Wasn't Graham rather zealous in his way of "spreading the word"? Believing himself to be a living Right Hand of God in a seemingly godless world ridden with injustice and death to the point you wonder wether he himself is a sympton of all the insanity which plagues the Fallout universe? I personally like Joshua Graham as a character but i fail to see how this man can be considered a well written "Christian character" given the paradoxical contradictions underlying his very character.
@@Operador2281they don't focus or acknowledge his Mormon beliefs, what he preaches fits with any Christian denomination. That's what I love about him. Sure, cannon wise he's a Mormon, but if you take his preaches apart. You'll see how universally Christian he is.
My favorite thing about Josh is that you wonder why he cant be a permanent companion after the DLC then realize YOU were HIS companion during it and he merely dismisses you back to New Vegas afterwards.
I think a big part of the reason he resonates with people is because it's one of the only times in fiction where Christianity is presented seriously and sincerely without undermining it later.
That is true! I do recall Josh Sawyer, who helped design and write Joshua Graham, wanted to create a figure that wouldn't be made to preach or to dissuade people from faith and Christianity, but to more accurately portray both. So yes, there are flaws to Graham as a character, but that's exactly their focus: character flaws. Which, as you said, enables the character of Graham to resonate with many people. Flaws can bring out the best or worst, and we got both from the Burned Man.
Yeah, modern Christianity is wattered down pacifism but Jesus was a human/God sin detector. He flipped the money changers' tables and drove them out of the temple with a whip. He called the Pharisees sons of the devil. He also told his followers to sell the cloak off their back in order to carry a sword (for personal defense) when doing their work. This character reminds my of Paul. He was a phrase who persecuted and killed the early followers of Jesus and then had a run-in with the spirit of Jesus and was blinded for a time. Then he converted and spent the rest of his days suffering in order to share the Gospel of Jesus. It's all how we're supposed to be, not sitting in the back of a church once a week acting like we're all hopy and perfect. And turning the other cheek refers to forgiveness not not defending ones self from physical harm. This story is how real Christianity is supposed to be. I love it.
@@homevalueglass3809 God did teach self-defence (if I recall, Old Testament and New Testament had plenty of examples). So Joshua is not wrong for defending his people. I think what helps "sell" the character, if you may, is that background of him being a Legate first before fully converting to his God. Similar to what you said, with Paul being anti-Christian before converting from personal experience. Joshua was a soldier before he became a "saint", so the danger is the player letting him revert back to that soldier side near the end of the story. Which I think was incredible for the DLC and the war-torn setting of Fallout. But I also do like that you pointed out that Christianity is an active faith, one where imperfection is not supposed to lead to a perfectionist complex, but instead sharing and living the faith.
@homevalueglass3809 clean, sterile Christianity always rubbed me the wrong way. Prostitues knelt at Jesus’s feet, jesus and his apostles were tortured to death, ALOT of the stuff in the Old Testament, etc. Christianity is all encompassing, covering all aspects of humanity. The dirty, bloody, lustful, is part of that.
Honest Hearts is the best exploration of faith, religion, and tribe that I've ever seen in video games, zero question about it. It's even better that Randall Clark was an atheist & had no tribe like the New Canaanites to go back to, because you have two profound characters who confront enormous challenges and you can see how they tackle them differently.
Joshua was the DLC. Zion was the enabler and host to his terrifying/inspiring presence. But also Zion was gorgeous. I've wanted to visit the area irl and hope to do so!
@@expychristian I really only even go into Honest Hearts to talk to Joshua so I 100% agree. My friend has been to Zion and says its very beautiful. I'm planning a trip there sometime in 2024 to see it for myself. Hope you'll get to go soon!
@thehuckleberry8349 Here's hoping! Seriously, while I was recording this video footage, I just wanted to go and explore more of the area. Not to mention all the Survivalist lore! Hope you enjoy your visit! We could all use more positivity and beauty.
