A Story Analysis of Silent Hill 2

[@SHINIGAMIEATER]

One thing about the ending "reveal" of James having grown to hate Mary that I feel is often overlooked is the line that directly follows it: "If that's true, then why do you look so sad?" -- In my opinion, neither that or the sentiment of having done it to end her suffering are fully true. Traumatic events & periods of our lives can often lead us to try and point to a /rational/ explanation for things to avoid accepting how completely fucked up everything has been. Honestly, I've always kind of been surprised that people take James, this extremely psychologically damaged person, fully at his word when he says "The truth is...". In his pain, he's looking for yet another way to punish himself by fully painting himself as a selfish monster. An easy explanation.

[@Treasure_hunter_21]

This.👍

[@CCProductions]

Yeah people always make James reasoning for killing Mary way too simple. There’s so much at play that led to his choice to murder her. I believe it was a strange mix of all kinds of things, both rational and not. At his core there was most likely a great deal of resentment and grief, but part of me firmly believes that he justified it by believing he was freeing her from her miserable disease out of a sense of love and duty. There’s a lot going on, it’s not a black and white choice

[@SnagTheRabbit]

That's a good observation. There was obvious resentment and damage happening to their relationship, but I don't buy the idea he "hated" her. There's a lot of times where we have ugly phases with people and in the moment we might think or feel some nasty way about them. But when it's over and you look back on it, you realize you didn't actually feel that way at all and you were just hurting. I feel like that's pretty fitting for James. There's so much he does for Mary before and after learning/remembering the truth that no one would do for somebody they hate. (Not trying to call James a good guy or anything, lol, but I feel like that might be the case here.)

[@CCProductions]

@@SnagTheRabbit I mean like he pointed out in the video James literally plowed through the hell of Silent Hill just to find her. He wouldn’t have ever went as far as he did if he felt nothing but hate towards her

[@chuckingreaper8654]

@@CCProductionsWhile I agree it’s a whole bouquet of reasons, James went through Silent Hill in ignorance of his hatred of Mary. He blocked out the 3 years she was sick which is where he developed that resentment which led to him killing her. As Mary somewhat wanted, James remembered her for how she was before the sickness, but intentionally suppressed who she was during it. If James had chosen to not suppress his memories of Mary’s sickness, this game would have just been the In Water ending from the start. It’s only through his journey through Silent Hill that he begins to understand what he did and thus make a decision on what he does next.

[@Arkham13v]

Silent Hill was never a place for therapy, the town suffered tragedy and torment in the past, and thanks to the supernatural forces that is rooted beneath the surface, it would create these nightmares, the Otherworld, into the people that enters the town, especially those with dark past. The end of Silent Hill 2 is showing how we've handled James throughout the story, did we make him strong enough that he is willing live after everything he's done (Leave), did we put him to the lowest point that it breaks him (Water and Stillness), did we ignored the truth and/or repeat the same mistakes (Bliss and Maria), did we decided to dare the impossible (Rebirth), or maybe we think it's just a silly video game and do anything that the game offers even if it makes no sense (Dog and UFO). A narrative video game where your gameplay has a huge impact in the story, we don't see this everyday.

[@chandlerburse]

Someone knows their stuff

[@tristenatorplaysgames6833]

thank god someone else gets it holy shit good job dude

[@chandlerburse]

@@tristenatorplaysgames6833 theres too many people who interpret silent hill as a benevolent entity in a twisted way when its not and it doesnt care if you overcome your problems or not

[@TheParadoxGamer1]

@@chandlerbursewhatever is giving the town its power may have once BEEN benevolent, but that was centuries ago..:

[@chandlerburse]

@ the power comes from the occult activity and supposedly the natives used it for spirituality but that didn’t do anything beyond being twisted by the cults actions apparently

[@maxmillianwiegel1643]

One minor thing about the remake’s final conversation between James and Mary: He doesn’t actually say that he killed Mary to put her out of her misery. Mary says that, and he half-heartedly agrees, but then labours on and on about his hatred of her condition, and how he made the choice out of selfishness. How he wanted her out of the way, and wanted his life back. What’s actually really interesting to me how the game presents this, because it’s ultimately Mary who gives the final line about what he did: “if that were true, then why do you look so sad?” I think while you don’t miss anything for Angela or Eddie, that final line is incredibly important for understanding James, because that is the last line of dialogue in the game which speaks about Mary’s death. It doesn’t absolve James-but it points out he was at his breaking point, and did what he did not because he is a monster, but because after three years of abuse, pain, and wasting away, he was broken. That’s why leave is so satisfying for me, because it’s not just him accepting what he did, but also trying to fulfill Mary’s last wishes in that letter. It, to me, is how James can try and make amends with her memory.

[@joshuatapp3447]

I wouldn't call this minor. That line by Mary is vitally important to understanding James and the whole ordeal.

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

Nah, he murdered her. To justify it in any way is sick. Terminally ill people lash out and talk about wanting to die all the time. Doesn't justify anything. He deserves prison for life, death or stuck in SH forever. If Mary did it to James, a lot of males especially would 100% agree with me.

[@datguyphiff8255]

​@@lookhowshegobbledthat So lemme get this straight, on your last sentence where you said "If Mary did it to James." are you implying if there roles have been swapped, where James is diseased lying in the bed and Mary is sitting by the bed. That it would've been fine for Mary to kill him?

[@Treasure_hunter_21]

​@@datguyphiff8255 seems that.

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

@@datguyphiff8255 No, she would also deserve life in prison, death or being stuck in SH forever. I said that a lot of y'all would suddenly agree with that.

[@vordeseite7273]

Silent Hill 2 is basically like a form of purgatory where the prisoners are pretty much their own prisons.

[@jamesnorman9160]

There's implications that each of the major characters covered here has an Otherworld that's unique to them and them alone, but it bleeds into the world we see on occasion. James' is the classic rusty, industrial hellscape that we've seen all through the series, but it's also covered in sheets - or maybe even flayed skin - to represent Mary's illness and the hospital she was confined to, and also representing the smothering she recieved from her dear husband. Angela's is of course a burning hellscape that she sees constantly, a constant heat that you can never escape, and James walks right into it when she's at her lowest point and essentially gives up, walking freely into the flames. And Eddie's is this cold, chilly place like that meat locker, and you can see traces of his breath in the prison cafeteria as it's bleeding more and more into our awareness, and by the time of our fight with him he's fallen fully into his nihilistic streak, so we can see his Otherworld that reflects his soul.

[@ravendelacour1917]

Karmically speaking that describes existence itself.

[@rubeesharma4316]

​@@ravendelacour1917karmically??

[@livingtoaster1358]

The thing with purgatory, as the name means, is that it's supposed to be a place of purification and cleansing

[@ravendelacour1917]

@@livingtoaster1358 Spiritual "places" in many mythos are indicative of states of being. Heaven for spiritual bliss, Hell for intense meaningless suffering, and Purgatory for purposeful suffering for development's same.

