Meeting Vendrick is the darkest moment in Dark Souls 2 || Dark Souls 2 Analysis

[VaryaTheVillain]

I think this is why, in the end, the story of the "fallen, hollowed king" hits me harder here than in Dark Souls 1. because in DS1, while Gwyn *is* Hollow, there is enough fire, enough of *him* to protect the Kiln, in case someone comes to take the flame away, to fight you with that most heartwretching music.

Vendrick is just... sad. walking in circles, dragging his blunted sword on the ground behind him, not even *reacting* until you hit him enough times. and the music then DOESN'T EVEN CHANGE. it's the same tragic, sad, a bit... quizzical by just *how* empty Vendrick and his tomb are. also the out of bounds view in this zone creeps me out really hard...

[wizjex]

*proceeds to enter in his grave, steal his ring and then kill him later with the souls of the giants he feared*

[EinDose]

Dark Souls 2 seems to lean into the Hollowing as a metaphor for dementia and other kinds of neurological loss of self. That's most explicitly explored in the story of Lucatiel, but it's the heaviest in visual storytelling with Vendrick. It's really heartrending to get there and see that while, yeah, he's ALIVE, there's nothing left of him.

[Filippo]

What I noticed is that when you fight Gwyn his healthbar reads "Gwyn, Lord of Cinders" because while he is no longer the Lord of Sunlight he is still a Lord, a King, a God. His title just changed in his hollow-like state, charred in body and mind, but he still stands tall and mighty enough to deserve to be called a Lord and to be feared as such.
Vendrick... is Vendrick. Despite still wearing his crown and wielding his sword, despite his kingdom still existing and his servants still recalling his name and deeds (all of this just like with Gwyn) he has no title to accompany his name. He is been deprived (or he renounced) of his higher status and he's just introduced to you as a man.

[Krieger]

Vendrick is still strong despite not only hollowing but having removed his Soul. All your strenghts means nothing if your mind and self is slipping into nothingness.

[AshRaf-togu]

In his memory he states- "I'm no king, I'm more fit to be a jester"
Oh no my king, that realization itself makes you worthy of the title more so than anyone else.

[Nazo-kage]

There’s one other thing about dark souls 2, a secret extra layer to everything that if you’re not careful, you can be swept up by it as well.
It’s that it’s very easy to forget why you were originally came to Dranlaik.

Sure at the very beginning it’s mentioned about your character looking for a cure.
But then you’re told that you need to seek stronger souls, Then you’re told about this kingdom that your traipsing through, and let’s not forget all the enemies and bosses you have to fight.
And by the time you’ve collected the four Lord souls, and told to go to Venrick ‘s castle, you also begin to be told that you need to take his throne.
And you meet his queen, who also tells you that you need to ascend the throne.

Essentially you as the player, depending on how long it takes you to get to this point may very well have forgotten your self why your character is there.
The identity of your character as someone seeking a cure to the curse, may very well be forgotten, and supplanted, with someone trying to become the ruler of this world.

End it is actually through going around, exploring the DLC, that the main story is not mentioning that you finally do obtain something that could be considered a cure of sorts.
So by keeping onto your characters identity, and continuing to explore beyond what you were being told to do, you were able to achieve something. No one else in the game has been able to accomplish.

[SynthGirl]

You know what's weird? Dark Souls has some of the bleakest world building imaginable, but thematically it's so inspirational, it's always about pushing on and not giving up

[ZdkDzk]

That's an interesting and probably accurate take on Vendrick. I always saw him as the king who recognized the mistakes of monarchy, with the humility to know that he cannot be the one to take control and fix the problems he created. Someone who willingly gave themselves to hollowing, knowing that their only purpose was to guide others away from the path they took. The big tell to me, is that when you meet his memory, he's content. He knows his fate and his sins and he accepts them, more concerned with the potential monarch in front of him that with his own loss. There's a similar character from a comic called Kill 6 Billion Demons that sums it up neatly.

"I spent all my life mastering the wheel, and in time became its lord. Yet for all my effort, I found the world always spun inevitably towards ruin. In my arrogance, I clung to victory. I mustered up all my dreadful might and secret arts, believing this fate could be prevented. Yet in doing so I have built a prison. Not only for myself, but for the very world. This was my final relevation: The King of Swords must cast aside his blade and let his burden be taken by another. He that masters the wheel cannot break it. Do you understand, Alice? In the end, even I could not fight alone. At the pinnacle of my mastery. Your struggle must be a terrible fire, which only grows as you pass it to others. Let it be fed beyond the boundaries of the feeble soul of so-called princes, emperors and 'heroes'. Strength beyond strength. Remember this and awaken to your true fate."
— Zoss, Master of the Wheel and King of Swords

[worsethanyouthink]

Through the dlc he does bring you the power to escape the curse, however in that it arguably brings you that final bit towards hollowing as you no longer have anything left to do in this world, you took on the lands of all the dlc's and got your fused crown which solves the curse(even in gameplay preventing hollowing on death), but there is no reason to have it anymore as there is nothing else to do in the game.

It's truly quite poetic

[SillyGirlKisser]

Something of note is that Vendric didn't took off his own clothes.
Velstadt did, in hopes of, if someone ever needs something from Vendric, that they will take it without hurting him.
Even when he is so far gone, Velstadt still protected him as much as he could.

[hairiclilred]

Finding Vendrick was the only moment I shed a tear in the souls game

[grimkxdo]

What’s scary is how powerful he is hollowed … we saw Gwyn hallowed and we’re able to to defeat him . Vendricks hollowed she’ll is still so powerful had you shown up without Gaint souls … that dude was probably so damn powerful before Nashandra found him

[flintfeatherr]

You say king Lear but I’m getting many Macbeth vibes from this dude

[natoriousthehopeful]

King Vendrick truly is the embodiment of "How the Mighty have Fallen": even after all he did, and all he sacrificed, he couldn't beat fate

[LORDOFDORKNESS]

No matter what you think of Dark Souls II...Yeah~, the Vendrick reveal is one heck of a gut punch, alright. Such a mighty scene, and it's fully ingame too. You just... walk in, and stare in horror.

He is not even dignified with a cut-scene on the meta level. That's how far he's fallen.

[item]

I always thought hollowing was losing one’s purpose, it’s why Andre is ok in ds3, he constantly has the purpose of smithing, and that’s what keeps him going

[amiefortman]

"...for within the hollow crown/ That rounds the mortal temples of a king/ Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits, / Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp..."
I loved all the Shakespeare and other verse you used in your longer analysis videos, and another snippet came to mind watching this short. I think about Vendrick and his fate a *lot, * honestly.

[cyrusshelatz]

I think its haunting seeing him, especially when you go into his memories and see him just sitting in the corner with no hope

[jetcave]

I remember feeling so bad for Vendrick when I found him.