Children look under their beds at night to make sure monsters aren't under it. The devil checks under his bed at night to make sure Joshua Graham isn't under it.
That's that main character energy. Can't be helped. The Honest Hearts DLC is literally a byproduct of Joshua's very existence. You're stepping into his story and it's incredible, even if short.
Bruh you are not wrong at all saying that. Even though YOU the courier are the main character of the game, Graham’s presence alone steals that status from you without you realizing it. Just goes to show just how good of a character he really is. Joshua Graham is the true protagonist of Fallout: New Vegas Honest Hearts. You’re just an observer of everything unfolding.
@nicholascauton9648 That's what I felt! Sure I'm powerful and loaded with perks and whatnot. But it's just how he is and what he is; he's a legend of the wastes that no one wants to talk about except how powerful he was. You might tip the balance of power in the DLC, but he's the driving force towards HOW YOU, the player character, determine the fate of the setting. If that isn't clever crafted writing, I'd love to know what is. And it's simple. Nothing flashy, just pure narrative.
that's kinda why honest hearts falls completely flat to me. we are a side character. we have no real conflict with the white legs or salt upon wounds. the dead horses and sorrows do. we never even meet salt upon wounds until the very end of the dlc. it's not really our fight.
Keith Szarabajka did such an amazing job with this character. Of all the characters in FONV, Joshua Graham is one of the most compelling. He’s a complex, conflicted individual. He knows he’s capable of extraordinary violence, and wrestles with balancing mercy and his impulse to protect his people. Honest Hearts isn’t my favorite DLC, but Graham is one of my favorite characters in the entire Fallout franchise.
The voice acting definitely helped solidify and bring out realism for Joshua Graham. Lowkey saved and improved the character arc. Me personally, all the DLC are great, but having replayed it recently, Dead Money and Lonesome Road have risen above Honest Hearts, though HH is no less fantastic, they're all just in a league of their own.
That last name almost sounds like it belongs to some conflicted villain character haha. "Szara Bajka" roughly translates into "Grey Story/tale" On a serious, he did an amazing job with the character.
@kotzpenner Not wrong, a few comments have mentioned that the DLC isn't for them. It's definitely more for story-drivem gameplay over rewarding exploration. Thankfully it did deliver some great characters!
@@expychristian yeah it was somewhat less Fallout-y, but I really enjoyed the natural scenery, unfortunately it doesn't have much to offer apart from the main quest and the Survivalist, OWB is still the best
I grew up Mormon, and still occasionally go to church from time to time, so Joshua Graham has always stood out to me. He reminds me of some people I knew in church.
I'm happy to hear that. It's good to have faith. I've also known Christians and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that have been good people, good examples to me. Helped inspire this video, in all honesty. I admire their ability to take things in stride and believe, even when things seem uncertain. Just good things all around, even in spite of their imperfections.
“In the darkest times, Hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength.” “When you hit your lowest point you are open to the greatest change"
@-gemberkoekje-5547 he isn't saying that change is always good, he was implying it at a dark time for Zuko in the show. It can be either good or bad change, but you are always susceptible to it.
Great quality video! Joshua Graham is one of my favourite characters OAT, because his philosphy and development is so human and real, from a strong, ego filled legate that lost to the sin of pride, but before his fated death turns to his roots of christ, showing that god really forgives, as he repents for pride. you really need more subs, keep it up!
That's what really caught my eye. Just the positive, no filter representation of having faith in tough circumstances. It's as you said, the "human development". And in something like Fallout, where there is a lot of tall tales, he's very close to his myth, while still being his own person driven by personal motives, like faith in God. Appreciate the support! I have good stuff coming! Here's hoping to more growth in the new year!
It is also interesting how he was before, a follower of apocalypse trying to help others. He strayed from his path in Caesar's service, then found his path again. Gentle and fierce combined in one person.
@FluffySylveonBoi That is true. He was exposed first to the Followers of the Apocalypse's humanitarian work before he would embrace his faith (and to an extent his militarism). It's also likely said humanitarian work helped to remind him of his New Canaanite background when he first was thought dead.
