Alan Wake

WEBVTT

00:00:16.952 --> 00:00:19.652
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to The Other Castle.

00:00:19.672 --> 00:00:21.572
The Other Castle, I've missed you.

00:00:21.772 --> 00:00:22.952
We've both missed you.

00:00:23.252 --> 00:00:25.132
I wasn't talking to you, I'm glad you understood that.

00:00:25.172 --> 00:00:26.272
I am talking to the listeners.

00:00:26.292 --> 00:00:34.872
Welcome back to season eight of The Other Castle, the podcast where we break down the plot, lore, and more behind all your favorite video games.

00:00:35.292 --> 00:00:36.192
My name is Tom.

00:00:36.292 --> 00:00:39.212
I'm Andrea, and I'm very excited for today's episode.

00:00:39.672 --> 00:00:40.872
Ooh, I am as well.

00:00:40.892 --> 00:00:45.232
And if this is your first time listening to us, you can check us out at our website, theothercastlepodcast.com.

00:00:45.432 --> 00:00:48.172
That's theothercastlepodcast.com.

00:00:48.172 --> 00:00:51.052
You need to stop trying to seduce them with that second call out.

00:00:51.212 --> 00:00:53.152
I'm not, I had a thing in my throat.

00:00:54.252 --> 00:00:55.752
It's called being sexy.

00:00:57.632 --> 00:00:59.312
Oh, is this a sexy game that we're doing this time?

00:00:59.352 --> 00:01:08.112
Nah, but on our website, you can check out all the games we've done, the whole back catalog, links to our Discord, so you can bully me out of doing that, because I'm not going to do it without a fight.

00:01:09.032 --> 00:01:11.472
Anything you want, also links to our Patreon.

00:01:12.412 --> 00:01:15.072
Yes, you can sign up for all the fun things over there on our website.

00:01:15.312 --> 00:01:22.972
The Patreon's also going to have the DLC to Alan Wake, so before you're like, this is the old one, fuck you.

00:01:23.172 --> 00:01:25.412
Yeah, man, I know, it's 2024.

00:01:25.692 --> 00:01:26.832
I've played the second one.

00:01:26.892 --> 00:01:28.272
We have to build to it.

00:01:28.472 --> 00:01:28.892
Right.

00:01:29.152 --> 00:01:38.772
So we were covering the full Alan Wake one game today, and on our Patreon, we'll be covering the Signal, the Writer, and the American Nightmare DLCs.

00:01:39.072 --> 00:01:40.232
So there's three separate ones?

00:01:40.832 --> 00:01:43.352
Yes, the Signal and the Writer came out all at once.

00:01:43.372 --> 00:01:43.932
We'll get to it.

00:01:44.292 --> 00:01:44.632
Okay.

00:01:44.812 --> 00:01:46.892
Tom, you can listen to it on the Patreon.

00:01:48.412 --> 00:01:49.672
For just $2 a month.

00:01:49.772 --> 00:01:50.152
Yeah.

00:01:50.372 --> 00:01:51.412
And there's a free trial.

00:01:51.432 --> 00:01:53.812
If you're balling on a budget, no harm, no foul.

00:01:53.832 --> 00:01:56.692
We just want to make sure it's getting to the people that want to get it.

00:01:56.712 --> 00:01:59.412
So there's a free trial if you just want to binge it for a little bit and turn it off.

00:01:59.512 --> 00:02:00.552
I'm not going to be mad about it.

00:02:00.752 --> 00:02:01.412
Not one bit.

00:02:01.652 --> 00:02:01.952
Mm-mm.

00:02:02.252 --> 00:02:03.092
And that's all great.

00:02:03.092 --> 00:02:10.532
So today's episode, we are covering Alan Wake, and I know the fucking dance, but it doesn't translate well to podcasting.

00:02:11.152 --> 00:02:16.492
So I'm just going to have to tell you all about who made this, why, and what happens in it.

00:02:16.772 --> 00:02:17.512
Oh, goodness.

00:02:17.632 --> 00:02:18.792
Now you've never played these.

00:02:19.232 --> 00:02:20.772
Not one bit whatsoever.

00:02:20.772 --> 00:02:22.032
I'm not a horror game fan.

00:02:22.092 --> 00:02:24.332
I play the entire Alan Wake series now.

00:02:24.512 --> 00:02:25.092
You have.

00:02:25.832 --> 00:02:29.192
You binged this entire series over the course of like a month and a half.

00:02:29.332 --> 00:02:30.272
You know what I did though?

00:02:30.472 --> 00:02:32.172
It got requested in our Discord.

00:02:32.572 --> 00:02:32.992
Oh, okay.

00:02:33.032 --> 00:02:33.832
I apologize.

00:02:33.852 --> 00:02:37.912
I don't remember who, but it was requested, and I went, let's check it out.

00:02:38.592 --> 00:02:42.272
Three weeks later, I have played every single Alan Wake game known to man.

00:02:42.612 --> 00:02:47.772
No, seriously, you were like Scarface with the Mountain of Cocaine on the Remedy series.

00:02:47.792 --> 00:02:48.852
On the Remedy games?

00:02:49.432 --> 00:02:53.492
That's a wild thing to fucking say, but it's true.

00:02:54.152 --> 00:02:55.492
I fell down the rabbit hole.

00:02:55.512 --> 00:03:10.512
I hadn't played a single one until recently, but I played Alan Wake, Alan Wake DLCs, and then Alan Wake 2, like back to back to back, which was kind of a trip, and I'm playing a different game right now where I can shoot things and run, which is very, very fun.

00:03:11.032 --> 00:03:19.352
But Alan Wake is wonderful, and I've also fallen down the rabbit hole of watching fan cams of Sam Lake, so that's kind of where my life's been lately.

00:03:19.552 --> 00:03:22.372
It's just been Sam Lake interviews nonstop.

00:03:22.432 --> 00:03:25.472
So let's introduce the audience to who Sam Lake is.

00:03:25.492 --> 00:03:26.732
He's a charming man.

00:03:27.252 --> 00:03:34.152
Alan Wake is a psychological supernatural thriller that came out in May of 2010 from Remedy Studios.

00:03:34.192 --> 00:03:41.752
Now Remedy Studios is based in Finland, in Helsinki, and they were founded in August of 1995.

00:03:42.132 --> 00:03:42.492
Oh, wow.

00:03:42.692 --> 00:03:48.092
Their first game came out in 1996, and it's called Death Rally, and it's literally just like an angry car game.

00:03:48.432 --> 00:03:49.372
I'm not being flippant.

00:03:49.752 --> 00:03:50.452
That's all it is.

00:03:51.832 --> 00:03:54.512
Now the people who created Remedy, they're Finnish guys.

00:03:54.532 --> 00:04:00.792
They were like, hey, we're making this game with cars, and we need someone who can write in English, because that sells more games.

00:04:00.832 --> 00:04:02.632
Most media is in English.

00:04:03.492 --> 00:04:11.492
They had a friend that they played D&D with named Sam Lake, and Sam Lake was their dungeon master in all their D&D campaigns.

00:04:11.952 --> 00:04:22.232
And he was this fantastic creative writer, and he was a wonderful storyteller, and would take them on these crazy adventures, and they're like, what if we hit up our D&D buddy?

00:04:22.412 --> 00:04:23.332
That seems fine.

00:04:23.632 --> 00:04:29.532
Now at the time, Sam Lake was a college student in a university in Helsinki studying English literature.

00:04:29.972 --> 00:04:40.032
Sam wanted to be a writer, and he was really interested in doing TV and horror, and he was really into Twin Peaks and this kind of surreal world that's a little spooky.

00:04:40.612 --> 00:04:41.132
Oh, okay.

00:04:41.152 --> 00:04:43.892
So that's where this psychological thriller is gonna come into play.

00:04:43.912 --> 00:04:44.532
We're getting there.

00:04:45.012 --> 00:04:46.712
Like you said, we're building up to it.

00:04:46.832 --> 00:04:49.752
So they're like, hey, Sam, come write this shit for us.

00:04:49.772 --> 00:04:51.212
You're literally studying English.

00:04:51.232 --> 00:04:55.552
We need someone to be like, menu, start.

00:04:55.572 --> 00:04:56.992
Just start with the basics first.

00:04:57.252 --> 00:04:57.992
Entirely.

00:04:58.032 --> 00:04:58.752
So he did that.

00:04:58.772 --> 00:05:02.332
He was like, I knocked that shit out, but I think we could do something cool.

00:05:02.352 --> 00:05:10.752
So in like the text boxes between races and shit, he would just inject story like, fuck this driver, do this for your family.

00:05:11.132 --> 00:05:16.552
All sorts of wild shit just to fill out the world of, what is it, Death Rally?

00:05:16.572 --> 00:05:17.072
Death Rally.

00:05:17.092 --> 00:05:18.212
It's a crazy car game.

00:05:18.232 --> 00:05:22.492
Like, it's so wild that that's kind of how they got started.

00:05:22.512 --> 00:05:23.992
And they're like, hey, man, thanks.

00:05:24.052 --> 00:05:26.812
If you want to come do some more games with us, you can't.

00:05:26.952 --> 00:05:30.732
And Sam Lake said, that sounds like something I could commit to for the rest of my life.

00:05:32.592 --> 00:05:33.172
And he did.

00:05:33.252 --> 00:05:33.872
Let's do it.

00:05:34.152 --> 00:05:38.652
Because the next game after Death Rally was the first Max Payne.

00:05:39.272 --> 00:05:40.632
Okay, Max Payne.

00:05:40.652 --> 00:05:43.512
Now that's also a game people have requested us cover in the show.

00:05:43.612 --> 00:05:44.452
Oh shit, have they?

00:05:44.492 --> 00:05:44.912
Yeah.

00:05:44.912 --> 00:05:48.092
And now that you love Remedy so much, I think that's just going to have to be on you.

00:05:50.892 --> 00:05:57.732
That's actually fine because they have announced a remake of the first two Max Payne games, because Max Payne 1 came out in 2001.

00:05:58.512 --> 00:06:02.412
So 23 years later, I don't want to play a 23 year old game.

00:06:02.432 --> 00:06:03.452
Please don't make me do that.

00:06:03.472 --> 00:06:04.012
That's fair.

00:06:04.072 --> 00:06:08.632
I'll play it when it's clean, and I can do it on a PS5 with all smooth sailing.

00:06:10.072 --> 00:06:13.252
But I'm bringing up Max Payne just to talk about the lineage of how we got there.

00:06:13.312 --> 00:06:21.372
So Max Payne is particularly important in the zeitgeist of video games because it's credited with inventing bullet time.

00:06:22.052 --> 00:06:22.912
From The Matrix?

00:06:23.332 --> 00:06:23.632
Yes.

00:06:24.372 --> 00:06:26.712
So bullet time, could you describe bullet time actually?

00:06:26.892 --> 00:06:31.232
That's when like the world slows down and you can see the bullets moving through the air.

00:06:31.372 --> 00:06:34.052
If you're familiar with Red Dead 2, this is Deadeye mode.

00:06:34.072 --> 00:06:34.872
Yeah, that too.

00:06:35.412 --> 00:06:37.492
So it is iconic.

00:06:37.652 --> 00:06:44.132
The other part of Max Payne, which is so fun, is that the face of Max Payne is Sam Blake.

00:06:44.832 --> 00:06:45.372
Oh, really?

00:06:45.392 --> 00:06:47.832
So they rendered him to look like the character.

00:06:48.152 --> 00:06:49.312
In Fucking Tirely.

00:06:49.552 --> 00:06:56.932
Okay, so they will say, and by they I mean Sam, will be like, we know we were balling on a budget, we didn't have a lot of money, we couldn't hire actors.

00:06:57.632 --> 00:07:04.592
You still volunteered your face to be the protagonist of this series.

00:07:04.612 --> 00:07:06.252
And he's like, yes, the fuck I did.

00:07:06.272 --> 00:07:08.032
The lead of an action series.

00:07:08.072 --> 00:07:14.292
Right, so they filled out Max Payne 1 in 2001, Max Payne 2, The Fall of Max Payne came out in 2003.

00:07:14.712 --> 00:07:18.772
And then after that, the team got to work on their fourth game, Alan Wake.

00:07:19.092 --> 00:07:21.092
Wow, I didn't realize it was only its fourth game.

00:07:21.732 --> 00:07:23.532
Yeah, yeah, we're really moving.

00:07:23.552 --> 00:07:27.112
So like, yeah, dumb kind of car game to huge games.

00:07:27.512 --> 00:07:30.672
And the franchise, Max Payne, actually got moved over to Rockstar.

00:07:30.692 --> 00:07:32.732
Rockstar started putting out the Max Paynes after too.

00:07:32.752 --> 00:07:33.752
So it kind of moved over.

00:07:34.152 --> 00:07:41.792
I believe they did take Sam Lake's face off and kind of adjusted it, because they're like, we can't have the head of a studio be the face of our game.

00:07:43.432 --> 00:07:44.592
What the fuck, man?

00:07:44.612 --> 00:07:45.952
And they're like, we get it.

00:07:45.972 --> 00:07:52.312
Okay, there are mods now though, where you can do Sam Lake's original Max Payne face, Sam Lake's fucking face.

00:07:53.352 --> 00:07:53.872
You know what I mean?

00:07:53.892 --> 00:07:54.772
Anyway, that's a different game.

00:07:55.192 --> 00:08:00.212
We'll probably get there since you just said that it's been requested, and if you guys bully me enough, I will do it.

00:08:00.492 --> 00:08:02.252
I succumb to peer pressure all the time.

00:08:02.272 --> 00:08:03.372
Yeah, really easily.

00:08:04.372 --> 00:08:11.592
So with their fourth title, Alan Wake, the studio culturally took a step back to relieve themselves of the crunch mindset.

00:08:11.592 --> 00:08:15.792
Again, Max Payne 1 came out in 2001, the second one came out in 2003.

00:08:16.012 --> 00:08:24.632
For a pretty large narrative that was heavy on shooters and things like that, and creating elements like bullet time, they did need a break.

00:08:25.212 --> 00:08:36.272
And one other thing with Remedy is that they use their own in-game engines and they build their own engines, which is an incredible undertaking to build the absolute foundation of everything.

00:08:36.352 --> 00:08:39.992
It's not just racing the car, it's building the car screw by screw.

00:08:40.412 --> 00:08:49.932
Yeah, I mean, honestly, that's why we don't have Half-Life 3, is because they didn't want to build an engine at the same time as building a game anymore, and then they just stopped making Half-Life 3.

00:08:50.192 --> 00:08:51.152
Oh, I believe that too.

00:08:51.592 --> 00:08:55.432
And that's why so many things come out on Unity or on Unreal.

00:08:55.452 --> 00:09:01.432
These are incredible pieces of technology that people are like, well, I'm not gonna fucking build every pixel by pixel tree.

00:09:01.472 --> 00:09:01.892
Yeah.

00:09:01.992 --> 00:09:07.072
I'm gonna use one out of the toolbox and focus on narrative and everything else about a game.

00:09:07.632 --> 00:09:09.352
Remedy's like, fuck that, we're doing our own thing.

00:09:09.372 --> 00:09:10.112
We're gonna do everything.

00:09:10.152 --> 00:09:10.472
Yeah.

00:09:11.732 --> 00:09:16.932
So Remedy started internally pitching ideas and stories that they want to tell.

00:09:16.952 --> 00:09:25.052
They're like, okay, we've done this hard-boiled detective, we've done an angry car game, as I'm just gonna fully be dismissive of it with Death Rally.

00:09:25.472 --> 00:09:31.732
What steps should we take as we kind of move our group into this next fold of gaming?

00:09:31.752 --> 00:09:34.972
We've established ourselves, we've sold off our last franchise title.

00:09:35.432 --> 00:09:36.032
What do we do?

00:09:37.092 --> 00:09:41.152
The team took about a year to settle on the story of Alan Wake.

00:09:41.252 --> 00:09:41.632
Oh wow.

00:09:41.692 --> 00:09:45.872
Which feels like a long time just to say, okay, we're gonna circle this post it and fucking do it.

00:09:46.352 --> 00:09:53.272
The team internally was about 40 people strong, led by creative director, Sam Blake, who moved up in the world from just copywriter.

00:09:54.292 --> 00:09:58.532
Now, Sam is such a fucking nerd.

00:09:58.552 --> 00:10:00.152
He loves David Lynch.

00:10:00.172 --> 00:10:01.452
He loves Twin Peaks.

00:10:01.472 --> 00:10:03.372
Like I mentioned, he loves creepy shit.

00:10:03.732 --> 00:10:06.992
And he was studying screenwriting at the time in school.

00:10:07.012 --> 00:10:10.412
And he was actually still studying while he was getting into Alan Wake.

00:10:10.572 --> 00:10:11.132
Oh really?

00:10:11.212 --> 00:10:15.472
Actually, in one screenwriting class assignment, he was also working for Remedy at the time.

00:10:15.512 --> 00:10:27.712
And he actually turned in a draft of an early Max Payne script as homework to get feedback from his professors that were tweaked in the official fucking final script of Max Payne.

00:10:28.032 --> 00:10:30.532
That's some work smarter, not harder kind of shit though.

00:10:31.292 --> 00:10:32.292
I thought you'd laugh at that.

00:10:32.312 --> 00:10:34.592
You're just like, game, recognize game, bitch.

00:10:34.592 --> 00:10:36.392
I have fully done that in college.

00:10:37.352 --> 00:10:40.392
I'm working on something personally, but I could technically submit this.

00:10:40.912 --> 00:10:42.852
So it worked out for him.

00:10:43.972 --> 00:10:46.172
But that's all to say, this kid is fresh.

00:10:46.192 --> 00:10:46.952
He is young.

00:10:46.972 --> 00:10:48.612
He's still kind of getting through college.

00:10:48.652 --> 00:10:49.932
He's figuring his shit out.

00:10:50.572 --> 00:10:55.072
He is Max Payne and he's gonna do some shit, you know?

00:10:55.752 --> 00:10:58.152
So the Remedy team was like, do your thing.

00:10:58.172 --> 00:10:59.252
We have our own engine.

00:10:59.592 --> 00:11:13.472
The team started modding the original Max Payne engine for Alan Wake, but due to the physics and elements of Alan Wake that they wanted to accomplish, they said, fuck, we're gonna have to scrap this and build a brand new engine just for Alan Wake.

00:11:13.592 --> 00:11:14.292
Oh, God.

00:11:14.552 --> 00:11:18.772
So you wanna say it's gonna build on itself and you're gonna create something new?

00:11:18.792 --> 00:11:20.892
They're like, fuck it, ground up, let's go.

00:11:21.052 --> 00:11:21.632
Start over.

00:11:21.812 --> 00:11:22.352
Yeah.

00:11:23.292 --> 00:11:29.092
In addition to this, they were writing, doing mocap and developing live filmed elements.

00:11:29.812 --> 00:11:35.812
All of these crazy wild moving pieces created a six-year production cycle for Alan Wake.

00:11:35.992 --> 00:11:37.972
So this game has live action included?

00:11:38.792 --> 00:11:39.192
Yes.

00:11:39.652 --> 00:11:40.292
Oh my goodness.

00:11:40.312 --> 00:11:43.012
Which is kind of a staple of remedy games as we know them today.

00:11:43.172 --> 00:11:43.612
Oh, is it?

00:11:43.632 --> 00:11:43.912
Okay.

00:11:43.992 --> 00:11:44.332
Yeah.

00:11:45.112 --> 00:11:48.592
The budget for this six-year production was about $7 million.

00:11:50.192 --> 00:11:55.032
Some of those dollars went to casting two different actors to play Alan Wake.

00:11:55.752 --> 00:11:56.432
I'm sorry, what?

00:11:56.692 --> 00:12:02.372
So the voice is done by Matthew Peretta, an American actor who was in Robin Hood Men in Tights.

00:12:03.572 --> 00:12:08.592
And then the face and mocap actor for Alan Wake is a Finnish actor named Ilkka Vili.

00:12:09.052 --> 00:12:09.892
Ilkka Vili.

00:12:10.172 --> 00:12:11.652
No, Ilkka Vili.

00:12:13.452 --> 00:12:17.412
I have watched so much fucking Finnish content.

00:12:18.612 --> 00:12:20.612
I know I'm pronouncing that a lot better than you are.

00:12:21.852 --> 00:12:24.152
I'm gonna take a controversial statement right now.

00:12:24.352 --> 00:12:26.032
Matthew Peretta has done other Remedy games.

00:12:26.052 --> 00:12:27.372
He's also done live action.

00:12:27.392 --> 00:12:29.512
I think he's more fuckable.

00:12:30.752 --> 00:12:31.612
I'll throw that out there.

00:12:32.692 --> 00:12:35.332
Not saying boyfriend material, just saying fuckable.

00:12:37.492 --> 00:12:40.512
Although Ilcavilli does kind of look like Jake Gyllenhaal.

00:12:41.872 --> 00:12:42.652
I guess.

00:12:42.892 --> 00:12:43.752
You've seen him.

00:12:43.832 --> 00:12:44.392
I have.

00:12:44.792 --> 00:12:48.072
The team internally loves both of them.

00:12:48.292 --> 00:12:56.752
Ilcavilli and Matthew Peretta have done multiple, multiple projects with Remedy, and they really love this dichotomy of these two people.

00:12:57.052 --> 00:13:04.932
They wanted Alan Wake as a character to have a New York accent and be very American, so they brought in Matthew Peretta for this very specifically American.

00:13:04.952 --> 00:13:07.232
He's like an East Coast boy, all about it.

00:13:07.632 --> 00:13:10.132
And then Ilcavilli, he's local.

00:13:10.152 --> 00:13:12.672
He could show up in studio, do whatever they need to do.

00:13:12.732 --> 00:13:14.652
And he, I'm not shitting on him.

00:13:14.672 --> 00:13:16.392
He is a very handsome man.

00:13:17.432 --> 00:13:21.172
Not my, you know, not my flavor, but I respect that it's on the menu.

00:13:22.892 --> 00:13:26.472
He's been in the Remedy universe since 2005.

00:13:26.492 --> 00:13:31.372
So Ilcavilli came in about two years into the Alan Wake process, and he's been very happy.

00:13:31.372 --> 00:13:35.492
They both have been very happy to be a part of this world for fucking decades at this point.

00:13:36.072 --> 00:13:42.072
To compliment both Alans, they hired actress Brett Madden as Alice Wake, Alan's wife.

00:13:42.812 --> 00:13:48.012
Remedy saw about 200 actresses who came in to audition for her.

00:13:48.752 --> 00:13:50.592
That's so fucking many.

00:13:50.612 --> 00:13:52.212
That's so many.

00:13:52.272 --> 00:14:00.812
And then to finally settle on one, but still just, you had to have a very specific vision for this character to see that many people.

00:14:00.952 --> 00:14:01.732
Oh, absolutely.

00:14:01.752 --> 00:14:04.092
And honestly, I'm so lazy.

00:14:04.112 --> 00:14:06.392
At number 60, I'd be like, I think we fucking have it.

00:14:07.892 --> 00:14:09.252
Sam Lake, do you want to put a wig on?

00:14:09.352 --> 00:14:10.352
Fucking jump in there.

00:14:12.552 --> 00:14:16.912
One more line item in that budget was a lead in material for the game.

00:14:16.932 --> 00:14:29.592
Now we saw this with the Far Cry 5 promotional campaign, but a few weeks before the game dropped, a six episode live action mini series called Bright Falls launched in anticipation of Alan Wake.

00:14:30.012 --> 00:14:30.892
A whole ass TV series.

00:14:31.212 --> 00:14:32.212
Yeah, so I'm sorry.

00:14:32.232 --> 00:14:35.052
So for Far Cry 5, it was like a 30, 40 minute short.

00:14:35.252 --> 00:14:40.412
But for this, it's about 34 minutes or so altogether, just kind of chopped up.

00:14:40.652 --> 00:14:50.112
This came out on Xbox Live and online, and it's about the town of Bright Falls, which is where the game takes place, right before Alan and Alice arrive.

00:14:50.352 --> 00:14:51.652
Now one quick second.

00:14:52.212 --> 00:14:55.472
My question is, this being, you said Helsinki, Finland, correct?

00:14:55.472 --> 00:14:55.772
Yes.

00:14:55.792 --> 00:14:56.452
Is where they made it?

00:14:56.492 --> 00:14:56.792
Yes.

00:14:57.152 --> 00:15:02.572
Now, historically, European studios make a video game about the Pacific Northwest.

00:15:05.812 --> 00:15:06.712
Why do you say that?

00:15:07.332 --> 00:15:11.512
That's what's happened in every European studio game that's taken place in the United States so far.

00:15:11.592 --> 00:15:12.952
I'm thinking life is strange.

00:15:12.972 --> 00:15:14.192
Life is strange.

00:15:14.572 --> 00:15:18.432
Heavy rain takes place in the Pacific Northwest, stuff like that.

00:15:18.432 --> 00:15:20.032
So am I right or am I wrong?

00:15:20.572 --> 00:15:21.732
You're not wrong.

00:15:23.292 --> 00:15:25.212
So this takes place in the Pacific Northwest.

00:15:25.212 --> 00:15:27.412
Yes, Bright Falls is in Washington.

00:15:29.812 --> 00:15:31.432
Why do you look so fucking smug?

00:15:31.512 --> 00:15:34.392
Why do they all take place in the Pacific Northwest?

00:15:34.412 --> 00:15:37.252
It's so weird to me that they all pick that area.

00:15:37.272 --> 00:15:41.092
You guys know San Diego exists, right?

00:15:41.112 --> 00:15:43.212
Right, there are so many other places.

00:15:44.292 --> 00:15:48.712
Well, Bright Falls is inspired by the ring.

00:15:49.512 --> 00:15:49.952
The ring?

00:15:49.972 --> 00:15:50.832
I'm gonna give you that right now.

00:15:51.732 --> 00:15:55.552
The ring was a huge atmospheric inspiration for Bright Falls.

00:15:55.572 --> 00:15:56.132
Interesting.

00:15:56.152 --> 00:16:05.592
They loved this gray, sprawling, foresty, but still kind of city, but also we could have a small town feel energy.

00:16:05.592 --> 00:16:07.132
And yeah, they fucking...

00:16:07.132 --> 00:16:07.592
You know what?

00:16:07.612 --> 00:16:09.612
Europeans love the fucking Pacific Northwest.

00:16:09.672 --> 00:16:10.532
I don't know what it is.

00:16:10.612 --> 00:16:11.772
I'm not European.

00:16:11.992 --> 00:16:16.692
I can't speak to it, but the Nordic Circle loves the Pacific Northwest.

00:16:18.172 --> 00:16:18.572
I don't either.

00:16:18.592 --> 00:16:21.012
I'm amazed that I was correct, but I'm also not surprised.

00:16:21.192 --> 00:16:23.932
Wait, do you think Portlandia is in syndication?

00:16:24.052 --> 00:16:25.272
It's gotta be something.

00:16:25.292 --> 00:16:26.292
I have no idea.

00:16:26.312 --> 00:16:28.092
They just love that fucking area.

00:16:28.212 --> 00:16:29.832
European listeners, please tell me.

00:16:29.832 --> 00:16:30.752
I am dying to know.

00:16:32.052 --> 00:16:39.972
So Bright Falls is a six short episode series that follows a journalist who's in town looking into a man named Dr.

00:16:39.972 --> 00:16:45.512
Emil Hartmann, who works in Bright Falls, and all the spooky shit that happens to him during his trip.

00:16:46.232 --> 00:16:49.232
It's basically a Twin Peaks Twilight Zone moment.

00:16:49.372 --> 00:16:49.752
Okay.

00:16:50.852 --> 00:16:56.592
Alan Wake launched officially in May of 2010 across Xbox 360 and PC.

00:16:56.652 --> 00:17:02.932
Now Remedy was deeply connected with Microsoft games, the way Naughty Dog is a Sony studio.

00:17:02.952 --> 00:17:05.112
So they were like, fuck yeah, Xbox all day.

00:17:05.472 --> 00:17:06.612
What's up, Todd Howard?

00:17:07.072 --> 00:17:10.832
Yeah, I think when we watched the trailer, it said Microsoft Studios at the very end.

00:17:10.852 --> 00:17:12.392
Just straight up Microsoft.

00:17:12.952 --> 00:17:21.772
So as it came out, it was a fucking phenomenon, but it was overshadowed by the release of Red Dead Redemption.

00:17:25.152 --> 00:17:33.452
While Time Magazine did call Alan Wake the game of the year for 2010, it came out within a week of the first goddamn Red Dead Redemption game.

00:17:34.312 --> 00:17:40.112
And Alan Wake got swept up after the marketing campaign, a little Johnny Marston rolling through town.

00:17:40.132 --> 00:17:40.492
Yeah.

00:17:40.812 --> 00:17:42.872
And you can't even fucking fault them for it.

00:17:43.172 --> 00:17:45.172
Oh, damn, that is fucking wild.

00:17:45.192 --> 00:17:48.832
And I feel like, honestly, history kind of repeated with Alan Wake 2.

00:17:48.852 --> 00:17:59.532
Because it came out in October of 2023 when Spider-Man 2 came out, the game I was dying for, and I feel like did dominate the news cycle.

00:17:59.632 --> 00:18:05.492
But much like Alan Wake 2, after it all died down, people were still talking about Alan Wake.

00:18:05.812 --> 00:18:06.432
That's fair.

00:18:06.472 --> 00:18:15.072
And honestly, I've heard so many people say, even after how amazing 2023 was overall, putting Alan Wake 2 at the very top.

00:18:15.432 --> 00:18:17.672
Yeah, it's up there with Baldur's Gate for most people.

00:18:17.732 --> 00:18:25.512
And frankly, my experience playing Alan Wake 2 to Spider-Man 2, I would pick up Alan Wake 2 again over Spider-Man 2.

00:18:25.592 --> 00:18:27.652
Damn, and you did love Spider-Man 2.

00:18:28.252 --> 00:18:28.672
I did.

00:18:28.812 --> 00:18:29.712
I absolutely did.

00:18:29.732 --> 00:18:34.212
And I've played Spider-Man and Spider-Man Miles Morales and the Spider-Man DLCs multiple times.

00:18:34.252 --> 00:18:34.552
Right.

00:18:34.772 --> 00:18:36.032
I have New Game Plus'd it.

00:18:36.052 --> 00:18:39.712
I have gone through, but between the two, I've run through them both once.

00:18:39.712 --> 00:18:41.312
I'd rather run through Alan Wake 2 again.

00:18:41.692 --> 00:18:42.512
Okay, fair.

00:18:42.512 --> 00:18:44.032
Well, we're on Alan Wake 1 still.

00:18:44.152 --> 00:18:45.392
Yeah, let's get there.

00:18:45.412 --> 00:18:46.552
Let's fucking get there.

00:18:47.172 --> 00:18:59.432
So this hype and the sales really brought some love for the game, and it eventually did become Xbox's second most pirated game of 2010 behind Call of Duty Black Ops.

00:18:59.452 --> 00:19:00.252
Most pirated?

00:19:01.812 --> 00:19:03.612
And like, they did the funniest fucking thing.

00:19:03.632 --> 00:19:05.972
So the devs saw this and went, huh, we got you.

00:19:06.332 --> 00:19:12.752
And if you pirated Alan Wake, Alan would be wearing an eye patch like a pirate.

00:19:12.752 --> 00:19:13.432
Really?

00:19:13.452 --> 00:19:16.772
Which is the cutest fucking like, fuck you Easter egg.

00:19:16.792 --> 00:19:20.352
I kind of love it because they're just accepting it and leaning into it.

00:19:20.472 --> 00:19:20.832
Yeah.

00:19:20.992 --> 00:19:27.372
But just a minor punishment, because I've seen other devs like glitch the game in the last 10% of it.

00:19:27.532 --> 00:19:28.432
Oh, that's evil.

00:19:28.472 --> 00:19:29.052
Yeah.

00:19:29.172 --> 00:19:31.752
Oh, just to fucking infuriate a pirated comedy.

00:19:32.252 --> 00:19:39.172
I kind of sympathize with that a little more, because it's these people that are pouring years of their life into this, and you can't afford 20 bucks or whatever.

00:19:39.192 --> 00:19:39.472
Yeah.

00:19:39.812 --> 00:19:42.532
But this one, they were like, they're kind of silly Finnish boys.

00:19:43.472 --> 00:19:50.072
They have such a specific, absurdist sense of humor that they bring into things, where they're like, fuck it, let's have fun.

00:19:50.812 --> 00:19:52.472
It almost encourages the pirating.

00:19:52.492 --> 00:19:53.332
I'm not going to lie.

00:19:53.352 --> 00:19:54.912
Yeah, I know, right?

00:19:54.932 --> 00:19:57.352
Today, that's a DLC microtransaction.

00:19:57.372 --> 00:19:59.232
Yeah, that's a skin, bitch.

00:19:59.252 --> 00:19:59.552
Yeah.

