THIS Is My FAVORITE Part of FFXIV… So Far… | 5.0

Emet-Selch is the best villain I’ve ever seen. So far.
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[@jessecox]

Take it. We fight as one.

[@Deode-d4h]

Will not get old.

[@craigwheeler4760]

What's up mr. Cox? I still saw that video of yours were your parents got to watch some of the msq. It's a good game when even your parents can enjoy it right?

[@cloud_tsukamo]

Emet: "It is never easy to lose those you love" Pyro: " What do YOU know about THAT!? " Narrator: "He knew a LOT about that"

[@bclxprss]

Late EW spoilers -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ironic thing is, we actually meet him again, at a point where does *not* know anything about that

[@azteriot]

​@@bclxprss Thank you for a reminder, now I'm started crying again T_T

[@johndipietro9301]

His editor is straight-up vicious.

[@wallsofgranite]

@@johndipietro9301 Absolutely! A vicious genius

[@SierusD]

Was watching at that bit and was like "OH JUST YOU WAIT, PYRO. JUST YOU WAIT!"

[@Mechanikatt]

I really appreciate you noticed the duality of Emet talking about "Our history. Our story." and Ardbert refuting it with "Our future. Our story." Shadowbringers is full of such subtleties, and it's easy to miss them.

[@hugz4genestealers]

I always liked Emet's use of "our" instead of "my" when talking with the WoL

[@RothAnim]

The one that got me was someone pointing out that he "casts aside titles and pretense". The intro title to the fight is not "The Seat of Emet-Selch -- Hades" but just "Hades".

[@xtyyoz1]

@@RothAnim there is also the scene in the cave when he explaining the zodiark and hydelean fight, he said the worst thing about that is ppl doesn't remember it, that's why he said remember us in the end T_T

[@RothAnim]

@@xtyyoz1 A comment which takes on additional meaning later (without negating this point.) The writing on these expansions have been amazing.

[@anonymousperson1188]

Another one is - For those we have lost (Emet) - For those we can yet save (WoL)

[@Loki_Trickster]

FFXIV: Lets make you go from hating a villian to Understanding and feeling their pain in 1 expansion. "Stormblood" Players: Okay but that was a one time thing you can't do it again. FFXIV: Emet Selch "Shadowbringers" Players: Okay that was a low blow in the feels. But I bet you can't do it in a single patch FFXIV: 5.3 Players: *curled into ball weaping* okay you win FFXIV: But this isn't even my Final Form "Endwalker"

[@CronicasDeGisthia]

1 expansion, twice then, 1 patch and finally One Zone.

[@filipgabriel1262]

Who was it in sb, Yotsuyu?

[@Loki_Trickster]

@@filipgabriel1262 Yeah, She is a war criminal, but generally you understand where she comes from, and that pain and abuse has dictated her life choices. And generally most feel bad for her in the end. Weither its Tsuyu or Yotsuyu. You could argue Fordola Also. But she didn't have as big of an impact for me.

[@specialnewb9821]

@@Loki_Trickster I don't feel that bad for her, but I do hate and grieve how the people in her life caused her so much pain she became that.

[@Nugua92]

you are sooo right. This is not my Final Form.

[@Kuripants]

its at that last moment when you realize the difference between Emet Selch's cynical smiles and his *real* smiles.

[@LordPlagus777]

I remember reading a comment about how you can tell when his smile is genuine depending on which side of his mouth curls.

[@Kuripants]

@@LordPlagus777 yeeeep

[@ooSHINIES]

He also isn't slouching anymore after the fight

[@Knightmare-77]

I feel like I first noticed when he’s telling us about Amurot and the original world the first time. When he turned back to ask us one last question the smile he wore just felt genuine at that moment.

[@ajrey88]

Always loved the cutscene direction at 46:00 - how the camera slowly pans showing the scions, then ardbert's group, then back to the scions while they drop the line: "For we who walk before may lead those who walk after." It's too perfect.

[@kedolan4992]

Especially since his axe is no longer a dirty, bloodstained axe. It's cleaned up again, just like the rest of his armor: his guilt over failing to save the world, and then being denied when he wanted to help Minfilia in her last stand, is finally lifted.

[@gateauxq4604]

Also he’s clean shaven 👀 That shot always wrecks me, moreso after doing all the role quests. None of them deserved what they got. The Ascians were such rat bastards.

[@Emmerron]

This shot is what kills me every time watching the cutscene.

[@CaptainAgura]

"The soul yearns for honor, and the flesh the hereafter Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after" I love the phrasing of this game for his callbacks.

