Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion's Hug in the Epilogue Party…

Summary

Astarion's character development is reflected through his hesitancy in physical intimacy, as shown by his hesitant hug in the confession scene.
In the epilogue party, Astarion's confident and embracing hug showcases his growth and the rarity of receiving genuine affection in his life.
A hug holds more meaning and intimacy for Astarion, considering his past experiences, than a kiss, which has lost its significance due to his history.

Baldur’s Gate 3’s romances all feature unique and memorable moments, and the epilogue embraces the romances with adorable moments between the player and their romanced companion. Out of all the romanced companions in Baldur’s Gate 3’s epilogue, there is one who only hugs the player, whereas most of the others kiss the player. This character is none other than the lovable vampire rogue, Astarion, and the reason for him only hugging the player in the epilogue party seems to fit into his story.

As soon as Astarion accepted Cazador’s offer of “eternal life”, he was put through centuries of torment and was treated as a slave by his vampiric master. From being forced to feed on rats, having an infernal contract carved into his back, to being forced to use his body to seduce and lure helpless victims for his master to feed on. It’s no wonder that he has various issues as a result, but this doesn’t exactly answer why he only hugs the player in the epilogue party. After all, by this point, he and the player would’ve been in a romantic relationship for over six months and would’ve likely shared many off-screen kisses.

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By Lyna De Wit

Astarion’s Character Development Through Hugs

Astarion's Hesitant Hug in His Confession Scene

After nearly 200 years of torment and being forced to use his body to seduce and lure victims to Cazador, it’s no surprise that once he realizes his feelings for the player, he feels hesitant and unsure of what to do, especially with his physical intimacy issues. There’s an option for the player to hug Astarion in his confession scene after he says that he wants their relationship to be real, and if the option is chosen, he will look surprised and hesitate to hug them back. Once he realizes what this hug means, he will slowly return the embrace, knowing that this is the first time in years that he's receiving true affection and that someone wants him for him.

Astarion's Confident And Embracing Hug In The Epilogue Party

If Astarion remains a vampire spawn, then in the epilogue party there will be an option for the player to hug him if they are in a romance with each other. This hug is full of confidence with no hesitation at all, showing that Astarion has grown remarkably since the first hug he shared with the player. If the player chooses the option to hug Astarion when given the chance, Astarion will be all too happy to return the hug, all while gently swaying back and forth with a soft and relaxed expression on his face. However, some fans have been a little disappointed that Astarion doesn’t kiss the player when other romanced companions (except Wyll, who neither kisses nor hugs the player) do kiss the player.

Why Does Astarion Hug Instead of Kissing The Player in The Epilogue

A Hug Can Be More Meaningful Than a Kiss in Baldur's Gate 3

Kissing someone is often seen as a sign of love and romance, but for Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion, he’s kissed so many people throughout his life that kissing may have lost most of its meaning to him. Whereas a hug is something he’s rarely been given by the people he has seduced over the years, and because of this, it could be argued that, for Astarion, a hug is far more meaningful and intimate than a kiss.

On December 3, 2023, an X user going by @skarsghardy posted a thread detailing their thoughts about why Larian Studio included a kiss for all the other romance options, but only a hug for Astarion after seeing a fellow Baldur’s Gate 3 player having an issue about not being able to kiss Astarion in the epilogue. Other Baldur’s Gate 3 fans expressed their thoughts within the thread as well, many of them giving their own insight into the matter.

Whether or not this is the reason that Larian Studios only included a hug for Astarion in the epilogue is uncertain, but it sure is wholesome and fits his character very well as someone who has been denied so much and was used as a sexual object throughout his life as a vampire. What's certain is that the game can certainly resonate with all sorts of people and Larian Studios has done a fantastic job with Baldur's Gate 3.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%

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Released: August 3, 2023
ESRB: M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s): Larian Studios
Publisher(s): Larian Studios
Engine: Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer: Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play: Full cross-platform play.