As a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Joshua Graham and the Honest Hearts DLC has always stood out in my mind since I first played it. Such depth in a character is somewhat rare for a Christian in media but even more rare for an LDS Christian and I’m grateful for such a good example of representation.
@drakemiller2267 It was and wasn't, if you may? I encountered the Lehi's Dream as well as that New Years video from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And it fit the video, but was also just very endearing. As for Joshua, it is absolutely been part of why I like his character writing so much. It's a representation of a human being with faith in extreme circumstances and how they can rise above or descend below their newfound calling. It felt very natural, even if it was very present throughout all of Honest Hearts. Happy to hear (or rather see) your words 😁
@@expychristian that’s really cool that you saw that video and I really like that piece. I totally agree with you thoughts on Joshua Graham and I’m definitely going to subscribe now.
Obsidian made the arguably, best representation of a devote christian in post apocalypse world meanwhile Bethesda in Fallout 4 is making a church that has no conviction.
Joshua Graham is so amazing and he’s a character that deserves a movie. It can start from the Battle of Hoover Dam all the way to the events of Honest Hearts and I would enjoy every second of it.
Joshua graham is one of the greatest characters in video game history, not just fallout. Right up there with the likes of Kratos and John Marston. I really love a good “bad guy turned flawed hero” redemption story. From the backstory to the dialogue to the character design to the voice acting, Joshua graham and the DLC he is featured in was a complete masterpiece in perfect, beautiful storytelling
I love this; I feel we forget that Kratos and John and others of their kind are not exactly the best on the moral scale by hyping them up, but they get the time they need to learn from their errors and achieve some form of redemption.
John Marston and Kratos are shallow characters written for children and people with very low IQ Deeply written characters you have Planescape: Torment and Xenogears, Kotor 2 and Xenosaga. As a child, you haven't played any truly outstanding games or met any outstanding characters. Joshua Graham < Nameless One, Elhaym Van Houten, Kreia, Visas mar Kratos < Fall of Grace, Fei Fong Wong, KOS-MOS, Modron, Ignus John Marston < Trias, Citan Uzuki, Morte, Dakkon, Billy Lee Black
Absolutely. I can only imagine how great the game could have been if Obsidian got the same amount of development time as, say, Red Dead Redemption. And if we're just talking base game, the DLC perfectly concludes the player-character's story arc while introducing memorable characters and exceptional worldbuilding. Timeless classic indeed.
Wonderful commentary, especially the Christian nature of the character. Graham is perhaps one of the best characters in gaming, despite how brief his time in NV is. I love writing characters and vids like this are great for inspiration too.
Same here. As someone who is currently writing a book, creating characters is my absolute favorite part of the process. And it’s thanks to games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls I can actually create physical representations of my characters.
Good video, it’s a shame that Bethesda didn’t take this example from Obsidian to make more complex characters in their other games. Characters like Father from Fallout 4 or the Blades in Skyrim could have really challenged the player and their choices if they had a fraction of this duality
I can't say it enough, but thank you! This one was my last this year, so I did all I could to make it a labour of love about a game and a character that has a special place in me. I appreciate the prayers! Let's pray we can all find success in the near or distant future!
Remembering that Benny, the guy who shoots you in the face in Fallout: New Vegas at the beginning, was voiced by Matthew Perry inspired this video! Obviously not entirely, but hearing of his passing made me remember the characters of New Vegas, including Joshua Graham and the rest is history. Thank you for the sub! I appreciate the support, friend.
