I have to snatch this quote by Niara, because it fits exactly my sentiment of Astarion:
I don't care for Astarion because he's haughty, frequently condescending, but primarily because he's a walking, talking two-dimensional vampire romance fiction garbage fire that is hitting all of those predictable, worn out cliches in perfect iambic pentameter, and received the dubious honour of being Larian's "let's just murder everyone" character
Astarion for me is the worst character, because of the above - he is two dimensional, annoying and a walking cliche.
I do like Shadowheart, most of my characters get on well with her. And hers is the only romance, I'm interested in. I hate the 'Let's go bonk' approach of the other characters. I like her 'Let's go, drink some wine and get to know each otehr better' approach. She can com across as bitchy sometimes, but in her case, I might explain that away with her lost memory.
Gale is ok in my book. He is the companion, that seems to complain the least (at least the way, I'm playing normally) and is easy to get along. I suspect, that he might take a dark turn, but that is gut feeling ... maybe based a little on his devotion for Mystra (in the sense, that he might do anything to get her favor back).
Wyll is ok too. Like Niara, I don't like, that he doesn't stop lying, but he works as a deeply flawed and insecure character. His bravado is clearly jus ta show. I'm interested in seeing, where he went later on in the game.
Lae'zel makes sense in the way she is written - gith warrior, devout to her queen Vlaakith, ruthless in approaching her goals. But I do find her grating some times. Granted, she is pretty straight forward with what she wants, but sometimes, her offstandishness is just too much for me.
