I just can’t understand people who say that Irene was pointless in 100 Years Quest, that she didn’t impact the story or the characters at all, that she wasn’t important at all... and I’m just sitting here like, except she was important.
Not only did she help Wendy develop and save Selene’s life, but has it occurred to anyone that she was in the story... for her sake? It’s perfectly valid to put a character into a story simply for the sake of enjoying their character.
It’s an incorrect accusation that she added nothing to the story, because she added to it herself. Her interactions and dynamics and arc and development were fun and fantastic, who said that she had to have a major impact on the story or characters when she impacted the story through simply being there and letting us enjoy her? Like, that’s a perfectly justified reason to add her.
She impacted the overall story in small ways, mostly indirectly through helping Wendy’s character growth and giving advice that helped save the protagonists several times, setting the foundation for potential character and story arcs later with, again, Wendy but also possibly Erza too, and directly saved Selene’s life, which of course will have a major impact considering her role.
But what was important about Irene’s addition to 100 Years Quest... was herself. Because she was fun, and the audience loved her, and wanted to see more of her, and that’s why her role was important.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. (Can you tell that I’m real tired of seeing people claim that Irene was only added for fan service?)
