Life is Strange 2 - Episode 4 in-depth ANALYSIS/REVIEW 

Brace yourself for a long comment here. I loved this episode! Mostly because of the character development. Sean is my favourite character in the whole Life is Strange universe so having this episode centered on him was a massive win in my eyes but I admit to being biased on that one. I wrote a review on this episode which basically talked about his character. It is kinda heartbreaking how this life on the road has changed Sean so much since this was something that he never deserved. That said, for all the knocks he's had (both physical and emotional) he keeps getting back up. For a character without powers on his side, Sean definitely is one of the strongest characters I've seen in LiS at least in regards to mentality and willpower. He is unrecognisable from his Episode 1 self by Episode 4 but it's inevitable that he would grow up too fast and be a more mature but darker person. The fact he can become the very thing at the end of Ep4 that he was saying he wasn't at the beginning of Episode 4 did give me pause when I saw it. So glad that Lisbitch doesn't get killed in mine! It does make me wonder what comes next for him. I've always thought that Sean meeting his mother again would be one of the last parts in his coming of age journey and Ep4 proved me right. It's made clear by the end of this episode that Sean is willing to die if it means Daniel will be safe. As much as I love that scene because I am a Daniel irl and it moved me seeing an older brother be willing to do all that, I am a little worried that death may be on the cards for him in the finale since Sean is ready to risk it all for Daniel. All bets are off in a LiS finale! There could be a sacrifice yet to come and even if it isn't death, there has to be something that gets thrown in during the finale. This is Life is Strange. Characters may deserve a happy ending but that doesn't mean they'll get one. It would break my heart if something was to permanently separate Sean and Daniel but I'm not ruling it out

I’m so glad I’m all caught up in the series to watch one of your videos. And yeah the character development was strong, especially for Sean. Now personally I don’t really pay that much attention to voice acting work (I’m a story-first kind of person so you will rarely see me make a comment on voice actors or music), but Gonzalo’s voice work during the emotional moments was amazing. But overall, the episode did an great job at continuing its themes of how self-interest can trump (get it?) family values, good people can make bad choices and no matter what actions you made, it doesn’t change the love between the two brothers.

I just finished viewing your video, I caught the live stream about 3/4 of the way and watched from the start. All I can say is Thank You for everything you said which is spot on with how I feel. I just can't explain why I still cry even though Ep4's ending was Happy for once. I was mad at Seans beatdown in the church, but your reasons made complete sense that he chose not to fight back to prove to Daniel that the Reverend was indeed Evil. I could not get enough of the Daniel and Seans Hug scenes, they deserve them so much. I honestly have no clue how Ep5 can go now, I just hope it is not bad like the first game. Also like you pointed out, people seam to forget that Sean is still only 16 years old, a kid, a teenager going through all this shit and Daniel is now 10 years old with just having a Birthday in April while Sean was still in Hospital. In game time Sean does not turn 17 until August while at the end of Ep4 we're only around May 8th, so 7 months in game time has passed from when this all started on that calm Friday afternoon on the 28th October 2016 to now May 8th 2017 (Game time frame).

this is also my favourite episode. Personally i loved the way we were shown seans love for his brother in every possible way, especially because they were apart, the way his mentality of finding daniel wasnt questioned once even with the extreme adversities. For me, in the ending, Daniel was going to kill lizbeth, even after i asked him to let her go, so being presented with the choice of taking the blood of yet another person off daniels hands was very meaningful and i took a long time to make that decision, trying to think of everything that could come of it should the police get involved. Even though it could be better to let daniel kill her bc presumably the body would be found burnt, i chose to shoot her because i didnt think daniel deserved to have to deal with taking another life, i dont think him being there was his fault so thats why i chose to shoot her even though she was already going to die, possibly making things a whole lot worse for sean if they were to get caught but i figured sean felt like he was already way too fucked with the law to care. All in all this episode was amazing and i have no complaints over the choices we got, and to many i had to stop and really think about the situation, the past and the consequences, which i love

Awesome review! I just agree with everything you've said. Very good video.

Everyone hates this episode for some reason I actually liked it I think it is definitely up there with episode 3 tbh it had way better pacing then the past episodes the only thing that bothered me was Daniel and it had the least music of all episodes

I wouln'd say I HATE it. I just was so angry at Daniel. And also that I realized with this episode that serval plots will never be finished dispite the promise DN made one year ago (We kinda forgot about Chris). Either way I am exited for E5 because everything could happen now. But i am sertan that PL will either never be seen or will turn out to be not as Sean imagined it.

Thank you so much for the video and I agree with almost everything you said. The only part I have a different opinion on is the scene where Karen helps Sean with his eye - her shedding silent tears as she tends to her son's horrific injury with an otherwise stoic expression was another moment where my heart just shattered. It shows without words that the DOES really care about her child, who has already been through so many things that would break most adults. But yeah, the moment where he just keeps coming is outstanding, I'd say that almost superhuman determination is his superpower. Never give up, never surrender!

I don't really understand why this video has only 100 likes? It was awesome! Thank you very much for such a deep and beautiful video! I didn't really pay attention on symbolls such as colors while playing this episode. And it did change my perception of it. To be honest, this is my favorite episodein wholee LIS universe, however I didn't understand the reunion of Karen and Shean, and, what is more importnant, the reunion of Shean and Daniel (at the beginning). But this video made me understand it, feel it and even love it. So thanks for that!

