The Shadowbringers ending DESTROYED me | FFXIV

[@itsjorjagames]

Thank you for all the lovely comments and support on this video! I really appreciate it! I'm taking my time with reading through comments as my mods noticed one or two spoilers, so they're maintaining it and deleting them for me, to make sure I don't see any spoilers at all 💞

[@Verbose_Mode]

Can you _BELIEVE_ it gets better? Shadowbringers got me teary but Endwalker made me ugly cry… repeatedly.

[@notmousse]

Some people will say Endwalker isn't as good as Shadowbringer. While I disagree, Endwalker makes Shadowbringer better. Think back on his as you walk to the end.

[@leonbraun3778]

Yeah, the whole expansion was just amazing to me... This portion was something else... Many will say Shadowbringers is their favourite, me included most days... But Endwalker is almost flawless also =) Enjoy the journey =)

[@hexusreaper]

In the end, Emet stood tall. The burden of all the fallen ascians was no longer on his shoulders. We did not kill him, we freed him from his never ending duty. :'(

[@itsyaboiherman]

shit..............................

[@ovted129]

Yeah I noticed he was no longer hunched over.

[@panamakira]

😢

[@criticaljohnson]

When you go back and replay through everything, the hints he drops about this are devastating. Like when he says that he has been waiting for someone strong enough to brave a path of lesser destruction. And his disgust when he believes you've failed and are unable to control the light. He can't bring himself to give up his duty, but he also knows that he's become the villain, so he's been waiting all this time for someone strong enough to stop him...

[@tommenno]

@@criticaljohnson I don't think he sees himself as a villain, so much as he's the only sane Ascian left and he's so very tired. He's carried the weight of being the sole chance at salvation for his entire civilization for millennia, and he's only halfway there. And then we give him that sliver of hope, he starts to believe that there's another way, that he's done enough to start getting *real* help, after so very long. And we fail. We're not strong enough. And he just. Fucking. Breaks. And its not until we beat him, that we show we didn't actually fail, that we prove all he did was enough. Then he's finally able to let go of that weight and wish his friend good luck, and to remember him and the past that he so loved.

[@trial_with_an_error9687]

Something to note is that Emet Selch never looks up when he's wandering Amarout's streets. His head is always held down as if he's ashamed of its existence. He created this entire city from memory alone, and he can barely stand to look at it.

[@Driahva]

And yet, in his final moment, he stands upright, facing forward.

[@Lonthor]

The soundtrack hits so hard in Shadowbringers.

[@25xxfrostxx]

Yes, that was the proper response to Ardbert's friends showing up at the end. Can you believe it gets better?

[@aaaaaaalexis]

Before Endwalker I wondered how it could get any better, and NOW

[@aaaaaaalexis]

@@Shizuka965 I really feel that the stories of the 2 extensions are equal and endwalker touched me more

[@CrashB111]

@@Shizuka965 Shadowbringers might be better as a standalone piece, but Endwalker is right there with it plus it managed to tie together 10 years worth of story telling and Endwalker somehow makes Shadowbringers even better in hindsight with the plot reveals in Endwalker. It's like Avengers: Infinity War vs Avengers: Endgame, one is better taken on it's own but the other is better when you consider it's not just telling it's own story but concluding a decades worth.

[@kkplx]

it's a joy every time to watch shb lay it on thick and pay off every single thread of the MSQ in 2 hours of absolute heartbreak and relief. it's like watching someone get on a rollercoaster when they finally enter amaurot. While what comes after is still 10/10, i don't think anything they produce will ever top the pitch perfect pacing of those 2 hours. thanks for sharing those moments.

[@HoneyDoll894]

for the pure emotions i felt endwalker topped even this, but yeah.. the amout of like narrative threads collapsing into place was probably the best here

[@kkplx]

@@HoneyDoll894 EW for me struggled a bit to keep a laser focus at the end, but it's obviously a close second.

[@HoneyDoll894]

@@kkplx yeah ut was mostly not as nice for me, but the very end tied it back together. E was also such a great arc

[@Exel3nce]

eh idk. ew had too much bs@@kkplx

[@Soter94]

I binged amaurot in an evening, and I felt exactly like u said. A Rollercoaster filled with misteries, some answers and a plethora of emotions. Since then I tried to do the same with endwalker and dawntrail, binging the last zone and ending in a session, but for how good both expasions were nothing came even close to shb. Truly a marvel.

