Was Aggra a good or interesting character?

[OwenBurton]

What do most people here think about Aggra - Thrall's Mag'har orc wife from Outland, who first appeared in that pre-Cataclysm novel, The Shattering, trying to help him find out what was wrong about the elements? Do you think she is an interesting, well-developed and compelling character, as a female orc and a shaman? Is she and Thrall a good couple, in hindsight - and what exactly do you like or dislike about her?



Just in case some people forgot who she was, this was her dialogue with Thrall during the Twilight of the Aspects novel:

“I have always been able to listen when others do not agree. Look at the meetings I have with Jaina! She doesn’t always agree with me, and she does not curb her tongue.”

Aggra snorted. “A human female. What does she know about telling harsh things to an orc? Jaina Proudmoore is no threat, no challenge to you.” She frowned, looking thoughtful. “Neither was your Taretha.”

“Of course she was no challenge. She was my friend!” Thrall was starting to become angrier now that she had dragged Taretha Foxton into this strange fight she seemed determined to have with him. A human girl, Taretha had befriended him when she was a mere child; as an adult, she had found a way to help him escape his life as a gladiator, a slave of the human Lord Aedelas Blackmoore. She had paid for that deed with her life. “Few in this world have sacrificed as much for me, and she was a human!”

“Perhaps that is your problem, Go’el, and a problem others have with you. The most important females in your life have been human.”

His eyes narrowed. “You will hold your tongue.”

“Ah, and yet again you show me the truth of what I say: you will not hear disagreement. You would silence me rather than listen to me!”

There was truth in the statement, and it stung. With difficulty, Thrall took a deep breath and tried to rein in his anger.

“Then tell me: What do you mean?”

“I have only been in Azeroth a short while, and already I have heard the rumors. They outrage me to my core, and surely they should outrage you as well. Gossip pairs you and Jaina, or even you and Taretha, depending on the brew on tap, it seems.” Her voice dripped anger and disgust—at him or at the rumors, Thrall wasn’t sure and didn’t care.

“You tread on dangerous ground, Aggra,” he growled. “Jaina Proudmoore is a strong, brave, intelligent woman who has risked her life to help me. Taretha Foxton was the same—only she lost her life. I will not stand by and hear your bigoted slurs against them simply because they were not born orcs!”

He had advanced on her now, his face only inches from hers. She did not flinch, merely raised an eyebrow.

“You do not listen well, Go’el. I repeated rumors. I did not say I believed them. Nor did I say anything against either female other than they did not know how to criticize an orc. If anything, they have shown me that humans are capable of inspiring respect. But they are not orcs, Thrall, and you are not a human, and you do not know how to handle being challenged by a female of your own race. Or perhaps by anyone.”

“I cannot believe I am hearing this!”

“I cannot, either, because until this moment, you have not listened!” Both their voices were rising, and Thrall knew that the little shelters offered no barriers to others’ ability to hear their argument. Still Aggra pressed on.

“You have been able to hide behind the mantle of warchief. And that is why you are finding it so hard to free yourself of it now.” She pressed her face even closer to his and hissed, “You bear the name of a slave, because you are a thrall to the Horde. A slave to what you think is duty. And you use that duty as a shield—a barrier between you and the dark places, between you and guilt, and fear, and second-guessing. And truly belonging to yourself—or to anyone else. You always plan ahead, and you do not take time to think about how far you have come, the amazing gift that your life has been. You strategize for tomorrow, but what about now? This moment…the little things…?”

She softened, her eyes growing kind instead of angry, and with surprising gentleness reached for his hand. “What about this strong hand in yours?”

[Self Inflicted Wounds]

I haven't read that book yet, so I have only seen her in the game. Legit looking forward to these replies, I liked the few Warcraft books I have read so far, so I hope she is a good character.

[Skirdus]

I've never seen a more "token love interest that has no interesting traits or qualities beyond being another more important character's designated spouse" character than Aggra. Even Draka is more interesting by comparison

[Dellis0991]

I liked her, she keep it real with Thrall, she told him a bunch shit about himself that he needed to hear. She is exactly what he needed, kinda hope we hear more from her and his kid.

