Why Emet-Selch Is The Best Villain (FFXIV Lore)

Emet-Selch consistently places well in popularity polls for Final Fantasy XIV. But why is a villain such a fan favorite? Let's dissect his character under the microscope of what makes for a well written villain. Is he the best Final Fantasy villain ever? Maybe so!
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[@Eppon6]

I'll never forget the first cutscene with Emet-selch in it. Mostly because it involves him proudly monologuing in front of the Garlean throne before being unceremoniously shot down by his grandson, his lifeless body comically flopping down the stairs before resting by Varis' feet with an utterly goofy expression. Only to for him to port back in with another body and continue monologuing, although a lot more bored now. And nobody even remotely mentions or references what happened. It was a masterpiece.

[@alden2085]

It is peak "How to debut a villain"

[@StoutHelm]

Talk about scene stealing. He's the highlight of every one he's in.

[@Avresem]

Part of me wonders if the reason why nobody mentions it or references it is because it happens so regularly. Like, that's how the Emperor says "Hello" to Emet Selch every time he stops by, and everyone in the castle just acclimated to it.

[@alden2085]

@@StoutHelm At least until Hythlodeus shows up to bounce off him.

[@StoutHelm]

@@alden2085 let’s be frank, both of them are top notch.

[@GarredHATES]

Kefka: “I’m the best villain because I destroyed the world!” Emet-Selch: “only one?”

[@andreasiccardo8063]

Brandelis from World of Final Fantasy: "Only seven?"

[@Archris17]

​@@andreasiccardo8063 Meteon: "GeT oN My LevEl."

[@anydaynow01]

So true! FFIV had the best heroes and FFVI the best villain, until FFXIV and Emet Selch!

[@Norbert_Sattler]

Kefka "only" devestated his world, but didn't fully destroy it. But it'd work if you replaced Kefka with Kuja, since he truly wiped out Gaia, together with every single one of it's inhabitants, all local species, the history and genetic information - just everything (safe for some artificially created beings, who managed to escape to Terra).

[@JamieBarrington]

I heard that in Emet's voice

[@Zeppelee]

Fun fact: Emet-Selch/Hades ranked #1 in a character popularity ranking of FFXIV characters, and is ranked at #5 in the Final Fantasy series overall.

[@narius_jaden215]

I really think I'd put him at #1 on a personal level. He's so... fully fleshed out. A truly wonderful character.

[@CaptainWolverine1993]

Emet-Selch: For those we have lost, for those we can regain. WoL: For those we have lost, for those we can yet save.

[@greggreyes6869]

i know ffxiv wont do drastic turns but i really was hoping emet set up a situation where WOL had a choice bringing back his recently deceased scion friends or saving a city or something. so in a way Emet is testing if mankind's current champion will go on the same path as his or will choose moving forward

[@Cartafilo_XXI]

@@greggreyes6869 We quite literally get that choice in Ultima Thule if we ignore the fact that by bringing the Scions back we would just... die. We choose to summon Emet and Hyth back, not to save our friends, but to give us a way forward.

[@greggreyes6869]

@@Cartafilo_XXI i was thinking emet giving us that choice IN shadowbringers. emet giving us that predicament not meteion

[@DistendedPerinium]

"The future you seek is not the past I loved. That is why we fought. That is why I lost."

[@maplepainttube8158]

@@greggreyes6869 I mean, just by being scions that's a choice everyone already made to an extent. Everyone could theoretically just bug off, live their lives, and leave the world to its own devices. But instead they actively work to help the world, even at the cost of their own lives.

[@Ranixo286]

Elpis Hades: "Why would I do something so Asanine and Megalomaniacal?!" Me: "EMOTIONAL DAMAGE."

[@kereminde]

To quote a great writer: "Wait and see."

[@Angarato86]

there was 1 little dialogue line with emet in elpis that really shows the skill of the writers. after hermes got super emotional over killing the lykanos(?) he was wondering to himself what it must feel like to feel such grief. it made me tear up cause all you can think off. oh buddy... you're going to find out.

[@danielpina95]

One thing i loved about Emet’s design was his constant slouch, like he’s carrying a great weight throughout all that time. Not till you finally face him does his slouch disappear, like he can finally put down that weight at the end

[@nathanscott3339]

My friend and I both felt that the slouch grew more pronounced throughout Shadowbringers. He has been doing this so, so long and it is clearly weighing on him. Then Endwalker comes out and we see the younger him, standing straight and tall.

[@lunasilvermoon2283]

@@nathanscott3339 not only the younger him in Endwalker but it was more telling for me in Shadowbringers.. watch his posture when he pleads the WoL to remember they (the ancients) once lived.. He's standing straight there.

[@rogthepirate4593]

@@lunasilvermoon2283 I mean ... of course. His struggle of 10k years was finally at an end, whatever form that end took.

[@dood52751]

@@nathanscott3339 hence, one of the reason "tomorrow and tomorrow" played after Hades defeat, because one of the lyric have "Stand tall, my friend" foreshadow actual infatuation you have with Hades.

[@nathanscott3339]

@@dood52751 Everything with Emet-Selch was masterful and shows what Square can really do with characters when they are doing their best.

[@antonyocallaghan]

The reason he helps you against Elidibus is because now that he finally rejoins the athereal sea, he remembers the events of Elpis, and so, knows the WOL is the only way to stop the endsinger.

[@Archris17]

"I bade you remember, yet all this time, it was _I_ that had forgotten! A right fool you've made of me, Hermes!" I love how _indignant_ he sounded at that point, like he's both outraged and impressed at being party to such a grand twist in the production!

[@Zoey--]

@@Archris17 One of the best lines :D

[@devilry7111]

One of the things I really like about Emet-Selch, compared to many "redemption arcs" in other games, is that his experiences never become fully reconcilable with the WoL's. As much as he comes to believe in the WoL's ability to usher in a better future, he knows that it will still never be the future he wants, which lies in his past. The fact that he still gives everything for the WoL in their time of need (albeit not without sass) speaks to the depth of his friendship with Azem. To understand each other is not to pretend that the differences magically go away in the face of a "common humanity" (like so many redemption arcs do) but to believe that one can forge friendship without erasing those differences.

[@robertbeste]

This is an underrated comment. The last sentence is particularly poetic. Differences should not be seen as weakness, but celebrated. I often like to say, "Where two people agree on everything, one of the two is not needed".

[@Renagadezzzz]

Now I can't quote it, but I do believe when Emet is resummoned in Ultima Thule he does still say his ideals are at odds with the WoL even at the end, which I can appreciate he is unwavering but accepting of the defeat. (After looking it up) Emet: But more than that, the future you seek is not the past we loved. That is why we fought. and why I lost. But though you defeated me, my ideals are inviolate. Invincible."

[@kuronyra1709]

@@Renagadezzzz A perfect way to title drop his actual final boss theme song. :D

[@Derpinator01]

I think another reason Emet-Selch resonates with players is that he echoes that part of us that clings to what we grew up with, both the bad and the good. He's the fan that loathes a sequel for doing something too new, he's the parent that forces his children to have his old hobbies, and he's the gamer that attacks the console lines that he didn't grow up with. On the other hand, he's the fan that cheers for a new release of an unpopular franchise, he's the parent that keeps old toys so others can play with them, and he's the gamer that keeps games he'll never play again.