[@jamesnorman9160]

If you look in the back seat of James' car on the Observation Deck, you can just about make out a shape there covered by a blanket, which is easier to see using no-clip mode. Mashahiro Ito confirmed that's Mary's body. Chances are he killed her literally the day before or the same day and then drove to Silent Hill because he was planning on driving them both into the lake, but on the way there he suffered a mental break and constructed his delusions from there. The 3 year timeline likely came from a conversation you can hear in the original game: one where James is speaking with a doctor regarding Mary's condition, and he says if she reacts well to the treatment she could live another 3 years. So even though he's suicidal and self-destructive to a certain extent he still travels through the town and faces all his delusions as continues to cling to this fantasy he's built, even though there's traces of the town mocking him at every turn: the dead bodies you come across ARE James, their faces often hidden by cloth or textures or some other graphical trickery (this was also in the original game) but making it clear that he wants to die to some extent, either to be with Mary or because he needs to be punished for what he did. The cloth that covers the major puzzle items (the jukebox, the coin box, the chained box in the hospital) ties back to that covered body, and the hospital sheets and blankets from endless hospital visits, and that same sheeting covers the barriers he comes across. No matter what he does or says, there's no getting away from this purgatory he's constructed. Silent Hill cares not why you did the horrible deeds you committed. It just makes you face them whether you like it or not.

[@ThatCho]

Very astute observation. I definitely believe it was supposed to be a murder suicide but his mental breakdown gives the player character a chance at survival.

[@PaulaNaBussa-x1n]

The Fleshlips monster has a Pillow body and deceased Feet And a Feminine Mouth

[@jamesnorman9160]

@@PaulaNaBussa-x1n The Flesh Lips is basically a giant fleshlight in a cage. Further linking to the pyschosexual design of a lot of the monsters. It's really obvious when you get that shot of its 'mouth' in the cutscene after you kill it.

[@HaxeRain]

@@PaulaNaBussa-x1n For me, there is something interesting on Abstract Daddy design, we know that the town influences what we see and others, making all PoVs, from all 3 humans different, and Ito said what Angela sees is different, so, what i feel interesting is how what james sees, imo, its the visaage of him smothering Mary, the way it moves and the position of both figures makes me think of that, ofc there is the angela subtext too, but james vision affects it too, in which i see that

[@Jojje94]

I like the design of that blanket. Forget-me-nots and lilies of the valley. Very apropos.

[@G_Rez]

I think you're missing a crucial part about Angela, in that when you find her she says "Mama, I've been looking for you. You're the only one left, maybe then I can rest." Angela's father and brother were both her abusers, and she killed them both. Her mother was her only abuser left. She's not seeking her mother for parental comfort, she's looking to physically bring an end to her abuse. She gives you her knife, not only because she's afraid she's going to do something to herself, but what she'll do with it when she finally finds her mom. In Angela's version of Silent Hill, everyone must burn. The clarity Angela received at the end of the strange daddy fight, much like the clarity James receives from his final confrontation with pyramid head(s) brings her no comfort, knowing what she is and what she's done doesn't help any of the trauma, and she ultimately chooses to succumb to that darkness.

[@acgearsandarms1343]

I forget but did the newspaper article say the house burned?

[@G_Rez]

@acgearsandarms1343 I don't believe so, at least I don't remember the newspaper mentioning a fire

[@acgearsandarms1343]

@@G_Rez Yeah, maybe just an assumption she burned the house then.

[@juanausensi499]

@@G_Rez Something related to burning happened. The hotel, after watching the tape, shows signs of fire damage. In the cells, we can find two child's drawings, one is 'flying woman' and the other is 'man on fire'. I think those are Angela's drawings: the first one representes her desire to flee away, and the second the desire to destroy her abusers.

[@G_Rez]

@juanausensi499 Yes she desires for her abusers to burn, that much is very clear. I don't think burning was mentioned in the newspaper article you can read about her dad's death or the silent Hill 2 novel

[@Meander67]

Love the shift of perspective at 32:44. James is shown as a taller dominant figure, but once Eddie turns around, the camera angle slightly shifts and now portrays Eddie as a larger, more menacing figure.

[@juancarlosalonso5664]

The renaissance of silent hill 2 youtube essays his here and I love it.

[@sayahhx8300]

Right??!!!! I watched all the old ones back then over and over. I’m loving all the new video essays and interpretations from others

[@202cardline]

To the forums! Wait...there was a message board here but it's gone now...I guess reddit and youtube will have to do.

[@theSemiChrist]

​@@202cardlineas long as no one mentions circumcision 😂

[@AndrewL31413]

I love literature but these games can tell stories in ways that a novel can’t.

[@sunlitriddle2294]

I believe that some day, games will be studied and appreciated the same way that cinema, novels, and stageplays are now. We're just ahead of that curve

[@Absurdword]

Silent Hill 2 in many ways is the first great “novel” of a video game since it very much is on the level of great literature, but of course the world is interactive, visually and audibly immersive, and a living, breathing tapestry of the very themes it presents.

[@watchmehope6560]

Fun fact: SH2 does have a novel. You can find it translated online. Unfortunately 1/3 didn't get their translation completely.

[@earholeentertainment5866]

@@sunlitriddle2294Games create an intimacy with the character you play as in a way which other media cannot.

[@KalCounty]

I love how much the game really invites the player to root for James, portraying him as a devoted widower looking for a second chance with his beloved wife, but then brutally hits you with the fact that he abandoned and killed her. When you've been playing as and identifying with the character for hours only to experience that twist, it feels like such an intimate betrayal you wouldn't get in any other medium.

[@sleevetrocks]

5:05 This part has consistently been able to squeeze tears out of me for twenty years. My wife is a cancer survivor, and while I understood this game decently well as a teen when it first came out it took on a brand new meaning after going through that with her. Whenever I hear this part, it makes me think of what I would feel if hearing it from my S.O. Thinking that I might have lost her is an incredibly difficult thing to wrestle with, and I thank the heavens every day that she's still with me. But this game acts as a dark mirror to another reality I might have faced. I know I'm not the only one who related to this story on that level, and if you do I'm sure you know what I'm saying here. It's an absolutely harrowing journey into hell.

[@OliverKane3582]

This comment was very moving, man. I hope your wife is still in good health and such. Also glad to see someone else who’s been connecting the game to emotionally relevant experiences.

[@smokebreakproductions8510]

Also James has 3 main ending which I think reflects all the characters. Laura wishes to push forward, Angie gives up, and Eddie choices violence. James could leave with Laura - Pushing forward, give up and drive into the lake - Angie ending, or take Maria and treat her like shit - Eddie.