00:20:00.312 --> 00:20:04.032
Eleven years after the first Alan Wake, a remaster was announced.

00:20:04.372 --> 00:20:11.672
The announcement came in a 2021 PlayStation showcase, which does speak to how the relationship with Microsoft is going.

00:20:11.672 --> 00:20:12.232
Yeah.

00:20:12.512 --> 00:20:13.632
And had a nice trailer.

00:20:13.952 --> 00:20:17.912
I played the remake, so this episode is going to reflect that world and structure.

00:20:18.792 --> 00:20:25.552
And before anyone jumps the gun, I will talk about the biggest difference between the original and the 2021 remaster.

00:20:26.292 --> 00:20:27.792
And I think you're going to enjoy this.

00:20:27.792 --> 00:20:30.452
And as a marketer, it made me lose my fucking mind.

00:20:30.452 --> 00:20:30.832
Oh, no.

00:20:30.912 --> 00:20:31.252
Okay.

00:20:31.292 --> 00:20:38.712
Because the biggest adjustment from the original game to the remaster is the removal of blatant product placement.

00:20:39.492 --> 00:20:40.292
Wait, really?

00:20:40.492 --> 00:20:41.532
Now, this is not a spoiler.

00:20:42.032 --> 00:20:43.192
There will be spoilers eventually.

00:20:43.332 --> 00:20:44.252
That is the point of the show.

00:20:44.752 --> 00:21:00.592
But in the original Alan Wake, you had to go through and there would be product placement for both Energizer specific batteries, there would be TVs that had Verizon wireless commercials playing in game.

00:21:00.712 --> 00:21:02.012
Oh my God.

00:21:02.012 --> 00:21:04.772
And there are Ford and Lincoln branded cars there.

00:21:05.692 --> 00:21:09.412
And they still only got seven million dollars to make this game?

00:21:11.632 --> 00:21:14.252
I don't know how that line item is tallied.

00:21:14.272 --> 00:21:17.252
If that's on the back end, I'm not quite sure.

00:21:17.272 --> 00:21:19.572
But what a fucking era.

00:21:20.832 --> 00:21:22.232
That's insane to me.

00:21:22.252 --> 00:21:26.912
Like the only games I remember having a lot of product placement were like sports games.

00:21:27.652 --> 00:21:32.192
Okay, yeah, I'm sure you'd see like a Gatorade or like the stadium names would be there.

00:21:32.332 --> 00:21:36.432
Yeah, on the stadiums where normal ads would be at an actual stadium.

00:21:37.232 --> 00:21:38.312
There were ads there.

00:21:38.492 --> 00:21:43.492
Yeah, and I know people bring up, I believe it's the second Uncharted where you had Subway plug-ins.

00:21:44.092 --> 00:21:50.972
And right now there's that Final Fantasy 14, 15 that has the, that has the Nissen Ramen Cup Noodle shit.

00:21:50.992 --> 00:21:51.612
Cup Noodles.

00:21:52.072 --> 00:21:56.232
But this was just straight up, you'd walk up to a TV and it'd be like, can you hear me now?

00:21:56.632 --> 00:21:57.332
That kind of shit.

00:21:57.852 --> 00:21:58.632
Oh my God.

00:21:58.852 --> 00:22:01.732
The cars are still there because it's like the build of a car.

00:22:01.752 --> 00:22:02.812
It's a Ford and a Lincoln.

00:22:02.972 --> 00:22:03.692
What are you going to do?

00:22:04.112 --> 00:22:09.912
The batteries just say lithium batteries instead of having the branding or the fucking rabbit on them or whatever.

00:22:10.012 --> 00:22:10.452
Oh, wow.

00:22:10.472 --> 00:22:12.672
And the TVs just don't play the wireless commercials.

00:22:13.072 --> 00:22:16.752
But sometimes you can still see things like there are electronics that are Verizon brand.

00:22:18.072 --> 00:22:20.052
Holy shit, that's wild.

00:22:20.192 --> 00:22:20.992
It's pretty bad.

00:22:21.212 --> 00:22:24.692
I just I can't imagine how much that fucking campaign cost.

00:22:25.172 --> 00:22:25.592
Right.

00:22:26.112 --> 00:22:27.972
They didn't renew it with the remake.

00:22:28.052 --> 00:22:31.792
Oh, I know Verizon cough up the fucking money.

00:22:31.812 --> 00:22:33.952
Like, how expensive could it fucking be?

00:22:33.952 --> 00:22:35.172
Energizer's still around.

00:22:35.672 --> 00:22:36.952
Clearly the marketing worked.

00:22:38.312 --> 00:22:39.672
None of these companies folded.

00:22:39.692 --> 00:22:41.032
All thanks to Alan Wake.

00:22:41.512 --> 00:22:43.272
Singular didn't book the fucking deal.

00:22:45.312 --> 00:22:52.852
And it just, it feels so wild to have such a dark, dreary kind of almost horror game do marketing, but whatever.

00:22:53.232 --> 00:22:54.832
Fortnite's figured it out.

00:22:55.112 --> 00:22:55.452
Right.

00:22:55.772 --> 00:22:59.432
And for what it's worth, Alan Wake is in Fortnite.

00:23:00.392 --> 00:23:00.952
Is he now?

00:23:01.172 --> 00:23:01.732
Kind of.

00:23:01.752 --> 00:23:02.752
I mean, who the fuck isn't?

00:23:03.252 --> 00:23:03.772
That's fair.

00:23:04.012 --> 00:23:09.192
There is an island in Fortnite where you can play a truncated version of this game.

00:23:09.352 --> 00:23:09.832
Really?

00:23:11.092 --> 00:23:11.812
That's pretty cool.

00:23:12.012 --> 00:23:14.792
That's the best way you can describe it, and that's not the version we're doing today.

00:23:15.932 --> 00:23:16.912
But it does exist.

00:23:16.932 --> 00:23:18.512
The code is still floating around online.

00:23:18.532 --> 00:23:19.772
I believe it's still active.

00:23:20.032 --> 00:23:21.632
Don't quote me, but go for it.

00:23:22.472 --> 00:23:23.832
One more thing on product placement.

00:23:23.852 --> 00:23:36.292
There was a test demo for Two that came out just like a year or two after this one, where they had four shell Subway sandwiches and Coca-Cola featured in the product placement of the demo.

00:23:36.692 --> 00:23:37.852
So blatant.

00:23:38.132 --> 00:23:40.932
Subway was in their bag with video games at this era, though.

00:23:40.952 --> 00:23:41.672
They really were.

00:23:41.692 --> 00:23:42.932
I mean, somebody had to try it.

00:23:43.112 --> 00:23:44.572
Somebody had to.

00:23:44.912 --> 00:23:51.392
Now, that version never went past the demo, and Alan Wake 2, as we know it, is a very different game with no Subway sandwiches.

00:23:53.152 --> 00:23:54.272
But it's the dark place.

00:23:54.352 --> 00:23:54.952
It is what it is.

00:23:55.772 --> 00:23:59.412
So with the 2021 remaster, we got a bunch of gorgeous updates.

00:23:59.432 --> 00:24:00.752
Things were a little bit smoother.

00:24:00.792 --> 00:24:02.832
They deleted their marketing contracts.

00:24:03.432 --> 00:24:04.232
It's a different world.

00:24:04.392 --> 00:24:05.372
We see the faces better.

00:24:06.252 --> 00:24:12.832
And as we get closer to today, Alan Wake 2 was announced at the 2021 Game Awards, and it was this whole ass thing.

00:24:12.852 --> 00:24:13.692
People were stoked.

00:24:14.012 --> 00:24:17.052
At one point, Sam Lake said, We started Alan Wake 2.

00:24:17.152 --> 00:24:18.092
We're not doing it.

00:24:18.112 --> 00:24:22.432
We're doing new IP, which brought them to Quantum Break their game after this.

00:24:22.452 --> 00:24:26.012
It was a live action TV slash game hybrid through Microsoft.

00:24:26.212 --> 00:24:29.192
They did Control, which is an excellent fucking game.

00:24:29.392 --> 00:24:30.352
Great soundtrack.

00:24:30.572 --> 00:24:31.252
All this stuff.

00:24:31.452 --> 00:24:33.532
No one really expected Alan Wake 2.

00:24:34.152 --> 00:24:41.432
So Alan Wake 2, like we mentioned, came out over Halloween of 23 and has largely been praised as an excellent game.

00:24:42.372 --> 00:24:48.192
Remedy took Alan Wake 2 and said, we want to make this work if you've never played the first one.

00:24:48.432 --> 00:24:48.792
OK.

00:24:48.992 --> 00:24:55.952
So while the sequel absolutely helps the story, makes a lot of sense, Alan Wake 2 is meant to be a standalone experience.

00:24:56.272 --> 00:25:01.152
So if you're curious about that and you just kind of want to catch up and not play an older game, hang out with us.

00:25:01.172 --> 00:25:01.812
We got you.

00:25:01.932 --> 00:25:02.272
Yeah.

00:25:03.232 --> 00:25:17.152
Alan Wake 2 did end up being nominated for Game of the Year and the Game Awards and took home best art direction, best narrative, best game direction, and frankly, the best musical number of the fucking night despite not winning any music awards.

00:25:18.012 --> 00:25:21.312
But anyway, let's take this back to where it all started.

00:25:21.812 --> 00:25:23.232
Bright Falls, baby.

00:25:23.772 --> 00:25:25.492
This is Alan Wake.

00:25:26.772 --> 00:25:36.432
Alan Wake is set up across six chapters because Remedy was inspired by episodic TV storytelling specifically for the pacing structure.

00:25:36.972 --> 00:25:41.552
They like that idea of kind of a short arc to add to a long arc, building on itself.

00:25:42.372 --> 00:25:48.452
And it does reflect it in the pre-show where that's only six episodes, but also builds it to a larger thing.

00:25:48.712 --> 00:25:49.312
It's a whole thing.

00:25:49.492 --> 00:25:55.072
Sam Lake specifically loves screenwriting too, so I'm sure it's just a very cinematic world in his head.

00:25:55.892 --> 00:26:04.732
So originally, Remedy wanted to release Alan Wake episodically, similar to Life is Strange, our other European Pacific Northwest inspired moment.

00:26:05.112 --> 00:26:09.472
But Phil Spencer at Xbox was like, no, don't do it.

00:26:09.492 --> 00:26:10.012
What the fuck?

00:26:11.272 --> 00:26:12.832
That's way too experimental.

00:26:12.912 --> 00:26:16.772
And at this point, he looked back and was like, I should have fucking let them.

00:26:16.792 --> 00:26:17.752
That would have been cool.

00:26:17.912 --> 00:26:19.632
And fucking envelope pushing.

00:26:19.712 --> 00:26:22.392
And we could have been like, ha, tell Taylor we got there first.

00:26:22.952 --> 00:26:23.392
I don't know.

00:26:23.492 --> 00:26:25.732
I really like games that are just fucking done.

00:26:27.592 --> 00:26:28.792
Just a one file.

00:26:28.812 --> 00:26:29.452
Let's do it.

00:26:29.472 --> 00:26:30.692
Yeah, I get you.

00:26:30.712 --> 00:26:31.392
Call me crazy.

00:26:32.292 --> 00:26:33.792
I won't because I get it.

00:26:33.792 --> 00:26:35.132
I like to binge too.

00:26:35.172 --> 00:26:37.992
Like, that's how I enjoy consuming media.

00:26:38.192 --> 00:26:39.472
Don't tell me when to stop.

00:26:40.352 --> 00:26:41.752
And don't make me wait for the next one.

00:26:41.992 --> 00:26:46.332
Honestly, I feel so burned from Half-Life 2, Episode 3 that like it never came.

00:26:46.352 --> 00:26:49.012
So I'm just like, I don't trust this episodic bullshit.

00:26:49.032 --> 00:26:51.612
You're in your fucking feels about Half-Life 3 today.

00:26:52.252 --> 00:26:52.832
I really am.

00:26:53.832 --> 00:27:00.352
The game starts with a sweeping shot of the mountain range across the Pacific Northwest, the one that Europeans all love.

00:27:01.372 --> 00:27:07.592
Matthew Perretta's surgically precise, gravelly Alan Wake voice opens the scene with a voiceover.

00:27:08.752 --> 00:27:14.792
Stephen King once wrote that nightmares exist outside of logic, and there's little fun to be had in explanations.

00:27:15.272 --> 00:27:17.872
They're antithetical to the poetry of fear.

00:27:19.232 --> 00:27:21.492
So that's the kind of fucking protagonist Alan Wake is.

00:27:22.652 --> 00:27:24.952
He'll just drop cryptic shit like that.

00:27:25.492 --> 00:27:34.972
That quote is from an Entertainment Weekly article Stephen King wrote in 2008 titled Why Hollywood Can't Do Horror, which almost feels like a meta moment.

00:27:35.452 --> 00:27:40.772
Which is wild to do because Stephen King was a regular contributor to Entertainment Weekly.

00:27:40.932 --> 00:27:42.452
Oh shit, I didn't know that.

00:27:42.552 --> 00:27:47.172
So to pull a quote from a random ass issue is pretty fucking wild.

00:27:47.412 --> 00:27:48.272
I had to dig for that.

00:27:48.292 --> 00:27:51.172
It just said Stephen King said this, and I was like, did he though?

00:27:53.752 --> 00:28:07.272
In that piece, which I did read, he also discusses summer blockbuster movies and says those flicks tend to be like sandwiches, overstuffed with weirdly tasteless meat and cheese, meals that glut the belly but do nothing for the soul.

00:28:08.232 --> 00:28:09.212
Anyway, back to Alan.

00:28:11.332 --> 00:28:16.772
He muses on horror storytelling for a bit as we float through the Pacific Northwestern sky.

00:28:17.612 --> 00:28:19.012
Alan then introduces himself.

00:28:19.492 --> 00:28:21.952
He says, I'm a writer.

00:28:22.652 --> 00:28:23.232
That's the beat.

00:28:23.232 --> 00:28:25.132
He says, I'm a writer.

00:28:25.312 --> 00:28:27.312
And then we cut to a black title screen.

00:28:27.892 --> 00:28:30.592
If you've ever met a writer, that's how they introduce themselves.

00:28:34.032 --> 00:28:39.412
At least in college, as long as you don't meet them in a coffee shop, you're probably fine.

00:28:39.432 --> 00:28:42.992
One of my very dear friends, Amber, is a writer, and she's fucking brilliant.

00:28:43.112 --> 00:28:44.452
I read her work every week.

00:28:44.472 --> 00:28:44.952
Hi, girl.

00:28:45.512 --> 00:28:46.632
I'm technically a writer.

00:28:47.172 --> 00:28:49.752
Uh, I literally get paid to write at work.

00:28:49.952 --> 00:28:51.012
Oh, yeah, I am a writer, huh?

00:28:51.072 --> 00:28:51.392
Yeah.

00:28:51.832 --> 00:28:52.832
Do I sound like this?

00:28:52.932 --> 00:28:55.672
No, because you don't walk up to people and say, I'm a writer.

00:28:55.792 --> 00:28:57.592
No, I go, I'm kind of a shithead.

00:28:58.972 --> 00:29:00.032
I should work on my intro.

00:29:00.032 --> 00:29:04.352
Anyway, we leave the title screen, and we see a smoky lighthouse at night.

00:29:04.872 --> 00:29:05.992
Are you pouring me a drink?

00:29:06.852 --> 00:29:08.032
Ooh, a bio shot, yes.

00:29:08.052 --> 00:29:09.552
I mean, if there's gonna be a lighthouse.

00:29:09.672 --> 00:29:10.692
There's always a lighthouse.

00:29:11.612 --> 00:29:19.352
Alan says he's always had a vivid imagination and was haunted by nightmares, a recent one of which was really spooking him.

00:29:20.112 --> 00:29:25.532
In this dream, he's desperately driving towards a lighthouse, and he hits a hitchhiker with his car.

00:29:26.552 --> 00:29:29.052
Alan goes to tend to him, but the hitchhiker is dead.

00:29:29.572 --> 00:29:30.112
Oh, shit.

00:29:30.272 --> 00:29:34.252
He starts to figure out what his plan is because in his words, he can't go to jail.

00:29:34.812 --> 00:29:41.752
When the car's headlights cut off, Alan takes his eyes off the hitchhiker for a split second, and then the hitchhiker is gone.

00:29:42.152 --> 00:29:43.132
Okay, well, he's not dead.

00:29:44.332 --> 00:29:45.092
Episode one.

00:29:45.792 --> 00:29:46.712
Nightmare.

00:29:47.612 --> 00:29:47.852
Oh.

00:29:47.912 --> 00:29:50.392
I have to do this disclaimer since our Dead Space episode.

00:29:51.472 --> 00:29:54.532
But the episode titles do not reveal anything.

00:29:55.032 --> 00:29:56.832
Sinister, if you put them together.

00:29:57.812 --> 00:30:00.512
Alan is still alone on the road by his busted car.

00:30:01.232 --> 00:30:06.112
He's shaken up from the crime he probably just committed, but he's like, whatever, I can't go to jail.

00:30:06.552 --> 00:30:08.912
I got priors, and he wanders down the road.

00:30:09.472 --> 00:30:12.252
The road is dark, save for some spaced out streetlights.

00:30:12.772 --> 00:30:18.392
In the distance, he sees the lighthouse, and he heads towards it, because there's always a goddamn lighthouse.

00:30:18.912 --> 00:30:24.352
On the trail, there are some posters for one of his novels, which is a stupid place to market a book.

00:30:25.232 --> 00:30:33.632
But as Alan actually makes some progress towards the lighthouse, the camera whips back to his busted ass car, and there's a shadow of a man standing there.

00:30:34.372 --> 00:30:36.432
This figure is completely blacked out.

00:30:36.552 --> 00:30:37.272
He's a ghost.

00:30:37.332 --> 00:30:39.892
He's big, and he's also very angry.

00:30:40.592 --> 00:30:47.292
This smoky apparition then appears in front of Alan, and he asks, You don't remember me, do you, writer?

00:30:48.012 --> 00:30:52.432
He continues as he starts swinging an axe back and forth.

00:30:53.112 --> 00:30:54.032
You think you're God?

00:30:54.232 --> 00:31:00.012
You think you could just make stuff up, play with people's lives, and kill them when you think it adds to the drama?

00:31:00.332 --> 00:31:03.912
You're in this story now, and I'll make you suffer.

00:31:03.932 --> 00:31:05.932
I'm loving the voice work.

00:31:05.932 --> 00:31:07.512
Oh my God, thank you.

00:31:08.372 --> 00:31:14.652
Alan runs down the trail and makes it a bit away from the figure, then turns around to hear him say, You're a joke.

00:31:15.012 --> 00:31:19.272
There wouldn't be a single readable sentence in your books if it wasn't for your editor.

00:31:19.552 --> 00:31:20.752
Is this a fucking roast?

00:31:24.152 --> 00:31:32.392
He then points down at Alan and says, You'll never publish another one of your shitty stories, because I'm gonna kill you.

00:31:32.912 --> 00:31:35.632
I thought it was gonna be like, You'll never work in this town again.

00:31:35.792 --> 00:31:36.332
Dull.

00:31:37.272 --> 00:31:38.632
Flicks a cigarette.

00:31:39.292 --> 00:31:43.612
Okay, so I'd like to remind everyone that English is not Sam Lake's first language.

00:31:44.692 --> 00:31:45.812
He is Finnish.

00:31:45.832 --> 00:31:47.292
He finishes his first language.

00:31:47.312 --> 00:31:52.512
While he is absolutely fluent in English, there are gonna be some nuances that don't land.

00:31:53.152 --> 00:32:00.872
Just like a lot of our other European friends who do Pacific Northwest games, there's always a couple little things that just don't sound inherently American.

00:32:01.132 --> 00:32:02.292
Yeah, I definitely agree.

00:32:03.792 --> 00:32:04.472
It happens.

00:32:05.012 --> 00:32:11.092
Anyway, it's not always gonna sound natural, but the point of the game is to be supernatural, so don't let the language hold you back.

00:32:12.132 --> 00:32:21.972
The smokey figure calls Alan a lousy writer, among other things, while we get some gameplay tutorials and like dodging attacks and stuff like that.

00:32:22.112 --> 00:32:22.492
Okay.

00:32:22.752 --> 00:32:31.492
After a bit, Alan is alone in the dark in the woods and realizes that Hitchhiker is a character in a story he's working on.

00:32:32.132 --> 00:32:34.112
So that was a really personal roast.

00:32:34.972 --> 00:32:36.292
I'm sorry, what the fuck?

00:32:37.512 --> 00:32:42.112
Have you ever just been like plagued by your inner demons, but sometimes they're a hitchhiker that tries to kill you?

00:32:42.212 --> 00:32:43.672
One of my characters came to life.

00:32:44.432 --> 00:32:45.632
What a fucking nightmare.

00:32:45.832 --> 00:32:48.372
You know what my senior seminar fucking story was about?

00:32:48.392 --> 00:32:58.152
A man that gets pregnant, like a biologically AMAB man, my best friend Andrew, who gets pregnant and he gets fucking torn apart for being a male who got pregnant because he's a slut.

00:33:01.072 --> 00:33:01.832
I got an A.

00:33:02.892 --> 00:33:03.352
Good for you.

00:33:03.372 --> 00:33:04.392
It was very funny.

00:33:05.052 --> 00:33:06.812
It was a commentary on gender.

00:33:06.952 --> 00:33:07.532
It doesn't matter.

00:33:08.432 --> 00:33:14.332
Alan runs across this high bridge and sees a man, a regular ass man, being like, hey, over here.

00:33:14.732 --> 00:33:18.212
This man is named Clay, and he asks Alan if he remembers him.

00:33:18.832 --> 00:33:27.092
Alan runs into the cabin behind Clay, and as Alan makes it to safety, the hitchhiker appears and ax wounds the shit out of Clay.

00:33:27.752 --> 00:33:29.752
Sorry, Clay, it's been a good run.

00:33:30.792 --> 00:33:31.292
Has it?

00:33:31.312 --> 00:33:32.812
We just met him, but okay.

00:33:32.932 --> 00:33:33.912
He helped him get in the cabin.

00:33:34.472 --> 00:33:38.972
Alan escapes the cabin, and on his way to the lighthouse, he hears a man's voice.

00:33:39.612 --> 00:33:51.172
It tells him, for he did not know that beyond the lake he called home lies a deeper, darker ocean, green, where waves were both wilder and more serene.

00:33:51.512 --> 00:33:56.412
To its ports I've been, to its ports I've been, do you understand?

00:33:57.212 --> 00:33:58.592
No, ma'am, we don't.

00:34:00.812 --> 00:34:02.752
I don't understand anything that's happening yet.

00:34:02.772 --> 00:34:04.052
This is very Twin Peaks.

00:34:04.672 --> 00:34:08.752
Alan is like, abso-fucking-lutely, I feel you, god voice.

00:34:09.792 --> 00:34:22.672
Now this voice that's coming through, we don't know it as the player, but in this world, we know that this is James McCaffrey, who was the voice of the original Max Payne, who has recently passed in the last year or two.

00:34:23.012 --> 00:34:26.312
Incredible performer, has been in nearly every Remedy title.

00:34:26.592 --> 00:34:29.372
Oh, that's too bad, but at least his voice gets to live on.

00:34:29.872 --> 00:34:33.032
He left an incredible legacy that's more than a lot of us can ask for.

00:34:34.192 --> 00:34:39.712
This voice guides Alan through light, which is a safe haven of health and protection in this world.

00:34:40.412 --> 00:34:47.412
It tells him that it entered Alan's dream to teach him the darkness is dangerous, but it's asleep right now.

00:34:47.912 --> 00:34:50.432
It'll wake up when it feels Alan coming to it.

00:34:51.612 --> 00:34:55.972
Then the voice and the light lead Alan to a clearing with the hitchhiker.

00:34:56.532 --> 00:34:59.832
The voice says the hitchhiker has been taken over by the dark presence.

00:35:00.352 --> 00:35:07.352
When someone is taken over by the dark presence, the darkness protects them, and they can't feel pain or experience damage.

00:35:08.212 --> 00:35:14.072
Only light can drive away the darkness and allow for these beings to become vulnerable to attacks.

00:35:15.112 --> 00:35:17.352
So this is the biggest tutorial for the game's battle mechanic.

00:35:17.412 --> 00:35:24.832
If something or someone is possessed by the dark presence, there's usually like a dark, glowy kind of shadow around them.

00:35:25.032 --> 00:35:32.752
You have to shine a flashlight or get some kind of light on them until the dark presence is dissipated out of the system.

00:35:33.072 --> 00:35:36.932
And then, and only then, can you shoot that motherfucker right in the dick.

00:35:37.752 --> 00:35:43.472
So wait, so even if the dark presence is gone, the person still sucks and you got to kill them?

00:35:44.672 --> 00:35:44.932
Yep.

00:35:45.172 --> 00:35:45.572
Okay.

00:35:48.312 --> 00:35:57.812
Alan flashes his flashlight, powered by Energizer batteries, at the hitchhiker, who has a visible moment of being overpowered by light.

00:35:57.832 --> 00:35:58.952
It's kind of like a stumble.

00:35:59.572 --> 00:36:06.612
And then Alan shoots him with a gun he found on a tree stump, a perfect place to look for weapons.

00:36:07.032 --> 00:36:08.112
That's where I leave my gun.

00:36:08.492 --> 00:36:09.772
Don't do that, Tom!

00:36:11.492 --> 00:36:12.912
We live in a neighborhood!

00:36:12.932 --> 00:36:14.252
There's kids here.

00:36:14.932 --> 00:36:19.132
When someone has the dark presence removed, they're still too far gone.

00:36:19.572 --> 00:36:22.112
So yeah, they're unsavable.

00:36:22.112 --> 00:36:26.372
It's okay to brutally shoot them to death, unceremoniously, in the dick.

00:36:26.712 --> 00:36:29.852
You love just shooting people in the dick in a video game, if you can.

00:36:29.932 --> 00:36:31.292
Why would I not?

00:36:32.632 --> 00:36:38.732
After Alan kills the hitchhiker, the voice and the light tell him, he did a good job, and he can go back to a dream now.

00:36:39.432 --> 00:36:46.912
And as the voice and light float away, Alan is like, well, that sucked, but the last safe place to go is the lighthouse.

00:36:46.932 --> 00:36:49.612
So he's like, all right, let's fucking go to the lighthouse, I guess.

00:36:50.292 --> 00:36:58.292
Alan loads up on loose revolver ammo and energizer batteries and heads down, you know, because there's always a man in a lighthouse.

00:36:58.352 --> 00:36:58.712
Right.

00:36:59.392 --> 00:37:08.612
Alan makes it to the lighthouse, and as he explores into the depths of the tower, he winces as he hears an old woman's voice say, he's here.

00:37:09.632 --> 00:37:10.612
The screen goes black.

00:37:11.652 --> 00:37:16.672
In our state of darkness, Alan hears a familiar voice, Alice Wake, his wife.

00:37:16.832 --> 00:37:17.432
Okay, good.

00:37:17.512 --> 00:37:18.652
She's like, wake up.

00:37:18.872 --> 00:37:22.272
And in this light, we get a better look at Alan, you know, Ilkaville.

00:37:23.072 --> 00:37:28.412
Sam Lake said he wanted Alan to look like a rock star writer, just very of this era.

00:37:29.272 --> 00:37:35.512
So his jacket has elbow pads, which Sam Lake like fully went all in on, and was like, this is going to make him look fucking cool.

00:37:35.592 --> 00:37:36.432
Like Burberry?

00:37:37.472 --> 00:37:37.832
No.

00:37:38.112 --> 00:37:40.012
Okay, not that fancy elbow pads.

00:37:40.012 --> 00:37:41.472
It's more like Professor.

00:37:41.492 --> 00:37:46.532
It's giving Professor Mosby, if you kind of think about in How I Met Your Mother, how he had the jacket with elbow pads and shit.

00:37:46.552 --> 00:37:46.892
Got it.

00:37:47.212 --> 00:37:54.512
Stylistically, they found a lot of images of Bono and other rock stars in that world for the stylist look of Alan.

00:37:55.552 --> 00:37:58.412
He's kind of got a hoodie and then a jacket on and jeans.

00:37:58.512 --> 00:38:00.552
He's in jeans this entire time, by the way.

00:38:00.572 --> 00:38:02.952
So imagine being in the woods in jeans.

00:38:03.552 --> 00:38:04.072
It's awful.

00:38:04.092 --> 00:38:05.152
You hate jeans in general.

00:38:05.172 --> 00:38:06.312
Imagine being in jeans.

00:38:07.692 --> 00:38:10.172
Now, Alice, as we look at her, she's a blonde white woman.

00:38:10.432 --> 00:38:11.312
She's pretty.

00:38:11.312 --> 00:38:12.212
She's cute.

00:38:12.532 --> 00:38:14.292
And she is a photographer.

00:38:14.452 --> 00:38:18.372
And she actually does all of the art layouts for Alan's books.

00:38:18.992 --> 00:38:19.512
Oh, OK.

00:38:19.612 --> 00:38:19.992
Yeah.

00:38:20.052 --> 00:38:25.092
She's really supported Alan's writing career and has taken a big backseat to his success.

00:38:25.392 --> 00:38:26.932
They're both kind of in their mid-30s.

00:38:28.272 --> 00:38:31.912
Alan wakes up in a car, and Alice is like, hey, get up, we're almost here.

00:38:32.292 --> 00:38:38.212
And then we see the car is on a boat, and we're on a barge heading into a small town, Bright Falls.

00:38:39.672 --> 00:38:45.732
Bright Falls is also, in addition to The Ring, majorly inspired by Crater Lake in Washington.

00:38:46.492 --> 00:38:50.832
And you know, like, life is strange, oxen free, fucking heavy rain.

00:38:52.212 --> 00:39:02.972
So Remedy's art team flew out to the Pacific Northwest, and over the course of two weeks, drove over 2,000 miles, exploring the area and getting reference shots for the games.

00:39:03.072 --> 00:39:03.932
Holy shit.

00:39:04.052 --> 00:39:05.372
Sam Lake was not invited.

00:39:05.992 --> 00:39:06.392
Really?

00:39:06.412 --> 00:39:07.652
Yeah, he didn't go.

00:39:09.152 --> 00:39:10.392
For his own game?

00:39:10.512 --> 00:39:11.372
He was writing.

00:39:12.292 --> 00:39:13.032
Yeah, but like...

00:39:13.232 --> 00:39:20.192
You think he'd want to go for atmosphere and for language, like talk to the locals, find some colloquialisms, cute shit like that.

00:39:20.252 --> 00:39:22.292
And you can write it off, like shit.

00:39:23.052 --> 00:39:26.332
They had $7 million, like, fly my boy out.

00:39:27.352 --> 00:39:29.892
And like, you know, that's kind of the thing.

00:39:30.132 --> 00:39:36.092
Sam Lake based both Max Payne games in New York and hadn't actually been there at the time of production.

00:39:36.112 --> 00:39:41.012
Like, he's been there since, like, he's done Tribeca, but he wrote Max Payne from across the pond.

00:39:41.072 --> 00:39:46.812
Like, he based all his knowledge of New York based on, like, Friends, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, How I Met Your Mother.

00:39:46.832 --> 00:39:47.832
Oh, my gosh.

00:39:47.852 --> 00:39:48.592
Shit like that.

00:39:48.612 --> 00:39:50.112
Just off American television.

00:39:50.132 --> 00:39:50.532
Yeah.

00:39:50.892 --> 00:39:54.992
I'm also naming sitcoms that are famously based in New York, filmed in LA.

00:39:55.012 --> 00:39:55.932
So fuck you.

00:39:57.592 --> 00:40:00.532
Alan gets out of the car and is like, I'm walking here.

00:40:00.632 --> 00:40:01.812
I'm a New Yorker.

00:40:03.012 --> 00:40:06.432
And Alice is like, go make friends with this old man on the boat.

00:40:06.532 --> 00:40:07.712
I think it's gonna be cute.

00:40:07.952 --> 00:40:11.052
Now, I'm gonna take a beat just to talk about Alan and Alice.

00:40:11.072 --> 00:40:13.172
So there's some things you can kind of read between the lines.

00:40:13.692 --> 00:40:16.952
They've been married for a minute, no kids, dual income, no kids.

00:40:17.652 --> 00:40:19.212
Their marriage is a little rough right now.

00:40:19.232 --> 00:40:20.032
Ooh, okay.

00:40:20.112 --> 00:40:25.092
Yeah, they are kind of on like a reboot honeymoon situation.

00:40:25.112 --> 00:40:29.372
They wanted to get somewhere quiet and rekindle a little love.

00:40:29.412 --> 00:40:32.672
So I think they're both kind of putting some effort in, you know?

00:40:32.692 --> 00:40:34.292
This is the save the marriage trip?

00:40:35.092 --> 00:40:35.452
Okay.

00:40:36.532 --> 00:40:42.332
So on the boat, there's another adult man in camo who's like kind of by himself, quiet, looking out on the water, watching it.

