Everything is PoV. Even the interviews.
On a slightly different note IMO the current situation is once again proving how bad blizz is with feeling the timing and understanding the context.
Wall-o-text and random thoughts on a "redemption" story of Sylvanas
If I assume that the goal was to pivot Sylvanas away from the villain path (which begs the question why point out that she is just like the LK, but “seving the horde” kek, and take her there to begin with), then the timing fails IMO.
After the tree™ was burned, there was a brief moment that could be a first seed:
Killer Queen
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: When I sent you on this mission, I did not foresee this outcome.
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Our attack was meant to end a war before it began…
Which might’ve been the moment of realisation that the info she was given is not for the goals she was expecting.
IMO the moment where it falls apart in the story we have happens a bit later.
Where Hope Dies
Nathanos Blightcaller: We must carry out the Dark Lady’s orders before we are overrun by these newly-invigorated elves.
There is one night elf in particular that we seek. You may remember her from our last venture into Darkshore. Lucky for you, she is already dead… so she should prove less troublesome than the living ones you’ve already encountered.
And this part, could’ve been the one where Sylvanas would see what was done to her, combine with the tree™ part of the story where the result went not as she (maybe) was promised, and take a different path.
Could she really take a different path with her soul trapped and all of that? Well, IMO yes, she was never caged with no options. And the reason for this would be the following things:
Ask CDev 2:
Are there long-term effects on an undead who is in regular contact with the Holy Light in a positive way?
It is difficult to say, as there are no known records of undead wielding the Holy Light before the Third War. There are reports, however, that some Forsaken have slowly experienced a sharpening of their dulled senses of touch, smell, etc., as well as an increase in the flashes of positive emotions that have otherwise become so rare since their fall into undeath. Unfortunately, this may be the cause of the Forsaken priesthood’s increased attempts at self-destruction; regaining these senses would force the priests to smell their own rotting flesh, taste the decay in their mouths and throats, and even feel the maggots burrowing within their bodies.
Since there are such reports of this stuff, Sylvanas would’ve been well aware that the Light could be the path to regain some of her senses and emotions. There are different sources of the Light in the game, sure, but given death of Rezan, by that time there would be 2 really prominent. Uuna’s story points out light of A’dal, and that of a moonwell, likely meaning Elune.
So, add to the tree™ and it not going as it should, realization that Elune’s light might’ve been her path to a change she now severed, and here is a basis for some personal drama.
But even without Elune, she never bothered asking Liadrin or other for an audience with A’dal.
Speaking of A’dal, he is the one, who managed to prevent the soul of Bridenbrad (which was added into the canon story from the “easter egg” status). So, even if she would take a turn against the Jailer, she would not be doomed to fall into his hands. And on top of that, with Eyir still being alive, she could still have an option, assuming realisation of how things shape up, to seek for a way to shelder supposed “sisterhood” from the tragic fate.
(I would not be surprised if one of reasons to twist the original vision of the Light is to justify why this was not an option to Sylvanas)
Extra notes: I remember somewhere long ago Sylvanas smiling to orphans. And a few notes that gaveaway her care about somebody. Be it the blood elf starting story, or her plans to free the scourge. So, that was there originally. But…
Not sure my ideas are any better than what we have, but IMO the timing for how to unfold such story arc should’ve been in 8.0-8.2 timeframe to already start going. And it was not.
What I see now is a copy of Lady Waycrest story line. The entire Drustvar story is about showing one of her horrible action after another, be it directly what she does, or what she allowed the witches / drust to do. And in the very end the story goes like “but feeels! You must feel sorry for how somebody used her”. With my reaction being “at this point I simply do not care”.
And that’s what I have with Sylvanas story. At some point “reasons” excuses are just not worth to consider given the seed sawed on her path. There is a different topic of “who would judge her now”, etc., but it’s besides the point.
This could’ve been the story about her seeing how things fall apart as she tries to chase whatever is left. This could’ve been a chance to restore who she was in pre-Cata time. But I guess for the current devs it’s not relevant, as even Sylvanas is not allowed to be her true™ self.
However, there is nothing surprising in the fact that this all happens, because changes in the story direction leave a bunch of older themes or ideas just there unused. Example from the same Ask CDev 2:
What is the Argent Crusade’s relationship with the Forsaken, in light of Sylvanas’s recent actions?
Although the members of the Argent Crusade still stand by the Forsaken heroes who joined them in the battle against the Scourge, Sylvanas’s actions since the slaying of Arthas have deeply concerned the crusaders. They, along with certain members of the Ebon Blade, are now watching Sylvanas and the Forsaken very closely, as similarities between her and the Lich King are increasing in number by the day.
Which throughout the course of BfA amounted to nothing, because hey, if it’s possible to say there was next to no afterlife lore before Shadowlands, ignoring inconvenient lore a bit more is not a big deal, right? Who cares about consistency and stories working coherently with one another. It’s all just PoVs.
gl hf