[@BUNOBUNO-so5nu]

Given that Angela’s knife is a major part of getting in water, this makes a lot of sense.

[@AxelTheAussie]

I haven’t finished the video yet but James’ story honestly hits so much harder after listening to your explanation. Having watched someone close to me succumb to terminal illness, it really puts into perspective just how hard it is, to continue to love someone even as they fade and act in ways you never could have imagined.

[@emexdizzy]

Yeah. Crippling disease is a special kind of hell, both for the ill person, and loved ones. I live with a chronic illness for which there's no cure. Every day, I wake up in warm, dull, aching pain from head to toe. It never goes away. It just eases a little, or it gets worse. My grip falters, my hands shake, my steps fumble, and everything hurts. It's torment unending and for the first years, I contemplated just ending life to end the nightmare. I'm only alive because I have chosen intentionally to keep living through hell, to be happy anyway, and I am happy. It's just not the same as before I got sick. Everyone can see it, they can all see me struggle, and when they don't take it well, I take it badly. We can all make the effort to try better, be better, do better... but when a loved one is acting like James does... the ill person is just screwed. Nobody teaches you the things you need to know about grief before you have to start grieving. Life just kicks you headfirst into it, and you swim or you sink. Either you learn how to survive and find joy, or it shatters you, and you're dead inside before you're even gone. Dying is easy. Living takes work.

[@Hilversumborn]

I know the feeling, I witnessed my grandmother completely change because of dementia, she at one point couldn’t even recognize me.

[@shenloken2]

At some point in our lives, we’ve all had our own personal visit to “Silent Hill” to confront our true selves. Though you really messed up if you had to fight a buncha monsters in the process….

[@subjectively_objective]

sadly, some people never do... money can prevent you from ever facing accountability, or the wrong group of friends..

[@RaymondMichaelBarrera]

​@@subjectively_objectiveexactly 💯 I feel bad for those the most

[@512TheWolf512]

nope. not everyone's got bad people for parents, etc. some people were more lucky in life than others.

[@ibrahimjuhail1246]

I have always wondered how would my version of silent hill look like

[@richard_from_england333]

I'm in Silent Hill right now

[@saintsolatus]

Small note, I'm kind of disappointed that Bret didn't talk about Eddie's own manifestation of the Other World. Throughout the whole game you can see Eddie's breath freeze as he exhales, Eddie's world is a cold world, a world where no one was ever warm to him and he always feels something bitting at his skin and flesh. If Angela decided to burn away with her Other World, Eddie became cold and ruthless just like his

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

In a sense the other world materializes one's own inner soul as your desires too are manifested and not just your good desires but your negative ones as well as it's all parts of your soul manifesting for you to face the truth. Silent Hill really is the definition of "Ready or not" as here it comes.

[@trentsticles6198]

I think it also has something to with the arena that you fight Eddie in being a meat locker. That’s Eddies otherworld just like Angela’s otherworld is always on fire

[@kkinthewheelchair3049]

i think the most interesting part about james is that you cant really fit him under character type , he isnt a hero because you know he done bad things , he isnt a villain because you see the good in him . He is just a human who is suffering from his past

[@francisco646]

Antihero, maybe?

[@kkinthewheelchair3049]

@@francisco646 no , an anti hero is more like a character that is the punisher , whose does good deed but his method is bad . James isn't that , he has a selfish goal that is too see his wife , he consistently show that he is selfish ( view them in the Maria video )

[@SoundsFromBeyond]

Yes, James would be considered an antihero. Antiheros don't necessarily do bad things to help other people or for the greater good (like The Punisher). The most basic definition of an antihero is a protagonist of a story that lacks heroic or idealistic qualities and performs actions that may range from distasteful to reprehensible or even criminal. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition: antihero /ăn′tē-hîr″ō, ăn′tī-/ noun A main character in a dramatic or narrative work who is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism or courage. A protagonist who proceeds in an unheroic manner, such as by criminal means, via cowardly actions, or for mercenary goals. A protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero (or her a heroine). Wikipedia: An antihero or anti-heroine is a main character in a narrative who may lack some conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism, and morality. Although antiheroes may sometimes perform actions that most of the audience considers morally correct, their reasons for doing so may not align with the audience's morality.

[@emilycurrent7489]

Just like Angela and Eddie. An abused, miserable person finally pushed too far. He even tries to tell Angela (who's more like him than Eddie) that she wasn't wrong for murdering her abusers...just like he did.

[@chandlerburse]

@ you’re really stretching abuse all Mary did was take her frustration out on him Its not justifiable that she did but his actions are far worse. And james admits its not just marys abuse he was selfish and resented her situation

[@DragonslayerGaming]

This is such a tragic story, they brought it over to a new generation so well

[@mercenarygundam1487]

Whether the next generation can appreciate the art and the message it tries to tell is a different story.

[@joshshrum2764]

It’s not my favorite thing, but it’s still nice even though i am not that old so i still fell in love with the original.

[@TheTrollingMaster-xr9el]

@@mercenarygundam1487yeah sadly tiktok has destroyed a lot of peoples attention spans I doubt they could appreciate a story like this.

[@mercenarygundam1487]

@@TheTrollingMaster-xr9el Thanks CCP....

[@skullcrusher783]

@@TheTrollingMaster-xr9elI love the story

[@liaml.e.5964]

22:01 "The truth is everything, but before you give it to another, ask yourself... Are you giving clarity, light and purpose? Or are you shifting a burden to someone who needs all their strength?" -Kosmo-

[@JakeStrongvideography]

I hope you're not suffering deeply from depression anymore. It's clear hope much effort you put in your videos and you have a lot to be proud of. You write well, you have a great relaxing voice and you are very articulate. From a silent Hill fan that has never played the games, in so glad to have found this video

[@juampan]

I've been consuming every bit of SH2 content for the last 23 years, and you've been the one to explain to me the reason for the 3 year gap, I always thought "time is convoluted in SH" or some simple magic explanation. Also explains the blanket in the rear seat is not a 3year old corpse. Now it all makes better sense.

[@cpgxy]

my understanding is that Mary caught that illness 3 years ago, from that moment onward Mary is basically dead to James

[@Resht3]

@@cpgxy That is correct, and is not even a theory anymore since it gets confirmed in the Maria ending. When Maria (acting as Mary) asks if James hated her, he replies "it was a long three years"

[@rusix6]

This has to be the greatest summary / analysis of SH2 I've come across so far. There is just so much lofty gibberish and fanfiction out there. This was very factual, down to earth and sensible. FattBrett, I applaud you for this work.

[@farkasmactavish]

Except it's trash. Good therapy WILL hurt. If your therapist only ever makes you feel good and correct, they suck at their job.

[@bluepolarbear]

@@farkasmactavish It's more complicated than that. If the therapy drives you to suicide, it's not exactly good therapy.

