Well, I finished that latest playthrough this weekend, and just have to say, NEVER AGAIN! <cries>
It was interesting, however, and there was a lot of emotional payoff -- "Trespasser" was
brutal.
I played it through making choices for my male Trevelyan ("Lachlan") that -- as with the Chargers decision -- I felt would be true to character. For instance, he had absolutely no clue about Bull's true allegiances and brought him along on the final mission, along with a Bullmanced Dorian, and Sera (who I always felt was really close to Bull). Lachlan had had a one-nighter with Bull, then had amicably broken up and gone on to romance Cassandra, so I really did feel like the tragic potential was pretty ramped up -- I mean, as the final run for the Darvaarad began, Lachlan was pretty sure he was dying, but he had brought along his closest friends for comfort on the mission (and former lover) and that was at least something (I felt he wouldn't bring Cassie to watch him die).
I knew this was gonna be tough because I knew this would mean that it would be a party of only three of us when Bull switched sides. But I was trying to be true to what my character would choose to do.
But wow, it was worse than I expected! Because yes, it was a really sad playthrough, but even though I
thought I knew what was coming, it still really blindsided me. For one thing, I had only seen the betrayal video briefly (and way way back on YouTube), and had never watched it again since. And then here I discovered I must have watched it most of it with my eyes closed, bcause for some reason, I always had this impression that Bull's betrayal comes in the final battles through the Elven ruins and bridge as we near the last Eluvian. I had NO idea it happened in that last room before the dragon encounter at the Darvaarad! So when the Viddasala showed up, I completely freaked out.
And it really was
cold. That short cutscene where Bull just casually pauses and says, "Change of plans. Nothing personal,
bas," and then
proceeds to try to kill all of you -- damn. Just
damn. It was one of the absolute toughest fights in the game, which was appropriate for poor Bull, of course, but again, I hadn't anticipated HOW tough. I mean, it was pretty evenly matched -- two archer-rogues and a mage, so Bull and the Qunari went through my poor IQ, Sera and Dorian like paper.
The only thing I felt was missing was even a moment of protest from you or your party to Bull. I wish we could have tried to reason with him, or ask him to stop (even if it wouldn't have worked).
But no. It was a good fight but poor Bull had to go. And then poor Dorian and Sera afterward! Their hurt and confusion was really sad and believable. The three of them all just standing by the body, totally stunned and in shock. Gah.
And then we were supposed to go handle the damn dragon after that but it just felt so wrong to me to just run right onward. We left the room twice and I kept running back, and yep, poor dead Bull was still there on the floor. Just so wrong! So I had everyone stand there for a few more moments in respect, then they went onward. But man oh man. Then Solas brings it up again in that final conversation, and although I normally really enjoy that final talk with Solas, it's the closest I've ever come to wanting to punch him (well, except when he dumped my elven mage back in DAI playthrough 2, oh, I was so young and naive...). But when Solas brought up Bull, I wanted to say, "Right. So now I know what it's like to have been betrayed by not one, but TWO of my closest companions." And then the terribly sad closing storybook pages. AGHGH.
So that happened. But I'm like, NEVER AGAIN.
I
am weirdly glad I experienced it, however. I don't think I could ever play an actual evil Quizzie -- it's just not something that interests me -- but I will play an IQ who may be a bit arrogant (like my Trevelyan here) or misguided, and in this case, I felt the choice made sense for my Trevelyan, even if he deeply regretted it. I liked that you could instantly see Bull break down after the loss -- break down, and then shut down. The scene in which he casts the ashes of the Chargers to the winds is even sadder than it appears because it might as well be himself in there as well, especially as he's giving that speech about how he won't be playing the character of "Iron Bull" anymore. He is saying farewell to the Inquisitor too there, they just don't know it yet. That's the last time I think Bull shows real warmth for me. He's so much colder after -- there's just no "there" there anymore. He just says "Yes?" when you try to speak to him, and I think it's notable that the only things we can ask him about (unromanced) repeatedly are the Qun alliance ever after (except for, briefly, Dorian). Even in the post-Corypheus celebrations, he once again says something like, "We won, so I'll play the part of the happy Iron Bull for one more night."
It's just all so beautifully consistent and well-written. I just think
it's all there right in front of us that Bull is gone, and think it's very subtly put forward at every step in the game. Even when "Trespasser" begins, you literally cannot have one big "catching up" conversation with Bull. He's just there. Just sitting there alone -- no Chargers, no adorable birthday celebration, no warmth, no nothing. You can't even ask him about Dorian. Then as the investigation evolves, suddenly he's talking to you again, but it's always about the Qunari and how you need to keep bringing him along to investigate. And even on that final dash, Bull thanks you for bringing him with you so that he can get to the bottom of how the Qunari are behaving. (And I thought FPJr. did a superb job of adding an occasional sneaky gleam of malevolence there -- he lets you know somehow that Bull is "acting.")
