World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is nearing the finale of its story. The last patch of the expansion – titled "Eternity's End" – released just over a week ago on February 22nd. The final raid of Shadowlands, Sepulcher of the First Ones, opened its doors this Tuesday, allowing players a chance to cross blades with the fallen Anduin Wrynn, before taking down the Jailer himself next week.
As top World of Warcraft guilds and casual groups made their way through the raid, defeating boss by boss, many expected to end this week's journey in the Sepulcher with Anduin's redemption. After the young King of Stormwind was dominated by the Jailer in the depths of Torghast and wielded like a weapon against his former allies, it was obvious that the end of his arc would culminate in the encrypted, pre-rendered cinematic that plays after his defeat.
What players did not expect, however, was that the cinematic would also depict the final moments of another beloved Warcraft icon – that of Arthas Menethil. Being reminded of his father's valor, and Varok Saurfang's honor, with whom Anduin fought against Sylvanas Windrunner's genocidal war an expansion prior, Anduin managed to break free from the Jailer's control, and in a moment of clarity, he split the mourneblade into two – much like his father in the past. Being possessed of free will once again, Anduin bore witness to the faded remnants of a soul emerge from the blade's shattered magic.
Concluding that it belonged to Arthas Menethil, the fallen paladin who became Warcraft's most iconic Lich King, the latter half of the cinematic featured a redeemed Sylvanas Windrunner hold a self-reflecting monologue in the final moments of his existence, saying that the legacy of Arthas was at an end, and that it was time for his name and memory to be forgotten, before the remaining spark of the former crown prince of Lordaeron's soul was dispersed forever.
Unfortunately, while the presentation of the cinematic was up to Blizzard Entertainment's standard quality, many in the World of Warcraft community had a negative reaction to the plot development depicted within, exhibiting either a worn-out apathy for Sylvanas Windrunner's time in the spotlight, or criticism of the missed character opportunities and the disrespectful and unsatisfying manner with which Arthas Menethil's arc was concluded. Even popular Twitch streamers like Asmongold offered their own take on the cinematic.
The prevailing criticisms revolved around the hypocritical and tone-deaf nature of Sylvanas Windrunner's speech, who painted the foul deeds made by Arthas in the Third War – while being unwittingly under the Jailer's command – as acts of villainy that justified the complete destruction of his soul, when she herself committed atrocities of her own free will in the Jailer's name merely one expansion ago.
Furthermore, many felt confused as to what Sylvanas Windrunner's role in redeeming Anduin ended up being, considering that her freedom hinged on the story's idea that only the former Banshee Queen could get through to him. Others pointed out that the arbitrators of Sylvanas' conversion to the side of the heroes, Uther Lightbringer and Jaina Proudmoore, wrongfully took a back seat during Arthas' final moments, given how important his actions have been in shaping their own character arcs.
While there is one cinematic that's still being kept under wraps, detailing the defeat of the Jailer and the events that follow, the consensus seems to be that players feel fatigued by the cosmic side of the Warcraft universe, as well as the controversial character arc of Sylvanas Windrunner, and instead want a simple return to Azeroth. Thankfully, the next World of Warcraft expansion is rumored to offer just that.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is available on PC.