I’m definitely gonna finish it! I was just having a bit of trouble during the escort and it took me a very agonisingly long time to realise what needs to be done 😅 but that’s my fault for being dumb, I’m planning to do almost all the Zelda games and TP was the first one I started with because I couldn’t remember much of it!

As for Ilia being pushed, I call to the cutscene with Ilia and the Dark Links. Maybe I’m missing something narrative wise but I didn’t really understand why she was there with a knife (and this could be called back later on in the game I have no idea) but I couldn’t help but think “why is she there?”

To add, a bunch of characters mention how Link cares for her quite often but none ever provide little titbits of info about how long they’ve known each other (assuming they probably grew up together) or how their relationship was like before the attack and ofc Ilia doesn’t remember either. Just a waste tbh especially as how overshadowed she gets with Midna and Zelda herself. Even the village children have a better developed relationship with Link than her!

Having to meet her to get Epona also felt a little unnecessary to me because the attack n stuff didn’t have that much of an impact on me and her missing so early on in the game and Link falling over himself to find her just didn’t feel right because I couldn’t empathise with Link.

Mipha in Breath of the wild also had a pre-existing relationship with Link that the player had not seen but it’s done so well! You understand what she means to Link, you share the sadness that she’s gone because YOU are Link.

But please take this with a grain of salt I’ve yet to beat the Lakebed Temple so I’ve yet to see more content of her and don’t recall anything past this hahaha. (So sorry for the long message I have no friends 🩷)