[@jamesderbutler]

@@kedolan4992 It's even more than that. I don't know exactly where, but there is a source in the lore implying that he was the one who killed his own friends, since they needed to die to be able to travel to the source after all. So the blood on his axe may very well literally be the blood of his companions that he slayed before he took his own life all in the desperate attempt to save their world. They obviously were alright with that, but it is still a heavy burden to take on. I personally think that this clean axe also means, that he is freed of this burden now, too, the same as how Emet-Selch finally stood upright in the end, instead of the slightly crooked way he usually walks as if he carried the burden of a world on his shoulders (which he did).

[@trial_with_an_error9687]

"My world will have no need for heroes." Hits so much harder when you know his past, and the two people he was referring too.

[@IsilmeTuruphant]

From his perspective, those 'heroes' abandoned and betrayed him at the end. No wonder he's so disdainful of the whole idea of heroes.

[@Sleepitimes]

The heroes lot is to sacrifice for others, and the two he loved did the same (one to Zodiark, another to the fights during world's end). In his perfect world, I'm sure he wanted them both safe forever by his side.

[@Lorkanthal]

Hythlodaus and azem

[@shakalaka5446]

@@Lorkanthal Hythladaus and Elidibus, I think, but especially Hythladaus. He was the best of them, but still had all their flaws. Everyone's bro.

[@trial_with_an_error9687]

@@a40989d1 Venat and Azem

[@King_of_Wishes]

8:25 I never noticed this but for the briefest of moments after Alisaie's words, there was a flash of sorrow in Emet's expression before he blows her away Those words weighed so damn much

[@hylianrezzi]

You’d think after having completed 5.0 back in August 2019 I would be over this by now Haha nope I’m here to say that this still makes me tear up god I love this game

[@evrfreez]

Same, god the intensity of this whole sequence...

[@hylianrezzi]

@@evrfreez Having finished EW this hits EVEN HARDER

[@grayfarron5077]

Every god damn part dude it hits.

[@EdenNeedsAYoutubeHandle]

G'raha getting all teary-eyed after you finally call him by his name is my fucking kryptonite

[@fluffyfang4213]

I completed it two years ago. I've watched several streamers including Pyro complete it. I still teared up AGAIN watching this replay. In my defense, the story is great, but watching Pyro get so happy and emotional about it all fills me with unreasonable joy.

[@ericbright1742]

48:35 This right there. We know that Emet-Selch caused so much pain, chaos, and was probably responsible for the deaths of millions of individuals over how many *thousands* of years... but The Dying Gasp is really about the dying gasp of the ancients, and it is abundantly clear that Emet-Selch feels very keenly the loss of the world and the people he loved. It's very possible to condemn the actions, but care about the individual, and understand their reasons.

[@insertcognomen]

did he kill millions? they're not real

[@ericbright1742]

@@insertcognomen I'm not counting souls, because of reincarnation. Even discounting the number of people killed on The Source because of the Umbral Calamities, and even discounting the number of people on each Shard that gets destroyed, Emet-Selch created the Allagan and Garlean empires. Those two alone caused *massive* damage to the world. But yes, even in his own words, he does not consider us truly alive.

[@williamklett6660]

The Ascians are the epitome of the Sympathetic Villain. Have they done evil in search of a just cause? And would you in their place have done the same?

[@ChallengeIdeas]

Thank you. Too many people don't understand the difference between love and approval these days.

[@JustinStrife]

@@williamklett6660 In no way shape or form, would I have done the same.

[@Ridley70]

It's crazy how this part always makes me tear up. FFXIV story is so incredibly immersive

[@jonmedders3866]

I've seen it dozens of times. Still makes me cry every time.

[@shani_ffxiv]

@@jonmedders3866 I know right? the whole story is just full of emotions

[@williamklett6660]

Watched various people do the final many times and it always draws tears

[@zubershaikh8752]

Watching MSQ reactions is one of the most entertaining thing in ffxiv

[@shaderunner8220]

The inevitable fact that we have to defeat Emet one way or another was just constantly hurting me in my mind so much throughout this entire bit. There was no other way, we had to do it to save or world, our people. But a part of me kept wishing there was a way we could come to an understanding where neither of us had to die, despite knowing full well it's impossible. I was practically bawling at "Remember us... Remember that we once lived". And then I realize they managed to incite all these intense emotions in me with a fictional character, a villain, over the course of a single expansion. And that's when I realize what a masterclass this is in storytelling and character writing. Absolutely phenomenal...

[@SapphireDragon357]

All hail Ishikawa the Great!

[@Spitzernt]

I was genuinely begging forgiveness and saying sorry again and again upon seeing the big hole on Emet's stomach, as in, "I'm sorry it had to come to this, I'm sorry we couldn't find another way." Also I was bawling the entire time

[@rheia]

Ishikawa LB3 is literally enrage.