It's interesting to me that some of the criticisms of DAI were that the Inquisitor's choices didn't matter enough, and I really disagreed, both during the main release of the game, but even more after "Trespasser." Depending on your choices in DAI, Bull lives, or betrays you and dies;
Cole stays in friendship, leaves in anger (removing even his memory), or flees grief-stricken into the Fade; Sera becomes a true friend and companion, or she is cast out; Blackwall has a variety of fates depending on your choices; Cullen either ends up a happy dog owner or ends up dying and addicted in the streets of Kirkwall; Leliana becomes redeemed and softened or she reaffirms herself to killing and ruthlessness, etc.
I love all these characters, so these choices have made the game a richer experience for me, even if I can't bear to play through all of them. This was probably as dark as I'm willing to go. NEVER AGAIN!
I've only done it twice, because I'm a softy, but I liked it each time. I love seeing the pure sadness coming from him in the cutscene after the decision. The animation is his face is just lovely.
The favorite of the two was with a character who romanced him. It's really neat to see the change between the romance scenes, especially if you are more used to his fluffy Tal-Vashoth ones.
Trespasser was especially delicious drama wise. Seen that one thrice, since Adair didn't do Bull's quest at all. Love watching his face when the sad stuff happens. Like seeing a complete reboot on a person. Again, the romanced one was the best, since I actually got the fluffy goodbye for that one.
But as much as I love the craft going into that path, I prefer saving the Chargers because I like their War Table quests better. (And the Qun ones didn't even trigger the first time I didn't save them, so double loss there. But it was on the romanced one, so it was a bit less loss (or maybe more?)).
Also this probably wasn't very sympathetic...so *gentle pat on paramitch's head* There there, your tears will feed the writers, so maybe they won't be as cruel next time. Or maybe they'll be more cruel? Hopefully you enjoy the wine.
Thanks for the sympathies (and virtual wine, hee)! I did think it was interesting to experience once, even if I found it incredibly sad. The change in Bull was just so striking. And really beautifully and subtly written (and as always FPJr. was superb on the acting).
I'm not a fan of the Qun, either, but I felt like my Inquisitor Trevelyan in this case would be arrogant and misguided enough to try to think strategically, and that he would in fact sacrifice the Chargers (even if almost immediately deeply regretting that decision).
For me, this is a one-off -- I definitely agree that the Chargers are not just the right choice on a personal level for most IQs, but also ultimately the right choice strategically (even more so given the hindsight of "Trespasser") -- they are far more valuable to the Inquisition not just as friends/family but as a special forces unit able to move quickly and to act (as needed) as everything from a special small fighting unit, to matters of diplomacy, intelligence and surveillance.
I agree. I think it's all there, the moment the decision to sacrifice the Chargers is made, Bull is so clearly DONE with the Inquisition. He's a colder, more isolated character, and even his relationships are evidently cooler, whether with a romanced Inquisitor or with Dorian. I was really struck by all the big and small differences in Bull after the decision and on into "Trespasser" and salute the writers -- it's all there if you look. And I think what was saddest to me was that there is the slightest hint of eagerness when Bull betrays us -- like deep down, he's been waiting for this chance to act out in his rage at the decision that took so much from him.
I swear, when I was done with this playthrough, I immediately loaded a happy jolly funny Bullmanced Inquisitor (the discovery scene by Cullen & everyone) just to shake off the sadness.
Me too! I feel your pain -- and that chilly "Yes--?" broke my heart every time. And yeah, I'm already planning my next (much happier) playthrough in my head!
Brilliant callback that says everything.
I've never seen this dialogue so thanks for sharing it. It's really striking (and scary).
AGHGH! The thing about Sten was that, despite his absolute adherence to the Qun, I absolutely adored the character and found him really tragic, flawed and poignant. I'm always a little sheepish at the fact that I found his final words to my (highest approval) Warden sweet and not terrifying: "I will not look for you on the battlefield." I mean, GAH. That's the Qunari, right there, in all their absolute terrifying certainty.
Sten was an amazing character. I'm really hoping we'll see him in DAI4, as the new Arishok. And I love the way Bull is a progression from Sten -- that he still enters the scene with that adherence to the Qun and all its inflexibility, but that Bull also has a believable history that puts him on fine balance between the Qun and Tal-Vashoth -- the PTSD, the breakdown and reeducation (I still can't believe he turned himself in to be reprogrammed), the long years in Orlais building the Chargers (and rebuilding himself). It's believable to me that his survival and redemption depends on this one single moment in the game, and it's really great writing by the Bioware team.
It was interesting to experience the darker Bull timeline. But... Nope. NEVER AGAIN!