In Defense of Miquella | Not a Rehash of Marika 

Thollier is a man, he is referred to as such by Moore as well as his talismans

Honestly that's what's so heartbreaking about it all. If you allow Miquella to sacrifice himself and become a caged divinity, he would likely legitimately bring about a beautiful age. However, it would eventually sour, as all ages do, and he'd be just as trapped in his own failings as Marika is in hers. He'd be just as much a puppet to the new order as Marika is to the Greater Will. Miquella could usher in a truly transcendent age for the Lands Between, but would lose himself completely in the process. That's why St. Trina begs you to kill him. He doesn't know what he's signed up for, a thousand years without himself, without love, without connection, without choice. Worse than death. He doesn't deserve that. I don't think she thinks he'll be corrupted by the power, but rather that by stripping himself of all that he was, he's already corrupted, and his existence will be lacking for it. I think she truly is concerned for him and his wellbeing, not the realm. She doesn't want him to suffer more than he already has.

I have to say seeing someone bat in defense of Miquella is refreshing. I think overall the fandom has had a very surface-level understanding of Miquella and his intentions. You know the saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions and all that. The biggest issue with his potential reign is that he ended up discarding the most integral parts of himself which is what made him who he was. St. Trina saw this and realized that ultimately he was unknowingly doing the same thing his mother did. Not only was he falling into the same cycle but he would ultimately suffer fate as her. She begs us to kill him and in extension herself since he had already reached the point of no return. The fact that she does so out of love is so heartbreaking and both selfish and selfless at the same time. Her feelings seem very complex when you look at the whole picture. I would also like to note that an interesting fact is that Miquella's mind control doesn't change who a person is it seems like more than anything they seem to be a better version of themselves. Miquella had the right idea but ultimately failed by trying to change who he was.

This is an amazing and actually fair assessment of miquella , which ive been fairly disappointed with since the release of the game in terms of fan analysis . So many rushing to conclusions and accusing miquella of literally being behind everything and charming every single character because he's just evil and awful from the beginning . Youre one of the very few ive seen actually looking at what the story is trying to say. I hope once time goes on people can reevaluate the story and Miquella more and actually understand his motives .

I appreciate this analysis! Crazy it seems that people have been quick to demonize Miquella with little nuance - I don’t think he’s actions would lead to the best outcome for everyone, but it is still a positive goal he is working toward. There is validity in the idea that the means don’t always justify the ends, but the ends do need to be taken into account. There’s all out genocides, war and more in the world as it is- god or not Miquella is still a child of fhe lands between, a world already affected by the negative aspects of outer gods. He used the tools he had, his goal was imo unarguably just and kind, even if the outcome wouldn’t have been so. I think the cycles are going to continue regardless, and the only changes that continue are the cultural growth, and Miquella definitely left the world a better, more kind place.

Wait isn't thiolier a he

its funny how people think Miq's age is the worst. But remember something, remember how Milicent's sisters want to kill her for some unknown reason. Imagine how Miq's ability would calm them down and get them to love their sister. Or how Leda needed that ability to not be crazy. Also i find it dumb that Ansbach, despite being an admittely cool npc and one that players should be able to align with, says for the "Age of men" but actively served a demigod that wasn't human at all. So, are you about just humans or do omens get a say in anything or what? See what i mean, I'm not saying Miq is perfect. He ain't, but he surely isn't just "Marikia 2.0" and could have done some good. I agree that he should be a boss fight but people should get the ability to give his age a chance. like the other endings. Also thank you for this video. much needed and thanks for being up to bat for what could have been a cooler character given the chances.

Yees finally Miquella defense squad is here! I'm going crazy with the ER community's view on his character. Great video!

i think another thing people forget is that miquella's "ending", him charming us, puts us in the shoes of just about everyone else when we become elden lord, we make the choice about the future order by ourselves and they're forced to live with what we think is best. miquella's age of compassion is no less valid than any of the other endings. the subject of free will is what muddies miquella's ending more than anything since people are naturally opposed to losing whatever perceived free will they have despite every other ending doing the same thing. look at ranni's ending a lot of people take cutting off the outer gods influence as a good thing but what about those that praise those same outer gods, like the children of rot or the mohgwyn dynasty? isn't that doing the same thing to them, taking away their ability to choose whether or not they want to serve those outer gods?