00:40:42.712 --> 00:40:44.712
And there's this old man kind of up at the front.

00:40:45.272 --> 00:40:46.932
Alice is like, go stand near the old man.

00:40:46.952 --> 00:40:47.792
I'm going to take a picture.

00:40:47.812 --> 00:40:48.612
You guys are cute.

00:40:48.772 --> 00:40:50.292
Alice is a professional photographer.

00:40:50.392 --> 00:40:51.312
She thinks this is funny.

00:40:51.752 --> 00:40:54.012
Well, yeah, the guy in camo wouldn't show up in the picture.

00:40:54.032 --> 00:40:55.572
So he's not a fucking vampire.

00:40:55.592 --> 00:40:56.392
He's just a dork.

00:40:58.412 --> 00:41:03.352
Alan goes up to this old man who is like, oh, my God, Deerfest is two weeks away.

00:41:03.792 --> 00:41:05.052
Wait, I know you.

00:41:05.212 --> 00:41:06.152
You're Alan Wake.

00:41:06.592 --> 00:41:07.472
I'm Pat Main.

00:41:07.512 --> 00:41:09.212
I'm the local radio host.

00:41:09.252 --> 00:41:11.332
There's always a local famous person.

00:41:11.352 --> 00:41:11.692
Right.

00:41:11.992 --> 00:41:16.152
He's like, I would love if you don't mind coming up for an interview.

00:41:16.572 --> 00:41:17.672
You're such a big writer.

00:41:17.692 --> 00:41:18.832
I fucking love your work.

00:41:19.172 --> 00:41:21.432
I have dozens of listeners.

00:41:21.452 --> 00:41:22.052
Sounds like us.

00:41:24.392 --> 00:41:27.012
And Alan was like, hey, man, I'm not doing interviews.

00:41:27.152 --> 00:41:28.352
I'm trying to save my marriage.

00:41:28.592 --> 00:41:30.072
My wife clearly fucking hates me.

00:41:30.672 --> 00:41:32.172
Why else would I be here?

00:41:32.332 --> 00:41:33.872
And he's like, all right, I respect it.

00:41:33.892 --> 00:41:34.612
You're laying low.

00:41:34.632 --> 00:41:37.212
But if you feel like it again, my name is Pat Main.

00:41:37.232 --> 00:41:37.972
I'm on the radio.

00:41:40.852 --> 00:41:44.932
Alan is tense, and he clearly doesn't want to be on vacation.

00:41:44.972 --> 00:41:48.332
He's just a gruff New Yorker who wants to focus on business.

00:41:48.592 --> 00:41:51.412
He's the guy that gets dumped in the Hallmark holiday movies.

00:41:51.972 --> 00:41:52.512
It sucks.

00:41:52.892 --> 00:41:54.752
He would actually like to go to that interview.

00:41:55.172 --> 00:41:56.052
Yeah, probably.

00:41:56.072 --> 00:41:59.892
He'd be like, excuse me, an hour away from the fucking Mrs.

00:42:00.092 --> 00:42:02.472
Is that Gen X humor of like hating your partner?

00:42:03.672 --> 00:42:07.692
Speaking of business, Alan's business manager, Barry, calls him.

00:42:07.852 --> 00:42:09.792
Barry is like, hey, man, how's vacation?

00:42:09.872 --> 00:42:10.512
Are you writing?

00:42:10.632 --> 00:42:11.412
Are you writing more?

00:42:11.492 --> 00:42:12.692
Are you making me a new book?

00:42:12.692 --> 00:42:13.352
Are you working?

00:42:13.572 --> 00:42:15.892
Because if you don't work, neither of us gets paid.

00:42:16.772 --> 00:42:21.272
Anyway, Alan blows him off, and then Barry starts texting him to be like, I guess say hi to your wife.

00:42:22.492 --> 00:42:26.752
Alice and Barry do not like each other, but Alan and Barry are homies.

00:42:26.952 --> 00:42:32.392
They are best friends, and Barry is just like a real fast-talking agent kind of deal.

00:42:32.432 --> 00:42:33.452
He's wonderful.

00:42:33.472 --> 00:42:34.432
I fucking love Barry.

00:42:35.012 --> 00:42:37.032
I couldn't have a friend that hated you.

00:42:37.892 --> 00:42:38.252
Yeah.

00:42:38.432 --> 00:42:39.752
You know, I was thinking about it.

00:42:39.772 --> 00:42:40.692
No, yeah, I get that.

00:42:40.712 --> 00:42:43.772
No, I couldn't have a friend and keep them around if they didn't like you.

00:42:43.832 --> 00:42:45.432
I think all my friends liked you.

00:42:45.572 --> 00:42:45.972
Yeah.

00:42:46.152 --> 00:42:47.932
They've at least never said anything.

00:42:47.952 --> 00:42:48.212
Yeah.

00:42:49.412 --> 00:42:51.612
If they don't like you, they've been very polite.

00:42:51.632 --> 00:42:51.932
Right.

00:42:52.772 --> 00:42:53.852
Anyway, the boat lands.

00:42:54.032 --> 00:43:03.872
They get off the boat with their car, and Alice sends Alan into a diner to pick up the keys to their cabin while she fills up the car, gets like water bottles, you know, does the whole like, we're going to get settled.

00:43:03.892 --> 00:43:05.312
We'll be here for like a week, whatever.

00:43:06.272 --> 00:43:13.352
Alan enters the sweet, tiny town diner called the Oh Dear Diner, and it's exactly what you want in a small town.

00:43:13.632 --> 00:43:17.012
There's lots of coffee, gruff regulars, the usual stuff.

00:43:17.912 --> 00:43:23.832
As soon as he walks in the diner, he looks to his left, and the most embarrassing shit on earth is there.

00:43:24.012 --> 00:43:34.272
It is a cardboard cutout of Alan holding his last book, like the kind you would see at a fucking bookstore signing, like marketing materials in a diner.

00:43:34.472 --> 00:43:36.312
This is mortifying.

00:43:36.792 --> 00:43:38.072
Why is that there?

00:43:38.312 --> 00:43:44.472
The waitress on duty in an old timey waitress outfit, like with the fucking hat and the apron and shit, you know what I mean?

00:43:45.372 --> 00:43:46.132
Her name is Rose.

00:43:46.292 --> 00:43:51.572
She turns around, clocks him, and immediately starts fangirling like crazy.

00:43:51.592 --> 00:43:53.872
Like she is so wet, it looks like her water broke.

00:43:54.112 --> 00:43:57.512
She is like, I am your biggest fucking fan.

00:43:57.692 --> 00:43:59.412
I've read all your books.

00:43:59.752 --> 00:44:01.652
I run a fan website.

00:44:02.032 --> 00:44:03.092
I love you.

00:44:03.152 --> 00:44:06.332
And he's like, I've been in town for two minutes.

00:44:07.372 --> 00:44:10.632
What writer has this kind of a following first off?

00:44:10.652 --> 00:44:12.252
Does anyone want to fuck writers?

00:44:13.632 --> 00:44:14.932
Are they fuckable people?

00:44:14.952 --> 00:44:18.972
I feel like I've never seen a writer where I've been like, damn, can get it, you know?

00:44:19.432 --> 00:44:25.472
Like even at the height of Harry Potter, before she found out she was a transphobe, no one was trying to lick JK.

00:44:25.492 --> 00:44:26.632
Rowling's asshole.

00:44:26.632 --> 00:44:27.092
No.

00:44:28.372 --> 00:44:29.172
George RR.

00:44:29.192 --> 00:44:30.592
Martin is not dripping.

00:44:32.652 --> 00:44:34.232
If it is, it's not really in pussy.

00:44:34.252 --> 00:44:35.692
No, it's just sweat.

00:44:37.232 --> 00:44:39.492
It's hot in there under all that pressure, I see you.

00:44:39.812 --> 00:44:44.812
But yeah, no, they really tried to make it be like, no, he is a rock star in the literary world.

00:44:44.832 --> 00:44:49.032
He is like the bad boy of fucking crime novels.

00:44:49.052 --> 00:44:50.572
I'm sorry, it's so absurd to say.

00:44:50.912 --> 00:44:54.712
But yeah, he is apparently the world's most fuckable writer.

00:44:55.292 --> 00:44:59.472
And Rose is trying to fuck him so fucking hard.

00:44:59.772 --> 00:45:00.732
In front of his wife.

00:45:01.132 --> 00:45:02.332
His wife's not here right now.

00:45:02.352 --> 00:45:03.772
She's filling up the car with gas.

00:45:04.292 --> 00:45:05.172
Alan's by himself.

00:45:05.492 --> 00:45:07.372
And Alan's like, I'm going to divert this.

00:45:07.592 --> 00:45:09.032
I'm looking for Carl Stuckey.

00:45:09.092 --> 00:45:10.432
I'm renting one of his cabin.

00:45:10.692 --> 00:45:13.732
He said he would be here and would hand off my keys in the cabin.

00:45:14.212 --> 00:45:16.072
Rose is like, I have all of your books.

00:45:16.372 --> 00:45:23.932
And after the last one, I finessed the bookstore to give me the cardboard cutout so I could bring it to the restaurant and I could stare at you every shift.

00:45:25.232 --> 00:45:26.752
She is squealing.

00:45:26.772 --> 00:45:28.512
And then she's like, oh my God, is your wife here?

00:45:28.532 --> 00:45:30.012
I get off at six.

00:45:31.232 --> 00:45:32.132
Dear God.

00:45:32.492 --> 00:45:34.992
She really just like was like, I know you're married.

00:45:35.012 --> 00:45:36.352
I'm going to shoot my shot.

00:45:37.072 --> 00:45:37.552
Okay.

00:45:38.092 --> 00:45:42.812
He goes, okay, we will keep that in mind, but where's Carl Stucky?

00:45:42.832 --> 00:45:43.912
I just want to get my keys.

00:45:44.072 --> 00:45:45.572
Oh my God, I'm going to get assaulted.

00:45:45.592 --> 00:45:47.232
He's like, she's going to R word me.

00:45:49.372 --> 00:45:56.752
Among the regulars, there are two aging punk rockers in the back who ask Alan to put on a song on the jukebox.

00:45:56.772 --> 00:45:58.812
These are also some of my favorite characters.

00:45:59.292 --> 00:46:01.892
They are in their twilight years and one has an eye patch.

00:46:01.892 --> 00:46:04.712
And they are like, they look like biker punks.

00:46:04.732 --> 00:46:07.592
They're all in like leather and black bandanas.

00:46:07.612 --> 00:46:08.312
You get it.

00:46:09.532 --> 00:46:13.492
They are old brothers, and they are messy and fun and loud.

00:46:13.732 --> 00:46:15.592
These are the Anderson brothers.

00:46:15.872 --> 00:46:18.292
One is named Tor and the other is named Odin.

00:46:18.772 --> 00:46:26.072
They're in a band called the Old Guards of Asgard, a band that was huge in the 70s and then settled down in Bright Falls.

00:46:26.672 --> 00:46:27.472
They are wonderful.

00:46:27.552 --> 00:46:30.412
They are a big part of the Remedy Universe, and I love them.

00:46:31.492 --> 00:46:34.392
A cop at the counter is like, oh, they're patients of Dr.

00:46:34.412 --> 00:46:34.912
Hartman.

00:46:34.932 --> 00:46:35.972
He's going to pick them up soon.

00:46:35.992 --> 00:46:37.692
Don't worry about these two fucking weirdos.

00:46:38.872 --> 00:46:42.752
Alan is creeped out, annoyed over everything.

00:46:42.772 --> 00:46:43.692
He's getting hit on.

00:46:43.712 --> 00:46:51.152
He's getting obsessed on by this definitely stalker, and he just wants to get his goddamn keys so he could make his goddamn wife love him again.

00:46:52.132 --> 00:46:54.672
So he goes towards the back, towards like where the bathrooms are.

00:46:54.692 --> 00:46:55.812
He's like, maybe crawls back here.

00:46:55.832 --> 00:46:59.252
I don't know, knocking on the fucking shitter door is worth it to get away from this bitch.

00:47:00.632 --> 00:47:07.192
There's an older kind of middle-aged woman hovering by the dark hallway who tells Alan that he needs to be careful.

00:47:07.412 --> 00:47:08.552
He could get hurt in the dark.

00:47:10.092 --> 00:47:14.452
She looks scared and frail, and Alan is like, okay, lady, I fucking hate it here.

00:47:14.772 --> 00:47:15.972
I want to go back to New York.

00:47:16.772 --> 00:47:20.272
This lady is Cynthia Weaver, who is a bit of a local historian.

00:47:21.212 --> 00:47:27.312
Alan goes down the hallway and knocks on the bathroom door asking for Carl because he's like, this is, I'm not talking about, god damn it.

00:47:27.972 --> 00:47:36.292
But a woman, fully clothed in a black, like complete funeral veil outfit, opens the door and hands Alan a card with keys.

00:47:37.172 --> 00:47:38.892
She says she'll check up on them later.

00:47:39.292 --> 00:47:43.272
Alan's like, okay, you look like death itself, but whatever, I have the keys.

00:47:43.292 --> 00:47:44.412
I'm getting the fuck out of here.

00:47:45.872 --> 00:47:52.972
Sam Lake has said this lady was partially inspired by the Baba Yaga, and her name is Barbara Yager.

00:47:56.232 --> 00:47:57.592
Damn, you know what I love about it?

00:47:57.932 --> 00:47:58.552
The subtlety.

00:48:01.512 --> 00:48:07.872
So the Baba Yaga is kind of just like a creepy old bitch who is sometimes a house and is sometimes John Wick.

00:48:10.612 --> 00:48:13.532
I believe there is a Baba Yaga in Final Fantasy VII, right?

00:48:13.552 --> 00:48:15.012
Oh yeah, there's Baba Yaga's.

00:48:15.792 --> 00:48:23.372
As Alan starts to leave the diner, Odin Anderson calls Alan by the name Tom, and he says, I haven't seen you in a while, Tom.

00:48:23.892 --> 00:48:24.532
That's weird.

00:48:24.732 --> 00:48:26.232
Alan's like, I fucking hate this.

00:48:26.252 --> 00:48:26.832
Let's go.

00:48:27.312 --> 00:48:29.312
He gets in the car with Alice and they drive off.

00:48:30.452 --> 00:48:35.692
As they do, Carl Stuckey runs out of the diner and says, wait, you forgot your keys.

00:48:36.112 --> 00:48:40.572
And we know it's Carl Stuckey because he's got like a little mechanic outfit on with his name plastered all over it.

00:48:41.632 --> 00:48:42.672
They're already gone.

00:48:43.812 --> 00:48:46.352
Alan tells Alice that diner was a fucking nuthouse.

00:48:46.912 --> 00:48:52.652
Alice giggles and tells Alan, this town is so cute, and it could be a great setting for a book.

00:48:53.452 --> 00:48:55.532
Alan is like, absolutely fucking not.

00:48:55.552 --> 00:48:56.492
We're on vacation.

00:48:56.712 --> 00:48:57.712
I refuse to work.

00:48:57.912 --> 00:48:58.732
God damn it.

00:48:59.592 --> 00:49:02.752
Internally, he's like, honestly, I don't want to fucking talk about work.

00:49:03.192 --> 00:49:08.772
I'm a successful writer, but I haven't written a goddamn word since my last book two years ago.

00:49:08.792 --> 00:49:09.832
Oh shit.

00:49:09.972 --> 00:49:17.452
Alan is in some crazy writer's block and has been so messy since his last novel was published two years ago, The Sudden Stop.

00:49:19.072 --> 00:49:22.872
Which is, like, very ironic, considering it was the sudden stop of his work.

00:49:22.972 --> 00:49:31.272
Yeah, and this last novel, he wrote all these crime novels surrounding this one detective, Alex Casey, and he was just like, I'm fucking sick of it.

00:49:31.292 --> 00:49:33.972
So in The Sudden Stop, he killed off Alex Casey.

00:49:34.452 --> 00:49:35.812
Oh, very Sherlock Holmes.

00:49:35.832 --> 00:49:37.392
Yeah, just to be like, I'm done with this character.

00:49:37.412 --> 00:49:38.332
I have to do something else.

00:49:38.372 --> 00:49:40.912
And then he looked out and went, oh, no.

00:49:43.612 --> 00:49:44.492
Now what do I do?

00:49:45.572 --> 00:49:51.652
Alan and Alice make it to the cabin which is on this small, tiny island on Cauldron Lake all by itself.

00:49:51.752 --> 00:49:54.292
It's literally like one island on one cabin.

00:49:54.892 --> 00:49:56.812
And there's a sign that says Divers Isle.

00:49:57.332 --> 00:49:59.652
Alice is like, oh, my God, we have a private island.

00:49:59.672 --> 00:50:00.692
This is fucking sick.

00:50:01.112 --> 00:50:03.012
Alan's like, it's not goddamn Fiji.

00:50:03.312 --> 00:50:03.892
Calm down.

00:50:04.252 --> 00:50:05.492
I see some issues here, though.

00:50:06.412 --> 00:50:08.272
Alice is terrified of the dark.

00:50:08.292 --> 00:50:11.312
Like she will have a genuine panic attack if she's in the dark.

00:50:11.612 --> 00:50:15.332
So he has to run over into the island and turn on the lights before the sun goes down.

00:50:15.912 --> 00:50:19.012
There's some crows all over the island, probably not foreshadowing.

00:50:20.072 --> 00:50:28.872
Alan goes up, he's like, all right, I'm gonna go hit the lights, and leaves Alice to take all their luggage from the car over a bridge into the island.

00:50:29.572 --> 00:50:33.812
Yeah, Alan is not really doing well in my book right now.

00:50:33.972 --> 00:50:35.892
You don't think he's like connecting well with his girl?

00:50:36.032 --> 00:50:38.292
Not in one bit whatsoever.

00:50:38.372 --> 00:50:40.572
Even with him like, no, I'm not gonna work.

00:50:41.892 --> 00:50:44.792
He's still doing a terrible job of trying to connect with her.

00:50:44.792 --> 00:50:46.052
Yeah, he said it like a dick.

00:50:46.072 --> 00:50:50.252
There's a difference between like, we're here to relax between or like, can you not?

00:50:50.532 --> 00:50:51.032
Yeah.

00:50:51.992 --> 00:50:53.792
So the cabin's lights are blown.

00:50:53.812 --> 00:50:56.392
So of course, Alan has to find the fuse box.

00:50:56.432 --> 00:50:58.772
And what does every game have?

00:50:59.412 --> 00:51:01.652
Oh my God, is there a goddamn generator?

00:51:01.672 --> 00:51:02.792
Of course there is.

00:51:02.812 --> 00:51:04.832
There's always a goddamn generator.

00:51:05.552 --> 00:51:07.652
This cabin is an absolute relic.

00:51:07.672 --> 00:51:11.992
Like he even finds a calendar from 1970 inside.

00:51:12.132 --> 00:51:12.512
Wow.

00:51:12.932 --> 00:51:21.252
As he wanders around, Alan has a sudden flash of a woman, all in black, the same one that he saw at the fucking diner, but barely for a split second.

00:51:21.672 --> 00:51:23.912
It's just a jump scare, but it's cool, so deal with it.

00:51:24.732 --> 00:51:29.892
There's some silly stuff out here, like there's taxidermy, there's like fancy plates, you know, like old shit.

00:51:30.152 --> 00:51:37.292
There's a box of books written by someone named Thomas Zane, you know, which is weird, because that's what the Anderson brothers were calling him.

00:51:37.372 --> 00:51:38.332
And whatever, it's fine.

00:51:38.352 --> 00:51:39.052
It's probably nothing.

00:51:39.072 --> 00:51:40.112
It's probably not connected.

00:51:41.612 --> 00:51:47.632
So Alan gets the generator going, gets the lights on, and Alice is like, OK, I may enter the cabin now that the lights are on.

00:51:47.872 --> 00:51:48.632
Thanks, babe.

00:51:48.992 --> 00:51:53.292
I will unpack and do all of the work while you go do boy stuff.

00:51:53.892 --> 00:52:01.532
So Alan goes to do boy stuff and just stands at the edge of the lake, looking on and thinking about resting while his wife unpacks.

00:52:02.732 --> 00:52:04.612
I kind of hate Alan too, actually.

00:52:05.072 --> 00:52:05.992
He's not great.

00:52:06.072 --> 00:52:07.132
He's not fuckable.

00:52:07.392 --> 00:52:11.072
No, it's like going grocery shopping and then just leaving the other person to put it all away.

00:52:11.632 --> 00:52:13.472
Just staring at them and watching them.

00:52:13.492 --> 00:52:15.052
Yeah, talking to them while they do it.

00:52:15.232 --> 00:52:17.052
Complaining about how you don't want to work.

00:52:18.332 --> 00:52:23.392
After standing outside for what seems like an hour or two, Alan goes back into the cabin to look for Alice.

00:52:24.192 --> 00:52:31.212
He can turn on the radio where he hears the radio host Pat Main talking about, you know, a cough cough famous writer he met on the ferry.

00:52:31.812 --> 00:52:37.332
And then Pat Main takes a call from Rose from the diner who goes, It was Alan Wake.

00:52:37.352 --> 00:52:37.912
I saw him.

00:52:37.932 --> 00:52:43.432
I'm trying to triangulate his fucking exact whereabouts so I can touch him and like smell him and shit.

00:52:43.592 --> 00:52:45.932
She's stalking him so publicly.

00:52:46.032 --> 00:52:46.972
It's so uncomfy.

00:52:47.372 --> 00:52:48.292
So the word's out.

00:52:48.692 --> 00:52:49.432
Yeah, right.

00:52:49.552 --> 00:52:50.432
Immediately.

00:52:51.612 --> 00:52:54.952
Alice calls down to Alan and is like, Hey, baby, come upstairs.

00:52:54.972 --> 00:52:56.152
I have a surprise for you.

00:52:57.152 --> 00:53:01.912
Alan sprints like his life fucking depends on it because I'm sure they haven't had sex in months.

00:53:01.932 --> 00:53:02.232
Right.

00:53:02.712 --> 00:53:04.092
And Alice is sitting on the bed.

00:53:04.392 --> 00:53:06.972
No bra, white tank top, black panties.

00:53:07.132 --> 00:53:11.832
Like she looks like Ellen Ripley without the merkin in Alien.

00:53:12.712 --> 00:53:14.492
And she goes, I'm not your surprise.

00:53:14.512 --> 00:53:15.312
Go in the study.

00:53:15.892 --> 00:53:16.832
Come on, bitch.

00:53:16.992 --> 00:53:19.272
Put on some fucking pants if you're not the goddamn surprise.

00:53:19.292 --> 00:53:20.412
Is it the surprise that we're not fucking?

00:53:20.812 --> 00:53:21.712
Oh, because that's not a surprise.

00:53:21.732 --> 00:53:23.092
We clearly haven't had sex in seven months.

00:53:23.292 --> 00:53:24.612
That's why we're on a fucking vacation.

00:53:25.272 --> 00:53:29.672
Anyway, Alan goes in the study and sees a typewriter.

00:53:30.472 --> 00:53:32.252
Alice follows him and goes, surprise.

00:53:32.312 --> 00:53:36.132
I figured on this vacation, you could start writing and get your groove back.

00:53:36.432 --> 00:53:40.092
You've been in this horrible funk for two years, and you're driving me fucking crazy, babe.

00:53:40.112 --> 00:53:43.292
Oh, so she's trying to, like, re-inspire him.

00:53:43.872 --> 00:53:44.992
Alan hates that.

00:53:45.512 --> 00:53:48.592
He turns around and he goes, god damn it, Alice.

00:53:48.612 --> 00:53:50.292
Everyone's on my dick about everything.

00:53:51.012 --> 00:53:51.252
Ah!

00:53:51.392 --> 00:53:56.672
He's just, he has a fucking meltdown at the notion of his wife supporting his career.

00:53:57.072 --> 00:53:59.092
Alice is like, okay, you need to shut the fuck up.

00:53:59.412 --> 00:54:00.652
There's a doctor in town.

00:54:00.672 --> 00:54:01.372
His name is Dr.

00:54:01.392 --> 00:54:01.772
Hartman.

00:54:01.772 --> 00:54:09.352
He's a therapist, and he specializes in helping artists reclaim their art through therapy and unpacking the stress around creation.

00:54:09.932 --> 00:54:15.292
And Alan interrupts her, red flag, and screams, so you want to have me committed.

00:54:16.252 --> 00:54:17.992
Okay, that's not what's happening here.

00:54:19.432 --> 00:54:25.472
As he screams in his sweet wife's face for trying to support him, the lights start flickering.

00:54:26.072 --> 00:54:34.392
Alice gets scared immediately, and once the lights come back on, he's like, honestly, this sucks, this place sucks, this whole fucking island sucks, you suck.

00:54:34.592 --> 00:54:37.472
And he storms out of the cabin and into the island.

00:54:38.012 --> 00:54:41.432
He was kind of lied to about what this vacation was.

00:54:42.612 --> 00:54:44.152
That part I can get behind?

00:54:44.292 --> 00:54:48.012
Yeah, he's still not appropriate for how he's expressing himself.

00:54:48.032 --> 00:54:49.432
Not one bit whatsoever.

00:54:50.812 --> 00:54:59.012
So he runs out, and he's like, it's nighttime, so I know she won't follow me because she's scared of the dark, which is also kind of weaponizing her fears, and he admits to it, which I don't.

00:54:59.252 --> 00:55:00.392
I don't think I like Alan.

00:55:02.952 --> 00:55:03.792
Not yet, anyway.

00:55:03.812 --> 00:55:04.112
No.

00:55:04.472 --> 00:55:09.532
From the outside, he hears Alice screaming from inside the cabin, and he's like, what the fuck?

00:55:10.072 --> 00:55:10.472
Really?

00:55:11.152 --> 00:55:12.532
So she's screaming for Alan.

00:55:12.552 --> 00:55:13.512
Alan's running up.

00:55:13.592 --> 00:55:21.652
Once he gets back in the cabin, he sees that the balcony of the cabin is broken, and it looks like Alice has gone down into the lake from the cabin.

00:55:21.832 --> 00:55:22.572
Oh, shit.

00:55:23.292 --> 00:55:26.252
Alan dives into the water and blacks out.

00:55:27.452 --> 00:55:33.252
Alan wakes up to the sound of Alice's voice calling for him, but he's dry and he's in a crashed car.

00:55:34.512 --> 00:55:35.112
The fuck?

00:55:35.112 --> 00:55:38.792
He has no idea how he got there, but he knew Alice was in trouble and he had to find her.

00:55:39.992 --> 00:55:43.012
Alan gets out of the crashed car with this big gash on his head.

00:55:43.352 --> 00:55:48.192
It's night, he's alone in the woods, like the car spun out and went tumbling down.

00:55:49.112 --> 00:55:54.312
He leaves the crashed car, and Alan sees a book that belonged to his wife, written by Dr.

00:55:54.332 --> 00:55:56.752
Hartman, the artist doctor she wanted him to see.

00:55:56.792 --> 00:55:58.652
And he's like, oh, fuck this guy!

00:55:58.852 --> 00:56:01.632
She's reading his books and not mine!

00:56:01.652 --> 00:56:02.852
Oh my god.

00:56:04.032 --> 00:56:04.832
He's so upset.

00:56:05.152 --> 00:56:06.712
He's like, I gotta find this bitch and yell at her.

00:56:07.432 --> 00:56:13.432
There's a gas station down the way that he can kind of see through the distance, and he's like, alright, I'm bleeding, probably can cuss.

00:56:13.712 --> 00:56:15.032
Gotta find my wife so I can yell at her.

00:56:15.132 --> 00:56:15.852
Let's go that way.

00:56:17.212 --> 00:56:22.012
As Alan gets to the woods, a few loose sheets of paper land at his feet.

00:56:22.572 --> 00:56:27.532
They're from a manuscript called Departure, written by Alan Wake.

00:56:28.312 --> 00:56:32.012
Except Alan hadn't written that ever.

00:56:32.272 --> 00:56:33.852
He hasn't written anything in two years.

00:56:34.772 --> 00:56:43.172
He had written the title as Departure for his next work as kind of like a meta-commentary on departing from Alex Casey, but he hadn't started it at all.

00:56:43.192 --> 00:56:44.552
He hadn't even written that down.

00:56:44.572 --> 00:56:45.392
It was just in his head.

00:56:45.912 --> 00:56:50.152
His book titles are not subtle about like what's going on in his world.

00:56:51.372 --> 00:56:53.252
They're very reflective of the situation.

00:56:53.272 --> 00:56:54.192
I'll give you that, yeah.

00:56:54.212 --> 00:56:55.992
The Sudden End or whatever it was called?

00:56:56.012 --> 00:56:56.752
The Sudden Stop.

00:56:56.772 --> 00:56:59.172
The Sudden Stop and Departure.

00:56:59.172 --> 00:56:59.552
Yeah.

00:57:00.772 --> 00:57:01.792
I'm gonna give you a minor spoiler.

00:57:01.812 --> 00:57:03.452
You know what the book is called in Alan Wake 2?

00:57:03.512 --> 00:57:03.872
What?

00:57:03.872 --> 00:57:04.392
Return.

00:57:05.572 --> 00:57:07.632
I'm not surprised.

00:57:09.512 --> 00:57:14.792
Anyway, so he's finding these pages for a book called Departure, but again, it only sat in his head.

00:57:14.812 --> 00:57:16.672
He hadn't actually written it to paper yet.

00:57:17.392 --> 00:57:25.692
These pages show a hero getting followed by an axe murderer, which is not promising as good considering his current situation.

00:57:25.712 --> 00:57:26.052
Right.

00:57:26.752 --> 00:57:28.832
Alan is like, damn, that's crazy.

00:57:29.832 --> 00:57:33.112
Anyway, and he keeps running through the woods to get to the gas station.

00:57:33.652 --> 00:57:37.392
Now, Alan has been chided by players for not being particularly physical.

00:57:37.832 --> 00:57:39.312
Like, the sprint is not great.

00:57:39.312 --> 00:57:41.312
But again, he's in his mid-30s.

00:57:41.652 --> 00:57:42.632
He's in jeans.

00:57:43.512 --> 00:57:46.872
He just got out of a car accident in this specific thing, so we're just going to deal with that.

00:57:46.992 --> 00:57:48.392
And also, he's a fucking writer.

00:57:48.832 --> 00:57:51.592
Like, yeah, Max Payne is going to sprint faster than this guy.

00:57:52.052 --> 00:57:54.432
So he's moving like Henry from Bendy and the Ink Machine?

00:57:54.452 --> 00:57:57.612
That guy's 60.

00:57:57.652 --> 00:58:00.672
He's moving like someone in their mid-30s in Denim.

00:58:00.852 --> 00:58:01.232
Yeah.

00:58:03.632 --> 00:58:04.832
We're not built great.

00:58:05.552 --> 00:58:07.872
Alan gets down to a logging area.

00:58:08.332 --> 00:58:12.492
A man with darkness floating around him introduces himself as Carl Stuckey.

00:58:12.752 --> 00:58:17.492
But this dude is not the same way that we saw him when the player saw him earlier.

00:58:18.192 --> 00:58:22.652
Carl has an axe and keeps saying normal things, but is trying to kill you.

00:58:23.332 --> 00:58:31.152
He keeps saying things like premium cabins for rent, deposit is non-refundable, and then swinging an axe at Alan, which is crazy.

00:58:31.172 --> 00:58:36.812
So I'm going to take a beat to talk about what Alan is seeing, because this is truly Carl Stuckey.

00:58:36.852 --> 00:58:39.372
Like, hardcore, this is not a fake Carl Stuckey.

00:58:39.572 --> 00:58:41.132
This is the body of Carl Stuckey.

00:58:41.592 --> 00:58:43.792
He is possessed by the Dark Presence.

00:58:44.392 --> 00:58:48.992
However, while being possessed by the Dark Presence, your brain is still somewhat active.

00:58:49.312 --> 00:58:52.932
So when you see people possessed by the Dark Presence, they will say normal shit.

00:58:52.972 --> 00:58:54.592
They'll be like, how's the weather today?

00:58:54.672 --> 00:58:56.252
And then try to punch you in the dick.

00:58:56.692 --> 00:58:59.312
And it's so unsettling.

00:58:59.592 --> 00:59:02.372
Because the voice lines that will come out of these people are crazy.

00:59:02.372 --> 00:59:06.952
Like, Carl's literally like, hey, you guys should try Nordic walking.

00:59:07.232 --> 00:59:09.912
It's beautiful this time of year and great for your cholesterol.

00:59:09.952 --> 00:59:12.972
But he's like throwing shit at you to murder you.

00:59:13.472 --> 00:59:18.292
Because while the Dark Presence has a hold on your body, it is slowly sucking your soul and shit out of you.

00:59:18.312 --> 00:59:23.232
So you still have some semblance of who you are as a person and your function in this world.

00:59:23.572 --> 00:59:25.592
But you have no control over what you're doing.

