How Life is Strange: Double Exposure Dodges the ‘Other Darrin’ Treatment

by

How Life is Strange: Double Exposure Dodges the 'Other Darrin' Treatment

As a devoted fan who’s been on this rollercoaster ride since the very beginning, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia as Life is Strange: Double Exposure gears up for its October 29 release. With Max Caulfield back in the spotlight, it feels like coming home again – even if that home happens to be Arcadia Bay.

As a dedicated fan, I can hardly contain my excitement for the upcoming release of “Life is Strange: Double Exposure” on October 29, available on PC and consoles, with the Nintendo Switch version set to follow at a later date. With less than a month to go before this highly anticipated sequel hits the shelves, I’m eagerly waiting to see how Max Caulfield’s story unfolds next, given that her narrative concluded back in 2015 with “Life is Strange.” This brings up an intriguing question: how will “Double Exposure” address the different endings from the original game? Some fans are already grappling with the notion that Max’s story may have reached its conclusion, but I can hardly wait to find out!

Regardless, being a classic example of the episodic adventure genre, there’s a great deal of room for further development into a direct sequel titled “Life is Strange: Double Exposure“. This upcoming game, developed by Deck Nine, who are known for their work on “True Colors” and “Before the Storm“, and published by Square Enix, delves into Max’s past traumas, existing relationships, and newly discovered interdimensional abilities. Although it introduces fresh gameplay elements, the 2024 release maintains a sense of comfort by deftly avoiding the situation where Max is replaced, which is often referred to as the “Other Darrin” treatment.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure Offers Multiple Avenues for Nostalgia

How Life is Strange: Double Exposure Dodges the 'Other Darrin' Treatment

Hannah Telle Returns To Voice Max Caulfield in Life is Strange: Double Exposure

In the later installments of the “Life is Strange” series, new main characters like Chris Eriksen, Steph Gingrich, Alex Chen, Sean Diaz, and Chloe Price made their appearances. But in an exciting twist for fans, “Double Exposure” brings Max back as the primary character in the storyline. Notably, Hannah Telle, who initially voiced the photography enthusiast Max, is returning to her role too, even though she first played the character close to a decade earlier.

Significantly, the character Telle reappeared in the anthology during the fourth episode of the prequel to the initial game. The original title debuted with three episodes in 2017 – “Awake,” “Brave New World,” and “Hell is Empty.” Approximately three months later, an additional episode for Before the Storm, titled “Farewell”, was released. This bonus episode takes place three days before Max relocates to Seattle and three years prior to the events of the first game, focusing on Max’s efforts to tell Chloe about her impending move. Despite its emotional impact, this extra content gains additional importance due to Telle’s voice acting.

Lucky for us, Telle’s comeback promises an abundance of opportunities for nostalgic moments in the upcoming episode. This will be achieved through a camera, supernatural skills, and diverse timelines. Previews describe Double Exposure as a story that offers a new perspective on her powers while maintaining Max’s endearing introverted character. Moreover, it seems we might delve into Max’s relationship with Chloe, as well as introduce fresh characters like Safiya and Moses.

Life is Strange Has Previously Given Notable Characters the ‘Other Darrin’ Treatment

In some productions like movies, shows, or games, a new actor may take over the role of a character previously played by another, without any explicit reason given to the audience for this change. The reasons behind the original actor’s departure can differ, but often, the storyline continues as if nothing has happened. This is similar to what happened with Chloe Price’s character throughout the series. Originally voiced by Ashley Burch, she was unable to reprise her role due to the 2017 SAG-AFTRA strike in the industry. Characters like David Madsen, Frank Bowers, Nathan Prescott, Samuel Taylor, and Victoria Chase were also affected by this situation.

In Before the Storm, Burch continued to offer input on the character of Chloe Price, providing suggestions and reviewing the script prior to the production.

In the wake of Burch’s departure, a new voice was introduced for the rebellious teenager character in Before the Storm, none other than Rhianna DeVries. This change occurred without any in-game explanation, causing a striking difference in Chloe’s voice. Despite DeVries striving to mimic the original portrayal, it was still perceptible. Interestingly, this transformation took place around the same time that Deck Nine became part of the series development, even though Don’t Nod Entertainment continued to have some influence. Notably, among all cast members, Hannah Telle remains the only actor from the initial game who hasn’t experienced the “Other Darrin” effect, making her the longest-standing performer in the franchise.

Read More

2024-09-30 19:53