Nathan...a misunderstood hero?(spoilers from EP4)

[Cody]

Think about it for a second. We now know who the mastermind is behind Rachel's disappearance. But before that happened; what did Nathan try to do? He snuck some drugs into her pack, and got the authorities on her. This would either get her in jail, or kicked out of school, away from Jefferson. Out of harms way.

But it didn't stop her from going to that Vortex Club party. That was when Jefferson made his move.

There is some sort of relationship between Jefferson and Nathan; that much is true. A lot of Nathans erratic behaviour is stemmed from his psychological problems, and the problems he has with his dad. Jefferson may see Nathan as someone who can be taught and continue his(Jefferson) work. So he got something on Nathan, a bribe, something to hold over the kid. And is having Nathan with him during his..Dark Room shenanigans, in order for Nathan to watch, and see what he is doing to these girls.

Many of Jefferson's photo's would most likely stem from what he does to the woman he kidnapped. With the girls faces being smeared and/or edited and/or brushed out, or w/e. This is most likely what he does in order to create his most famous photos. No body wanted to even look at his photos before, yet as soon as he made some excellent shots on strung out kidnapped girls? Edited out their faces and such? THAT was when he became famous. As THOSE shots, got him on the map.

So he continues, with girls from all over the world that he went to. Which explains where there are so many folders there as there is no way in hell Nathan did all that while still in Oregon. Jefferson is teaching David to become someone like him, while at the same time; his father is teaching him to be more like him. Combined that with his mental and psychological problem? Yea..he's going to be pretty messed up drugs or not. The drugs just make it even worse for his already fragile psyche.

So we know Nathan is messed up and he is having a prick of a dad, and a psychopathic serial killer trying to turn him into something else. Yet though all that..everything he has done, he has done in order to protect both Rachel, and Kate.

Again: Nathan planted drugs on her, got the security guard who sees teenagers as walking drug houses, and tried to get her both; kicked out of school, and got her arrested in the hopes that she will get some jail time. All so she would be away from Jefferson, and out of harms way.

He did not plan on her coming to a Vortex party. She was probably was going to ♥♥♥♥ on Nathan, but well..whatever happened in there that night is a mystery. But she went right back into danger without even knowing it. And Jefferson got her.

Then Nathan observed what Rachel had to go through. Due to having similar tastes in photography, this was the best way to teach Nathan on how to make these shots. Jefferson thinks that Nathan is like him; a disturbed monster that is begging to be released. So; he showed Nathans his ways, and they started taking pictures.

Then..it went to far for Nathan. As Amber died. Even though they buried her; he never thought he would kill her. He didn't want to kill her.

This is why he wrote "Rachel is in the dark room" so many times. The guilt of keeping this secret was tearing him apart. At that point she already died, and as being kept in the bunker. That. or; before she died, she was being kept in their for a long while so that more photo's can be taken and her body....most likely abused by Jefferson. Either way; this was getting way to far for Nathan and he was scared. Freaking out and writing that mess of "Rachel is in the dark room" on his paper. But eventually, she was put into a body bag and buried in the junkyard.

Another example is Kate. The one he is being blamed for dossing her. This could also be a part of Jefferson's training and he may have done this to Rachel as well. Jefferson has Nathan drug them, and then takes them to the barn where Jefferson is waiting for him.

Jefferson did his usual thing of course right? I don't think so. Look at the detail done on Rachael's pictures and compare them to the ones done by Kate. Rachael wasn't knocked out in all of them. She was fully aware of one was going on in one picture even.

Jefferson took THOSE pictures. Not Nathan. The ones done for Kate? Nathan. She was koed for all of them. And they don't look as horrific as the previous pictures. Only one did, and that one was on the computer. That one was most likely done by Jefferson to show how it is done(having the girls at least somewhat aware, much like that one pic of an infuriated Rachael).

Then it got to the part that Nathan had a biiig problem with. Killing Kate. Kate did say she overheard 2 people talking while in a room of sorts. This was most likely Nathan and Jefferson arguing about what they were going to do with her. That is when Nathan dosed her again. With some harder stuff, I would imagine as well. In order to help her forget what happened that night.

So Nathan took her back to her dorm, and left her there. Saving Kate's life. Jefferson allowed it; only because she doesn't remember anything that happened.

So not only does Nathan has pressure coming from his family(mostly prick dad), but also from a psychotic serial killer that is trying to turn him into the monster that he is.

