The latest cinematic from World of Warcraft is drawing a lot of criticism. However, the end of the Jailer is quite good – says story demon Cortyn from MeinMMO.
Once again, a cinematic divides the player base of World of Warcraft. The video that plays after the fight against the Jailer is causing dissatisfaction among many players. “Is that it?” and “What a ridiculous ending” are common sentiments. However, I believe this cinematic accomplishes exactly what it is supposed to – and is even better than what we have received in the past.
Spoiler Warning: If you haven’t seen the cinematic and want to experience it live, you should not continue reading. You’ve been warned.
The end of the Jailer is quickly explained. After the fight, he is stripped of his powers by the other Eternal ones, the leaders of the Covenants. His plan has failed, and the Eternals judge him, while slowly but surely his power leaves his body and he is reduced back to a lifeless automa. With his last breath, he states that a divided cosmos cannot withstand what is to come.
What has disappointed the players so much? Why are some fans – once again – so dissatisfied?
I think a good comparison for this cinematic is the one from Patch 8.3. Back then, we defeated N’Zoth and simply eliminated him with a “super laser”. That was quite a mediocre cinematic. There were practically no spoken words, just the firing of the laser.
That was extremely unsatisfying. I found the ending undignified for an Old God and had hoped for so much more from Ny’alotha and N’Zoth, that I still think today: He’s not really dead; that was just a mind trick.
The situation is different with the Jailer. He has been reduced back to a lifeless automa and is quite surely erased. He has received his just “condemnation” from his brothers and sisters, has been stripped of his powers, and his essence has been obliterated.
I’m surprised that many consider this ending to be “undignified” or “bad.” Because just weeks and months prior, there was a continuous call: The Jailer should go. He is boring, he is annoying, he is simply too powerful, and is somehow not associated with anything.
Now this is exactly what happens in the cinematic – he dies. He is defeated and simply dies, without a grand, heroic-evil final deed. He dies, and fundamentally the state is restored to how it was before Shadowlands – of course with a few minor adjustments, because there will soon be a new arbiter of souls.
And yes, I too find the cinematic not perfect. Especially the follow-up statement “a divided universe is not ready for what is to come” made me roll my eyes. In Warcraft, there is somehow always a bigger fish, an even greater threat that overshadows everything that has come before.
To be completely honest? Yes, that annoys me too. Especially because I cannot grasp the significance of that statement. If the Jailer wanted to reshape the entire cosmos, then that also included the Void and the associated Void Lords. Something that is “over and above” would have to be so much more colossal that I can’t even imagine it.
But that is just a detail. There are many ways Blizzard can resolve this without it turning into an absurd story.
I am also quite sure that the next expansion will bring the focus back to Azeroth. After all, there has already been a seemingly sensible leak about the Dragon Isles. I hope that the storytelling will become a bit smaller and more tangible again, and that the great cosmic forces will only play a role again in the add-on thereafter.
Perhaps an add-on that focuses on “healing” Azeroth and solving many small problems so that the planet and its inhabitants are ready for the great fight afterwards – whatever that may be.
In light of this, I find the Jailer’s exit good. Because his unremarkable ending leaves open how things will continue and draws a clear line under his story.
Moreover, we should not forget that the Shadowlands campaign is still going a bit further. A few story chapters are still missing, including the encounter between Tyrande and Sylvanas.
Really, we will only know more about the future on April 19 – because then the developers want to announce the next expansion and showcase it. Then everyone should at least know roughly whether they want to give World of Warcraft and its story another chance – or rather take a break for a few years.