I think Joshua Graham/The Burned Man is possibly/arguably the most well written character in Fallout: New Vegas and possibly/arguably all of Fallout. In fact, he and consequently Fallout: New Vegas inspired me to write a book that takes inspirations from The Punisher and Fallout: New Vegas. The book is called “The Road Ranger.” The story is about a young Calivadan Army Ranger war veteran named “Matt Santos.” After six years of fighting outside of Calivada’s borders, he comes home to a mother and stepfather who are going through a bad patch after his mother accuses her husband for abandoning her to the mercy of an incoming mass shooter. Despite being promised legal protection as a witness, Matt’s mother is shot dead weeks later just outside of the courthouse. Which leaves Matt in distraught. Matt’s lady friend and possible romantic interest Maria Garcia of the FBI promises him she will find justice on his behalf. However this seeking of justice would be quickly shot down by her superiors. Given this bad news by the woman who promised justice for him, Matt decided to go off the rails. Shooting those who may be responsible for the death of his mother. What he does not realize however is the one who betrayed him is the one very close to him. Matt Santos is inspired by both fictional and real life figures. As badass as he may be, at the end of the day, he is still a human being. He can die either with time or by someone else’s hand. However by the end of the story, he does forge a legend of himself whether he realizes it or not. Some say he is justice incarnate, others dismiss him as just another killer. By those who have heard of him for his actions, he is often called “The Road Ranger.” Edit: I’ve even went as far as creating Matt Santos and other characters close to him (like Maria Garcia) in modded Fallout 4. Matt Santos is described wearing sleek black tactical armor and uniform while armed with a MK18 Carbine and a Glock 19 pistol as his side which represents his military background reminiscent of U.S. military. Whereas Maria Garcia is described wearing a sleeveless tactical gear set and armed with an MP5 submachine gun and a Glock 19 which is reminiscent of U.S. police. Since Matt is my main character that I play in Fallout 4, I’ve found a mod that made Piper somehow look very close to how I describe Maria in the book. It’s almost an eerily similar appearance which I wish I could show on photo here.
And you know what, this is exactly the kind of inspiration that's also inspired me in my own writing pursuits, including this video! I'm glad to hear a writer around these parts, the "Road Ranger" feels to me, at least personally, like a combo of Jason Bourne and the wild west! But that's the kind of creation and worldbuilding that comes around when you're inspired by memorable characters like Joshua Graham! I think it just goes to show how well-crafted much of New Vegas' writing was/continues to be. Thank you for sharing your work! I'm always intrigued by new authors and/or upcoming authors and what they can cook up! Helps me continue to find inspiration and study out what and how I can shape my own content!
@@expychristian Know what? You’re actually not that far off with thinking The Road Ranger is a combo of Jason Bourne and The Wild West. Because even though he is inspired by The Punisher, Matt Santos/The Road Ranger does take some personality traits from Jason Bourne. And yes, there are also some Wild West influences in the story. Not just with the main characters’ hometown of Calivada (California and Nevada formed into one country) but later on in the story, the main characters travel to the south beyond the border which consequently is Old Mexico. Which does have its fair share of being in Wild West flicks. Edit: One thing I have to admit about Matt Santos as a character: Apart from The Punisher, he does also take inspirations from Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines who is (funnily enough) dubbed The Punisher during his time in office as president. Personally I do want to have a little bit of Filipino-ethnic representation but as a character, Matt exhibits little to no stereotypes of the Filipino. If anything, his name and physical description gives just enough of what his background is. Especially since he speaks in a North American English accent.
@nicholascauton9648 That's even more intriguing now! Seems like larger than life is still part of that saying "Art imitates life"! What I've taken from this is that, although characters written can take cues from existing content/media, new characters are meant to be homages or take from general characteristics that help bring their motivations to light. This also reflects upon setting and conflict. It's one big cycle of literature, evolving or exploring paths old and new.
@@expychristianOh absolutely. In fact I would even go as far to say that Arcade Gannon said it best when you first meet him in the Old Mormon Fort in Freeside. Nihil novi sub sole. Which means “There is nothing new under the sun.” Which rings absolutely true in so many media arts. One thing that irritates the absolute crap out of me is when a new writer wants to write a “completely original” story. Like something that has never ever been done before. To that, I say that’s next to impossible. There is absolutely no way you can make something that has none of the tropes we’re all familiar with. That’s just the truth. To me, writing a story is a lot like cooking. The tropes are your ingredients, the outline is the recipe, and the story is your dish.