00:59:25.852 --> 00:59:27.292
So it's very unsettling.

00:59:27.552 --> 00:59:29.592
Oh, that's got to be a nightmare inside your head.

00:59:29.612 --> 00:59:36.952
Yeah, but then it comes, you end up with these wild ass things where Alan's like desperately shooting at someone who's like, don't forget to wear sunscreen.

00:59:36.972 --> 00:59:38.492
And you're like, that's a nice sentiment.

00:59:38.972 --> 00:59:39.472
Why?

00:59:39.612 --> 00:59:42.852
Which really makes me think the real person might still be in there.

00:59:42.872 --> 00:59:45.352
They don't have to get murdered, but okay.

00:59:47.292 --> 00:59:48.512
No, we got to kill these motherfuckers.

00:59:48.532 --> 00:59:49.472
You're too optimistic.

00:59:50.332 --> 00:59:53.912
Alan tears ass to get away from him and manages to find a gun.

00:59:53.932 --> 00:59:59.772
So now our boy is armed with a Boy Scout ass, energizer, battery, flashlight, and a whole ass gun.

01:00:00.512 --> 01:00:02.732
So this is we get the tutorial again.

01:00:02.752 --> 01:00:04.652
Flashlight first, bang, bang, bang.

01:00:04.712 --> 01:00:05.292
You got him.

01:00:05.832 --> 01:00:08.412
You also have to do management of bullets and flashlight.

01:00:08.432 --> 01:00:09.712
Nothing is forever.

01:00:10.232 --> 01:00:10.712
You get it.

01:00:11.292 --> 01:00:13.412
Just like your energizer batteries, you got to replace them.

01:00:14.672 --> 01:00:18.052
Which I'm surprised energizer allowed that mechanic to be a thing.

01:00:18.072 --> 01:00:20.932
I know it's good because then you're looking for energizer batteries.

01:00:21.152 --> 01:00:23.632
I know, but then they're also like, our batteries don't wear out.

01:00:24.272 --> 01:00:26.012
Oh, that was their whole deal, huh?

01:00:26.032 --> 01:00:26.992
Yeah, they keep going.

01:00:27.012 --> 01:00:27.752
Fuck the rabbit.

01:00:29.912 --> 01:00:35.632
So these Dark Presence people are called The Taken because the Dark Presence has taken them.

01:00:36.692 --> 01:00:39.152
Alan's running through the woods to get to the gas station.

01:00:39.312 --> 01:00:40.332
Taken are showing up.

01:00:40.352 --> 01:00:41.552
They're trying to swing at him.

01:00:41.732 --> 01:00:42.832
He's running his hiding.

01:00:42.852 --> 01:00:50.012
And then we catch in one cabin area, the first episode of a live action TV in the game.

01:00:50.732 --> 01:00:57.012
There is a Twilight Zone inspired black and white sci-fi show that exists in this world called Night Springs.

01:00:57.572 --> 01:00:59.472
Which is kind of the inverse of Bright Falls.

01:00:59.652 --> 01:01:00.132
Yeah.

01:01:00.972 --> 01:01:02.212
It's exactly Twilight Zone.

01:01:02.512 --> 01:01:06.852
Down to the voiceover at the end being like, Whoa, that's fucking crazy in Night Springs.

01:01:07.892 --> 01:01:10.572
And Alan clocks us and is like, Oh, that's wild.

01:01:11.012 --> 01:01:13.532
When I started writing, I actually wrote a few episodes of that.

01:01:13.552 --> 01:01:15.192
Huh, it's probably nothing.

01:01:16.392 --> 01:01:21.632
Alan makes it to the gas station and basks in the light of all the electric forces around him.

01:01:21.652 --> 01:01:22.652
He's like, Oh, thank God.

01:01:23.132 --> 01:01:27.732
As he explores the gas station, he sees a sign that reads, Deer Fest in seven days.

01:01:28.392 --> 01:01:34.232
Now, when we were on the boat yesterday, Pat Maine said the Deer Fest was in two weeks.

01:01:34.432 --> 01:01:34.912
Yeah.

01:01:34.932 --> 01:01:35.892
Now it's a week away.

01:01:36.692 --> 01:01:44.672
Alan realizes he lost an entire week of time while he was blacked out between diving into the lake and waking up in the crashed car.

01:01:45.432 --> 01:01:46.112
Oh, shit.

01:01:46.352 --> 01:01:53.612
In the gas station, we also see one of the first of many very strange clips of Alan Wake himself.

01:01:54.472 --> 01:02:00.092
In this one, he's sitting down to write something in the study of the cabin at the typewriter Alice had presented to him.

01:02:00.732 --> 01:02:07.592
The TV footage of Alan shows him talking to himself, saying he's going to bring her back if he writes it, and the story will come true.

01:02:08.632 --> 01:02:10.752
Real-time Alan is like, What the fuck?

01:02:10.752 --> 01:02:11.612
That's crazy.

01:02:11.632 --> 01:02:12.852
That was me on TV.

01:02:12.872 --> 01:02:15.032
How did I get on TV?

01:02:15.032 --> 01:02:15.592
Oh, my God.

01:02:15.612 --> 01:02:17.592
I have so much fucking head drama right now.

01:02:18.292 --> 01:02:24.832
Unfortunately, the gas station is empty, but their phone is working, so Alan calls the cops on himself.

01:02:25.412 --> 01:02:25.752
Right.

01:02:25.772 --> 01:02:26.932
I guess he's the one shooting the gun.

01:02:27.692 --> 01:02:31.232
Shortly after, the sheriff, Sheriff Breaker, comes up.

01:02:31.732 --> 01:02:32.852
Her name is Sarah Breaker.

01:02:32.912 --> 01:02:33.772
She's a bad bitch.

01:02:33.792 --> 01:02:34.372
We trust her.

01:02:34.392 --> 01:02:34.792
We love her.

01:02:34.892 --> 01:02:35.352
Okay, good.

01:02:36.252 --> 01:02:51.792
Alan frantically tells Sheriff Breaker what happened and that Alice is missing, and they were in this cabin in the middle of Cauldron Lake, and Sheriff Breaker goes, Whoa, there hasn't been an island in Cauldron Lake since the 1970s when there's an eruption from a volcano, and the island was swallowed up by the lake.

01:02:52.572 --> 01:02:53.752
What the fuck are you talking about?

01:02:53.792 --> 01:02:57.552
Alan was like, No, no, no, Divers Isle in the middle of Cauldron Lake.

01:02:57.572 --> 01:02:59.492
I fucking rented it for Carl Stuckey.

01:02:59.512 --> 01:03:00.392
My wife and I are there.

01:03:00.392 --> 01:03:00.932
It's real.

01:03:01.532 --> 01:03:08.072
Sheriff Breaker notices Alan is bleeding pretty profusely from his head, and she's like, Okay, so I think I see what happened.

01:03:08.352 --> 01:03:09.712
Hey, have you seen Carl Stuckey?

01:03:09.732 --> 01:03:12.512
He runs this gas station, and I just want to check in on him.

01:03:13.032 --> 01:03:17.512
Alan is like, Well, I can't tell her that he was a possessed ghost and that I shot him.

01:03:17.672 --> 01:03:18.052
Right.

01:03:18.552 --> 01:03:19.972
No, I haven't seen him.

01:03:20.712 --> 01:03:22.252
Can you help me find my wife, please?

01:03:23.252 --> 01:03:30.532
Sheriff Breaker drives Alan to the edge of Cauldron Lake, and as Alan looks out, he sees there truly is no island.

01:03:30.932 --> 01:03:33.492
The island they were on is gone.

01:03:34.472 --> 01:03:35.552
End of episode one.

01:03:35.952 --> 01:03:37.292
What the fuck?

01:03:37.612 --> 01:03:39.872
Like such a little Twilight Zone moment.

01:03:40.932 --> 01:03:42.452
Episode two, taken.

01:03:42.852 --> 01:03:45.692
We actually start this one three years ago in New York City.

01:03:46.632 --> 01:03:49.052
Alan comes into his apartment with a bag of groceries.

01:03:49.272 --> 01:03:51.652
He's in the same outfit because he's a fucking cartoon character.

01:03:52.472 --> 01:03:59.152
He yells out to Alice that he's home, and the weather fucking sucks outside because we live in New York City, and it's raining half the fucking time.

01:03:59.892 --> 01:04:01.272
Alice is like, make coffee.

01:04:02.232 --> 01:04:09.712
Now, in Finland, I found out, they drink an average of four glasses of coffee per person every day.

01:04:10.552 --> 01:04:15.452
They fucking love coffee in Finland, so there's a lot of coffee in this.

01:04:15.452 --> 01:04:21.932
I think they're in the top two or three, if not the most consumed coffee per capita per country in the world.

01:04:22.012 --> 01:04:22.372
Really?

01:04:22.392 --> 01:04:23.272
That's wild.

01:04:23.292 --> 01:04:23.872
Yeah.

01:04:24.032 --> 01:04:28.152
There's so much footage of Sam Lake just drinking coffee and staring into a camera.

01:04:29.212 --> 01:04:33.612
There are 100 hidden coffee thermoses throughout this game that you can collect.

01:04:34.152 --> 01:04:35.112
Oh, is it the collectible?

01:04:35.132 --> 01:04:36.152
Yeah, just coffee.

01:04:36.172 --> 01:04:37.392
They fucking love coffee.

01:04:37.572 --> 01:04:42.772
And at one point, Remedy actually licensed a Bright Falls blend coffee in real life that you could buy.

01:04:42.792 --> 01:04:47.912
I was just about to ask about more licensing and wondering if it was Thermos brand thermoses as well.

01:04:49.052 --> 01:04:50.992
Oh, I bet you they tried.

01:04:52.172 --> 01:04:55.012
I bet they called Folgers and they're like, look, Verizon's in.

01:04:55.152 --> 01:04:55.732
Are you in?

01:04:55.752 --> 01:04:57.152
And they're like, who the fuck is that?

01:04:57.192 --> 01:04:58.372
Are you calling from Finland?

01:04:59.372 --> 01:05:00.132
Who are you?

01:05:01.092 --> 01:05:05.632
So it's super snowy and it's nighttime in their fancy New York high rise apartment.

01:05:06.312 --> 01:05:12.732
Alan gets the coffee on and checks on Alice, who's working on some cover mockups for Alan's latest novel, The Sudden Stop.

01:05:13.132 --> 01:05:17.412
We recognize this art is the same one that we use in the cardboard cutout in the diner.

01:05:18.072 --> 01:05:22.812
The lights suddenly go out and Alice starts screaming bloody fucking murder like a child.

01:05:23.352 --> 01:05:27.932
It's a weather power outage, and Alan flashes a flashlight into Alice's face to make her feel better.

01:05:28.392 --> 01:05:31.492
I would not feel better if you ever flashed a light directly into my eyes.

01:05:31.612 --> 01:05:33.752
Yeah, I don't see how that makes anybody feel better.

01:05:34.232 --> 01:05:39.332
They light a bunch of candles and lay on the couch all cuddly, you know, before their marriage fell apart.

01:05:40.192 --> 01:05:43.472
Alice lays on his chest and goes, Hey, tell me a story, writer.

01:05:43.492 --> 01:05:46.932
Alan's like, Hell yeah, I'm super self-indulgent.

01:05:46.952 --> 01:05:47.592
I got this.

01:05:48.252 --> 01:05:51.972
He tells her about when he was young, he would get these terrible nightmares.

01:05:52.452 --> 01:05:55.392
He was afraid of the dark and falling asleep into his nightmare world.

01:05:55.392 --> 01:05:59.172
So his mom found an old light switch and she called this the clicker.

01:05:59.752 --> 01:06:07.372
It's kind of like a lamp light switch, kind of not a button that goes off and on, but a little nubby that goes off and on.

01:06:09.212 --> 01:06:15.032
When he would get scared, he'd simply hit that clicker and the light from the magic clicker would scare the monsters away.

01:06:15.592 --> 01:06:20.252
And his dad gave it to him and he didn't know his dad, so it felt extra special.

01:06:21.192 --> 01:06:25.632
Then Alan produces the clicker from his coat and he goes, Here you go, Alice, maybe this will help.

01:06:26.372 --> 01:06:29.812
And she goes, Oh, my God, you are such a fucking liar, but I love you.

01:06:29.832 --> 01:06:30.652
We should make out.

01:06:31.732 --> 01:06:34.472
They make out and we see snow descend from the sky.

01:06:35.132 --> 01:06:42.872
Oh, now this cold clicker thing is cute, especially because growing up, Sam Lake loved collecting junk.

01:06:43.212 --> 01:06:44.292
He called it junk, not me.

01:06:44.692 --> 01:06:52.012
When he was a kid, his family rented a cabin in an apple farm, and Sam would explore the farm and was amused by all the weird little things.

01:06:52.572 --> 01:06:57.412
And the farmer who owned the land noticed this and would give Sam junk and little trinkets.

01:06:57.472 --> 01:06:59.832
And one was a clicker just like this.

01:07:00.172 --> 01:07:01.972
Oh, he fucking loved it.

01:07:03.852 --> 01:07:05.912
Which also is like, are you Alan Wake?

01:07:07.312 --> 01:07:08.312
Sam Lake.

01:07:08.932 --> 01:07:09.832
Alan Wake.

01:07:10.012 --> 01:07:10.412
Yeah.

01:07:10.432 --> 01:07:11.252
It's probably nothing.

01:07:12.832 --> 01:07:17.972
Now it's present day in Bright Falls, and Alan is getting checked out by a doctor, a real doctor, not Dr.

01:07:17.992 --> 01:07:23.392
Hartman, who's like the artist therapist, who's trying to figure out how bad this guy's head trauma is.

01:07:23.632 --> 01:07:25.492
Alan is like, I'm completely fine.

01:07:25.532 --> 01:07:28.032
I am free of all traumas.

01:07:28.052 --> 01:07:31.052
And the doctor is like, no, the fuck you're not, clearly.

01:07:31.232 --> 01:07:32.172
But you know what?

01:07:32.192 --> 01:07:33.132
You're probably fine.

01:07:33.152 --> 01:07:34.192
You got a couple of stitches.

01:07:35.172 --> 01:07:35.712
It's whatever.

01:07:36.532 --> 01:07:38.272
Just take it easy for a couple of days, OK?

01:07:38.392 --> 01:07:42.792
I know you're a big city boy, but you know, this isn't fucking New York City.

01:07:42.812 --> 01:07:44.652
Just, you know, watch your head.

01:07:45.492 --> 01:07:47.812
Alan exits the room, and they're in the sheriff's office.

01:07:48.332 --> 01:07:52.012
Here we see Cynthia Weaver, that old woman who warned Alan about the dark earlier.

01:07:52.652 --> 01:07:57.032
She's flicking the lights on and off at the sheriff's office, just flick flick, flick flick.

01:07:57.572 --> 01:08:01.632
And she's warning the officer at the desk that they need to have the bulbs checked regularly.

01:08:01.672 --> 01:08:02.932
They can't be left in the dark.

01:08:03.732 --> 01:08:10.592
After Cynthia Weaver leaves, the officer explains, that lady's, like, obsessed with lights in town and making sure we're never in the dark.

01:08:10.592 --> 01:08:11.612
It's totally nothing.

01:08:11.632 --> 01:08:12.792
She's just kooky, you know?

01:08:12.812 --> 01:08:14.032
Small town quirks.

01:08:14.252 --> 01:08:17.012
A lot of people have issues with light and darkness in this game already.

01:08:17.392 --> 01:08:19.212
It's pretty straightforward, yeah.

01:08:19.852 --> 01:08:23.792
Alan wanders around looking for Sheriff Breaker so he can continue the search for Alice.

01:08:24.412 --> 01:08:37.432
They talk, but Alan dances around the dark presence and all that stuff because he's like, I can't just fucking tell a normal person that I just met that people are being possessed, and by the darkness, they have to put fucking Energizer batteries on them to save them?

01:08:37.432 --> 01:08:38.572
Like, that's not a thing.

01:08:38.952 --> 01:08:41.692
So he's like, yeah, I don't know, people seem weird.

01:08:42.152 --> 01:08:43.672
Can you please help me find my wife?

01:08:43.892 --> 01:08:47.252
There was an island, I swear to God, and he's like, please, please, please.

01:08:47.532 --> 01:08:51.172
And then he gets a call from an unknown number and steps away from the sheriff.

01:08:52.092 --> 01:08:53.232
He picks up, he's like, what's up?

01:08:53.512 --> 01:08:54.532
And he hears Alice.

01:08:54.852 --> 01:08:56.212
Alice is like, Alan, help me.

01:08:56.592 --> 01:09:02.632
And then a man's voice comes over and is like, don't talk to the cops if you want your wife alive, Pally boy.

01:09:02.652 --> 01:09:04.152
He calls him Pally boy.

01:09:04.212 --> 01:09:04.892
Oh, really?

01:09:04.912 --> 01:09:06.732
Yeah, that wasn't hyperbole in my part.

01:09:06.752 --> 01:09:07.852
Oh god, that's awful.

01:09:07.952 --> 01:09:16.392
The voice instructs Alan to leave the police station and meet him at Lovers Peak in the National Park and to stay away from the cops and to come alone.

01:09:16.832 --> 01:09:18.252
You know, green flag stuff.

01:09:18.532 --> 01:09:20.812
Right, classic kidnapper behavior.

01:09:21.252 --> 01:09:25.492
Alan is like, I am absolutely down for this and starts following the instructions of the kidnapper.

01:09:26.052 --> 01:09:30.592
He follows the instructions, leaving the police station, and then we find another manuscript page.

01:09:30.792 --> 01:09:37.352
But this one is describing the kidnapper firing his gun at a shadow and saying, see, nothing to it, wake.

01:09:38.012 --> 01:09:40.952
It describes the kidnapper alone with Alan at Lever's Peak.

01:09:41.392 --> 01:09:44.292
It describes Alan demanding to know where his wife is.

01:09:45.612 --> 01:09:52.952
The manuscript here we're seeing is for the story called Departure, and now it seems to be shaping up the story of Alan Wake right now.

01:09:53.532 --> 01:09:55.392
Like that fucking Will Ferrell movie?

01:09:55.712 --> 01:09:56.632
Stranger Than Fiction?

01:09:57.152 --> 01:09:58.012
I haven't seen that.

01:09:58.012 --> 01:10:00.292
But you're not wrong at all.

01:10:01.972 --> 01:10:06.272
Alan finds Alice's driver's license on the path the kidnapper laid out.

01:10:06.472 --> 01:10:08.592
So now he knows this guy actually means business.

01:10:09.532 --> 01:10:11.432
And he's like, Oh my God.

01:10:11.652 --> 01:10:12.212
Holy shit.

01:10:12.232 --> 01:10:14.332
This guy told me to leave the police station through this door.

01:10:14.452 --> 01:10:16.332
I found my fucking wife's driver's license.

01:10:16.532 --> 01:10:17.272
This is for real.

01:10:18.012 --> 01:10:20.592
They hang up, and then Barry calls Alan.

01:10:20.712 --> 01:10:23.512
Barry is frantic and is like, What the fuck?

01:10:23.712 --> 01:10:26.492
I couldn't reach you or Alice for an entire week.

01:10:26.672 --> 01:10:27.532
I'm so scared.

01:10:27.692 --> 01:10:28.652
I fucking flew here.

01:10:28.752 --> 01:10:29.732
I flew to Washington.

01:10:29.972 --> 01:10:32.412
I'm in Washington for fucking God knows what.

01:10:32.672 --> 01:10:33.392
Are you dead?

01:10:34.352 --> 01:10:35.932
Alan is like, I am not dead.

01:10:36.432 --> 01:10:37.392
I am talking to you.

01:10:37.992 --> 01:10:39.612
Alan is like, I am at the police station.

01:10:39.632 --> 01:10:41.592
Come fucking get me and wear something pretty.

01:10:41.872 --> 01:10:42.452
Make haste.

01:10:42.972 --> 01:10:44.332
And wear something pretty.

01:10:45.772 --> 01:10:50.392
I do want to point out that Barry has the same energy as Matthew McConaughey in Tropic Thunder.

01:10:50.512 --> 01:10:55.092
I was just going to fucking say that.

01:10:55.112 --> 01:10:56.192
Can you describe that for me?

01:10:56.572 --> 01:11:02.352
Yeah, Matthew McConaughey in Tropic Thunder playing Ben Stiller's fucking agent.

01:11:03.292 --> 01:11:07.992
And the fact that he flies out to the middle of the jungle to get him his TiVo.

01:11:08.012 --> 01:11:08.472
Yeah.

01:11:09.332 --> 01:11:13.452
He's wearing a panda skin, and Matthew McConaughey is like, I brought you TiVo.

01:11:13.892 --> 01:11:16.372
No, Barry is like, I will come at the drop of a hat.

01:11:16.392 --> 01:11:19.452
I am your agent, and my paycheck relies on you.

01:11:19.772 --> 01:11:22.532
So I need to get your shit together, buddy.

01:11:22.552 --> 01:11:23.772
Oh, that's great.

01:11:24.292 --> 01:11:31.272
As Alan gets back to the police station to go through the building and meet Barry, there's an old man speaking to the front desk about Tor and Odin Anderson.

01:11:32.072 --> 01:11:33.592
Those old rocker dudes, my boyfriends.

01:11:33.932 --> 01:11:34.432
I love them.

01:11:34.452 --> 01:11:35.212
No, my grandpa's.

01:11:36.032 --> 01:11:38.972
He's clearly like, this guy is schmoozing the cops.

01:11:38.972 --> 01:11:43.712
And like, not to be dramatic, he's just like, you know, the boys were just on their last outing.

01:11:43.732 --> 01:11:44.452
They're silly boys.

01:11:44.472 --> 01:11:45.172
I'm gonna take them home.

01:11:45.192 --> 01:11:46.312
Everything's gonna be fine.

01:11:46.792 --> 01:11:50.572
The cop is like, you know, the Andersons never had any issues when they still lived at their farm.

01:11:50.592 --> 01:11:55.912
And the doctor guy, this is the doctor, I spoiled it, is like, look, it's fine.

01:11:56.532 --> 01:11:57.292
Everything's fine.

01:11:57.472 --> 01:11:57.892
We're good.

01:11:59.152 --> 01:12:01.632
Alan walks up and is like, hey, I can leave, right?

01:12:01.672 --> 01:12:03.432
I have my stitches, I'm good.

01:12:03.932 --> 01:12:06.992
Sheriff Breaker is like, you know, can we talk, though?

01:12:07.352 --> 01:12:09.112
Alan goes, am I under arrest, though?

01:12:09.132 --> 01:12:11.352
Am I being detained?

01:12:11.592 --> 01:12:14.712
The doctor interjects and is like, oh, hey, I'm Dr.

01:12:14.732 --> 01:12:15.412
Emil Hartman.

01:12:15.512 --> 01:12:18.172
I insist, please, you should come to Cauldron Lake Lodge.

01:12:18.672 --> 01:12:27.432
Alan looks at him, clocks him as the doctor that Alice was talking about, and immediately gets right the fuck up in his face and goes, did you talk to my wife?

01:12:28.712 --> 01:12:28.852
Dr.

01:12:28.872 --> 01:12:31.272
Hartman is like, oh, my God, yeah, I talked to Alice.

01:12:31.292 --> 01:12:34.512
We had a couple calls talking about your situation a few times.

01:12:34.852 --> 01:12:39.892
I actually invited her here to Bright Falls so she could come to our clinic and you could come to the clinic.

01:12:40.572 --> 01:12:49.632
And before he can finish that thought, Alan has punched the doctor square in the face right in front of the sheriff in the middle of the police station.

01:12:52.572 --> 01:12:54.632
So Alan's not a smart man.

01:12:55.532 --> 01:12:57.952
He's a writer, not anything else.

01:12:59.292 --> 01:13:00.172
He's impulsive.

01:13:00.512 --> 01:13:01.032
Dr.

01:13:01.052 --> 01:13:08.692
Hartman crumbles to the ground as a mouthy squat man bursts through the doors and says, Get your hands off my client.

01:13:09.072 --> 01:13:11.112
And of course, this is where we're meeting Barry.

01:13:11.452 --> 01:13:14.872
Barry walked in right when Alan punches someone square in the mouth.

01:13:15.832 --> 01:13:20.552
Barry introduces himself as Alan's agent, and he calls all the cops yokels.

01:13:21.292 --> 01:13:23.332
Oh, God, don't open the fat.

01:13:24.532 --> 01:13:26.272
These people have guns, Barry.

01:13:27.332 --> 01:13:29.872
Barry is like a round bodied man.

01:13:29.892 --> 01:13:34.132
He wears a red puffy coat, a Hawaiian button up and cargo shorts.

01:13:34.312 --> 01:13:35.732
No one knows what he's dressed for.

01:13:37.252 --> 01:13:41.452
He's losing his hair, and he has like, I'm from New York energy.

01:13:41.612 --> 01:13:43.452
Like I just I fucking love Barry.

01:13:43.892 --> 01:13:50.952
Barry is played by Fred Berman, who is like eight times more traditionally attractive than Barry, like good for you, God bless.

01:13:51.272 --> 01:13:57.352
That does not let him stop from being an absolute shithead of a character, and it's a goddamn delight.

01:13:57.352 --> 01:13:58.652
He's also a remedy actor.

01:13:58.672 --> 01:14:00.132
He shows up at a couple different things.

01:14:00.712 --> 01:14:06.032
They actually put Barry in the remake re-release of Death Rally for some fucking reason.

01:14:06.432 --> 01:14:08.472
So they were just like, man, Barry is the shit.

01:14:08.572 --> 01:14:09.732
I fucking love Barry.

01:14:10.712 --> 01:14:11.112
Dr.

01:14:11.132 --> 01:14:16.752
Hartman gets up and he's like, oh, shit, I am not pressing charges, but you rang my fucking bell.

01:14:16.932 --> 01:14:17.552
Oh my God.

01:14:17.972 --> 01:14:19.712
But my offer still stands, Alan.

01:14:19.732 --> 01:14:20.792
Please come to the clinic.

01:14:20.812 --> 01:14:21.572
I would love to see you.

01:14:21.792 --> 01:14:24.172
Being very weirdly reasonable about this.

01:14:24.352 --> 01:14:27.392
He is so chill about being punched in the face.

01:14:28.092 --> 01:14:31.932
So Barry and Alan leave, and Barry is like, why the fuck are you like this?

01:14:32.492 --> 01:14:32.812
Why?

01:14:33.012 --> 01:14:33.812
What is happening?

01:14:34.332 --> 01:14:38.072
He takes Alan off, and Alan's like, just fucking drive, and they go down in the woods.

01:14:38.592 --> 01:14:42.552
On the drive, Alan tells Barry everything, like actually everything.

01:14:42.572 --> 01:14:46.372
He's like, yo, there's fucking dark, possessed people, all this crazy shit.

01:14:46.812 --> 01:14:49.652
But Barry is just like, uh-huh, uh-huh.

01:14:49.772 --> 01:14:53.152
All he heard is the new manuscript that Alan mentioned.

01:14:53.592 --> 01:14:55.792
He's like, you said there's a manuscript?

01:14:55.812 --> 01:14:57.892
See, Barry is greedy, and Alan knows this.

01:14:58.092 --> 01:15:08.232
So he knows dangling these pages in front of his agent will get his agent motivated, regardless of the fact that this is actually a very serious situation where there are ghosts trying to kill them or whatever.

01:15:08.732 --> 01:15:17.252
Since Alan has to meet the kidnapper tonight at Lover's Peak, he figured they would rent a cabin in the woods nearby, and Alan could just head over right when night falls.

01:15:18.292 --> 01:15:24.412
Barry and Alan pull up to the mainstay of this like cabin renting area where you check in and there's a visitor center, all this shit.

01:15:24.992 --> 01:15:27.432
As they come in, guess who's fucking here?

01:15:27.712 --> 01:15:28.732
Rose from the diner.

01:15:29.612 --> 01:15:31.032
Oh no, the obsessed bitch.

01:15:31.052 --> 01:15:36.252
Yeah, it's clear that Barry has met her in town already because they're on a first name basis.

01:15:36.272 --> 01:15:37.532
He's like, what's up, Rose?

01:15:37.932 --> 01:15:42.892
Rose is like, oh my god, hey, I was just bringing Rusty some coffee, but oh my god, it's Alan Wake.

01:15:43.072 --> 01:15:43.792
Hi, Alan.

01:15:44.152 --> 01:15:46.712
Hi, I haven't seen you in seven days and two hours.

01:15:46.952 --> 01:15:47.612
Where have you been?

01:15:47.632 --> 01:15:48.412
I love you.

01:15:48.432 --> 01:15:49.592
Have my babies.

01:15:49.612 --> 01:15:50.692
Oh my god.

01:15:51.132 --> 01:15:53.832
They head in, and Alan is like, she's a fucking airhead.

01:15:54.012 --> 01:15:55.512
Barry goes, you know what?

01:15:55.532 --> 01:15:57.952
That girl has a fucking fan site dedicated to you.

01:15:57.972 --> 01:16:01.672
Show your fans some goddamn respect, which, hell yeah, Barry.

01:16:01.692 --> 01:16:05.152
Honestly, he's probably interacted with her outside of today.

01:16:05.212 --> 01:16:07.912
He's probably been like, oh, that sad bitch from the fan club.

01:16:07.932 --> 01:16:08.432
Yeah.

01:16:09.772 --> 01:16:18.752
Alan meets up with Rusty, who's a trooper on duty, who gets his coffee personally delivered by Rose for some fucking reason and helps him get the cabin rental set up.

01:16:19.172 --> 01:16:24.632
Barry's in his ear like, hey, you probably shouldn't meet with the kidnapper alone because that seems fucking insane.

01:16:25.092 --> 01:16:27.292
And Alan is like, no, I have to save my wife.

01:16:27.692 --> 01:16:28.692
This is the only way.

01:16:29.832 --> 01:16:32.252
Barry goes, all right, you know, you're a skeptic.

01:16:32.272 --> 01:16:39.792
You yelled at me for an hour about homeopathic shit last month because you hate aromatherapy, and now you think possession is real, but whatever.

01:16:40.252 --> 01:16:42.932
Alan's like, I don't give a shit what New York Alan thought.

01:16:43.292 --> 01:16:45.972
This Alan knows ghosts are real, so fuck you.

01:16:46.512 --> 01:16:48.372
Also, I didn't ask for you to be here.

01:16:48.512 --> 01:16:51.792
And Barry is like, I know, I'm not going home.

01:16:51.812 --> 01:16:55.352
We're in this shit together because I want that fucking manuscript, man.

01:16:57.252 --> 01:17:03.912
At the cabin, Barry tries one more time to get Alan to call the cops, and Alan pushes a lamp over saying, God damn it, Barry, they'll kill her.

01:17:04.392 --> 01:17:06.732
It is so unnecessarily dramatic, and I love it.

01:17:07.852 --> 01:17:10.712
Alan has to go to Lover's Peak, so he heads off into the night.

01:17:11.172 --> 01:17:14.432
There is clear presence of dark presence out in these woods.

01:17:14.812 --> 01:17:18.432
He comes up on Rusty again in the main cabin, and Rusty's been attacked.

01:17:18.632 --> 01:17:25.812
The lights have been sabotaged, and Rusty and his rangers are all possessed, and they're all taken now, which sucks because we liked Rusty.

01:17:26.572 --> 01:17:34.192
This is where I can sometimes also get more goofy, too, because these rangers will be charging you going, You need a permit to fish.

01:17:36.072 --> 01:17:37.412
Don't feed the animals.

01:17:37.592 --> 01:17:38.632
No jaywalking.

01:17:38.632 --> 01:17:39.652
Stay on the trail.

01:17:40.572 --> 01:17:45.432
At one point, Barry will also call Alan and be like, Hey, I'm in the cabin window, like, watching you.

01:17:45.492 --> 01:17:46.392
Are you OK?

01:17:46.412 --> 01:17:47.552
And Alan's like, No.

01:17:48.112 --> 01:17:50.552
But, you know, like, I'm crazy.

01:17:50.572 --> 01:17:52.092
Haha, you thought this was stupid.

01:17:52.312 --> 01:17:53.212
Don't leave the cabin.

01:17:53.232 --> 01:17:54.132
Stay in there, dum dum.

01:17:55.332 --> 01:17:56.792
The woods are crawling with Taken.

01:17:56.832 --> 01:18:00.172
Alan heads to Lever's Peak and is like, I'm ready to negotiate with this kidnapper.

01:18:00.652 --> 01:18:06.932
It's a whole thing, and it's actually quite fun once you get the rhythm of the combat of like, shoot, shoot, and then pew pew.

01:18:06.952 --> 01:18:07.812
Like, it's really cool.

01:18:08.412 --> 01:18:11.172
At one point, Alan actually gets jumped by a bunch of Taken.

01:18:11.252 --> 01:18:16.212
They surround him, brandishing sharp, rusted melee weapons, which is so horrifying.

