[TC] Did you choose to forgive or condemn?

[u/TheRedRanger12345]

Personally, i chose to forgive

others series characters like in LiS who i wont name (just in case) I would never forgive, but Jed was presented as a chaarcter who was, over anything, scared. He made a massive mistake, but it was clear he felt sorry. I like to think he recognises that and builds up his relationship with Ryan over time again

[u/leftlooserighttighty]

Out of principle, I cannot forgive somebody who doesn’t show any sign of remorse.

And I also think I could not forgive someone for trying to kill me, especially within 24 hours.

I was actually baffled by the percentage on the choices screen. Can’t remember exactly but ‘forgive’ was WAY higher than I expected.

[u/TheRedRanger12345 → u/leftlooserighttighty]

you make a fair point i didnt think of! to me, he seemed like a good guy who made lots of mistakes in his past and was, as an option suggests, a coward trying to cover it up. it thought forgivness would allow for remorse in the future.

[u/EpicGlitter]

I would've preferred a choice that just said "walk away." Alex and Jed had that interaction less than 24 hours after he led her to a remote spot and tried to murder her, after all. I felt Alex deserved better than offering forgiveness without accountability in that moment. not saying Jed can't go pursue self-improvement or healing or rehabilitation or something, but Alex doesn't owe it to him to be part of that process. imho.

in reading the journals, it felt obvious that the devs wanted the players to choose forgive and designed the story that way (shrug - not really my kinda theme, but whatevs). Alex wrote about how basically forgiving Jed was more about forgiving herself, because she saw a lot of herself in him. she felt that they both had very convincingly lied to themselves for a long time, plus she'd been carrying guilt for not keeping her own family together after the promise her mom got her to make on her deathbed. so I guess that's what they were going for: forgive herself or condemn herself? idk

[u/TheRedRanger12345 → u/EpicGlitter]

i do quite like that last part about the journal actually. also honeslty yes walking away wouldve been great lol

idk, i was happy to forgive him. funnily enough, perhaps like her journal says, i like to forgive others sort of because I can recognise when people do wrongs but recognise their mistakes, which is something I wish i could be forgiven for more. Not trying to rant lol but, i think my choice was tied to my experiences in real life

[u/EpicGlitter → u/TheRedRanger12345]

either choice is valid and morally neutral imo. if it's only between forgive or condemn, personally I'd condemn every time. I think I see what the devs were going for, but it's not a direction I would've wanted for the story myself.

among other reasons, I think the comparison in Alex's journal is too much of a stretch. sure, she feels guilt and Jed feels guilt. she lied to herself about some things, Jed lied to himself about some things. but Alex is trying to forgive herself for guilt that doesn't even belong to her. she was 11 years old, keeping the family together was never actually her responsibility, her guilt is misplaced, she never caused anyone's death. she lied to herself because all that grief, trauma, unearned guilt and parentification was too much to bear at her age with no real support.

Jed was an adult in a position of power with blood on his hands. he lied, he betrayed, he caused deaths, he caused the visible injuries Alex is still wincing and bleeding from when the "condemn or forgive" prompt comes up. unlike Alex, he has something to be guilty about. his guilt is not misplaced. unlike Alex, the lies he told himself basically preserved his ego and privileged/hero status in the community, with all the perks and benefits he enjoyed from that. so yeah the comparison between the two doesn't work for me at all, personally.

if the game wants me to believe Jed is going to become a changed man now, I'm not saying that's impossible. but I am saying that a necessary first step would be to fully, completely accept that his victim(s) owe him nothing. if they don't want to see or hear from him again, that is their right, that might be what's best for them and their healing journey. it is morally neutral. meanwhile, Jed can face his own responsibility to deal with all his emotions including guilt. he can start figuring out how to become a better person, no need to wait for someone else to soothe his feelings first. this is the time for Jed to step up and do difficult things, like moving forward even if he's not forgiven. Alex has carried burdens long enough, and the last thing a truly reformed Jed would want to do is add to them.

[u/TheRedRanger12345 → u/EpicGlitter]

this is so well put i don't have more to add. Personally, I still pick forgiveness as I can't help but feel remorse. However, your points are very well said and the fact he literally did just attempt to kill alex (i somehow skimmed over this?) if very thought provoking

[u/The_Red_Brain]

I chose to forgive because I felt that it was the right thing to do given all of the bad things that happened up to that point, although I acknowledge that forgive would not be the easiest choice if placed in Alex's shoes.