Psychologist Breaks Down Silent Hill 2's Endings

[@crow5664]

James having recently killed Mary is very much canon. I'm assuming people watching this video about endings have finished the game or don't care about spoilers - James has a conversation with Laura late in the game where she shows him a letter wishing her happy birthday - Laura's birthday was just days ago. It's likely James convinced himself that she died 3 years ago when she may have been diagnosed 3 years ago instead.

[@mimilapin]

Yeah this exactly!

[@hamlindigo_blue]

Yup, I'm pretty sure he killed Mary, carried her body to the backseat, then drove straight to Silent Hill. So she's only been dead for a few hours.

[@ClefTheMouse]

Yeah, with canonical context clues, Mary was murdered an amount of time not firmly known, but probably not very long before the day James arrives in Silent Hill. We know the deed was committed: 1. After Mary was sent home from the hospital for her "short stay", which was 2. Before Laura's birthday (or else Mary would have wished her a Happy Birthday in person, instead of in a letter), which was 3. A maximum of 13 days before James meets her in Silent Hill (the longest amount of time an event that happened "last week" can occur). 🤓 Only thing is that we have no idea how long before Laura's birthday Mary was sent home, so we can't pin down a length of time reliably. But the 'fastest' possible is that James did it two days (can't be one, or Laura would have definitely said her birthday was "yesterday", not "last week") before Laura's birthday, and that that's the day Mary was released from the hospital. 🤓🤓🤓

[@ulyssesocounter8488]

Also, in the Maria ending James explicitly says that he was hateful towards Mary because it had been “3 long years”. She didn’t die 3 years ago, she got sick 3 years ago and lived in sickness for 3 years. In his mind Mary, as he knew her, had died the moment she got sick, 3 years ago.

[@ModestMouseTrap]

Yes that was always canon. Hence Laura’s birthday only being a week ago.

[@ModestMouseTrap]

FYI it’s not a fan theory that James killed Mary recently. She was never dead 3 years before. It’s why Laura tells James that her birthday was only a week ago despite Mary wishing her a happy birthday for the same birthday when they were in the hospital together.

[@prodigy616]

Just a little note: Masahiro Ito (creative director of SH2) has confirmed years ago that Mary’s body was in the car. The remake just made it more clear. The novelization of SH2 says her body is in the trunk of the car, when approached about this Ito’s response was that he always pictured her body being in the back seat instead. And that’s what Bloober did. You can also notice the body without clipping it if you turn the camera around enough at the beginning. I really enjoy these videos and find his explanations fascinating. Keep them coming.

[@magsley579]

I also agree with Ito, her being in the backseat makes sense in showing that James isn't some selfish monster; in media dumping a body in the trunk is something you'd see from a cold hearted murderer. He puts her in the backseat wrapped in a blanket from their home because he loved her. He doesn't stuff her body in plastic like Laura Palmer and hide it in the trunk. If he did, James as a character wouldn't be so heartbreakingly nuanced.

[@galacticgamer9046]

The idea of Stillness, at least from what I can see I, is that James cannot let go of Mary but is willing to struggle, willing to fight for a light at the end of the tunnel. The scene ends with him staring at the letter. I believe this implies him repeating the story, trying to change, whether by surrendering with In Water, accepting with Leave, or holding ignorance with Maria or the Boat endings.

[@ॐIo]

Holding on to Maria is the worst ending, because I think that's him going mad

[@deadcard13]

​@ॐIo i thought it might have been him attempting to retrieve the happier memories of the time they had together, rather than being bogged down by grief.

[@BagelCollector]

I would love a breakdown of SOMA and the idea of identity and what makes someone human/real

[@aberrator4951]

Kind of surprised to hear him describe the Leave ending as being "unsatisfactory", "rote", or the result of James not going far enough in his journey. Always felt that was the best ending in a way, the idea that it takes both understanding AND forgiveness to leave Silent Hill is pretty powerful; and is only reflected in this ending.

[@angelus_lucifero]

I was surprised by that take as well. Especially coming from somebody clinically trained, who's goal it is to guide somebody towards healing. I think it may be a matter of it serving two roles, the easy happily ever after ending for those not really engaged, or the glimmer of hope for those that have done the digging to understand just how difficult healing can be.