[@MelaniAlarcon]

@@Spitzernt i was like that too but with elidibus in Endwalker

[@TirielWoW]

@@MelaniAlarcon Oh my god, it kills me every time. The more we learn about Elidibus, the more I want to bawl my eyes out because it's just so cruel and unfair and it never should have happened, but it did, and there's nothing for it. There's nothing that can fix it. And I hate it. :(

[@highbrow-stonebender]

That guitar riff. Every time I hear it I get a chill and a grin. I must have watched this scene a hundred times by now, seeing different streamers react to this crucial moments we have all shared. Never gets old.

[@gateauxq4604]

My *spine* starts vibrating LESS GOOOOO

[@SaltyDitchDr1275]

The silence before, the weight of the story, then the music. They mix master story telling with the best musical score and perfect timing to completely manipulate our emotions and complete the immersion. They tie everything together so well it takes time to really appreciate what they have pulled off.

[@Maria_Erias]

I think everyone's probably got a screenshot of That Moment, too. I know I do, and so does do all my friends.

[@dakotadoyle7573]

Each member of the Convocation had a specific duty aside from leading the people. The role of the Seat of Emet-Selch was to watch over the Athereal Sea AKA the underworld

[@prisoner817]

The Underworld is implied in tales from the shadows and in endwalker to be seperate from the aetherial sea btw, its where (SPOILERS) It is where Asahi probably dragged Amons soul to.

[@Nimadj]

"Holy shit, Shadowbringers is almost peak Final Fantasy, they can't one-up this" "My name is Naoki Yoshida, this is my team, hold our beers"

[@puppylove7089]

They haven't. If you think Endwalkers story is superior to Shadowbringers then that's your opinion but I politely disagree.

[@Nimadj]

@@puppylove7089 ok

[@Shiirow]

@@puppylove7089 opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and some of them stink.

[@jijonbreaker]

@@puppylove7089 Shadowbringers is a better standalone story. Endwalker is the most epic conclusion that could've ever been, though.

[@TheTriforceDragon]

​@@jijonbreaker Agreed.

[@D3vious113]

Remember back in the Nidhogg arc when you said you couldn't wait to see what they have now? This is why we were laughing so hard. Glad you're still enjoying the game and can't wait to see more o7

[@minitaur8693]

"Can't tell anybody, alright?" Idk why, but that little added touch at the end just felt so fitting.

[@tsu4595]

The credits scene, especially when Ardbert and the former Warriors of Darkness appear... never fails to make me emotional. I've watched so many people react to this scene and it always gets me. Shadowbringers is magnificent. 😭

[@HaiwafaHolmes]

I think this version of Eternal Wind really helps to pull those heart strings too.

[@tsu4595]

@@HaiwafaHolmes It really does! The music alone is enough to send me in my feels!

[@probablyhuman632]

I love Emet’s final words more every time I hear them. He wanted us to remember that while he himself may have become a monster, him and his people, the ones he had been toiling for centuries to save were just that: people. And the best thing about it? We absolutely would have done the same thing in his situation.

[@ChallengeIdeas]

If you mean "we" as in the WoL, no, we actually refused. If you mean "we" as in IRL...you keep interesting company if you wouldn't hesitate to commit genocide.

[@ArCvnDnt]

@@ChallengeIdeas I mean, if we want to make the situation analogous to irl as close as possible, its like if you came back to Earth from a long outer space voyage. Coming home, you are greeted with an Earth strangely filled with monkeys, some with familiar faces to your loved ones, and no other humans in sight, OG Planet of the Apes-style. You and your crewmates becoming the last 3 humans on Earth. Turns out, they are humans but some scientific disaster happened some millennia ago and everyone "evolved" into monkeys, but they can become human again. The catch is: 1. The process resets everything back to the point just before the disaster happened (basically means killing off the entire monkey species and civilization), and 2. The process will inflict pain and suffering to the monkeys currently living. Key point here is that if a way EXISTS for you to get your human civilization, friends, and loved ones, back again in exchange for deleting the sentient monkeys' species and civilization, would you do it? or would you let your kind go extinct and let the monkeys take over?

[@ChallengeIdeas]

@@ArCvnDnt You're forgetting the ??? step that goes before Profit. It's not just erasing the "monkeys"; you're turning the "monkeys" back into "real" people, and THEN feeding all of them to a ravening monster OF YOUR OWN MAKING to get back the handful you personally deem worthy. I understand the "not really human" rationalization, and I'm very fond of Emet-Selch, but none of that obligates me to ignore the really ugly bits, pretend it's not a rationalization, or blindly accept "who among us wouldn't". Which, I do believe, is part of the point of this whole thing.

