Good comparison. Really, pretty infantile behavior for a character who is supposed to be someone who went through the Devil Wars in the Nine Hells. And she regularly uses the word “soldier” even though I find it rather difficult to see her as a “soldier” herself. When she tries to pose as a “protector” towards Tav, it's... just facepalm.
I really wanted to like Karlach. She reminded me a lot of the first Dovahkiin I ever made in Skyrim way back. It helped a little to lean into the naivety of her a bit. *In my opinion she judges others from a sort of childish morality meter, but is really blind to herself often doing the same thing. When I view it that way, she becomes a bit more empathetic. Ie, she's not as good or perfect as she thinks she is (which is understandable, and makes her naivety a bit more relatable). Though, not someone I'd enjoy on anything but a really good-aligned playthrough! (Which I never really play that way)
Edit for clarity, my evolution of opinion on Karlach is: wanted to like > did not like > learned to roleplay with >ending with seeing the value in her character even if it wasn't for me personally. Apologies for not laying that out more clearly!
For Astarion, his little joke about Halsin making "an excellent shield" is one of my favorite lines. The joke itself is, in my opinion, delightfully morbid (using companions as fodder), but the way he sort of braces himself and leans his shoulder in as he says it is just so endearingly dorky. I already though he was clever before, but seeing him be just outright silly made me like him even more!
For Astarion my evolution of opinion was: judged by appearance > wait he is morbidly funny > oh cool they made him silly, I like himself *a lot* now! Wanted to give my specific example of my favorite joke that pushed that evolution forward. (Sorry if thats off topic!)