[@ulyssesocounter8488]

He probably felt that it was an unworthy conclusion to the journey because James overcomes his grief only to channel it towards the fleeting dream of becoming a father figure. I get why he may not like it, although It’s my favorite ending too for exactly the same reasons you said, since it allows me to see Silent Hill as a journey where James confronts his demons and chooses to see the happiness in his marriage rather than the pain, and does all what Mary truly wishes of him.

[@sheik_link]

@@angelus_lucifero It's a completely unrealistic ending where James gaslight himself thinking Maria forgive him for killing her (Maria is dead, she didn't forgive anything. ITs all in James, imagination). He is not taking responsibility for what he did. He is just like "maria would have liked it this way she loved me and wanted to see me happy" It is as bad as "ill take this copy of my wife this time ill do things right"

[@Rocket1377]

I actually agree with him. The Leave ending doesn't make much sense, especially since James still has Mary's body lying in the backseat of his car. Laura would not forgive him for killing Mary, and James would not be ready to walk away from Silent Hill when he still hasn't fully dealt with his reasons for coming there in the first place. He would have to completely ignore his guilt for this ending to work, and that goes against his entire journey up to this point. A happy ending doesn't really work for this story.

[@michaelwhit1059]

​​​​​​​​@@sheik_linkCounterpoint: Mary's letter. James didn't "gaslight" himself; that Mary is figmented by Silent Hill and James for a good reason, don't discredit it! The town held back her letter until James faced his sins, and with good reason. James can't get redemption (can't find Mary) but he can certainly move on - but how he moves on is what's at contention; Silent Hill won't let James live in denial. Yes, that isn't the real Mary in the Leave ending. But, also, the real Mary WOULDN'T WANT James to SUFFER! The letter leaves no doubts about that; the illness already took too much. Thinking that Mary would want vengeance is only if James doesn't contend with himself (the Maria ending). The Leave ending is not "rote". It completes the theme of not of redemption, hope, or forgiveness but of how self-flagellation isn't justice; James doesn't need Pyramid Head anymore; it's swim or drown - James needs to move on. James dying does literally nothing, but James living gives Laura a new guardian, something that Mary wished she could get. Laura is James' chance at redemption.

[@umbranw1tch]

huh. i’m really confused by his interpretation of In Water and Stillness and how he kind of just glazed over it. for In Water, the most he gleans is that the player just doesn’t care about James, not even an analysis of what In Water is about or reflects for James? 😭 i guess that’s wild to me considering it’s what Guy Cihi (og James voice actor) considers canon, i just thought he’d have more to say?

[@ulyssesocounter8488]

The way I see Stillness, James is overcome by his grief, and unlike the other endings he’s unable to move on from it or make it stop by killing himself. He doesn’t fight it anymore either, he just decides to live his whole life in sorrow, his only happy memory the last few days he spent with Mary in good health. That’s the reason why, I think, to get the ending you’re meant to find a postcard using a key literally called “key of Sorrow”.

[@RedouaneArabi-g4o]

This is how I perceived the three major endings: 1. Leave = redemption 2. Water = self-punishment 3. Maria = denial After playing the original game several times, I've always got the leave ending. Endings reflects the player's personality and psyche.

[@ulyssesocounter8488]

Agree, I would add Bliss: absolute denial Stillness: eternal grief Ritual: obsession Dog: self realization UFO: canon

[@soniarodriguez7220]

I finished yesterday for the first time and I got the Water ending...idk what I did to get there honestly...and idk why it reflects on me and my person...I didn't want James to die lol

[@ulyssesocounter8488]

@@soniarodriguez7220 you probably examined the knife and the photo a few times. You also probably fought pyramid head in the first fight, picked the rotten apple and went through the door with the rust colored egg.

[@mihailoveselinovic7151]

Also, keeping James on low health for a long time.

[@ulyssesocounter8488]

@@mihailoveselinovic7151 you don’t actually need to keep him low for a long time. A few minutes at the end will do the trick.