Aww that was so well made, but after checking your channel I saw you didn't do this kind of Video for the other episodes. Do you consider going back making them for the other ones? Maybe releasing them close to episode 5 launch so there are more folks like me hyped and looking for LiS content?

23:12 there's something to note for sure in my opinion. If you look at Karen's eyes, you can see shes tearing up(when she cleans the eye, or doesn't. Dont matter.) I think that the reason why shes crying, or teared up is because she knows how much shit sean and Daniel have gone through, sean exclusively, since she later comments how she "wants to punch every single asshole who's gotten in their way".

I LOVE your review so much! You have gratefully strong feelings and connection to this episode, I appreciate that. Not so many people liked that episode and even full game, l often hear that game is boring, Sean just problematic teenager, Daniel annoying, script don’t write well and other bullshit. Hah, you’re a gem, Im serious. Thank you for nice work and argumentative opinion, for mindfully approach to details It was so calming for me to see that somebody can have a similar opinion😌

I really wish the game would have given Sean the opportunity to romance Jacob. I thought he was a way better option than Finn!

I love this episode so much my favorite of this season, "Roads" was my favorite and now my 2nd, and despite I like "Rules" and "Wastelands" none of these two fully engadge me. Your analysis was really amazing, my favorite too. Lets hope the Episode 5 will be a worthy ending to this incredible journey.

I really enjoyed this episode however wouldn’t say it’s better than ep3 tho. Loved Karens character and personality, shes such a real and believable character. Also the soundtrack in this episode was hella amazing, unfortunately there was a lack of music in the ep. This seems to be a problem throughout season 2 except for ep3. The themes were also put together very well: racism, homophobia and motherhood which I loved the most. Giving this episode a rating of 9/10 hyped for the finale! 😆😭

This video was so scrumptious that my wig combusted to dust

Can you do a video on how you think life is strange 2 is gonna end? Maybe also talk about what kind of ending you would prefer. A sad or a happy one.

I’m pretty sure that the Universal Uprising Church’s design is a reference to Matthew 23, verses 25,27, and 28. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” The Universal Uprising Church’s outside is beautiful and white, but the inside is dull brown and oppressive, more like a tomb than a great cathedral or temple, which often have great windows to let in light. It shows right from the start that while on the outside it is beautiful, chaste, and holy, the church’s inside is just as ugly and filthy as Merrill’s weed farm or the Dark Room. At least the Dark Room and the weed farm are honest about what they are: places of pain and suffering, controlled by sinners for wicked deeds. The outside of the farm and the Dark Room are as horrible as their inside, and as such wear their evil proudly, without pretense or hypocrisy. The Universal Uprising Church is not honest, and as such, it’s almost worse than some other locations we’ve seen in Life is Strange. When it burns, it looks as if it is consumed from below by flames that come from within, divine judgment passed on a false prophet and her wicked flock. Powerful storytelling, to say the least.

Good review! I like it! Sean is a great main character. Karen, another one, wonderfully Witten. Kudos to Dontnod

Only thing I didn’t like about this episode is that’s theres only 1 licensed song. There were moments where I thought music would be playing and checked my audio settings to see if it was muted lol

this episode was genuinely my favorite. i've heard many people complain about the boredom of the hospital and the desert scenes, but I think that was purposeful. Sean was dreading the heat, dreading the hospital and just wanted to find his brother. coming from a queer person, the segment where we learned that Jake went through conversion therapy was done very well. though I've never had to experience such upfront homophobia and my family has never been too religious, I do know that it makes Jacobs character all more plausible and believable. I was weary of him in Ep3 when he found out Daniels power, because I was worried he'd tell the cops or something. As well, his quiet nature was concerning to me, especially due to the fact that the rest of the group was quite open and carefree. This talk really helped me understand Jacob and empathize with him, and I'm very glad that dontnod implemented this to showcase how these cultish churches do not practice what they preach, and can be ragingly homophobic. I also wanted to add, that unless you can reclaim it, the f slur should not be said. even if its to give an example. any who, this episode was done very well and although there are some flaws in the haven point sections, this episode was my favorite :)

This game has been so underwhelming.

I totally disagree with how you chose with Karen i know it our own choice of how we play the game but here's my opinion. When i play games like these i go by what i know by my standards and what Karen did was wrong she ABDANODED her children she wanted her own life and how she explained it wanted me to punch her stars out i would never forgive her plus she couldn't even send a post card or letter or via email in the past. I'm sorry I cant agree with you i might have thank her now but then I cant.

You're saying others are leaning too heavily into labeling the game as political, but all you've done is go on the opposite side of the argument by labeling the game emotionally as real, when you have to be more compromising than that. This game wants desperately to make me/you feel for Sean and Daniel, and putting them up in religious cults, and racists, and drug dealers is pushing it when the game already has a power to work with. Daniel already had a nice (Or in this case bad) enough motivation from his age perspective to basically blame society for killing his dad and getting in their way. On more than one occasion, from his perspective, the police were there and made things worse killing his dad, chasing them, almost or hitting Captain Spirit, i was seriously expecting Karen to die that would set him off and based on how you as Sean treated him, would factor into him offering you to join him or Daniel simply saying "Fuck everyone" Daniel basically becoming a killer and you as Sean may only be able to side with him, or put him down based on the choices you've made in terms of restricting him or letting him be free, or somewhere in between. A nice enough conclusion, but the game tries way too hard pushing things like gender identity and childish racism events in your face trying to make you have the feels. The only changes I've seen are the typical ones I've seen in other game media.