F.E.D.R.A. - A Deconstruction of Villainy

FEDRA kill and oppress innocent people in order to survive, but their version of survival is so grim and bleak that it is ultimately not worth living for.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 What is Survival Worth?
01:17 FEDRA's Answer
06:06 The World FEDRA Creates
14:00 Left Behind
14:50 First Log
16:21 Second Log
18:33 Third Log
20:35 Fourth Log
23:45 Fifth Log
27:10 Conclusion

[@jamespaul6315]

fedra were at least keeping settlements alive. They werent perfect but the fireflies collapsed every zone they had control of

[@malucoblz588]

Agreed, hope alone is not enough turn around a bad situation, honestly if they ever make TLOU 3 i kinda want it to be focused around what Fedra did/does besides covering for people, did they do research on the virus? if ellie joined could they find a cure without killing her?

[@jamespaul6315]

@@malucoblz588 i really lost interest after how much i hated part 2 tbh.

[@Biostar96]

@@jamespaul6315Same. All the characters I liked are either dead or ruined. They would have to start with a whole new cast at this point.

[@robchuk4136]

​@@malucoblz588 Me too. I mean, these guys raised Ellie, and have instructional structure that could be explored more

[@TheSuperRatt]

Several FEDRA zones collapsed due to their brutality... FEDRA's methods were never necessary, it was just fascists grabbing power and being afraid.

[@geordiejones5618]

The most interesting part about Boston FEDRA is they're implied to be either the LEAST brutal or the MOST competant, as they're still standing when Joel and Ellie leave. Between both games and the show, we see a few failed QZs and a few other cities that were lost entirely. We still haven't seen another QZ that's operational. Boston's been doing something right for two decades.

[@Keyboardeater1]

I liked the note in Part 2 where Ellie says she went past the Las Vegas QZ, and could hear the screaming of the infected from outside the walls.

[@robchuk4136]

Heh, good point!

[@geordiejones5618]

@@Keyboardeater1 forgot that one, that's a forth QZ wiped out. I can't imagine there are more than a handful that are still standing. Maybe something in Texas? Miami can be very isolated if you cut off access to 75 and 95 and there's plenty of farm land all around and between the Everglades and the urban areas.

[@tozarkt9805]

There was evidence of at least another QZ in Denver, from the helicopter that crashed in the shopping mall in Left Behind. Considering they have choppers they must be doing very well for themselves

[@calebreynolds9183]

There’s another in Florida which manufactures pills in the hbo show

[@Thirft]

"The game presents life in Boston as being miserable, grim, and oppressive. There's no joy, no color, no warmth here. This might as well be another form of death. a slow stagnation where people live pointless and unhappy lives." As someone who lives there I can say this is bang on accurate.

[@Afton_Robotics_1987]

lmfao

[@skymed3095]

A lot of other places in real life seems to also be a bit like that too...

[@juanjose2863]

I think it's most of america tbh

[@Afton_Robotics_1987]

@@juanjose2863 yeah fr

[@mitchellwright5478]

Could be worse, could be over the bridge with me in Dorchester lol

[@terrykrugii5652]

The thing about Fedra, is that despite the brutality they exhibit... they're still safer than having to be outside on your own against hordes of zombies. And because of that, I can easily see myself and many others submitting to them

[@ferrik1675]

And that answers what survival is worth to you.

[@terrykrugii5652]

@@ferrik1675 perhaps. Its easy to say we'd resist when we don't live in such desperate, unforgiving times in the here and now. Things change when you aren't sure if you'll have something to eat for the next 3 days, somewhere safe to sleep for a week, clean water for the next month, etc. I know how long a human being can last without food, water, shelter. I don't know if my convictions would last having to fend for myself, well and truly, in the ways my ancestors had to fend for themselves. Luxury beliefs are very expensive, afterall.

[@ferrik1675]

@@terrykrugii5652 While I'm inclined to agree with the discussion of luxury beliefs, it's also not impossible to see that FEDRA is still a very dangerous organization to be a part of, with the whole openly offing civilians based on the beeps of a device and whatnot. It seems like the kind of civilization that, in the end, nobody is actually really interested in wanting to stick around and is looking for the next figurative bus out of the bare minimum that are the QZs, which is probably another contributing factor to why the QZs were falling by the time of the first game.

[@TheFriendlyFascist]

I mean, I'm inclined to that kind of life regardless.

[@thenoteworthy1298]

Nah, I’d take the infected over FEDRA’s tyranny. Even if I die or am infected out there then at least I take the long walk free.

[@NicholasDeMarcoHall]

As a father now; hearing Sarah's wimpers tear me up inside more than it did originally.

[@dylanriola2877]

I fully understand. I became a step father within this last year and whenever I listen to Sarah's whimpers and crying, it breaks something deep down

[@kahlzun]

Beautiful work by the VA

[@marcopoloonpollo5937]

I've never really seen a death scene that wasn't overly gory or graphic that breaks me like this one does. I've just restarted the game again, and I had to skip the cutscene when it got to that point because it's too much for me to handle.

[@geordiejones5618]

I cry at the scene now. Just thinking about waking up twenty years after losing my wife and son even now makes me tear up and I haven't even had them as my family for a year yet. I really can't imagine a version of myself that doesn't just join them in death immediately. I don't think I could bare that pain unless I was with my brother like Joel had Tommy. Then I think I wouldn't want him to be alone and I know he wouldn't want me to be alone either.

