Contradictory is a much better term than inconsistent, I agree with that assessment. So often people confuse a character's inherent contradictions for poor writing that maybe my hackles rise a little whenever someone calls a character 'inconsistent'.
Fair enough. For me, the combination of the performance, animation and writing for Wyll isn't quite working, so I'm not as confident as I'd like to be that all the ... complications ... of his character are part of a coherent creative vision, and that there aren't elements of poor writing/performance. But as I've said, I can certainly read what we're given on screen in a way that makes a complex, contradictory sort of sense, and I am willing to take it in this light in the hope that this is really what Larian are going for. But I still wish that I didn't feel quite as much as though I am going out on a limb to trust them here, and that I found Wyll more convincing without having to extend this principle of charity. Just my take, of course, and it's clear not everyone feels the same way.
I still think the delivery of his flaw falls short. Most of his issues are just him being complex, but the man with issues around his lack of usefulness a mile deep, now reduced to this incredibly weakened state... Takes it all perfectly well. What?
Again, I think there is an interpretation of this that makes sense. Wyll is not used to being honest with others: he sees the Blade of Frontiers persona as a front that he needs to act up to. It's entirely plausible that he's panicking inside (and in fact that is supported by his behaviour at the windmill and potentially with Liam) but just isn't being open about this with us. And he wants to be brave and optimistic, so perhaps he's also trying to fool himself as much as us.
As a party member, he's missing some scenes to round off the impression
But yes, fundamentally I am with you in thinking his character isn't quite coming off yet. Perhaps more scenes would help (and actually I don't mind if these come later in the game than we can currently reach, as long as they help shed convincing light on his behaviour in retrospect). I do feel that it's more than that that's bothering me, though, even though I'm struggling to put my finger on exactly what. I have attributed it to what I see as the extraneous guff in his background and wooden, jerky animation (and performance) in the past, but I'm not totally convinced I've diagnosed my own issues. It's even possible that my unease is exactly what Larian are trying to elicit, and that it will make Wyll's full story all the more satisfying when we get it! I live in hope, though also some doubt.