[@amouramarie]

@@ChallengeIdeas Plus just because Emet-Selch doesn't consider us truly people _doesn't mean he's right._ The usual ants/animals analogy doesn't work, because he's not threatening to rid the world of Opo-opos to bring back his people, he's killing millions of *sentient* people. Genocidal leaders refer to their 'inferiors' as beasts/animals/vermin always - it's pretty standard. The ancients had more powers and abilities than us, yeah, but it doesn't negate the fact of our sentience. A better analogy would be us not considering Garleans to be really people because they can't use aether.

[@cyphi474]

@@amouramarie And at the end, he was beaten by one.

[@tsuribachi]

As he said, "cast aside title and pretense", Hades is the only boss in Shadowbringers MSQ without title, only name. edit: typo

[@TheShadowfan9000]

I thought it was pretense

[@tsuribachi]

@@TheShadowfan9000 typo. thank you for catching that

[@TheShadowfan9000]

@@tsuribachi oh np lol.

[@SurrealNights]

@@TheShadowfan9000 Both are actually correct. Pretence is the British English spelling. :)

[@AmySay]

[ MASSIVE 5.3 SPOILERS ] And against Elidibus, the boss’s name is “The Warrior of Light”, with his title being “Elidibus”, to show how much of his identity had been lost being the heart of Zodiark!

[@stephbenson7340]

Pyro, clearly having an emotion: "It's just going to get better...! What??" imagine enjoying the MMO you play! wild thought. :P

[@AQWninjanani]

Emet: "It is never easy to lose those you love" Pyro: " What do YOU know about THAT!? " Literally enters a dungeon about all his pain and loss

[@rayjaygee]

Its that god-damn 1 - 2 emotional combo of; pan to reveal Ardbert, pan to reveal his buddies welcoming him home, their mission completed. Ah stop lads, I can't handle the feels.

[@PetarBladeStrok]

Every time Emet says "Remembers us... Remember that we once lived" I break into ugly cry.

[@riftwalker9296]

Probably one of the coolest set ups was that after taking out Vauthry you start succumbing to the Light. Graha says that much light is too much for any "one" soul to bear. Merging with Ardbert's soul was what allowed the WoL to contain it.

[@brosephstinson1297]

Merging with Ardbert pretty much made the WoL an ancient, no sundered soul anymore.

[@ongoingprocessfailed]

@@brosephstinson1297 I like the Idea that the WOL is a single entity eight times rejoined by the end of SHB. A literal walking full party. The latest raids literally has you constituting your party out of your aether so it's all but confirmed for me.

[@ChallengeIdeas]

@@brosephstinson1297 I think there are still five bits of you running around out there, doing insane stunts and saving their shards. But Ardbert was needed to help increase your carrying capacity, for sure.

[@ChallengeIdeas]

Contain it long enough to shove it up Hades' nose, to be precise.

[@Notaforumguy007]

God they're amazing at writing emet's transformation from someone you hate to a relatable person, you can see yourself in is masterful. They make morally grey look so tangible where if you were playing emet you'd be all about crushing the warrior of light and his friends as he is. Its just beautiful they completely flip your feelings for a character so nonchalantly.

[@megamage911]

They really made Emet embody the concept of "A villain is the hero of his own story"

[@nnymeia7663]

fanfact: hades is also a semi-recurring boss/summon in the saga. i love when they have a past boss fit so well in the narrative of this game

[@dragonfangalexander]

It literally just missed a Cauldron ultimate. But the Light Devours i take it. So fucking amazing.

[@reihwan]

@@dragonfangalexander I believe the last cast of Hades is Black Cauldron, which would essentially wipe a party (enrage) if it got through. You can see it even in the video that Hades begins to cast it at 1% - 31:50

[@hugz4genestealers]

Yep, Black Cauldron is Hades' enrage cast at the very end, you can see it if there's a number of deaths in the final segment

[@spearsage]

I suppose on the second phase we were actually fighting on top of his cauldron? Well, floating bowl-shaped rock. But beggar can't be chooser 😂

[@dragonfangalexander]

Oh, i've never saw that, nor fought him in extreme. Then is perfect.

[@kabang35]

I love how everyone, even myself, just has a huge smile curl on their faces whenever the shadowbringers theme starts with the scene with Ardbert.

[@hmgirlpopuri5819]

Ardbert coming home always destroys me.

[@theroguerider]

I found you through your explosive love for a game that had let you down. You found FFXIV and you loved it and I wish you nothing but more continued enjoyment. Welcome to Endwalker and continued fun and enjoyment and content. Best to you.

[@sordsable]

HOLY MOLY the Echo flashback effect sections are really really nice touches, props to the Editor!