01:18:16.272 --> 01:18:16.632
Right.

01:18:16.732 --> 01:18:22.332
But then someone else lights a flare, and all of the Taken are extinguished in the glow of the flare.

01:18:22.852 --> 01:18:25.852
It's a man in camo who says, Come on, we have to go.

01:18:25.872 --> 01:18:26.772
There will be more of them.

01:18:27.532 --> 01:18:33.532
The camo guy hands Alan some flares, and Alan realizes the camo guy is the same camo guy from the boat.

01:18:34.012 --> 01:18:34.792
No way.

01:18:34.872 --> 01:18:40.632
And the only reason he would be out here is if he's the kidnapper I'm here to meet, you son of a bitch.

01:18:40.892 --> 01:18:41.832
Oh shit, okay.

01:18:42.292 --> 01:18:49.952
But it's too dangerous, and Alan reluctantly lights flares as the kidnapper shoots down the Taken with them as they head for the light of Lover's Peak.

01:18:50.612 --> 01:18:57.652
Alan loses his gun in the shuffle, but the kidnapper is still strapped, so they work together to continue towards Lover's Peak for cinematic reasons.

01:18:58.632 --> 01:19:00.912
After the fight, the kidnapper says, See?

01:19:01.412 --> 01:19:02.212
Nothing to it.

01:19:02.952 --> 01:19:08.952
Just like the manuscript said, we're finding pages that will tell us exactly what happens in the game.

01:19:09.872 --> 01:19:11.052
This is fucking weird.

01:19:11.212 --> 01:19:14.672
And there are obviously tons of manuscript pages all throughout.

01:19:14.912 --> 01:19:18.892
Some of them are pieces of things that we don't see as Alan.

01:19:18.912 --> 01:19:25.792
It's like, oh, Barry meets Rose in the fucking place, or like, oh, here's Sheriff Breaker drinking coffee going, man, that's crazy what Alan said.

01:19:25.972 --> 01:19:28.952
But a lot of it is what Alan goes through beat for beat.

01:19:29.612 --> 01:19:34.392
Which is really fun because it actually makes you want to collect things, which I have trouble with.

01:19:34.412 --> 01:19:37.432
I'm sometimes like, I'm not going to fucking collect your coins, Abby, fuck you.

01:19:37.592 --> 01:19:39.032
You find your own goddamn quarters.

01:19:40.172 --> 01:19:43.732
But this is actually like, oh, I'm finding spoilers for the game I'm playing.

01:19:44.372 --> 01:19:45.912
You're collecting the pages of a novel.

01:19:46.012 --> 01:19:47.972
Yeah, that I'm playing.

01:19:48.712 --> 01:19:51.072
So Alan's like, fuck you, where's my wife?

01:19:51.232 --> 01:19:53.472
The kidnapper says he's read it all before.

01:19:53.472 --> 01:19:54.672
He knows what's going to happen.

01:19:54.772 --> 01:19:56.612
And Alan goes, I don't know what the fuck that means.

01:19:56.812 --> 01:19:57.712
Where's my wife?

01:19:58.512 --> 01:20:00.472
The kidnapper says he needs the manuscript.

01:20:00.712 --> 01:20:03.412
The one Alan wrote has been picking up the pieces of.

01:20:04.172 --> 01:20:05.332
What fucking departure?

01:20:06.312 --> 01:20:12.152
Alan launches his body at the kidnapper, and they tumble down through the woods and down the mountain slopes.

01:20:12.772 --> 01:20:15.592
Alan screams threats at the kidnapper while he gets his bearings.

01:20:15.612 --> 01:20:16.872
He's like, I'm going to kill you.

01:20:16.892 --> 01:20:17.572
Where's my wife?

01:20:18.092 --> 01:20:20.052
It's very, was it the fugitive?

01:20:20.072 --> 01:20:21.032
The fugitive, yeah.

01:20:21.672 --> 01:20:22.772
I didn't kill my wife.

01:20:23.612 --> 01:20:24.792
Alan's like, OK, you know what?

01:20:24.812 --> 01:20:25.652
This dude has Alice.

01:20:25.672 --> 01:20:31.092
He wants this manuscript I wrote, but I don't remember writing, and I keep finding just loose in the world.

01:20:31.532 --> 01:20:41.332
I have to go find Barry and figure this shit out because I secretly wrote a whole ass book in bum fuck misery out here, and I have to find my girl, find this book, fucking hate everything.

01:20:41.552 --> 01:20:45.292
Also, there's a lot of foreshadowing, so I should also just find the book for my own goddamn knowledge.

01:20:45.532 --> 01:20:45.992
I hate it.

01:20:46.152 --> 01:20:46.772
I hate it here.

01:20:46.912 --> 01:20:47.932
Fucking hate Washington.

01:20:49.572 --> 01:20:59.032
Occasionally through the map, when Alan's flashlight hits certain walls or structures, we will see yellow paint, and that paint will only be visible when the light is pointed at it.

01:20:59.692 --> 01:21:06.312
Sometimes it's an arrow, and if you follow the arrow, it'll bring Alan to a cache of weapons or bullets or something.

01:21:06.732 --> 01:21:09.232
Sometimes it's a warning about the darkness and the light.

01:21:09.812 --> 01:21:15.312
Sometimes it's ramblings about a man named Tom, Such a good name.

01:21:15.452 --> 01:21:17.552
We'll circle back on that, but it's interesting to see.

01:21:18.232 --> 01:21:21.292
One out here says, The darkness wears her face.

01:21:22.352 --> 01:21:23.792
That's crazy.

01:21:25.352 --> 01:21:29.632
In the dark, Alan gets a call from the kidnapper who got away during all that shuffle.

01:21:30.272 --> 01:21:33.252
Alan is like, Hey, I can get you the manuscript, but it's not done.

01:21:33.692 --> 01:21:35.172
I need more time to edit and write.

01:21:35.192 --> 01:21:36.012
Can I have a week?

01:21:36.232 --> 01:21:39.792
Like a fucking writer, he immediately asked for an extension.

01:21:40.892 --> 01:21:43.032
The kidnapper settles on giving him two days.

01:21:43.712 --> 01:21:48.932
As Alan makes it to the cabin back with Barry, he is attacked by birds.

01:21:49.692 --> 01:21:50.572
Oh, like the crows?

01:21:50.772 --> 01:21:52.232
Yes, okay, it is exactly crows.

01:21:52.332 --> 01:22:00.472
There are dark, presence-possessed crows that will attack you, and you have to shine flashlights on them and throw flares at them and use flare guns to kill the birds.

01:22:00.632 --> 01:22:03.372
And it's exactly like a murder of crows in Bioshock Infinite.

01:22:03.652 --> 01:22:06.012
I was thinking the krill in Gears of War.

01:22:06.252 --> 01:22:07.532
Yep, I love it.

01:22:08.752 --> 01:22:13.352
It's a whole fucking thing, and if you don't have the rhythm down, it's really fucking hard to do, and it sucks.

01:22:13.372 --> 01:22:15.312
But once you get it, you're like, I am a god.

01:22:16.232 --> 01:22:26.892
We can hear Barry inside the cabin yelling at Alan to make the birds go away, which is such a sweet, darling thing for this New Yorker who's seen rats kill pigeons with their bare hands.

01:22:27.992 --> 01:22:28.852
I find it charming.

01:22:29.512 --> 01:22:34.912
Once the birds are vanquished, Barry apologizes to Alan for being like, hey, I'm sorry I thought you were crazy.

01:22:35.212 --> 01:22:36.192
You're not crazy.

01:22:36.512 --> 01:22:37.972
The situation is crazy.

01:22:38.232 --> 01:22:39.652
This fucking sucks, man.

01:22:40.612 --> 01:22:42.912
Alan hunkers down to try and write a manuscript.

01:22:42.932 --> 01:22:45.012
He's like, all right, I'm going to shit out a book, I guess.

01:22:45.392 --> 01:22:46.692
But he can't.

01:22:47.132 --> 01:22:48.152
He's all washed up.

01:22:48.172 --> 01:22:49.692
He's all Jackson, no aces.

01:22:50.572 --> 01:22:59.652
Elsewhere, Barry gets a call from Rose, and Rose is like, Barry, I found Alan's manuscript, but I want you guys to pick it up in person from me just to know it's safe.

01:23:00.012 --> 01:23:01.752
I live in a trailer just outside of town.

01:23:02.312 --> 01:23:05.172
Barry is like, oh my god, we're coming up fucking Millhouse.

01:23:05.192 --> 01:23:05.852
We got this.

01:23:06.612 --> 01:23:08.452
And he speeds off to tell Alan the good news.

01:23:09.152 --> 01:23:13.352
The camera cuts to Rose in her trailer, who hangs up the phone.

01:23:13.652 --> 01:23:17.732
Behind her is the old woman in the full dark outfit with the veil.

01:23:19.412 --> 01:23:21.672
The woman in black says, good girl.

01:23:22.352 --> 01:23:23.432
End of chapter two.

01:23:26.152 --> 01:23:27.872
There's also music in between all the chapters.

01:23:27.992 --> 01:23:29.392
Is there?

01:23:29.772 --> 01:23:30.052
Yeah.

01:23:30.532 --> 01:23:31.232
Chapter three.

01:23:31.492 --> 01:23:32.152
Ransom.

01:23:33.432 --> 01:23:36.312
There's also a last time on Alan Wake.

01:23:36.392 --> 01:23:36.872
Really?

01:23:36.892 --> 01:23:37.432
Yeah.

01:23:37.852 --> 01:23:39.092
Like it's fucking shameless.

01:23:39.112 --> 01:23:41.912
Even though it released as one full game.

01:23:42.172 --> 01:23:42.552
Yes.

01:23:44.812 --> 01:23:48.452
Which now that you say it out loud, did feel weird playing it in like one sitting.

01:23:48.472 --> 01:23:50.112
Like, oh yeah, I know.

01:23:50.672 --> 01:23:51.352
I was here.

01:23:51.512 --> 01:23:56.952
I think I was in another room when I heard it say previously on, and I asked you, I was like, did this release episodically?

01:23:56.972 --> 01:24:00.392
You go, nope.

01:24:00.732 --> 01:24:03.032
I'm sorry that tonal moment gave away.

01:24:04.332 --> 01:24:07.612
I try not to tell you too much about what I'm going through.

01:24:07.632 --> 01:24:10.392
Sometimes you just watch me play because we're gaming in the same room.

01:24:10.412 --> 01:24:14.032
You are watching me play a video game right now, and you're like, holy shit, are you okay?

01:24:14.052 --> 01:24:14.572
And I'm like, nah.

01:24:15.472 --> 01:24:18.072
I have no idea what's going on in that game, but I catch some weird moments.

01:24:18.112 --> 01:24:23.152
You just hear me screaming at some of the bad dialogue of the game that I'm playing right now, not Alan Wake.

01:24:23.652 --> 01:24:28.152
But yeah, there are some times where I really try to protect you from what's going on.

01:24:28.172 --> 01:24:33.172
And this makes more sense episodically as we describe it, not as you sit there and play it.

01:24:33.272 --> 01:24:33.632
Right.

01:24:34.112 --> 01:24:37.092
Barry and Alan head over super quick over to Rose's trailer.

01:24:37.632 --> 01:24:44.712
On the way, Alan gets a call from Sheriff Breaker that an FBI agent actually just got to town and wants to see him as soon as possible.

01:24:45.212 --> 01:24:48.012
Alan's like, Jesus fucking Christ, it's one missing white woman.

01:24:48.032 --> 01:24:48.412
Come on.

01:24:49.092 --> 01:24:51.992
Alan resolves to get his manuscript from Rose, and then he'll come to the station.

01:24:52.012 --> 01:24:53.152
He's like, Yep, I got you.

01:24:53.172 --> 01:24:55.052
I have to deal with my fucking kidnapper first.

01:24:55.072 --> 01:24:55.732
Come on, bitch.

01:24:57.052 --> 01:25:06.892
While Barry and Alan follow the park ranger to Rose's trailer, Barry tells Alan all about what he learned from the city because he went on a scavenging mission to get intel.

01:25:07.412 --> 01:25:12.092
Barry tells Alan there was once an island in Cauldron Lake owned by a writer named Thomas Zane.

01:25:12.732 --> 01:25:16.392
The weird thing is, he can't find any evidence of Tom Zane being a writer.

01:25:16.492 --> 01:25:17.232
He Googled him.

01:25:17.772 --> 01:25:18.592
That should have helped.

01:25:18.792 --> 01:25:30.012
Yeah, but if that island's been gone since the 70s, Anyway, Zane had an island there called Divers Island, which is the same as the fucking sign we saw in the middle of the lake in 1970.

01:25:30.152 --> 01:25:33.732
But eventually there was an eruption, and Zane went down with the island.

01:25:34.892 --> 01:25:39.712
Only a week before the eruption, a girl named Barbara Yager drowned on the island.

01:25:40.012 --> 01:25:41.292
She was Zane's girlfriend.

01:25:41.992 --> 01:25:48.492
The park manager of the trailer park interjects and is like, oh shit, yeah, Barbara Yager's our local ghost story.

01:25:48.512 --> 01:25:50.132
We're like, oh, she'll come for you in the dark.

01:25:50.892 --> 01:25:51.612
It's nothing.

01:25:51.612 --> 01:25:52.972
And you're like, oh, no.

01:25:53.392 --> 01:25:54.132
Poor Barbara.

01:25:54.832 --> 01:26:02.612
The one thing they all have is that coverage of the situation was written by a local journalist named Cynthia Weaver, the light lady.

01:26:02.872 --> 01:26:05.672
The park manager is like, oh, my God, the lady of the light.

01:26:05.692 --> 01:26:08.552
She's just a kooky little like fun lady.

01:26:08.572 --> 01:26:10.192
You know, she's just kooky.

01:26:11.132 --> 01:26:18.652
Barry continues on with the local drama that Cynthia knew Zane and Jagger personally, and when they died, she had a fucking meltdown.

01:26:19.652 --> 01:26:22.352
Alan is like, huh, wild.

01:26:23.412 --> 01:26:28.572
Anyway, at the trailer, Alan is so dismissive of shit going on.

01:26:28.692 --> 01:26:30.292
Honestly, so is this town.

01:26:30.312 --> 01:26:36.092
They seem all very much like this person has serious mental problems, but no, it's actually just like, oh, they're just weirdos.

01:26:37.012 --> 01:26:39.452
They hadn't really been introduced to the concept of the spectrum.

01:26:39.472 --> 01:26:41.612
They're just like, oh, you're quirky, you know.

01:26:43.472 --> 01:26:49.512
At the trailer, Rose is talking like she is possessed in this very, where she was bubbly and excited and giggly.

01:26:49.532 --> 01:26:54.312
She's very monotone, and she invites Barry and Alan in for the manuscript.

01:26:54.772 --> 01:26:58.372
She pours them coffee, which naturally, because she's possessed, is spiked.

01:26:58.912 --> 01:27:02.732
Barry passes out immediately, and Alan follows soon after.

01:27:02.752 --> 01:27:08.432
In his unconscious haze, Alan has a vision of the light he followed from the tutorial.

01:27:08.712 --> 01:27:11.452
The voice thing that was like, I have a poem for you or whatever.

01:27:12.112 --> 01:27:16.052
It tells him, Tis coming for you, hiding in my Barbara's skin.

01:27:16.312 --> 01:27:17.632
I'm too weak to stop it.

01:27:17.892 --> 01:27:19.332
You must turn the lights on.

01:27:20.292 --> 01:27:25.752
Then Alan has visions of the woman in black telling him he must finish what he started.

01:27:27.152 --> 01:27:29.612
Alan wakes up in Rose's bed, fully clothed.

01:27:29.952 --> 01:27:32.172
Nothing weird, like she didn't touch him, probably.

01:27:32.652 --> 01:27:38.052
There is a literal wall of pictures of his face and his books on display.

01:27:38.332 --> 01:27:41.372
She has a fucking whole fangirl wall.

01:27:42.312 --> 01:27:43.352
This bitch is grown.

01:27:43.552 --> 01:27:44.632
She is over 18.

01:27:44.652 --> 01:27:45.772
She does not live with parents.

01:27:45.792 --> 01:27:46.872
She is not a child.

01:27:46.892 --> 01:27:48.452
This is a woman doing this.

01:27:49.112 --> 01:27:51.512
This is somebody spending her adult money on this shit.

01:27:51.532 --> 01:27:52.352
Yeah.

01:27:54.392 --> 01:27:58.212
Alan comes out, and Rose is just curled up in a ball, and she's talking to herself.

01:27:58.612 --> 01:28:00.252
She's going, Welcome to the Odeer Diner.

01:28:00.272 --> 01:28:01.032
What can I get you?

01:28:01.372 --> 01:28:05.632
And he's like, Oh no, her mind is broken.

01:28:06.072 --> 01:28:10.832
Barry is passed out and can't get up, so Alan's like, Jesus Christ, I fucking hate it here.

01:28:11.092 --> 01:28:13.952
Why did I just get roofied and probably touched by this lady?

01:28:14.072 --> 01:28:14.612
Yeah.

01:28:15.252 --> 01:28:19.572
As Alan makes it to the entrance of the trailer park, he sees it's blocked off by flashing lights.

01:28:20.032 --> 01:28:20.812
The cops are here.

01:28:20.952 --> 01:28:25.732
Sheriff Breaker, our baby girl, and FBI agent, Agent Nightingale.

01:28:26.332 --> 01:28:28.872
I fucking hate Agent Nightingale.

01:28:28.972 --> 01:28:30.032
Just going right into it.

01:28:30.172 --> 01:28:30.472
Yep.

01:28:30.892 --> 01:28:37.352
Over the course of the game, Agent Nightingale will opt to call Alan just the name of any writer he can think of.

01:28:39.092 --> 01:28:43.292
In this first touch point, he looks at Alan and goes, get him up, Hemingway.

01:28:43.312 --> 01:28:47.572
Stay right where you are, Spillane, who's like a mobster writer.

01:28:47.812 --> 01:28:48.612
He's the worst.

01:28:48.732 --> 01:28:53.612
And there's also a subplot where Nightingale is a massive drunk, and everyone fucking knows it.

01:28:53.612 --> 01:28:55.132
So like, fuck this guy.

01:28:55.332 --> 01:28:55.952
You know what?

01:28:55.972 --> 01:29:01.072
This is not a trope that doesn't exist in the real world, because I had it happen to me once.

01:29:01.232 --> 01:29:02.012
What do you mean?

01:29:02.032 --> 01:29:03.112
Please tell me everything.

01:29:03.132 --> 01:29:10.372
I worked in a restaurant where one of my coworkers said a different famous Tom or Thomas Shut up.

01:29:10.392 --> 01:29:12.132
to me every single time.

01:29:12.252 --> 01:29:13.352
That's really funny.

01:29:13.352 --> 01:29:18.552
Thomas Jefferson, Tom and Jerry, Tommy Lee Jones, stuff like that.

01:29:18.572 --> 01:29:21.972
He would call me a different famous Tom every time he saw me.

01:29:22.032 --> 01:29:24.792
Do you know what you're saved as in my dad's cell phone?

01:29:24.812 --> 01:29:25.152
What?

01:29:25.192 --> 01:29:25.872
Major Tom.

01:29:25.912 --> 01:29:26.592
Major Tom.

01:29:28.392 --> 01:29:31.272
I'm so sorry if that ruins your relationship with my father.

01:29:31.332 --> 01:29:32.092
No, not at all.

01:29:32.112 --> 01:29:33.352
But I think it's just funny.

01:29:33.592 --> 01:29:35.512
This is something that really does happen.

01:29:35.772 --> 01:29:36.732
My dad loves Bowie.

01:29:37.272 --> 01:29:43.832
Anyway, there's a quick shootout, and in the confusion and action, Alan runs down and gets down this hill and out and escapes.

01:29:44.312 --> 01:29:45.292
He's like, all right, cool.

01:29:45.312 --> 01:29:46.072
Now I'm in the woods.

01:29:46.312 --> 01:29:47.612
I'm escaping the cops.

01:29:48.252 --> 01:29:49.512
This is going great for me.

01:29:49.812 --> 01:29:50.752
I miss New York.

01:29:51.432 --> 01:29:56.752
So Alan's just hauling through the fucking forest, and then Taken are showing up, because he's like, great.

01:29:56.992 --> 01:29:58.312
Cops and Taken.

01:29:58.332 --> 01:29:59.832
This is a wonderful fucking day.

01:29:59.972 --> 01:30:00.832
I love it here.

01:30:01.892 --> 01:30:07.572
Over some radios, Alan can hear that the cops took Barry in, thinking he's a drunk, which is why he couldn't get up.

01:30:07.592 --> 01:30:08.632
He was asleep and shit.

01:30:08.972 --> 01:30:11.952
And he also took in Rose, thinking, oh, she's just loopy.

01:30:12.132 --> 01:30:17.692
They're so dismissive of all the women in this world, except for Sheriff Breaker, who's a bad bitch.

01:30:17.732 --> 01:30:19.732
They're like, oh, girls are just crazy.

01:30:19.752 --> 01:30:21.132
They need a lady break.

01:30:21.232 --> 01:30:22.452
They do need a lady break.

01:30:22.632 --> 01:30:24.192
Just go have a period.

01:30:25.012 --> 01:30:30.492
They have a doctor on the way to the station to examine both Barry and Rose, and the cops have fully lost Alan.

01:30:30.732 --> 01:30:32.012
And Alan's like, okay, cool.

01:30:32.372 --> 01:30:34.512
He's running through, and then he has to fight a gate.

01:30:35.532 --> 01:30:36.072
That's right.

01:30:36.272 --> 01:30:37.772
I just said he has to fight a gate.

01:30:37.792 --> 01:30:38.932
Is the gate sentient?

01:30:39.292 --> 01:30:41.692
The gate is possessed by the Dark Presence.

01:30:42.012 --> 01:30:47.452
So now we get introduced to the Dark Presence possessing inanimate objects in addition to townspeople.

01:30:47.852 --> 01:30:49.732
It's just another game inspired by Earthbound.

01:30:49.752 --> 01:30:50.392
It's a whole thing.

01:30:50.392 --> 01:30:50.772
Yeah.

01:30:51.732 --> 01:30:53.212
Everything is Earthbound, right?

01:30:53.592 --> 01:30:55.732
Alan's like, Oh, my God, not tonight.

01:30:55.752 --> 01:30:57.312
I have to meet up with a kidnapper.

01:30:57.352 --> 01:31:00.552
I had a book to write, so I really can't get arrested right now.

01:31:00.572 --> 01:31:05.932
Otherwise, I'll get killed by possessed townies or the cops or the gate or the gate.

01:31:07.272 --> 01:31:08.252
Maybe furniture.

01:31:08.272 --> 01:31:09.032
This sucks.

01:31:09.372 --> 01:31:11.592
Is this now the Beast's Castle from Beauty and the Beast?

01:31:11.612 --> 01:31:12.232
Oh, my God.

01:31:13.252 --> 01:31:15.912
Lumiere is going to kick the shit fucking shit in.

01:31:17.012 --> 01:31:18.712
Alan is like, Fuck me.

01:31:18.972 --> 01:31:20.212
Rose said she had the manuscript.

01:31:20.232 --> 01:31:20.892
She was lying.

01:31:20.912 --> 01:31:22.852
She was just possessed to get me off track.

01:31:22.872 --> 01:31:24.192
Fucking I don't have the manuscript.

01:31:24.212 --> 01:31:24.932
I don't have shit.

01:31:25.292 --> 01:31:30.552
But I'm going to roll up to this kidnapper and meet him tonight, I guess, because what else am I going to fucking do?

01:31:31.572 --> 01:31:32.172
This sucks.

01:31:32.792 --> 01:31:36.632
So he's on his way up to a coal mine, but he ends up at a radio station.

01:31:36.632 --> 01:31:37.932
He's like, Oh, wait.

01:31:37.952 --> 01:31:38.472
Oh, shit.

01:31:38.472 --> 01:31:40.472
I met Pat Maine, the radio host guy.

01:31:40.592 --> 01:31:41.992
He actually was really cool.

01:31:42.432 --> 01:31:43.992
And maybe he'll actually help me.

01:31:44.012 --> 01:31:45.252
He seemed like a good dude.

01:31:45.272 --> 01:31:46.932
Like I might have an ally.

01:31:46.952 --> 01:31:47.352
Let's see.

01:31:47.472 --> 01:31:48.412
And he's got an audience.

01:31:48.912 --> 01:31:49.332
Yeah.

01:31:49.672 --> 01:31:54.052
So Alan walks in to see his boat buddy, and almost immediately the cops show up.

01:31:54.412 --> 01:32:00.392
And that motherfucker, Agent Nightingale, goes, Nowhere to run now, Dan Brown!

01:32:03.132 --> 01:32:07.732
Which is double frustrating because it's almost a rhyme, but he fucked it up.

01:32:07.812 --> 01:32:08.652
Come on, man.

01:32:09.372 --> 01:32:13.312
Pat Maine looks around and is like, Okay, everyone put your fucking guns down.

01:32:13.832 --> 01:32:16.012
This is a public access radio show.

01:32:17.192 --> 01:32:20.332
No one's getting shot on my nightly talk news show.

01:32:20.872 --> 01:32:22.252
What is wrong with all of you?

01:32:22.932 --> 01:32:30.192
Sheriff Breaker tells Agent Nightingale to put his goddamn gun down because he's going to fucking kill someone, and this is way too dramatic for that.

01:32:30.412 --> 01:32:33.492
But Nightingale manages to accidentally fire off a bullet.

01:32:33.772 --> 01:32:36.692
And in the drama of this, Alan slips away again.

01:32:37.492 --> 01:32:42.852
As Alan runs down the hill, he hears Nightingale say, I'll find you, HP Lovecraft.

01:32:44.652 --> 01:32:52.872
See, it's so uncomfortable, and it made me angry the first time I was playing it because I was like, honestly, I'm going to fucking shoot this guy in the goddamn face.

01:32:52.892 --> 01:32:53.512
Not in the dick.

01:32:53.532 --> 01:32:54.572
This guy's getting in the face.

01:32:54.592 --> 01:32:56.132
I want to fuck his mouth up.

01:32:57.912 --> 01:32:59.052
The words he's saying.

01:32:59.052 --> 01:33:00.152
I'm going to kill him.

01:33:00.832 --> 01:33:07.952
When you get bloodlust for a character that may or may not even be applicable to kill at one point, because you're just like, I fucking hate this dude.

01:33:09.232 --> 01:33:13.832
Alan at least does get away before Pat Maine is like aware of what he's doing.

01:33:13.852 --> 01:33:16.592
So he's like, all right, Pat Maine is cool, but I didn't tell him where he's going.

01:33:16.612 --> 01:33:19.212
So Pat Maine can't spill, you know, Pat Maine's the homie.

01:33:19.272 --> 01:33:20.472
All my homies love Pat Maine.

01:33:21.472 --> 01:33:24.972
On the way out, Alan gets a call, and it starts with Alice's voice.

01:33:25.372 --> 01:33:27.672
She's saying he's the most stubborn man she's met.

01:33:28.012 --> 01:33:30.012
Then she says he keeps her in the dark.

01:33:30.192 --> 01:33:30.972
She needs help.

01:33:31.232 --> 01:33:32.172
She's so alone.

01:33:32.472 --> 01:33:33.212
Be careful.

01:33:33.372 --> 01:33:34.352
Cooperate with them.

01:33:35.032 --> 01:33:40.492
Her speech is broken up, and Alan even says, it sounded like her, but the words all sounded wrong.

01:33:40.692 --> 01:33:42.932
It's her, but it's not her.

01:33:43.592 --> 01:33:47.412
Maybe she's possessed, Alan, because that happens now.

01:33:48.492 --> 01:33:56.072
Anyway, Alan fights a service bridge and steals a car, and then he makes his way to the coal mine through the night and into the next day.

01:33:56.572 --> 01:34:02.272
Alan gets into the coal mine and hunkers down, waiting to meet the kidnapper and be like, I didn't finish your book, but please give me my wife.

01:34:02.552 --> 01:34:03.532
I'll shoot you in the dick.

01:34:04.092 --> 01:34:04.552
Pretty please?

01:34:05.452 --> 01:34:09.972
He knows the cops are after him, but he also knows the only person to find him here is the kidnapper.

01:34:09.992 --> 01:34:12.932
So he's like, honestly, probably an okay place to hide.

01:34:13.612 --> 01:34:15.772
He sits down and he waits for the kidnapper to show up.

01:34:16.532 --> 01:34:22.592
Deep at night, it's fucking way past his time, and Alan realizes the kidnapper isn't showing up for their date.

01:34:22.992 --> 01:34:24.012
That motherfucker.

01:34:25.572 --> 01:34:30.732
Alan's phone rings, and the kidnapper tells him, Change of plans, Pally boy, meet me at Mirror Peak.

01:34:31.092 --> 01:34:32.932
It's a different place, out in the woods.

01:34:33.532 --> 01:34:38.152
They're both aggro as fuck at each other, but Alan is like, fine, fuck you, I'm on the way.

01:34:38.172 --> 01:34:40.212
I'm going to go steal a car while I do it.

01:34:40.232 --> 01:34:41.132
Okay, bye.

01:34:41.532 --> 01:34:44.692
He also casually steals a bunch of cars through this game.

01:34:44.712 --> 01:34:45.292
Oh, really?

01:34:45.312 --> 01:34:45.452
Yeah.

01:34:45.472 --> 01:34:46.872
He just pops into cars.

01:34:47.012 --> 01:34:49.252
This is why you don't leave the cars in the vehicle, ever.

01:34:49.392 --> 01:34:51.112
He's already killing people, so...

01:34:51.672 --> 01:34:54.752
Is he or is he just making them disappear into the night?

01:34:55.012 --> 01:34:56.612
It's confusing.

01:34:56.652 --> 01:34:57.772
It is confusing, yeah.

01:34:58.352 --> 01:35:00.112
The situation's a lot more nuanced than that.

01:35:00.132 --> 01:35:00.612
Yeah.

01:35:00.752 --> 01:35:02.252
So Alan does just that.

01:35:02.352 --> 01:35:08.032
He steals cars, he makes it to Mirror Peak, just in time to hear the kidnapper pleading with someone.

01:35:08.612 --> 01:35:11.312
He's saying, I'm sorry, lady, I didn't know, I swear.

01:35:11.352 --> 01:35:13.632
We don't have his wife, she probably drowned.

01:35:14.192 --> 01:35:18.952
When Alan comes into view of the kidnapper, he's on his knees, sobbing.

01:35:20.272 --> 01:35:27.752
From behind him, a tornado of darkness whips around, picks him up, and eats his body whole within itself.

01:35:28.032 --> 01:35:28.852
Oh my god.

01:35:29.372 --> 01:35:34.232
We hear the kidnapper's bones crack, and his last screams ring out before...

01:35:35.712 --> 01:35:37.352
nothing ever comes out of him again.

01:35:37.692 --> 01:35:38.832
Holy shit.

01:35:38.872 --> 01:35:48.892
The tornado picks up Alan too, but he manages to crack a flare, and instead of being eaten by the darkness too, he's merely flung off a mountain into the water, which also should kill him.

01:35:48.972 --> 01:35:49.452
Yeah.

01:35:49.932 --> 01:35:55.512
Alan floats and sees a vision of himself typing furiously before he's pulled out of the lake.

01:35:56.592 --> 01:35:57.572
End of episode three.

01:35:57.772 --> 01:35:58.792
Holy shit.

01:35:58.832 --> 01:36:01.252
Like, they are dramatic as fuck episodes.

01:36:01.292 --> 01:36:05.252
Yeah, they have these really great, just like, bam, end of episode.

01:36:05.272 --> 01:36:08.172
Very HBO like, holy shit, what?

01:36:10.172 --> 01:36:11.652
Episode four, The Truth.

01:36:12.312 --> 01:36:15.792
Alan opens his eyes to see Alice saying, it was just a nightmare.

01:36:16.512 --> 01:36:21.412
He looks at her and his vision comes into focus, and the vision of Alice turns into Dr.

01:36:21.432 --> 01:36:24.672
Hartman, who tells Alan he just gave him a sedative.

01:36:26.392 --> 01:36:26.552
Dr.

01:36:26.572 --> 01:36:38.412
Hartman is telling Alan to stay calm, and that he's been a patient at his clinic for a while now, that the shock of Alice's death kicked off a mental episode, and he's been treating him, and then the screen whites out.

01:36:38.612 --> 01:36:40.252
The fuck, Alice is dead now?

01:36:40.992 --> 01:36:45.632
Alan passes out and wakes up for real in a bed in the lodge, like we are back to its center.

01:36:45.952 --> 01:36:50.072
The door to his room is locked, and Alan realizes he is a prisoner in Dr.

01:36:50.092 --> 01:36:50.792
Hartman's lodge.

01:36:51.732 --> 01:36:52.132
Dr.

