Ha, I had to start one. It's my first time posting here so apologies if I get something wrong with the format. But what can I say, I'm a Gale girlie and honestly just had enough of people being dismissive of his character. I agree with others that he can be a bit much at times, but other characters can also talk my ear off (Wyll, Lae'zel, even Halsin) and I tend to skip over a lot of their dialogue.
Gale is fine, he can go on rambling if he likes. I just need a "tell me a story" option for him in camp, which prompts him to tell some fun anecdotes.
I don't consider his ending where he sacrifices himself to be the right ending (not real whoops, misspoke there) either, which is why I was confused when that was said. It was a real surprise that a writer would even say that when there are so many ways this story can go. It kind of makes me feel like my playthrough where I saved him is pointless if that was "intended" to be his ending. They could've worded that a whole better, especially since this is an interview that fans would read.
Right in the sense that it feels like a round conclusion to his arc, for his character/person it is a horrible ending. Just if that was fuzzy in what I wrote. And it would probably been more subtle of them to call it a heroic ending.
I think, I feel less outrage about this because I was aware of it before. I mean, all of them have some kind of heroic cut-scene that concludes their character arc - apart from Gale and Karlach. Gale's dramatic cutscene is hidden in the explosion ending and Karlach's is burning at the docks. In his companion-version, he also had zero closure in any of his other possible endings (Edit: before the epilogue I mean). While with Karlach on the other hand they leaned in hard to make her death sad. Which is why, I think ...
There are just so many instances where Gale constantly gets demeaned though it's hard to keep track. I mean, if Larian can soften the female companions because a bunch of Reddit bros complained about how "icy" and "harsh" they were (I don't agree, I think women should have the right to be mean and not have to be softened to be more palatable for men), then they could also change the narrative around Gale at least with his companions and have them say AT LEAST one nice thing about him in banter/general conversations. This man needs a hug and for someone to tell him he's good enough. To call him annoying is a disservice to the complexity of his character and those who enjoy it.
Karlach is the main problem here. The companions aren't too often nice about each other in general, but you have two characters with a bomb in their chests and possible suicide endings, yet the story really really wants you to like one of them while the other is treated like normal. So everyone has something nice to say about Karlach and you have tons of moments that are supposed to make you feel sorry for her, so it stings when she blows up. Gale on the other hand doesn't get that special treatment, you now just get a very sad moment at the epilogue that maybe makes you question your decision.
I like to think most Astarion fans hate Gale so much because they see themselves in him and don't want to admit it. I can't tell you how many Astarion x Gale playthroughs I have currently where I explore their dynamic a bit more because they're so interesting together. You can either make them good, bad or have it where one of them ascends. It's a very interesting duo and it's a shame that Astarion fans are missing out on it.
Ha! So do you also treat breaking into the Vault at Sorcerous Sundries as a first date for them too?
Personally, Gale's Origin is my favourite version of this game and I really love how much of a devil on your should Astarion becomes in it. Almost always when the narration reminds you about what Mystra would want, there is a scene in which Astarion tries to pull you into the other direction. His whole "lets take over the cult" spiel in Act2 is just delicious if it hits the depressed guy who is charged with blowing the whole tower up.