[@amsaa91]

The scene where Ardbert meets his party again always gets me

[@tommenno]

Seto. Literal Buckets.

[@chao13chao]

My word. Reliving all of these moments made me re-cry like 4 or 5 times.

[@Sagacyte]

As a FFXIV veteran (is that a term?) I *always* delight in seeing players experience pivotal moments in the MSQ and feeling that exquisite and delicious pain, the end of Shadowbringers being one of them - but there'll be more. Oh, there will be. Hope to see you walk the end.

[@Lucyfer1102]

The thing about ShB ending is that I knew we would win, because this is our game. But at what cost? What would we do to turn the table and win?

[@alyssaphillips1744]

it destroyed us all. This was a true masterpiece

[@ifaeriewraith]

This game is a true masterpiece…

[@Exel3nce]

a shame endwalker was a dissapointment after this greatness

[@aidan8473]

​@@Exel3ncethat's crazy.

[@Exel3nce]

crazy to think about, yes. also didnt expect it, buddy@@aidan8473

[@S0faSoGood]

After years of viewing the Ascians as bad guys this really makes you rethink things and view it from their perspective. ARGHHHH. And if I ever ride into battle I want the shadowbringers theme to play as I do.

[@dazzlemasseur]

I think it's meant for people to understand empathy to their enemies.

[@Dajova]

I mean, for a long time, they really where just your average saturday morning cartoon villains. It wasn't until ShB where we really got to know them and understanding what they've really gone through. This is where the term "gigkawa" came from, cus she managed to turn them into one of the most memorable experiences in the game.

[@hughw89]

A sad past doesn't excuse evil actions I feel bad for them but don't excuse them killing so many innocent people

[@Mocita]

Even more than 4 years later, this moment always get me. Shadowbringers is truly a fantastic expansion. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story, and make sure you do the 'Sorrows of Werlyt' side quest. It is easily the best side story in the game.

[@oliverurbanik9647]

Indeed. And a heavy mature one .. didnt expected that

[@scotty110]

Eden is also a must do side story.

[@HoneyDoll894]

sorrow of werlyt is so sad tho.. its properly dark...

[@skullvallyboys]

No spoiler but if this caused so many tears you might want MANY boxes of tissues going forward it gets VERY emotional

[@XenosInfinity]

It's a hell of a thing, isn't it? And yet somehow it gets better from here. To begin, you first must see the end.

[@andohbernard8846]

I know right🤫 We only fly when falling, falling far from grace.

[@johnhendrixc.marcaida7223]

And to see the End, we must Walk towards it.

[@natebroadus8474]

""It looks like Bioshock." Preach actually broke when he got to Amaurot because Bioshock is one of his favorite games. Someone even got on the whale mount for him during his stream.😂❤

[@bakacdaz]

Not just because its underwater city but also Art Deco architecture too. Not so surprised that Bioshock is the first idea came to everyone mind.

[@toscatattertail9813]

If this destroyed you wait until you get to the final scenes of EndWalker .... The Evolution of this game and the story lines are epic if you take the time to read the cut scenes instead of skipping through like many do.

[@AZodiacCancer]

Ran three characters through EW and I cried each time. EW's ending is phenomenal.

[@HoneyDoll894]

endwalker properly destroyed me. i couldn't even talk about the latter half without crying for a whole week, like I'd try to say something and just start crying and the words would disappear

[@panamakira]

EW ending was everything. I was crying through the final trial 😂

[@ScawyFF]

​@@HoneyDoll894 I FEEL this, I wasn't able to listen to Flow without bursting into tears for a month afterwards. I still weep like a baby listening to it 80% of the time.

[@austinmartin612]

@@ScawyFFFlow and Answers both still make me tear up a bit, as does Hopeful Dynamis

[@zackfair6203]

29:07 never realized this monologue already happened in 5.0 It's one of my favorite in the 5.3 ending. Love this one so much

[@retokazene]

Its tone is different, 5.0 is sombre, while 5.3 is elated as if he cant believe this happened to him

[@nathanielhollas8471]

I love how the shadow begins to cover the arena during the final phase, such a cool effect

[@hayatotheninja]

One of my favorite moments in the game. Having played since 1.0, it's amazing to see how the game has evolved and how the story telling really gets you so emotionally invested. While FFIX may be my favorite, and XIV my second thus far, the line between them is microscopic.