[@MeCrazy516]

anyone who played the original game, or the remake....knows mary didnt die 3 years ago....both games specifically say that. Mary died very recently, within a few weeks, this is confirmed by Laura in both games

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

Silent Hill 4 doubled down on this by declaring that James and Mary *BOTH* went missing during their final trip to Silent Hill together.

[@aisadal2521]

I'd really love to see psychologists tackle the Alice franchise by American Mcgee!

[@furiousapplesack]

Yes! I loved that series, and I've had the original installed on my PC for about 10 years straight. With some graphical improvement mods, of course.

[@IGNACIORIGINAL]

How is the "leave" ending bad? James has already been punished, he accepted and regrets what he did, he tells her he's sorry and she forgives him. In the other endings Mary doesn't forgive him, which is something she would never do, besides the monsters no longer attack James, they are dying, Pyramid Head committed suicide, there is nothing left in Silent Hill for James.. but leave. Besides the town works like that, if you overcome your trauma it lets you go, it can't torment you anymore, the other endings are the bad ones... 16:12 And no, James killed her a week ago, Laura said she turned 8 last week and James himself says it in the remake "But that means... Mary couldn't have died 3 years ago"

[@sheik_link]

It's a completely unrealistic ending where James gaslight himself thinking Maria forgive him for killing her (Maria is dead, she didn't forgive anything. ITs all in James, imagination). He is not taking responsibility for what he did. He is just like "maria would have liked it this way she loved me and wanted to see me happy" It is as bad as "ill take this copy of my wife this time ill do things right"

[@IGNACIORIGINAL]

@sheik_link Source?

[@switch317]

The meaning of the endings was intentionally left to the perception of the players so personally I think both of you are correct.

[@Rocket1377]

​@IGNACIORIGINAL Playing the game. That's our source. If you cannot draw the same conclusions, that's on you. A happy ending doesn't make sense for James's story. He is a murderer.

[@michaelwhit1059]

​​​@@sheik_linkCounterpoint: Mary's letter. James didn't "gaslight" himself; that Mary is figmented by Silent Hill and James for a good reason, don't discredit it! The town held back her letter until James faced his sins, and with good reason. James can't get redemption (can't find Mary) but he can certainly move on - but how he moves on is what's at contention; Silent Hill won't let James live in denial. Yes, that isn't the real Mary in the Leave ending. But, also, the real Mary WOULDN'T WANT James to SUFFER! The letter leaves no doubts about that; the illness already took too much. Thinking that Mary would want vengeance is only if James doesn't contend with himself (the Maria ending). The Leave ending is not "rote". It completes the theme of not of redemption, hope, or forgiveness but of how self-flagellation isn't justice; James doesn't need Pyramid Head anymore; it's swim or drown - James needs to move on. James dying does literally nothing, but James living gives Laura a new guardian, something that Mary wished she could get. Laura is James' chance at redemption.

[@shinymuuma]

Play the remake. "I'll just play normally and get the leave ending first" Got in water naturally 💀

[@bee598]

It’s not fan theory that it was Mary’s body in the blanket, Mashahiro Ito(Monster designer for the OG silent hill 2 & the remake) confirmed it on twitter that it is indeed Mary’s body in the backseat, Straight from the horses mouth.

[@canary0981]

I would absolutely love to see this guy analyze Slay the Princess.

[@canary0981]

Just due to it's similar nature as an elaborate mirror.

[@BenjaminBerryHoops]

19:20 “and that’s why this story wouldn’t really work as a movie” - meanwhile one is in development and coming in the next year most likely 😅

[@Don_terrenos]

I was under the impression that you get the leave ending by constantly looking at her photo/letter

[@monkeykid61]

In water was my first ending in the remake. As I was just trying to save everything I could, experience all the things I could, and explore as much as possible, I killed all monsters I saw so I could have an easier time with all of it.

[@Araphex]

Pyramid Head is more of a representation of punishment rather than being an executioner.