[@StoutHelm]

So he’s the Chrono Trigger fan who hates Chrono Cross? Haha

[@lisascarbrough75]

Love your analogy! LOL!

[@FF-tp7qs]

All my old toys got thrown out, after my cat peed in my toybox

[@peen2804]

i bet emet selch eats ass

[@mrblackjacker32.03]

Probably the best analogy I've ever read

[@mayalewis2956]

I loved meeting him again in Elpis and finding out whilst hes always been a grouch he has also always been a huge softie and helping people no matter how many times he grumbles about it

[@StoutHelm]

Him and Hythlodaeus showing back up made the Elpis chapter so much more interesting.

[@mayalewis2956]

@@StoutHelm it's was fun seeing how much of a push over he was XD meeting Hythlodaeus and seeing a little of how much of a menace he was to emet poor emet had Azem, Hythlodaeus and Venat to deal with all at once XD

[@dragonmangames2523]

@@StoutHelm The whole of Endwalker felt like experiencing Doctor Who.

[@Avresem]

What resonated the most for me in Emet Selch was the desperation. Not the pleading of someone about to die, or the frustration of someone that's been inconvenienced by life and the world. This is a man who lost everything in the process of trying to save it. This is a man who has no refuge from the reminders of that failure save what his memory can conjure up; and even such daydreams are ephemeral and a pale shadow of what he wants. He tried to move on, he tried to make due with what the world offered now, and everything he saw was insufficient. So he clung to his dream; at the expense of all else and of everyone else. He became bitter and spiteful, in the service of the one thing he felt could fix things. Emet Selch is someone I am deeply sympathetic to, and one of the most relatable antagonists I've ever known.

[@Tevikolady]

This was the very future that Hydalen sought to save the rest of the Acians from, and she did, other than those that were not sundered, but it didn't come without cost. Which she was willing to bear

[@XthTerrorOfDeath]

Emet-Selch is hands down the best Villain in the entire Franchise imo, I doubt they can ever top him. The fact they made me care so deeply for the 'bad guy' that I was crying when he died, and crying again when he said his goodbyes in Ultima Thule is just mindblowing.

[@malonysaintpierre1599]

SE knew what they did, after we defeat him Alphi line just broke me '' Emet Selch is gone'', that hit like a truck, who would teach me history now, how could we connect with Ascians again? And well..

[@greggreyes6869]

i think SE was trying to go for like this in Ardyn but it didnt quite land right for me. then they got it perfect for emet.

[@cstaie85]

I cried too... no shame in that. And I have cried several times over rewatching that scene.

[@tonymaccaroni1683]

Killing him and all his dreams he fought for for thousands of years was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do in FF14. I never really got over it.

[@rogthepirate4593]

I do have at least a little bit of hope that they may come close in FFXVI. If there's any dev team that can do it, it's them. I mean, they top themselves in FFXIV time after time already, maybe that transfers over to a new game. But then again, maybe not. Best not to have high expectations like that.

[@MieHanz]

There's a disappearing amaroutine shade that reenacted his goodbye with Hythlodaeus. You cant approached them too close or they'll disappear. It's near the lift to the top where we first descents down to Amarout street.

[@StoutHelm]

Whaaaat? I’ve gotta go check this out.

[@mayalewis2956]

whaa

[@Koibito247]

omg i just witnessed this!! ;( ;( ;(

[@MurakamiTenshi]

I did not realize that!!!

[@rogthepirate4593]

There's a *WHAT?* The sheer amount of detail these people put into this game never ceases to amaze me.

[@MisplacedShadow]

Honestly I loved Emet Selch. He was written so well, and honestly shadowbringers really was the best expansion in my opinion.

[@StoutHelm]

It’s close between that an Endwalker but I think I agree with you.

[@KoNekoNoUta]

in my opinion ShB is the best turning point, EW is the best conclusion.

[@MisplacedShadow]

@@KoNekoNoUta EW was good, my only gripe was how quickly we ended up taking on meteon, and that the scions all came back. It cheapened their sacrifices imo. Otherwise it was a good end to the story.

[@Lyu-Phy]

As good the whole game is.. I really miss Shadowbringers so much, it truly is something else.. damn.

[@obviouslykaleb7998]

@@MisplacedShadow idk. i never really thought of them as meaning to be permanent sacrifices; more like pivotal character moments. the peaks of their respective arcs and the heights of their emotions. Thancred was able to overcome the dynamis likely by shutting off the flow of aether in his body as he did in the first, his weakness once again becoming his strength. estinien was able to convince the dragons to never give up, and to never lose hope. not in anger, but in love. He'd lost his family to nidhogg, yet he's willing to make friends of dragons for his new family. if you've ever played the 30-50 DRG quests, he was more than willing to lose himself to Nidhogg's eye just to kill its' owner. now, his sacrifices are for his friends and loved ones, everyone with him and everyone at home. Y'shtola has some sort of scholarly thing about knowledge and how it should be stored and spread, but Urianger has legitimate guilt about the many times throughout the story that he's had to go behind everyone's back. he doesn't believe he has the resolve to do one of those dynamis-emotion things alone, so he's more than willing to help others. he forgets the many times he alone has been pivotal in the scion's success though, like 90% of the times he has had to not disclose knowledge. G'raha has his many years on the future/source and the first, both doomed worlds unwilling to resign themselves to death, to inspire literal machines to act against their programming. he knows how to inspire hope and change, and how to overcome the creeping stagnancy becoming of old machines, because he's lived through it several times. the twins have all of it. they have their love of each other and the scions in general, Alphinaud has Thancred's determination, Alisaie has Urianger's self-doubt and g'raha's unflinching hope, and they both have a little bit of everyone else. the twins are, in the end, still literal children; those of the scions most likely to learn from their adventures and their comrades. i honestly think that if they all died there, or even just a few of them, that it would have cheapened the experience and made the finale less impactful. "the walk" worked because, like all of the scions, you've learned from the journey yourself. in a purely meta, out of story way though, i didn't actually believe that anyone had "died" at all. it may have painted my experience differently than others, but i never really thought "oh dang he's actually dead" like i did with haurchefant.

[@nightlord531]

Shadowbringers is without a doubt one of the greatest stories I've ever had the privilege to play through, and perhaps 90% of that stems from how incredibly well written Emet-Selch was as the "villain" of the tale.

[@rifleman2c997]

I would like to see more of his relationship with Azem, Venat, and Hythlodeaus in the future.

[@StoutHelm]

Me too! Even if it’s told second hand through stories.

[@elrilmoonweaver4723]

You mean the past :D

[@DistendedPerinium]

There's a parody Tumblr thread about this very thing and it's honestly pretty funny. Can't remember the name of it though.

[@NPDStudio]

Whenever I think of Villains with heartbreaking lines, I always think of Emet's. His villainous declaration: "I will bring back our brethren, our friends, our loved ones. The world belongs to us & us alone."

