Disturbing Spoilers Discussion

[SmithDoc]

Terry was molested by his uncle (the former owner of the home) in 1963, incidentally the same year that JFK was shot. Since that incident as a child, he's repressed the memory of being molested or chosen to deal with the trauma by fixating on JFK's death... so it makes sense that every one of his novels is about going back to that year and trying to change the past and prevent a tragedy.

Evidence:

- Why was the uncle meauring Terry's height in the creepy basement? The last height marking is Thanksgiving 1963 -probably when the uncle was caught. Also same time as JFK assassination.
- There's a children's toy hidden in the dark room at the end of the hall next to the safe. This is probably where Terry was molested.
- The uncle apologizes to his sister for something in the letter, but it's obvious the family has shunned him.
- The uncle has become a shut-in and a morphine or heroin addict -probably after the fact.

While it's not clear whether or not Terry remembers, it's obvious that he became a fantasy writer to deal with a trauma -and that he wasn't able to get over it until he confronted the home where he was molested. Considering the title and explanation from his new book, 'the accidental human', it looks like he may have finally come to terms with what is haunting him.

[Vigo]

I just found the toy in the dark room where the light is broken. That is so creepy.

[Thorn]

The only real victim in this game is Terry. The "privileged white male" that everyone wants to hate on in real life. Even his own wife cheated on him. He's the only one in the game I feel bad for.

[SmithDoc]

i wonder if all of the people complaining have figured out these things? discovering oscar and terry's stories really enhances the game substantially.

[Ridebird]

I didn't discover that full part of the story. I was trying to figure out what exactly was the awful thing that Oscar had done, and couldn't get to grips with it.

Fantastic depth in that sub-plot anyway.

[SmithDoc]

Originally posted by Ridebird:

I didn't discover that full part of the story. I was trying to figure out what exactly was the awful thing that Oscar had done, and couldn't get to grips with it.

Fantastic depth in that sub-plot anyway.

in some ways, discovering the ending of the oscar and terry subplot was more rewarding than the sister's story -if only because it required some thinking in order to figure out for oneself, as nothing is openly stated..

[Varg]

Originally posted by ThoRn:

The only real victim in this game is Terry. The "privileged white male" that everyone wants to hate on in real life. Even his own wife cheated on him. He's the only one in the game I feel bad for.

Well, it's never really clear the she did cheat on him, right? I thought of it more like she just needed a romantic adventure, but never actually did anything.

[Math Is Fake]

I love the detail, this makes it even more interesting beyond what I thought.

[Delegatorian]

Well, it's never really clear the she did cheat on him, right? I thought of it more like she just needed a romantic adventure, but never actually did anything.

I don't relly think she has cheated on him yet, and they are away on couple counciling trip, but she describes the marriage problem due to terry being distant, which in my opinion fits with him being sexually molested, since he is in the same house were it happened and that was when the marriage problems happened.

[Kein Zantezuken]

The only real victim in this game is Terry. The "privileged white male" that everyone wants to hate on in real life. Even his own wife cheated on him. He's the only one in the game I feel bad for.

But she didn't? If I'm not mistaken, from the letters it seems like Jan's friend actually was interested in Rick, Jan itself only went with Rick on the concert/movie (or whatever it was) once, as a friend. Later, you can find on the fridge and invitation to the wedding of Rick and someone's daughter, can't remember her name.

[ShibaScarf]

I think the implication was that by accepting the promotion to a different location, she was choosing to leave Rick, and plans for romance with him, behind. Or at least, that was what I took away from it.

[Yule Log Fan]

Originally posted by ShibaScarf:

I think the implication was that by accepting the promotion to a different location, she was choosing to leave Rick, and plans for romance with him, behind. Or at least, that was what I took away from it.

Definitely, but who knows what choices she made beforehand? Maybe regret sparked that decision. I'm more inclinded to think she did. Did anyone else find that romance novel about the shirtless, buff lumberjack saving a woman from a burning forest? And the Walt Whitman book Rick lent to Jan?

Also, to the OP: holy crap! I didn't even think to piece this together. I found that toy earlier and just thought that it was a prop. I did find it weird that he kept a bunch of needles in the safe though...jesus.

When I went back to open the safe, that's when I caught the height markings. I didn't even think about them being in a creepy place, or the end of the hallway. I only thought about doing that myself when I was a kid.

If you found the letter that Oscar wrote to Terry (in his office desk, top left drawer, take the book out and lift up the bottom of the drawer), he writes him saying he's so happy the direction his life went in. Saying he's thought a lot about his future in his time alone. The letter is slightly ripped though at one point where Oscar says he's always welcome at Arbor Hill, but he would understand if he couldn't due to ---

This just blew my mind.

[SmithDoc]

Originally posted by Caesius:

Originally posted by ShibaScarf:

I think the implication was that by accepting the promotion to a different location, she was choosing to leave Rick, and plans for romance with him, behind. Or at least, that was what I took away from it.

Definitely, but who knows what choices she made beforehand? Maybe regret sparked that decision. I'm more inclinded to think she did. Did anyone else find that romance novel about the shirtless, buff lumberjack saving a woman from a burning forest? And the Walt Whitman book Rick lent to Jan?

Also, to the OP: holy crap! I didn't even think to piece this together. I found that toy earlier and just thought that it was a prop. I did find it weird that he kept a bunch of needles in the safe though...jesus.

When I went back to open the safe, that's when I caught the height markings. I didn't even think about them being in a creepy place, or the end of the hallway. I only thought about doing that myself when I was a kid.

If you found the letter that Oscar wrote to Terry (in his office desk, top left drawer, take the book out and lift up the bottomg of the drawer), he writes him saying he's so happy the direction his life went in. Saying he's thought a lot about his future in his time alone. The letter is slightly ripped though at one point where Oscar says he's always welcome at Arbor Hill, but he would understand if he couldn't due to ---

This just blew my mind.

Oh, I'd forgotten to include that letter in my evidence list -it was so relatively early in the game that it slipped my mind.

Yes, this game's story really is quite deep, and I'm glad to see other people figuring it out too!

[cyricsservant]

Oscar's last will and testament was also a nice piece of evidence, if you simply stop and consider why an uncle, estranged from his entire extended family and his nephew, whom he hasn't seen in over a decade, would leave said nephew everything he owns.

The return to the site of the abuse also appears to be the catalyst for Terry's slump. The magazine he writes for complains that over the past few months the quality of his reviews has tanked, and that readers don't want to read about him reminiscing about his childhood.

To the OP - Thank you so much for pointing out the 1963/JFK/fantasy connection. The significance behind Terry's chosen subject matter slipped past me, and I would have totally missed it if you hadn't mentioned it.

[cyricsservant]

Also, to draw a parallel between Terry and Sam, I liked how both confronted deeply personal issues through their writing. With Sam you had the story of Captain Allegra, whose first mate and love interest was initially based off of her childhood friend, Daniel. But eventually, perhaps after meeting Lonnie, the first mate ended up swapping sexes through a contrived fantasy plot device. Like father like daughter, I suppose. . . Er . . . sorry for going off a tangent.

Anyway, the more I reflect on the game the more I come to appreciate it. It's more nuanced than the originally gave it credit for. Very well done.

[hoptrough67]

My only question, why would he be known as 'Psyco' for pedophilia and probable drug use? One of the main reasons you're so scared of him is that nickname, but I don't see reason to it.