[@Edvinas97]

​​@@dylanriola2877 bro what i about to say is a bit off topic But huge respect for you raising a kid thats actually not yours people say its doesnt matter but as a man to man i can say that people like you make our society better What i am trying to say is just kudos to you, and keep up the good work

[@unknownstranger3646]

In this video, i noticed something about the soldier that killed sarah. When he informs his boss about the situation. Now it is clear that he was ordered to kill both Joel and sarah. But instead of saying okay, he first says "but". Like he was going to argue. It was clear that he didn't want to do this. But whoever was in charge later said something to him that made him have to go through with it. Edit: damn. I wrote this 2 months ago and i already got 1k of likes.

[@malucoblz588]

True, its very easy to dismiss it cause we got used to the whole "faceless organization" trope.

[@jamesnorman9160]

This is expanded on a little more in the HBO show. When he stands over Joel ready to execute him, he says he's sorry. Of course it doesn't mean much from Joel's (and our) viewpoint, but it shows that these people aren't just faceless automatons, at least at this early stage.

[@danielshore1457]

I imagine what was said was something along the lines of like, your family is gonna be safe remember that. Something just sort of implying that FEDRA employees were probably given safety for them and their family's like an automatic place in the Qz

[@take7upyours822]

It makes you wonder how they were able to get ontop of the outbreak so fast and if they were anticipating the terrorist attack of the bioweapon spores being released at the ground zero locations. We aren't given much on that, obviously it adds to the mystery of the franchise and it's unimportant to the aftermath of the release. Which served it's intended purpose. Literally damning humanity. They obviously had solid knowledge of what was released or how deadly the bioweapon was to be in place to act so fast.

[@terrykrugii5652]

I noticed this on the first playthrough. I knew what was gonna happen the moment he got on comms and started arguing, and that he absolutely didn't want this. His humanity was fighting with his duty and his duty won out

[@kilobeastgaming]

Honestly, I mostly like FEDRA, they may be flawed and aren't going down the best way for survival. But they are at least keeping thousands and thousands of people alive in their quarantine zones even with their harsh and rough rules, the fireflies couldn't keep one city in their control.

[@MikeHunt-zy3cn]

They had their organization's back broken by a loon with an armory strapped to his back 😂

[@seanbennett3452]

BUT they were going to cure the world LOL WHAT A FARCE THAT CONTRIVANCE IS!

[@ti4383]

Fedra literally completey fell by the end of part 2 so your comment is hypocritical. Fedra got to a point where they couldn’t even hold one city together

[@kilobeastgaming]

@@MikeHunt-zy3cn The perks of being a video game protagonist, personal back armory 😅

[@kilobeastgaming]

@ti4383 Where in the Last of us 2 does it day that all of Fedra has completely fallen. I ain't saying I dont believe you, I'm just curious where you got that information from, if anywhere? Because they survived for the first 20 years of the outbreak I kinda doubt in the 5 years in between games, all the remaining QZ just fell. Just because they're not present in the story as antagonists doesn't mean they're all gone.

[@firstnamelastname4134]

We can forget the difference between Tommy's settlement and fedra is size and region, Jackson Wyoming is isolated from most of the horrors of the east and small where everyone is for the community. Fedra is large and has to deal with the hordes of infected and endless gangs. fedra is trying to hold on to whats left of America. And as a state it's purpose is to exist but it can't efficiently govern all the people in its quarantine zones due to zombies. so from the pov of a state its better enforce as much control as possible to hold on to it's things. One hint of zombies in the "quarantine zone" would destabilize the people and delegitimize their rule and destroy the very fragile normal. and fedra remembers what happened in Pittsburgh when they lost control. Not saying fedra is right but why they're brutal.

[@viviangarcia7869]

Don’t stop making these videos please, the last of us is my favorite game and I love listening to someone that clearly loves this game and has a deep understanding about it. I work 10 hour shifts four days a week and listening to your videos while i’m at work just makes my day better, and go faster. This game isn’t just a game to me, it makes me question “Would I do the same as Joel? Would I feel like Ellie if I was in this situation? Who would the fireflies be if this was in real life?” So many questions. I love your last of us videos even though I just found them, pls don’t stop making them.

[@jlev1028]

You should play more games if that overglorified movie is your favorite.

[@nou1186]

@@jlev1028 Wait till you see how many avid gamers consider this one of their favorites.

[@anze6712]

Bro doesn't know what an opinion is ​@@jlev1028

[@_BigRed_]

​@@jlev1028 "🤓"

[@gaving7825]

@@jlev1028 Counter-point: Play on Survivor or Grounded if it isn't challenging enough for you, I assure you it is a good game and a good "movie". It being good at one form of presentation (i.e. cinematics), doesn't exclude it from being good at another form of presentation (i.e. gameplay).

[@AlexHatzberger]

God the voice work of Sarah always makes me feel sick to my stomach, it’s so well done

[@ds2561]

To take it a step further in the Last of Us show where Ellie and the F.E.D.R.A officer where instead off scolding Ellie for rightfully beating up Bethany the Officer tried to take a more fatherly approach to Ellie which in a way speaks volumes since Ellie stated that the boarding school is also an orphanage in which one would could that the said officer is trying to be at least some degree of a parental figure to the said orphans.