What I learned from Graham was to make peace with your mistakes, and to understand your inner demons. 21:58 natures are malleable they are not set. We can and should change. Thank you for your thoughts and analysis. I look forward to seeing your work continue. Liked and subscribed
Thank you, friend! Appreciate the support, even as I continue to power up for the next video! I always like these sort of analyses. It's an unspoken lesson from Joshua, that we can learn to overcome our own negative natures. But personal nature must be recognised as changeable, even if we don't think they change as much as our ideals do. And that means coming to terms with many things that might hold us back.
I encountered hidden dialogue where if you aim at him, he'll quote something like "Make your first shot count. You won't get another." "Understandable. Have a good day" 💀💀💀
i just realized how joshua graham is similar to zuko from avatar, obviously they arent the exact same but they def have some in common burned by a higher up after they commit an error, scarred for life and trying to redeem themselves after committing atrocities from their tribe/nation
You can also say that he found his faith after his fall. Like he rediscovered that fire that burned inside of him, the Spirit that was always there, but he just never paid attention to it.
Yessir! That's why I was particularly on Joshua's case, if you may, about how he's influential, but also flawed to the extent that his influence can be either good or bad. The writing was superb.
@@expychristian Even going back to the likes of Marcus, who admitted to once serving the Master, or Cassidy, who while he was dead in New Vegas, his daughter Rose was in New Vegas
@AdrianFahrenheitTepes I'm actually so happy New Vegas has so many callbacks to characters that were from the older, darker Fallout games, while still worldbuilding enough to match its satirical energy like in Dead Money and Lonesome Road.
@@expychristian Considering Obsidian was the one at the helm it made sense they would bring back/reference many characters and plotpoints from the first 2 Fallout games for continuity's sake. Makes me wish they had also worked on Fallout 4's storyline considering the missed opportunities to continue tying the series to the original games.
@javiervasquez625 I agree. There's a lot to unpack from previous entries besides the obvious Brotherhood of Steel, Enclave, and so on. New Vegas showed us how far the NCR has come from its earliest days and how guys like Marcus continue to operate within the wasteland. Would've been cool to see more of how these disseminated across the continent as a whole, not just DC, Nevada, and so on. So props to Obsidian for staying true to their roots.
I think what's impressive about New Vegas is how they introduce certain characters through dialogue and they are built up to be something really special and you think surely they can't live up to the hype then you meet them and not only do they meet it, but they surpass it. They did this with not only Graham but House and Father Elijah. The only one it fell a bit flat for was Ulysses, the voice acting and writing was a bit OTT for me.
I would agree! They give the "legends" and "tall tales" their due while keeping them human in some way. The writing doesn't over-satirise or overcompensate, it does the worldbuilding justice. Ulysses IS a special case since he was meant to be part of the conclusion to the player-character, so based on experience, he could be one of the best or the most confusing characters for the player.
And in one's personal morals. I do love that the player is the one who helps Joshua to see, despite him taking the stage for most of the game. Helps both sides understand what's really at stake and it isn't religion or even war; it's personal integrity. Great comment.
Well, I'm happy to provide! I ain't done yet with Fallout or its modern day counterparts either, so feel free to stick around! I got more good stuff coming from all media. Trying to improve each and every time!
wonderfully put. Joshua Graham is one of the best characters of fiction. This is the first video of yours that i have seen, and i look forward to more great videos. i don't know about others but was having a sound level difference between your voice over and the audio from the game, the game audio being a bit quieter, maybe %15, but if that is the only gripe i can find you've done a truly marvelous job.
