Again, I do think Gale's ending makes sense. A corrupt Netherese Crown is countered by a corrupt Netherese Orb. Gale becomes Jesus, Mystra raises him from the dead and all's well.
Tav gets slotted into that story and it doesn't make any sense. Someone needs to become a mind flayer because the brain is really big. That's what Nether crowns do - they pump you up sooo much you need a mind flayer to counter them.
The game did a really good job of rewarding player agency **outside of the main plot** But in the main story? It's railroad.
Ironically the interview made me decide to play the game again - I was waiting for a definitive edition but it seems that's not going to arrive. And as I play the game I keep finding places where the main story falls apart - the Daisy lines are still in the conversations after the dream. "And it gave me another gift . . . " Uh, no it didn't . . .
Yes, that is why I don't quite believe that the "emperor was planned all along". Maybe they planned him to be the leader of illithid forces, like in the final battle. But the narrator commentary regarding using the tadpoles was different in the EA.
Also, regarding the mind flayer change, when Gale does the deed, Mystra offers to restory his soul. So this is another example where I wonder whether there wasn't originally more planned to thsi illithids losing their souls story, but as with netherese crown it is limited to Gale's origin, leaving Tav in the side lane.