[@Ahrosartgaming]

He will forever be one of my fav characters. Hades, Hythlodaeus and Azem's friendship touched me so deeply, and I will cherish that lore and take it with me as I continue playing. Probably even after the game ends, I'll still be obsessed with them.

[@StoutHelm]

The three of them are certainly captivating.

[@la_motte6628]

I've never felt so sad about any fictional character dying before. It took me actual days to mourn him after his end in SHB, much to the confusion of the people around me. That moment on Elpis, when we see him again and our eyes meet is so powerful. Needless to say, I had to stop and get the tissues out. How beautiful and cruel of the game to take him from us again and again....I wonder if there will be another reunion in the future? He'd tell us off for it, of course 😅

[@robinma4004]

I swear he’d create a sleeping eyepatch over his head just to mock us for waking him up again… such a diva 😂

[@corvidaegudmund1186]

Elpis was so hilarious. Our eyes meet, and you can practically see him think “that thing looks like Azem. That means mayhem that I am NOT dealing with today!” Yep, definitely our Emet! My only regret is that our characters didn’t hug him and Hythlo one last time in Ultima Thule. I know the different character heights would make animating hugs difficult, but still. You know Emet would gripe about being hugged….then hug his “foolish hero” back.

[@maplepainttube8158]

I've experienced too much media to claim he's the saddest I've been over a character death, but he is by far the saddest I've been over a villain death. I ultimately still sided with the scions over him in ideology (some of my friends did want to side with him), but I was still so f-ing sad anyways. Edit: Actually, at the time I was fighting him at the end of Shadowbringers, I don't even know if I was fighting based on ideologies. I think at that moment I just realized he'd do anything to bring back the world and people he knew, and I'd do anything to protect the world and people I got to know over the entire game, and it was just a matter of who was going to win this fight.

[@Nempo13]

@@corvidaegudmund1186 I do love how one of the very first things he says is that Venat must be laughing about the whole thing. As after having died and come back he got those memories back.

[@Buttersaemmel]

i actually felt worse for elidibus as he was depicted as this broken and empty husk and the way he just sat there at the end really got me.

[@marcosvidela1282]

What I find so compelling about Emet is that from his point of view the calamities he caused weren’t murder because he doesn’t consider sundered souls as “people”. He plans to rejoin all souls so in his view everyone will be better off once the Ascians are restored.

[@StoutHelm]

Exsctly. In his mind he’s the hero.

[@georginaraven1691]

Technically, if the rejoins would happen, the broken souls would rejoin. They would not be murdered but regaining their memories and become gods, like they were before. We literally saw it happening when the wol joined with the wod in the first. So I never got why we weren't given the option to side with him and destroy the world PROPERLY, thus saving it, you know, since this is a final fantasy game. But I guess the whole 1.0 to 2.0 thing is the best "destruction" we get. :(

[@WalkerOfTheWastes]

@@georginaraven1691 Because, very simply, not everyone was an Ascian: in fact, most of the people in the Source were not. The shards and their inhabitants are fragments of sundered beings, but not everyone on the Source was: as is stated multiple times, life began blossoming again in the wake of Zodiark terraforming the planet after the damage of the Final Days, and the Ancients planned to sacrifice that life to bring back those who gave themselves up prior. That was the moment Venat and co decided that enough had been sacrificed; the cutscene in Thou Must Live, Die and Know was just a vision. So even if those who had been Ascians prior to the Sundering were rejoined, literally everyone else would perish. Emet is an interesting character and a well-written villain, but he's still a villain, who murdered uncountable numbers of people to recreate a world that no longer belonged to him and his kind.

[@Ashtari]

Until Emet, the number one villain in Final Fantasy was Kefka. He was fun, sympathetic in a small way (a man driven mad by the experiments done to him), and he succeeded. But Emet is just tragic in a way that can't really be fully felt. 10,000 years...alone with someone losing their mind and someone losing their memories. 10,000 years of constantly killing or setting up a situation that results in the death of one of his best friends...over and over again. He could see the color of souls, so he KNEW every time when the hero they faced was a fragment of Azem. And he had to watch Azem die again and again. It's no wonder he was so broken by the end that he was trying to deny the proof before his eyes, that the Warrior of Light was Azem. Because it also meant that every other fragment the Ascians faced was also Azem. My only regret is that the tale of the Ancients is over with, because I would LOVE to hear more about Emet and Hythlodaeus, seeing their relationship with Azem through their eyes.

[@narius_jaden215]

I have a feeling they may give us some of that in side stories one day.

[@deathwolf1767]

I think the dialogue was "one thousand thousand of your lives" so astronomically more than 10000 years

[@Ashtari]

@@deathwolf1767 he may have been counting his pre-sundering life in with that. Because the official timeline has the sundering 10,000 years ago.

[@abyss8471]

@@Ashtari another thing! Time flows differently between reflections, a few months for us was over 100 years for the First remember, so who knows how long emet dwelt within other reflections.

[@Ashtari]

@@abyss8471 that is true as well. Excellent point!

[@USMC49er]

Emet-Selch character design represent his character as a whole. Light and dark like his hair. In Endwalker, he clearly understands that the world has to be sundered in order to save the world. But when he has nobody but his fellow ascians who are trying to bring back their unsundered world through Zodiark, he clearly falls for the temptation despite his principles. The Garlean empire was created through his own hand, so it isn't like he doesn't have blood on his hands. But when he sees the WoL, he actively tries to help the WoL despite having no memory of them. He didn't have to rescue Y'shtola when she got stuck in the lifestream again and he didn't have to offer a compromise if the WoL found a way to seal away the excessive light without destroying themselves. Emet-Selch is probably the most human villain Final Fantasy has had in a long time. Good people can have moments of weakness to succumb to bad things, but people's true nature finds a way to show in their final moments.

[@shadeblackwolf1508]

I really like Emet... he summarizes the why himself. when we go up against him, us the champions of our reality, one of the last champions of his, clash in a final battle of will and might. "The victor shall write the tale, and the vanquished become it's villain." and yet, in his actions, there is a clue that he wants us to succeed. That he wants to be proven wrong, for the sake of his friend that he sees in us. Truly beautiful writing.

[@MelonCatto]

I will admit that I am a huge Emet Simp, but he has quickly become my favorite character in any media, honestly (let alone favorite villain). It's impossible not to sympathize with his plight, and at the same time he's such a butthole. I love him.

[@StoutHelm]

You’re definitely not alone.

[@silmerien6]

The main force that drove Emet’s will and determination is love: the love for his friends, the love for his people, and the love for the star. It was prove in Ultima Thule that he still disliked what Venat did and what he had to go through. If he was a bit more self-center or more selfish or didn’t have those loves I mentioned, he would NEVER step in to save us from Elidibus nor answering to our call in Ultima Thule. He came to save the day because he finally was able let go of his anger and sorrow. By answering to our calls, it was proved he loved his friend and the star more than anything even his ego and life.