[@JackgarPrime]

I LOVE how they set you up explicitly to have that sort of thought at the beginning of the video. They know you're going to think of him that way, but then as you learn what his story really is the player realizes that they were making assumptions that they were extremely wrong about and were made in haste.

[@miagostream6223]

I will never not cry during this part of the story. Was so looking forward to Pyros reaction and I was not disappointed

[@svenstevenson2245]

with all we have been through as players and the WoL alike, it really brings deep meaning to the lyrics "Unspoken requiem for the river of tears" in closing in the distance...

[@victoriahunter4684]

Still ugly crying after all this time

[@shawnhall9013]

Since you started playing I have patiently waited for this moment. Emet selch is one of the most amazing well written antagonists that you pity, sympathize, and even see yourself being him if you were in the same situation. All of shadowbringers is top tier storytelling not found anywhere else.

[@ericbright1742]

I love how Emet-Selch completely loses his cool when he sees *YOU*. He's lost his temper before, he's gotten angry, but you always felt he had control, or he was at least holding it together. Then he sees you, and he's shocked to his core: "It can't be!" He tries to recompose himself, and then the Exarch appears behind him, and he slips again: "How did-!" And then the Exarch starts summoning in our reinforcements, and Emet-Selch stops holding it together. "DAMN YOU!"

[@tylerbaker2405]

The double irony was that the Exarch's summoning was basically Azem's magic. Emet gets a glimpse of Azem; does everything he can to deny it; then gets a copycat of Azem's unique magic thrown in his face. At that point Emet is basically just cursing incoherently.

[@cynicalmanatee]

@@tylerbaker2405 I think it was more than azem's magic. We know from hythlodaeus that you are a familiar soul to him. Both you and ardbert. You and ardbert combined are 9/14th of azem herself. So that shot of him seeing and ancient one was him seeing Azem standing before him. Not only was this him finally seeing a glimpse of a long lost friend and some he care DEEPLY about. Ardberts quote of "our history, our story" is probably something Azem embodies and Emet learned from back in ancient times. So while you may not have her memories of eld, you are still her.

[@ericbright1742]

@@tylerbaker2405 Using the Crystal Tower! Using Allagan technology! He BUILT the Allagan Empire! The Exarch was *using technology he created* to *desecrate* the memory of Azem!

[@specialnewb9821]

@@cynicalmanatee hence the "broken husk" line. He's trying to convince himself because the WoL is probably acting just like Azem himself would. He knows deep down that Azem would oppose what he's doing because he knows what he is doing is wrong.

[@simondUK]

@@cynicalmanatee He also knows that Azem's job is to show up with their friends and kick the crap out of problems, so there's probably a sliver of fear in there too.

[@aetherwind3884]

It is so weird now seeing Pyro without the Emet painting in the background.

[@savagehowler]

That final part of the last dungeon is honestly one of if not the most beautiful pieces of design I've seen in a game.

[@Waduuheck]

CHAMPIONS FROM BEYOND THE RIFT, HEED MY CALL God i love that line so much. The raspy delivery of that 2nd part is just so good. VA knocked it out the park the whole time, but especially here.

[@commentsforthealgorithm]

50:17 the cry laugh whilst saying "it's just gonna get better" I FELT that haha. Think I said the same thing

[@safecampsystem]

THIS was what I was so excited about you getting to when you'd been going through the story before. I'm so happy you got to see it! All these years later and I STILL cry at the ending, it's just so captivating and heartfelt. Glad to see you had a similar reaction to me once you got there.

[@BrannedAortal]

Emet posed a question to Alphinaud before the dungeon stating that half of humanity would not sacrifice themselves for the other half...but in the future where graha came from, they did sacrifice themselves so another timeline could be made. pretty interesting thought that came to me post ShB

[@Ferodra]

I love how literally everyone reacts exactly the same when Emet brings you into space in the Amaurot duty

[@Tobeh]

My GF and I got to that point and we were the same. Just “whaaaaaat the fuuuuuck holy shit!”

[@TheToastyNinja]

My husband and I are having a son in May and we're naming him Emet. We bonded over Final Fantasy, so all of our children's names are inspired from the games. Ceres (saw the name one day and thought it was beautiful and reminded me of Celes from FFVI, so it just stuck and the FF name tradition started), Adyn (common kind of name but with a spelling based on Ardyn from FFXV), and now baby Emet. FFXIV has the greatest story that I have ever experienced in a video game.

