don't trust leaving it up to Shadowheart to come to the realization on her own that she doesn't have a right to Nightsong's life
If she came to that realization there is no written dialogue to actually show this, there are no dialogue options where you can actually say that to her or argue a case.
You are doing awfully a lot of work to rationalize and justify lack of options and the only viable options is to be a spectator rather than an active participant who also has responsibility of what happens.
to learn that Shadowheart eventually comes to the right conclusions if you give her space
Youre just working from conclusion using hindsight knowledge. But even so youre just focusing on Shadowheart and making analysis to please and coddle her, and in that kind of situation she has no right to expect it. She didnt make it alone and what happens to Nightsong is whole group's responsibility.
The fact is, the dialogue could have had much more depth and nuance, and a positive outcome should have been achievable in multiple ways that were more true to and consistent with the characters and their relationships.. The writing was lacking. Not to mention how poorly edited and stitched together was the dialogue that immediately followed after leaving Shadowfell, where she went from talking about Shar to confessing and ranting again in front of everyone with no reactivity from others, it was really weird. It couldve been a lot better and im not sure why you want to argue that it's good enough as it is.
the other companions not really reacting there also kinda makes sense to me to be honest
Oh come on you cant be serious, any and all lack of reactivity is for budgetary reasons, unfortunately a lot of which is spent on things that in general matter less to most people like origins and other little features. Your rationalizing on the level that you could rationalize why a guy in act 3 that was buried by Minsc doesnt recognize Minsc in your party even if Minsc himself digs him up and he speaks to him. Like "Honestly it makes sense, he forgot and he's confused from being buried!".
They are companions and many of them are friends from eachother, it would be far more likely that they'd speak frequently and encourage/give advice and input on what is going on especially when they see an innocent chained up and one of their companions/friends is considering murdering her in cold blood.
where the other companions watch from the sidelines
I think its a problem in the other examples like the one you mentioned as well. Id rather have more reactivity than playable origins, speaking with the dead/animals etc, but maybe its just me.
