Hythlodaeus is Emet-Selch's Haurchefant. No wonder Emet-Selch did what he did for so long...

When I met Hythlodaeus, I said "I get it. I will burn it all down to save this man."

I just want to put here a thing that I read: The good part is that now Emet-Selch is with Hythlodaeus for eternity. The bad part is that now Emet-Selch is with Hythlodaeus for eternity.

I think the devs did great in design and choice of voice actor for Hythlodaeus. The delivery of voice and demeanor helps make the character give of the sense of friendliness. He comes off as likable, calm, whimsical, and all around pleasant.

I loved Hythlodaeus. I can totally understand why Emet was so broken by his death he recreated Amaurot and it’s citizens. He was overwhelmed by the pain of losing his friend that it affected the shade. Now we know why Emet wanted to return to the past to be with his friend once more.

"I pray we meet again, if not in this life, then perhaps another." Me: *Literally just sobbing wanting to hug them, tell them I love them, and will see them again someday.

What hurt the most was when Hythlodaeus explained his "purpose" to the WoL... When he said that when Azem and Emet-Selch have fulfilled their respective purposes he wished for them all to return to the star together... It hurt, when it hit me, that nothing even close to that would happen... He was imprisoned in Zodiark, Azem was sundered and Emet-Selch was doomed to live on without them... He's the nicest guy and deserves better 🥲 I so hope that the trio will reunite someday and have a happy ending

is it me or does Hythlodaeus and Hades sound like a old married couple? But jokes aside, we all need a Hythlodaeus in our life, a friend who is there for you and make sure you're the best version of yourself. No wonder why Emet fell so far when Hythlodaeus sacrifice himself.

Hythlo is that friend who knows exactly which ones of your buttons to press to get the desired reaction out of you, who knows exactly how to rub you the wrong way and make you grit your teeth in frustration, and who knows perfectly well that you hate him on some level... because every time he presses one of your buttons or rubs you the wrong way, it's to provoke you into putting an effort into acting better than you probably even want to be -- because he knows that you can be better, and all he wants is for you to be your best... And that's why you also can't help loving him: Because he brings out the best in you, even when he's also kinda pissing you off.

I think Graha would make a great contender to the "bestest friend" spot though. The guy was willing to do hundreds of years of work, including sacrificing himself at the end, with absolutely zero recognition, just to help the WoL. And even after all that, he still is a cinnamon roll of a catboy too humble to recognize he deserves some praise too.

I get the feeling that we, as Azem, Hythlodeus and Hades were all very close friends as ancients and that Hythlodeus recognised as both in Shadowbringers and Endwalker. Venat recognised we were from the future but Hythlodeus recognised our very soul. I really hope we will meet him again in the future.

This also showed me the impact of how Emet-Selch changed from how he was when we met him in Elpis. Right before he had his memory wiped he tells the WOL he would never lead such a horrible path of pain. Then after he watched Hythlodeaus wave and walk away, knowing what he is about to do, every single part of his soul just dies. Honestly I think both of them are fit for the best friend spot. But Hythlodaeus gave me so much joy in EW. Everything about him made you want to see more and more of him.

I cried at Hythlodaeus’s sacrifice the most in EW. I knew if Azem or Emet could, they would do the same for Hythlodaeus (which to die in his place) and that was why Emet chose not to stop Hythlodaeus. Thus making Emet’s grief and Azem’s reincanetion became much much more heart-breaking in my opinion.

Alisae will always be my favourite. She humanizes us at so many points in ways that many games would not. We aren't just a hero undaunted to her but instead a person who happens to also have power. She's like our own little sister in many ways.

Everyone was excited for Emet-Selch at first, but Hythlodaeus I think stole everyone's hearts with how lovable he is.

"Ours is the wisdom to weave the fabric of reality." "Ours is the power to create!"

Our New Old Friend was definitely one of the most likeable characters to have come out of Shadowbringers and expanded upon in Endwalker. It's no wonder Emet-Selch turned down the evil path he did... to have lost the friend he had. And to know that we as the Warrior of Light are their other best friend, Azem... this is all some next level writing.

"Supporting them will be my greatest contribution to this star and when they have fulfilled their purpose, so too will I have fulfilled mine and together we will return to the star." Definitely one of the best characters in the game.

