancred "died" off screen, I totally didn't believe it because I knew the Scions would come back and didn't expect it to hit me because of that, so I surprised myself when i just started subbing out of nowhere.

[@pedroscoponi4905]

I had a reaction to Emet's "preorder dawntrail" moment as well but for more character-driven reasons. It's the very first time Emet talks about the world post-sundering and you don't hear the disdain in his voice, this aching longing for the things he lost - it's just love. It's as if after dying and being free from the duty of "fixing" things, he's free to look at what he saw and experienced in this sundered world with unclouded eyes, and _he loves it._ And then he ends with his little jab, "You may consider it your duty to see all of it. I certainly did." and you see in that moment why he was good friends with your past self, and how that could've happened again if only, if only... and then you remember the pain he went through, and who that pain made him and the horrors that person commited, and your heart just breaks.

[@JC-eq3ml]

Jesse says there's no Trauma bonding in FF, but I disagree. We all bond over the trauma of the MSQ on our feelings. That's why we're here. We all shared that experience and now we want to exist in the world with our friends.

[@cj_skywalker]

My only peeve is that they decide to make that epic moving vocal track the permanent BGM of Ultima Thule, which sucks because it loses all impact after the MSQ ends. I have to mute music when I traveled through Ultima Thule on my last character. X( "DID THEY JUST COPY THE END OF THE FIRST SEASON OF SAILOR MOON?????" As a teenager who had watched the dubbed version of the first season, which made Usagi look like a childish crybaby, seeing her turn into Princess Serenity and get a scowl on her face and say "It's over, Queen Beryl, you are f**ked" was a whole amazing experience. A shame that they didn't follow the Japanese script after that and kept making Usagi a childish crybaby even through the end of dubbed Super S. (Even though that was not Queen Beryl's second phase, as the dub put it, it was actually Empress Metallia absorbing Queen Beryl and being reborn. Stupid dubbies! XD) Lest you forget, Sailor Moon is a JAPANESE cartoon so it's likely that Yoshida, who is a JAPANESE person, would have seen that anime before.