01:36:52.152 --> 01:36:56.112
Hartman comes to the door and unlocks it to confirm Alan is feeling calm now.

01:36:56.812 --> 01:36:57.152
Dr.

01:36:57.172 --> 01:37:01.432
Hartman is also wearing a bandage across his nose from where Alan socked the shit out of him the other day.

01:37:02.392 --> 01:37:02.752
Dr.

01:37:02.772 --> 01:37:10.072
Hartman makes it a whole ass deal to say, hey, Alan, I forgive you, and asks him to walk together to catch up, like a little boy hot girl walk.

01:37:10.572 --> 01:37:10.932
Dr.

01:37:10.952 --> 01:37:17.232
Hartman gives Alan a bit of a tour of the clinic where he treats artists, and he reiterates that Alice is dead and died and drowned.

01:37:18.112 --> 01:37:19.032
Alan denies this.

01:37:19.052 --> 01:37:19.932
The fuck, when?

01:37:21.092 --> 01:37:22.632
I mean, Alan lost some time.

01:37:22.892 --> 01:37:25.292
I know, it's just, I'm getting upset.

01:37:26.172 --> 01:37:27.912
You should, that means this is good media.

01:37:28.632 --> 01:37:28.992
Dr.

01:37:29.012 --> 01:37:38.752
Hartman doubles down and reiterates that Alice is dead and drowned and died, man, and Alan has been hallucinating and is delusional, and the stress is just all in his head.

01:37:39.632 --> 01:37:39.972
Dr.

01:37:39.992 --> 01:37:46.612
Hartman and Alan walk around the grounds, and at a lookout, Alan sees all of Cauldron Lake again with no island in the middle at all.

01:37:47.572 --> 01:37:52.412
He's seeing right now the island that was there isn't there, but it used to be there.

01:37:52.432 --> 01:37:53.772
What the fuck, man?

01:37:54.832 --> 01:37:55.112
Dr.

01:37:55.132 --> 01:38:00.232
Hartman talks on and on to Alan about how sick Alan is, and he's like, man, you are fucking going through it.

01:38:00.432 --> 01:38:02.072
You need to trust the process.

01:38:02.092 --> 01:38:03.552
You need to accept treatment.

01:38:03.572 --> 01:38:06.132
Like, I can help you unpack this.

01:38:06.312 --> 01:38:07.552
This is a major trauma.

01:38:08.732 --> 01:38:10.092
Alan visibly hates him.

01:38:10.292 --> 01:38:12.792
He is clearly fucking seething.

01:38:13.632 --> 01:38:14.012
Dr.

01:38:14.032 --> 01:38:15.532
Hartman's like, oh, and you know what?

01:38:15.612 --> 01:38:16.632
I know you're a writer.

01:38:16.652 --> 01:38:18.272
I don't want to give you a computer.

01:38:18.292 --> 01:38:20.952
I got you a typewriter so you could work on it through therapy.

01:38:21.052 --> 01:38:21.772
You should write.

01:38:22.112 --> 01:38:23.012
Fucking typewriter.

01:38:23.032 --> 01:38:24.872
Alan is going to fucking hit him again.

01:38:24.892 --> 01:38:25.752
With the typewriter.

01:38:25.772 --> 01:38:26.012
Yeah.

01:38:27.172 --> 01:38:31.212
In the rec room of the lodge, we see some familiar faces, the Anderson brothers.

01:38:31.532 --> 01:38:31.752
Oh.

01:38:31.992 --> 01:38:32.912
Tor and Odin.

01:38:34.192 --> 01:38:35.452
Unfortunately, Dr.

01:38:35.472 --> 01:38:40.652
Hartman has had them under his care for a while now, and they're a bit too old to really fight it at this point.

01:38:41.392 --> 01:38:41.812
Dr.

01:38:41.832 --> 01:38:49.872
Hartman introduces them as the rock stars from the band the Old Gods of Asgard, and they have a farm they used to live on kind of out in the country, but Dr.

01:38:49.892 --> 01:38:58.592
Hartman says they've gone through dementia and they need to be under constant care to make sure they're properly being provided for and, you know, not hurting themselves.

01:38:58.772 --> 01:38:59.492
Oh, that's sad.

01:38:59.572 --> 01:39:03.012
They seem more sedated than unwell, but who knows?

01:39:03.552 --> 01:39:04.952
The lights flicker and Dr.

01:39:04.972 --> 01:39:06.912
Hartman runs off to get the generator going.

01:39:07.792 --> 01:39:12.952
As he leave, the Andersons are left alone with Alan, and they start talking mad shit on Dr.

01:39:12.972 --> 01:39:13.352
Hartman.

01:39:14.472 --> 01:39:16.272
Thor says he wants to bash Dr.

01:39:16.292 --> 01:39:17.672
Hartman's head in with a hammer.

01:39:17.792 --> 01:39:18.232
Oh, shit.

01:39:18.252 --> 01:39:24.052
And I'm saying Thor, not Thor, because it's written as T-O-R, not T-H-O-R, just to be very clear.

01:39:24.072 --> 01:39:25.012
I figured as much.

01:39:25.152 --> 01:39:25.512
Yeah.

01:39:26.752 --> 01:39:31.772
He then hits Alan with a squishy toy hammer, which is also just so darling that he plays with hammers.

01:39:32.912 --> 01:39:36.072
They tell Alan he needs to go to the Anderson farm, their old farm.

01:39:36.092 --> 01:39:39.832
There's a message hidden in the farm that will help Alan fight the darkness.

01:39:40.712 --> 01:39:43.012
Although they're calling Alan Tom.

01:39:43.792 --> 01:39:44.092
What?

01:39:44.352 --> 01:39:46.312
They asked Tom if he has any booze on him.

01:39:46.672 --> 01:39:51.092
Alan is like, no, and he doesn't even bother trying to correct them on his name.

01:39:52.572 --> 01:39:54.552
They say, OK, well, go to the farm.

01:39:54.572 --> 01:39:56.232
We had a shit ton of moonshine there.

01:39:56.632 --> 01:39:57.512
Go have a drink.

01:39:57.532 --> 01:39:58.652
It'll make you see things.

01:39:59.852 --> 01:40:00.392
Oh, buddy.

01:40:00.452 --> 01:40:01.612
Like some dude named Tom.

01:40:02.892 --> 01:40:09.552
They also start to kind of bicker amongst themselves, and then they look at Tom saying, look at those fucking elbow pads on his jacket.

01:40:09.572 --> 01:40:10.912
That's not very rock and roll.

01:40:12.012 --> 01:40:13.652
Like they're roasting his fucking fit.

01:40:15.432 --> 01:40:18.092
Then Odin looks at him and says, Tom's just lost.

01:40:18.252 --> 01:40:20.232
Baba Yaga got to him, the damn witch.

01:40:20.632 --> 01:40:22.132
She also took his ravens.

01:40:22.692 --> 01:40:25.412
Tor says, yeah, that bitch took my thunder.

01:40:25.472 --> 01:40:26.312
Fucking hag.

01:40:27.032 --> 01:40:34.032
Odin says that this place, the lake right there, it gives creatives power somehow and makes you a god.

01:40:34.872 --> 01:40:39.512
Odin says that the lamp lady also knows what happened to the last writer who came through here.

01:40:40.472 --> 01:40:45.892
Tor accuses Tom Alan of opening the door and letting the old lady, the hag, in.

01:40:47.132 --> 01:40:50.432
Alan takes that whole fucking ass rant in and is like, you know what?

01:40:50.452 --> 01:40:52.532
It's probably not exactly what it fucking sounds like.

01:40:52.552 --> 01:40:52.952
Yeah.

01:40:53.172 --> 01:40:56.052
But for real, this is foreshadowing, so remember this rant for later.

01:40:58.172 --> 01:41:02.572
Alan goes back to his patient room and sits at the typewriter and immediately has a panic attack.

01:41:03.372 --> 01:41:08.012
While this is happening, the Anderson brothers start throwing shit and partying, and they're like, you know what?

01:41:08.032 --> 01:41:08.452
Fuck it.

01:41:08.472 --> 01:41:09.152
Rock and roll.

01:41:09.172 --> 01:41:10.972
And the orderlies run in to sedate them.

01:41:11.812 --> 01:41:21.872
As it turns out, the Andersons actually knocked out the orderlies, and Tor really did grab a real hammer and hit the nurse with it, so everyone's just doing their own thing now.

01:41:22.052 --> 01:41:23.012
Oh my god.

01:41:23.052 --> 01:41:24.052
Hell yeah, Tor.

01:41:24.072 --> 01:41:25.112
The hammer of Tor.

01:41:25.132 --> 01:41:26.772
Yeah, Tor's tunder, bitch.

01:41:27.632 --> 01:41:34.572
Alan grabs the keys off of the head nurse while Tor and Odin give each other high fives and celebrate being aging rock star degenerates.

01:41:35.112 --> 01:41:38.472
Tor says, it's his storm after all, and it's a comeback tour.

01:41:38.492 --> 01:41:41.092
Hell yeah, I fucking love them.

01:41:41.112 --> 01:41:41.912
They're just chaos.

01:41:42.052 --> 01:41:43.212
They're having a good time.

01:41:43.232 --> 01:41:44.192
They're here to party.

01:41:44.472 --> 01:41:45.052
Fuck yeah.

01:41:45.232 --> 01:41:47.092
I love that you guys mule near action too.

01:41:47.212 --> 01:41:47.812
I know.

01:41:48.692 --> 01:41:51.872
While looking for his shit to escape, Alan runs into Barry.

01:41:52.192 --> 01:41:53.852
Barry had come out looking for Alan.

01:41:53.872 --> 01:41:55.232
He's like, the cops let me go.

01:41:55.252 --> 01:41:57.732
Fucking Rose Rufitas, she probably touched you.

01:41:58.452 --> 01:41:59.392
Probably, you know?

01:41:59.672 --> 01:42:03.192
Yeah, it definitely happened.

01:42:03.192 --> 01:42:06.472
Even possessed, I'm sure Rose would be like, what if I just slid my hand on this?

01:42:06.512 --> 01:42:07.832
Let's just see what he's working with.

01:42:07.852 --> 01:42:09.312
What if I molest this man?

01:42:10.732 --> 01:42:11.952
This game has everything.

01:42:12.952 --> 01:42:14.772
Barry is like, all right, let's fucking get out of here.

01:42:14.792 --> 01:42:15.312
Let's go.

01:42:16.032 --> 01:42:19.732
He also manages to find a bunch of manuscript pages that were picked up by Dr.

01:42:19.752 --> 01:42:21.352
Hartman and some new ones.

01:42:21.372 --> 01:42:23.592
So Alan's like, oh shit, yeah, okay, perfect.

01:42:23.612 --> 01:42:24.532
We have more book.

01:42:24.872 --> 01:42:25.792
Let's figure this out.

01:42:26.032 --> 01:42:29.152
Then he also finds a gun, which is great because when Dr.

01:42:29.172 --> 01:42:32.732
Hartman comes up behind them, Alan points the gun immediately at his face.

01:42:33.112 --> 01:42:33.652
Oh shit.

01:42:33.932 --> 01:42:40.392
Alan barks at Barry to go outside and get the car started, like fully fucking get the getaway moving, while Alan holds Dr.

01:42:40.412 --> 01:42:41.512
Hartman at gunpoint.

01:42:42.292 --> 01:42:48.012
Before Alan can do anything, the dark presence begins to seep in through the fucking walls.

01:42:48.612 --> 01:42:54.532
It comes out like a ghost, then a shadow, then a full blanket of endless night inside this cabin.

01:42:55.352 --> 01:42:59.552
Alan runs out the door and holds it closed as the dark presence eats up Dr.

01:42:59.572 --> 01:43:00.832
Hartman from behind the door.

01:43:01.932 --> 01:43:06.672
Alan looks a little pleased with himself as he feeds this man to the darkness.

01:43:07.652 --> 01:43:08.452
Hell yeah.

01:43:08.472 --> 01:43:08.832
Dr.

01:43:08.852 --> 01:43:10.512
Hartman eaten by the dark presence.

01:43:10.512 --> 01:43:11.172
Bye, bitch.

01:43:12.892 --> 01:43:16.552
The dark presence, unfortunately, also starts infecting the entire lodge.

01:43:16.892 --> 01:43:18.332
So in addition to eating Dr.

01:43:18.352 --> 01:43:23.712
Hartman, all the furniture is now possessed, and Alan has to evade some couches and chandeliers and shit.

01:43:26.812 --> 01:43:34.772
And if you're wondering, like I was, the Andersons did manage to escape right in time, get away from the cabin right before the whole place gets fucking sucked up.

01:43:34.772 --> 01:43:35.952
Well, thank goodness for them.

01:43:36.052 --> 01:43:36.972
Valhalla, baby.

01:43:36.992 --> 01:43:40.452
Alan and Barry get out, and they drive off in a car.

01:43:40.512 --> 01:43:42.932
Barry managed to acquire?

01:43:43.652 --> 01:43:44.312
Acquire.

01:43:44.332 --> 01:43:45.212
It's probably stolen.

01:43:45.432 --> 01:43:46.272
These New Yorkers.

01:43:47.072 --> 01:43:49.312
Alan is insistent that Alice is alive.

01:43:49.332 --> 01:43:50.892
He's like, he's fucking lying to me.

01:43:50.912 --> 01:43:51.652
She's OK.

01:43:51.972 --> 01:43:55.592
He tells Barry that all the works of art that are made at the lake come true.

01:43:55.612 --> 01:43:56.732
That's what the Andersons knew.

01:43:57.152 --> 01:43:58.172
That's what fucking Dr.

01:43:58.192 --> 01:43:58.732
Hartman knew.

01:43:58.752 --> 01:44:04.272
That's why he took creatives from the fucking water and kept them from the power so they couldn't change the timeline.

01:44:04.792 --> 01:44:07.652
Which, OK, actually, that kind of fucking makes some sense.

01:44:07.672 --> 01:44:10.632
Yeah, I'm like, that actually is starting to make stuff line up.

01:44:10.752 --> 01:44:20.652
If you have rock stars that can create art and art can be affected by the lake to be real, yeah, let's keep the guys who think they're literal Asgardian gods.

01:44:20.952 --> 01:44:22.212
Away from the water.

01:44:23.312 --> 01:44:28.132
Most definitely, but it's also why writers are probably not often welcome here.

01:44:28.312 --> 01:44:28.892
Yeah.

01:44:29.112 --> 01:44:33.172
Because they're creating a lot in their, like, creative space.

01:44:33.272 --> 01:44:33.832
Mm-hmm.

01:44:34.712 --> 01:44:40.512
Alan says it's what happened to Thomas Zane, it's what happened to the Anderson brothers, and now it's happening to me, like, exactly.

01:44:40.532 --> 01:44:41.432
Oh, shit.

01:44:41.692 --> 01:44:44.332
And now it's got Alice trapped under the darkness of the lake.

01:44:44.612 --> 01:44:45.912
She was never kidnapped.

01:44:46.052 --> 01:44:50.872
There's only a kidnapper literally because of this manuscript that I don't remember writing.

01:44:51.512 --> 01:44:54.732
It's twisting reality to play with everyone, especially Alan.

01:44:55.412 --> 01:44:57.732
And Barry is like, it's weird, but I'm with you.

01:44:57.992 --> 01:44:58.612
Let's do this.

01:44:59.492 --> 01:45:04.152
Alan's like, okay, so the Andersons knew all about this, and even though they're heavily sedated by Dr.

01:45:04.172 --> 01:45:12.232
Hartman, so they keep from creating music, they knew enough to write all this down, and the cure is at their abandoned farm at the base of the mountain.

01:45:12.552 --> 01:45:13.432
So that's the first step.

01:45:13.732 --> 01:45:16.532
Find the farm, figure out the message, find a way out.

01:45:17.292 --> 01:45:19.552
Barry fucking crashes the car.

01:45:20.652 --> 01:45:22.712
So many car crashes, goddamn.

01:45:22.732 --> 01:45:25.672
It's very windy up in the Pacific Northwest, you know?

01:45:26.412 --> 01:45:28.152
Like, it happens.

01:45:28.672 --> 01:45:35.312
Now Alan and Barry are hanging on the side of a mountain after a goddamn car crash, because these big city boys can't fucking drive in the rain.

01:45:36.092 --> 01:45:40.452
Thankfully, they crashed relatively close to the farm, so I guess we're still on track to get there.

01:45:40.952 --> 01:45:43.352
Barry was flung way the fuck farther from Alan.

01:45:43.352 --> 01:45:46.532
He's a denser man, so there's a little more force behind the bush.

01:45:47.372 --> 01:45:51.132
So now they're separated, so Alan also has to make his way to the farm by himself.

01:45:51.992 --> 01:45:57.672
It's a whole thing to get to the farm, but once Alan makes it, he sees Barry has beat him to the farm, which is great.

01:45:58.012 --> 01:46:05.812
It starts off as a regular fucking farm with like crops and shit, but then in the middle of this fucking farm, there's a festival stage.

01:46:06.492 --> 01:46:07.192
Wait, really?

01:46:07.212 --> 01:46:09.272
These guys are rock stars as fuck.

01:46:09.292 --> 01:46:15.952
So Barry's like, wait, that's fucking sick, runs up to the stage and tells Alan to run because, oh my god, there's so many taken here.

01:46:17.492 --> 01:46:20.512
Now the stage, this is the old gods of Asgard.

01:46:20.532 --> 01:46:25.552
They're into Nordic lore, they're into fucking bombastic 70s shit.

01:46:25.572 --> 01:46:32.072
We're thinking like, I want to say like a black Sabbath level of production when you think of like Osfast and Pyro and shit.

01:46:32.192 --> 01:46:40.752
Well, I'm also thinking of European music that loves like that death metal, baby clock and death clock and shit like that.

01:46:40.772 --> 01:46:42.692
Yeah, I know they're not real like that.

01:46:43.632 --> 01:46:54.072
So this stage is so fucking cool, and it sings to my heart because this stage has a giant dragon above it in the center, just like the wicked one.

01:46:54.092 --> 01:46:57.672
Oh, that doesn't do anything.

01:46:58.772 --> 01:46:59.972
It breathes fire, bitch.

01:47:00.132 --> 01:47:01.192
It's more than the wicked one.

01:47:03.852 --> 01:47:07.012
So Barry is like, we're getting chased wherever we want to go.

01:47:07.032 --> 01:47:08.252
I want to go that fucking way.

01:47:08.272 --> 01:47:09.852
That thing's fucking sick as shit.

01:47:10.672 --> 01:47:17.092
A whole army of taken warriors come down, and Alan and Barry on the stage are like, what do we do?

01:47:17.312 --> 01:47:19.412
Wait, these guys are rock stars.

01:47:19.772 --> 01:47:25.112
So Barry does a normal thing and starts to play with the pyrotechnics and the lights on stage.

01:47:25.612 --> 01:47:30.872
The stage fires up and blasts light, and then the music starts kicking in.

01:47:31.112 --> 01:47:33.332
And honestly, it's so fucking cool.

01:47:33.412 --> 01:47:38.772
You are a legit Nordic rock star shooting bad guys on stage running back and forth.

01:47:38.792 --> 01:47:40.532
There is a dragon breathing fire.

01:47:40.552 --> 01:47:43.732
There are pyrotechnics coming up from the ground.

01:47:43.952 --> 01:47:50.292
It is the coolest fucking rock and roll metal as fuck, like, assault ever.

01:47:50.572 --> 01:47:52.792
Is there music playing through the whole thing, too?

01:47:52.812 --> 01:47:54.912
Yes, it's the old gods of Asgard, bitch!

01:47:54.932 --> 01:47:57.452
So they're like playing through the massacre.

01:47:57.472 --> 01:47:58.512
That's fucking great.

01:47:58.532 --> 01:48:01.192
Now, every single Remedy game is a musical.

01:48:01.692 --> 01:48:02.792
I'm going to let you know, right?

01:48:02.812 --> 01:48:06.952
I know you know what happens in Alan Wake 2, because I've made you watch me do the dance.

01:48:07.352 --> 01:48:10.532
But if you've seen the Game Awards, it's that!

01:48:10.552 --> 01:48:11.452
There's fucking pyros!

01:48:11.472 --> 01:48:12.412
It's fucking amazing!

01:48:12.432 --> 01:48:13.192
It's so cool.

01:48:13.532 --> 01:48:15.812
It's everyone's favorite sequence in the game.

01:48:15.832 --> 01:48:17.672
It's Sam Lake's favorite sequence in the game.

01:48:17.692 --> 01:48:18.432
It's mine.

01:48:18.632 --> 01:48:23.772
And there's a moment where Alan looks up, and there's like pyros going, he goes, hell yeah.

01:48:24.792 --> 01:48:27.432
And as the player, you also go, hell yeah.

01:48:27.452 --> 01:48:29.332
Guys will look at this and think, hell yeah.

01:48:30.032 --> 01:48:31.472
I always add it in, so hell yeah.

01:48:31.552 --> 01:48:33.572
People will look at this and think, hell yeah.

01:48:33.592 --> 01:48:35.132
This is non-gender specific.

01:48:35.152 --> 01:48:37.072
I don't give a fuck what's between your legs.

01:48:37.192 --> 01:48:38.752
Whatever it is, it's hard or wet.

01:48:38.772 --> 01:48:39.852
You fucking love this shit.

01:48:39.872 --> 01:48:40.552
This was cool.

01:48:43.152 --> 01:48:46.112
I love that Remedy is just always doing musicals.

01:48:46.892 --> 01:48:52.692
So Barry is like, that was fucking sick, and Alan's like, I'm very upset, but yes, that was very cool.

01:48:54.412 --> 01:49:02.512
So Matthew Peretta and Ilka Vili have both said that the biggest direction note they've gotten for Alan is he's terrified, but he's very cool.

01:49:02.952 --> 01:49:05.492
Like he's very, everything sucks.

01:49:05.832 --> 01:49:09.432
Everything horrible is happening to him, but he's a cool dude on top of it.

01:49:09.772 --> 01:49:12.272
And even in this moment, he's like, man, that was fucking sick.

01:49:13.292 --> 01:49:14.232
He can't help it.

01:49:14.252 --> 01:49:15.112
He can't help it.

01:49:15.132 --> 01:49:17.432
It's a fantastic fucking assault.

01:49:18.332 --> 01:49:23.732
So after this amazing set piece, Barry and Alan are heading to the farmhouse where the Anderson brothers live.

01:49:24.132 --> 01:49:31.212
And Barry reveals that he actually saved an Alan Wake cardboard cutout from the town and promised nothing bad will happen to it.

01:49:31.312 --> 01:49:31.852
Oh, God.

01:49:31.872 --> 01:49:36.952
So he's carrying a cardboard cutout of his friend, and he sometimes talks to it during the run, which is fine.

01:49:36.972 --> 01:49:39.532
He's not losing his mind at all.

01:49:39.612 --> 01:49:42.752
Everyone's fucking crying and broken inside.

01:49:43.512 --> 01:49:46.032
At one point, Alan Wake fights a possessed tractor.

01:49:46.552 --> 01:49:47.412
Of course he does.

01:49:48.132 --> 01:49:59.072
Barry discovers some of the Anderson moonshine machinery and gets distracted with the idea of signing the Andersons and selling their shit as like a rock and roll booze brand and like making them pump out some music.

01:49:59.092 --> 01:50:00.992
His fucking agent brain is braining.

01:50:01.012 --> 01:50:02.592
He is trying to get the bag.

01:50:02.612 --> 01:50:04.512
He's like, well, Alan's fucking losing his mind.

01:50:04.992 --> 01:50:06.172
Who's going to pay for my condo?

01:50:06.612 --> 01:50:12.832
It just sounds like it's the same ideas that they have outside of the world, too, where they tried to brand their own fucking foods and shit.

01:50:12.852 --> 01:50:14.212
And they did get their own coffee.

01:50:14.432 --> 01:50:15.072
Oh, no.

01:50:15.092 --> 01:50:16.512
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

01:50:16.532 --> 01:50:19.092
It's like it's just all collapsing in on itself.

01:50:19.192 --> 01:50:22.892
Is Sam Wake Alan Wake in real life?

01:50:22.892 --> 01:50:23.972
Yeah, right.

01:50:24.072 --> 01:50:29.992
He's married, and I assume it's a happy marriage, but you know, he hasn't hit a writer's block, to my knowledge.

01:50:30.032 --> 01:50:33.292
And her name's Samantha, probably, if it's Alice and Alan.

01:50:36.452 --> 01:50:39.932
Like, as a Tom, could you date, like, a Tammy?

01:50:40.032 --> 01:50:40.732
A Tamra?

01:50:40.912 --> 01:50:41.352
No.

01:50:42.172 --> 01:50:44.152
My best friends, my name's Andrea.

01:50:44.172 --> 01:50:51.472
One of my best male friends is Andrew, but, like, I've never dated someone with, like, an Andy or an Andrew or an Andre or, like, any variation of that name.

01:50:51.512 --> 01:50:51.912
Right.

01:50:51.932 --> 01:50:53.012
Because I think that's weird.

01:50:53.172 --> 01:50:54.072
No, I couldn't do it.

01:50:54.092 --> 01:50:55.192
I've also dated women.

01:50:55.212 --> 01:50:56.352
I've never dated another Andrea.

01:50:56.392 --> 01:50:58.472
Like, it's not a call-me-by-your-name situation.

01:50:58.492 --> 01:51:00.032
Like, I don't think I could do that.

01:51:00.212 --> 01:51:00.952
I think that's weird.

01:51:00.972 --> 01:51:02.952
I also couldn't date, like, a parent's name.

01:51:03.312 --> 01:51:05.152
I was going to say parent, and for me, sibling.

01:51:05.172 --> 01:51:06.552
You're an only child, so you don't get that one.

01:51:06.572 --> 01:51:09.352
But couldn't date anybody with the same name as my sister.

01:51:09.492 --> 01:51:10.352
Yeah, that'd be weird.

01:51:10.772 --> 01:51:15.492
Anyway, Barry and Alan make it to the Anderson house, which is obviously abandoned.

01:51:15.972 --> 01:51:20.432
Alan finds a record from the band that has some very ominous lyrics in the music.

01:51:20.932 --> 01:51:25.192
And now to see your love set free, you need the witch's cabin key.

01:51:25.492 --> 01:51:28.872
Find the lady of the light, gone mad with the night.

01:51:29.112 --> 01:51:30.992
That's how you reshape destiny.

01:51:31.792 --> 01:51:36.352
So they're pretty quickly like, okay, we find Cynthia Weaver, that crazy bitch who loves lights.

01:51:36.912 --> 01:51:39.992
She'll be able to show us how to defeat the light and rescue Alice.

01:51:40.312 --> 01:51:40.912
Hell yeah.

01:51:41.612 --> 01:51:51.952
But it's still pretty dark outside, so we should probably stay in the house until it's light out, because she would probably have a meltdown if she had a night visitor, considering that she knows all of this is happening, presumably.

01:51:51.972 --> 01:51:53.572
So let's hang out.

01:51:53.772 --> 01:51:59.492
And Barry does the responsible thing, lifts up a bottle of the moonshine and says, Al, let's get drunk.

01:52:00.332 --> 01:52:03.472
On moonshine, though, that can make you literally go blind.

01:52:03.492 --> 01:52:08.592
This is Backwood's Nordic fucking Finnish rock star moonshine.

01:52:08.752 --> 01:52:11.332
Yeah, I've had moonshine a few times in my life.

01:52:11.452 --> 01:52:12.032
Shlevo?

01:52:12.332 --> 01:52:15.652
Well, there's Shlevo, but I've had other Backwood shit as well.

01:52:15.792 --> 01:52:16.292
Really?

01:52:16.372 --> 01:52:18.712
And that's just fucking poison.

01:52:18.832 --> 01:52:19.892
I don't think I've ever had...

01:52:19.912 --> 01:52:20.972
I've had Shlevo.

01:52:21.312 --> 01:52:21.652
Yeah.

01:52:21.672 --> 01:52:26.152
I've had Shlevo with you, and that, I think it turned my tongue a different shade of color.

01:52:26.172 --> 01:52:29.012
Like, I think it literally stripped those taste buds off of me.

01:52:29.232 --> 01:52:31.012
I couldn't taste sour for a month.

01:52:31.192 --> 01:52:35.892
Yeah, Shlevo is a Serbian version of, like, a moonshine that they make themselves.

01:52:35.912 --> 01:52:37.132
They're not fucking around.

01:52:37.132 --> 01:52:39.532
No, they do not fuck around.

01:52:39.552 --> 01:52:41.032
They fucking party so hard.

01:52:41.812 --> 01:52:42.632
It was a great wedding.

01:52:42.992 --> 01:52:43.412
Yeah.

01:52:44.752 --> 01:52:47.792
And Alan is like, no, you're right, we should get drunk.

01:52:48.452 --> 01:52:49.852
He immediately gives up.

01:52:49.872 --> 01:52:51.332
He's like, you're absolutely right.

01:52:51.352 --> 01:52:52.372
Let's get fucking hammered.

01:52:53.452 --> 01:52:54.032
It's cute.

01:52:54.052 --> 01:52:57.652
We get this great scene of Barry professing his bro love to Alan.

01:52:57.732 --> 01:53:00.772
And then Alan hears this and goes, I don't care.

01:53:00.792 --> 01:53:01.432
I'm a writer.

01:53:01.512 --> 01:53:03.512
I can write 10 bestsellers a year.

01:53:03.672 --> 01:53:05.232
Barry says, no, you couldn't.

01:53:05.932 --> 01:53:07.252
Alan says, you're right, I couldn't.

01:53:07.372 --> 01:53:10.632
But I could because I'm a writer.

01:53:11.032 --> 01:53:18.712
Barry bumbles around saying he's going to seriously get this fucking recipe from the hooch because holy shit, these boys know what they're doing.

01:53:19.532 --> 01:53:22.932
And then Alan starts crying because he misses Alice.

01:53:23.052 --> 01:53:24.172
It's a whole boy's night.

01:53:24.492 --> 01:53:29.212
And there's a cardboard cutout of Alan Wake there watching them, which just makes it all weirder.

01:53:29.312 --> 01:53:31.472
Just sitting there judging them silently.

01:53:31.492 --> 01:53:35.472
Yeah, because, you know, they got drunk on that Nordic moonshine.

01:53:35.672 --> 01:53:42.452
And hidden in the manuscript pages is the secret that the moonshine's star ingredient is cauldron lake water.

01:53:42.772 --> 01:53:46.452
Oh, and that cauldron lake water makes you see the truth.

01:53:47.952 --> 01:53:48.932
Okay, so it's poison.

01:53:50.012 --> 01:53:51.032
Yes, it's poison.

01:53:51.592 --> 01:53:59.892
But also, like, appreciate the poetry of it, that it makes you see the truth, and Barry does love Alan, and Alan is only obsessed with himself as a writer and shit like that, you know.

01:54:00.052 --> 01:54:02.792
Turns out it's just magic mushrooms grow all around.

01:54:02.812 --> 01:54:03.432
Oh, my God.

01:54:03.452 --> 01:54:05.612
Psychedelic moonshine.

01:54:07.352 --> 01:54:08.692
I brought that into our house once.

01:54:08.712 --> 01:54:09.332
Do you remember that?

01:54:09.372 --> 01:54:09.732
Oh, yes.

01:54:09.752 --> 01:54:10.812
I tried to give some to your nephew.

01:54:11.372 --> 01:54:12.312
Sorry about that.

01:54:12.352 --> 01:54:13.152
I'm fun.

01:54:13.692 --> 01:54:14.472
Nephew's 30.

01:54:14.492 --> 01:54:14.952
It's okay.

01:54:16.052 --> 01:54:16.792
He's not 12.

01:54:16.812 --> 01:54:17.932
I'm so sorry.

01:54:17.952 --> 01:54:19.072
That sounded bad right now.

01:54:19.092 --> 01:54:20.212
He's my age.

01:54:21.112 --> 01:54:22.392
I'm the fun aunt.

01:54:23.332 --> 01:54:25.052
I have candy in my purse.

01:54:25.912 --> 01:54:35.252
While passed out drunk under the shade of the moonshine, Alan has a dream that reveals what happened the first night at Divers Isle in Bright Falls.

01:54:35.892 --> 01:54:39.412
He sees himself running back to the cabin after he hears Alice scream.

01:54:39.772 --> 01:54:46.032
He sees himself dive into the water for her, which is where his memory of the event is gone and where he blacked out for a week.

01:54:46.372 --> 01:54:50.732
But in this dream, we see Alan get out of the water and cry out for Alice.

01:54:52.452 --> 01:54:57.752
We see the Lady in Black, Barbara Yager, telling Alan maybe she's still alive.

01:54:58.512 --> 01:55:09.232
She guides Alan up into the cabin, into the room with the typewriter, and tells Alan that Alice is drowned and it's his fault his wife is dead when all she wanted to do was help him write.

01:55:09.932 --> 01:55:12.572
She tells him to hush as Alan cries out in pain.