Want something that hurts even more? Because Hythlodaeus gave up the title of Emet-Selch, and made Hades take it, he technically saved Hades from being sacrificed for Zodiark, and I can only imagine the amount of guilt Hades feels knowing if that hadn't happened Hythlodaeus would be one of the unsundered, not him.

Hythlodaeus is such a great bro my brain keeps asking ‘omg, what if Haurchefant was Hythlodaeus’s sundered reincarnation!?’ Before I have to remind myself, gently, that it isn’t possible since Hyth was never sundered.

Hyth's shade came for my heart with a baseball bat back in shadowbringers - the offhanded mention that the mere *though* of him was enough to screw up the phantom Amaruot singlehandedly changed my opinion of Emet-Selch, and when I found out that Hyth wasn't a casualty of the sundering but was, instead, trapped away on the moon, I actually had to put the game down and scream into a pillow because it *completely* recontextualized the end of ShB for me.

I love Hythlodaeus so much!! He became one of my favorite characters ever! Here's a little fun fact! Yoshi-P mentions when approving Hythlodaeus’ character art, he asked the staff if he looked a bit too young. He views him as a more experienced yet mischievous adult. Out of the Ancients, Hythlodaeus is perhaps the most irresponsible so much so that it’s scary.

2:08 WOL and ardbert looking at each other now knowing they are fragments of the same person. WoL: "I got the souls good looks apparently" Ardbert: "And I got it's intelligence" WoL: "And I got it's ability to not accidentally kill it's loved ones in a flood of light" Ardbert: "And you got the being a huge dick part of the soul too... seriously too soon" WoL: "It's been a hundred years" Ardbert: "Fair point..."

What I loved the most about Hythlodaeus and how he was written was how everytime we met him, it was always a first time meeting (except for when he handed over the crystals). Almost like 50 First Dates.

Wonderful video, well befitting our 'new old friend' indeed! Another line from Shadowbringers I feel had added weight is also when Emet-Selch poses the question "Do you honestly believe that half your number would sacrifice themselves to save the other." ...It just hits so, so much harder after seeing that moment in the past when Hythlodaeus walks away. Knowing he had such personal, intimate experience with someone literally making that selfless choice right before his eyes.

Hythlodaeus was one of my favourite characters after Shadowbringers. You have no idea how happy I was when I got up to *that* part in Endwalker. From the first time we meet him he feels so warm and welcoming.

A true friend can recognize you for who you are, your flaws, your abilities, and you heart. Hythlodaeus did that in Emet Selch. And he did it in the WoL.

The cutscene where hythlodeaus visits you while you are sleeping I think is very interesting and leaves a way for him to come back in the story. He sounded so happy when, in his words, that he finally found you.

I’m hoping our new, old friends are summoned back for something in the future, even if it is just to see them again/show them some strange thing we found.

Really mind blew me when you end up connecting on why he calls you new/old friend, its because once you die you remember everything that you forgot which was explained in Sharlayan so Hythlodeaus remembers us when he met us in Amourot since he passed already back then and remembers our escapade on elpis with him.

Honestly watching this makes me understand the ideals of the ancients so much more as a whole. Many people ask the question, "But what would you even do if you could live forever?" And they straight up just live by the idea that you do the best you can for the world, and then move on so that someone else can do the same. I have no idea how they managed to form a story and conclusion I enjoyed more than I did Shadowbringers, but damn was it good.

