Gale is a weird one. He's an arrogant prick that acts as this powerful arch mage but you get him at level 1/2. I know part of it is becsuse of the whole mindflayer tadpole thing but I feel like he should have been a recruitable in act 2/3 but then he wouldn't have much reason to join you.

I was romancing karlach and most npcs acknowledged that. I didn't take a single romantic option with Gale, didn't have a single romantic scene with him, and nothing anywhere gave the idea or impression we were a thing. I progressed with Karlach enough to get the polyarmory issue with Gale and its like, bruh. We are not a thing, we were never thing. Even when talking to you I didn't have the "talk about our romance" option. Given what people say about Gale,this seems quite common. I can't help but feel like he's bugged a bit in this way.

I do see what people mean when they talk about how the npcs are really horny for your pc. I understand why but I wish they didn't start coming onto you until you take at least one flirty option.

I'm not sure how I feel about his backstory, it fits his whole arrogant prick personality but again, it feels weird when recruiting him as a level 1/2 companion. It doesn't help thst his voice actor did a very good job in selling his arrogance. Half of his dialogue is patting himself on the back and complimenting his talent with magic. He's worse than Astarion when it comes to being narcissist and you expect that from Astarion.