#soren arkwright

I don’t think Soren actually lived in the finale. Like,,,, I think he’s some kind of spirit or the others just process him as alive in an attempt to cope with all the previous trauma they experienced? Not sure how to phrase it exactly but, in a story that is so heavily rooted in dark themes and being incredibly bleak, bringing a character back from the dead is a strange move. Narratively speaking it feels like it takes away a lot of the impact of what happened, and it really isn’t explained how it happened- the most we hear is that the spirit of Sister Cavernsfall led him back to his body but? That’s not an established thing that can happen- and I don’t think that saying it’s “similar magic to his lantern” makes enough sense either, since the lantern brings people back briefly and painfully. It just.... doesn’t work narratively. Like, I don’t need a neat wrapped up conclusion to like a story- hell open ended ones can be more interesting- but this specifically doesn’t sit right with me. Just is strange both narratively and mechanically to bring Soren back to life after his “sacrifice”- kinda defeats the purpose of a sacrifice.

SO. I don’t think he’s actually alive. Notably, when the survivors get back to Ilmater’s Hope, the remaining townsfolk treat them with anger and disdain- expect for Soren, who is specifically noted as being ignored instead. The townsfolk just don’t really acknowledge him. Which leads me to suspect that maybe he’s just not there in the first place.