[@firefeather0014]

That sequence hits me every time. I love this story so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@alchemi8085]

Hurts so good when that theme song kicks in.

[@ericbright1742]

6:43 Me, at this scene: "You know what? I'd like to say I'm here to stop you, but I'm not sure I can do that. But there is one thing I am not leaving here without..." [clicks option 2] "You've got my catboy." Emet-Selch, as if on cue: "Well, you can't have him."

[@make7380]

Your channel popped up randomly in my feed...But seeing someone else experience all the intense emotions of that ending, as I did all over again watching, was fantastic. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story, the payoff at the very end is so worth it!

[@MandiFox]

I just finished this last night and cried just as much as you did! I don't have any friends that play this game and my boyfriend was looking at me like a crazy person. It's good to see someone else that felt the way I did and I can follow along this journey with!

[@itsjorjagames]

if you're ever on phoenix and wanna hang out, i stream it a lot, so feel free to join us!

[@lens_hunter]

I feel like my favorite thing about this game is watching people react to MSQ, as to playing it myself anymore, lmao. Though I do love playing it myself. Even four years later watching people react to this stuff still gets me. Looking forward to more!

[@Lyfa00]

The scene of adbert Meeting His Friends at the end, always makes me cry allot

[@williamst.germain3394]

The moment Ardbert hands down the axe will always send thrills down my spine, and combined with the music queue. It's just a chef's kiss moment and it is by far my favorite moment in Shadowbringers and FF14 in general.

[@Rangar1997]

I'm really hoping Dawntrail will be able to recapture the awe we all felt as we progressed through the masterpiece that was Shadowbringer. This was such peak storytelling.

[@raisnaix]

I am trembling with excitement to see how you enjoy Endwalker!

[@Goestohollywood-l8x]

Emet Selch is the perfect villain! Both shadowbringers and Endwalker moved me to tears. I literally hulked.. It moved me so much.. Goddamn I love this game.

[@IKIGAIofficial]

this is peak fiction

[@dazzlemasseur]

This is real to my shut-in eyes

[@Punkadelic2112]

And Endwalker is peak fanfiction!

[@tenjenk]

Honestly everything was just so well done, so many years of writing so well incorperated into the story and scenes so well executed. The latter matters a lot and FFXIV aced it. Also, ignore the troll spamming everyones comments, people

[@ursulcx299]

I love ff14, I love it from the humble begining in ARR to the most recent patches. But there's something special about shadowbringer's ending, something magical. There's a lot of moment that floored me in that game with how good they were, but this? This will always stay with me "We stand together" indeed. May the rest of your journey be as amazing, fellow warrior of Darkness.

[@Meowlo]

how many years since this came out and it still makes me cry 😭😭😭

[@Ruthie4593]

not me sobbing again years later watching you play this. Absolute god tier expansion.

[@EonanAvery]

Your vid showed up in my tl and cried the whole time with you even if i played it so many times myself 🥲 so many feelings.

[@RoyvanG]

In Heavensward, the Dragonsong War was truly over only after Nidhogg was truly killed. In Stormblood, the liberation of Doma only was truly completed after the deaths of Asahi and Yotsuyu/Tsukuyomi. In Shadowbringers, at this point, we still need a way to get our companions home.... To keep it simple, the story is not truly over... not quite yet.

[@theeternalshade2981]

One thing that nobody talks about: it was established earlier that the Ascians are immortal. Killing them doesn't end them, they can come back as often as they wish. They have to CHOOSE to pass on. This means that, in the end, Emet-Selch CHOSE to leave the future in your hands. Shadowbringers really is a masterclass of storytelling. It takes a talented writer to make a truly compelling antagonist. It takes a unique writer to write a antagonist that makes you wonder if YOU'RE the villain. But a villain that does all of that AND makes you cry for their death? That's a fuckin' literary unicorn. God, I love Emet-Selch and Shadowbringers so much.

[@Lilgreenman89]

I still LOVE the point when he says "Let us cast aside titles and pretenses and reveal our true faces to one another." And then trial starts with just: Hades No follow up with like "Lost Ascian" or "Emet-Selch" or anything. JUST. HADES.

