I like the cutscenes and the facial expressions, though some of them are exagerated and should be tempered. But despite the flaws, I find them immersive enough. I wouldn't say no to an improvment in expressions and animation-timings of course.
About the characters side-debate.
Characters are somehow ok. But it misses diversity:
- On the male side, we miss an archetype for the medieval adventurer like Minsc, some random dwarf, or some aragorn-like man. I wouldn't say there is wokeness, but it's more like there is too much dandies/artistocrates/intellectuals.
- On the female side, first thing is the name "shadowheart" that just leaves me out the story, it's too anime-like and childish to have such a "name". And both girls have some kind of tsundere personality that makes me want to ignore them.
But keep in mind we have only the first act. Maybe the upcoming events in the story will make me like them better.
Jaheira was anoying in BG1 and my favorite girl in BG2. Lohse was "meh" in the first acts but her personal story is awesome and made me love her character.