01:55:13.292 --> 01:55:17.212
She tells him to sit at the typewriter and write, and that she will tell him what to do.

01:55:17.732 --> 01:55:26.452
She tells him that Cauldron Lake has special magic for creators, and she will guide Alan and tell him he can write his way out of this and how to get Alice back.

01:55:27.012 --> 01:55:31.092
But it has to be specific, and it has to be written the way she wants.

01:55:31.972 --> 01:55:35.372
Alan is in a trance at the typewriter and says, Yes, I'll bring her back.

01:55:36.012 --> 01:55:36.532
All right.

01:55:37.092 --> 01:55:46.072
And these are those clips that we see on the TV of Alan writing, like sometimes on TVs, we'll just see him like pacing around or furiously being like, I have to save Alice.

01:55:46.392 --> 01:55:47.312
It's all from this.

01:55:48.072 --> 01:55:52.452
In real time, Alan wakes up from his nightmare, remembering the entire week he missed.

01:55:52.472 --> 01:56:02.752
It all came back to him, that he sat at the typewriter and wrote and wrote under the watchful eye of Barbara Yager, who told him what to say in his story to make him more and more powerful.

01:56:03.232 --> 01:56:11.472
Under the Dark Presence, she twisted his creation to bring her all the taken, all the power, and keep him under her thumb.

01:56:12.152 --> 01:56:15.652
So was he under the influence of the Dark Presence?

01:56:16.172 --> 01:56:17.332
He was not taken.

01:56:17.492 --> 01:56:18.912
Okay, so he wasn't taken.

01:56:19.012 --> 01:56:23.192
But the Dark Presence, like, transfixed him into writing what they wanted.

01:56:23.352 --> 01:56:24.812
Influenced him, all that shit.

01:56:24.812 --> 01:56:25.612
Yeah.

01:56:25.672 --> 01:56:33.252
Because he thought he could save Alice if he did this, but really, it was just, like, feeding into the Dark Presence's agenda.

01:56:34.612 --> 01:56:44.972
He remembers that he had written the light of Thomas Zane into the story to save himself from his life trapped in the cabin, and that Thomas Zane released him from his Dark Presence trance.

01:56:46.132 --> 01:56:52.412
In the cabin, a man in a diving suit breaks through into the cabin, and that's Thomas Zane, the diver, Diver's Isle.

01:56:53.012 --> 01:56:55.772
He literally says, I'm here because it was written.

01:56:57.592 --> 01:56:58.572
I brought you light.

01:56:58.592 --> 01:57:00.152
Like it was the prophecy.

01:57:00.172 --> 01:57:08.552
Yeah, and it sounds like James McCaffrey has this incredible booming voice as Thomas Zane who's like, I am here as it was written.

01:57:09.312 --> 01:57:20.072
It also says it, quote unquote, stole the skin of his Barbara, that the Dark Presence was using Barbara as a puppet, and that she looks so old and that he's so sad as he says this.

01:57:21.012 --> 01:57:21.212
Ugh.

01:57:22.392 --> 01:57:25.192
So the Dark Presence is using Barbara as a puppet.

01:57:25.312 --> 01:57:26.572
It's not really just Barbara.

01:57:26.732 --> 01:57:28.692
It's the Dark Presence.

01:57:28.972 --> 01:57:31.432
So it is just like an overarching darkness.

01:57:32.592 --> 01:57:38.172
So after Tom Zane came to save Alan from the cabin, Alan ran until he found a car and he stole it.

01:57:38.472 --> 01:57:42.492
He was barely conscious and fading fast, but he drove as fast as far as he could.

01:57:43.072 --> 01:57:47.292
The Dark Presence was weakened by Thomas Zane's presence, but not harmed entirely.

01:57:47.572 --> 01:57:51.232
It was just enough of a window for Alan to escape, without being followed.

01:57:51.792 --> 01:57:59.052
In his memory, he remembers passing out behind the wheel, and after a week had gone by, catching up, when all this shit started.

01:57:59.972 --> 01:58:04.532
In real time, Alan opens his eyes and says, it's my fault because I wrote it.

01:58:05.132 --> 01:58:12.712
And then, Agent Nightingale cocks his gun at Alan and says, that's right, James Joyce, and you're gonna pay for it.

01:58:15.212 --> 01:58:17.452
These writers don't always have things in common, too.

01:58:17.472 --> 01:58:22.052
He's like, Dan Brown and James Joyce, those are different readers, man.

01:58:22.072 --> 01:58:23.932
Totally different genres, everything.

01:58:23.952 --> 01:58:26.432
You just Googled famous writers and had a list.

01:58:28.592 --> 01:58:30.632
That's the end of chapter four, obviously.

01:58:30.792 --> 01:58:32.492
So we're at another chapter break.

01:58:33.512 --> 01:58:35.772
You know what this story is really starting to remind me of?

01:58:35.792 --> 01:58:36.592
Just a little bit.

01:58:37.132 --> 01:58:38.372
The never-ending story.

01:58:39.712 --> 01:58:43.092
We have the nothing kind of overtaking everything.

01:58:43.572 --> 01:58:50.672
An aspect of the never-ending story is like, the kid has to write the ending of the story in order to finish it.

01:58:50.732 --> 01:58:52.052
You have to name me.

01:58:52.072 --> 01:58:54.012
Yeah, you got to give her the fucking name and shit.

01:58:54.292 --> 01:59:00.152
And so this is just very much feeling kind of like the same thing, where he's got to kind of write out how the story is going to end for himself.

01:59:00.452 --> 01:59:01.352
And it's a musical.

01:59:01.492 --> 01:59:02.532
And it's a musical.

01:59:06.412 --> 01:59:08.912
Look at what you see.

01:59:09.332 --> 01:59:10.672
That Stranger Things moment.

01:59:11.132 --> 01:59:12.412
Oh, I forgot about that.

01:59:12.792 --> 01:59:13.872
I'm glad that popped up.

01:59:13.892 --> 01:59:20.492
I don't get mad when shit pops off because it's in things like, don't be mad fucking murder on the dance floors in Saltburn.

01:59:20.512 --> 01:59:21.972
That's a great fucking song.

01:59:22.772 --> 01:59:23.832
Be mad at Saltburn.

01:59:23.992 --> 01:59:25.852
I was going to say, you need to stop talking about Saltburn.

01:59:25.872 --> 01:59:27.332
I can't stop talking about Saltburn.

01:59:27.352 --> 01:59:28.592
It is consuming my soul.

01:59:28.612 --> 01:59:29.852
And I don't even think I liked it.

01:59:29.952 --> 01:59:32.472
No, I just need to talk to someone about it.

01:59:32.652 --> 01:59:34.932
You guys want to talk to me about Saltburn in the discord?

01:59:35.192 --> 01:59:35.992
A therapist.

01:59:36.092 --> 01:59:36.852
Oh, God damn it.

01:59:37.092 --> 01:59:40.472
You need to talk to a therapist about Saltburn.

01:59:41.652 --> 01:59:44.992
I think a lot of people have to talk to a therapist about Saltburn.

01:59:45.032 --> 01:59:46.072
It's Saltburn-dew.

01:59:46.672 --> 01:59:46.892
Oh.

01:59:47.412 --> 01:59:48.872
Chapter five, the clicker.

01:59:49.532 --> 01:59:51.612
Alan is in a jail cell with Barry.

01:59:52.152 --> 01:59:53.452
This is going great.

01:59:54.052 --> 02:00:01.492
Alan has like a hallucination vision of Cynthia Weaver talking to herself, and she says, someone will come for it when the time is right.

02:00:01.912 --> 02:00:02.852
Thomas said so.

02:00:02.872 --> 02:00:03.432
He wrote it.

02:00:03.492 --> 02:00:04.632
This key is insurance.

02:00:04.652 --> 02:00:05.872
It's my job to keep it safe.

02:00:05.892 --> 02:00:08.232
Safe in the light, always in the light, always in the light.

02:00:08.952 --> 02:00:11.112
And Alan's like Jesus Christ, and he falls back asleep.

02:00:11.932 --> 02:00:16.992
In the morning, Barry and Alan realize that Agent Nightingale took the entire manuscript away.

02:00:17.012 --> 02:00:17.032
Okay.

02:00:17.092 --> 02:00:23.292
Okay, Barry is furiously hungover from the moonshine and is nearly in tears.

02:00:23.592 --> 02:00:27.212
I thought you were gonna say furious that he took the manuscript because that's his paycheck.

02:00:27.232 --> 02:00:29.752
Oh, it's not helping.

02:00:30.632 --> 02:00:32.252
What's the most hungover you've ever been?

02:00:32.272 --> 02:00:34.952
Oh my God, I couldn't even tell you.

02:00:35.632 --> 02:00:40.312
In my 20s, I started getting two-day and three-day hangovers and I was like, I need to cut back on drinking.

02:00:40.312 --> 02:00:41.952
And now I barely drink.

02:00:41.972 --> 02:00:46.352
I drink maybe once if it's at an event and it's like a seltzer.

02:00:46.372 --> 02:00:47.812
It's never like shots.

02:00:48.292 --> 02:00:53.472
Last time I did a shot, I ended up smoking half a pack of cigarettes and I threw up so much.

02:00:53.712 --> 02:00:56.132
And I think I threw up more from the cigarettes than the alcohol.

02:00:56.472 --> 02:00:59.332
Yeah, I would say it's that Christmas at your parents' house that one year.

02:00:59.672 --> 02:01:01.112
When you ruined Christmas?

02:01:01.132 --> 02:01:01.532
Yeah.

02:01:01.612 --> 02:01:02.872
Oh, that was hysterical.

02:01:02.892 --> 02:01:04.192
I had ruined Christmas.

02:01:04.912 --> 02:01:06.572
It wasn't better because of you.

02:01:06.672 --> 02:01:09.192
I was just very sick all day long.

02:01:09.392 --> 02:01:13.092
My dad looked at you and went, townies, and walked away.

02:01:13.112 --> 02:01:14.892
It was just like, he couldn't hang.

02:01:15.072 --> 02:01:17.792
It was like, my high school friends are monsters.

02:01:17.812 --> 02:01:18.592
I'm sorry.

02:01:18.592 --> 02:01:21.092
I couldn't party as hard as Oakland had to offer.

02:01:21.252 --> 02:01:22.892
That's what Barry's going through right now.

02:01:22.912 --> 02:01:27.192
He is sweating pure whiskey, like the Gatorade commercials, but just whiskey.

02:01:28.032 --> 02:01:29.012
He is shaking.

02:01:29.032 --> 02:01:31.532
He's nearly in tears with how much pain he's in.

02:01:31.992 --> 02:01:34.092
And Alan is like, I'm fine, actually.

02:01:34.212 --> 02:01:36.732
I'm a functioning alcoholic, so this is normal for me.

02:01:37.032 --> 02:01:38.332
I need to talk to Cynthia Weaver.

02:01:38.392 --> 02:01:39.692
She is the lady of the light.

02:01:40.552 --> 02:01:51.412
Sheriff Breaker and Agent Nightingale come in to see Alan, but as they do, Alan kneels over with a migraine and immediately gets a vision of the dark presence pulling Alice underwater.

02:01:52.092 --> 02:01:55.192
Sheriff Breaker opens the cell and is like, holy shit, is he okay?

02:01:55.752 --> 02:02:02.492
Agent Nightingale makes it all about himself for some reason and then pulls a gun on all three of them, which is just his favorite fucking thing to do.

02:02:02.512 --> 02:02:05.172
I hate a trigger happy cop.

02:02:05.172 --> 02:02:07.152
In any media or in life, period.

02:02:08.292 --> 02:02:14.812
As he yells at Alan and calls him Brett Easton Ellis and Stephen King in the same breath.

02:02:15.512 --> 02:02:19.892
Brett Easton Ellis, he's like, this guy feels really well read.

02:02:22.512 --> 02:02:25.392
I feel like he actually just reads book reviews.

02:02:25.412 --> 02:02:30.492
I don't think he reads books, you know, like it feels peripheral because it doesn't always connect.

02:02:30.512 --> 02:02:34.232
Like there's nothing James Joyce about this happening right now.

02:02:34.252 --> 02:02:35.672
Or Brett Easton Ellis.

02:02:35.752 --> 02:02:37.652
Being hung over feels a little Brett Easton Ellis.

02:02:39.012 --> 02:02:40.312
Stephen King not though.

02:02:40.332 --> 02:02:43.512
Like if you're going to Stephen King it bring it in with a misery thing.

02:02:43.532 --> 02:02:45.272
Like that's the most logical part.

02:02:45.292 --> 02:02:46.992
But no, he's just saying shit at him.

02:02:47.512 --> 02:02:51.432
And then Nightingale goes, oh, wait, wait, I know this.

02:02:52.592 --> 02:02:53.512
What do you mean you know this?

02:02:53.892 --> 02:02:56.732
He pulls out a manuscript page out of his coat.

02:02:57.132 --> 02:03:06.672
And as he puts it all together, the door behind him swings open and a tornado of darkness wraps around his waist and drags him through the doorway.

02:03:07.312 --> 02:03:09.072
Into complete darkness.

02:03:09.892 --> 02:03:11.892
Sheriff Breaker goes, oh my God.

02:03:12.632 --> 02:03:13.772
Alan says, we need light.

02:03:13.772 --> 02:03:15.192
We need all the light we can get.

02:03:15.652 --> 02:03:19.412
Barry is terrified and also has a head splitting hangover.

02:03:19.572 --> 02:03:21.272
So he's genuinely about to die.

02:03:21.432 --> 02:03:24.332
Right, he's like, the last thing I want is fucking light right now.

02:03:26.092 --> 02:03:28.952
I need darkness and I need a blanket.

02:03:28.992 --> 02:03:33.592
Remember in Disco Elysium, I killed myself by turning on the light one time.

02:03:33.612 --> 02:03:34.492
Because you were hungover.

02:03:36.192 --> 02:03:37.792
That's how it feels, honestly.

02:03:37.812 --> 02:03:49.052
I have a very visceral memory of us playing, I'm sure we were doing Lizard Staff in our apartment, which is a horrible game no one should play, but if you do, it's where you drink your height in beer.

02:03:49.132 --> 02:03:54.592
You drink a beer, put it on the ground, drink another beer, tape it to the beer that's on the ground, and you drink until you get to your height.

02:03:55.252 --> 02:03:57.652
We are stupid and we are, I'm 5'4.

02:03:57.672 --> 02:03:59.812
I'm a bit taller.

02:03:59.892 --> 02:04:10.612
It's a terrible game, but the day after we played it, I remember walking to the corner store for Gatorade, and I had a moment where I went, someone could come up here, grab my wallet, and run, and I wouldn't even fight.

02:04:10.632 --> 02:04:13.752
I just say, please, just take it.

02:04:14.032 --> 02:04:15.232
I don't even fucking care.

02:04:15.252 --> 02:04:16.092
Just leave me here.

02:04:16.872 --> 02:04:18.352
Leave me here to die.

02:04:19.872 --> 02:04:24.092
That's where Barry's at with his life, is just the leave me here to die hangover.

02:04:25.212 --> 02:04:31.772
But the three run, God bless Barry, I'm so sorry, to get some goddamn light and hunker down in Sheriff Breaker's office.

02:04:32.292 --> 02:04:35.352
Alan says, I need light, and I need to find Cynthia Weaver.

02:04:35.832 --> 02:04:38.412
Sheriff Breaker is the most down ass bitch.

02:04:38.432 --> 02:04:39.852
And she goes, I got it.

02:04:39.892 --> 02:04:40.792
Let's grab ammo.

02:04:40.872 --> 02:04:41.892
We can take the chopper.

02:04:41.892 --> 02:04:42.872
It's at the top of the hill.

02:04:43.072 --> 02:04:43.752
The chopper.

02:04:43.932 --> 02:04:44.912
She's so fucking cool.

02:04:44.932 --> 02:04:48.532
Also, why does the Bright Falls Police Department have a helicopter?

02:04:48.632 --> 02:04:49.112
Right.

02:04:49.412 --> 02:04:58.552
I guess it's a mountain area, so you may need it for rescue if there's like tourists or like hikers that get lost, but it feels a little excessive for just the local cop to have the keys.

02:04:58.572 --> 02:05:00.232
It seems way outside the budget.

02:05:01.492 --> 02:05:06.432
She also tells Barry to take a list of names and phone numbers and tell them the code NIGHTSPRINGS.

02:05:06.672 --> 02:05:08.032
It's an activation statement.

02:05:08.432 --> 02:05:09.732
She is so fucking cool.

02:05:10.312 --> 02:05:12.212
There is a code word for shit going down.

02:05:13.392 --> 02:05:16.472
Barry gets the list and is like, Oh, Frank Breaker, any relation?

02:05:16.972 --> 02:05:19.172
She says, Oh yeah, that's my dad.

02:05:19.512 --> 02:05:23.792
Now I'm going to take a beat and just say, Frank Breaker used to be the sheriff of Bright Falls.

02:05:23.892 --> 02:05:27.412
So he actually is very familiar with all the on-goings, everyone in town.

02:05:27.932 --> 02:05:32.712
He at one point was also involved with a group called the Federal Bureau of Control.

02:05:34.272 --> 02:05:42.492
Alan and Sheriff Breaker go running for the helicopter, and she jokes that the code word is Night Springs because weird shit happens in their town so much, like the show.

02:05:42.712 --> 02:05:43.072
Right.

02:05:43.772 --> 02:05:52.172
She's really just like, man, we live in a fucking hell mouth, so actually the show is our code for danger, and it activates everyone, so we all prepare accordingly.

02:05:52.192 --> 02:05:53.712
It's how we take back control.

02:05:54.932 --> 02:05:59.452
On the way to the helicopter, they see Barry sprinting down the street being chased by a dark presence.

02:05:59.832 --> 02:06:01.792
The dark presence throws a school bus at him.

02:06:02.372 --> 02:06:07.552
Alan and Sheriff Breaker watch this, and they're like, oh, God damn it, we can't catch a fucking break.

02:06:07.772 --> 02:06:09.732
A whole school bus, though?

02:06:09.772 --> 02:06:11.372
They throw on buses at us, man.

02:06:11.712 --> 02:06:13.492
Holy shit, these things are strong.

02:06:13.512 --> 02:06:20.412
They really amplify, they really go from, hey, we're gonna throw a fence at you, to a tractor, to a fucking school bus.

02:06:22.792 --> 02:06:28.432
They take a shortcut through the bookstore, and Sheriff Breaker says that the bookstore has been selling a lot of his Alex Casey novels.

02:06:28.872 --> 02:06:32.012
Alan says, you know, I'm not really a fan of my own writing right now.

02:06:33.072 --> 02:06:37.912
Sheriff Breaker and Alan cross paths with Barry again, and they head up the hill and off to take to the sky.

02:06:38.472 --> 02:06:45.192
Alan defends the chopper from the taken while they get set up, and then they take off to go to Cynthia Weaver's remote location.

02:06:46.092 --> 02:06:51.552
In the helicopter, Sheriff Breaker is ribbing Alan, going, well, you're in New York, or you deal with weird shit, right?

02:06:52.132 --> 02:06:53.692
Alan is like, you know what?

02:06:54.192 --> 02:06:56.532
I've never even held a gun until a few days ago.

02:06:56.612 --> 02:06:57.872
I was a liberal arts major.

02:06:58.072 --> 02:06:59.412
And now I have a body count.

02:06:59.492 --> 02:07:03.252
Yeah, Sheriff Breaker is like, oh my God, my dad was a cop in New York.

02:07:03.272 --> 02:07:04.212
He's seen some shit.

02:07:04.232 --> 02:07:07.572
I actually used to tease my dad about being like Alex Casey.

02:07:08.452 --> 02:07:17.372
Instead of clocking that this woman confirmed that Frank Breaker, who was on the activate list, who was a cop in New York, has seen some weird shit, and there's gotta be more to this guy.

02:07:17.732 --> 02:07:23.112
We're introduced as someone who's like, absolutely darling to have in weird situations like this when we're in the trenches.

02:07:23.392 --> 02:07:30.292
Like, if he's familiar with these worlds being altered in unique events, maybe he would be a prime candidate for taking control of the situation, right?

02:07:31.792 --> 02:07:32.372
If only.

02:07:33.292 --> 02:07:35.832
All Alan hears is, oh my God, you've read my books.

02:07:38.872 --> 02:07:42.432
And she's like, yeah, you're a little metaphor heavy, but you're a good writer.

02:07:42.452 --> 02:07:44.772
And Alan says, no one's ever said that before.

02:07:45.512 --> 02:07:46.292
Metaphor heavy?

02:07:46.392 --> 02:07:46.752
Yeah.

02:07:47.372 --> 02:07:48.652
Not that you're a good writer.

02:07:48.832 --> 02:07:49.132
Yeah.

02:07:49.552 --> 02:07:51.152
Oh no, he's been told he's a great writer.

02:07:51.372 --> 02:07:52.932
Several times by Rose Today.

02:07:53.892 --> 02:07:57.872
Sheriff Breaker starts to land when a bunch of dark presence crows attack the copter.

02:07:58.412 --> 02:08:01.652
Alan falls out, but it's okay, because there's no doors on helicopters.

02:08:01.672 --> 02:08:03.032
Like, it's not a safe thing.

02:08:03.752 --> 02:08:04.412
Don't trust him.

02:08:04.752 --> 02:08:09.192
Barry and Sheriff Breaker are still in the helicopter, and Sheriff Breaker tells Alan, I'll meet you up at the plant.

02:08:09.672 --> 02:08:14.672
Turns out, the lady obsessed with light is at a power plant, so I guess that kind of suits the situation.

02:08:15.692 --> 02:08:21.032
Alan makes it to the power plant, and near the door, we see a comforting set of yellow text under the entry sign.

02:08:21.612 --> 02:08:25.612
In the yellow, helpful glow, we see the words, safe haven.

02:08:26.132 --> 02:08:29.952
The yellow signs and hints and secrets throughout the game were all from Cynthia Weaver.

02:08:30.592 --> 02:08:31.292
God bless her.

02:08:31.692 --> 02:08:32.232
Good for her.

02:08:33.292 --> 02:08:37.872
Alan opens the door to the power plant, and has to calm an immediately on edge Cynthia Weaver.

02:08:38.192 --> 02:08:39.392
He goes, I'm a friend.

02:08:39.692 --> 02:08:40.712
You know Tom Zane.

02:08:40.732 --> 02:08:42.372
You're the lady of the light in the song.

02:08:42.952 --> 02:08:44.712
Cynthia was, oh my God, about time.

02:08:44.812 --> 02:08:46.872
I've been waiting a long time for you.

02:08:47.592 --> 02:08:52.492
The key to driving the darkness back is in the well-lit room, but I need to do a fetch quest.

02:08:53.072 --> 02:08:53.572
Of course.

02:08:53.932 --> 02:09:00.632
Alan is quite fetching, and when he meets back up with Cynthia, she guides him to a well-lit pipe that leads to the well-lit room.

02:09:01.392 --> 02:09:08.292
She's nostalgic, and she says she had a huge crush on Tom Zane, and she was jealous of Barbara for being Tom's muse.

02:09:08.492 --> 02:09:13.772
And she admits when Barbara died, she was a little happy, which is such a weird thing.

02:09:13.912 --> 02:09:15.572
She just opened up with.

02:09:16.452 --> 02:09:20.952
She tells Alan that he started writing again and trying to bring her back, but he couldn't.

02:09:21.772 --> 02:09:23.112
Alan is like, that's great.

02:09:23.252 --> 02:09:24.612
That bodes well for me.

02:09:25.352 --> 02:09:25.812
Oh no.

02:09:26.772 --> 02:09:31.112
Cynthia says that the darkness took on the presence of Barbara to lure in Tom.

02:09:31.652 --> 02:09:38.312
Tom tried to undo everything he had ever written to reverse whatever was happening with the dark presence and to get Barbara back.

02:09:38.912 --> 02:09:48.732
She said he was so famous, but after he did that, every trace of his writings were gone, which is why Barry said, it says he's a writer, but I can't find any of his writings.

02:09:49.212 --> 02:09:49.932
That was real.

02:09:49.952 --> 02:09:51.432
Barry's just not a shitty Googler.

02:09:51.532 --> 02:09:51.852
Right.

02:09:53.012 --> 02:10:00.372
He ended up only being known as a filmmaker for one project where he played a diver once, not the poet he actually was.

02:10:01.312 --> 02:10:08.612
Before he wrote it out, he went to Cynthia and left one thing behind in her care in case, quote unquote, it happened again as insurance.

02:10:09.712 --> 02:10:19.492
She says he may have used her a little because he knew she had a crush on him and she was dedicated and would do anything he asked, but whatever, she still played her role and is loyal to him.

02:10:20.372 --> 02:10:23.852
She takes Alan to a small pipe room that is well lit and well sealed.

02:10:24.412 --> 02:10:29.072
Cynthia warns Alan he has to finish it to take the dark presence's power away.

02:10:30.132 --> 02:10:31.012
Alan is like perfect.

02:10:31.032 --> 02:10:35.952
I'm gonna call Barry and Sheriff Breaker and let them know exactly what's happening so they know exactly where to go.

02:10:35.972 --> 02:10:37.012
They're in the fucking sky.

02:10:37.672 --> 02:10:38.312
Give me a second.

02:10:39.312 --> 02:10:41.192
He calls them and he's like, all right, meet me at the dam.

02:10:41.252 --> 02:10:44.432
But then it sounds like the helicopter crashes mid phone call.

02:10:45.192 --> 02:10:47.852
Alan is like, shit, I have to go see if they're okay.

02:10:48.272 --> 02:10:50.552
Cynthia looks at him and goes, they're probably dead.

02:10:51.212 --> 02:10:53.052
I'll be at the well lit room and you're an idiot.

02:10:53.172 --> 02:10:54.232
I'll see you there if you live.

02:10:54.652 --> 02:10:58.032
Yeah, a helicopter crashing, unlikely they're gonna survive it.

02:10:58.712 --> 02:11:00.312
Yeah, in general, yeah.

02:11:00.392 --> 02:11:01.752
And Cynthia's super dismissive.

02:11:01.772 --> 02:11:03.092
She's like, they're dead, dumb ass.

02:11:04.552 --> 02:11:09.472
Alan runs out and sees the crashed helicopter and rushes to see if Barry and Sheriff Break are okay.

02:11:10.012 --> 02:11:14.832
The helicopter is empty, so at least he hasn't found their bodies, and he goes looking for them on the trails.

02:11:15.632 --> 02:11:19.272
Alan actually catches up to them just in time to ward off a horde of Taken.

02:11:19.632 --> 02:11:27.772
And Barry is draped in Christmas lights across his puffer jacket as his personal shield, because he is a resourceful New Yorker.

02:11:27.792 --> 02:11:29.572
I love that for him.

02:11:30.272 --> 02:11:35.232
We had a power outage once when we lived in LA, and I had Christmas lights around my neck, and we walked around the neighborhood.

02:11:35.252 --> 02:11:35.792
Do you remember that?

02:11:35.812 --> 02:11:36.632
That was really smart.

02:11:36.652 --> 02:11:37.252
It was cute.

02:11:37.632 --> 02:11:38.432
It was a good look.

02:11:38.432 --> 02:11:39.252
I looked adorable.

02:11:40.072 --> 02:11:41.112
I look great in the dark.

02:11:41.652 --> 02:11:46.172
The three of them fight to get up to the dam to reconnect with Cynthia Weaver at the well-lit room.

02:11:46.852 --> 02:11:56.452
Alan almost immediately gets separated, and as he does, he hears the voice of Barbara Yager, the dark presence telling him to stop, that he's not going any further.

02:11:56.792 --> 02:12:02.452
Then she throws a bus at him, but Alan is still able to catch up with everyone and get to the well-lit room.

02:12:02.472 --> 02:12:03.592
Another fucking bus.

02:12:03.812 --> 02:12:04.912
This bitch loves buses.

02:12:05.612 --> 02:12:07.892
The well-lit room is exactly what it sounds like.

02:12:08.192 --> 02:12:13.992
It was an army base at one point, but Cynthia Weaver had taken it over since Tom Zane entrusted her with the key.

02:12:14.752 --> 02:12:21.232
The room is a very bright room with lights and lights and lights and lights strung up over everywhere and on top of each other.

02:12:21.972 --> 02:12:25.372
In the middle of the room, there's a small table with a shoebox.

02:12:25.952 --> 02:12:34.292
In that shoebox, Alan sees a page of text that was written by Thomas Zane about a memory of Alan's from his childhood.

02:12:35.012 --> 02:12:44.512
There wasn't supposed to be any evidence at all Thomas was ever a writer, but somehow through the well-lit room, this page was spared from being eaten by the dark presence.

02:12:44.672 --> 02:12:44.892
Oh.

02:12:46.312 --> 02:12:50.612
The page covers a story about when Alan was seven years old and how he'd have nightmares.

02:12:51.252 --> 02:12:55.272
One night, his mother offered him an old light switch that she called the clicker.

02:12:55.872 --> 02:12:58.132
Flicking the clicker would drive the monsters away.

02:12:58.892 --> 02:13:03.172
To make it an even more elaborate lie, she said it was a gift from Alan's father.

02:13:03.832 --> 02:13:08.352
Alan never knew his father, so this was especially devious on her part, but whatever.

02:13:08.952 --> 02:13:11.192
With the clicker, Alan finally got to sleep.

02:13:11.752 --> 02:13:18.072
Then the page says, Alan is there, 30 years later, at the edge of Cauldron Lake with the clicker.

02:13:18.992 --> 02:13:21.692
And there in the box next to the page is the clicker.

02:13:22.732 --> 02:13:25.872
Alan knew he physically gave it to Alice in New York years ago.

02:13:26.532 --> 02:13:29.072
And he hasn't had it since, but here it was in his hands.

02:13:29.892 --> 02:13:33.112
Thomas Zane wrote this into existence in a story he wrote.

02:13:33.652 --> 02:13:39.272
With the clicker in hand, Alan is ready to be the champion of light, the herald of darkness.

02:13:39.672 --> 02:13:40.372
Oh my God.

02:13:40.392 --> 02:13:41.452
End of chapter five.

02:13:41.652 --> 02:13:42.692
The fucking song.

02:13:42.712 --> 02:13:43.132
Shut up.

02:13:44.892 --> 02:13:45.892
Let me have this.

02:13:45.912 --> 02:13:48.252
I've been so good about not being indulgent.

02:13:48.272 --> 02:13:50.892
Oh God, it's great.

02:13:50.912 --> 02:13:52.712
Alan's a much more indulgent writer than I am.

02:13:52.812 --> 02:13:54.172
I showed some fucking restraint.

02:13:56.352 --> 02:13:57.452
You want to hear restraint?

02:13:57.652 --> 02:14:02.752
You're saying Barry and Alan the entire time, and I'm not saying anything about the flash this entire episode.

02:14:02.772 --> 02:14:03.992
Oh, isn't it driving you crazy?

02:14:04.012 --> 02:14:05.412
It drives me fucking nuts.

02:14:08.452 --> 02:14:10.272
Chapter six, Departure.

02:14:11.092 --> 02:14:12.112
With a flash, we're...

02:14:12.352 --> 02:14:17.172
Are you gonna throw something at me?

02:14:18.932 --> 02:14:21.452
We're in New York, and it's two years earlier.

02:14:22.132 --> 02:14:25.512
Alan wakes up in dirty jeans, deathly hungover.

02:14:26.192 --> 02:14:32.592
He rolls out of bed with a throbbing headache and immediately puts on sunglasses and gets prescription painkillers.

02:14:33.032 --> 02:14:34.032
So just normal stuff.

02:14:34.312 --> 02:14:36.512
He drank too much, and now he thinks he's dying.

02:14:36.632 --> 02:14:37.012
Right.

02:14:37.792 --> 02:14:42.512
Now, at this point, Alan, it's subtle, but it has been confirmed.

02:14:42.552 --> 02:14:47.552
Alan is a heavy drinker, full functioning alcoholic, and has a coke problem.

02:14:48.232 --> 02:14:48.832
A writer?

02:14:48.852 --> 02:14:49.312
No way.

02:14:49.432 --> 02:14:52.912
Yeah, a writer indulging in drugs and alcohol.

02:14:53.072 --> 02:14:56.592
At no point is he called Burkowski, which is probably the most appropriate thing.

02:14:58.112 --> 02:14:58.612
Whatever.

02:14:59.252 --> 02:15:06.832
He has a message on his machine from Barry that his interview last night should be on the TiVo, and that his manager brought him TiVo like a good manager.

02:15:06.852 --> 02:15:11.132
TiVo, wait, why did the TiVo come back from our conversation earlier?

02:15:11.152 --> 02:15:11.832
That's great.

02:15:11.852 --> 02:15:14.432
Because with all good writers, you have to sow the seeds.

02:15:16.032 --> 02:15:21.652
Alan drags his ass to the living room to catch up on his TiVo appearance on the Harry Garrett show last night.