[@Scarabswarm]

This beautiful and tragic ending brings us all to tears. Welcome to the club. It's the culmination of a hundred little things ratcheting up the stakes, the meaning, and the emotions. It's perfect. It is so hard to have a compelling villain that you can understand and say, "There but for the grace of god, go I." One where you understand that you would do the same if you were in their shoes; but that you have no choice but to oppose them, because you are in your own shoes, and not in theirs.

[@marcelopci]

I cry every time. Thx for the video. Pls keep going trough Shadowbringer till Endwalker, i'd love to see it

[@N8DMusic]

It really tears at the heart strings when you realize all Emet wanted was his friend back. That entire dungeon leading into the trial he is trying to make you remember that you're the 14th ascian. It's only a "theory" but still pretty heavy to think about.

[@COBTrueoblivion]

glad im not the only one to be emotional over the ending. time for me to replay the story before dawntrail.

[@CitratoGomes]

3 years since I went through this and I cried all over again. This game is a masterpiece

[@ShadowEastborn]

this is all so well cut together, so much props!!!!

[@Reycied]

The Amaurot dungeon legitimately scared me the first time I ran it. Maybe it's because I've had nightmares that were somewhat similar (I watched 'The Towering Inferno' at WAY too young an age). But being at ground level, on the street and ankle-deep in the horror as meteors crash, buildings collapse and monster are born was genuinely scary. Then you move to the towers, and see the horizon dotted with these grotesqueries as they bring forth a literal Biblical apocalypse. And finally to the firmament, where the terror becomes existential--this isn't happening in just one place, it's EVERYWHERE. I felt like I could FEEL the Amaurotines' grim knowledge that there was no escape. Nowhere to hide. The concept of 'safety' was a dead and rotting carcass. But the music changes it a little. Its soaring monochrome melodies, painted red with the ancients' tears, bears you higher. It's a grim song, but it also soars. It fills your sails with the wind of hope that carries you higher, higher. This is still one of my favorite dungeons, even to this day. Because every time I set foot on those burning streets, I can feel the wispy echo of the way I felt before. The fear, and the hope. Thank you for your reactions, my fellow Warrior of Light. This is a turning point--no matter what the game throws at you, you cannot, WILL NOT be stopped. Soar higher, higher than you ever dreamed you'd go, and know that we who've walked the path before are cheering you on!

[@charntsabre3463]

Shadowbringers made me write an entire journal/diary of feelings. lmaoooo!

[@Mashangi]

Hello my fellow emotional vampires come to claim another soul.

[@robikkupegasus7039]

A never ending hunger!

[@myriahkathryne]

I straight up felt your heart at every turn. This expansion broke me.

[@dematar]

This game will tear you down, only to build you back stronger, and then repeat that process a couple dozen times. Emet was an amazing villain. Not because he was overpowered, or even more cunning. It's because you could see that everything he did, regardless of how atrocious or monstrous it was, he was driven by the sole desire to bring his people back, to fight for them. He is what the WoL might have become, if stripped of their friends and forced to watch their world burn to ash.

[@KorwegianDramaQueen]

I was an emotional mess for a few days after I was done with Shadowbringers. I have never cried as much playing a game like I did with this expansion.

[@kuronaialtani]

"We Ascians know because it is our history, our story" *"This is our future. Our story"*

[@lauranichols8337]

I still tear up when I watch that last cut scene on the bridge with Ardbert, and I've watched it so many times. My wind-up Ardbert minion (who holds out his little axe to me) is my favorite minion and I constantly run with him.

[@revyreigns1718]

I'm going to have to replay through this in ng+ mode when the new graphical update comes. Always a fantastic story to rewatch as new players play through it. ❤

[@Jenkins247-94]

Getting to relive this through another never gets old. Loved your reaction!

[@Cranefluff]

26:46 always gets me in the feels

[@MacheathMesser]

its so understandable what he wanted but i cried too. love this characterconcept of him so much.

[@Phaezen]

one of my favourite details in the scene of Arbert walking to his friends is that he is is clean. Before that point his axe and armour are dirty, but in joining you to defeat Emet he has redeemed himself, and his soul shoiws it.

[@sleepfishl]

That fucking walk across the bridge ... XD ... Where are my fucking tissues?