Coupled with his already fragile state of mind, and being blamed for what happened to Kate and Rachael when the guy who really did it has him by the metaphorical balls somehow? Yea...I can understand why he is the way he is now. Seriously.

And I just cannot hold him responsible if what my theory suggests is true. He tried to help Rachel, he failed. But he saved Kate from Jefferson. Yes he helped him, but we do not know why yet. He could have something on Nathan for all we know and Nathan might also be worried that if he stops helping him, then people will still get killed anyway. So at least he can maybe save some lives if he continues to work with Jefferson. Which pushes him further and further towards a mental breakdown.

Jefferson must have something on Nathan, otherwise Nathan would call the cops. He DID drug the girls and all. If anything; maybe Nathan was genuinely curious at first and had no problem drugging girls and bring them down to get pictures of. He tried to do it with Chloe after all.

But the killing? THAT, went to far for Nathan. His "Rachael is in the Dark room" notes further illustrate this. And you know he is no killer, you see this after he shoots Chloe in act 1. He is regretful, going to Chloe to see if she is alright, shocked that he took a life.

Nathan never killed anybody. Jeff did. And atm the only thing that is keeping Nathan from turning into Jeff; is his sister. The only relative that he has that is there for him, and can see the good in him. His memories of her has nurtured the good in him.

And I think....Nathan will be coming to Max's rescue. Just like he did for Kate.

[Ri'Zakar]

And what about Victoria?

[Zero]

Nah. I just think he's a secondary antagonist being manipulated by Jefferson. Just because he's not the big bad doesn't mean he's a hero. Especially with the whole constantly drugging and threatening girls thing.

[Mie]

I think too Nathan will be coming to rescue Max, well that's what I hope! And I think he only helps Jefferson because he has something against him and so Nathan has no choice, plus he is very unstable beause of his disease. Somehow, I think, Jefferson knows about that ans uses him. I feel so sorry for Nathan, I think he's just misunderstood.
If you decide to stop Warren and wait a bit longer, he says "..that really hurt". He seems really hurt, not just physicially. + if you wait longer he says "everybody hates me". In that moment I felt so sorry for him, I really do think he's a good guy, he just has really big problems to deal with. I hope we will get more information about Nathan in the last episode, I would really like to see that. [ btw sorry for my bad english, hope you can unsterstand what I want to say ]

[Praetorian]

Interesting. I too have trouble totally hating on Nathan. He's a scumbag sure but I felt the devs really went out of there way to make the player really hate Nathan. Nathan is not totally innocent, but I do think that he is being manipulated in some sort and clearly is mentally unstable. I really don't think he wants anyone to die, nor does he want kill anyone. Sure, he fronts like he's going to try and kill you but realistically what do all of Nathan's threats amount to? Nothing. He roughs up Max in the parking lot in episode one ( which is ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up) but I think he wanted to scare her. Also in episode one, if you let Nathan shoot Chloe and don't rewind right away you can hear him saying "No no no no no!" in a way that is totally remorseful and terrified. He didn't mean to shoot Chloe, it was an accident, he again was trying to scare her and things went awry. I think it highlights how "out of touch with reality" he really was and when he killed Chloe he finally woke up and realized what he actually had just done. These are all "hidden" moments that most people miss because the narrative wants you to focus on hating Nathan.

I don't think Nathan is blameless. I do think that he was manipulated by a serial killer, is probabaly exteremely depressed in addition to being angry ( caused by his father), and clearly not recieving the kind of treatment he really needs for his mental instability. Nathan's drawings and pictures are very grim and dark, but it might just be an expression of his overall depression. Even Kate drew some pretty creepy stuff when she was depressed. I feel Mr. J exploited these feelings of depression and inferiority in order to groom himeself a protege that would continue his work. In a lot of ways Nathan is just as much of a victim as any of the girls Jefferson has captured in the past.

I agree with the OP that the death of Rachel is what probabaly started dissent in Nathan. He never wanted anyone to die. The guilt of her death and carrying that secret might also be why he's even more progressively unstable during the week the game takes place. He is definitely a scumbag for helping Jefferson, but as i said before he's also a victim at the same time.

[Essadon]

Nah, Nathan is a d-ck.

[Praetorian]

Alternatively, Mr. J could be the lackey and the Prescotts might be using Mr. J to facilitate their son's serial killing problem; I guess only episode 5 will tell!