[@ysgramornorris2452]

22:14 She _knows_ the truth. She has always known. I doubt delusions can make a person truly happy. They're a coping mechanism, and deep down your brain knows they're fake. The delusions can't be maintained indefinitely, because your unconscious mind will keep pushing out until it breaks free. My therapist taught me something about trauma: Your brain doesn't understand the past. It only understands "resolved" and "unresolved". When you suffer trauma, your mind will remain fixated on it until you process it. As long as you bury your pain, the wound will stay fresh. To heal and be free of that place, you need to welcome the associated feelings, experience them fully, and let them go. The delusions and fantasies are only there to help you cope until you're ready to go through that process.

[@farkasmactavish]

Exactly this. And the process will still hurt.

[@qistickle]

this is so random.. and i see no reason why you'd care but, this idea that "delusions" are nothing more than a coping mechanism is... a theory. I've been having what I would call hallucinations (since most people don't really have the ability to understand these things in any other way) almost all the time for like more than 10 years. they're real to me, as real as anything else. so you can see how when you say they are a coping mechanism or they won't make someone happy etc.... it's a little unsettling to read for me. nevermind that it is actually not a fact that they are not "real" or whatever. the only reason one would even think that is cuz seemingly these things don't affect their own perception of "reality", which doesn't sound very scientific does it? anyway, that is the mainstream view though... everyone looks at these things the way you do, I dunno why I felt like replying at all, and I'm drunk, so apologies. one interesting thing i mighgt add is I'm pretty sure my hallucinations will go away once I'm able to process some trauma like you mentioned. but i think they are still objectively real. I wonder how that idea even gets across to someone without these issues lol

[@farkasmactavish]

@qistickle The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5) defines delusions as "a fixed, false belief that persists despite conflicting evidence". Examples of delusions include, but are not limited to: >persecutory: that one is being harmed by a person/group/organization >referential: that environmental cues, comments, or gestures are directed at oneself >grandiose: that one has exceptional wealth, fame, or abilities >erotomanic: that another person is in love with one >nihilistic: that a major catastrophe will occur >somatic: about bodily functions or sensations There can be many causes for delusions, including genetic, biological, environmental, and even substance abuse. Trauma is absolutely on the list of possible causes, as well. And the key point about a delusion is that it is not a choice. You're almost never delusional on purpose.

[@TheTrollerGamer]

This complexity is one of the reasons I enjoy the theory that Mary asked him to do it, but he did it out of hate for her and not entirely out of love. The extreme guilty he feels is more about Mary thinking he did it for love, but the truth is that he was just done with her. He couldn't take it anymore and did something awful for the wrong reasons. This is why I also love the line ''Then why do you look so sad?'', because James is a human being and while he hated her, he also loved her deeply in the past. I hate when the discussion just turns into ''James was horny and wanted to bang someone, but Mary was too sick to do it, so James killed her. Also, he is maybe a cheater!''

[@r1g0r_m0rt1s]

While I can agree that the oversimplification of SH2's story is pretty widespread. You can't just ignore James's intimate repression when it's directly manifested as some of the monsters he has to overcome.

[@chandlerburse]

@@TheTrollerGamer James kisses marys head before he smothers her in the original at least so that implies something

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

"Asked him to do it" She wouldn't have struggled against him smothering her. He deserves prison for life, death or stuck in SH forever. Murder like that should never be forgiven.

[@Treasure_hunter_21]

​@@lookhowshegobbledthat? Gag reflex?

[@Deepstab1]

In the end, in that moment, james acted because he wanted his life back , not out of mercy A lot of people overlook james sexual frustration like...yeah he wanted to fuck and couldn't but its more than that, he wanted to fuck and hated himself for it, made him feel guilt about not being a better husband and all that hate turned into resentment for mary when she became abusive which made him hate himself more, and its that resentment what pushed him to do it

[@yate0128]

Something I think about is his line ‘we spent the whole day just staring out at the water’ I genuinely believe they were quite boring people. Their entire lives before Mary’s illness was uneventful and plain. Hence they absolutely were NOT prepared for an emotionally charged upheaval of their quiet lives. Mary absolutely has the more justified reaction(no one would’ve been able to handle that without breaking down.) But James? He’s not even 30 yet. He’s still got his whole life left afterwards. How’s he supposed to cope with the situation AND move on afterwards? And in some endings… he just doesn’t. Choosing to not make it to 30 without her.

[@steel2572]

This guy just doesn't miss with these videos. Never played SH or some of the other games youve discussed but I always watch and very much enjoy all of them. Was interesting hearing a personal angle in this one with the Eddie analysis. Hope you're doing better now Brett.

[@farkasmactavish]

Except he did. Good therapy hurts and is scary, but it teaches you how your brain works and lets you heal after the hurt.

[@burnacle]

Something I just realized about Angela... She says "Mama, you're the only one left, maybe then I can finally rest." Maybe then? Maybe then what? What is she referring to? I think she wasn't in Silent Hill looking for a loving mother that never was, I think she was looking for her to kill her. "You're the only one left", as in, the last one I have to kill.

[@chandlerburse]

@@burnacle in the original people said her mother told her she deserved the abuse so i think its clear how her mother actually was

[@mayabee8925]

I don't necessarily think that's why Angela is searching for her "Mama", tho if she found her and didn't give in, it is possible things could have ended up that way. In child abuse cases such as Angela's their inner child can almost stunt their growth on the path to self actualization. They never learn acceptance or comfort in solitude and they never develop their own sense of purpose. They remain a hurt child that wants to be comforted and seeks love and needs acceptance from others not accepting themselves as they are. Angela's mom obviously had her own problems and seemed to resent Angela and say that she deserved what happened to her instead of leaving that horrible man who didn't love her she blamed his lack of love on her child. Angela couldn't accept that her "Mama" didn't love her and was constantly trying to earn her love as many abused children do for the parent that isn't directly causing them trauma. It's horribly sad. Angela's story is honestly the most painful one.

[@ItsAK9]

Mary's long breakdown during that long walk is honestly one of the best moments in media. It's genuinely so raw and expresses so much emotion and confusion coming from her. As someone who's seen how a person being hospitalized and having not long to live turned into hating themselves and pushing others away even if they truly didn't want to... it's powerful and real.

[@saltywitch3699]

What makes the death of Mary even more harrowing is the method that James chose. Smothering with a pillow takes anywhere from 3 to 4 minutes. That is excruciatingly slow. One of the most brutal and personal ways to kill someone. During any one of those minutes -where despite being weak, Mary likely struggled and fought against him- James could have stopped. I don't actually resent him for killing her. If I were as sick as Mary I would likely want to be euthanized. Or if my partner was sick and at death's door and they asked me to help them end it, I would likely try and do that. Sometimes death IS a mercy. I resent the method he chose. He watched and suffered along with her for 3 years, if he truly loved her he would have done his best to make her final moments peaceful. In his condition I don't think it would have been difficult to aquire sleeping pills and OD her. He truly would have to have HATED Mary to end up going through with smothering her.