Great analysis and reading of the DLC. Before I continue, let me tell you that I don’t think you are *wrong* in, any sense, really. But I can’t agree with it, still, sadly. Miquella’s description of his own age of compassion, in dialogue and text both kept and cut, reads to me as a kind of compassion that still requires love. Compassion is empathy, empathy is love. If none of the words were changed in all the DLC except replacing “compassion” with “love”, I find that there would be no difference. This video assured me, too, that there isn’t a difference between my reading of Miquella’s vision, or your reading of his vision. If his age were to come about, yeah, it probably would lead to salvation. You have also convinced me that, fine, sure, there is no explicit evidence that Miquella must force-charm all people to allow his age to work. I still believe it’s implied that he would use it, on at least a few people. I still find that *our inability to control our character* upon our charming *is* the implication of the threat against our character’s free will. It’s a game mechanic, but it’s not made purely as an alternative fail state. I cannot see it as such. That’s fine, we disagree there, it doesn’t stop Miquella’s vision from being true. But what *does* stop this vision, from my understanding, is the actual in-game big deal that’s made out of his literal abandonment of his love. Trina isn’t just his love for those he finds special, it’s not just his sexual love if he had any, it’s also his empathy. As I said, his age of compassion *apparently* requires love to be true to itself. If it’s compassion for all, literally not a single being going ignored, then sorry but Miquella *would* have to do something to at least imply he isn’t just forgoing the souls of specific people like Mohg. But even his casting of his apparent understanding of love, I can excuse. Fine-maybe when he ascends, he simply regains some of the things he had divested himself of, or at least the “holes” he makes within himself are re-filled with a new divine understanding of what was there before. Maybe it’s a “new” love, a “new” compassion. I do not, I really *cannot* accept that his new form regains the *same* love he had before, but it can be something different that still solves his divested parts. Alright. My real question though, is if Miyazaki wanted us to come away with the idea that Miquella’s vision is acceptable for the narrative of the Lands Between, then why isn’t there the chance for the age of compassion to be a possible ending? It’s easy to assume “well, game mechanics, you’re not repairing the Ring immediately after Miquella’s defeat, and besides, the DLC needs a final boss.” Right-but why do we not even receive a new Mending Rune? Well, because it’s a *new* Order, like Ranni’s, and it’s like the Frenzied ending, where it simply deletes the current Order, without/instead of adding anything new. Mending Runes are what we use to repair and alter the Elden Ring, affecting and extending the *current* order. As such, the age of compassion, being outside of the Elden Ring, cannot manifest as a Mending Rune. Fine and well-we even know what would be the Ring’s replacement: the Circlet of Light. Okay, it can’t be a mending rune-what else could it be? Well, frankly, since From has total direction, they could have chosen another fade-to-black cutscene made possible at the end of the Radabeast fight, like how we summon Ranni. We could see, maybe, we summon Miquella, and he brings us out of the Erdtree and into the Shadowlands, where we maybe see the cutscene at the end of the first trailer, his golden light and hand showing us a change in the Scadutree. The beginning of his new Order, with a new Lord, and us as a sort of royal knight. But we don’t get that option, despite it being a creative possibility. What’s that about? Why don’t we have access to an actually positive interaction with Miquella, like that scene at the end of the trailer? Why the fuck did Miyazaki show us that, then choose to have it not actually be a possibility? Well, aside from because he wanted to make me angry, and aside from “well time constraints, planning, money, maybe it’s just not a real possibility mechanically”-which I won’t grant merit *because* it’s From-then I’m left with the idea that we *intentionally* can’t choose Miquella’s vision as a future possibility. The point of our Tarnished character is *not* to be a representative of the current Order. If it were purely that, we wouldn’t have Ranni and Frenzy as possible endings-not to mention the most cinematic endings. The point of our character is to choose/guide the Lands to a new future. The future can be anything-it can repair the normal world, and keep it normal, while altering specific parts of it for better (or worse). Or, the future can involve a complete and total transformation of life (Ranni’s ending-literally removing emotions from those who live, and separating body and spirit). Or, the future could involve a literal scorched earth devoid of life, a massive killing. All of these options we, as a character with choice, have. We’re guided by Marika, yes, but we explicitly do not act on her behalf. And yet, Miquella. No option for him. It baffles me that burning the world with Frenzied fire is *more valid* than bookending with Miquella’s age of compassion. Sure, Miquella walks back through the Gate as a God. What’s he gonna do if we chose to follow him-just sit and wait until we dispose of Marika? Sure, it sounds lame, but again it’s *From*. They could have come up with anything. We only have what we have right now. As such, here’s my true takeaway from your video, and these points I can’t ignore. The DLC, and even this video, have only strengthened my belief that *Goldmask’s* ending is the most ideal of all. Yes, it restores the Golden Order, which is up to this point a genocidal, murderous, shameful governing body. Who made it that way? Marika. From the start. The “god we know all too well.” She is vessel of the Ring, but was still capable of exerting extreme influence on the lands. She chose to abandon the hornsent, chose to throw away the divine bestial culture of Godfrey’s era, she chose to shatter the Ring. Goldmask’s thesis, compared to all other endings, is this: the world is great, but it has suffering. The suffering was caused by the meddling of gods who acted on behalf of the mortals they rule over, without the consent of the mortals. Let us be rid of this. We, as men, are still capable of wrongdoing, but we cannot allow gods who rule us to deny us the option of attempting true peace. Let us be rid of the decrees of gods, let us no longer be compelled to live with the consequences of choices we could never make. Remove the fly from the ointment. We do not need to transform utterly, into emotionless beings-we do not need to cast away the earth, the air, trees and nature and civilization and love. We need not burn it all away, we need not run away, either. Let a new age of reparations begin. Let the Elden Ring continue to allow our beautiful continent to flourish, but let us remove Marika’s ability to enact selfish influences and desires. Let her house the Ring so that it may thrive. Let our new mortal Lord act as the leader of men like them. A new age not of gods, but of men. It was not men who chose to forgo the Omen, the misbegotten. Men did not choose to continuously alter Death. Men did not choose to deny life to the graceless. The orders of gods did. Let us prove that we can be better. It is my opinion that we already could choose an age of compassion, through the opportunity to do it ourselves. My reading of the DLC, and reconciliation of all current endings *and* Miquella’s vision, is that we are intended to see that it *can’t* be a god who makes these decisions, because gods *will* overrule the choices of men. It simply doesn’t matter if Ranni knows best for everyone, and that removing body from soul would actually be helpful-it doesn’t matter that Miquella would bring absolute compassion, because it would mean denying the world it’s own choice. Sure, we as Lord can still choose to bring about Ranni’s ending, but I think the difference between this and Miquella is that he *doesn’t* give us a choice. Free will or not, he *will* bring about a new order against the wishes of its inhabitants, and we, as men, *should not* stand for it. This is why most people rally behind Anabach’s sentiment even while disliking Mohg’s “blood cult”-the world needs to be about men, and not gods. Long as fuck explanation for why I feel the way I do. Sorry. But, as others have said, Ontos-you’ve done exceptionally well. Because, you *aren’t* wrong. Not really. I just personally don’t see the age of compassion as a reasonable choice *because* of these other things about the game, like the lack of being able to choose compassion when another viable option is, you know, world-death. And with these wise sages (all but Gideon) realizing “wait a minute, these gods are fucking us up”. I just have to side with Goldmask. I would, as a person and not just the Tarnished, rather have the opportunity for the world to choose peace by itself, than have a divine figure make the choice for peace *for* us. I currently believe this is Elden Ring’s ultimate thesis. Your video was great, as evidenced by-well, it’s self evident-but also all the positive comments. I hope you can make a follow-up, or a part two, or something. I hope this video becomes the next big contention for the story community. Because, yeah, no matter how you look at Miquella, the way From chose to integrate him and his philosophy is pretty damn vague. Keep up the good work!