I do love how there is a running trope where in each Expansions, You'll get one Best Friend who gave an impact and lights up on your path till the end. in Realm Reborn,You'll get Minfilia,who given you a proper hom,took you in as a part of her family and not to mention,someone who shares the same power as you do. in Heavensward,You'll get Haurchefant,who gave you shelter where no one could,risked everything so that you get to clear your name and in the end sacrifices his own life to save you and to see you smile. in Stormblood,You'll get Hien,Whom immediately noticed you're a honorable man,always ready to share some sake with you and in the end fights "Zenos" just to buy some time for your arrival. in Shadowbrings,You'll get Ardbert....your only companion and your counterpart whom traveled with you through out an otherwise lonely depressing journey and in the end gave everything he could just to see you succeed and he did. and Finally in Endwalker...You'll get Hythlodaeus,Who turns out to be was your first friend all along and a really important one at that mainly because he's the ONLY one whom instantly recognized your very soul where not a single ancients could.It just shows that him and Azem had a close bond in the past and i hope i get to know more about it in the future. Edit :- Yes,Yes....I forgotten about our most important best friend of all,Zenos The man who gone out of his way and LITEARLLY going into Hyper Drive,Breaking Dimensional Barrier itself on Space all on his own,Just to say Hi to us while shit talks to a literal form of depression itself and 100% believes that we can take it down by ourselves so he's more than happy to be just a platform.. That's the definition of a true bro if i could ever see one.

Hythlodaeus is a great friend, yes, among the best. But Emet is still, imo, the greatest. He had worked 12k years tirelessly to bring back his people and Hythlodaeus. He even mentioned his ideal is invincible. Yet, upon seeing the WoL, what did he do? He dropped all that and worked so we could succeed in the end. He willingly sacrificed himself and passed on the torch to someone he said wasn't worthy to inherit the Star. His belief and love for us trumps even his own invincible ideals. And that made him the greatest friend in Final Fantasy, if not the greatest in any media.

Please let Hythalodaeus make a return in the future. Yeah, Emet-Selch is great, but I felt more comfort in seeing Hythalodaeus. Reminded me of an old friend who I sadly lost contact with

he's our old, new, old friend

i instantly liked hythlodeus the moment i saw him. great voice actors and great script and directing.

I love him!!! I loved him back in SB when we were his “new old” friend. There was something about that character that stuck with me and I pretty much cried when I realized we would get to do part of the MSQ with him. I also think Emet allowed Hythlodaeus’s shade to be self aware due to their friendship

2:10 minor correction here: "Ascian" refers only to those who joined the Ascian cult that formed post-sundering. Azem could never have been a member at any time.

Also unlike Venat and Hades in the Trust dungeon, Hythlodeus can only be a bard/archer while the other two can be a form of tank/white mage/ black mage, these super big flashy classes and he plays a more humble support job.

I see a lot of Judeau from Berserk in Hythlodaeus. The ultimate supporting character whose purpose is to raise up those around him. Both are so beloved for damn good reason.

I loved Hytholodeus as a shade already and that love only grew. Though I have to admit, I have a weak spot for Emet as well. Acting tough as nails but actually a sweet pushover when it comes to his friends.

“I trust it will be a most joyous reunion” Yessss SE, pleaseeee, im not ready to leave Hythlo and Emet

Zenos is actually our best friend! /s

The ability to self release makes sense in context. The Amurotians were gifted long lives and near immortality. Only disease and critical harm could ones life be terminated that way, since age and infeeblement had no meaning.

Hythlodaeus is for sure Emet's greatest friend and probably the complete Azem's. For the WoL, I feel the ones that really tried to connect on a deeper level were Hauchefant, Ardbert, and Zenos. Hauchefant recognized the loneliness that being raised up as a hero brings as you lose the ability to easily connect to others. Ardbert knows the pain that can come from being a hero even better than us. And then there's Zenos who doesn't care about titles, his or yours, he wants to connect on a deeper level, he wants to connect with the adventurer we are deep down, he greets us at the end of the world when our time as the warrior of light is finally over and gives us the catharsis we deeply needed and the smile returns. I know that final battle has mixed reviews, but it worked for me and turned Zenos from a combat sexual prince with an unhealthy obsession to someone that understands our desires and the growing frustrations when the destiny before us taints the experience. The encounter with him on the moon is the only time I can remember where someone saw what they wanted from us was not what we wanted it and respectfully came back later when our heart could be properly in it. A side note that I really enjoyed in the writing was viator means traveler as does Azem since that is the seat of the traveler and all other titles for each of us were gone at the end so it was just two travelers of equal title slugging it out at the end of everything. He was a horrible monster but, I feel like in those last moments he was our greatest friend.

I like to call him my "Old, New Friend"

I really do hope we meet our new old friends eventually. Be it on the shores of Meracydia or the Slumbering Dark of the thirteenth reflection. Perhaps, maybe, as fellow scions? If not simply adventurers.