[@thegemguy1334]

While he admitted that he hated her himself, I don't think he put much thought in how he would kill her.

[@ThatCho]

I think that’s the reaction they want you to have. How could he have grown to hate her that much? It’s twisted and… truly horrific.

[@chandlerburse]

@@ThatCho can you just actually play the game? Maybe the Og? You’re talking as if its not been explained Its not justifiable really but actually experience it maybe

[@ThatCho]

@@chandlerburse I'm not talking as if it hasn't been explained. I'm responding to the OP and agreeing with how harrowing of an experience it was to discover the way he ended her life.

[@fino534]

That’s a conclusion I came to at the end of my first playthrough, he said he hated her and to him his wife died when she got the disease. he hated what the disease turned her into, that’s not the Mary he knew and it was a Mary he hated with every fiber of his being I don’t think what he did was ok but she was a spiteful hateful person towards him and having to care for someone who’s guaranteed to die is hard to deal with and for him he just snapped and couldn’t take it anymore

[@karanhdream]

While I absolutely love your analysis and videos, I feel James is much more complex than you make him out to be. Truth isn't the only point of Silent Hills 2's story. Watching a loved one die slowly of an incurable disease for years on end, what it does to you and them, it's very hard to explain and understand even for us going through it. My mother died earlier this year, cancer of the ovaries. She was sick for 3 years too. Chemo, surgeries, infections and repeated bowel obstructions. The last one is ultimately what led to her death, a common end with this kind of cancer. My mother asked for a medically assisted death, so she wouldn't be half conscious and in pain for weeks before she ultimately passes away. She felt... so guilty for so many things. She felt like she was a burden, that she was dumping a load of crap on me and my brother, that she was abandoning us and making us suffer. As for me and my brother, we didn't want to lose her and yet in those last weeks before she died we also wanted it to be over. I felt angry at life in general for taking my mother, a sadness I can't express to this day, I felt guilty for wanting it to be over while holding onto every seconds I could spend with her. My point is... James didn't "fail", and it's not that his love "wasn't strong enough". No one is perfect while going through this kind of thing. We suffer, we lash out, emotions run high, often contradictory ones. Thoughts become all entangled and nothing makes sense anymore. Was it wrong of him to kill his wife? Yes. But he wasn't a monster posing as a nice man. James is an ordinary human, in pain who was driven to the ends of despair and had no one to talk to. He is like many many people, often men, who are impossibly lonely. Silent Hill 2 isn't just about truth, it's about *loneliness* . James was a caretaker no one took care of. Angela was a victim who was never told she was a victim and believed she deserved her abuse. Eddy was a bullied boy who never heard a single kind word from anyone until his sadness and pain turned to hatred and violence. Silent Hill 2 reveals to us the stories of the loneliest people, the suffering of those who have no one. They all did wrong things but one must ask, would they have done what they did, had they not been so utterly alone?

[@leilani999]

Normally I rarely ever comment anything, but reading your take on this was like finding a pearl on the bottom of the deep sea. I hope your dark days are gone and the sun shines on you again! I love that you can see at characters like James or Eddy with all the grey that is around them, too, not just black or white like most people do. I think it`s difficult to judge someone if you`ve never been in the same situation, and most people are always claiming for themselves the morally high ground, claiming they would never do bad things. Thank you that you can see all the different shades on people, you just made my day!

[@karanhdream]

@@leilani999 Thank you for your kind words :) There are dark days and better ones, I take them each as they come. I try to put myself in the shoes of others best I can, my grandfather taught me that if everyone made a conscious effort each day to be more empathetic and understanding, this world would be a kinder one. To this day I believe he was right.

[@StormyTalks]

Why do we keep making excuses for men?

[@CraigJS91]

@@StormyTalks That's really what you decided to latch on to from this well thought out and eloquent comment? Smh.

[@karanhdream]

@@StormyTalks I'm not excusing anything, certainly not from men. I'm the daughter of a mommy issue riddled narcissist who blames the world for everything wrong in his life and has no accountability. That being said, I can understand or rather explain how he became the way he is. And I can have some level of sympathy. Explaining a behaviour isn't the same as excusing it. Although true, it wasn't clear in my first comment... I think that sexism hurts both women and men by creating double standards for everyone involved. Women can't be strong and independent while men can't be weak or vulnerable. Everyone's miserable either way. Trying to understand is (in my own belief) a step in reaching some middle ground. But no one is excused from being accountable for their actions.

[@f4ssi]

One of the best analysis I ever listened to. Thank you very much. Very well explained with a calm and very pleasing voice. Couldn't have asked for a better video to that great game I just finished. Now it all makes way more sense to me. Thank you very much for your effort.

[@ThatCho]

I’ve watched your silent hill videos, and I’m so emotionally moved by them despite having never played the series. Masterful analysis. Thank you!

[@racetrackings]

nothing like brett doing an analysis video and with perfect timing an ad will come on after he tells us to ask ourselves what is happening in the scene. all i hear is the "okay, here it is", and then "AMAZON DEALS ARE BA-". makes me giggle so much

[@AngelofGrace96]

I really like the way you encourage us to think of what the scene is trying to tell us before revealing your own interpretation. It feels like you're helping us come to our own conclusions, I like it a lot!

[@danl5086]

I love how you ask the audience to think and engage in the work, especially for the Silent Hill series, which I'm only a little familiar with. I appreciate your insights and thoughts, too!

[@tonylawson2222]

That commercial placement at 10:46 is legendary

[@ItsMeRango]

FatBrett...bullying Fat Eddie in a video essay...a character who is losing it because of being bullied...was NOT on my 2024 Bingo Card.

[@cookieanddabutt2843]

He's a coward. His story is the most pathetic and the worse. He's a coward. Brought it all on himself. It's strange when the person ISN'T of color in these games. Like, given World at your feet at birth any discomfort and disservice is end of the World. All these people had a way out. Yet stayed and returned to harm. It's a Pity Party.

[@Xehanort10]

9:36 I think he wished he'd kept visiting her and felt guilt for stopping as much as he did for killing her.

[@coachingmanagersandleaders]

Alternative ending: James gets caught and sent to jail for the murder of his wife.

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

There should've only been three endings: prison for life, death or forever stuck in SH. Murder should never be forgiven.

[@carltonbanks7566]

Silent Hill 2 is not about getting caught by an external force like police. It's about how "James" is struggling with himself! The same can be said for Angela and Eddie as well! James needed to confront himself and accept the reality that he was guilty and needed to be punished for it. I might be wrong, but I think Masahiro Ito kinda confirmed that in "Leave" ending, he actually admits his crime to police and goes to face his charges!