[@DigitalTsukiko]

"if you had the strength to take another step, could you do it?" "Could you save our worlds?" and then the Shadowbringers music was perfect, I cried during all of this as well, Shadowbringers was such a great Expansion.

[@Ghostel3591]

You can actually see Urianger floating on waters near the shore to the bottom right seemingly drowned when camera changes to show you the whole beach for a moment as credits roll.

[@ObsidianCrane]

If you haven't done all the role quests, be sure to do them all and the extra quest that opens once they are all done.

[@veil1792]

*Wait until the Endwalker finale, I've never recovered.*

[@renzero9206]

I was just about to type this 😂 Endwalker (well, the end of 6.0), absolutely destroyed me. I was 😭😭😭😭😭 Shadowbringers was great, I didn't think it could be topped. Endwalker blew it away for me.

[@DarQuing]

It's rare that a game hits so many emotional notes so consistently. I think that's what makes FFXIV such a fantastic game. Not everyone will react the same way, of course, but that's the nature of people.

[@banjolasse6169]

I love seeing people react to the Shadowbringers ending. It really is one of the best moments in gaming.

[@2ndHokageSol]

"If you had the strength to take another step, could you do it?" WHAT. A. BANGER OF A LINE ARBERT MY LOVE.

[@Disconnected66]

lmao the moment at 22:38, wanting to cover your face and just react, but physically having to stop yourself so you don't miss anything xD such a hard combo for media to induce but this game keeps doing it

[@a-a-ron9027]

grats, im looking forward to post MSQ and EW walker for you. edit: the bridge walk got me too :D

[@StellarJay77]

I've played a TON of story based games including other Final Fantasy series'. Final Fantasy XIV is bar none THE BEST written story I have ever experienced. This whole sequence absolutely wrecked me with the number of emotions it inflicted upon me. They did such an excellent job in making us care about all the characters, 'villains' included. So good. I love reliving this moment for the first time through others because it is so impactful and relevant to our real life struggles with morality. Side note: I've seen so many players who entered the Final Days of Amaurot dungeon for the first time just stand there in awe and fear. I could completely tell the roller coaster of emotion they were embarking on at that point as they begin to realize just what a burden Emet has been carrying and how everything is flipped on its head and you fully understand his motivations.

[@runedragon1985]

Wow, it's been a while since I checked in with you in your journey, I'm surprised you made it to Shadowbringers, I just started in Endwalker myself, made it my mission, before the end of 2023 to finish Shadowbringers and make it to Endwalker, and I DID IT!

[@SierusD]

The scene with Ardbert walking towards his loved friends at the end always gets me :') Glad you enjoyed the ending!

[@CelesteAugustine]

This was such a wonderful story to conclude and it really did blur the lines of hero and villain to simply us all being people doing our best to find happiness and live our lives

[@Emulcool]

YEP , shadowbringers final arc is THAT good. So much memories , such great dialog.

[@Lordoftheapes79]

That feeling that rushes over you when you see that namesake quest plate...

[@Edge2177]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for sharing it with the community.

[@Iorpim]

I know that I meme my love for Emet a lot, but it is real, and even more at the end. He may even be one of favourite characters ever. When going back to some ARR and HW dungeons and seeing Lahabrea and the other Ascians again, their entire talk is egotistical evil laughs or angry yelling about bringing their god back and us being inferior, but not Emet. Emet was never like them, all that he wanted was to bring his people back, Zodiark was but a mean to it. And at some point I don't think that was even completely his objective anymore, he's constantly, as he says himself, testing us; the one moment he gets angry at you is when he says we are too weak to inherit the star, his star. Maybe he's afraid that what happened before of the star dying could happen again, and he fears that we'd be unable to stop it, letting everything die, or maybe he's just trying to convince himself to let go of the past, with everyone he's ever known and loved. Regardless, the fact when he finally meets his end he's not angry, or bitter, but relieved, and the single thing he asks is to be remembered, not even himself, but his people, "remember *us*; remember _we_ lived" - it just broke me so much. Emet's not perfect or a saint by any measure, but for thousands upon thousands of years carrying the burden of his entire star, he's done better than I think mostly anyone could, without ever truly losing himself in the process. And this was my 3 paragraph Emet appreciation essay, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Still love you Emet, for all of time

