Is Illidan bad or simply misunderstood?
by Matthew Rossi 
Jan 11th 2008 at 7:59PM
You can find all kinds of things on the forums. For instance, you can find a forum thread about Illidan. Back and forth the debate goes: does killing Illidan free him from his demonic taint or, well, just kill him? Will he come back or not? Is Maiev kind of a jerk? Bornakk weighs in on page two and continues to post throughout, which to be honest is what I like to see in a blue poster.The debate on whether Illidan was a hero to his people, a misguided power-hungry ambitious sort, or even out and out evil is interesting on its own, but what really interests me is to see this level of back and forth, even if Bornakk doesn't really say a lot in his replies. It may just be the lore geek in me talking, but I'd really like to take Chris Metzen out for a beer and talk turkey about Illidan, Arthas and the storyline in WCIII. How is it going to manifest in WotLK, did it work out in TBC the way they wanted? Might we see Illidan again or is he definitively dead on the floor of Karabor? Does Maiev have any purpose to her life now? This kind of stuff fascinates me, and clearly it does some other folks as well given the back and forth of this thread.
What about you? Could you care less about lore? Do you want to see Illidan again? Was he a basically good but flawed hero or an out and out villain or both?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Lore, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SaintStryfe Jan 11th 2008 8:02PM
No, Illidan's bad.
He has hooked up with Kel'thas and Vashji, both definiately evil characters, and he does look to kill anyone who tries to stop him. He's trying to make the world/save the world as he sees fit, but he's doing it in definitely evil ways. Tragic figure? Yes. Evil? Also yes.
Alan Jan 11th 2008 8:36PM
Well, Kael'thas and Vashj aren't really evil or bad per se, either. The Naga are the more sinister of the outland baddies, with Aszhara's vanity and association with Sargeras, but rememeber, Sargeras used deceit and trickery. Think of him as the WoW version of Satan, the Father of Lies. As for the Blood Elves and Kael'thas, if you remember correctly, the once fought with the Alliance, and valiantly so. However, when Kael accepted help from the Naga, who were genuinely trying to help, a Human general, and all around paranoid psychopath named Grand Marshall Garithos arrested Kael and his people and imprisoned them in the dungeons of Dalaran. Illidan did what he felt was necessary to save his people, and he did actually save the Night Elves from certain destruction, as Tichondrius was just hanging out in what is now Felwood, decimating everything in his path. Illidan really didn't start to lose it until Malfurion banished him from the land and people he just saved. That's what triggered his drive for revenge. So, are all three evil? no. Persecution tends to make people a little nutty.
Anteia Jan 11th 2008 8:22PM
But Kael'Thas definitely wasn't intrinsically 'evil'. He was driven to join Vashj and Illidan because of the actions of the elf-hating human. I think both he and Illidan have gone insane in their own different ways, which have resulted in them becoming evil, but it's definitely evil for reason, not simple glee in killing.
drunkmime Jan 11th 2008 8:24PM
A lot of good intentions gone horribly wrong.
the3nd Jan 11th 2008 8:27PM
Keal'thas wasent that evil when he hooked up with Illidan, and I dont really think of Vashj as evil, I mean shes an enemy (all nagas are..) but thats all. Illidan is kind of do bad/do gooder. It goes back and forth. But I mean come on, he saved Tyrande and then freed Outland from its evil emperor thats to take in mind.
Yeah so he made a deal with Kil'jeaden, hes selfish.
And Maiev is a jerk, he was held in a fricking cell for 10'000years and then officaly freed from his crimes by Malfurion. But that bitch is still after him. She is a pretty big Bitch, shes an interessting character, but not someone I would ally up with my self :p
the3nd Jan 11th 2008 8:36PM
Its Outland, you eigther Play rough or dont play at all ;D
He doesnt "enslave" Broken per say, in tft they plegde alligance to him, its not really his fault that they are to lazy to do some heavy lifting, they owe him that much.
and he dosent really have any time to think of "morals" he and his Illidari force is the only thing between the Legion and Outland, And if the legion got outland, they've would also get the dark portal, witch means another invasion.
