Your Questions For Final Episode Of Silent Hill 2

Hey, guys. I've been loving every episode of this analysis. In experiencing the full story of this game for the first time, I can think back to a time in my life where I've dealt with my own psychological torture, being the 8 months leading up to my divorce. In that period of time, I went on a big horror movie kick so I watched Jacob's Ladder for the first time. Now I know a lot of people consider it to be an absolutely terrifying film for them, but for me, it felt a lot more like catharsis followed by pleasant closure. I believe it to be due to my perpetually traumatized state affecting my perception, but I saw it's ending as a happy one for Jacob Singer. So my question is more in relation to the effects of trauma on perpective/memory. Have you ever been in such a terrible mental state to where you were able to find happiness in something that is considered otherwise awful or depressing? And if it isn't too personal to share, is there a piece of media out there that has affected either of you in this way? Thank you, both, for your time and hard work.

Kyle Kilgo

What do you think of the SH2 remake trailer? Do you hate the new James mirror scene as much as I do?

Will you be looking at and giving your opinions on the redubbed HD version (Troy Baker and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as James and Maria) and the trailer for the remake that was recently released?

ChocolateRob

I was really surprised to hear you guys say you didn’t find the game scary. I am curious as to what your respective set ups were? I made sure to only play when I was alone in the house and when it was dark, I would turn all the lights out and really immerse myself in the game. I found I was only able to play 1-2 hours at a time before having to stop as I found myself getting more and more unsettled as my play session went on. However I imagine if I had played in broad daylight with my wife on the couch just making chit-chat I don’t think I would have had anything like the same experience. (However I accept these conditions are not as readily available to some people). Should also mention I played the “Enhanced Edition” on PC which is fantastic, not the HD collection which apparently is not as good.

Hey Mike and casen! First off, Mike nice to see your hair is coming back finally and casen you're looking good as always. Anyways, my question, do you think any of the characters represent the seven deadly sins? Seems to me like Eddie represents gluttony for his love of pizza and maria is lust and I wonder if any of that sort of stuff comes into play with symbolism. Anyways great work on this series and happy to be a patron!

Oroness- (Hopeless Romantics)

Oh cool. Thanks for letting me know. I always get the "In Water" ending BTW.

Brennon Betz

Mike got “In Water,” and Casen got “Leave.” Would love to hear their thoughts on which ending they felt was most fitting though!

Michs

Out of all the endings for the game (not including the joke endings), which one did you guys get and did it feel like a fitting and conclusive ending to the game? If not, which ending was in your opinions?

Brennon Betz

The difference between SH2 and Crime and Punishment is that the SH series is supernatural, therefor the things that manifest in the town are actually manifested and not simply all in James' head. The series usually takes a layered reality approach which is why different people see different things but in some way the creatures are made real. This is especially true in Maria's case as she is created as a person rather than a monster. If you look up the Rick and Morty clip ‘you pass butter’ Maria is basically this robot, she is given sentience and her purpose is ‘suffer’ which is bad enough in of itself but then James decides he does not even need her anymore. She was given an existence of pain and then discarded. You can forgive her being a bit upset at this whole thing and pity her a whole lot. I’ve never heard the idea that Pyramid Head is actually helping James before, he/it and Maria seem to be a package deal from the town - one to represent his idealised partner only to be repeatedly brutalised at the hands of the other in order for James to punish himself by experiencing it over and over. At the end he acknowledges this, discarding them both together. PH accepts this (suicides) but Maria still tries to keep on going as she seems to be that little bit more alive to begin with. The most established interpretation of there suddenly being two Pyramid Heads is that each represents a different murder. The original represented James guilt at killing Mary but the second appears because he has now also killed Eddie. The two eggs – one rusty, the other new - similarly represent the two people he killed – Mary and Eddie, his original sin and his fresher one. (Side note – After he killed Eddie he says he can’t believe he killed another human being. First time through you would assume by ‘another’ he meant someone not himself but it could also be foreshadowing that he has killed before.) PS. You forgot to bring back up Christina Aguilera. Presumably you were going to mention that James was attracted to (or lusting after) her appearance at the teen choice awards just as he was to the nurses at the hospital while Mary was convalescing.

ChocolateRob

In the first episode you said you will play the HD Collection version, but I saw many comments were recommending the original, so I was wondering which version you ended up playing. I remember watching an hour youtube video explaining everything wrong with it, so I avoided the HD Collection.

You've mentioned Twin Peaks' influence on Silent Hill already but with Angelo Badalamenti's recent passing could you talk more about the amazing soundtrack and what influenced it? I've seen articles cite Angelo's work when talking about Akira Yamaoka's score but haven't found any official interviews tying them together. Love this podcast keep up the good work!

Evan Richmond - TRPG Odyssey

Why do I tear up every time I listen to Mary's letter? Seriously, is there any moment more emotionally impactful in a videogame, that you have experienced?

Vini Capiotti