[@seanbennett3452]

I juts searched that out and watched it. You were on the money!

[@ryancialone3045]

FEDRA would be ruined as a thematic concept if it had some kind of evil central leader who just really hates the people for some weird personal reason. It’s better they work as an example of bureaucratic efficiency and that logic taken to the extreme

[@TheFriendlyFascist]

They aren't bureaucratic, though...

[@armannstraughter3296]

Hm.

[@Michael-bn1oi]

​@@TheFriendlyFascist They clearly are.

[@mus8654]

That narrative couldnt have been followed as FEDRA plays a minimal role in the main storyline of the game. Introducing a big character like that would divert the story towards being about Fedra

[@batrachian149]

@@TheFriendlyFascist April 30, 1945

[@robchuk4136]

I was Team FEDRA. At least they tried to maintain some level of control amongst the chaos. Damn Fireflies always making trouble...

[@mus8654]

I would imagine you sounding like a old person living in a QZ that hates all outsiders and is just trying to find quietness in the destroyed last of us world. 😅

[@PetersaberHD]

I have to disagree with lumping FEDRA with the soldier at the start. He's from the Army, and the Army was dealing with an unprecedented, weird situation, as not at all prepared in any way, shape, or form. They did not know what they were dealing with, which resulted in atrocities. I could see FEDRA being created specifically as a result of the US Army's mistakes.

[@dennishogan5696]

Fedra is the government and the army is u see the government. Fedra itself isn’t important it’s the government it represents is

[@secondhandevil]

FEDRA is analogous to IRL FEMA. Its a cabinet level agency that at least advised the armed forces during the early crisis before eventually assuming control of the entire country. You can actually see the soldier wearing a FEDRA patch but I'd actually discount it as an easter egg since it doesn't really make sense for US troops to have those kinds of patches 6 hours into the apocalypse. They kind of botched it a little in the remaster but in the original, 2030 FEDRA is driving old trucks and humvees around painted in NATO woodland camo. They don't have their own army. They took equipment and personnel from the police and military until FEDRA was the only authority left.

[@fresh4335]

Fedra is basically fema irl, it’s more likely all government branches just combined into an sole entity and choosing an organization focused on fighting the virus just fit into their publicity agenda more

[@tigerbun3316]

I don't think I could have taken the shot that takes Sarah's life even under horrendous circumstances But I guess we never know until we're in that situation ourselves

[@fresh4335]

@@tigerbun3316 yeah after seeing what the soldiers probably saw and thinking about what could happen if it reached their families. I could definetely see people and even myself doing it in the moment.

[@rhetoricjester934]

Its important to note that when you supposed maby the only way humanity survived at all was because of the brutal methods taken by fedra, Joel is living in a quarantine zone. Sure he leaves but as capable as he is he still benefits from the security that they provide in his main holding.

[@FrancoTwoTwoFour]

“Like a robot he accepts his fate” how about like a honorable man who knows that he will soon be a serious threat to the other helicopter crash survivors he accepts his fate.

[@UNGOC_Engineer3231]

Fr what did he expect him to do?

[@ferrik1675]

It’s called a different perspective. You might think it’s honorable, human to want to protect others so much that you’d sacrifice yourself. Another perspective is that it’s human to want to live, to strive for personal survival, and that suppressing the urge for survival is on some level inhuman, and that rigid protocols- or as you put it as “honor”- is like a robot following its code. Both can be right, both can be wrong.

[@FrancoTwoTwoFour]

@@ferrik1675your the type of person to hide a bite and putting others in danger.

[@ferrik1675]

@@FrancoTwoTwoFour lol because i read more into media?

[@blarfnugle5653]

Because you think they should try to survive even when bitten and prioritize the individual over the unit​@ferrik1675

[@Cassie_2182]

I believe FEDRA is analogous to FEMA. FEMA is a real agency only it doesn’t have soldiers. In the game FEDRA was given all that power after 20 years of martial law. This solider is probably a guardsman.

[@95iloveboobs]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@owenleal]

I would imagine that the governing bodies of FEMA and maybe the CDC were combined and then given complete disposal of the US military, to create FEDRA.

[@francescomorandi1039]

It's the same as CERA in The Division

[@mehrdadbaniameri7067]

I dont blame FEDRA at all. They are a running and industrialized civilization, whereas jackson is merely a town. And most importantly considering how infectious the diseas is, it only takes one single person to cause an outbreak and destroy jackson, so armed soldiers at rooftops and streets are a MUST to control an outbreak. The only way Jackson can avoid the diseas is total isolation which is also a form of tyranny I guess

[@danielshore1457]

I think what needs to be considered is the size of each settlement like a smaller group where everyone knows everyone and people would tell when they are infected. Whereas the QZs are full of thousands of people and like you can't keep am eye on everyone to make sure they aren't infected

[@Luis-be9mi]

Same here, sure the method employed by FEDRA can be considered excessive and brutal but it was a necessary evil. There is in fact a real life instance of such methods used to keep the people safe. Sentinel Island where the indigenous people there kills any outsiders who attempts to go there, and for good reason, the people there have NO immunity to any of the diseases we have. The handful of times they didn’t kill visitors to their island may have caused an outbreak of diseases which they have no natural immunity to, so the survivors of those times will have come to the conclusion that any outsiders attempting to go to their island will only bring death.