Second thing i did after making a coffee was to come here and watch this. Absolutely brilliant presentation. I adore this video and the angle you approached from. Eerie asf we both used the bandaid analogy (similar enough) and path to hell is paved with good intentions 😂 I hated how long mine was, yours is nice and concise. I think ill make another one one day and just make it venemous, short, and undeniable 😂 we should make shorter and shorter forms of the same video but even more condensed and concerntrated and honed each time until we had a short sized nuke to hurl at the depraved heathens so theyll maybe actually watch the content before commenting for once 😂 10/10 video. Bravo ❤

The same thing his mother probably thought and we see firsthand what became of her , her order and all under her reign 🤔

I feel that the story is better if Miquella’s ability to sway hearts and minds is not under his control. That is, he does not believe there is a magic element to it but rather he believes his genius and compassion are what charms people. He is delusional to a terrifying degree because not only does he unknowingly mind control people but, he also prefers his imagination over reality. As an empyrean, and later a god, Miquella has the opportunity to subjugate reality and reshape it to fit his fantasy. He believes everyone willingly agrees with him and he cannot be convinced otherwise.

Here immediately. I’m going to leave my thoughts soon!

Thank you for giving the game/DLC the grace (pun-intended)/nuanced analysis it so rightfully deserves, as opposed to the superficial takeaways that, unfortunately, are so prominent.

We agree on many things, but the problem starts with the first "sin" and that is Marika's "hate" (Messmer). Miquella "doubled down" on the sun as you say but it doesn't mean he would accomplish his "dream." By the way I am glad you said that "dream" part. :) It's Miquella's dream but the problem is you have to assume the Hornsent would oblige. It never works out that way. The Hornsent's culture was pretty messed up. It was shrouded in hate and cruelty. Miquella thought he could fix everything, that he could do what his mother could not. Marika had the backing of the "Greater Will." Miquella had NO outer god backing him which is super important here. So he would have to manipulate everyone with his own will. Sir Ansbach: "Once, in an attempt to free Lord Mohg from his enchantment, I challenged Tender Miquella, only to have my own heart rather artfully stolen. I knew not how weak I was. I believed that with sufficient mastery, even an Empyrean would be within reach of my blade. I could not have been more mistaken… Miquella the Kind...is a monster. Pure and radiant, he wields love to shrive clean the hearts of men. There is nothing more terrifying." Miquella was a manipulator, and he manipulated Radahn also at some point. Redmane Freya: "Yes of course, I see, as the festival of war concluded, General Radahn's soul met an honorable end, but Kindly Miquella wishes to revive it? Which is fine by me. I know it would pain old Jerren but war has always suited General Radahn best. And certainly far more than any honorable death. Endless war to invigorate the soul, as befits General Radahn, the Great Lion." Radahn wasn't "compassionate" at all, he was a warrior. A General. He had a horse and a cat. Not sure that makes him compassionate. Before I forget, I'd like to point out I was 100% right on this: "Tender Miquella's eye is no mere morsel of flesh. It is a vessel of soaring grace. Proof of his Empyrean lineage." This is why in the boss fight his eye is normal. His "Empyrean" eye in the flesh had the mark, his "spirit" one did not. Ok moving on to Leda and Thollier: "Thiollier, hmm. It’s true, his devotion to St. Trina is plain to see. I fear his vows to Miquella the Kind are merely secondary. But for this very reason, Thiollier is incapable of betrayal. St. Trina’s love for Kind Miquella is boundless. She is, after all, his other half. Or perhaps her feelings go beyond even that. Even if she was left behind, I doubt her heart would waver." Thollier is a dude but we forgive you and still love you. ;) Would not someone or something's love for you that is "boundless" only want the best for you? Trina's story is just heartbreaking. I'd really like more backstory on how Trina came to be. Maybe she was in Marika and her DNA was passed on to Miquella? Oh well, we can only guess. Leda was the only real follower of Miquella, but I think even Leda had other plans: "I am sorry. For speaking to you as a compatriot. When we stood before the withered arm. By way of apology, I will reveal the marrow of my sword. Its needles, that will stitch you into death." Doesn't this sound more like a reference to Godrick the Grafted? So the game is really about "melding" into the "rebis." Creating "rebis" makes you a "god." Marika was the one true god because she was the first entity to achieve "rebis" and become a god. Miquella, a hermaphrodite, was the only one of Marika's children who could possibly take her place. The Hornsent was a cruel and twisted society. The lived in fear and sorrow, and the more you feared the closer you were to being divine (in their eyes). This begs more questions: where did the Numen come from? How did they get to the shores of the Land of Shadow? (yes I know, by boat) Who were the Black Knife Assassins and what did they have against Marika? Was it because they wanted their own god in the Eternal City? Most importantly, who was the Gloam Eye'd Queen??? I think the questions I have will be the back drop to ER 2, or maybe answer some of those. I don't really like to "assume" and there certainly are a lot of plot holes in Elden Ring. Radagon being one of the largest. He was possibly part giant, part numen, but not a god? Anyways. Oh yeah, shout out to "man, bear, pig" "Red Bear." I don't know why but I could only laugh when I saw this guy. Made me immediately think of South Park. I have a couple more bosses to fight on my second go through and I think I am done knowing no more DLC is coming. I kept trying different builds in anticipation of DLC but I think after this last go through that's it for me. It should have been Godwyn at the end of the DLC!!!!! ;) ;) Ray

