I’m really trying to wrap my head around the concept of the Final Shape in Destiny. Some people argue it’s just the end of existence itself, where everything is encased in this ‘resin,’ and thus, all pain and suffering cease because there is literally nothing left. On the other hand, I have this feeling that while everything might be ‘frozen,’ you could still experience emotions forever—like Zavala getting his family back and living in that moment indefinitely. Or maybe it’s a mix of both where you’re granted your deepest desires only to be killed, yet you wouldn’t even know you’re no longer alive.
There are also hints in the lore that suggest the Witness can permit beings to exist outside this Final Shape. For example, the Guardian is offered godhood. But what does that mean, exactly? Will they just float around like we do in the Tower when waiting for a fireteam? The same goes for the Disciples. The Witness knows everyone interprets the Final Shape differently, but it makes me wonder about Nezerac or Rhulk, who revel in pain and conquest. Would they really want everything to just stop after they win, unless it symbolizes their ultimate moments of joy for eternity? I’m hoping someone can shed some light on this topic!
3 Answers
You have to see the Final Shape as the opposite of chaos, which is what the Traveler represents. While the Traveler gives us long life and free will, the Witness embodies control. They strive to achieve a singular state of nothingness, hence their collective existence as one being with one purpose. Once the Final Shape is achieved, it’s likely that the Disciples would be frozen or killed, seeing their purpose fulfilled. This, in a way, defies the Sword Logic where only one being can remain by defeating the rest.
I think you might be overthinking it a bit. The Witness’s vision of the Final Shape might resemble the cutscene from the game where everything turns to a static state. It’s all about calcifying everything into eternity, leading with temptation for what each character, like the Fallen or Hive, seeks. The end goal is to transform them into mere statues or figures encapsulated in their ultimate desires or memories.
The Final Shape is essentially freezing all of creation in a perfect moment. It’s a straightforward concept, really. Any promises made by the Witness are just lies because it panics when it realizes we might actually stop it from succeeding.