[@Treasure_hunter_21]

​@@lookhowshegobbledthat would you say the same if they traded places?

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

@@Treasure_hunter_21 Yes. You?

[@Treasure_hunter_21]

​@@lookhowshegobbledthat You're self aware) good👍

[@alinamast1229]

Excellent breakdown of a complex and complicated story. I loved it. We need more complex stories.

[@swagathachristie5242]

something about that echo of Mary in hospice really hit me right in the fucking gut. Back when I was in my teens my dad wound up in the hospital after a pretty serious bike crash (he is fine now after a lot of PT, thank God), and I remember him begging much the same way for me to not leave him alone. I can count the number of times I'd ever seen him cry on one hand, but the combination of a collapsed lung, pain, and pain meds, had him so frightened he became a different person. That kind of thing strips you raw, flays you until you are nothing but need, and it was so, so scary to see. Of course this was a short (terrifying) stint in the hospital that saw him return to lucidity rather quickly; I wasn't a caretaker in the long term or even really the short term sense, my mom did most of the work. But I do remember thinking "this is not fair, I'm too young for this, we're all not prepared enough", and then the guilt at feeling that way because I wasn't the one in the hospital bed now was I? I can only imagine how that could have mutated if he remained in that state/got worse. Even if you say in sickness and in health, even if you love the person with all your heart, it's different when it happens. He shouldn't have fucking killed her about it though like what the actual fuck James

[@AngelofGrace96]

To me, Angela is the saddest because she's the most relatable. So many people go through horrible trauma and feel like they're too broken to heal.

[@zeze7022]

The way Eddie is handled is far and away the greatest achievement of the remake in my eyes. From his boss fight to the added details in his interactions with James, everything just HITS.

[@itsaxel8088]

2:13 The fact that James is willing to go this far for Mary

[@cryogenicghost1631]

Hey FatBrett, I found your channel about a week ago and I’ve been almost exclusively binge watching your videos because I find them extremely entertaining and pretty informative. I especially liked the Alan Wake videos and deconstructing villainy for Ted Faro and Baldur. I was excited to finish the Silent Hill 2 remake so I could watch these videos spoiler free. I really like your content and I’m just here to say keep up the good work.

[@jerrymack95]

you have the best silent hill 2 analysis videos by far. i thought ive understood all about this game and i never once considered angela and eddie to reflect parts of james. you got me thinking about them both now way more in depth too

[@diredier]

one of the best analysis I've seen, brilliant insight

[@karamei]

This video made me realize that Angela's final cutscene parallels my personal favorite ending for James - "In Water". Except she is "In Fire". God. My poor girl :(

[@motorcitymangababe]

Just starting this video but as someone who SUCKS at games like this and have only experienced it via people discussing its lore- I gotta say; This setting feels less like therapy and more like the manor in The Haunting of Hill House. It doesn't want to fix you, it wants to EAT YOU, and the "therapy" is more like a distraction to keep you still while it digests.

[@chandlerburse]

The town is more like a force of nature people here seem to interpret it as trying to help but thats not even remotely true it doesn’t care it just does what it does because thats what it is

[@MrPapilion]

​​@@chandlerburse Thank you! Silent Hill ist not a purgatory. It has no moral. A force of nature ist a really good way to put it.

[@acgearsandarms1343]

It’s sort of half true. Don’t know why it does what it does but that it does it regardless. It’s not the architect of your personal hellscape, it’s just the architecture. You or another victim are the true architects of Silent Hill.

[@farkasmactavish]

Good therapy hurts.

[@Wabbajock_Dugatti]

Lol one of my friends LOVES horror games but he is just really bad 🤣😂😂 poor guy gave up on the game. I told him to change the settings to easy for everything

[@spider-queen]

just wanted to leave a comment saying how much I've been enjoying your channel recently! great content, really interesting analysis, thanks for all the work you put in!

[@TevyaSmolka]

I love silent hill 2 remake it’s really awesome and badass in my opinion

[@blasprey653]

This is one of the greatest video about Silent Hill 2 I've ever seen, thank you

[@drinnoshika4233]

Unfortunately almost all my life i had almost endured through exactly what Angela experienced. My husband saved me when we started dating and was so close to suicide or worse. Now im just looking to disappear from my family while transitioning and having some years healing. Trying to live a normal life has been hard and my mind wishes to continue to be miserable and sad because it's what ive only really known all my life. The happiness feels weak, dampened, and almost hollow along with most achievements in my life Unfortunately.

[@turiventola3890]

I really hope you can find a way to heal or at least to let that stone go.

[@CloudyWolf713]

Hey. You doing ok?

[@drinnoshika4233]

@CloudyWolf713 im high from a joint i had with my husband and were getting ready to go to bad but despite all the annoying and rough shit in life im alot happier than i was 5, almost 6 years ago

[@drinnoshika4233]

@CloudyWolf713 far happier, the echoes of the past and it's ghosts still haunt my mind and i still struggle to get over it due to how long i lived the way i did with the old family

[@CloudyWolf713]

@@drinnoshika4233 I hear you. And I’m happy you’re doing alright. If you ever need to talk to anyone, I and other people are around in the replies.

[@Roxst1905]

Caring a terribly sick person is physically and mentally draining. The same for mary who got a sever moodswing due to her illness for the past 3 years.

[@alicjaz2771]

I really enjoyed this essay and analysis, but I disagree with the final conclusion. It wasn't the small truths that killed the characters, it was the lies that came long. It wasn't the mother's rejection that killed Angela, but her internalizing the lie that she really deserved all the abuse. In Eddie's case, he accepted his evil side, but also deflected from the fact that he deserves to be respected and can stand up to people in a respectful way. He accepts the lie, that he is in fact what his abusers call him and that violence is justified. In James' endings it goes like this: In water - similarly to Angela, James sees mostly his guilt and decides he doesn't deserve to live. This is not true. Maria - here he rejects his guilt and responisibility, goes for the idealized version on his wife and is harsh with her, as if to say that his actions were justifiable because it was tough for him. Kinda reminds me of Eddie. Bliss - a new ending but it fits here too, this is a full rejection of Mary's death, just pretending that neither death or illness or fights ever happened. Leave - only here he gets to talk to Mary by her bedside, take in all the factors, accept the crushing weight of the guilt, but also see how difficult these three years were - that she was suffering, that she was afraid, that he abandonded her, but she also was rough on him, that she was about to die anyway, but yes, it was him who killed him in the end. Only this way he can move on and decide to be a better person and find a new goal in life, presumably Laura. So in all of these scenarios, the small truths could've been also a good thing if it wasn't for the lies the characters choose to follow. PS Of course there is the dog ending, but that is a truth most of us are not ready to accept...