[@GmaerXQ]

One thing I always loved about Emet-Selch was the feeling of *why* we fight him. In ARR, we fight Lahabrea and the Ultima weapon for that good ol’ trope of “He the bad guy, go stop”. Not a bad thing. HW turns it personal. For all that THordan and his Knights take from the WoL, it isn’t just a case of “He the bad guy, go stop”. You WANT to go and kill him, for revenge if nothing else. SB takes a step back a bit with Zenos. He doesn’t get to his prime until EW, but like Lahabrea (6.1 version anyway) he feels like a very intimidating threat, with how easily he defeats you and forces you to run and recruit. … Then comes Emet. You spend pretty-much the entirety of ShB with him either at your side, or somewhere nearby. You talk, you learn, you gain insight on his history and motives. Some parts come off as more villainous than others, but even they make sense thereafter with context (As you put with him offering the WoL a peaceful death in the shadows of the Tempest). He shows you Amaurot, you watch and feel the pain he’s carried for millennia. By the Dying Gasp… Emet-Selch’s fight wasn’t a case of “You are my enemy and I will stop you”. It felt more like two ideals clashing… We didn’t *want* to fight Emet… but we knew that we had to.

[@DistendedPerinium]

He admits that much himself in the Final Walk. He even admits the WoL was right in the same line.

[@magnusthedemon]

"Standing here, I realize. You were just like me, trying to make history. But whose to judge, right from wrong? When our guard is down, I think we'll both agree. That violence breeds violence. But in the end it has to be this way."-First stanza of "It has to be this way" From Metal Gear Rising:Revengance. Reading your comment made me recall the song

[@davidmoore2279]

I always love your videos. You even included two of my favorite scenes. "You cannot be trusted with our legacy" in Shadowbringers hit so much harder once you get to Elpis his fairwell of "Do not squander it. The Legacy I leave you." Also fully understand this was more a character analysis and not a complete lore of Emet video, but the level of detail in the Ascians always blows my mind. Since they're names and symbols are based on the Scions of Light and Dark in FF12. Emet-Selch being the Angel of Truth and his face glyph being that of Zalera, the Death Seraph. I feel they did justice to those two names by as you said having him be someone who never outright lies only telling half truths at worst, and his true name being Hades alludes to the Death Seraph aspect.

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you king.

[@lisascarbrough75]

I completely agree! Emet did some terrible things. But, getting to understand his motives and his past made me adore that character. I believe the dev team gave the players a huge fan service by sending us to Elpis to see the unsundered Emet and Hythlodaeus. So much fun! I didn't want to leave Elpis either, and I was sad when their memories of our character is wiped clean.

[@eshbena]

I was happy though, to imagine Hades getting to the other side and remembering everything. That must have been a huge stream of annoyed grousing for just days. XD Hyth was probably laughing through the whole thing. "I turned into a comic opera villain! Where is that idiot? I want to have words with him about his moronic memory erasure nonsense!"

[@lisascarbrough75]

@@eshbena So true! Brilliant

[@dinopower901]

@@eshbena is it bad that I can imagine him finding fandaniel and strangling him?

[@xtremefurrycat]

Emet was such a wildcard, you could never fully understand his intentions unless he wanted you to know. He is also the most memorable villain I can think of out of many other FF games I've played. Not only can I relate to him but I also had a fear of what he would do next in the back of my mind the entire time. Still my favorite character as a villain/ stuck up friend that was edgy yet compassionate.

[@Rettomus]

I have to admit, I still don't understand his deal in Shadowbringers. For quite a while he talked as if he truly wanted WoL to contain the light of the Lightwardens and used it as a "test" for mankind ("You were the specimens by which I might gauge man's potential as it stands"), yet when at the end it turns out that yes, WoL actually *is* capable of doing that, Emet actually grows angry and lashes out like a stereotypical "this cannot be" villain. ...So was he lying and truly just wanted to fuck with Scions (pulling back Y'shtola from the Lifestream etc) or was he truly pulling some sort of test? Why then was he so petty about WoL passing his "test"?

[@xtremefurrycat]

@@Rettomus he experienced life since the first splinter of the stars. All those life times and other stars made him a bit crazy over the years. So he wasn't all there and after all is said and done when he regains his memories after death he feels like a real tool to see what he became

[@Rettomus]

@@xtremefurrycat I get that many lifetimes had made him unstable. That doesn't really answer my question of whether he truly meant to test people in SB or not...

[@xtremefurrycat]

@@Rettomus it was all a big game to him having fun messing with others. Until things got out of hand is when he stop playing his games and actively tried to stop the wol from saving the star by trying to set them up to changing into a sin eater.

[@Clarity_OSRS]

That moment when Ardbert joins his soul with yours, and Emet-selch thinks he sees Azem.. he says "bah, a trick of the light". What a brilliant line! I love that line so much.

[@StoutHelm]

Easily one of my favorite moments from the game.

[@WalkerRileyMC]

And yet his very next line he admits we are, indeed, a shard of Azem. "You are a broken husk, nothing more!" He knows, but because we aren't whole he still doesn't consider us 'correct.'

[@PaulHofreiter]

What a treat to get a video on Emet-Selch. I do think he’s the best antagonist in the entire series, and it’s not even a close contest imo. When I got to Elpis I didn’t even want to leave…sorry Scions but I would have saved my ancient friends if given the choice.

[@StoutHelm]

I’ve been thinking about who in the franchise matches him based on the criteria from that article and I’m struggling to find someone else who comes close.

[@KingMidgardsormr]

@@StoutHelm Ardyn in my opinion fits a lot of the criteria but unfortunately he's bogged down by the mess of Final Fantasy 15

[@robertocaballero1009]

@@StoutHelm I'd vote for Kefka Palazzo, i never have remembered in any of the Final Fantasy series that has succeeded as much as Kefka did. Emet would be the close second and then Kuja would be the 3rd.

[@Makorze]

Well to be fair. Even if you did save the Ancients. The Scions themselves must also have unsundered counterparts in that world but that also means they were all in the group that summoned Zodiark so probably for the best we never meet them.

[@Makorze]

@@StoutHelm Emet is kinda unique in that he is alot older than other FF villians. So old in fact that he is actually tired of being seen as the villain from fighting Heroes over and over again. To save his people, Emett sees himself as thr Hero and the sundered champions as the villains. Elidibus even takes this further. With him believing the WoL genuinely is death itself, the murderer of his companions and the being who will burn the hopes of the Ascian people to ash and that actually hurts the WoL because they can't fully deny it.

[@sylas3265]

I think something that makes Emet-Selch so good as a villain is that we also get more time with him, his machinations and his scheming. Most ff games have a main villain who we follow that happens to be connected or hiding a bigger villain which can work but sometimes it’s a lil janky. Emet is there as soon as we learn about him. He’s proud of his work in the source and his constant show stealing reminds us HES in control, he IS the big bad and vauthry and the light wardens are obstacles, the story humanizes him while the game presents him as THE one in control all the time. Like he shoots the exarch and just strolls up. He doesn’t have to shoot him he’s an all powerful mage but he picks a mundane weapon to blow a hole through the exarch to just stroll up and make a scene. The absolute extravagance is unnecessary. And the community lives for it. He’s the kinda character you don’t necessarily root for as he’s going on genocide but you can see the pain in his character and he flat out explains how he hopes to bring back his people. And if we could have saved the ancients ourselves we would be helping him. But the ascians are remnants of a bygone era and so too is their civilization. And so we can remember the ancients and their lives but we as reflections of them can’t condone the mass murder required to possibly bring them back.