I really appreciate the use of FFXI's music in these videos.

I'm here as a Hythlo simp, will write an essay another time

Like I once said to a friend who play FFXIV too, we all need and Hythlodaeus in our life and we all need to be the Hythlodaeus for another person too, it would settle so many things

TL; DR - Emet and Hythlo were DEFINATELY banging. Noted.

Hythlodaeus is the _best_ kind of enabler, the one who raises their friends up!

4:40 Everytime you show that picture, my eyes auto-cry.

Hythlodaeus is a fantastic friend, but I think the title of the BEST friend has to go to G'raha. Dude has the biggest heart and is so selfless and despite having dreams of his own is willing to sacrifice them time and time again for the sake of those around him. I'd love to see you make a video on G'raha!

Hythlodaeus and Hades are such opposite twins that I can't help but believe in the theory that they are Nald'thal, or that it is based on them. Having them both nominated for the seat of Emet-Selch, which oversees the Aetherial Sea (aka the Underworld), only makes them more fit for the god of life and death, especially when you consider that Nald'thal lives in the Hell of Fire, whereas the Heaven of Fire is kept by Azeyma, keeping the trio together.

I think I'd be pretty upset if the next story arc was not you, hades and hythlodaeus travelling either in another world or another lifetime. While I'm certain ff14 wouldn't need this crutch, but lore wise, it is a very easy way to establish companions very quickly. "Bound by fate, we meet in another time, another space. Reborn of the same souls of the ancients"

Alphinaud is my Hythlodaeus. He has his flaws but in the end he basically did the same thing lol. But that aside, I loved Hytlo the moment we met him in ShB and I was hoping to meet him again! Thank SE for this tid bit of fanservice Q//Q

One of my favorite quotes in the game is when you click on his portrait for the dungeon, and he says "I can...scarcely contain my excitement." IT IS THE BEST MY EARS AAAHHHHHHHH

This was such a well thought out analysis. Thank you!

I just love Emet Selch. He is such a great dude.

I love Hythlodeus and I'm glad your video brought more attention to his significance in the main story. Not to mention bringing the context of his loss to Hades's character to my attention, so thank you. But one small thing the afterlife in FFXIV is referred to as the Aetherial Sea, or sometimes the Underworld by the Ancients, and not the Sea of Stars which is what outer space is called

Everyone needs a friend like Hythlodaeus.

He was my favorite from the first time I met him. Sitting on that bench with my character and after the entire city of shades just being so inhuman. It was endearing.

Hythlodaeus is honestly one of the best characters to come out of Endwalker, he's the best friend we all need to balance out Emets cold logic and Azem's reckless enthusiasm. Plus he's just so darn sweet!

i love your channel! i rewatch this one often - lot of coverage on Hyth! thank you

I love Hythlodaeus so much.

You’re videos are sooo good! Thank for providing all this cool info.

He gives Haurchefaunt a run for his gil if anything, but regardless, both of them are best bois of the game

my lord your storytelling is the BEST. PLEASE DO GRAHA TIA NEXT. 😭💗

One half of the best Comedic Duo in all FFXIV! He is the bestest friend one can get.

I LOVE Hythlodaeus. He and Emet are my favourite of the Ancients. Their friendship gave a much needed lightheartedness in an otherwise rather heavy expansion. Their constant sassing of each other is just amazing.

I agree it's like a guardian angel.

Hythleodeus is amazing friend. Emet is big daddy. And venet is like the protective mommy. Together they are our family of ancients.

I would love for a chance to play as Azem in the past just to be around all the wonderful people we've met.

I just want to note that your voice is extreme asmr material and not even with any changes, just you talking in these videos is good enough

I am really looking forward to doing new game plus and there are so many other things i want to experience with knowing all (need sidequests and all before knowing all still) but this is one of the strongest piece of information. I want to read and listen to every word of Emet-Selch with all I know now. I had been suspicious until a certain point in Shb and I felt ashamed when i did. And I love Hythlodaeus. I faced every ordeal as Wol but along with scions, he was one person who helped me really in time of desperate emotions. I like Venat most then Hythlodaeus (She had been believing me like eons and did all that) and Emet with scions. Thanks for this video. I really enjoyed this and God I love this game.

