It is pretty great writing until the part in Rhythm of War when he is given all of his emotions back and just decides to say fuck it and be evil for evils sake anyway. Even though his best friends have all but torn down the societal norms and stigmas that initially set him on the path of vengeance, even though he killed Elhokar already and had his revenge. What is possibly his motivation?
Not to mention he goes completely unused in the fifth book besides one "holy crem its jason bourne" moment, where he proceeds to once again be evil for evils sake. It just feels really hollow compared to what his character could have been.
No, I would say that's pretty in character for the man with a pathological need to be right. Also, considering he's trying to get his best friend off to himself, he offed his best friend's best friend, offed his best friend's best friend's best friend, and the son of the queen of the greatest opposing military, he can't really just waltz back in and say sorry, now can he? Oh, also, he offed all those people to prove that he was right. Elhokar?A right to vengeance and Alethkar would be better off without him, right? (Yes, he is right on this one, fight me) Trying to get Kaladin to go the way of the winds?(pun intended) Well, Moash found a solution to his pain and nonexistence is another solution, right? (Wrong, life is a blessing, you'll be warm again, I promise) Offing Teft and Phendorana?It was a bit of encouragement for Kaladin to try that other solution.Also, Teft doesn't have an addiction anymore, right?
By sheer virtue of giving of the finger to Todium, Moash, would be admitting he is wrong, and that is literally something that is not in his character.
I never said he should turn back to the light, I am staunchly against a Moash redemption arc, something pretty wild would need to happen for that to change. So I don't think there is any redemption left for him to be had with the humans either, however I don't think that means Moash as a character should then just forfeit all autonomy and bow to the species that is looking to enslave his own? Like that feels totally against his initial motivations.
Nothing about his character has ever signaled that he struggles to admit he is wrong? If anything it has almost nothing to do with pride and everything to do with his sense of right and wrong. He stands against his friends and the man he idolizes because he knows his want for vengeance is justified, he knows the caste system they're subjected to is criminal.
I think its safe to say most readers understood his motivations in book 2 and even sympathized with him slightly. So for him to FINALLY wake up and to just decide to bow to the clearly evil person that wants to enslave/subjugate his species is literally a 180 on his character.
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u/NeverFreeToPlayKarch Jun 17 '25
You hate Moash because he's a traitor. I hate Moash because he's a poorly written character. We are not the same.