[@JamieBarrington]

Emet's story made me cry harder than anything else in FFXIV. He broke me. Didn't appreciate that he shot my cat, but I can forgive him. But I simp the man, so there's that

[@hexusreaper]

Emet is one of the better written villains in games. He constantly made me question what I would do if I were in his position.. Wouldn't you sacrifice an ant colony if there is a chance to save all humanity? The same logic goes here too. So Emet did nothing wrong! (well he shot the cat. but nobody is perfect)

[@criticaljohnson]

Actually laughed out loud at "didn't appreciate that he shot my cat"

[@lavaracer1]

I did this set recently myself. That “down for the count” cutscene after the duty felt especially powerful as I did it on my Au Ra warrior

[@lavaracer1]

@@Liex09 I'm sorry, what?

[@castoputa]

A little bit of my hair still stands on end to this day after that incredible music drop! Never have I felt so humble yet so almighty going into a final battle

[@joshwright7552]

Honestly it's hard for Endwalker to top this for me. I'm not even at that end yet but this was so magical in how you really saw a clear view of the Ascian side of things and emphasises so much more grey rather than black and white. All these characters having so much depth

[@castoputa]

Also there’s never any need to apologise for being reduced to sobs, you did it much more eloquently than we managed ❤

[@supermix8181]

We all can relate to Emet, one way or the other. He is the best "villain" ever written if you ask me.

[@robikkupegasus7039]

Shadowbringers is truly an experience that changes you forever...what a damn amazing expansion! ;w;

[@okay_sunshine]

We better start investing in some waterproof makeup going into the next expansion 😂

[@Eve-luci]

I WISH I could do this the first time again and feel that wonder

[@tenjenk]

btw, cntrl-up will reangle/tilt your camera to let you see more above you rather than just the floor behind you during great vista's and scenes.

[@okay_sunshine]

She is using just the controller to play :)

[@tenjenk]

@@okay_sunshinefor controller i think the only way is in the options, "General" tab has "3rd person Camera Angle" but its not "on the go" like cntrl-up/down

[@MrSerious1]

Welcome to Shadowbringers!

[@MJG206]

Did you notice, at the end, Ardberts axe was clean. Like his soul.

[@KaliStarchaser]

Their storywriter, Ishikawa, is a primal that feeds on the tears of the players. Convince me otherwise.

[@phutton]

Such an emotional journey, so much more emotion in the patches and Endwalker will tell Shadowbringers to hold its beer when it comes to them feeks. You got this WoL.

[@riftwalker9296]

A little tidbit. Emet said "Let us cast aside titles and pretense" and he is the only trail is the whole game where it just gives his name, Hades.

[@whoisunholy]

oh man, you're not gonna be ready for endwalker lmao. if this destroyed you, that will ANNHILATE you

[@KasTheStars]

Welcome Home fellow Warrior of Light. =)

[@TwinSpiritTV]

Nothing brings me greater joy than seeing someone else enjoy the story of FFXIV, especially with such emotion. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@ryuichiro.sakuraba]

"But come! Let us cast asided titles and pretense, and reveal our true faces to one another!" Cutscene loads and his enemy title card only says Hades and nothing more (other bosses have some sort of title or some embellishments). Pretty on point I say. There's more story to come so please enjoy XD

[@AZodiacCancer]

When ShB launched and I played it, it felt like I was actually playing a final fantasy game. Coming off the heels of Stormblood, ShB was by far fantastic. ShB gets even better and more tear jerkers in later patches. Enjoy ShB and Endwalker. It's an ARR line but I still think of Ardbert saying we did everything right and still we failed.

[@CrashB111]

5:48 ...and it's Ishikawa with the steel chair!

[@samraines6966]

Ardbert and his friends at the end is such a final emotional gut punch. Like truly, stop it game, we are already dead at that point! 😭

[@serisothikos]

In a lot of ways, the entire complexion of the game changes the moment Amaurot is revealed. All of the conflict that precedes it is an impersonal power struggle, until suddenly it isn't that at all.

[@msmycelium7389]

😢🥺 I took that ending just as hard on my playthrough

[@tickledpickle5671]

Personally, if someone "spoils" a story element, The next thing I do is focus on the journey *TO* that point, and that's just as rewarding as the end would have been.