[@StoutHelm]

Well said.

[@GmaerXQ]

I remember finishing FF9 a while back and really enjoying the dynamic of the villain; the desire to live as opposed to mere existence, even at the cost of so much. Then… that…… thing appeared and I was just… really confused and it kinda made the ending feel a bit hollow. =/

[@corvidaegudmund1186]

You know you’re doing something right as writers when your villain can have multiple monologues and instead of players going “oh great, another rant”, they practically get pen and paper out and go “yes, please continue”.

[@StoutHelm]

@@GmaerXQ I love 9 but I agree, it hurts the narrative.

[@narius_jaden215]

The reason I love basically all FFXIV villains in the past few expansions is because we get to know them.

[@combinecommando001]

What made me appreciate Emet-Selch as a whole was how he comes to accept his defeat at the hands of the Hero, he is humbled. He doesn't curse or shout at the Hero, he stands tall and proud and makes a simple request, he doesn't beg for it, asks the Hero as an equal as he finally sees them as such.

[@924252chongsir]

My top 3 villains of the series are easily Emet, Caius and Ardyn. They all have tragic beginnings that allow you to empathize with their cause, which makes the fight all the better.

[@StoutHelm]

Caius is a decent contender, and Ardyn does have some solid motivation.

[@notsure9466]

@@StoutHelm Which didnt get addressed until years later in a paid dlc before shutting down FF15 futures development. Ardyn as a character at the launch of FF15 isn't good at all. The best villians of the series are from FF6, FF9, FF7, FF10, FF12, FF13-2. However FF7's is sorta a strange case as he is barely in FF7 and its Jenova we are encountering for the majority of the game and the majority of his character development is told from past encounters with Cloud, Zack, Tifa. In a way Shinra & Hojo are the main villians of FF7's core plot. FF12's is much more simple, hes just a guy that wants power and wants his birthright to rule over his little brother. However he's not directly related to any of the mian cast. FF12's story is very much a War story between 2 nations & Venat is not the main villian of FF12. Its very based on the Starwars story which has given alot of FF fans to dismiss FF12 for the most part.

[@kevinkusman9137]

And what sells those 3 choices over a Villain like say Kefka, is all three are Voiced so wonderfully. Enough can not be said about the voice acting talent and awesome direction these 3 were given.

[@Lyu-Phy]

@@notsure9466 FF12's villain actually is not fighting just for power, he has a very noble cause ( I think many people miss that somehow). To live in a world without gods, that control the fate of the people. He goes to great lenghts to achieve this and even does a lot of horrible stuff, but this makes him all the more refined as a villain.

[@sebastardd]

I absolutely agree!! Emet-Selch is by far one of my favorite characters overall, and everything about him is so compelling and wonderfully written. I knew right off the bat in his first cutscene that I was completely enamored with his character and so fascinated with how his presence would impact the narrative. What I got was one of the most well written stories I've ever experienced, and the more he talked about the past the more I started questioning everything we'd learned about Hydaelyn and Ascians up to that point. His motivations and reasonings are so beyond understandable, I mean I could easily see myself making similar decisions had I been in his shoes. How do you cope with a loss of that magnitude? And when you KNOW there's a way to fix it? 12000 grief stricken years will do that to a man. The fact he technically gets a happy ending, too, was something I really enjoyed. Being reunited with Hythlodaeus in the aetherial sea may not have been how he had wanted that to happen, but it's a happy ending nonetheless in my opinion.

[@Ysreen]

That smile.... that damn smile ....

[@charliekealoha]

Never have I ever cried so hard for a villain. That's how good of a villain he is.

[@PetarBladeStrok]

Emet is my favorite villain of all time. Although I feel Fandaniel/Hermes and Elidibus are heavily underrated when it comes to FFXIV. Especially Hermes. Ishikawa & Yoshida explain him wonderfully in one of their latest interview. BTW. Absolute banger video.

[@StoutHelm]

Hermes is also very well written. Elidibus has some very meaningful moments. I’d like to cover him at some point as well.

[@LeeroyJanky]

Any villain that makes me forget about all the war and genocide must be pretty damn good. To make me go, "Damn, what a cool dude" after all that? That's top tier fantasy fiction

[@TheDoomSheep]

Emet-Selch has that big Q energy from TNG. Like I wouldn't even be surprised if that was the main inspiration for the character's attitude and mannerisms.

[@SexycuteStudios]

Q is about 1000 times better than Emet.

[@Hobojo153]

I don't think it was Hythlodaeus' "death" so much that broke him, but rather the idea that he (Hythlodaeus) would be robbed of the chance to fulfill his life's mission.

[@StoutHelm]

It could be both. It’s unclear if Emet was aware of Hyth’s chosen purpose. If he was, I think he’d be more understanding. Even so the death of a close friend, even if it’s a willing, it would be tough on anyone.

[@specialnewb9821]

Don't forget that against Elidibus, Emet had remembered what really happened. He's already realized at that point, WoL's methods are the best option to stop Meteion. That said while I do not think much of reviving the sacrificed ancients, especially after Elpis I think reuniting Etheirys is unquestionably the best path forward. If it were up to me, WoL would focus on finding a way of doing a rejoining that isn't a cataclysm. Maybe using dynamis and not just aether. Regardless I now think he was right! Finally I think Emet shares qualities with Ardyn who has connections with Noctis, a compelling story, and is quite entertaining. Ardyn is also definitely in my top 5 of series villains

[@StoutHelm]

Right, instant memory returns.

[@tyriaxepheles7996]

That's funny. I agree with rejoining but what I want to do is join the souls not the planet. That being said if you join souls like we did with Ardbert, we would not have the memories of the ancient world which I am ok with as long as we make the people whole again. I would expect them to build another utopia.

[@kaye507]

The funniest thing is that canonically, sometime between 5.0 and 5.3, Emet must have woken up in the First's lifestream and been like "FUUUUUU-" finally realizing he'd been bamboozled for 12000 years

[@StoutHelm]

@@kaye507 “…. Oh, for the love of!”

[@DavidCruickshank]

Rejoining in any way is evil. We aren't going to have 13 versions of everyone and everyone's homes together on the source, we are going to have 13 completely independent unique sapient individuals forceful merged into one person. And since you can't have 13 personalities independently living their lives in one body any way you rejoin the reflections with the source resorts in a calamity for the reflections where their lives/Independence/sense of self is taken from them to make the source whole.

[@spookyplaguedoctor5714]

The friendship between Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus, and Azem is so well done, you really get the vibe that Emet was the mom friend and the main holder of the braincell.

