Breaking Tradition: Destiny 2's Epic Season Finale Unveils Shocking Twist

Destiny 2's Lightfall expansion fell short of the hype generated by its pre-launch trailers and marketing. The story was criticized for lacking impact and failing to meet expectations. Similarly, Season of Defiance failed to make up for Lightfall's shortcomings, aside from a poignant death in the main campaign. However, Season of the Deep successfully redeemed the franchise with its compelling and gradually unfolding storyline. This culminated in a finale that some anticipated, despite deviating from the game's established traditions.

The standout moment in Season of the Deep was The Witness cutscene, which single-handedly rectified the issues with the Lightfall expansion. Many players wondered why Bungie didn't include it in the main campaign, as it had the potential to salvage the entire expansion. Nevertheless, it also seamlessly fit within the narrative of Season 21. The finale not only shed light on Xivu Arath and Sloane in Destiny 2, but it also brought the Witch Queen campaign to a satisfying conclusion by highlighting the necessity of reviving Savathun.

How Destiny 2's Season of the Deep Breaks a Big Narrative Tradition

The revelation that Savathun, a longstanding enemy of mankind in the game's lore, had received the blessing of the Traveler's Light came as a shocking surprise to both NPCs and players. Her manipulative actions in The Witch Queen left many unsure of her true motives, particularly her plan to bring the Traveler to her Throne World and safeguard it from The Witness. This would have also meant stripping Destiny 2's Guardians of their Light.

After Savathun's defeat in The Witch Queen campaign, her Ghost Immaru fled, foreshadowing a potential return. This is exactly what Season of the Deep explores, as Ahsa reveals that players will need to resurrect Savathun in order to access the portal opened by The Witness on the Traveler during Destiny 2's Lightfall. While this may seem like a predictable conclusion to The Witch Queen's storyline, the game's openness about upcoming events and characters is unprecedented.

The Season of the Deep's final cutscene confirms the main plot of Season 22 and reveals the inclusion of Ikora and Eris Morn, a first for the game. Bungie has left subtle hints in the past, such as Vox Obscura, but the finale of Season of the Deep is more explicit. This departure from tradition is significant as many players are dissatisfied with the current state of the game, and significant changes like this can have a positive impact.

As seasonal storylines usually develop over several weeks, Zavala mentions that the Vanguard will need to negotiate with Immaru to resurrect Savathun. The cutscene goes beyond explaining the basic plot by implying that players will report to Ikora and her Hiddens about their discoveries. Eris Morn may also play a supporting role, similar to the Drifter in Season of the Deep, while Guardians search for Immaru. Savathun's resurrection is expected to occur towards the end of Season 22, and the information she shares will likely spoil the main plot of Season 23, leading up to The Final Shape. Overall, this departure from tradition is expected to benefit Destiny 2, ensuring that players are not left completely in the dark about the next two seasons.

Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.