[@MikeHunt-zy3cn]

Jackson is a town a little south of Yellowstone. Absolutely desolate. FEDRA? A multi-state entity trying to maintain control of the dying US and protect whomever is in their jurisdiction by any means due to the harsh cities.

[@fresh4335]

@@danielshore1457Jackson is also much more self sustaining then the qzs which are in cities with little fertile land. Rationing and strict rules are an must since they don’t have the resources to relax.

[@kyriss12]

@@fresh4335 The various zones and checkpoints that are normally hallmarks of an oppressive regime also make sense in this case. In the instance of an outbreak or massive rioting you can easily isolate that neighborhood and put it in lockdown untill the situation is back under control as opposed to loosing a large chunk of the population.

[@jamesnorman9160]

The whole stagnation of the Boston QZ seems like an appropriate way of seeing it. From what you can gather from the various logs and whatnot as you go through the game, you get the impression there aren't many QZ's left. Pittsburgh became the home of the Hunters and Henry & Sam came from another QZ (can't remember which one) and they mention it's falling apart. There's another interaction you can have with the soldiers on the street at the start of the Boston segment. If you approach one and try to attack, they'll shove you down and give you a warning. Try it again and they'll shove you down and put a bullet in your head on the spot for an instant death. Just goes to show that these people have fully given over to that cold, pragmatic dogma of FEDRA: maintain the quarantine zones, no matter what it takes. No matter how many of the people under your protection you have to kill to do so. One less mouth to feed, right? Or a dozen? Or a hundred? But how long until the food runs out, or the other resources? Or the people finally have enough and rise up and everyone dies in the chaos? But Reagan's story shows that these people are still human, but it's just a case of seeing them after the outer, harder layers are stripped away. They were lost and on their own, surrounded by Infected, and getting more and more desperate by the second. No wonder it all came apart.

[@edu7979]

baltimore qz iirc

[@nightwolf9375]

@@edu7979Hartford

[@basicsimp8798]

Joel actually tortures people's so much that he device a tactic for it that Ellie adapts. Joel also knows what a highway ambush looks like because he did it to unsuspected survivors like them who were just trying to survive.

[@Legendofzedia]

I loved this universe since I was 13, I’m 24 now and I still can’t stop watching videos about it

[@nearyyin5648]

I think Jaskson was possible because they were not near a big city so less infected

[@MikeHunt-zy3cn]

If it's based on irl Jackson Wyoming, then the closest proper city is past a mountain range, hundreds of kilometers away. That being Thermopolis, iirc.

[@mus8654]

What about the huge hoard in part 2?

[@mus8654]

Also you can only wonder how Jackson is thriving if they have regular patrols and someone can just get infected and not tell anyone and cause an outbreak in town

[@quanage4296]

​@@mus8654 it explains in the show that the dogs and possibly other wild animals can sense if youre infected just like those infection detectors the fedra soldiers use. All they need is enough pets to do a daily search around town

[@mus8654]

@@quanage4296 really? Which part in the show im currently watching it

[@PIRATE99A]

FEDRA is by far the most interesting faction in TLoU because of what they represent; survival at any cost. I don't like to compare them to Jackson is because one is a small communal village where everyone knows each other and newcomers are thoroughly vetted by trusted folk before even being let near the settlement. Whereas the QZs have to have tens of thousands inside them, maybe more, and they have a functioning industrial base to keep weapons, cars, helicopters, medicine, etc in running order for twenty years.

[@RSollers]

Winston Asher (only mentioned in the Left Behind DLC, but appears in the American Dreams comic) should also be mentioned as another character who humanizes FEDRA. He taught Ellie how to ride a horse after befriending her and Riley.

[@augustaseptemberova5664]

whenever I see that "infection sensor" and how they take down infected immediately, I wonder how many immune people they might have offed, actively preventing finding a cure and/or reducing humanity's chances for survival, cuz immune people would likely have immune offspring.

[@cosmok-1367]

I'm more curious how that sensor worked... like, how did it detect the fungus in a person? And on the subject, if they had the time and resources to create a device to detect infected, you'd think they would try and use said resources to at least find ways to be immune to the fungus. At least study the original source of the virus and attempt to get a cure or vaccine...

[@axel665]

Most of the world was collapsing and this is why fireflies finding a cure in last of us part 2 doesn't make sense if fedra couldn't do it then why should people expect some insurgency group to find it when they are wiped out

[@edu7979]

⁠@@cosmok-1367Hmm yes because making a cure or vaccine to a fungus is as simple as to a virus

[@OneEyedCloud01]

@@cosmok-1367likely products of a world civilization with more resources at the start of the apocalypse

[@henpie3336]

@@cosmok-1367since the fungus grows on the brain and spine I’d assume it’s like an X-ray searching for anything that isn’t supposed to be there

[@liquidyschitz4908]

The detail of 4th ID being in that Colorado mall is crazy considering it's actually one of Ft. Carsons oldest and biggest divisions

[@collinwood1174]

I sort of doubt that it’s the ideology of Jackson that has allowed it to survive. It is probably more so the isolation. Fedra’s main problem is that they decided or had to to set up their QZs in highly formerly densely populated areas which meant high levels of infected. This was a poor decision as they would have been much better off consolidating in smaller cities or rural area. But for whatever reason they chose to build their QZs in or next to big cities. Consequently, they are under a lot of pressure from infected and probably from bandit survivors. I think their approach is one born out of the pressure of their location. The simple geography of Jackson allows them to be more laidback but if push came to shove it could prove their downfall. However, the Fedra QZs don’t have that luxury and need to be intensely militarized in order to survive. I think that the destroyed QZs probably more proves that Fedra’s method are necessary than it shows that they are wrong. Also on the note of survival, it seems illogical to say that the QZs survival is not worth it. Sure the situation is bad now, but the very act of surviving makes it possible for there to be a better future. Death, destruction, and giving up are final and preclude any sort of better future. In survival, no matter how grim, there is opportunity.