Interesting interpretations even though I don't think I can agree with them. Miquella's charm might've worked to keep his followers calm while it was active but it still seemed like a precarious false peace to me, especially when he's willing to have unrepentant murderers work for him. If he set up a whole governing order with people like that involved, then the charm breaking would turn everything into absolute anarchy. I don't believe forcing people to supress their emotions, even if it's violent and selfish ones, is a healthy or long-term way to deal with your problems either. It really did not work for Leda and the Hornsent's issues anyway! If instead he doesn't use any such charm ability then I don't see how Miquella is going to form a new order, why would people want to follow him except out of fear for his intelligence, and Malenia and Radahn's pure strength and their respective armies? That doesn't seem any better than the other Demi-god's ways. P.S. Thiollier is male, not female. ;)

The statement written in Remembrance caught my attention. It says Radahn is kind and strong unlike Miquella.Soo what is that mean?Did Radahn inspire Malenia and Miquella to be strong and kind?

I’m not even half way through and can tell this is a thematic, compassionate, cerebrally high brow interpretation that rings true and has sadly not been prevalent across the community’s interpretations. Absolute masterpiece. More thoughts coming when I’ve finished it.

I’m just so upset that the ending was what it was. How can we go through all that just to be left in such a disappointing end. This game was so beautiful but why are we left with nothing after everything is said and done… the main game is meant to be left to interpretation but the end of the dlc feels like a giant middle finger to the entire community tbh. The hardest boss ever and then you get nothing! Literally nothing. I’m so depressed. Not much can leave me feeling this empty but that did. I’d rather just let miquella charm me and see a cool concept put to action in the world. Because we win and nothing happens. What’s the point in winning then? We don’t get to help these lands at all or use the gate of divinity to change something. Nothing. Not even a cool secret Easter egg like maybe we can peer through the gate and it gives us a spell that is directly of the greater will. Make it a gold gravity spell of mega power. Or like something. We are supposed to be the new elden lord, meant to bear the responsibility of lordship and change to the world. Why can we not do anything to help the lands of shadow or get more information about what we can potentially do to save the world we are to be lord to.. it’s just sad. I know that we can’t have everything but I mean something to end the only dlc we get to this beautiful game I think is a reasonable ask and we should have gotten something. Anything!

This is cool... except the fact that Miquella is still using Marika's and the Hornsent Gate of Divinity. Following the same recipe. And whoever came before the hornsent most likely built it originally. It is merely a cycle. Miquella is a fool with his eyes closed, as are all the so called "gods".

Miquella did what he did for "compassion" since he had the bigpicture planning Yes he had all planned indeed, and this exactly point made Miquella a psycopath megalomaniac.

Damn this is deep… DEEP lore analysis. Yes, you are Heisenberg level in this video. Well done! I wish you and Center Tarnished could do some type of collab. A podcast or a video together would be dope. Cheers!

Ontos... thank you. From the whole of every aspect, every drop of my heart's dew. Thank you for speaking my truth. Absolutely masterpiece. Thank you for saying so much that I have been saying. I am SO THRILLED that we see eye to eye in the moralities, the manoeuvring and Miquella's intent. I love the conclusion of your video as much as the content of it. I have long known Miyazaki to be a purveyor of hopelessness. For him to strip away the Miquella ending that had at one time been intended and to leave us with the question as to whether or not our presence is a good thing. I believe this is Miyazaki putting a mirror before us and saying, even faced with our own salvation, the lot of us would choose to destroy it too, as we have done with our own world and ourselves. It's a 10/10 from me. Needed a box of tissues for this one. I've been in such a dark place since the DLC released and me thinking I was one of the ONLY people out here seeing things the way that I was. Completely overshadowed and overwhelmed by the "Miquella is naive. Miquella is evil. Road to hell is paved with good intentions." tropes. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I have sort of a crackpot theory. It’s quite obvious that the story for the DLC was rewritten at some point in development between the reveal image and release. That’s not the crackpot part of the theory. There are missing voice lines for bosses and St. Trina, only 3-4 of each new weapon class, and the story made no sense in the context of the base game. Radahn? Really?? No. He was shoehorned in because fans kept asking for a “prime Radahn” fight… it’s such a shame. I believe, that the story of the DLC was originally meant to be about Godwyn becoming St. Trina’s consort, wherein she becomes/manifests/is revealed to be, the Gloam-Eyed Queen. That’s Miquella’s “fate” which he abandons in the DLC we got. Him divesting himself of St. Trina almost seems like a nod to the previous story they had planned and the fact they had to scrap it to provide fan service in place of lore-rich content. I loved almost all of the DLC, don’t get me wrong. It’s so much fun to explore and I love the bosses, though I do wish they got more cutscenes… But Promised Consort Retcon? Nah. He’s both a terrible choice for his role in the lore, and a brutal boss encounter, not in the fun way. Nothing about him gives me any sort of joy or excitement. I was just utterly disappointed in FromSoft at the end of the DLC. It’s actually hard to believe that this “ending” came from that company, considering their track record. It’s really strange

