#i feel like this wasn't written as eloquently as i would've liked but i'm throwing it out into the world anyway

[simpforsolas]

As I continue to progress through the games on my replay leading up to Dragon Age: The Veilguard's release, the more I'm reflecting upon the heart of the series. As an RPG, the purpose has always been to create a dynamic game that responds to our choices, and part of that is to create a believable world that's real enough that there are multiple ways you can play the game. No ultimate "right" answer or "wrong" answer. Even if there are perspectives you disagree with, you can understand why characters may hold different opinions from you if you think about why they think the way they do.

With all these thoughts spinning around in my mind, I began my DAI replay and got a dialogue with Solas that I think gets right to the heart of the entire series:

Inquisitor: I've heard the stories [about Ostagar]. It'd be interesting to hear what it was really like. Solas: That's just it. In the fade I see reflections created by the spirits who react to the emotions of the warriors. One moment, I see heroic wardens lighting the fire and a power-mad villain sneering as he lets King Cailan fall. The next, I see and army overwhelmed and a veteran commander refusing to let more soldiers die in a lost cause. Inquisitor: And you can't tell which is real. Solas: It is the fade. They are all real.

This is it, people! This is what Dragon Age is all about! This is why we have characters who some people love and some people hate, why no one is perfect. This is why there's so much discourse about the game. Dragon Age is all about different people reacting to an imperfect world and understanding why they act the way they do. Especially in recent times, writers often fall into a trap of not wanting their characters to be problematic in any way that it can take the life out of them and leave them feeling stale. But Dragon Age does not do that. It fully commits to its characters, for better or for worse, allowing their pasts and perspectives to shape their imperfect world views and inform their behaviors. Ironically, Solas's exact words here about Loghain can be applied to him, and it's exactly why some people hate him while others love. Like Loghain, some see him as an egotistical murderer while others see him is a tragic figure whose empathy and idealism drive him to monstrous acts.

What's the truth? What is real? Ultimately, it doesn't matter. All that matters are the emotions and interactions people (players included) have with the world and characters. That's why the choices in games like Dragon Age matter so much. There shouldn't be a right answer or a wrong answer; all that matters is what feels right to the player. Because in Solas's words, all our different perspectives on things that happened? They're all real. And this is where so much discourse comes from. People try to take away the nuanced view of these characters and the world and insist that their perspective is the objective truth. Someone who loves Anders could be in danger of brushing past his many flaws while someone who hates him might be incapable of understanding the complexities that drove him to become the person he ended up. But in the end, all our different reactions to these characters are valid and real, both the positive and the negative. These characters are complex and three-dimensional, and to fully appreciate them it's imperative that we recognize that.

The Dragon Age world and its characters are so meticulously crafted that at its practically its own living thing at this point. As players interact with it, we all end up having our own experiences that influence our opinions of everything, from the characters, to what decisions are the best, to opinions on in-game power dynamics and politics.

[atlaese]

I'm, unabashedly, just going straight ahead and writing down my favourites for all the Marvel shows I've watched, not just Daredevil, which I initially intended the question for.

For Daredevil, it is definitely season 3. Though, I've got to admit that I've genuinely taken my time with this series (all the Marvel-Netflix productions, frankly) and only recently finished off its last season, having watched it sporadically – leaving large time gaps between seasons, before I picked up where I left off. I, therefore, might not remember everything to the t. Pardon me in advance, as well as my extensive conscious rambling, with a less eloquent manner.

Despite not having seen the Defenders, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew immediately that its beginning wasn't where we left off with season 2, but I just went along with it and filled the gaps in my mind, not feeling the need to catch up. (I still haven't seen the Defenders, mainly because I'm hesitant if it's worth my time, considering I only care for two out of four team members.) Season 1 was a perfect introduction for getting to know the characters, establishing the world and atmosphere, and particularly building up the villain. But it just lacked a certain spark, one that season 3 picked up for me. That, and its finale, where he hit Fisk and finally revealed his suit, left me, somehow, hanging. Season 2, however, I genuinely didn't enjoy as much. It felt too convoluted, the storylines, oftentimes, felt all over the place, making it hard to follow and care for. I think I would've liked it better if they had just gone with the Punisher as a conflict point rather than throwing in some "the Hand" business and Matt's connection with Elektra. In addition to that, I thought Elektra was misused and merely present for her later involvement with "the Hand"-storyline, depriving us of an interesting dynamic, despite having great moments. Plus, the whole Karen romance thing, I do not stand behind. When they used her as a plain love interest device, I started losing interest in her character altogether – one thing season 3 redeemed for me.

Setting up the Defenders plot within the second season of Daredevil came at the cost of, what could've been, an interesting season. Now, the only good thing, in my opinion, is the Punisher and his interactions with Matt. Leaving me to conclude why I thought season 3 was the best out of all of them: It was so well-written, produced and performed. Each character felt at its peak, and so did the actors' performances, the story was intriguing beginning to end, introducing us to phenomenal side characters and dealing with compelling topics. Matt's struggle was a reasonable consequence done well. Fisk felt more terrifying than ever, calmly orchestrating everything to his benefit, manipulating his way to victory. Bullseye and Ray quickly became my favourite side characters of the show, each dealing differently with the same conflict, playing right into Fisk's hands. Bullseye, in particular, I thought, was the most enthralling story addition, who didn't feel unnecessarily squeezed in but elevated the events within this season. (plus, his fights were amazing to watch, I never felt so scared for Matt.) And, equally important, they didn't force a love interest upon us or tried to blandish his broken relationship with his mother. Suffice to say, I have not been this engrossed in prior seasons. I could go on and on, but for the length of this message, and the sake of your sanity, I'll stop here unless you want me to further elaborate.

(Trying to keep this shorter now...)

Jessica Jones: The first season is my favourite. Hated the second season, especially the whole mother issue, and Trish. Though, I've got to say I never warmed up to Trish' character, so her turning point only aggravated me further. Season 3 had some good takes, ex: Her imagining Kilgrave as her inner voice, the devil on her shoulder. Or the origin of how she became who she is now, the start of her investigations, dealing and coming to terms with what a hero is and slowly accepting herself as one. And the overall characters and dynamics, I liked a lot. But the story in itself felt less compelling compared to season 1, despite all the aforementioned good takes it had.

The Punisher has yet to be determined. I only recently started watching it, still am in the middle of season 2, but I'm in love with season 1. And yes, Ben Barnes certainly plays into it, but so does Jon. Overall a really good series.

-love letter anon

ooh that's interesting to hear that S3 i your favourite! i loved all the seasons, but because i was so confused as for the storyline, i definitely didn't pay as much attention to the screen as i should've. but yeah! i'm gonna be honest, i was kinda disappointed on one hand to see that fisk was back (i would've loved another villain) but in the end i do understand it's about matt/daredevil killing their demons! (i don't remember who bullseye is? damn was that knock-off daredevil?)

i do really recommend to watch the defenders! it's so fun to see matt and jessica meet and become 'friends'. i don't care a whole lot for danny rand either, but i did love to see luke and colleen back in action, as well as elektra.

yeah, jessica jones' first season was amazing but after that the storyline was horrible. i liked trish in the beginning but indeed, it got old very quickly...

you're gonna love the second season! i don't want to spoil anything, but it was a very good sequel to the first season!

but thank you for sharing your opinion on this! it's always nice to read why people love certain shows/seasons and how others have another opinion on it!