[@Eterna7Forms]

Boston is a warm water port that would have years of stockpiles and decades of surplus capital stock off the top of my head. That by itself is worth creating a totalitarian regime under such apocalyptic circumstances. A modern city like Boston even in our post industrial age would have enough industry to keep the Industrial Revolution going by itself (at a reduced level).

[@Daokl]

Unless QZ were meant to fail, but not immediately so there's time to harvest resources, tech and people from them to classified remote locations (not directly ofc). So QZ's and traffic between them attract survivors like a mouse trap, while high-tech enclosed sites quietly prosper. Even fedra itself may be throwaway not knowing what other entities planned for it, since it got all power not at once, but gradually afaik.

[@user-tn6ph3ve3u]

Jackson only lasts as long as its not targeted. Fedras bastions can actively withstand.

[@EE-iv5ej]

I kinda like to see FEDRA as a mirror to the Cordyceps; some sort of suppressing order to the infectious chaos. As a whole, they are an amoral antagonistic force whose sole goal is ruthless, efficient survival no matter what, much like the infected does. They must keep humanity alive, pure and uninfected, even if they have to oppress it.

[@AngryPug76]

Fedra is basically a feudal system town during a plague. That’s what Western civilization looked like over most the last 1000 years during times of war, famine, and pandemic. Some areas are still like this in many ways.

[@moizkhan9851]

Spot on. It does beg the question though if a better system could exist in the face of such challenges.

[@MrMaurice1124]

When i heard the government suspended the constitution. I had to look it up to see if they can even do that. But then i thought, "Anything the government does can be allowed if the people allow it to happen" Personally for me killing a child is something I'd never be able to do to survive even if i was told to by a chain of command. A popular character once said "if i'm to choose between one evil and another, I'd rather not choose at all."

[@Jake-uv4sl]

"Not making a decision, is a BIG decision."

[@Kevin-sr8yx]

You’re capable of more than you think, especially during crisis.

[@skeptical7025]

- "Look everybody, It's rick!"@@Jake-uv4sl

[@AK-su3tz]

Where does it say the govt suspended the constitution? Someone people tell me

[@MylesKillis]

Eventually your lack of ruthlessness will kill you. After a while only the ruthless and lucky will be alive.

[@apurplenova]

I absolutely love your analysis videos, really underrated.

[@Kira-xs1zv]

YES!!! THE FEDRA VIDEO!!! This man is a god sent. I can’t never get enough of him!!

[@nightmare0xranmabloodedge122]

Fun fact. In the beginning where the Fedras take out some stragglers and check if the 4 are infected and are checking them with the device. If you try to hit one of them with an assault rifle, the guard will knock you down and shoot you. Those guys are ruthless and don't fuck around.

[@samuelwithers2221]

Literally watched this video appear in real time while going through your TLOU playlist--super excited!

[@mistery1468]

The comparison of F.E.D.R.A with the Half-Life 2 combine is on point.

[@michaeloneill1360]

100% The Compromise Breen made for World Peace led to enslavement of the Human Race!

[@jamespaul6315]

It really isnt. One is enslaving, the other is working with limited resources to keep humanity going

[@jameslopez9661]

Nah FEDRA is what a crumbling government with no real center of power looks like

[@thewatcher7940]

@@jamespaul6315 FEDRA deciding what sorts of jobs people get to have, how much they make, and how long they work for is pretty close to slavery. You don't have much control over your own life. You sleep when they tell you to, eat when they tell you to, etc. The Combine very likely do this same thing, since we see people being separated from their families and transported to different cities by train presumably by order of the Combine at the start of HL2. You can probably make a connection to prison labor in the US, which many people consider to be a modern form of slavery. And while yes, FEDRA seems to be in the right because they're trying to keep civilization going in the apocalypse, but the game shows that this level of control over peoples' lives isn't necessary when a town like Jackson is able to thrive with a more healthy and trusted community. The FEDRA quarantine zones are shitholes compared to Jackson, because FEDRA doesn't really care about its people. They're just obsessed with control, using the apocalypse as their excuse. You also don't have any real control over your own life in the quarantine zones because whether you live or die is pretty much up to FEDRA at all times. Their little device decides whether you're sick or not. As said in the video, this device could break and provide a false positive. But FEDRA could take literally any person they want, kill them and blame it on the virus, and many people won't really question whether the person was sick or not. They can do this with anyone who so much as protests against their treatment of the population. Very similar to how the Combine in HL2 are seen raiding apartments and slaughtering the people inside for simply being in the same vicinity of Gordon Freeman, an outsider, a "noncitizen" or "anticitizen." And Gordon is considered an anti-citizen at first simply because he's the only person the Combine can't ID. The Combine know everyone who lives under their rule. Until Gordon shows up. Gordon being an outsider means he could inspire citizens to rebel.

