Cortyn likes the current story of World of Warcraft, but apparently, he stands quite alone with that. Why is everyone so angry?
Patch 9.1 Chains of Domination brought many innovations to World of Warcraft. However, especially the course of the story has been heatedly discussed in recent days. Whether in the subreddit, in the official forums, or on various Discord servers – it is being talked about everywhere. Some people are even so disappointed with the storyline that they are sending death threats to the authors and apparently forgetting all manners.
But aside from such crazies, I found the story really good and can only partially understand the criticism.
I want to address a large part of the criticism.
Spoiler Warning: This article discusses the current story of World of Warcraft, including the cinematics at the end of the raid “Sanctum of Domination”. You’ve been warned.
Ardenweald Cinematic spawned many memes
The discussions did not only start with the Sanctum of Domination, but already a week before: There was the new cinematic during the covenant campaign in Ardenweald. A decisive battle occurs between Sylvanas Windrunner and Tyrande Whisperwind, the Night Warrior. Especially one scene is particularly criticized: Tyrande grabs Sylvanas by the neck and tries to either choke her, break her neck, or simply tear off her head.
In numerous memes, this scene has been parodied and repeatedly described as “cringe.” After all, it is quite silly to want to choke an undead. That would simply be stupid, and an old night elf like Tyrande should know that.
This viewpoint can be held if you only look at that single scene and not the context in which it takes place – because that gets somehow forgotten in most discussions.
Sylvanas has been conducting the fight rather “playfully” up to that point. She was clearly superior to Tyrande and was only buying time while the Jailer’s troops, along with Anduin, pursued their goal elsewhere.
When Tyrande realizes this, Sylvanas has already switched to her “mixed form” of banshee and elf and is on the run. To stop her escape, Tyrande asks Elune for her favor and follows her. She also shoots into the sky and grabs Sylvanas in a place where she can exert control – the neck.
Could there have been a better way to pull Sylvanas down from the sky and pin her to the ground? Probably. But did Tyrande have time to figure out the perfect approach? No. She had to choose a way within seconds and achieved what she wanted – Sylvanas was temporarily prevented from escaping.
Putting logic aside, the scene was also visually well-executed because it illustrates the shift in power dynamics. Tyrande, who assumes the dominant role in that moment, ready to annihilate her victim while it crouches subserviently beneath her. However, as Elune’s power wanes, Sylvanas almost playfully frees herself from the chokehold, simply pushing the hands back.
In my opinion, that could hardly be represented better and also raises further intriguing questions for the future, such as why Elune does not want Tyrande to eliminate Sylvanas.
The raid finale sparked a lot of anger
Much worse than the first video was the finale of the raid “Sanctum of Domination”. Around 70% negative ratings of the video clearly show that many players do not like what they see. To explain what I mean, here again is the video:
This video also receives a lot of criticism.
The first major point of criticism is that Sylvanas undergoes a sudden change of heart and turns against Zovaal, the Jailer. Many perceive that she suddenly has doubts at the last moment and basically switches sides spontaneously as “badly written.” But is that really the case? Is it spontaneous and without prior indication?
I do not think so. If you watch all the preceding cinematics, then this possibility has been evident for a long time. Even in the conversations with Anduin in Torghast and later, when the Jailer simply subjugates Anduin to his will, you can see the doubts brewing in Sylvanas. When Tyrande then revealed to her in Ardenweald that Nathanos was dead and that the Jailer had apparently kept that from her, you briefly see disbelief in Sylvanas’ expression. At the latest there, the thought springs up that the Jailer is also deceiving her.
The final trigger for Sylvanas’ change of heart is that Zovaal alters the grand plan. There was actually an agreement to dissolve reality as it is to create complete freedom – without a rigid corset that already determines what kind of life one leads and in which realm of the Shadowlands one spends eternity. The conviction that Zovaal would uphold his end and do what he promised was what made this alliance between him and Sylvanas possible in the first place.
However, Zovaal changes his plan and announces that he will create a reality where everyone serves him.
“But why was Sylvanas so stupid to believe Zovaal?”, I can already hear some asking. The exact answer to that can only be provided by Blizzard, but I believe that the signs are clear. On the one hand, Sylvanas and Zovaal have many parallels, and thus, it was probably easy to feel some form of “sympathy.” Zovaal as a prisoner in the Maw and Sylvanas once as a prisoner of the Lich King’s will – even though he was created by Zovaal. The common goal of destroying this reality to create a new one where everyone is truly free is interesting for Sylvanas.
But the second point is much more important to me: The missing part of Sylvanas’ soul. The fragment that Frostmourne likely tore from her, alternatively the Saronite spikes under Icecrown during her suicide attempt. That could be precisely the part of her soul that is responsible for remaining faithful to one’s own virtues, acting logically and rationally. Exactly that fragment that the Jailer returns to Sylvanas in the end.
Why do I suspect this? Because it was the same with Uther. In the Cinematic “Afterlife: Bastion”, we see Uther, who also commits an act that is completely out of character for his righteous, compassionate nature. He hurled Arthas’s soul into the Maw, even though it is neither his position to decide that nor the correct place for Arthas, who would probably be much better off in Revendreth.
If the missing fragment of a soul causes even a paragon of light to act against his own principles – why should it not work exactly the same way with an undead ranger?
The last major point that keeps coming up: Why does Zovaal let us all live and just walk away? He could have killed us!
Yes, he could have. But that’s not what he wants, and he makes that quite clear. His goal is not to annihilate everyone – but to subjugate all. Moreover, Zovaal considers himself so powerful that he sees no problems with “us” and the great characters like Jaina, Thrall, and Bolvar. Why should he? With a single wave of his hand, he could imprison everyone and subjugate them to his will.
And of course, from a story perspective, it is “practical” that we are spared because it fits the motivation of the villain. But what is the alternative? The Jailer cackles wickedly, kills everyone, and then a big “The End” appears on the screen and WoW is over?
Of course, there must be a way for the story to continue. This is in the nature of things that we are playing a game that certainly should not simply end now. With a villain at the height of his power, there must be an element that ensures that the protagonists continue to exist.
Moreover, Zovaal’s character has also been explored a bit more in other works. In the book “Folks & Fairytales of Azeroth” (which I highly recommend to everyone), there is a story about the Maw and a bit about the Jailer. He believes that every soul seeks revenge and is always pleased when he sees that this is indeed true. For this reason, he also apparently leaves Sylvanas the missing part of her soul – so she has to bear the last hours of her life with the guilt she has accumulated before the heroes take their revenge on her.
Ultimately, he simply does not care what happens. He has his path to the “Sepulcher”, he has the power in his hands – and the rest is simply no longer relevant to him.
A little distance can do good
Even if one does not agree with all my arguments and sees it completely differently – which is completely legitimate – then take a little distance. I find it quite alarming when people want to tell someone how a story should be told. Suddenly, everyone sees themselves as the great story gods who know exactly how a good story should look.
Sure, one does not have to like the story. But demanding that all story writers at Blizzard be fired because they do not tell the story the way one would like it is pretty far-fetched.
At the end of the day, it is still their story. While I certainly agree that player input should be considered regarding gameplay and mechanics – I see it differently with the story. I want to experience the story that the authors want to show me and no other.
And if you really come to the conclusion that everything has been terrible for years and the story was only great until [the addon I still liked] and then went downhill with [the addon I didn’t like] – then maybe it’s time to just gain a little distance from the game. Because it would be each person’s responsibility to spend years on something in their free time that they do not like.
But now you are welcome to discuss this. How do you see it? Did you like the course of the story? Or do you also find everything rubbish that has happened in Warcraft lately?
