Life is Strange - Episode Three

And so comes episode three of Life is Strange, aptly titled Chaos Theory.  As is the case with the previous episodes, I’m absolutely digging this series, its world, characters and narrative.  As is the case with the previous episodes, the soundtrack is great and the writing continues to improve as the writer’s hone their craft and, both they and the cast, really get into the characters.  It’s still got that semi-awkward use of outdated phrases and words, but it’s written and delivered with more confidence than it had been in previous episodes.

As I’ve said in defense of the game before, it seems intentional rather than poor writing.  Everything in the game is built around this ‘90s early ‘00s culture and style.  It’s meant to invoke this sort of nostalgia, like I said, the world seems to exist in its own little unique time capsule, it’s neither present day nor past, it’s an amalgamation of the two.  On top of that, the most cringe worthy dialogue comes from the mouth of character Chloe, an angry and emotionally crippled teenage girl trying desperately to be that cool punk rock rebel.

As for the story, being the halfway point, the narrative is really upping the stakes here.  Some twists and turns, a small romantic bond begins forming between the lead characters (or at least one of them) and Max’s powers reach some new highs and take her further than she ever imagined they could.  Not to give too much away, but the game gets a little Butterfly Effect towards the last quarter of the episode.

Don’t let that scare you off though, while the film may have been a clusterfuck, the concept itself is pretty cool and ripe for unique ideas.  To go along with the title of the episode, it ends on one hell of a powerful cliffhanger, really showing us just how great the consequences of Max’s power could really be if abused.

Call it predictable if you want, I was stunned with the cliffhanger and immediately went to find out when the hell the next episode releases, in an attempt to confirm I don’t have to wait another two months to see how this plot development plays out.

All in all, it was another great episode, I’m loving the characters even more and I continue to admire the series for its unique and refreshing setting and narrative, especially for the medium.

While there are marked improvements to the writing and the performances feel more natural and confident, this episode still won’t be winning the hearts of anyone who’s already decided they dislike the series.  The same criticisms and issues (and the things I love the game for) people had with the game are still here, only with more confidence.

If you’re a fan of the series thus far and you’ve yet to sink your teeth into episode three, I suggest you do so immediately.  It’s a superb episode and a great addition to the narrative so far.