[@jamespaul6315]

@@thewatcher7940 well then leave the fedra camps. Why were people dying to get in ? Its literally survival of the species

[@EpicCheese765]

I still think it's an oversight of the writing to exclude higher FEDRA officers from the story. It had great potential in humanizing the individuals within the organization without compromising the larger messages about FEDRA as a whole, and could be accomplished with a single document for the player to find. It's disappointing that many writers who do apocalypse stories often have large blind spots in how their government entities are characterized.

[@Keyboardeater1]

The Boston QZ couldnt even be bothered to seal up the mall, even though they knew it was a way infected were getting in.

[@bungiecoocoo]

I NEVER noticed how each character you have a run in with shows you what the price of survival is to them. You roped me in immediately.

[@ringray]

TLOU is definitely one of my favorite games of all time and i’ve been totally engrossed with your series on it! your analysis is so good and it’s great to have people still talking about it

[@nashbullet3213]

A true masterpiece

[@EhhhRTea]

I discovered your channel through God of War videos, my favorite series, now I’m learning so much about a bunch of series I never would’ve looked up. Great work.

[@aguspuig6615]

Ive been a fan for a while, but i just gotta say, i think you are getting better and better, i find myself more eager to watch every video you put out compared to the previous one

[@matthewmcgee23]

These videos are awesome! I’m so happy to see creators still making content about my favorite game franchise. I love how you break things down and explain them. It makes me see things I’ve never noticed or thought before

[@digitaldevil696]

Oh, the seconds you've said "it's probably not the scene you're thinking about", I've immediately realized which one you're gonna choose. I would've done the same.

[@justaguyyouknow]

I always thought it would be amazing to get another game in this universe with a fedra agent that has a wife and child and you have to play as him as he does his duty as a fedra agent and then eventually (act 2) the place begins to fall a part and he has to decide if he chooses fedra or the uprising (exiling himself from fedra) to keep his family safe. I don’t have a full pitch. That’s all I got really

[@Chrisalot]

I wish more people would see the Fireflies for what they really are… villains who stoop to the same lows as their enemies, such as FEDRA. If the Fireflies had won, what about them exactly would have prevented them from becoming another FEDRA? Please explain it to me Marlene/Fireflies defenders… but no bullshit pseudo-intellectual argumentation about Joel’s decision to save Ellie being a trolley problem or moral dilemma, because it’s not like that at all when one examines Part 1 in all its entirety. Saying Joel’s decision to save Ellie is selfish is like saying someone on the trolley is selfish for not switching the tracks to save 5 people when the lever itself is broken and “Out of Order”.

[@randomusername3873]

Unfortunately the second game decided the fireflies were some sort of unsung hero😂, like wtf

[@Chrisalot]

@@randomusername3873 Yes, that is what we all would call retconning, which only makes the narrative shortcomings of the Last of Us writers and the series as a whole more visible.

[@Keyboardeater1]

The Fireflies hardly have any good scientists left (remember the guy who let the monkeys bite him?), and even if they did, they have no real way to mass produce or distribute a vaccine. You'd need a full government infrastructure to do that, and FEDRA can't do that.

[@nicholasmazzei6126]

Love these mate; I’m learning so much about my favourite games!!!

[@kacperr420]

I usually don't comment on any videos, but to be honest this is single-handedly the most detailed and well-polished video i have watched in a long time. You have definetly earned yourself a new subsciber today :)

[@rebekahj9085]

Ellie brought about her own worst fear. She and Abby couldn't let go of their passion for vengeance. And that passion for vengence brought about their need for "justice". And that justice brought their own destruction. I think in the end, Ellie was the loser. She ended up with nothing and no one

[@mastakiral]

your contents great I put it on in the background all the time thank you

[@jcraa91]

Fatbrett my guy. I found ur channel when the odin video was new and I've literally watched every single release since. I know that I'm definitely not the only person that sees a new fatbrett video and goes "hell yeah." Keep up the great work dude.

[@Fernando5455Jr]

If I remember correctly, despite how living in the quarantine zone in Boston sucks, there are still people from the outside, who are willing to do anything to get in. I believe if you go into the subway in the Boston area, there are notes of a guy who is trying to get into the Boston quarantine zone and I believe he was supposed to meet Bill, but for some reason he got bit or trapped in the subway. you actually his corpse.

[@edwardzuniga7598]

Fantastic job, sir! Can’t wait for what videos will come in the futures. All the best.

[@shaneroffey5638]

that prologue cutscene legit had me in tears on my first playthrough! savage!

[@Joebartsgrandma]

Dude I just wanna say, I really appreciate your videos man. They are so well crafted, and ik it sounds stupid because they are all about video games, but they have really helped me through stuff me tough times. So keep the good work up bro and thanks🙏👍

[@annaniskanen2557]

I'm absolutely in love with your videos. Thank you for these! I have not even played Last Of Us or God Of War but I have watched pretty much all of videos about these games and while I probably won't actually play them because I am not quite into these kind of games, I have fallen in love with these stories. Especially GOW, thank you for introducing me to that lore! (I know this video is not about GOW but just wanted to thank you in general.)

