After seeing the changed expressions on my Tav's face, I didn't get the impression that she looked *too* happy. I don't think the new expressions look too goofy or over-the-top. But maybe that has something to do with it looking different on some faces than on others.
My thoughts on the new facial expressions:
- For the kneeling kiss, my character still has a furrowed brow and a look of some apprehension, although a playful smirk IS there, and all the fear and sadness is thankfully gone now. She never has a huge smile on her face... in fact, the only time she shows a lot of joy/pleasure during the kiss is when he first places his hand on her throat (she closes her eyes and smiles with pleasure), and during the actual kissing itself.
When he gives her the little push, she has a slight playful smile, but still with a furrowed brow.
- For the bite kiss, I actually think not very much has been changed, except she smiles when he places his hand on her cheek before the kiss, and she smiles after the little slap (but still has that furrowed brow while she's smiling - like she thinks he's being mischievous and cheeky).
- During the face-grab kiss, my character looks surprised at first but then has a slight smile after he grabs her and looks at her face/neck. But afterwards, there's still a look of some confusion on her face that he ends the kiss abruptly.
Overall, the facial animations of the kisses make it seem more like there's a playfulness there now, and that our character enjoys the way he touches her. It looks like a more playful/consensual dynamic between the two of them, which I am happy about.
As you mentioned, there are no changes to the actual kiss animations (so far). Only some adjustments to Tav/Durge's face. In my opinion I don't think they went too far with them, they are much better than before.
Having seen the new full AA kisses now, I have to say, I think Larian has gone too far in the opposite direction now. I think it's particularly bad with the kneeling kiss, the other two are okay (except for the smile after AA pushes Tav away when they try to kiss him again, that was a bit unnerving).
I understand there has been a lot of backlash, and the OG expressions were also this level of goofy, but I truly think a neutral expression (or, at least, neutral-er than this) was the solution for people's different RP. I think because Astarion's animations haven't been changed at all but now Tav reacts to some of his more questionable (not really very negotiated, if BDSM) gestures so gladly it's kind of somehow creepier than the previous version, and I like horror but I'm not sure that was the intention with this fix.
The gif Larian posted to their highlights where Tav has a mildly coquettish raised brow looked much, much better and more fitting. That gif was promising but then the scene itself was disappointing.
