Solas makes no sense as a villain
What makes Solas difficult for me to read as a villain is that he not only has noble, concrete ideals, but that they are consistently enacted rather than abstract.
He values free will and choice above all, as well as wisdom and compassion. He cares about actual people, and he carries personal guilt for the deaths he caused. His actions are framed, even by himself, as attempts to correct a catastrophic mistake, one he blames exclusively himself for, rather than efforts to gain power or domination.
His real hubris isn’t cruelty, it’s isolation. He insists on making world altering decisions alone, refuses to recognise equals, and consistently underestimates his oversights. The result isn’t malice, but devastatingly bad planning.
From a systems perspective, his core mistake is planning as if the world were a closed system. He designs solutions that don’t account for unknowns, second and third order effects, or the limits of individual foresight. In a reality as complex as Thedas, that isn’t wisdom, it’s misplaced certainty driven by emotion.
That combination, real care, real guilt, and solitary decision making, reads as profoundly human to me, not villainous. I can’t hate someone like that.
If anything, my Lavellan is furious at how incoherently the narrative tries to flatten this into a simple antagonist arc—and is almost certainly plotting something about it.
Receipts:
A ) Values over doctrine (dialogue with Cassandra)
Cassandra: Solas, if you do not mind me asking, what do you believe in?
Solas: Cause and effect. Wisdom as its own reward, and the inherent right of all free willed people to exist.
Cassandra: That is not what I meant.
Solas: I know. I believe the elven gods existed, as did the old gods of Tevinter. But I do not think any of them were gods, unless you expand the definition of the word to the point of absurdity. I appreciate the idea of your Maker, a god that does not need to prove his power. I wish more such gods felt the same.
Cassandra: You have seen much sadness in your journeys, Solas. Following the Maker might offer some hope.
Solas: I have people, Seeker. The greatest triumphs and tragedies this world has known can all be traced to people.
B) Guilt and motive (dialogue with Cole)
Cole: You don't need to envy me, Solas. You can find happiness in your own way.
Solas: I apologise for disturbing you, Cole. I am not a spirit, and sometimes it is hard to remember such simple truths.
Cole: They are not gone so long as you remember them.
Solas: I know.
Cole: But you could let them go.
Solas: I know that as well.
Cole: You didn't do it to be right. You did it to save them.
Inquisitor: Solas, what is Cole talking about?
Solas: A mistake. One of many made by a much younger elf who was certain he knew everything.
Cole: You weren't wrong, though.
Solas: Thank you, Cole.
C) Hubris and denial of risk (dialogue with Viviene)
Vivienne: I'm sure you know exactly what you're doing, Solas, but a word of advice?
Solas: Oh, I look forward to this. Go ahead, Enchanter.
Vivienne: You set your coattails on fire with that last spell.
Solas: Perhaps what you perceived was merely a figment of the Fade.
Vivienne: (Laughter) I would not claim your familiarity with the Fade, but I recognize fire when I see it, darling.
Solas: It did go out eventually. It was not worth mentioning.
Vivienne: Not for you, perhaps.
