Thinking about this data and seeing red.
There was so much space for a nuanced, beautiful exploration of one of the best and most complex characters they’ve ever given us, and instead he got reduced to a handful of regrets presented with zero empathy and a shit tonne of blame when Mythal was RIGHT THERE, dismissive comments about his trauma (“they were doin it” 🤢), and “god of lies”—not sure I will get over this aspect. There were many things about Veilguard I genuinely loved, but this? This can get in the bin.
Will never be over this friendship and how Solas is always seen both as Wisdom and Pride to this spirit of Compassion who trusts him completely and how Solas reaches out to the point of giving himself away so many times because he wants to help Cole adjust to the world.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard | ▶ dev. Bioware
Harellan
When people new to DA say things like "I didn't play any of the previous games before I played Veilguard" that's fine, but to then turn around and say "well, because Veilguard says [lore thing] that means everything in the previous games is false" makes you look willfully ignorant at best and [redacted] at worst. Veilguard did not do a good job with three games of established lore. New players apparently came out of datv not knowing what a Circle is, for crying out loud???
People who wanted to see the Veil removed have a basis for the belief that it might usher in a new age for Thedas that could ultimately make things better for elves, mages, and spirits. Or at least change the world in an interesting, exciting way. That basis was given to us by the first three games. For example:
Flemeth
"We stand upon the precipice of change. The world fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss. Watch for that moment . . . and when it comes, do not hesitate to leap. It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly." (DA2)
PC: "Why did Mythal come to you?"
Flemeth: "For a reckoning that will shake the very heavens."
Morrigan: "And you follow her whims? Do you even know what she truly is?"
Flemeth: "You seek to preserve the powers that were, but to what end? It is because I taught you, girl, because things happened that were never meant to happen. She was betrayed as I was betrayed--as the world was betrayed! Mythal clawed and crawled her way through the ages to me, and I will see her avenged!" (DAI)
Sandal's Prophecy
"One day the magic will come back, all of it. Everyone will be just like they were. The shadows will part and the skies will open wide. When he rises, everyone will see." (DA2)
Cole
"The Veil isn’t real. It’s false, fake, fabricated to forbid. Isn’t it wonderful?"
"Cole: Is there a way to save more spirits, Solas?
Solas: Not until the Veil is healed. The rifts draw spirits through, and the shock makes demons of them.
Cole: Pushing through makes you be yourself. You can hold onto the you.
Cole: Being pulled through means you don't have enough you. You become what batters you, bruises your being.
Solas: Yes, exactly. Deliberately crossing the Veil requires that a spirit form will, personality.
Solas: That concept of self gives a spirit the chance to maintain its nature.
Solas: Wrenched into this world unwillingly by the rifts, spirits suffer the same fate as my friend.
Cole: Then we will help them." (DAI)
Morrigan
"Change is coming to the world. Many fear chance and will fight it with every fiber of their being. But sometimes change is what they need most. Sometimes change is what sets them free." (DAO: Witch Hunt)
"Mankind blunders through this world, crushing what it does not understand: elves, dragons, magic . . . the list is endless. We must stem the tide, or be left with nothing more than the mundane. This I know to be true." (DAI)
I haven't even touched on what Solas says, due to his bias/the way some people refuse to consider his insight at all, even though he knows the most about the Veil of any character in the series ever. For obvious reasons.
Due to the above evidence, I completely agree that the Veil coming down would probably be catastrophic to some degree. I disagree that it would have "destroyed the world" or "drowned [it] in demons" as Veilguard loves to repeat over and over, mostly from characters like Varric who don't know jack about the Veil, magic, or spirits. And I disagree that people who wanted to see what would happen if the Veil came down are wrong or misguided--they obviously just paid better attention to what the overarching narrative than some. It isn't their fault that this more interesting and dynamic narrative was retconned to shreds and buried in the backyard.
"Mais ma meilleure ennemie, c'est toi Fuis-moi, le pire, c'est toi et moi
Mais si tu cherches encore ma voix Oublie-moi, le pire, c'est toi et moi"
The right hand of Solas
In the shadow of a god
Somewhere, years from now, if you are lucky enough to walk the fade, you may catch a glimpse of them.
(Rewatch panel here)
Solas was a challenge for us [re: design, translation] because it was very important to us to make sure that he was interpreted as a very kind person.. that everybody in the world mattered to him, how they were treated, to try and get that across…
Solas is sympathetic and hunky
Solas is never looking where the other characters are looking [in concept art]. He’s looking at you [the Inquisitor]. He is intrigued by you.