I think part of that silliness is intentional, at least in my interpretation of the game. The internal thesis of the game seems to be examining how far they can push the player-to-protagonist relationship until it breaks. Similar to the first game, where it was intended for players to have complicated feelings about having to control Joel in the hospital at the end doing something they may not have wanted to do but was 100% in character for Joel.

Part 2 feels like that idea stretched across the entire game, especially for Ellie. There’s a pretty powerful metaphor for addiction in the form of addiction to violence/revenge, and I feel like going to Santa Barbara shows Ellie reaching her rock bottom. The player doesn’t want this (especially after playing as Abby), Dina doesn’t want this, hell part of Ellie doesn’t even want this. It’s just the main thing she knows how to solve her problems - through violence

I had you all wrong, you’re not greedy… you’re batshit insane!!

The avenues for trans kids is conversion therapy, or the dog-whistle “faith based counseling”; seen with the recent federal insurance ban on covering HRT but explicitly calling out conversion therapy coverage. A practice which is banned in several states but has been challenged by conservatives claiming that banning the torture of kids infringes on their “free speech”

He did such a wonderful job as Bernadette in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. For a 90s movie featuring a trans woman played by a cis man I was worried about it coming off badly when I first watched it, but it was anything but. He played Bernadette elegantly, with class & sass, & a real dimension of empathy.

Trans gal here! For a time I identified similarly to your last paragraph. I wasn’t sure what I was was, but I didn’t feel particularly male or female. I told people I was nonbinary because I wasn’t sure where I was in that mix for a more specific label.

Eventually I realized that I aligned as more of a tomboy in fashion, but my identity felt firmly female despite my shifts in expression. That was my journey, wishing you luck on finding yourself!

I came out to him over christmas 2 years ago and that’s the last time he’s spoken to me. His last words to me before he read my letter were “Love you always”

Yeah, feels like a form of gish galloping

Pathologic 2!

It’s a rich world & narrative that throws you in the midst of an incredibly stressful seemingly impossible scenario and asks you to try your best. I love how the intense survival mechanics caused me to compromise my morals, starting the game trying not to kill anyone and then playing day 8 seeking out people to kill & steal stuff from. The mind map is also one of the most genius “quest logs” I’ve ever seen, giving you a feel for your characters emotions and providing hints on what to do next. The fact that anyone can die of disease & end quest lines makes it that much more important that you do your best to save them.

Even when I suck at a boss fight it feels like I learn something new every time, such a good gameplay loop

The spells in Morrowind are so creative & fun too! Levitate & recall were my favorites.

I absolutely love the final climax & boss of lost legacy. It’s so fucking fun