My thoughts on the bullshit, a.k.a before the storm episode 3:
I’ve seen a lot of people ranting about this episode, primarily the terrible way Rachel’s mother was dealt with, how Rachel herself was dealt with, the controversial ending, the final scene with the fucking phone, and I understand why people are so interested in discussing this, but I personally am not as interested in those topics.
The one thing I do wanna talk about, that I feel like no one cares about but me, is how the new characters were dealt with.
I feel like the supporting cast in this game FAR surpasses that of Life is Strange. They were much more enjoyable to bond with, and much more intriguing.
However, the subplots that were developed in eps 1-2 involving characters like Mikey, Drew, Steph, Nathan and Samantha, were dropped by episode 3, and as someone who really liked these characters, I’m pretty damn upset about it.
Although Mikey, Drew and Steph were given a scene where they were visited by Chloe, it achieved nothing but the letting us know what they think over Rachel’s situation, giving Chloe a pat on the back, and letting them have callbacks to episode 1, which felt like it was filler rather than being something to be sentimental about. They built up this whole thing with Damon Merrick only for Damon to be killed without their knowledge, it was clear in episode 2 by how things were put that their problem with Damon was NOT over, yet the game killed him off and pretended that it never happened.
Nathan and Samantha, I feel, got an even more shit deal than the previous 3 did, all they were given for their character arc was a single 7 second scene in the end credits. It’s very disappointing, as Nathan is a very intriguing character that we learn very little about while in Max’s perspective. If Decknine decided that it wanted to present Nathan in such a completely different light, where he is unpopular and is best friend is a character that we are flatout TOLD is very similar to Max, than it should have been ready to show how Nathan went from point A to point B. A.K.A from a timid nerdy boy to a popular kid who murdered a woman. It’s implied that Samantha leaving Blackwell and/or ignoring him is what ignited it, but that really tells us nothing when we don’t have any idea why Nathan is so close to Samantha, and why it would affect him so severely. We see Nathan and Samantha directly interact ONE TIME, and it’s optional!! what?? WHAT??? I seriously would play an entire game revolving around this EXACT thing, it’s presented as such a big part of his character that it feels almost insulting not to address it. Seriously, can we just consider a game with Nathan as the protagonist, where we see how he became what he did. (I have a theory that the reason Nathan is so malicious to Max during the events of Life is Strange is because of how much she reminds him of Samantha, the friend who left him behind, and that his decision in episode 5 to try and save Max from Jefferson was also for this reason, but that’s besides the point.) Sadly, I doubt there will be any more side games to be added to the first Life is Strange series, and that these things with Nathan will never be answered, but I just wish Before the Storm had never touched Nathan’s character and added Samantha if they were just going to leave it like this, because it’s beyond disappointing.