[@wallsofgranite]

So so glad you enjoyed this! I hope the story has lived up to your expectations and that it will continue to do so all the way into Endwalker and beyond! We're all so happy to have you here with us in Eorzea ^^

[@Scottistic]

its not done yet :)

[@wallsofgranite]

@@Scottistic Yes! Super excited to see how he reacts to the patches and especially EW! Can't NG+ to replay it on my main yet so re-experiencing it vicariously through someone who loves narrative this much is going to be lovely

[@Scottistic]

@@wallsofgranite ive already experienced EW and SW through like 10 different people at least when it came out. Just waiting for Preach Pyro and Asmon to finish :P

[@GrahamChapman]

As a long-time lurker on your twitch streams, that whole thing about you wanting a Thanatos or a Hades in FFXIV getting its pay-off when Emet turned out to be Hades was great... Even greater to me, as a long-time FF fan who's been experiencing FFXIV though your LP, since Hades is a recurring entity in the FF series: Hades made his first appearance in the final dungeon of FFV, where he was the most powerful random encounter enemy in the game, capable of using even the final boss's signature spell, Almagest -- but since you could encounter more than one Hades in a single encounter, he could actually end up being _even deadlier_ than the final boss! A few years later, Hades came back as a summon in FFVII, where his attack, "Black Cauldron," dealt a bit of magic damage and, more importantly, inflicted Sleep, Poison, Confusion, Silence, Frog, Small, Slow, and Paralyzed to all enemies, making him one of the most useful summons in the game... His next appearance was in FFIX where he was a secret super boss, (and was, in fact, originally intended to be the final boss of the entire game,) once again sporting some of the most powerful spells in the game... After that he showed up as the final boss of the final expansion of FFXI, (a game I also did not experience first hand,) and fittingly he was pretty much the most dangerous enemy in the game PERIOD... And then, with this history of Hades as being one of the most powerful casters in the FF series' rooster of recurring entities, it turns out that Emet-Selch, the dude who casually created a magical replica of a long dead civilization, was FFXIV's iteration of Hades? Heck Yes! (And it certainly helped that he was also such an absolutely amazing villain.) Edit: A little bit of trivia: The red design most prominently seen on Hades' left claw/2nd hand in his first form is based upon that of a Red Spider Lily, in Japanese known as "Higanbana", or "Flower of The Distant Shore", referring to Higan, the Shore on the other side of Sanzu-no-Kawa, the River separating the world of the Living from the realm of the Dead in Japanese Buddhism.

[@RealRaslu]

It brings tears to my eyes every time I see Ardbert holding out his axe and the music starts.

[@tenebraequeene]

I loved seeing this live! It was quite the experience! Here's to many more in the future!

[@AlexRayne]

Dulai Chai is a treasure and will hug you to death if you argue. Have loved seeing your journey from end of ARR to the beginning of Endwalker. looking forward to seeing what is to come.

[@Keira_Blackstone]

I very much agree. I was worried when the character first showed up that it was just going to be low hanging fat jokes and silliness about her being wealthy and out of touch. I'm so glad they elevated her into a real character.

[@RazAnime]

46:08 will always be some of my favorite shots in all of videogames

[@VDA19]

Instantly bawled at that. What an incredible attention to detail that his axe is no longer bloody. He redeemed and forgave himself.

[@GENOSANDIEGO]

And the transition after that too

[@VideogamesPang]

Having played the game continuously since Heavensward, when I first finished 5.0 I just kind of sat there with a slack jaw trying to process what I just experienced. Literal years of buildup and it paid off so completely and so flawlessly, it was the most satisfied and fulfilled I've felt not just from a video game story but probably any story in any medium. It felt like my soul had nutted. The game will probably never reach this level again for me, but it doesn't have to.

[@alchemi8085]

Another 5.0 reaction, another sobbing session. I can't wait to see the 5.3 and 6.0 videos!

[@thomasderosso5625]

I love how often Alisaie is the first one to tell the boss to shut the fuck up.

[@bigdracha700]

Hey man, new here. Thank you so much for sharing your adventures in FF14. I love watching the reactions and legacies that will be left behind. All the tears shed, laughs and angry cries as we watch the story unfold, I am so loving experiencing with the community. I grew up with before ARR, and watching this story and the characters and their growing pains come to fruition is amazing. I hope to see more reactions from the EW experience. I've completed it already about two weeks ago and I still am emotionally damaged, crying with others as they share it to us.

[@okllo]

so happy to have seen your journey so far! so happy you can enjoy a proper story again!

[@Zlobaism]

My favourite part is that in hindsight, when you listen to the lyrics of the intro song, you can see that it pretty much tells you the whole story of the expansion. And it is so absolutely subtle that it was in everyones face and yet nobody noticed it. Chills every time I listen to it. Shadowbringers is a masterpiece.

[@Aristel25]

I hope someone pointed out to Pyro as well the changes in Ardbert btw folks. Right at the very end when he's walking back towards the Crystarium it's the first time you've ever seen him without blood on his axe, AND clean shaven. I love these little details they put into these games.