[@teteamaster]

Tbh after went to Elpis , make me understand more why we should sunder. The dev did very goodjob of making that part the best experience that you don't wanna leave and wanna clinging on it. Make us understand more why Emet wanna bring them back

[@katiepersons6575]

I think the thing that Venat just kind of glosses over is that the Ancients weren't just trying to revive their sacrifices, they were trying to free them. Their souls were all trapped within Zodiark, potentially forever, unable to rejoin the Ethereal Sea or ever be reborn as new life. But to simply release them would have meant the destruction of all life for all time.

[@tyriaxepheles7996]

Venat also kills all the people who would be sacrificed anyway through the sundering. That's a big thing that was just glossed over.

[@TheAzulmagia]

@@tyriaxepheles7996 I wouldn't really call what Venat does killing, per se. In the same way that Emet-Selch gets his erased memories back when he returns to the lifestream, Fandaniel likewise remembers his life as Hermes when he dies. Sure, they aren't the same people anymore, but functionally they're still themselves on a level they don't remember. It's like a weird form of reincarnation.

[@tyriaxepheles7996]

@@TheAzulmagia reincarnation doesn't negate the fact that they're dead

[@kianasgf171]

I would love to see a video about Elidibus from you and this one is on point !

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you! And he’s for sure on my to do list.

[@dafire9634]

@@StoutHelm i think it may be wise to wait..or make an update video once the pandemonium raid is over, as "willbe"elidibus is your sidekick there

[@StoutHelm]

@@dafire9634 agreed.

[@chestakamal6391]

To call him a Villain is hard for me Antagonist is the best word for Emet-Selch I love that Character 😃

[@StoutHelm]

The fact that he tows the line is a testament to how well written he is.

[@narius_jaden215]

Villains and antagonists are one and the same. People who oppose antagonists will consider them villains. After all, what is evil to one person may be right to another. His ideals are inviolate, invincible, if you recall ;P.

[@NukeCloudstalker]

Because he's not a villain! He's a tragic hero - he was not evil in action nor intention. Antagonist to the main character for sure - but people conflate that with evil/villain for no sensible reason. If anything, there's ample reason to see the WoL and his crew as villainous (in action) if not in intention, at several times along the story, both in their fighting Emet, and in fighting Zodiark.

[@NukeCloudstalker]

@@StoutHelm He doesn't toe the line at all. He's not a villain. None of his actions were evil, nor his intentions.

[@wumbo5997]

dude i binged your videos last week and you're quickly becoming one of my favorite ffxiv youtubers. this video popped up in my recommended and i rubbed my hands together ready to go

[@StoutHelm]

Bro thank you so much. I’m glad these pieces are hitting for you.

[@Meoiswa]

I always loved the antithesis of Emet-Selch, an excellently written character we slowly learn to love, his motivation, his personal strife, everything about him is a drip feed of shocking revelations (that scene in Elpis where you tell them of the future absolutely destroyed me) and compounding horrors. And yet, at the end of it all, there's noone I'd rather fight than "2d caricature of evil: Zenos". The perfect *videogame* villain.

[@StoutHelm]

I miss Zenos already.

[@Meoiswa]

@@StoutHelm I think the best thing they did to Zenos was make us understand him (and him understand *us* as Players, not WoLs), RIGHT at the end. Its an excellent catalyst for turning the negative opinion we've held of him for more than two thirds of the game, into what can only be surmised with "That, I can't deny."

[@StoutHelm]

@@Meoiswa you’re right, and it won’t work for everyone. There’s lots of commenters who were just ready to ship Zenos off into the great beyond. Which is fine, but damn he’s a great character all things considered.

[@magnusthedemon]

Honestly? I grew to love Zenos well before EW. He was an annoying leech to be sure but, I understood his plight. And seeing his desperation to grow stronger and to fight us again it was kinda moving. I mean people could see his obsession over us gross and unhealthy. But you can't deny it made him improve himself and that is always a good thing. So when we had that final smack down at the edge of the universe, I was always apologizing with each qnd every hit. I felt like I was fighting a friend and yet, when it was over I had to say my good byes. I don't think there was any other way to send him off. He deserved the grandiose fight he got. Every ounce if it.

[@TheSuperRatt]

Honestly? I always hated Zenos. He didn't work for me. That fist-fight at the end of time was badass, but it doesn't change how I feel. I'm glad he's finally gone.

[@user-pz5fg9we6n]

Another thing about his motive is that it is so relatable. He had gave the new life a lot of chances to prove him wrong. Being the creator of an empire and see how they fall. Seeing the greed and ugliness of humanity. Knowing the peaceful and respectful culture of the pass. Even the WoL experience those ugliness (think back to 2.5 and 3.3). But we have comrades to care for us or to share the burden. Emet only had himself when he saw those. I feel like some part of him knows what he did is wrong. But NOTHING has ever JUSTIFY the cost of the ancient's life. At least for me, if I was Emet, I would do the same thing. And this made him so relatable for me.

[@TheSuperRatt]

He did his best to stoke that greed and villainy in the thinking species from the get-go. It's hypocritical of him to judge us.

[@seanfoster3489]

dude i am loving your lore videos so much. kepp up the great work!

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you friend!

[@reemeruxd]

I can tell you put a lot of love in these videos

[@yukikuran911]

He was one of the few villains in all the games I’ve played that I miss now that he’s gone

[@StoutHelm]

I hope he’ll come back but I think his time is done.

[@AxelFireDancer]

Defs one of the best written characters in general for the ff series imo ❤

[@StoutHelm]

No doubt!

[@plaidr]

These videos are so sick! You do an AMAZING job of making everything easily understood without meandering all over with fluff. Thank you so much and please do not stop! Do we know anything about the races of Ethyris? Why are there Hrothgars and catgirls, etc? I'd be curious about more info on the results of the sundering (like that). Cheers!

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you friend! This comment made me smile. And great question about those lesser races, I’ll look into it!

[@TheKeshaBro]

Great video! Emet-Selch sits in truly rare air for me. The Judge from Blood Meridian is the only other antagonist that gripped my attention so deeply.

[@shadith2380]

With EW hindsight, I adjusted my thoughts on his appearance in the Warrior of Light trial. He'd returned to the aetherial sea, therefore got his memories back and knew about Meteion.

[@StoutHelm]

I think this is correct. He was probably really, really mad when he was suddenly enlightened. Haha

[@denzelvilliers]

Emet-Selch it's not only the best Final Fantasy villain imo, but it's also one of the best villains ever on any media. I know the Franchise for over 25 years, i've played all Mainline games ( except for XI ) and All Consoles/Portables Spin-offs ( most of them via PC Emulator ), for mobile i did played only Opera Omnia and Brave Exvius for 2-3 months each ( i can't deal with Gatchas at all ). Emet-Selch > Caius Ballad > Ardyn Izunia are my Top 3 Villains, despite FFXIII Trilogy and XV being not that good ( XIII ) or a completly dissapointment for me ( XV ) Caius and Ardyn still are great villains imo. All of them ( Emet, Caius, Ardyn ) aren't the typical Villain where they are bad "just because" like doing bad things, they are way more deep than that and that's what makes them so great for me. They have a strong charisma, i can relate to them, their Background are great, they don't have a generic reason or motivation, etc.

[@trishawilliams52]

loving your ffxiv videos, can't wait for more!!!