[@capybaraspagoty1679]

One minor correction on Angela, it wasn't only her father that abused her, it was also her brother. At the burning staircase scene, you see two castrated affixed paintings.

[@aff77141]

10:30 I think this is sort of a shakesperian tragedy situation, more than them not having another option. Silent Hill gives everyone the option to heal, as we see with all the protagonists and even other side characters, but not everyone is capable of taking it because it would require them to be a different person. If the player character were in their situations, they could make different choices. But they aren't, so they don't.

[@brothbrother1525]

When she says, "You're not my mama." In such a way a child would makes it so much more heartbreaking.

[@jamesolsen5992]

I like to think about Eddie, Angela, and Laura's SH2 games. They'd each have multiple endings depending on their choices, just like James. maybe one of those endings breaks the "loop", as Leave might for James. There would be places where James's experience would spill into theirs. The most interesting untold story is Laura. If we assume the town draws emotionally vulnerable people in and tortures them, it's reasonable to assume Laura is going through her own experience. Maybe James is part of it, and she was drawn in while trying to cope with Mary's death. Maybe it's her own experiences with whatever illness put her in hospital with Mary. But there has to be something, because if she wasn't experienceing anything abnormal, why would she be the only one there? Why would she need James to help her leave?

[@cevityy]

I think about that a lot- what their silent hills look like. It’d be a completely different game

[@LewdMama]

Silent Hill, for me personally, helped my discovery of eldritch horror, Cthulhu, oppressive atmosphere, unknown, etc. I appreciate the second game immensely

[@Comicbroe405]

I think you'll love SH 3 for those same reasons too.

[@anglo-saxonconnor817]

Silent hill 2 is just like earth itself. Only one is less crowded and the other is very crowded. All are going through lessons and purgatory while alive.

[@fatesquiet]

you might be the best youtuber ever

[@Superazzid]

Good video FatBrett! Great breakdown and the inclusion of the actual scenes from the game really helped💪🏽

[@HitsuTwistedTalong]

I love Silent Hill 2 so much that every time I watched a video about it my heart aches and I shed tears. It's a sad yet so beautiful game.

[@dr-_-squirtz4255]

I just feel like crying listening to this

[@GamingLikeMad]

Man finally I’ve been waiting for this vid for days

[@kaymomohime8832]

Finally, someone who gets it. Thanks for this analysis - this story is extremely complicated, and you've broken it down so clearly

[@steelcurtain187]

You do such a great job covering this stuff in depth. Your voice is pleasant and comforting. Keep up the great work 👍

[@rickyluiz9335]

Dude I love your videos/channel so much! Keep up the good work man!

[@XxDeathxX509]

Haven’t played this yet, but i will. Won’t watch your videos on them until you do, but I just came to say i found out your channel through god of war deep dives, and when I saw you were doing elden ring I was very excited. You’re quickly becoming one of my favorite youtubers. Not even sure if you read comments, ik some content creators don’t for peace of mind, but just wanted to say keep up the great work 💪

[@luisdajer6784]

Great analysis/video. Really enjoyed watching and listening to it

[@pixelgoat7317]

I haven't played Silent Hill 2, but damn this story resonates with me. I was married to an abusive spouse for 11 years, our relationship starting off as me connecting with her online because we were both suffering and I wanted to help her, and we were both from abusive backgrounds. But I started to see red flags as our marriage continued and my ability to comfort and be there for her was starting to fail thanks to my struggle with autism and her abusively conservative inlaws. I worked 6.5 days a week and she told me that was all I was good for. She would have breakdowns that overtime she was emotionally harmful to me and gaslit me all the time into hating myself and making me think that I was emotionally controlling and manipulative because I asked that she be more responsible for how her furious outbursts and behavior affected those around her. We relocated a lot, and she became very cruel to me thanks to her interpreting and dealing with her trauma in a negative manner. It took two inductions to the mental ward (one by force, the other I voluntarily submitted myself into) but eventually I had to stand up to her when her trauma made her 'self-admittedly inconsolable, so don't even try.' Shortly before COVID, I stood up to her and angrily divorced her for the way she treated me, and honestly, I felt like the selfish bad guy in all of it. But my life was in danger and I no longer felt safe around her though she was 'broken and needed me.' It took three years of therapy and a move to another state to do so, but I have gone through a lot of therapy and self-growth and I'm a new person for once who truly feels alive. But the path there was rough.

[@AliLiz91]

I just got done watching your Maria video (: I'm really looking forward to this one. I love how thorough you are with your analysis. I especially love the Resident Evil and God of War ones you've done. Now I've been enjoying these Silent Hill videos have been awesome (:

[@Andone-i6s]

It’s hard to tell why James killed Mary. Both explanations that James gives us are true in my opinion: pity and hatred for Mary at the same time. I know he says that he did it because he hated her for making his life miserable, but simply the fact that he lives his personal hell in Silent Hill looking for Mary and ultimately not finding her because he killed her, shows us that he truly loved her. Would a cold hearted killer experience this kind of hell like James does? I don’t think so. As Silent Hill looks different for every person, James‘ SH shows us very intimate insights of his soul: and for me, there is more self hatred in James and regret for his actions. So my conclusion is that pity and hatred made James kill Mary. Both emotions played a role and as we are also often confused with our feelings, so is James. We can’t separate pity, love and hatred entirely from each other.

[@DianaAracna]

Toluca Lake. There is a Mexican town named Toluca after the náhuatl god Toloatzin, which means “bowed head”. Toloatzin’s name comes from “toloache”, a toxic plant considered sacred (or demonic, depending who you ask) which can affect the nervous system - consuming it can result in memory loss and hallucinations. There is also a myth that about 100 years ago in Mount Toloche, north of Toluca, there was a cave which linked this world to an underworld. Maybe the original developers made a reference to this Toluca, or it’s a coincidence and they just named it the same. Either way, there you go.

[@PaulaNaBussa-x1n]

Maybe this is the "Old Gods" that James mentions in the Rebirth Ending

[@chandlerburse]

@@PaulaNaBussa-x1n he was probably referring to the Native American beliefs either that or the Occult’s “God”

[@CuteFluff8]

Bravo 👏🏻! This is so well done! I was immersed from the beginning to the end. ❤❤❤ Beautiful work putting into words most could not what SH2 stories are all really about. 👏🏻

[@kakashifuijin]

I know this is a videogame But can you imagine even after accepting what you are and come to terms with it that your life doesn't have a happy or at least a peaceful ending Mannn it would totally sucks

[@uunngghh2610]

“Hell is truth seen too late” - Thomas Hobbes

[@RuanCox-f8x]

what an incredible and insightful video...i just finished the remake and did not get it on this level. appreciate the time you put into this! Also, you didnt say this in your video, but it sounds like 'eddie' pulled himself out of a rut...im glad for that

[@strelitzia669]

Interesting analysis with good points presented. I really love how detailed and emotional this game is

[@jamesasher46]

fuck this is powerful Brett, thank you as always for bringing a new complete perspective to these things we love so much

[@RedTail1-1]

Everyone just ignores the very start of the abstract daddy encounter. It begins with it pinning you against the wall. Pressing on you with so much force that there is nothing you can do about it. It is overwhelming and crushing, you feel helpless and weak. It is so much stronger that it ends up breaking through the wall using your body and you wonder if that wall had not given in, what might have happened... That is such a powerful message that no one ever even mentions. They always just talk about the way the creature looks... So disappointing..