[@crowolf3862]

I’m sure it’s come up in another video, but I love the fact that tactics/ff12 lore was embedded into the convocation with Emet Selch corresponding to Zalera, seraph of death, and also to the constellation Gemini because it just makes the crystals mean that much more even before you add in the greek mythology underpinning the 14 versions

[@DanielCollins85]

13:55 - No matter how many times I see this, I still get goosebumps!

[@ojisankusai]

I've _always_ found it interesting how they were able to wrap the summon Hades up into Emet-Selch. Hades was the first of the last bosses to feel like it also had this whole other thing going on, that it wasn't just lip service to the summon itself.

[@lukethefluke7]

Whats great is Hades isn't going be remembered as the summon anymore, its going to be remembered as the real name of the most popular villain of the entire series. They didn't even have to use hades because Emet as a character holds himself up above the rest and then some without even having an iconic summon tied to him, but they tied it to him so symbolicly that its just perfect.

[@forformgamer]

I always see that little kid at the end as the next Ardbert. To symbolize the cycle of inspiring those who come after you. And he kinda looks like him :P For me this part still hits harder than 5.3, but I still really like 5.3. Some people feel like EW is up there as well, but I didn't really feel that much there...

[@AcSlaytah56]

Thank you for finally posting this, I don't got enough time to go watch twitch sadly so this is the best thing for me.

[@marki4452]

Idk why, but the scene with Ardbert walking towards his old party hits me harder than anything else

[@alexandermccalla5098]

I've teared up with every reaction to the end of this expansion. Been waiting for Pyro to upload this. Gets me every time. Especially that FF3 overworld theme. Super nostalgia.

[@TuxedoKamina]

Right at Mt. Gulg: "The Crystal Exarch could literally die right now and the story would continue and it wouldn't be any different"

[@merabledawnspark5827]

It’s amazing how he was a villain in ShB…. only to be so complex. The one thing he hates is lying and deception… He was truth all the way through and even though he did terrible things on the side, he was fighting for his people. He wasn’t using them as pawns, but he misses them. He wanted nothing more, but to bring them back even if it means on doing terrible things. Him seeing “you” and saying “No, it can’t be”… that was one of them. He let his guard down for that moment. Now the words of “Remember. Remember us” makes a lot more sense now… I can see why he’s a very popular villain and they wrote him really well

[@cynicalmanatee]

I can't wait until the 5.3 highlights. I really want to see pyros reaction given that he is absorbing all the lore in the game. Shadowbringers sets up so many plot points for endwalker. And all this setup isn't out of the blue but a culmination of all the expansions leading up. It really did give endwalk the best shot it could to focus on telling us the ending and not having to introduce anything new to us.

[@specialnewb9821]

Making the Duty Finder into Azem's power is genius gameplay integration and a way to remind us that yes, the point of an MMO is to game together.

[@ChallengeIdeas]

I just realized the other day that we've been low-key using this power all along: summon mount. Whenever they give us a mount as part of a story, that mount has decided it is our Bestest Friend and it wants to come with us. Azem's power extends to animals and quirky machines!

[@RoyvanG]

I'l give you a mind-boggling fact, one week before this expansion released, WoW released patch 8.2, Rise of Azshara, hoping that it would take the wind out of Final Fantasy's sails. Little did they know it was when FFXIV started blowing back.

[@llouw3494]

So I was grinding Nazjatar and Mechagon when this masterpiece was released? Oof, depressing to think about. Thankfully I found my way over eventually and was around for the Endwalker experience.

[@manip1980]

To think that i was playing that garbage without even knowing about this masterpiece. BFA. What a waste of time that was.

[@wmolockjr]

Pyro you reacted the same way when the credits started to run. this game sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions, I cant wait to see you finish the end of the tale!

[@shimasclan]

Been waiting for this. Can't wait to see his 5.3 reaction! My wife just got to The Vault back in HW, and I can't wait to see how she reacts to this part. She's empathizing with Nidhogg due to what caused him to go mad, so I can't imagine how she'll react to EMET.

[@TheInverseable]

Man the crescendo on the shadow bringer song is just the pinnacle of jams

[@AlipheeseFateburnXVII]

Can't wait to see your reaction to 5.3 and the Seat of Sacrifice. I'm slowly catching up on the vods on your second youtube channel, and while I haven't gotten very far, it's been amazing to see your reactions to old content and seeing how amazing it is to you. Do you have any plans on getting the KZbin vods up to date with the Twitch vods? At the moment they're quite a bit behind. It's not relevant to me yet, but it would be nice if they could keep up.

[@dafire9634]

He already reached endwalker in the twitch streams

[@SCUB4Owl]

Kefka and Sephiroth can fight for 2nd best FF villain, Emet has #1 locked down.