Strong counter here: Ansbach and Thiollier both mention memories returning to them when the charm breaks. Miquella is literally making people forget things important to them. In Thiollier's case, it's something he literally devotes his life to. Actually, the same applies to Ansbach, who says (from the text dump): "Kindly Miquella has discarded his Great Rune. The fog that vexed my aging faculties has been lifted. And follies better left forgotten haunt me once again. Once, in an attempt to free Lord Mohg from his enchantment, I challenged Tender Miquella, only to have my own heart rather artfully stolen." And Thiollier says: "Oh, umm... Are you not affected? Even with the spell broken? I'm feeling rather lost. Haunted by memories. Of St. Trina. Her visage. Her scent. The lure of velvety sleep. Would Kindly Miquella chasten me? For falling for St. Trina, while knowing that she was the discarded half? The problem is...I simply cannot help it. I would sacrifice everything, just to gaze upon her, one last time." Ansbach doesn't seem to remember his battle with Miquella or that Miquella put a charm on his master. He mentions that he "broke his vows and would do anything to make up for it" and... well... the problems with Thiollier are self-evident... He's clearly obsessed and yet he doesn't seem to even remember her till the charm is broken. Side notes: The Great Runes are not given to the Demigods or bound to their flesh. The Demigods fought for their shards per the lore of the shattering. The Great Runes are just shards of the Elden Ring, the Demigods are said to have warred over them because of their power. You also said Radahn was killed to get rid of his tainted flesh, but he's revived in the body of Mohg, another shardbearer. The reason Radahn had to die was to get to the Shadow Realm, the Suppressing Pillar tells us that all manners of death end up there. Miquella needed Radahn to be in the Shadow Realm to be reborn as his lord and to get there he had to die.

I can understand why people would rather see Miquella as pure evil based on his actions (and I don't necessarily blame them) and it's likely that Miquella's ambitions degraded where he can no longer see that he is following his mother's path But because the game is left vague in a few aspects some of us can come up with other answers and argue the opposite based on lore description, gameplay, and character interactions to support certain claims And ever since I finished the DLC and saw how other people thought so similarly (to where it felt numbing) I decided to look for things to at least argue that Miquella isn't the stereotypical master mind or pure villain that people like to call him, there are positive things he has done but either people forgot they happened or manly focus on the negative to see that Miquella is flawed not pure evil But in my opinion it probably took many events to get Miquella to take drastic matters that we witnessed since it seems based off of Miquella's memory, he is terrified to become a god and I feel like that makes him human to fear his own power (at least from the beginning) Therefore I stand against Miquella not out of hatred or malice but to save him from himself because as St Trina says "Divinity will be Miquella's Prison, A caged Divinity is beyond saving....grant him forgiveness"

Great video. By the way, I dont even think it's pure mind control.I genuinely believe it's more like a power of strong suggestion. Your video has made my opinion on this matter even more solidified.

the elden ring breaking bad crossover shook me to my core 😂

Miquella’s charm is so powerful That it can cross even into our world it seems.

Yes, I felt like he wasn't given any time to complete his dream or even have an open discourse, we in our battle with him at the end really do rob the lands between of a what if. If there was an option, I'd prefer to leave them and see what comes of their reign..

Thank you for this. I cannot tell you how I’ve been wishing for a masterpiece like this. The Shadows of Light give you thanks.

Very well put together argument and video to shine light on the overarching story. Thank you. That being said it kind of leads me to believe that the Tarnished is The force of change in opposition to everything in the lands between not necessarily evil or villainy but something more a kin to egocentric or chaotic neutral. Considering the optional bosses, we seek them out and defeat them not the other way around. But at the same time we are also weak and prone to corruption (a follower) be it Ranni, Shabriri or Markia's wants. The fact we lack an ending independent of these actors just for ourselves a sort of liberation suggests we are a puppet or a means to an end.

You called a lot thiollier and Miquella “her” they are dudes….

Freyja says that Radahn having constant war is more suiting than an Honorable death. She is tainted with the bloodlust after Miquella's rune breaks.

