Now that we have the Finale cinematic, Warbringers: Sylvanas makes more sense *light spoilers, sort of*

I want to come right out and say that I think the Finale cinematic is really great. It is provocative. It is well written, the voice acting is great. The animation and the facial expressions. The music. The timing. It really was a moving piece of storytelling. It also explains why *Warbringers: Sylvanas Windrunner* seems to tell such a different story from the only other account of the burning of Teldrassil (from the horde side) *A Good War*.

I would bet dollars to donuts that the Finale cinematic was created first. Probably around the same time that *Elegy* and *A Good War* were written, but before *Warbringers*. When the team behind *Warbringers* saw the cinematic they too were moved. I understand how they could have been inspired to depict Sylvanas in much the same way as she appeared in the final moments of the finale cinematic. That is why the otherwise uncharacteristic loss of composure Sylvanas shows in *Warbringers* is so unbelievable, and just feels bad, whereas the loss of composure in the finale seems very natural.

The finale came first, and the outburst is written and acted in such a way that it stands well on its own. The *Warbringers* cinematic is just derivative. Maybe intentionally. An attempt at consistency for the expansion, perhaps-- but the execution of that cinematic tainted much of the expansion because it showed Sylvanas acting in such a way that only really made sense for her at the *end* of the war.

*Maybe I am way off base, but I don't think so.*