[Silentium]

After this episode, I'll literally believe everything. So everyone who found Mr. Jefferson off was right. Let's just hope the same doesn't go for Warren - I liked him before, but he was pretty awesome in this chapter!

[Praetorian]

Originally posted by Silentium:

After this episode, I'll literally believe everything. So everyone who found Mr. Jefferson off was right. Let's just hope the same doesn't go for Warren - I liked him before, but he was pretty awesome in this chapter!

Actually Warren was a little less charming in this episode, was sorta out of character for him beating the living crap outta Nathan when ge got rocked so hard in episode 1. I know he was a little drunk at the party but he was acting sorta douchey; especially considering Max agreed to go to the movies with him!

[Chi]

I love this theory!! I had thought about this last night, but not this indepth, I really hope it happens this way.

[Praetorian]

Originally posted by Chi:

I love this theory!! I had thought about this last night, but not this indepth, I really hope it happens this way.

Yeah, I also thought it was a good catch by the OP that Nathan might be trying to protect the women Jefferson is trying to prey upon in his own messed up way. I truly believe as of right now Nathan doesn't want to see another Rachel Amber. Then again, only episode 5 will tell...

[Pizza]

You I kinda also thought that David was a "hidden hero" but it turned out to be all wrong. On the other hand, who else would bail out Max except Nathan? He is the only one who knows about the bunker except Jefferson. He also has the codes so...figures. I really see Nathan going in and helping Max.

There is one "maybe" though. The part on episode 1, where Max wakes up in a forest in the middle of the storm. I mean, we still have no clue how she winded up there, which tells us that Max will be just fine. She will be on that cliff watching the tornado. Question is...how? Maybe we will some ultimate power that Max didn't know about yet. I mean, that would be awesome :D

(Off topic)
What I don't see happening is bringing Chloe back to life. She died in one "present" despite Max trying to save her. She can't be dead in one reality and alive in another, right? That's not how time travel works.

But I bet It'll turn out to be a WHOLE lot different than we all think :D The only thing I guessed correctly so far is Jefferson being the main antagonist. Anyone with more luck?

[Chi]

I didn't believe that we could save Chloe, but then I played ep 1 again, Chloe is in Max's vision at the end of the episode. she's wearing different clothes too, so that has to be her

[Cody]

Originally posted by Mooteddy:

You I kinda also thought that David was a "hidden hero" but it turned out to be all wrong. On the other hand, who else would bail out Max except Nathan? He is the only one who knows about the bunker except Jefferson. He also has the codes so...figures. I really see Nathan going in and helping Max.

There is one "maybe" though. The part on episode 1, where Max wakes up in a forest in the middle of the storm. I mean, we still have no clue how she winded up there, which tells us that Max will be just fine. She will be on that cliff watching the tornado. Question is...how? Maybe we will some ultimate power that Max didn't know about yet. I mean, that would be awesome :D

(Off topic)
What I don't see happening is bringing Chloe back to life. She died in one "present" despite Max trying to save her. She can't be dead in one reality and alive in another, right? That's not how time travel works.

Except near the end of that flashback in EP 1(before she told Chloe about her powers)Chloe is shown to be there, grabbing Max's shoulder while wearing her black jacket. Then the flashback ends and we see a Chloe with her jacket off.

Chloe is coming back.

[RHF]

Don't agree with the OP. Nathan had plenty of opportunities to save the girls he went along with the ride. He's just as guilty but maybe he can try to redeem himself and save Max.

Originally posted by Mooteddy:

You I kinda also thought that David was a "hidden hero" but it turned out to be all wrong. On the other hand, who else would bail out Max except Nathan? He is the only one who knows about the bunker except Jefferson. He also has the codes so...figures. I really see Nathan going in and helping Max.

David knows the location of the Barn..maybe he is the one to save max.

[Chi]

Originally posted by RaidazNY:

Don't agree with the OP. Nathan had plenty of opportunities to save the girls he went along with the ride. He's just as guilty but maybe he can try to redeem himself and save Max.

Originally posted by Mooteddy:

You I kinda also thought that David was a "hidden hero" but it turned out to be all wrong. On the other hand, who else would bail out Max except Nathan? He is the only one who knows about the bunker except Jefferson. He also has the codes so...figures. I really see Nathan going in and helping Max.

David knows the location of the Barn..maybe he is the one to save max.

He still doesn't know the code, and the vault door is too strong to break.
I wouldn't like it if David saved her, but that's me