I didn't find the characters in this game terribly compelling or attractive. Most of them are very loud or insincere in one way or another which is just not my cup of tea. Shadowheart is just a walking "broken bird" trope and also often feels like a snarky teenager which is a bit weird given her age. But I really liked Minthara even though she obviously didn't get anywhere near the same attention as the main cast.
I agree mostly with this, but specifically Minthara. As small as her role compared to Origins, what she delivers is absolutely amazing. Whoever wrote her was brilliant, and Emma did such an amazing job delivering the emotions.
One I'll on disagree is Astarion... initially he is over the top, sooo supremely annoying and I just want to smack him. But when he starts trusting Tav, and opening up, Neil delivers so much power in those backstory lines, it is bone-chilling. Even writing this statement, I am getting goosebumps. Astarion's story is my favorite, even over the main quest.
As for the rest, best to worst: Karlach (though incomplete), Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Gale, Wyll, Halsin. I have yet to successfully recruit Jaheira or Minsc
NPCs that I love: Kerri (Free the Artist) and Philomeen (Rescue Nere)!! Amazing voice acting! Oh, and I do Looovveee Aylin. Love!
And of course, all of the Dead Three.
Literally every NPC is voice acted brilliantly; not one boring-azz Bethesda socially awkward developer voice.