02:15:22.112 --> 02:15:28.092
This is one of the live action film segments, and obviously a big signature of Remedy is mixing media.

02:15:28.292 --> 02:15:29.792
We're bringing musicals into video games.

02:15:29.812 --> 02:15:31.512
We're bringing live action into video games.

02:15:31.532 --> 02:15:32.952
This is the live action segment.

02:15:33.392 --> 02:15:41.052
And to confirm in the live action segment, it is Ilka Vili on screen, and it's still Matthew Perretta talking over his lip sync.

02:15:41.272 --> 02:15:42.652
Oh my gosh, they dub it?

02:15:42.832 --> 02:15:45.652
Yeah, which is also how they do it in Alan Wake too.

02:15:46.412 --> 02:15:47.352
That's incredible.

02:15:47.472 --> 02:15:48.772
It's a lot of work.

02:15:49.192 --> 02:15:50.352
Just hire one actor.

02:15:50.532 --> 02:15:55.732
Anyway, you'd think it'd be cheaper and more effective for the performance.

02:15:55.992 --> 02:16:00.112
His accent must be so thick if they thought you just couldn't carry a game with it.

02:16:00.152 --> 02:16:01.472
I'm gonna tell you right now, it's not.

02:16:01.772 --> 02:16:02.272
Really?

02:16:02.492 --> 02:16:08.112
He's performed, he's been in Netflix shows and stuff, speaking English completely fine.

02:16:08.432 --> 02:16:11.352
He can speak, I've listened to a lot of interviews with him.

02:16:11.392 --> 02:16:14.032
His accent is almost gone.

02:16:14.052 --> 02:16:17.432
He actually lived in Seattle for a couple of years in the nineties.

02:16:17.592 --> 02:16:22.032
What a strange decision to just be like, we need this New York accent so badly.

02:16:22.452 --> 02:16:23.312
That badly.

02:16:23.972 --> 02:16:31.052
But honestly, Il Kavili, incredible performer, has great control of his voice, can pull off being American straight up.

02:16:31.972 --> 02:16:34.752
And yet they interviewed 200 women.

02:16:36.412 --> 02:16:44.792
For this woman who really didn't have a lot of lines, to be real, we've seen her maybe twice, maybe three times with speaking segments in this.

02:16:46.212 --> 02:16:50.892
But when it came to Alan, they're like, no, we need two completely different fucking people for this character.

02:16:51.092 --> 02:16:58.852
It's when you have a shitty job, like a shitty hourly job, and everything is a two man job, you're like me and my girlfriend have to take the trash out together.

02:16:59.332 --> 02:17:01.052
It's gonna be a 20 minute smoke break.

02:17:02.372 --> 02:17:06.312
But on a very highly professional performance level, which is fucking wild.

02:17:06.392 --> 02:17:08.872
I love Matthew Prada and Il Kavili.

02:17:08.892 --> 02:17:11.432
I think they're both great, but it's wild that they do this.

02:17:11.552 --> 02:17:17.672
Anyway, so The Harry Garrett Show is a talk show, and Alan is there promoting his last book, The Sudden Stop.

02:17:18.132 --> 02:17:23.192
In this book, Alan kills his fan favorite protagonist detective, Alex Casey.

02:17:23.652 --> 02:17:28.252
Alan is like, look, Alex Casey had a good run, but I wanna do new things.

02:17:28.692 --> 02:17:32.152
He also manages to say that he's married, his wife is his muse.

02:17:34.792 --> 02:17:40.132
The host calls out Alan for partying pretty hard and getting into a fist fight with a paparazzi.

02:17:40.552 --> 02:17:42.712
Why the fuck is there paparazzi for writers?

02:17:42.792 --> 02:17:43.172
Right.

02:17:43.632 --> 02:17:47.852
It shows that Alan is the bad boy of the English department, which is the worst thing to be.

02:17:47.872 --> 02:17:48.172
It is.

02:17:48.372 --> 02:17:49.372
Oh my God.

02:17:49.392 --> 02:17:51.132
He's not a Hunter S.

02:17:51.152 --> 02:17:51.712
Thompson.

02:17:51.972 --> 02:17:54.792
No, he's barely a Murkowski, like I said.

02:17:54.812 --> 02:17:56.372
He's probably Dan Brown.

02:17:56.392 --> 02:18:04.432
Along with Alan, the other guest on this episode is Sam Lake as Sam Lake.

02:18:04.452 --> 02:18:05.112
Sam Lake.

02:18:05.932 --> 02:18:08.032
The flying fuck did you just say?

02:18:08.052 --> 02:18:10.672
Sam Lake exists in this world and plays himself.

02:18:10.712 --> 02:18:18.332
And then the host asked Sam Lake to quote unquote, like do the face, and Sam Lake does the face on the cover of the Max Payne art.

02:18:18.872 --> 02:18:19.552
It's a whole thing.

02:18:19.732 --> 02:18:21.452
What the fuck is this game?

02:18:22.092 --> 02:18:30.532
And then the host thanks their musical guest, Poets of the Fall, which is the actual in real world band behind the Old Gods of Asgard.

02:18:30.612 --> 02:18:35.032
What, what, so Tor and Odin IRL?

02:18:35.212 --> 02:18:35.572
Yeah.

02:18:38.292 --> 02:18:40.792
You just gave me the most defeated okay.

02:18:41.712 --> 02:18:44.052
Well, this game was starting to make sense.

02:18:44.232 --> 02:18:44.692
Was it?

02:18:45.012 --> 02:18:47.052
It was, and then this happened.

02:18:49.292 --> 02:18:53.472
Are you upset more about the band, or are you upset about Sam Lake?

02:18:53.892 --> 02:18:54.392
All of it.

02:18:54.472 --> 02:18:55.632
Okay, just in general.

02:18:55.652 --> 02:18:58.032
I think Sam Lake a little bit more.

02:18:58.052 --> 02:19:02.532
Did they address the fact that Sam Lake created fucking Alan Wake?

02:19:03.372 --> 02:19:12.292
They allude to it being Sam Lake as Sam Lake, because why would Sam Lake do the Max Payne face if not for being Sam Lake of Remedy Entertainment?

02:19:12.412 --> 02:19:13.112
You know what I mean?

02:19:13.212 --> 02:19:13.772
Totally.

02:19:14.452 --> 02:19:18.452
So yeah, I think Sam Lake is Alan Wake.

02:19:18.532 --> 02:19:19.892
He's a little self-indulgent.

02:19:20.412 --> 02:19:21.232
So is Alan Wake.

02:19:21.832 --> 02:19:22.232
Okay.

02:19:24.972 --> 02:19:33.332
The performer who does the talk show host actually did a lot of mocap just randomly, and he does a lot of mocap for Barbara Yager just as where her body needs to be.

02:19:33.352 --> 02:19:37.452
So he's played a bunch of different random people and models in the game, which is kind of fun.

02:19:37.472 --> 02:19:38.812
And you're like, oh, there he is.

02:19:39.372 --> 02:19:44.012
And Alan Wake appearing on a talk show with Sam Lake does come back in the sequel.

02:19:45.752 --> 02:19:46.152
Really?

02:19:46.212 --> 02:19:46.932
What the fuck?

02:19:46.952 --> 02:19:47.912
You've seen the Game Awards?

02:19:48.032 --> 02:19:52.212
Yeah, this is just the fourth wall just doesn't exist anymore.

02:19:52.232 --> 02:19:53.032
What wall?

02:19:53.052 --> 02:19:53.552
Yeah.

02:19:54.372 --> 02:19:56.052
It's all the Easter eggs.

02:19:56.072 --> 02:19:57.572
Not all jokes have to be layered.

02:19:57.712 --> 02:19:59.392
OK, sometimes they can just be weird.

02:20:00.492 --> 02:20:08.392
Alice comes home and watches Alan standing in her living room in dirty jeans from last night, drenched in coke and sweat.

02:20:09.052 --> 02:20:14.572
Sunglasses on Xanax not kicking in yet and goes, hey, Alan, do you need an aspirin?

02:20:15.332 --> 02:20:19.832
Alan whips his body around and screams, are you going to get on me about the drinking?

02:20:20.972 --> 02:20:21.712
Oh, my God.

02:20:21.932 --> 02:20:24.412
Alice goes, Jesus Christ, go back to sleep.

02:20:25.092 --> 02:20:31.492
Alan has, like, the worst fucking drinking problem and he's such a cunt about it.

02:20:31.812 --> 02:20:33.372
Alan, you know, he's just a dick.

02:20:33.392 --> 02:20:34.732
He's like, me.

02:20:34.852 --> 02:20:36.012
Why are you ignoring me?

02:20:36.472 --> 02:20:38.672
Alice goes, well, she's so calm.

02:20:38.692 --> 02:20:39.772
She is so wonderful.

02:20:39.972 --> 02:20:43.732
She goes, I'm upset because you said you'd be home by midnight after your appearance.

02:20:44.572 --> 02:20:48.112
And you got home at 7am and passed out on me mid-sentence.

02:20:48.652 --> 02:20:49.412
I took a walk.

02:20:49.712 --> 02:20:50.372
I moved on.

02:20:50.552 --> 02:20:51.252
I cooled off.

02:20:51.372 --> 02:20:51.932
I'm over it.

02:20:52.192 --> 02:20:52.752
Are you okay?

02:20:53.492 --> 02:20:56.632
That is the most mature fucking way to deal with this fucking baby.

02:20:56.872 --> 02:21:00.212
She really is handling that way better than I think anybody else should.

02:21:00.532 --> 02:21:02.232
Alan goes, it's the press tour.

02:21:02.252 --> 02:21:03.652
It's not my decisions.

02:21:03.852 --> 02:21:08.452
Alice is just like, honey, just reset, take a shower, go back to bed.

02:21:08.572 --> 02:21:09.192
It's okay.

02:21:10.012 --> 02:21:15.692
As soon as Alan is sad for himself, she goes to dode on him, and she's like, okay, you know what, relax, it's fine.

02:21:15.952 --> 02:21:17.512
He does not fucking deserve her.

02:21:17.572 --> 02:21:19.172
She is literally Alice Angel.

02:21:19.412 --> 02:21:19.752
Right.

02:21:21.232 --> 02:21:25.652
Alice promises her after the tour ends, they can go on vacation somewhere quiet.

02:21:27.952 --> 02:21:31.772
Now it's present day at Bright Falls, and Alan has his magical clicker.

02:21:32.252 --> 02:21:37.632
He tells Barry and Sheriff Breaker he's going back to the lake to write an ending to the manuscript, to make it right.

02:21:37.952 --> 02:21:42.312
He has to go to the typewriter and read it and make sure everything is perfect so it all resets.

02:21:42.972 --> 02:21:47.232
Barry and Sheriff Breaker stay put in the well-lit room with Cynthia to stay safe.

02:21:47.772 --> 02:21:50.712
Alan leaves alone to put an end to all of this now.

02:21:51.652 --> 02:21:53.432
When he comes out, it's a bright sunny day.

02:21:53.672 --> 02:21:59.032
He thinks it may have been because he hit the clicker, or maybe it's just, you know, daytime, you dumb dipshit.

02:22:00.612 --> 02:22:03.332
He has to take advantage of the light to get to the lake safely.

02:22:03.812 --> 02:22:09.492
Alan steals a car and heads out to where he thought Divers Island was supposed to be, or kind of where it was last time.

02:22:10.512 --> 02:22:15.892
On his way over, Alan starts to have visions of Barbara Yager and the darkness pulling Alice down into the lake.

02:22:16.392 --> 02:22:19.592
He hears Barbara just straight up say, I will kill your wife.

02:22:20.912 --> 02:22:22.432
With that, it's nighttime again.

02:22:23.052 --> 02:22:26.632
Because the Dark Presence has a hold on Alan, it'll always be connected to him.

02:22:27.172 --> 02:22:30.972
It knows what Alan wants and where he wants, and there's no hiding from it.

02:22:31.632 --> 02:22:34.372
It throws cars and flocks of birds at him.

02:22:34.632 --> 02:22:41.932
The Dark Presence really just like throws everything it can figure out at Alan to get him to stop his progress towards Alice and breaking the hold.

02:22:43.572 --> 02:22:47.732
On his way to the lake, Alan comes up on a full tornado at the edge of a mountain.

02:22:48.212 --> 02:22:53.472
It's throwing train cars and regular cars, and I think I saw a boat somewhere in there?

02:22:53.492 --> 02:22:54.172
Jesus.

02:22:55.632 --> 02:23:02.592
Alan runs face first into the heart of the tornado, evading all sorts of traffic vehicles it has spinning in its darkness.

02:23:03.072 --> 02:23:08.592
With flares at hand and focus in mind, Alan makes it to the center and the heart of the hurricane.

02:23:09.572 --> 02:23:13.552
All is still for a moment, and he walks to the edge of the peak above the lake.

02:23:14.012 --> 02:23:17.972
He holds his magic clicker, closes his eyes, and squeezes.

02:23:18.612 --> 02:23:21.072
And with that, Alan leaps into Cauldron Lake.

02:23:22.072 --> 02:23:24.812
Alan wakes up suddenly catching his breath next to Alice.

02:23:25.092 --> 02:23:25.632
Of course.

02:23:25.812 --> 02:23:28.332
She goes, baby, it was just another nightmare.

02:23:28.752 --> 02:23:30.452
You're home or okay.

02:23:30.932 --> 02:23:32.412
They're in their bed in New York City.

02:23:33.212 --> 02:23:34.932
Alan says, no, no, it's not a dream.

02:23:35.612 --> 02:23:36.172
It's a dream.

02:23:36.412 --> 02:23:37.012
It's not a dream.

02:23:37.232 --> 02:23:37.672
It's a dream.

02:23:38.132 --> 02:23:40.512
He rolls out of bed and demands the lights go on.

02:23:41.052 --> 02:23:42.852
He realizes this isn't his apartment.

02:23:43.252 --> 02:23:44.112
He's not okay.

02:23:44.452 --> 02:23:44.652
Oh.

02:23:44.812 --> 02:23:49.652
The apartment is drenched in darkness, and Alice tells him to stop trying to turn the lights on.

02:23:50.132 --> 02:23:51.612
Well, that's definitely not Alice, then.

02:23:52.372 --> 02:23:52.732
Right.

02:23:53.192 --> 02:23:57.592
Outside their windows, we see a fog of darkness roll by enveloping New York City.

02:23:58.452 --> 02:24:01.952
Alan goes further into the apartment where Alice tells him to come back to bed.

02:24:03.252 --> 02:24:15.172
The Dark Presence tries to lure him into endless dreams with Alice where he can float and just be with her finally, but he knows it's not real, and he knows he needs to solve this in the real world because Alice is still in danger.

02:24:15.952 --> 02:24:17.372
He finds the clicker and he hits it.

02:24:17.932 --> 02:24:23.232
The apartment lights up, and then Alan is in a dream state talking to the diver, Tom Zane.

02:24:24.392 --> 02:24:25.852
He says he has to get to the cabin.

02:24:26.032 --> 02:24:29.192
He says the Dark Presence has no heart, only darkness.

02:24:29.852 --> 02:24:32.872
Alan needs to fill the Dark Presence heart with light.

02:24:33.732 --> 02:24:36.472
Alan turns to the side and sees a carbon copy of himself.

02:24:37.132 --> 02:24:40.672
They look and are dressed the same, but the copy has a smile on his face.

02:24:40.972 --> 02:24:42.932
The real Alan can't even fake.

02:24:43.792 --> 02:24:45.692
Tom Zane says, oh, don't mind him.

02:24:45.772 --> 02:24:46.452
That's Mr.

02:24:46.472 --> 02:24:46.912
Scratch.

02:24:47.372 --> 02:24:49.112
Your friends will meet him when you're gone.

02:24:50.112 --> 02:24:50.392
What?

02:24:51.032 --> 02:24:51.672
Better not.

02:24:52.072 --> 02:24:56.972
Yeah, so there's just this creepy doppelganger with this big smile on him, and Alan's like, what the fuck?

02:24:56.992 --> 02:24:58.292
I've never smiled in my life.

02:25:00.052 --> 02:25:01.092
They'll know it's not me.

02:25:01.492 --> 02:25:02.192
Alan and Mr.

02:25:02.212 --> 02:25:07.372
Scratch look into each other's eyes, and Tom Zane tells Alan bluntly, use the clicker.

02:25:08.032 --> 02:25:09.012
Yeah, good job, buddy.

02:25:10.032 --> 02:25:16.012
From here, we get a strange puzzle where single words show up on the screen across a play area surrounded by darkness.

02:25:16.632 --> 02:25:19.232
In these arenas are literally words like telephone pole.

02:25:19.552 --> 02:25:22.372
And when Alan shines his light on the word, the thing appears.

02:25:22.372 --> 02:25:26.092
So the word telephone pole becomes an inward telephone pole.

02:25:27.112 --> 02:25:30.092
He occasionally sees the word Alice, but it blacks out and goes away.

02:25:30.772 --> 02:25:37.292
In this nightmare puzzle, we hear Alice leaving Alan because she's fallen out of love with him, and she calls him a hack.

02:25:38.592 --> 02:25:45.092
Alan clarifies that this never happened, and he's just hearing the dark presence try to fuck with him as he runs to Divers Island.

02:25:45.292 --> 02:25:46.932
Nobody's ever called me a hack.

02:25:46.952 --> 02:25:47.772
I'm not a hack.

02:25:47.952 --> 02:25:49.292
I'm a little heavy on the metaphor.

02:25:49.312 --> 02:25:50.872
Allegedly.

02:25:51.332 --> 02:25:55.232
We see the word Barbara, and we hear Tom Zane and Barbara's last moments.

02:25:55.732 --> 02:26:02.152
Barbara is possessed by the dark presence, and Tom Zane knew it, so he cut out her heart in the cabin.

02:26:02.172 --> 02:26:02.772
The shit?

02:26:03.052 --> 02:26:13.552
It gave the dark presence Barbara's body to use as its mask, and doomed Tom Zane to be beheld by the dark presence this whole time, just because he didn't fucking cleanse her right.

02:26:14.432 --> 02:26:19.452
Alan makes it to the cabin, determined to finish the manuscript, and free himself and Alice.

02:26:20.252 --> 02:26:22.712
Barbara Jagger's obviously waiting for Alan inside.

02:26:23.152 --> 02:26:29.392
Through her chest is a hole, straight from where her heart used to be, where Tom Zane once broke her body open.

02:26:30.172 --> 02:26:34.752
She tells him, she'll find a new face to wear, someone else to dream her free.

02:26:35.632 --> 02:26:40.232
Alan goes up to her and sticks the clicker inside her heart hole and flips the switch.

02:26:41.152 --> 02:26:48.132
Light comes pouring out of every opening of her body, and then we see light fill up the entire cabin and overflow through the windows.

02:26:49.052 --> 02:26:49.752
All goes dark.

02:26:50.192 --> 02:26:52.732
Alan is alone, catching his breath in the cabin.

02:26:53.232 --> 02:26:54.952
He stands and walks to the typewriter.

02:26:55.592 --> 02:27:01.172
He says he feels Alice's presence nearby, that all he has to do now is write the ending to departure.

02:27:01.812 --> 02:27:03.452
There is light and darkness.

02:27:03.972 --> 02:27:07.812
There is guilt and atonement, but the scales have to balance.

02:27:08.592 --> 02:27:11.972
Everything has a price, something he says Zane got wrong.

02:27:12.892 --> 02:27:16.772
There's a long journey through the night, back into the light.

02:27:18.072 --> 02:27:22.352
Alan types and types and types, and the hands on the clock on the wall begin to spin backwards.

02:27:22.892 --> 02:27:28.592
The screen cuts to the early screen of Alan discovering Alice had been pulled into the lake by the darkness.

02:27:29.352 --> 02:27:31.092
We see Alan jump in after her.

02:27:31.652 --> 02:27:37.432
We see the weather rapidly change around Cauldron Lake, as we see the last few days pass once again.

02:27:38.112 --> 02:27:44.072
We see a vision of Alice opening her eyes underwater and swimming to the surface and making it to the edge of the dock.

02:27:44.712 --> 02:27:49.132
She pulls herself up out of the lake and onto the landing and catches her breath.

02:27:49.772 --> 02:27:54.372
She's freezing, and she collapses, and she starts coughing up Cauldron Lake water.

02:27:55.072 --> 02:27:57.092
She calls out for Alan, but she's alone.

02:27:57.532 --> 02:27:59.472
Again, still going full Ellen Ripley.

02:27:59.952 --> 02:28:01.232
Just tank top and panties.

02:28:01.952 --> 02:28:02.452
Freezing.

02:28:02.912 --> 02:28:06.612
She calls out for Alan more and more, but no one reaches back out to her.

02:28:07.092 --> 02:28:08.092
No one calls out.

02:28:08.572 --> 02:28:09.372
No one is there.

02:28:10.332 --> 02:28:15.732
The camera pans back through the lakeside town of Bright Falls as Deerfest begins downtown.

02:28:16.592 --> 02:28:19.792
We see the town folks celebrating in the streets and enjoying their day.

02:28:20.532 --> 02:28:24.472
We see Torrin, Ode, and Anderson drinking moonshine in the streets and cheering.

02:28:25.432 --> 02:28:32.152
We see the waitress Rose holding a lamp looking scared, just like Cynthia Weaver before her.

02:28:33.112 --> 02:28:39.972
We see a smoky dark presence possessed just surrounding the figure of Agent Nightingale.

02:28:40.492 --> 02:28:42.592
Perhaps the new puppet of the dark presence?

02:28:43.072 --> 02:28:47.152
Perhaps following the legacy of Barbara Yager after being eaten up.

02:28:47.172 --> 02:28:48.852
I thought we were done with this guy.

02:28:48.872 --> 02:28:50.072
I fucking hate this dude.

02:28:50.952 --> 02:28:56.612
And then we come up on Alan Wake, willingly trapped in the dark place in exchange for Alice's freedom.

02:28:56.832 --> 02:28:57.412
Oh shit.

02:28:57.632 --> 02:29:00.612
He sits at the typewriter and comes to his final conclusion.

02:29:01.312 --> 02:29:03.372
It's not a lake, it's an ocean.

02:29:04.852 --> 02:29:07.932
We hear Alice whisper to Alan to wake up.

02:29:09.692 --> 02:29:11.192
Written by Sam Lake.

02:29:12.712 --> 02:29:14.432
What the fuck?

02:29:15.352 --> 02:29:19.292
And that's how they were left hanging for 13 fucking years.

02:29:19.312 --> 02:29:21.452
13 years?

02:29:21.512 --> 02:29:22.072
Years!

02:29:23.212 --> 02:29:25.192
It's not a lake, it's an ocean.

02:29:26.312 --> 02:29:27.592
What does that even fucking mean?

02:29:29.892 --> 02:29:32.652
Now, there's two pieces of DLC.

02:29:32.692 --> 02:29:38.592
There's Signal and the Writer that came out right after, and then American Nightmare came out like a year after or so.

02:29:39.092 --> 02:29:43.192
For the promotional material for American Nightmare, we see Mr.

02:29:43.192 --> 02:29:44.652
Scratch, where Mr.

02:29:44.672 --> 02:29:49.312
Scratch goes to the Remedy Offices to terrorize Sam Lake in real life.

02:29:49.492 --> 02:29:50.392
Of course.

02:29:50.832 --> 02:29:54.012
And at one point, he goes, it's not a lake, it's an ocean.

02:29:55.312 --> 02:29:55.712
So.

02:29:56.372 --> 02:29:58.392
Mox the ending of the game?

02:29:58.692 --> 02:30:02.672
In world, in canonical promotional pieces, Mr.

02:30:02.692 --> 02:30:08.992
Scratch has mocked Sam Lake to his face, and especially the most confusing ending line of a game.

02:30:09.672 --> 02:30:10.512
It's fucking hysterical.

02:30:10.552 --> 02:30:15.052
He's also riding a scooter indoors, just like flipping off Alan Wake posters.

02:30:15.092 --> 02:30:16.772
Like, it's very charming.

02:30:16.792 --> 02:30:17.892
I've really enjoyed that.

02:30:17.892 --> 02:30:19.972
And it's on Remedy's YouTube page, if you're curious.

02:30:19.992 --> 02:30:21.052
I'll drop it in the Discord.

02:30:21.072 --> 02:30:23.552
But yeah, man, that's Alan Wake.

02:30:24.192 --> 02:30:25.792
Well, holy shit.

02:30:25.792 --> 02:30:26.972
Thank you so much.

02:30:27.312 --> 02:30:30.092
Can you see why this was like a rabbit hole I fell down?

02:30:30.392 --> 02:30:31.672
I can see entirely.

02:30:31.972 --> 02:30:35.812
Just in that final chapter, it's almost like a different game.

02:30:36.292 --> 02:30:38.372
It takes a huge turn.

02:30:38.372 --> 02:30:42.632
And now going into Alan Wake 2, they were like, that was like a psychological thriller.

02:30:42.652 --> 02:30:43.872
This is a fucking horror.

02:30:43.992 --> 02:30:45.772
And it 100% is a horror.

02:30:45.792 --> 02:30:50.112
Like they up all of the scares a lot going into the second one.

02:30:50.132 --> 02:30:53.772
Second one's way fucking scarier, and it's a dual protagonist story.

02:30:53.792 --> 02:30:55.272
It's really fucking good.

02:30:55.632 --> 02:30:56.852
Yeah, you said you really enjoyed it.

02:30:57.072 --> 02:30:57.492
I did.

02:30:57.532 --> 02:30:58.072
I really did.

02:30:58.092 --> 02:31:03.252
And also like Spider-Man 2, it's a dual protagonist story, and you work through two different things.

02:31:04.172 --> 02:31:05.312
It's really fucking fun.

02:31:05.332 --> 02:31:06.292
I really enjoyed it.

02:31:06.352 --> 02:31:07.732
I think there are better games.

02:31:07.992 --> 02:31:17.712
I don't think it was the best game I've ever played, but I think it's certainly one of the most enjoyable, creatively unique pieces of media I've experienced, which a lot of people have agreed to.

02:31:17.792 --> 02:31:19.012
And you know what?

02:31:19.032 --> 02:31:23.812
It really made me love Remedy, because I found out Remedy loves musicals, and I love fucking musicals.

02:31:23.832 --> 02:31:24.372
That's true.

02:31:24.452 --> 02:31:26.012
I am a musical theater ass bitch.

02:31:26.552 --> 02:31:27.572
Oh, that is so true.

02:31:28.292 --> 02:31:29.212
Thank you so much.

02:31:29.232 --> 02:31:30.832
That was a ride and a half.

02:31:31.332 --> 02:31:33.812
And is Sam Lake Alan Wake?

02:31:33.892 --> 02:31:34.632
I think so, yeah.

02:31:34.732 --> 02:31:35.652
Is it Sam Ocean?

02:31:36.692 --> 02:31:37.992
It's not a lake, it's an ocean.

02:31:39.172 --> 02:31:40.712
Ah, good shit, right?

02:31:41.132 --> 02:31:47.632
Well, if you enjoyed that, please make sure you like, subscribe, check out our website, theothercastlepodcast.com.

02:31:47.632 --> 02:31:49.572
That's the othercastlepodcast.com.

02:31:49.912 --> 02:31:53.872
Over there, you can check out our Patreon, where again, we're gonna have the DLC episodes.

02:31:53.892 --> 02:31:55.492
Those should be uploaded right now.

02:31:55.692 --> 02:31:57.572
And as alluded to, there's a lot of Mr.

02:31:57.592 --> 02:32:00.472
Scratch in the fucking next pieces in the DLC.

02:32:00.712 --> 02:32:05.112
So if you wanna come hang out with the snarkiest fucking person ever, Mr.

02:32:05.132 --> 02:32:07.412
Scratch, it's on the fucking Patreon.

02:32:07.432 --> 02:32:08.052
It's gonna be fun.

02:32:08.552 --> 02:32:09.392
Yeah, it's wonderful.

02:32:09.412 --> 02:32:13.032
And we also just wanna give a shout out to all of the patrons that we have on our Patreon.

02:32:13.412 --> 02:32:25.352
So we've got Andrew, that Chonky boy, AJ, Paul, Omar, Aaron, Cyrus, Molly, Krisha, Molly Mock, Jackie, and Alan.

02:32:25.372 --> 02:32:26.512
Thank you all so much.

02:32:26.692 --> 02:32:27.832
Yes, thank you all.

02:32:27.852 --> 02:32:28.972
We appreciate you.

02:32:29.272 --> 02:32:32.792
Again, it's only $2 a month to subscribe to our Patreon.

02:32:33.172 --> 02:32:36.252
And it's free for like a week or two if you just want to pop in and say what's up.

02:32:36.292 --> 02:32:39.432
You can hang out on the Discord too without joining the Patreon, that's free.

02:32:39.652 --> 02:32:44.012
And that's a great way of bullying me into doing games that I love like Alan Wake.

02:32:44.252 --> 02:32:48.872
So if you have something that you really love that like I might get down on, let me know.

02:32:48.892 --> 02:32:49.472
I'm into it.

02:32:49.652 --> 02:32:51.952
Yeah, follow us on Instagram, all the different places.

02:32:52.112 --> 02:32:53.552
Yeah, but thank you all so much.

02:32:53.832 --> 02:32:55.212
And welcome to season eight.

02:32:55.232 --> 02:32:55.852
We'll be back.

02:32:55.872 --> 02:32:57.412
We have 10 games this season.

02:32:57.752 --> 02:33:02.212
So next week, Tom's running a game, and it's gonna be, I forgot what you're doing, but it's gonna be fun.

02:33:02.272 --> 02:33:05.592
Oh my gosh, this game took me by a fucking storm.

02:33:05.732 --> 02:33:06.352
Oh shit.

02:33:06.532 --> 02:33:09.772
I was not ready for how much I was gonna end up loving this game next week.

02:33:09.792 --> 02:33:12.312
It is one of my favorites, and it is a 2023 game.

02:33:12.892 --> 02:33:13.452
Yes, it is.

02:33:13.472 --> 02:33:14.792
I have no idea what you're doing.

02:33:15.492 --> 02:33:16.432
Will you text me?

02:33:16.452 --> 02:33:17.892
We're gonna do a deep dive on it.

02:33:18.932 --> 02:33:21.292
I'll learn everything I need to know about it afterwards.

02:33:21.312 --> 02:33:21.632
Yes.

02:33:21.652 --> 02:33:24.772
Do you feel like you know what happens in Alan Wake now that we've done this?

02:33:25.052 --> 02:33:27.752
Several hours conversation about it, beat by beat.

02:33:27.912 --> 02:33:29.552
I do, but I'm still confused.

02:33:30.132 --> 02:33:30.872
That's valid.

02:33:31.832 --> 02:33:33.092
That's valid as fuck.

02:33:33.332 --> 02:33:35.552
I feel left hanging as hell.

02:33:35.592 --> 02:33:37.952
It's a cult classic, and that you're supposed to.

02:33:38.052 --> 02:33:39.812
Yeah, Sam Lake was like, haha, fuck you.

02:33:39.872 --> 02:33:41.692
But 13 year wait, that's just mean.

02:33:41.852 --> 02:33:43.132
That's some rock star shit.

02:33:43.152 --> 02:33:44.652
That's some Kingdom Hearts shit.

02:33:44.672 --> 02:33:46.532
That's, you know, fucking, yeah.

02:33:46.672 --> 02:33:51.272
I'm excited, but it's super fun, and I'm gonna do Alan Wake 2 eventually.

02:33:51.572 --> 02:33:52.492
Just give me a minute.

02:33:53.832 --> 02:33:55.152
I need to stretch.

02:33:55.152 --> 02:33:57.172
I need to film myself doing the dance.

02:33:57.212 --> 02:33:59.892
I might put the dance on the discord just cause it is fun.

02:34:00.012 --> 02:34:00.852
Yeah, please do.

02:34:00.912 --> 02:34:03.012
It's a short count, like I can do it.

02:34:03.032 --> 02:34:04.612
It's not a complicated dance.

02:34:04.612 --> 02:34:05.352
I'll film it.

02:34:07.012 --> 02:34:07.792
So I don't have to do it.

02:34:07.812 --> 02:34:08.432
That's fair.

02:34:08.832 --> 02:34:11.092
And if you want to be our agent, I am looking for a berry.

02:34:13.252 --> 02:34:14.612
But thank you all very much.

02:34:15.052 --> 02:34:16.232
Better get that TiVo to us.

02:34:16.372 --> 02:34:17.312
Yeah.

02:34:19.372 --> 02:34:21.392
All right, Goombas, thank you so much.

02:34:21.412 --> 02:34:24.072
And until next time, this is Tom and Andrea reminding you.

02:34:24.552 --> 02:34:25.952
In the darkness, look for the light.

02:34:26.052 --> 02:34:27.392
Oh, fuck, that's the wrong game.

02:34:28.192 --> 02:34:29.712
And don't skip the cutscenes.

02:34:32.352 --> 02:34:33.612
I said it too.