I think the most important question to ask ourselves in relation to Elden Ring's DLC is why did Miquella "fail". What truth is Miyazaki trying to communicate through this video game medium? I think the answer is something like: hardening your heart, betraying your ideal (represented both by Miquella seeking adulthood in Haligtree, along with the abandonment of Trina) all to obtain the strength to contend with reality leads to the upheaval of the messianic heaven on earth utopia that the Haligtree Order signifies. One cannot simultaneously seek hard power, dominance over others in the physical plane that is godhood (adulthood), while simultaneously wanting to embrace the soft power of unity consciousness and bringing everyone together. The DLC Miquella has basically succumbed to the fear and has been overtaken by ego consciousness. In this "failed" timeline, he wants to take things into his own hands after he saw Godwyn killed and Malenia defeated, not realizing his action in wanting to take on hard power by becoming an "god" (adult) in the Haligtree ruined the chain of causality that would've otherwise led to a happy outcome. Innocently, he wanted to see Malenia cured and Godwyn reenter reincarnation, but took it into his own hands to accelerate the process in a manner based in fear and clinging. This is why he had embedded himself in the cocoon and does all he can to become a god, eventually leading to him failing having to make a new plan for himself in the Shadow Realm. This leads to him becoming repulsed by his compassion (Trina), viewing her as the source of his weakness. Thus he reneges on his initial plans, clings to the embodiment of hard power and suffers a final defeat at the hands of the savior he was supposed to marry, and would've likely saved him, Malenia and the rest of the demi-gods were he still around to act as a guide for them. What's interesting is that Miquella had two critical junctures to make things right, but chose fear each time in this "failed" timeline. However Marika initially fails at the first critical juncture by waging war in the Land of Shadow and subjugating everyone with Godfrey, which eventually results in Golden Order falling apart and her crucifixion. But during the return of the Tarnished she fully leans into soft power and unity consciousness, not even speaking but guiding through grace and resurrecting the Tarnished without imposing her will, taking in whatever vision for Order they have in mind at the end of the game. This is why in this "failed" timeline of Miquella, she ends up being portrayed as a tragic hero and possibly why the DLC is linear, without any references to the Tarnished taking a Ranni, Frenzied Flame ending or even a Miquella ending as the initial gameplay trailer might be depicting. It also may be why there are several references, including direct lines by the Hornsent NPC that they are Marika's Lord, along with Miquella himself calling them the "Lord of the Old Order". Miyazaki is simultaneously showing the potential for redemption within anyone (even Marika), while simultaneously showing how a messiah can be corrupted by hard power into a tyrant by giving into fear instead of faith. It's quite brilliant really.

Not gonna lie, barely a minute in and some of what you're saying sounds like a contradiction. I don't know if it's just confusion on your part or what but Machiavellian "ends justify the means" type characters are still villains and his age of compassion IS a political agenda. He weaponized mind control for his political agenda. I don't know where the rest of the video is going but those are two foundational errors you've already made. I'm still interested in hearing what you have to say but in future, please think about these details more thoroughly.

miquella is literally the same as ranni and marika. They all want to achieve what they consider to be the "perfect" world or the "better" world but all of their ideals are based on selfish intentions and their own personal experiences. Marika's people, the shaman, suffered brutal torture and dead under the hornsent so she strives to create a world with no more death. But when people oppose this like the gloam eyed queen or when people suffer because an import part of the cycle of nature has been removed she doubles down on her bias ideals and eliminates those who are against it. Ranni is the same. She destroys the golden order and she uses her half brother for her scheming without caring much about the consequences. Even while doing her quest she states that she will not tolerate failure or disobedience from her plan no matter the cost or the moral implications. Miquella is the same. Miquella tries to show people why he is doing what he is and how his age of compassion is going to be better, but if you oppose it or you go against it he will force you to accept it. And this is why Sir Ansbach in the final fight of the dlc tells us "be a lord of men and not of gods" reinforcing the idea that Goldmask came to. That their world will always be broken as long gods, that are no less flawed than man, are the ones dictating the laws of the world they live in. That men should strive to govern themselves and not bow down to gods.

I wanna reintroduce a time dilation theory A theory where the shadow realm is in a time pocket, just like Farum Azula and dragon lord Placidusax. It seems like everything is still very fresh. Scorch marks still mark the earth, people still rummaging around to look for something lost (although the nobles also do that so bad example) and then there's Miqella coming in to divest himself of all things golden. It would be make sense that he took over 100's if not 1000's of years to wait and remove important parts of his body but it doesn't make sense that he took all that time in preparing to finally decide it was time to destroy his great rune. Either he is watching us very closely, or maybe we were just behind him on his quest of becoming a God, where burning the tree was his ticket to the gate of divinity, unless Miqella was there on the burning of the shadow realm, where Eris Elim is covered in shadows. Maybe he did some ghostly mystic mumbo jumbo to get through, but it's strange that the rune breaks while we're approaching Shadow keep and we claim the broken shards from a tree avatar. To me, it would make sense that the lands are in a time pocket where it does not move unless you are consciously active in it, meaning this could very well be the direct aftermath of masmers siege. I could be wrong though, Miqella works in mysterious ways

After watching the whole video it makes me hate what we got even more. I don’t understand why the cut this ending as a choice. Why could we not choose after beating him if we can choose to bring about his age with him or to kill him. It would be our choice tho. And I think would add amazing value to the dlc and not leave me suicidal after beating it😒

Why Miyazaki? Why u robbed us of this only choice?

Miquella would not be wrapping around Radahn if not controlling she is just to proud to admit that radahn could be charmed.That he is too strong so she refuses to believe it.

You fought The promise consort with only this much HP…. Dude is a badasss subbed lol

how do you mistake thiollier for a girl lol

Dude, Ellie is a girl and Thiollier is a guy, what is this even.

Nice Elden Ring video about Miquella

Not enough timestamps 😂 we need more 😂

Even more of a reason why we should have been able to side with him! 😤 Maybe even convince him that perhaps throwing Trina away might have been a step too far? I dunno, maybe I just wished for another option besides Ranni or a half-broken statue lady… Though I suppose it’s really my fault for wanting more dialogue and story path options in a FromSoft game, it may be my first time playing but I had an inkling of how things went with them.

Here comes the Miquella did nothing wrong

Bro, this was epic! Even though I've never played Elden Ring and wasn't able to fully understand everything you mentioned in this video, I still watched the whole thing and really appreciate your method of delivery when approaching deep concepts such as the ones found within this video. Also, is that Mio's voice actress at 18:05?

I have more to say about your thoughts that I’ll posit after a rewatch, but I just wanted to ask if you’re assuming that Miquella’s crosses were representative of his great rune?