[@dimitrijepavkov974]

That was too emotional. Bless you, Pyro! Tis' good to see you happy ^_^

[@BoknoyBuhisan]

i was crying playing this dungeon and trial the first time. and i'm a bit teary eyed watching this now. it was worth all the time i put in the game for sure.

[@obsidiansinclaire3826]

It's so nice to see pyro actually loving the game he's playing. You can tell just how excited he is by every lore drop and aesthetic flair. So glad to have him in the community!

[@axelandersson7382]

I came in to work with two hours of sleep because I wanted to catch all of this live. Absolutely worth it.

[@zeening]

damn this still hits as hard as it did the first time watching it, such an absolutely incredible finale to the best story i've ever seen

[@HalfandHalf-ch]

no matter how many times I see it, the 5.0 ending never fails to make me cry, god bless this writing team

[@venabre]

Normally in stories I would say there are two types of villains. There's those who are doing it for a reason and who you can understand and even sympathize with up to a certain point. And there's the megalomaniacal ones who don't care about anyone and just want to see the world burn. Emet-Selch is both.

[@Froggsroxx]

Ffxiv: wanna see me break your heart? ... Wanna see me do it again?! >:3c

[@VerdantOmen]

I love how well Pyro's commentary and G'raha's lines blended there. P: "Don't you know Ascian?" G: "We Stand together!" P: "Heroes are never alone."

[@JannetFenix]

I so much more preferred the japanese version of the line: "What are you planning to achieve? You are alone" to "No... He does not stand alone!" - but i approve the translators making effort for it to sound as natural as possible. Oh, Raha. You precious creature you.

[@anyacarlson5219]

Area wizard not so tough after losing the ones he loves, details at 11

[@zaynkor2670]

Glad you loved it man, onward to even more goodness in endwalker

[@fawkespryde9183]

Thank you for sharing your perspective with us. Seeing the realizations hit you at Emet's name reveal and the connotations behind it made me smile. He, quite literally the god of the underworld, crafted the fallen remnants of Amaurot from his memories and trauma and filled it with the shadowed souls of his friends and colleagues.

[@deadkodo]

No matter how many times I see people do this when the music kicks in just get chills. Is there a better moment?

[@HouseOfAlastrian]

Emet-Selch is definitely one of the most well written villains of all time. You can simultaneously feel for his plight, for the whole motive he has for his omnicidal schemes... but from our own perspectives as characters in the world he would destroy to see his own restored, we cannot help but oppose him.

[@CrystalPrelude]

I don't know what it is. But no matter how many times I see the reaction to this, or experience it myself, it always causes me to tear up. There is something so profound about it.

[@GamerPenny]

I thought I had recovered from Endwalker. Then I watched this video and cried three times lol

[@Taygon45]

Me at the start of Shadowbringers: What's he after? Does he want me to die to the light and not have to deal with us? Does he want to keep his enemies close? Me after the axe was thrown: Please let me hug him! Give me the dialog option!

[@teritras41]

So glad you decided to put more of your ffxiv thoughts/gameplay on youtube !!

[@Xaveze]

14:30 gives me chills every time. One of the best musical cues ever.

[@fefnireindraer144]

I cant wait til you finish 6.0 and know why he is called Hades. It makes so much sense. And man this game is so epic it has passed into Mythic territory. Feelsbringers and Feelswalker xD

[@ericbright1742]

He read the short story "Ere our curtain falls," that reveals it. That being said, the fact that this is important might be a spoiler.

[@yohanhusei14]

No matter how many times I've seen these scenes, they never fail to bring tears to my ears. Such a masterpiece.

[@EdgeGilid]

the editing in this one is very very good, like how the "echo" was used

[@renehoyvik]

This was a wonderfull summery peace to get to watch :) Hope you make a video just talking about it to. Discussing how opinions might have changed or evolved, something you haven't done since StB pre patch MSQ :) Even a video discussing the notes you have taken, kinda like you did in HW would be nice.

[@seankkg]

Emet will always be the best character. Have I ever been so emotionally compromised.

[@yuandyberry]

I love watching Pyro's face when he gets to good parts -- I think Pyro has the most PUPPY-IS-HAPPY face of all the FF14 streamers I've seen. XD Also, I just watched his reaction to the Endwalker trailer and that was the biggest puppy grin I've seen. So fun to watch him!

[@midnightjay]

39:47 You chose the S-tier option, the only option. Those emotions are relatable af, the options to speak his name gets him every time and then it hits me just as hard.

[@amouramarie]

I see G'raha cry, I cry. It's not optional. ;.;

[@southstar66]

The Ardbert and WOL joining scene will always be one of the best parts in the game. As soon as the music kicks in, its all hype from there. Fuck.