[@TheZoobZoobs]

Leave isn't an unspecial ending, it has been established that Silent Hill treats you the way you treat yourself, it makes no distinction on whether you actually are guilty, which is also why like for example, Angela was eventually consumed despite not being guilty unlike Eddie and James, because in her own mind, she was guilty and that was enough for the town to treat her as such. Leave in turn is the route for James when he accepts to take responsibility rather than run away, become delusional or try to end it. So in turn, the town gives him the chance to reconcile with his wife (after one final test with Maria to see if James is serious) and with her blessing, he moves on, intent to live on as she wanted him to live.

[@Canadiannerf]

Hurray! More more more psychologist! More experts doing in depth takes!

[@deadcard13]

My take on the Stillness ending is that it played off of/into multiple theories that had sprung up over the years. On top of the theories about when she died abd whethet or not she was in the car, there was also a theory that the remake was also a bit of a sequel. The theory, as i understand it, is that James never made it out of Silent Hill, regardless of the ending. He has been caught in a repeating cycle of grief and, no matter how many times he thinks he has found acceptance, still can't move on from all that pain.

[@floriansaurusrex]

Oh wow i literally almost to the minute just finished the previous 'Psychologist analyses Sh2 remake' video and this pops up! 🎉

[@Leighroii]

Stillness hits home hard as someone who’s lost their partner -the pain and grief was so well portrayed by Guy

[@Mannihannibull]

Stillness replaces leave as my favorite ending.

[@mimilapin]

its so good, such a good character moment and leaves things uncomfortably open. Very good! I don't understand why this person was confused about it? Sometimes in real life we don't have a perfect ending!

[@dstaceywassup7778]

I got the in water ending first playthrough. I think its more because i played everything on hard but also i liked seeing the animation of james being low health like he was struggling. Especially near the end it felt strange to just seem him walking like he hasnt been through all the crazy stuff that happened .

[@rick-deckard]

Love this idea for a series keep it going plz!

[@Kandarako]

The moment James is watching and rubbing his hands is he trying to make hold and sense of him unaliving someone. At the start of the game, his mind cannot come to terms with the idea and has the mind-break selective amnesia. The second time he accepts what he has done. By the time the 2 piramid heads appear, he has accepted what he has done

[@distinctbutter9075]

As a souls and Resident evil player, i tried to conserve healing items even as i had 50 in my inventory. Only healing when i needed to and i also tried to use Angelas knife for puzzles. In short i got the "In Water" ending 😂😂 whoops.

[@snoman18x]

Since you teased The Stanley Parable, I'd love to hear his take on it. Also... Detroit:Become Human. The journey of each character "becoming" human throughout the story in very different ways fascinated me.

[@KountKristyl]

I'd be very interested to hear more about Alexander's thoughts on what how people play games and what people play as in games, says about people.

[@lavenderghost444]

Personal opinion : I wish they would have make Stillness work as how the new game + ending is in Alan Wake 2. Basically changing the way it would end, a different path. What I see into is that its kinda similar to how leave is, Mary forgiving and comforting james, reassuring him that she will be waiting for him. I honestly dont get even after that why he drives the car into the water. idk, to me it would have been so much better for a new game plus ending, and more meaningful.

[@StefanoDurden]

It was confirmed by the original creators that Mary's body was in the backseat of the car, so yes it's been confirmed.

[@niniendowarrior]

Let Alex breakdown Silent Hill Shattered Memories!

[@alexa5ylum306]

It would be nice to analyze the psychology and philosophy behind Forbidden Siren.

[@nexuskyraswarhammer40k87]

What is the point of making a video where the psychologist is half of clueless about what happens and the man who is interviewing him doesn't even know the story?

[@AzureRook]

Kojima’s Silent Hills could’ve really reignited the series, I feel like it would’ve had all those weird endings and more

[@171Danger]

Would love to see his take on Dutch and the Vander Lin Gang in Red Dead 2

[@Synthetic-Rabbit]

I never played much SH growing up but I was a big Resident Evil fanboy and played all of them starting with RE2 in '99 on the N64. SH is a different kind of horror but I very much enjoyed it even though I knew a lot of the main "story elements". I got the "in water" ending and I was sad =( lol

[@WutipongWongsakuldej]

It's funny to me when someone says "this ending is canon" or "that ending is the true ending". Does it need to have one "definitive true ending" in this game ? As Alexander explained the ending the player gets is the results of how he played the game, all those diffent endings could be considered the true or the canon ending, just from different James you all are. Probably includes the UFO or the dogs ending too. Yeah may be all that James got is just a dog playing Deception with him as the antagonist.