Where are Miquella's Two Fingers?

I didn't quite understand the inclusion of Igon. He seemed to be outside of Miquella's influence or did I miss something.

If Radahn consented to the vow, then why did Miquela send Melania to kill Radahn in the shattering?

Perfect take.

I appreciate the Igon shitpost

So then why do you think you have to fight Miquella at the end? Why do you think that content was cut? It seems pretty clear to me the game wants you to question the nobility of Miquella's deeds and his coming age.

Miquella is a hypocrite. Surely, he's a determined person, as very little people can subject themselves to the shire amount of pain Miquella experienced while ascending. This act requires a specific mindset, which when coupled with his decisions of enchanting whoever expresses determination to not follow him or even oppose him, signifies his inability to make compromises. The game provides some evidence that his charms leave plenty room for independent decision-making, as some characters are still able to question and investigate him while under the influence of his charms. Yet, these characters also show sings of partial memory loss or memory distortion. The charms could be compared to indoctrination or good quality upbringing in a way that they serves as anchors or mental walls for people which hold them back, something that we have in real world and that Marika's war cultivating culture never sought to instill. Yet, these walls were not built through dialogue but were rather planted within the very soul of the person affected by the charm, which shows how controlling and inpatient Miquella is. For, comparison, St. Trina also used mood-altering techniques akin to lamentation to affect the mind of people, as we know from the cut content with nomadic merchants. And yet, her approach required more time and systematic maintenance. As Leda's story ark shows, it doesn't matter how justified you think you are, you cannot just modify someone's soul or personality through force, even if it's a divine intervention. It seems that Miquella's victims were unaware of the effects of the charm, they never had the chance to reflect on themselves before and after the enchantment so none could have possibly agreed to be changed in the way Miquella changed them. It is possible that Radahn could have been the one who experienced the effects of the charm, broke it and then decided to become the person he was while under the charm through his own efforts and his death by our hands was the death of old Radahn to him, a symbolic death of sorts, his way of saying "goodbye" to his former self. But its just a possibility. Miquella trully believes that he does good and this belief stems from his ego, something that he sought to supress in others as an obstacle to a gentler world. Hence, he allowed himself to pursue the path he obscured for others. Isn't that hypocritical?

Thiollier is male. Also you're mispronouncing his name. The characters even say his name in game so you cant confuse it really. Not trying to be an asshole its just these things are too obvious to be overlooking when you're making this type of content

Isn't thiollier a guy?

Amazing video the only part I have a hard time believing, and maybe I am completely misunderstanding what you're saying, is the part about Miquella"s half of the vow as I really don't think it makes much sense for Radahn to want to die to divest himself of the great rune's influence when Miquella is just able to get rid of his like it's nothing

Art credits? I noticed mid video so sorry if i missed them

Man sounds like Thiollier himself

Thiolier is a girl?

Well, this is an admirable effort of contrarianism. I feel like the subtext and characterizations very clearly portray Miquella as misgided and in the wrong, but if Mohg could beat the allegations, then I suppose it's possible that Miquella is actually the hero. I don't think he is, though. You say Ansbach "completely lost the plot" with the breaking of Miquella's enchantment, but he never had the plot, because Miquella refused to give it, in fact he took what little of the plot Anbach had by erasing his memories to make him a follower. Perhaphs Miquella could have, for example, subdued him with his charms, TOLD HIM about his grand vision, and if necessary, charmed him into agreeing to it. Ansbach could have spent time appreciating Miquella's goals, knowing new people and thinking of all good the Age of Compassion would do to them, and then, once the charm broke, he might still seriously consider standing by that purpose. But Miquella did no such thing, he refused to try imparting any understanding, so I don't see any merit in the notion that Ansbach is the one at fault for not trying to better understand Miquella. You also point to Horsent as evidence that Miquella's age will allow for selfish feelings to be handled in a healthier manner, but hornsent isn't being all too healthy about it. He isn't out to kill every Erdtree denizen, but he does hold every last one of them as guilty and unworthy. Had Miquella actually kept the Hornsent's vengeance at a healthy degree, maybe he could have been more emotionally open to the people of the Lands Between, seeing their hardships and grievances with Marika's failed order, and genuinely bonding with the other followers of Miquella. That way, when the charm broke, he could be less hellbent on vengeance, less eager to enact collective punishment upon the Lands Between. But I guess toning his grudge down an extra notch was too big a task for the Unalloyed Empyrean... even though he can steal hearts and supress memories. He didn't allow Hornsent to be vengeful because he values the sactity of his feelings, he just couldn't be bothered. And that's the thing: Miquella cares little for this band of followers he brought together. You point to how they devolve into their worst selves with the break of the enchantment as evidence of the good that Miquella would do to people, but I see it as evidence of his callousness. He compelled them to serve him, and they got no lasting benefits from their journey, no personal growth or fulfilment from following his path. "Should I explain myself to Ansbach as I use his services? Naaaah, I'll just bury away the memory of his very legitimate grievance with me. That's good enough!" "Should I have Hornsent actually care for his comrades? Naaaah, I'll just have him tolerate them enough to go along with my scheme. That's good enough." "Is delusional and murderous paranoia a prohibitive trait for a leader of a group of people from various walks of life? Naaaah, I'll just supress that paranoia with the power of this great rune that I'll have to break at some point in my journey. That's good enough, now she's leader material!" That last one makes the generous assumption that Miquella HAD to break the great rune, rather than doing so simply because he didn't need it anymore. He reunited people with irreconcilable differences through divine charms, knowing they'd be at each other's throats once he broke his rune. Compare that to Ranni, who also has a group of associates who all die by end, but whose loyalty was given out of their own volition, and whose demise was engineered by forces outside her power (except Seluvis, but screw Seluvis). Furthermore, she does explain herself and her goals to the Tarnished, showing a strong and meaningful difference from Miquella, which earns her a different fate. By respecting and informing the Tarnished's choices, Ranni makes them able to choose her. By charming and then discarding others, Miquella makes the Tarnished his enemy.