I really belived that Maiev would understand that during the Boss fight and then like go off to tell Malfurion to close the Dark Portal, but when Nirthium came and killed my dreams :(
SaintStryfe Jan 11th 2008 9:23PM
Broken, though, are not of their right minds often. They've been cursed by some god awful plague, and twisted, and even their brethren (the Draenei) say they've been cut off from the light (this is an attitude that is slowly changing amung the Azerothian Draenei especially). It's like limiting morphine to a person in pain, unless they follow you.
spootym Jan 11th 2008 8:44PM
Illidan isn't all bad as evidenced by http://www.wowhead.com/?item=32496
A fully demonic evil being would carry a memento of someone he loved
spootym Jan 11th 2008 8:45PM
i meant wouldn't ;_;
kmo Jan 11th 2008 8:54PM
I dont think Illidan is bad, everything he did in Warcraft 3 was for the good of Azeroth, sure he was/is power hungry, but he only ever used the power he had for good. In WoW he might have gone a bit insane, but before that he was good imo.
kmo Jan 11th 2008 8:55PM
Illidan will always be the best character in WoW by the way, always my favourite, so i may be bias.
PeeWee Jan 11th 2008 10:22PM
The only true evil in Azeroth is the lollertrons in Goldshire.
3amonsaturedayineedalife-gieflife Jan 11th 2008 10:33PM
def the coolest character in the game - granted he has lost his way, but i agree that he was trying to good with an "end justifies the means" kinda attitude. Vashj is still mental like when she was a nelf, an kael, i think he is just looking somewhere to let his blood elves hang. after all there is only about 10 of them left, they can have there own rooms in the black temple.
As for him working for the Legion, if you view the cut scene its not like he had that much of a choice - kill a common enemy or die right now. "OK Mr Kil'jaeden, u got a deal, ill kill our common enemy (lich king) in exchange for you not killing me, and u offered me lots of power. w00t!"
I would love to see Illidan return some future expansion, eg the emerald dream, where him n his bro can get back on good terms, and the love triangle can return.
PS. anyone else think he got an awfully hard deal with the old 10,000 years in jail for just a few lil vials of water?
theRaptor Jan 11th 2008 10:42PM
No, he got an awfully light sentence for creating a possible entry point for the Legion and Sargeras. If Malfurion had any brains he would have tortured Illidan for the other vials and then had him killed.
You can probably blame the nepotic nature of the Night Elf justice system for the entire Orc, Scourge and Legion invasions.
theRaptor Jan 11th 2008 10:36PM
He was an anti-hero, who ended up just trying to save his own hide, and then went nuts after Arthas bitch slapped him.
Kikr Jan 11th 2008 10:42PM
Meh, started off as being a good guy, then went off the deep end :P
Rashi Jan 11th 2008 10:44PM
Illidan is goovil.
Good and evil combined.
Why?
Well, to do good he did evil.
Examples, (spoilers for those who haven't read the Well of Eternity Books)
He bargains with Sargeras to receive his eyes, but the intention was to steal the power and destroy the Legion.
Stealing the Eye of Sargeras and using it to destroy the world. But it was only part of the world, and that part was the Frozen Throne.
And these are just good reasons.
He goes to Outland to hide from Kil'Jadin(spelling) and kills the demons in control there. Thats good. And his purpose of killing the demons was to take control to protect from Kil'Jadin. Also Good.
The Blood Elves were seeking a new source of energy because they lost the Sunwell, and Illidan provided. Good.
This I'm not sure where it goes.
His dual weapons are the Blades of Azzinoth. He killed the doom guard commander Azzinoth, stole the blades trained with them and went on to kick serious arse.
jumb Jan 12th 2008 3:07AM
Before I played WoW, I had only played W3 and hadn't played TFT until well into TBC. After playing the TFT, I had a soft spot for illidan.
Although I doubt I will ever be able to meet with Illidan, it will be a hollow victory to beat him.
JrSlacker Jan 12th 2008 5:46AM
I honestly think Illidan always had good intentions, but they always seemed to back fire, by both sides.....The funny thing is, I truly think the "good guys" are the ones that end up doing bad things.....
Dreanei = Bringing the Legion to Dreanor (hence making Orcs under control of Legion)
Night Elves = Brought the Legion to Azeroth (well, we all know what happened there)
Humans = Medivh, Arthas, Kel'Thuzad.....
So...In a nut shell, I think the "greater good" aspect of the "heroes" makes them blind in their decisions and quickly judge the ones who are doing good, but in the way the "hero" doesn't like....So we have Illidan and his brother Malfurian.....
haust Jan 12th 2008 1:51PM
No Kel'Thuzad was not a "good guy" that ended doing bad things.
Kel'Thuzad was seeking for power no matter what. It was not to serve and help his people but for him and his hunger for power.
So I guess by becoming a lich he had what he was looking for.