[@nealjiles5251]

Just an outstanding... Amazing.. 10/10 video my guy. I'ma go ahead and like and subscribe just because of how well done this analysis of SH2 was. I love that you didn't make it about remake vs OG, but instead combined them to explain the story both games tell. When the remake first came out I didn't appreciate the direction the VA's take in their characters and it made me not even watch or play it. But I firmly believe Blooper has remade SH2 perfectly and is the best remake experience in all gaming.

[@AG_HP7]

We could see James as one of the men in the book Ordinary Men, simple average men doing the most inhumane and evil acts that a man can do, and judge them from the outside, but we fail to realize that WE COULD be THEM if pushed by our circumstances, our survival, our pain, and our fear, is easy to judge from the outside and have the moral high-ground, when one does not have to experience any of it, but is a whole different story when we do, we would struggle, beg and plead for understanding when WE are the ones being judged, just like James or Joel.

[@Stuffystufferfield]

the points you present here make me wonder if james only has the option for other endings because of player intervention. james isnt of greater moral character than angela or eddie, and it’s pretty likely that hes failed many times before we take control

[@MatheusWauthier]

I’m wondering something about Angela now that I have seen the whole video. In his scene, Eddie says « this town called you too ». Meaning the town calls for murderers. What if Angela killed her entier family by setting the house on fire. That could also explain why her version of Silent Hill is on fire. She killed her mother in the process then blacked out the truth in her mind. Because she refused to admit that she hated her whole family, even her mother. What do you think ?

[@jameswest6232]

When I heard Angela ask James if he would try to help her, if he could care for and love her, one of the first things I thought was "Honestly, I'd be happy if I could help you love yourself." The tragedy I see in that scene is that James is sadly NOT the type of person who can help her. He couldn't handle caring for Mary in the end and he's woefully ill-equipped to help Angela. While he does do right by immediately telling her that no, what he disgusting excuse for a father did to her was not her fault, it's more than likely he wouldn't be able to give her the long-term support she'd need.

[@CALMlikeAB0MB619]

Loved this video and your analysis. One thing I would say is if you see the Rebirth ending it almost certainly can be classified as cosmic horror. Or it at least gives an undertone of it to the events of the game

[@dertigerbauch]

This is by far the best Silent Hill 2 video I've watched.

[@galalxien]

WE’RE MAKING IT OUT OF SILENT HILL WITH THIS ONE 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Hachidiego]

I love your essays! They're so good

[@isaacdena]

A thing I noticed when Angela says “you’re the only one left, maybe then I can finally rest” Is that giving the precedent of how she ended her father and brother, maybe she was looking for her mother to do the same thing. Hoping than unaliving her would give her the piece she was looking for.

[@PlanetAfterlife997]

I have just finished playing the game and wow.. i relate to James Sunderland more than i was ready for. I watched my sisters mental health seriously decline over the past few years, even telling her directly that i am not strong or smart enough to help her.. after an argument, i stopped talking to her. A month later, she took her life. This past year, i have struggled to forgive myself (still struggling from time to time). While i was playing, i remember wishing I could go to such a place to learn more about my fears and my grief. By the end of the game, i realised i actually was in Silent Hill, desperately trying to find a way out.

[@froggerdodger]

I like the comparison of James and Joel - but my perspective has two different feelings about the both of them. Joel lost his daughter very traumatically and became a monster to other people to protect himself and the family he has left (although it was suggested he has physically abused Tommy), whereas James became a monster to the person who needed him the most. Although these are both characters who have questionable morals, Joel didn't intentionally hurt his family/the people he cared about, James showed more grace to the strangers around him than his own sick wife. It is easier for me to understand and sympathize with Joel than I ever could with James.

[@chandlerburse]

@@froggerdodger there is nothing that suggests Joel physically abused Tommy what are you even talking about?

[@froggerdodger]

@@chandlerburse literally the cutscene at the hydroplant where Joel is explaining Ellie's situation. Joel literally pushes Tommy into the wall behind him (physical alteration) and Tommy responded "we ain't back in Boston. you lay your hands on me again, it won't end well for you" that's literally a direct quote.

[@chandlerburse]

@ that could just refer to them having fights not that Joel literally just abused him when he felt like it

[@chandlerburse]

@ Tommy says it wont end well that could mean Joel always won their fights but there Tommy has backup

[@froggerdodger]

@@chandlerburse I'm not saying Joel abused Tommy when he felt like it?? we can literally see him result to physical violence when Tommy doesn't do what Joel wants him to do. It's an observation?????

[@UncommonSensed]

I've been waiting for this to drop!

[@Tolly7249]

Angela's such a profoundly true depiction of someone struggling with suicidal ideation and PTSD. I've dealt with both and that moment when you decide to end it... it's perfectly pitched. If you've been there, you see yourself in her. I'm lucky, my family loves and supports me and would never hurt me. She never had that and it's agony to watch.

[@docroy4317]

Idk why this channel got recommended but holy shit this video was very well made. Subbed

[@gowtham8909]

Masterpiece of a game, i wish i learned this myself by thinking a bit but i came here. I relate to James and Eddie more now. SL as purgatory is a great concept, feels like there's still a lot to explore about this game.

[@PR1ME98]

Another great analysis. Can’t wait to see what you do next. I hope you do indie horror games at some point like the outlast series, poppy playtime or even FNAF.

[@unknownstranger3646]

Oof. I would love to see that. Mostly poppy playtime.

[@ironiccaesar178]

Interestingly, both angela and eddie, at the end of their journey, have some sort of understanding of the city and of the events that surround james, but, passively or aggressively, accept their own fate without trying to overcome it as James does in the end after defeating pyramid head: angela tells james that hes a cheater/liar about his relationship with mary but at the same time she accepts to burn in her pain/guilt endlessly, eddie tells james that the town has some sort of "power" that called em but he has no interest in understanding this "force" and overcomes his damnation in his twisted way. Imo, they both are real people for sure, but the town uses them, as for maria, to test james mind and ability to remember and accept his fault, but also to show him that a decision must be taken about his future.

[@Krusnik.]

The other "explained" videos only recap what happened without any explainations. I like this video for actually giving an analysis

[@JonasMighty]

Amazing analysis on all 3 videos Brett