Odysseus gets a happy ending LOL! Sure, he has to slaughter a bunch of men who have been relentlessly hitting on his wife, but he comes out on top! That is a very interesting comparison to Karlach, given the 10 years away from home commonality. Huh, I like that.
Isn’t Odysseus the tragic hero because he lost 10 years of his life away from home at sea? Once he’s home, hasn’t the tragedy happened already? That’s the weird thing about Karlach. Her whole life has been a tragedy. Then she gets home and it’s just more tragedy. Although I can’t say she’s unique among the Baldurs Gate companions in that sense. The more I play it, the more I realize just how depressing a game it is.
Odysseus fought tooth and nail to get back to his home - in Karlach's case is freedom and the ability to live, BUT. She doesn't even get to fight tooth and nail for the bad luck she got. She just.... idk, she often gives me whiplash. One moment she wants to live, another moment she gets into depression mode for a second then back to wanting to know if there's anything that can fix her heart or heck - upgrade it. It's always back and forth with her. So inconsistent.
The tragedy of Odysseus starts the moment the Trojan war ends and sails back to his home and it ends when he kills all the suitors and makes his wife remember who he is. And all that... by divine intervention Athena was the goddess that kept him sane throughout his adventure and even helped him take revenge on the suitors. In Karlach's case, her 'Athena' should be the protagonist. This is exactly why Odysseus' adventure is so rewarding in the end and why a lot of people are still infatuated by his story with how victorious he became and lived well until death took him.
Karlach's revenge on Gortash felt so empty and after her breakdown, it just gives you the feeling of being useless. We did literally nothing for her.
Besides, didn't some character from DOS2 got bad endings too until Larian gave a good ending? Was it Fane? Correct me if i'm wrong but I fairly remember people mentioning him or Beast.
If someone says he or she liked Karlach endings where she dies or becomes squidward or goes back to prison, good for you! Those endings will remain! Most of us didn't because it was glorifying cruelty for no reason. She didn't deserve those endings, period.
Athena was the goddess that kept him sane throughout his adventure and even helped him take revenge on the suitors. In Karlach's case, her 'Athena' should be the protagonist. This is exactly why Odysseus' adventure is so rewarding in the end and why a lot of people are still infatuated by his story with how victorious he became and lived well until death took him. 