[@darrel6608]

Honestly i love every last one of your videos

[@gregbarry7043]

I really love the narration, u've got a excellent deep voice the proper grammar of the english language I can't ask for anything else.❤

[@valeriewalker5831]

Thank you for another awesome video ❤

[@ToxicBastard]

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - The scariest sentence you'll ever hear.

[@cod3368]

in this case, yea thats what they did, even if you didnt want the help

[@HazmatUnit]

"I'm from the government and we're here to help" Not just a single person, but even worse multiple

[@LiterallyCanada666]

these videos are absolutely incredible, my only hope is you continue on into analysis of the second game

[@brandonanderson4128]

I literally named my daughter after these games. Played part 1 countless times. It's so cool to have someone show me new perspectives I haven't thought about before. Thanks man! You give me shit to think about.

[@benthomas1714]

Really appreciate your videos!!!

[@slateoffate9812]

"How can I possibly help the dead by sacrificing the living? No one dies, not for me, ever." "I'm sorry, I keep forgetting you're less than a day old. I've had a decade since I left to process it, you've had an hour. Listen; death is... Scary, but it's not the ultimate thing in life. You have to live for more than just survival."

[@Bazookatone1]

This is really good, but I think there's something about Jackson that should be noted, at least in the TV series. Because of their relative isolation, Jackson has the luxury of not having to deal with large numbers of infected, and they have ample open space for growing food, as well as a conveniently close by and operational hydroelectric dam. Jackson is also careful to not advertise its existence, its NOT interested in large numbers of people coming looking for the wonderful life the people of Jackson have. By comparison, FEDRA (at least originally) had the obligation of trying to save as many people it could, and most of those pople were in cities. It's not like it was practical to do some kind of mass evacuation out of the cities, and I imagine there some level of farming going on, but probably hapered by the urban environment and the threat of infected. Even with teh best will in teh world, and the best of intentions, FEDRA's job seems nearly impossible. That's not to excuse them, it seems like they quickly devolved into petty tyrannies, and I'm curious was there any QZ where FEDRA managed to work WITH the people, institutiong some kind of representative government like the people of Jackson did?

[@nave712]

Once again Brett, you never disappoint 👍🏼

[@dahone4793]

I love when this guy uploads

[@TsuriaDragon]

Thankyou Mr.Brett really loved your storytelling always look forward to seeing your videos 🥰✨✨✨✨

[@PenguinsFlyFar]

These kinds of essay videos are really such an eye-opener just to how much of an art form video games are. I wish younger me had this kind of content to absorb alongside playing the games but I'm glad I have it now even if, as an adult, I don't have enough time in a day to play video games.

[@tsac1374]

Ooh i love you dissecting the logs

[@AngelofGrace96]

Wow, I never saw that dlc before, it's definitely a great addition. Also that next video sounds awesome!!

[@ZenikkTF2]

We don’t like those who say first. At least there’s a great video aside from that.

[@YRTTSSFS]

me abt to rewatch the rest of the playlist then seeing this was posted a minute ago 🤝

[@1OO_k]

The virgin CEDA vs the Chad FEDRA.

[@srbu8650]

Man your videos are so good ❤

[@alexzhelezov2895]

Every time I see an upload for you my day is made lol

[@flamezzwrecker8433]

LETS GO NEW VID. KEEP EM COMIN MAN.

[@MaiKayxo]

love your analyses!

[@brandontse6465]

2:57 You can see the soldier's insignia on his left shoulder, which says 'Federal Disaster' at the top and 'Response Agency' at the bottom.

[@ThadeousM]

Excellent work Brett ty!

[@TheBiakko]

The FEDRA officer scene in the series (in his office with Ellie) was also interesting.

[@christianhdzm]

The moment you mentioned is survival worth something this horrific I just knew it was going to be the scene where Joel broke, and arguably the saddest one in the game

[@equin0x22415]

T Comment I literally groaned out loud when I saw what scene you picked, I've seen it dozens of times, and it still makes me sob every time. PERFECT choice to paint a picture of FEDRA and their idea of what the "greater good" is: for the officer on the other end of that radio, that was just a blip on his radar, another duty he had to perform to keep everybody "safe", despite what MAY have been good intent(or not, I'll get into that), it was done ignorantly and carelessly and led to unneeded bloodshed, which was world shaping from Joel's perspective, and ultimately just led to more violence in a sense, so really on a grand scale how much were they actually helping survival? Despite seemingly not knowing anything about the outbreak at the time, there was still more that could've been done, but I'm honestly willing to bet at the rate of the outbreak, and how government organizations are usually portrayed in media that either the soldier or the commander on the radio knew more than the game was letting on and would've seen the rate at how quickly people were turning, how rapidly the infection spread, or the fact that it was transmitted through bites firsthand at SOME point, I mean, if I had a military response going, they had to have seen or known SOME kind of shit. Had there been just a small bit of hesitation, a quick minute-not even-long check for bites, Sarah could still be alive; but to them survival more than likely meant having COMPLETE and total control, and that meant no hesitation, no exceptions, despite knowing probably more than the general public did, and that is a perfect reflection of FEDRA down the road.

[@KamikazeDreamer]

Kinda missing GoW essays but a nice change of pace. Keep them up Mr. Brett. Always just great hearing you talk about games

[@LightTHC]

I just love your videos and analysis so much. Will you ever do a Deconstruction of Villany on Red Dead Redemption 2 in the future?

