Fellas, I have honestly never been more disappointed in a game character's ending before. I found out about Karlach's endings and Act 2 and it immediately killed my desire to continue playing the game. I eventually finished it but my enjoyment was completely diminished. I won't be replaying it again either knowing this is what happens.
The most frustrating part for me is that there are like 10 or so solutions to Karlach's problem which would fix her immediately and they are right in front of us the entire time but the game is pretending that they are not in order to railroad us to a forced tragic ending no matter what. Karlach's problem is incongruous with the world in which she is, it is simply impossible that it cannot be solved within the setting of Faerun. It's also clear as day that we were meant to be able to fix her considering the Steel Watch drops Enriched Infernal Iron, which serves no purpose whatsoever in the game and was clearly meant to be used for her final upgrade. Her quest was obviously cut short and it ruins her ending completely.
Larian expanding her Avernus epilogue scene and saying they are giving her the ending she deserves also doesn't sit right with me. That's still the same bad ending, guys. It's not what she deserves. You know it and we know it. The fact that the biggest character discussion thread by far is about the disappointment with Karlach's endings says it all really.
Baldur's Gate 3 was a delectable full course meal where I got served charcoal for dessert. When all is said and done, the main thing I will remember from it is the bitter taste I was left with in the end.