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you, so glad you are!

[@lordhughmungus]

I'm just gonna come out and say it; Emet-Selch is one of the best villains in all of fiction, period. He's genuinely that good.

[@StoutHelm]

Fiction is so vast that it’s really hard to quantify that but of all the fiction I’ve experienced over the years, he’s certainly among the best.

[@NukeCloudstalker]

He's not a villain, he's a tragic hero, if anything. His intentions, actions and character was at no point evil.

[@lordhughmungus]

@@NukeCloudstalker He orchestrated the deaths of untold millions of people, and regardless of how he claims not to consider them people, they still are. He's absolutely, unequivocally evil.

[@NukeCloudstalker]

​@@lordhughmungus He isn't. He was working towards an end that provably makes people immortal in a prosperous, peaceful society - people dying only out of their own will. Souls are known to be reborn in FFXIV. Meaning that even if people died - they'd come back. But unsundered and immortal - even if that wasn't the case, he'd still be working towards a greater good. He was fighting for his people, their survival and existence, and he was fighting for the denizens of all the shards, whether they knew and recognized it, or not. Continuing the cycle of death and destruction that the sundering caused, would lead to orders of magnitudes more death and suffering - and that is exactly what was orchestrated by those opposing him, whether they want to admit to it or not. "regardless of how he claims not to consider them people, they still are." And so is all the people that are now doomed to live a mortal life with far lower aspirations, potential and harmony, than those same souls could have had, had their worlds been rejoined, when their souls would be reborn. The whole problem with calling him evil, is that he can only be held to be so, if you discard the entirety of the differences between our world and the world of FFXIV. Even then, it's a stretch to call him evil - he was making an omelette, yet people cry over him breaking some eggs? It was veritable utopia he was working on revival - not without struggle and strife, but immortal life, culture and capacities far beyond anything a sundered mortal could dream of. But "oh no he killed people", amirite?

[@lordhughmungus]

@@NukeCloudstalker I'm not reading all that copium, but I will address the last line. Yes, he killed people. Millions of people. No matter how you try and justify it, it was evil. Don't bother writing another dumb, fangirling rant. I won't read that one either.

[@kellyschmader213]

Emet-Selch and Ardyn are my two favorite baddies. Their dialogue and voice acting are both 👍

[@madambutterfly1997]

You leave Ardyn out of this. It’s ludicrous that Bahamut from the very beginning set Ardyn up to be the sacrificial lamb to drive out the darkness and the Star scourge. Why intentionally pit brothers against each other in this way? Ardyn screwed himself over and Bahamut simply had to accommodate and rework the plan.

[@narius_jaden215]

@@madambutterfly1997 Let him enjoy the characters he likes, yikes xD.

[@Deilais]

You hit all the perfect points on why Emet is a hands down great character and villain. I'm sure everyone can agree the things he did were terrible and he was just fighting for the people he loved, just like us. The side story content from the tales from the shadows is another piece of wonderful character development. He loved his son dearly and very nearly abandoned his mission for him, yet his death must have solidified his resolve that even after so long we were weak and the rejoining was still the best course of action. Emet's life is tragedy of epic proportions.

[@torn1216]

Thank you for explaining. I love you for this.

[@StoutHelm]

Glad you enjoyed it friend!

[@dylanshipley6620]

Fantastic video!! Thank you for making it and for sharing!! One small correction I noticed (and I believe I'm not mistaken) is that Emet didn't possess Solus Zos Galvus, but simply is Solus. That being a name he took on when he founded the Garlean Empire ^_^

[@craigkramer2603]

I was once told that the best villians are the ones the audience can connect with. The whole "I don't agree with what you are doing, but I understand why you are" Thing

[@StoutHelm]

They were right.

[@emmajones8708]

He is fun. Loved your video. Hades is my favorite character in this game. Soft heart but sassy.

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you friend, he’s awesome.

[@midnight2600]

Emet might be my favorite villain of all time I have to admit. The length of his buildup, the emotion of slowly discovering his backstory and that heartbreaking moment when you discover the city he built just to remember his loved ones....and of course leading to his final line "Remember us, remember that we once lived" Just BROKE me. HE is the reason Shadowbringers is my fav expansion.

[@KingLIFEDRAIN]

All I have to say is,the last time I had shed a tear for a character before shadowbringers was for the family of house fortemps. He is undeniably my favorite character and is a loving testament to the saying. "Some villans are just broken heros,pushed to the brink with no one to help them from falling into the abyss."

[@dafire9634]

The voiceacting really makes these scenes hit a lot harder, i think emet had great voiceacting, but the best voiceacting imo is elidibus in the 5.3 trial

[@StoutHelm]

Oh yeah, his debut was amazing.

[@narius_jaden215]

Elidibus is one of those characters that flew under the radar expansion after expansion, only to blow it out of the water for the small amount of time we really got to see him.

[@strictlybananas]

Longtime FF fan, been playing my whole life. Emet is the best villain in the franchise and it’s not even close.

[@megaposter2437]

That light split the world, and every life upon it!

[@FhtagnCthulhu]

I think FFXIV's existance of an MMO really allows its characters to breathe and helps flesh them out. There aren't many other games that ask for as much time as an MMO, both in terms of hours played, and in terms of months and years it is played over. Players have an investment in the world of Eorzea and its inhabitants that you could o ly generat in a long game series. A lot of that time may be spent doing the same trials and dungeons, but it is still building an emotional connection.

[@theravyneffect3610]

Can we get a video on Lahabrea? Not only may it end up being relevant for Pandamonion, but also it's been soooooooo long since he was the villain of the game that honestly I feel like I've forgotten most of his story by now. It would be awesome to be able to relive it again.

[@StoutHelm]

I’m going to wait to cover Lahabrea until Pandaemonium is concluded, that way it’ll be as comprehensive as possible. I promise I’ll eventually get to him and Elidibus.

[@flygonkerel781]

Hades truly wasn't lying when he said he doesnt see the sundered as people. he wasn't just saying that to defend his"moral relativism" when the WOL traveled back in time, and Hades saw them,Hades didnt r ecognize hem as a person, due to it's thin aether, but a familiar.

[@rofo666rlz]

I think it was because of WoL's soul colour. Its the same as Azem's. And since WoL is the reincarnation of Azem's soul...

[@jasonparks472]

well done, thanks for the video!

[@StoutHelm]

Thanks for taking the time to check it out!

[@sangahlolo]

Well made informative video 👏🏻 i really enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@StoutHelm]

Appreciate it friend!!

[@DBCatch22x]

Nailed it again bud! Emet-Selch stole the show from the moment he arrived, to the final curtain *nods to Amon*. His fight is effectively your fight, and you can't help but empathize with him especially for as long as he's been at it. Unfortunately, his truth and our truth were opposed, and that meant no matter what it was going to come to a head. Good stuff as always Stout!

[@StoutHelm]

Thanks friend!