I love Hythlo so much, he reminds me of my significant other

I love Hyth so much. T^T When I found out on the moon he had sacrificed himself I lost it. Hyth is also the only one who ever calls Emet-Selch by his name, Hades, in that one cutscene. (I wanted so badly to have a moment to call Emet-Selch by his name. T^T) All of this was so good. Great recap vid!

If I remember correctly the recreation of him says some like "This place is created by his memory of it maybe why I understand everything is because he remembers me as someone who could see through such a trick."

Better than any friend I ever had in real life thats why I love this game

Hyth believed that Hades was the thing the world needed most. As did Haurchefant. The damned smile.

I do wonder if perhaps a little bit of Hythlodaeus found its way into Urianger, while very different people I can't but feel both of them to be very similar in their resolve to help their friends.

Now that I think about it maybe it wasn't a mistake. It's possible hytho served as the part of emets subconscious that forgot the events of elpis.

Can’t pronounce his name for the life of me, but I love him.

I can't get over how great the story of xiv is

Him and Haurchefant would've loved each other

The best part is that in the Japanese version he is voiced by the same VA as Akechi Goro from Persona 5. It was quite the trip. :D

I really hope we get to meet Hythlodaeus & Emet-Selch again at some point. Still, until that day, me and some friends did what we feel is the best way to honor them: On the Aether Data Center is a fellowship called The New Convocation of 14. We only have half the seats filled at this point, but we'll fill them eventually. And while the Scions are disbanded, we shall take up the original Convocation's task as stewards of the star (and beyond) from the shadows: "To honor the legacy & continue the work of the original Convocation while learning from their mistakes. To seek not perfection, but rather continuous improvement."

it's months later and I'm crying all over again

Damn, that FFXI music right off the bat lol. When it started playing, I was like "I KNOW THIS THEME..." but then I was like ".... from where?" and I started searching FFXIV memories and then it hit me... it ain't XIV, it's _XI_ music.

I really appreciate the use of the FFXI BGM :)

After reading the short story and witnessing Endwalker, Azem, Hythlodaeus, and Hades are your basic three friend group. Azem has the crazy ideas, Hythlodaeus enables the crazy ideas, and Hades is the one who keeps them all out of jail. One thing you also didn't cover, which undoubtedly added to Hades's pain is that Hythlodaeus was the ONLY friend he had left at that moment. Azem had turned their back on the Convocation...on him. So he was now dealing with the loss of BOTH of his dearest friends. I think it's also not only why he gave us that chance in Shadowbringers and why he became so unhinged when we failed his test. For a moment he had hope that he could have one of his friends back in some form and we failed him.

Nice touch with the FFXI music during this video!

yeah hes the best friend. best boyfriend, of course

I want more time with Emet-Selch and Hythlodeus and Venat. Bonus points if we can do it as a rejoined Azem. I want to see all the shenanigans we got up to!

I loved the Elpis segment of EW because running around with Hythlodaeus and Emet-Selch had a vibe of "Your parents went away for a while and left you with your cool gay uncles, but they're a bit eccentric and take you on wacky adventures you can't tell your parents about". Like your parents come pick you up and are like "So what did you do with Uncle Emet & Uncle Hythlodaeus" and you're like "Oh not much. Arts and crafts" when actually they took you into the woods to wrestle bears and then let you eat a whole birthday cake to yourself when it's not even your birthday. Venat is their equally eccentric enabling friend that stops by now and then to escalate the shenanigans, Hermes is that one square friend that doesn't want to be there but always is despite being free to leave at any time, and Meteion is some cousin in the same boat as you.

Hythlo is open and an unconditional companion and I think it's the thought that he'd be without him, emet is against it... and it shows how much he got broken by losing his companion less or more

I think Hythlodaeus is just really real. Not judgemental, thinks things through, funny and witty, caring and loving. that's what made him a good character!

I love your WoL design, the shot with him and Ardbert at 2:09 is great.

Ever since meeting Hythlodaeus in Amaurot I have called him big friend. After meeting him in Elpis he became big hot friend. Both ways, he's always been the best friend. Such an amazingly lovable character.