Analysis

In fact there is quite a lot of stuff in the sacrifice Bay ending. It is sophisticated and highly symbolic; it just needs you to pay quite close attention and employ some of that stuff you learned in film studies class. This ending is very compact, trying to convey quite a lot of information about what happens next in quite a short time: to get that across, there is something interesting in almost every shot.Firstly, let's talk about nature. Animals are actually very prominent in this ending. There is one shot showing birds flying above the ruins of the town in a triangle formation, and another showing a deer leaping over some rubble to join two other deer.Given the recurring theme of dead birds throughout this game, the birds shown in flight at the end is clearly highly symbolic, and in stark contrast to the much bleaker picture of nature in Arcadia Bay that we had throughout the game. The deer are also presented differently to how they have been in the rest of the game: Max wears clothes featuring a deer quite a lot, and follows a ghostly deer at several points, feeling that it might be some sort of guide. Samuel the janitor suggests that it must be her spirit animal. But the deer here are clearly alive, natural and healthy. When the deer jumps over the rubble to join the other two, it seems to reference the songwhich is playing in the background. Does it also symbolise that Arcadia Bay, before its destruction, was actually an obstruction to the natural ecosystem which is now already reclaiming it?The deer and birds do seem to indicate that nature is now returning to normal. We know that some of the things that were going on in Arcadia Bay were damaging to the natural world from talking to the fisherman outside the Two Whales diner in episode 2: according to him the Prescotts gaining control of the harbour has devastated marine life, forcing people like him out of their livelihood. And we know that in this ending the Prescott's machinations have been put to an end: that is clearly symbolised by the shot of the smashed-up advertisement showing the Prescott's 'Pan Estates' aspiration. At the very least, this is a silver lining to the destruction of the town; at best, if you wish to then you can interpret this as a restoration of nature's sovereignty over the Bay.Some other good things: you are with Chloe!!! (YAYYYY!!!) She has promised to stay with you, and her expression and body-language also show that she respects your decision and understands how much it cost you. She clearly does not blame you for the deaths of all those people (*phew!*). Plus, she doesn't suddenly die right at the end in some Greek tragedy you-can't-escape-fate-style freak accident, which would have been hella lame. The game does not undermine your choice of ending: you do get to ride off into the sunset with Chloe. (Hopefully she'll grow to be a bit less of a ♥♥♥♥... eventually...)Obviously, it's not all positive. One of my favourite things about this ending is that it is heavy with irony, most obviously that very last shot with the sign by the roadside ("another great day in Arcadia Bay!"), and the ripped-up Two Whales diner sign which now just reads "DI E". This use of irony is very effective, because it makes you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings. Maybe it was just me, but it feels like the world is somehow mocking you: almost like Arcadia Bay knows you betrayed it. As if the bodies lying on the street and the dead whale thrown on top of a house weren't enough, the ironic signs make you feel more guilty about your choice. The town is sending you messages - you are responsible, these are the consequences of your choice, you had better understand exactly what you've done.