[@arkboi2145]

Hands-down. Emet-Selch (Hades) is my favorite and most memorable "Villian" from any game or franchise. I can't tell you how deeply I felt for him and wished that as a player, we had another option. I didn't want to kill him. I wanted to talk and find another solution. After he revealed himself and told us his story and the history of who we are, I felt I understood his rationale and his motives. I understood why he did everything that he did. It was in the absolute pain, sadness, and loneliness that Emet-Selch endured for eons that drove him to accept that mass genocide was the only way to forcibly rejoin the sundered stars and bring his friends, family, and loved ones back.

[@IRifter]

Cant believe you only got 6600 subs with how well your videos are made. Keep up the great work and the subs shall come :)

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you so much friend. I’m confident if I keep providing and stepping up my game, we’ll keep seeing growth.

[@JMulls]

Great video!

[@StoutHelm]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Kiyolani]

I can go so far as to confidently say Emet is my favourite villain from any game franchise, book, tv show, or movie. I've never cried for a villain before like I did when he was walking through Amaurot alone. You could physically see the way his burdens weighed on him. He constructed a fragment of his lost world, inhabited by the ghosts of those he could remember. He was that sad, that lonely, and the only one truly left to remember. I didn't want to kill him. It was the knowledge that I *had* to kill him that hit hard too. I didn't disagree with his goal, but I had to stop him all the same because of the means he was going to use to achieve it. I've never lamented the death of a villain before like that. I've also never cheered when a villain returned like I did in Elpis and Ultima Thule. Emet-Selch's story truly is a master class in writing.

[@Corosar]

Emet has quickly become one of my favorite FF villains. Simply because. I get it. i get what he was going for. His pain.. His suffering. I feel for him so badly. And eventually. in the end.. he is still our grumpy friend.

[@ReelRai]

That small smile of acceptance from Emet just as he disappears after he's beat... never fails to make my eyes wet.

[@Luna-Starfrost]

Hendelo!! No clue if you remember or if you will even see this, but ~7 months ago I wrote a comment here and you adviced me to play trough 6.0 first. After a very long time, I now finally found time to do so and I soaked that stuff up like a dry sponge, finishing it just yesterday, a few hours ago. It was SO good and now, after crying multiple times like a little baby, I'm dry like a said sponge again. And so there was only one thing left to do, to watch your video. Just wanted to say that I loved it and you captured all of Emet's facettes so well. He was such a great guy and seeing him and Hythlodaeus cute, femboy-looking ass in the end one last time again was such a blessing. The Elpis arc had my eyes in constant tears, the ending was so beautiful and then there was the last showdown with our friend, fair and square. Such a beautiful game. Thank you for summing up one of my favorite characters ever and one of the best (anti-)villains I have ever seen. Great work. Also: His smug behaviour a la "jerk with a heart of gold" reminds me the most of Star Wars: The Old Republic's Sith Warrior. 😃 Now into your other videos. 😌

[@svenstevenson2245]

"Look at me!... I have lived a thousand thousand of your lives! I have broken bread with you, fought with you, grown ill, grown old! Sired children and yes, welcomed death's sweet embrace. For eons I have measured your worth and found you wanting! too weak and feeble minded to serve as stewards of any star!" For some reason, this moment, be it the content or delivery by his English voice actor (who I will argue at length that his performance was top tier), this is when he hit, so very hard, so very real. His long years of suffering, his will to try to understand the lesser races and maybe even give venat's idea a chance by letting the new races be the masters of the star he once loved only for them to fail to live up to his standards for eons and eons did he let them try and try again, worn and weathered his patience... Some of this now has been recontextualized by what we know of elpis/eythrys but, it takes no impact or bite from this scene.

[@StoutHelm]

Emet’s voice acting is iconic.

[@svenstevenson2245]

@@StoutHelm so very much so...

[@rikaikato4367]

Thanks for creating this video! it is really worth the wait :D Totally agreed with you! Emet - Selch is the best Villant ever in the FF franchise. So much connection with us and It is hard to treat him as villaint if you ask me. I almost break out in tears when fighting the WoL seeing him back!! that moment is is "!!!!!!!"

[@StoutHelm]

Thank YOU, I’m really glad you enjoyed it!

[@Nekrotix12]

So glad someone could put it into words. This perfectly encapsulates why I love this smug bastard.

[@oJaymey]

Every moment with emet fills me with so much joy and they make it very easy to see things from his point of view and he is not entirely wrong in his mission he may go about it wrong but he has a point.I was so happy so meet him again in elpis and work along side him. He is most certainly my favourite/ best villain from the ff games I’ve played

[@SnowingWolfGirl]

Besides being a compelling villain on his own, I also firmly believe he is a huge part of why Shadowbringers works as well as it does. Emet-Selch perfectly encapsulates the themes of the expansion by posing the question "Is the world worth saving?" The way he capitulates at the end, and how we subsequently witness how all of Norvrandt comes together to rebuild, with love and compassion for one another, answers that question perfectly - That people are good and the future is worth fighting for, even if it's not the "perfect" past Emet-Selch wants. And that is WAY more interesting than a run-of-the-mill Good vs Evil narrative. Shadowbringers forces you to question everything you know, everything you believe in, and whether you are doing the right thing. It tests the depths of your heroism and asks you to confirm exactly what it is you are fighting for, and that test comes in the form of Emet-Selch. Not only is he a compelling villain, he is the reason the narrative itself is compelling.

[@StoutHelm]

100 percent

[@rurukitty405]

Between Emet and Ardyn (FF15) Emet wins by simply being.... well... He used to be our friend. And by the end of 5.0, I cried because I had to off him. I wanted us to be friends. Maybe we could have found another way together. Ardyn is a well written villain, but no where near Emet.

[@PaulHofreiter]

Given the team making FFXVI, I am really curious to see what that game’s antagonist will be like. It could rival Emet-Selch since they seem to have the formula for a really great villain down now. Ardyn was good but I agree he wasn’t on the same level as Emet-Selch.

[@thegorgon3]

Even his phase transition OST while we fight him as his transformed Hades is just.. epic

[@xXManuelpRXx]

I have been waiting for this ;w;

[@RyldsGirl]

I totally agree. Emet-Selch is the best villain in all of Final Fantasy.

[@XemnasTM]

Emet-Selch is the best written character in the entire Final Fantasy franchise.

[@justalfric8719]

You should do a video on Matoya, who she is, where she came from, what she is doing and why. She is such an interesting character and I think a lot of people forget how big she really is!

[@miuxiv]

Thank you for this video. I don't know why I kept crying while watching this.

[@StoutHelm]

I didn’t mean to make you cry homie!

[@Arrakiss20]

Tsundere Emet, hard not to love him

[@ColombianMusclePapi]

I became a fan of FF14 thanks to Shadowbringers... He was amazing... One of the greatest written for a video game.

[@StoutHelm]

Best chapter of the game’s story for me.

[@coachleif]

Played every FF since the original and Emet-Selch is without a doubt my fav villain of all time in the series.

[@truesoprano2152]

Going in, all I knew about Emet-Selch was that he had a lot of fangirls. Playing through Shadowbringers, I initially thought he was an infuriating stalker. Then I finished Shadowbringers and he instantly became one of my favorite characters, and definitely the best villain in XIV.