[@jonesstinger]

@Gamespot please have him explain the psychological effects in Senua Hellblade

[@michael.tardaguila]

I agree, Silent Hill 2 Remake cannot be analyzed if someone doesn't completely know the whole series. Well, at least the four main story lines, which are Silent Hill 1, Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill 3 and Silent Hill 4: The Room. Knowing some concepts about the cult "The Order", one of sigils used like "Silent Seal of the Sun under the Hills", and some items used throughout the series, only then, it can properly be interpreted. The entire Silent Hill 2 Remake experience is a secret hidden within the fog, as Bloober Team lately said in the official site. Recent videos I saw in KZbin about psychoanalyst experts try to interpret the game is basically "Off", but I respect their findings, although, I believe it's not entirely accurate. That is the beauty of this representational artwork, in contrast to abstract artform. It is almost how the mystery in real life can be related to someone's own experience in life. For sample, ghost will not reveal itself like different, or whispers don't make sense, monsters take shape from one's consciousness and unreality, emotions convey secrets when today's technology could now be expressed (unreal engine 5 in ps5, or xbox). Certain actions in the game conveys points which pertains to what ending will happen. For example, about pyramid head boss fight, that has timer, is about the points (+1) gain on what ending will become. If you ignore pyramid head and wait for timer, it means "acceptance to die or live". Player gains +1 point to either leave ending or water ending (suicide). If you battle pyramid head less than timer, it means "rejection to...". Player gains +1 to maria ending. Certain interactions in the game changes ending possibilities: (1) leave, (2) water (suicide), or (3) maria. The antagonists, which is The Order, are not revealed and awfully hidden in the entire game. Because, in this case, the cult is looking for the next vessel for their demonic deity goddess. The horror is within. One of the famous quotes by Carl Jung is "Who looks outside, dreams, while who looks inside, awakes."

[@GenToGenGaming]

AMAZING !

[@tinomoreno21]

Silent hill: downpour had similar mechanics, the game would "change" depending on how the player played the game.

[@LoloBaggins237]

Can y'all do Life is Strange Double exposure!? .....thanks to them releasing next to BO6 barely anyone of note has reviewed it and I know sales must be suffering...its my favorite series and i hate to to see it not do well literally every major company is just focusing on cod

[@deadringer4577]

Maybe a bit more on the nose, but Metro series gives you different endings based on Moral points you get while playing

[@jonathanhill6064]

Dog ending is true ending.

[@Vomax343]

SPEC OPS!!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HAVE ALEX DO SPEC OPS!!!

[@narto3311]

Ich mag Züge!!

[@potsmokindino]

Spec Ops: The Line for sure. It’s called Silent Hill: Dubai for a reason.

[@CKatanik93]

The ending where he rows out into the lake shows he truly is crazy. At one point during the game, he'll ask himself if he is just going crazy. During this ending, he was the WHOLE TIME OOOH

[@Rocket1377]

To be fair though, James is not just imagining things, Silent Hill truly does have supernatural powers and is turning his desires into reality (as shown with Maria). She was literally brought to life by the power of the town and acts independently of James. So his belief that Mary could be resurrected is not completely impossible.

[@BlueGamerCast]

bros yapping just to yap

[@sharigarcia1306]

Right? He doesn't even sound like he fully understands the game, with what he said.

[@MeCrazy516]

i dont think leave is the easiest, i think Water is the easiest, but it may depend on the difficulty you play at

[@Rocket1377]

From watching multiple Let's Plays of this game, I can confirm that the Leave ending is the most common and the easiest to get.

[@MeCrazy516]

@@Rocket1377 on hard, water is very easy to get, also people experienced with survival horror tend to be efficient with heals, meaning that might be in the orange and wait until they are in the red to full heal, increasing the odds of water