[@wildwarturkey8356]

Ellie didn't go into the mall to help Joel, left behind was a prequel set before the two met amd explains how Ellie got bitten in the first place

[@LevantineR1]

No, the DLC opens with Joel getting injured, and has present time Ellie in a mall getting supplies for him.

[@Christopher-md7tf]

If anything, I think the DLC perfectly illustrates why standardized protocols are necessary, even if they aren't perfect. Because if you leave these decisions up to irrational human beings, they're prone to doing dumb shit because of personal sentiment or for some misguided "heroism" and it pretty much always results in tragedy for everybody involved. Protocols take the responsibility off the shoulders of the individual and enable them to do the objectively right thing without emotions getting in the way. Also, Jackson works because it is tiny in comparison to Boston. Tiny enough to where people can be personally vetted and the community kinda surveils and polices itself, which would never work in a big city where you have to deal with bad actors of all sorts. And if the Jacksonians knew somebody was infected, you think they would have any better methods to deal with them than FEDRA? As soon as you allow infected to exist in a quarantine zone for WHATEVER reason, it stops being a quarantine zone and things go to shit almost instantly, as can be observed in every other city depicted in the series.

[@cledosliop4175]

Please make more videos like this I absolutely love your interpretation of this game❤.

[@_antonio_4915]

Awesome video, I would love to see your insight on characters from red dead 2

[@zev_art]

man, I'd love to see your take on Red Dead Redemption series. lots of amazing characters to deconstruct.

[@Keyboardeater1]

One interesting thing is the lack of long term planning FEDRA has. You don't see any farms, and its implied they are largely dependent on scavenging the ruins of Boston to supplement the dwindling supply stocks. Bill implies that they have some kind of limited manufacturing capabilities, but are the different QZs even in communication? What happens when the FEDRA stockpiles finally run out, and there's no more cans to fish out of the ruins? They're fragmented and don't have a plan.

[@robchuk4136]

It wouldn't be hard to assign those jobs when the time comes. I can see FEDRA evolving a little like the WLF in Part 2 and becoming self-sufficient.

[@Keyboardeater1]

@@robchuk4136 It's been twenty years, long term prep should already be in place by now.

[@crazyinsane500]

That's explained in the first level of the first game. How are they going to get a farm when a fungus zombie will just die in an inconvenient location and start sporing up the place, making the entire farm unusable? They don't. That's the inherent existential horror endemic to the setting. . . Which is conveniently removed in the sequel. Yeah, things like this might not be explained in videos by channels that just read off wikis and reddit posts like this one.

[@Mglue3]

Could be secured still. But there is no way any food lasts 20 years. They got an operation.

[@Keyboardeater1]

@crazyinsane500 the spores only spread in enclosed locations though.

[@ketchy0932]

Hey I just want to say I love your videos and I don’t want you too stop making these because they are beautiful. Please keep making last of us content love your work

[@ChuggleDBuglGames]

The last of us did so good at showing all the pretty realistic outcomes of a zombie apocalypse. I remember the discourse when the last of us show came out and people were complaining that their were gay people because “that wouldn’t help humanity” and they are just echoing what I’m guessing FEDRA would say. That you need to have children in the name of humanity’s survival, or something to that effect. Control over the pressure and guilt that YOU are the one controlling humanity’s fate and you must never make any error.

[@Rayman-ie3ld]

hearing you describe fedra police just sounded like the police. one wrong move and gone

[@latoshi3671]

Or the israeli occupation of Palestine

[@Clapperofcheeks5000]

Love your vids well done

[@abdulla10955]

Keep up the great work brother.

[@MagicBullet574]

Joel made the same Decission by choosing not to do something about this Family on the Roadside begging them for Help ! He prefered to guarantee Safety for his Daughter

[@jasongrayson4945]

This video is sick, I really hope you continue to tackle TLOU and maybe even delve into TLOU2

[@GojkoStojanovicII]

These videos are amazing and I would absolutely love a deconstruction of the WLF or Seraphites if you ever cover part 2

[@malucoblz588]

Interesting how perception changes ones interpretation, i wanna point out a few instances which i disagree with Frat's conclusion: 1-The first log is indeed written in a very military way, however i wouldnt say its devoid of emotion, getting emotionally overwhelmed is very dangerous to soldier since it leads bad decisions, thats why they are trained keep them controled, thinks of Kratos heart temperd by Mind speech to Atreus, with the log i could tell that Captain Reagan was rationalizing everything that happened, "must have been spore..." is her realizing they werent careful enough, "even with the helicopter spinning..." she is commending Caulifield's bravery and coolheadedness, Caulfield showing his bite and accepting death shows he preffered death over being a hazard to his friends/family. 2- The repetition of Rank and unit is used as a sort of Mantra during emotional crisis moments, such as torture or being MIA, to help maintain the mind focused, step by step kinda deal, so her gradually stopping it could be seen as her becoming less and less in control. IMO, knowing how everything progressed, i woudlnt change how FEDRA acted, to me they did everything right, its just a shit situation, i wonder though what would have happened if instead of the Fireflies, Elli and Joel had tried tried prove to Fedra that she was immune to the virus?

[@kazekamiha]

More or less. Welcome to hell.