[sighy]

I would say no, on the basis of her barely being a character. She is more of a referrence to Metzen's RL wife so it was always gonna be a bit rough, but there really isn't a single memorable trait to her besides being Thrall's perfect wife, which likely was intentional.

[Self Inflicted Wounds]

I would say no, on the basis of her barely being a character. She is more of a referrence to Metzen's RL wife so it was always gonna be a bit rough, but there really isn't a single memorable trait to her besides being Thrall's perfect wife, which likely was intentional.

Just, yikes.

[Feanoro]

She was created because:

1) Mrs. Metzen wanted and got her own self-insert.

2) Metzen wanted to clamp down on the Thrall and Jaina jokes/rumors/etc. Considering how Thrall was his self-insert and the tendency for Blizz to leak personal lives into their games (especially now in retrospect it's obvious), I can't help but wonder if Jaina was modeled on an ex-girlfriend or someone else Mrs. Metzen was jealous of.

[Mysterymask]

She's like a lot of characters in Warcraft over the years...she just kinda exists. Same with most of the faction leaders, characters that were there for one expansion then who cares after, Drakka and most of our shadowlands denizens..in a way they are to Warcraft as Tienshinhan is to Dragon Ball

[Kyphael]

No, as everyone has already said, she's 2-dimensional as well, and apparently some kind of allegory for Metzen's wife (?) (sheesh...) Thrall and Jaina should have become a couple, it would have introduced an interesting dynamic to the story. Aggra is just there to be mother to Thrall's kids, nothing more.

[Aresk]

I don't have particularly strong opinions. She was fine in the novel, but within the game, she is entirely defined by Thrall. The only interaction the PC really has with her is as it relates to Thrall. If she did something on her own, it would've been a lot better.

[Biomega]

Was ANY character post-WotLK?

[Lorgar Aurelian]

She’s a nothing character to go with thralls bland personality there’s really nothing more to it.

- - - Updated - - -

Was ANY character post-WotLK?

I’d say they have done fine with a few like wrathion, Thalyssra before joining the horde, the four horsemen, Xal'atath.

[Arrashi]

*Go'el screaming intensifies*

No she was probably one of the worst. Basically little more than annoying plot device and womb for hire.

[Xaviaton]

I mean, as numerous people here said she wasn't really a character at all. She only served as a plot development tool for Thrall when they wanted to orc him up a bit. Aggra could have been an interesting character if they ever let her be. At this point, Overlord Geya'ra has all the interesting character traits Aggra has except that she is a character in her own right instead of a plot device. I hope we see more of her after Shadowlands.

Edit: I am mixing my orc ladies up - I meant Aggra of course, not Draka.

[scubi666stacy]

No, as everyone has already said, she's 2-dimensional as well, and apparently some kind of allegory for Metzen's wife (?) (sheesh...) Thrall and Jaina should have become a couple, it would have introduced an interesting dynamic to the story. Aggra is just there to be mother to Thrall's kids, nothing more.

No thanks, we don't need more of the "beautiful and skillful woman falls for an ugly man" trope.
Thrall deserves Aggra.

[Zuben]

She was alright in the Cataclysm quest where Thrall was divided into four elements or something. In any other case I've never like her and particularly hate her insistence of using Go'el when referring to Thrall. It's a dumb name. And I believe she's a large part of why Thrall shifted from Warchief to bathrobe-shaman to a family-man.

[Narwhalosh Whalescream]

Go'ellllll

[Khaza-R]

I have no comment on her character the books (but I'm doubtful she's interesting)

All I can say is being forced to attend their wedding as Alliance after I saved Captain Planet from being torn apart by smoky Fandral was when WoW jumped the shark for me.

[Dakhath]

She never got a chance to be a good character. She was added to the game as an accessory to Thrall and then she basically shuffled off to the side. Even in the cutscene in BFA where Saurfang goes to Thrall, Aggra is not at home at the present. The last time I remember her doing anything more than stand there, Alexstrasza put her hand on Aggras stomach and cast Power Word: Pregnancy and her arc was all but over.

[Maljinwo]

I don't think she's a bad character

The problem is that she's written only as Thrall's mate
Nothing else