My brother, we are already in the deepest pits of hell. Most people are walking husks or mad. Both demigods and SEVERAL deadly diseases/plagues run rampant. There are deadly monsters outside the capital. Most towns and villages are burned, drowned, or slaughtered. Miquella's world would be, at worst, moving sideways. With the amount of suffering in The Lands Between, I can think of many people who would happily do the trade. Hell, think of all the friendly NPC's and how they end up through the game. Who's alive by the end, exactly? Also, I don't feel like it's actual mind control, not in the way where he would directly control the actions. It's almost like everyone under his influence suddenly understands his vision for a peaceful world, to the point they put aside their differences and want to reach it by any means necessary. Everyone goes off and does their part, however they think can help best. I believe even Malenia was when she nuked Caelid - if she couldn't kill Radahn then hopefully the rot would kill or weaken him. And it eventually did, she succeeded. I think the point is that no vision for the world is perfect, Miquella's plan has flaws. too. But in every ending you are forced to choose between the greatest good and the possible downsides. Consider how some mending runes can corrupt the world, and how much worse the world could ger if someone desired it. Miquella's rule suddenly doesn't sound as bad.

Mogh had to face allegations for two years because of the miquellester

His horse is not named Leonard sorry folks. Cut content is non canon and any excuse is cope

7:38 Thiollier is a man

🎉

People charmed by Miquella go kamikazi in Elphael. This is not minor influence. This is fanatic slavery. A compassionate world is not a better world. It's a weaker world. Only a compassionate ruler is a better ruler.

Very confused by the Andrew tate thing….🤦‍♂️

I like to think Miquella and Thiollier use both he/she pronouns.

We are the bad guy

Honestly, I disagree with anyone who implies Miquella is anything other than the most virtuous character in the series, and there's significantly less moral ambiguity in his efforts than Ansbach and his simps imply. He uses love to turn people to his side, in pursuit of compassion. The alternative, and what everyone else does, is violent, brutal war. Even Radahn, at his Redmane castle, has swathes of enemies - presumably the prior inhabitants - hanging from ropes. Ansbach is dead wrong. Miquella has a righteous mission, and he tries to achieve it in the least violent, most merciful way possible. Praise Miquella the Kind!

The Igon part took me out😂

Thiollier i thoght he was a guy

Same video but with a song: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1v9zl6mBpwc.html

I'm going to have to disagree here. If Miquella was so sure he'd bring about a better world, his ideology and ideas alone would be enough. He wouldn't have to manipulate anyone because enough people would be on board with his vision. That's the power of actual charisma. He would not have to resort to control. Instead, he's no different than Makima from Chainsaw Man. Of course, some people would still oppose him, and he'd have to fight for his ideal world, but people should still have the agency to decide for themselves if they want to oppose him.

Altruism doesn't exist

Fam miquella is a young boy and Thollier is a grown man.

Compassion through compulsion is tyranny. His goal is naive, stupid, and evil.

Although this video is well put together and enjoyable, I have some gripes with it. First, in the remembrance of a God and a Lord, I strongly suggest that when the text is speaking about their afflicted selves, it is talking about Malenia and Miquella, not Malenia and Rykard. To my knowledge, none of the carrian Demigods have any affliction plaguing them, and Malenia/Miquella have both some kind of affliction. Malenia with the rot, Miquella with nascency Second, I wouldn't put it out of the question that Miquella considered Godwyn as a consort, due to the Epitaph Sword having a very Golden Order Fundamentalist-Esque ability, dealing heavy damage to those who live in death, whom Godwyn presumably is the first, the prince of death. Imo, only after delving deeper into Malenia's affliction and the whole outer gods meddling shtick does he consider Radahn as his consort. I would put forth evidence in the form of the starscourge and prosthesis wearer heirloom talisman's to indicate that Malenia was first learning to fight whilst Radahn had already conquered the stars, but the stargazers heirloom throws that particular theory for a spin unfortunately

I dont agree with the real world connection, golden order in my mind represents the christianity and miquella goes against the order but he is of the same brood, a son of marika in the end his order would be worse but since he is a child he doesnt understand that. This is analagous to our liberal worldview, it itself is just a derivative of christianity and its kindness is hardly an improvement. Like Ymir said Marika and her fingers were unhinged from a start and if roots are rotten there is hardly much that can be done

Fam, becoming a consort doesn't mean married.

Still at the beginning of the video but I disagree strongly with the notion that miquela's mind control is somehow not too bad. This is clearly an example of "the road to hell with good intentions" *and* "ends justify the means". It doesn't have to be one or the other. He is a monster. A childish hopeful monster. And no one makes it more clear than poor radahn

Try to defend Miquella without Ranni whataboutism challenge: impossible

Ah dude, that second game was so trash. Hard to take that comparison seriously but ever other point is fantastic.

Nah, Miquella's age wouldn't have been salvation. It would have been Falconia. Awesome video though.

Doesn't all this heartstealing stuff lead to his constant paranoia? Everyone can be free on his spell at any given moment to turn against him. And maybe...even be strong enough to kick his divine ass😏 Leda for example had one🙃