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the content across the channel! As for the audio, I tried to have primarily vocal audio opposed to the background music; I just felt that the background music from in-game was too ambient and sharp to have over important quotes spoken by the character. Unless you're talking about the background music playing in the video itself, in which case, it was meant to provide a complement, but not take over the presentation itself. Thank you nonetheless for your kind words! I got more in the future coming!
Looking at your work makes me realize how much I've grown up with these games and learnt so much more than I ever expected, plz make a video about Ulysses aswell
It's so crazy to me that one of the deepest characters in fallout lore was originally made as a hilariously evil person for Fallout Van Buren. A very bigoted murderer who was so awful, most of the wasteland would ignore or become hostile just by having him in your company. The only thing they shared in common was being an unstoppable killing machine. Meaning the only reason we got the Joshua we did is how much he grew to hate the 1 trait they share in common.
As someone who never cared for Christianity or the rhetoric; Joshua Graham didn't change that; however he found a way of rationalizing it all in his world and I have always found it almost mesmerizing. This is how to properly utilize religion to make a character better.
I'm locked in! Doing my best at all angles, always trying to improve my output. Thank you for your support and reminding me of what I can do better at!
I just (finally) did Honest Hearts about a week ago, and I gotta say…. He is an AMAZING character. A perfect mixture of being a bad azz and a righteous man. An absolute ALPHA CHAD. Alpha Deathclaws look for Joshua Graham under their nests at night..
With that high crit chance of his, Mojave Deathclaws would've definitely been easier to take care of. Glad you were able to experience the DLC! I really liked it myself, only complaint was that it was just too short compared to the others. Joshua Graham is definitely among the most memorable aspects and characters from HH. Well-written, isn't weak in gameplay mechanics. Legendary for many reasons, yours included, indeed.
It is my theory that Joshua Graham was based off of 3 people. 1. Orrin Porter Rockwell, a legendary gunman who was the bodyguard of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, who became a great lawman in the Wild West. And 2. Alma the Younger from the Book of Mormon, a man in his rebellion rejected the faith of his father to commit many sins but after a great event went on a path of redemption with the book attributes to him within the Book of Mormon, being the Book of Alma being known as the war chapters as he was involved in many conflicts between the Nephites and Lamanites. 3. Of course the Prodigal Son from the famous parable. Though these are my thoughts as being a member of the same faith as Joshua Graham is.
Given how Josh Sawyer wrote the character of the Burned Man, all of that can be true. He did say he took inspiration from Paul the Apostle, who is somewhat like Alma the Younger, although without all the battle history written in the Book of Mormon that involved Alma. The fact that Graham uses .45 auto, which is originally an invention by John Moses Browning, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, could also be inspiration. And for the context of how Joshua Graham was written, it is supremely respectful of the faith and the culture, while not taking away from the consequences of a wasteland setting, if anything reinforcing both the faith of the church and fear and fighting of the wasteland. Basically, GOATED.
@expychristian630 Joshua Graham is a very respectful character to my Faith, and he is very much a great inspiration to me to always strive to better and more Christlike. He is truly GOATED
I was brought up somewhat protestant, as protestant as the average Dane, so fairly lacking in knowledge, but Joshua Graham's story taught me a few of the missing pieces I hadn't really understood about religion.
I feel that is what the writers were hoping to accomplish with Graham's character. Not to like advertise any religion, y'know(?), but to more accurately represent someone's own spiritual journey. So, happy to hear that, @redsaint! What were those missing pieces, if you may?
Its amazing that a character you hear other people whisper and mention through the Mojave like a myth would be in a random DLC and become one of the best written, voiced and acted characters within all of Fallout.
Max Derrat made a good video regarding that. I recommend it. As for me, I can only imagine that he was as militaristic and "brutal" as most tribals were at the time, especially if Caesar had already had multiple tribes under his army. Near losing his life and regaining his faith definitely helped him to foster a more collective demeanor, but make no mistake: Joshua can and WILL fight like his life depended on it. I suppose you could also consider that Joshua Graham fights to protect his new life and people, while the Legate fought to conquer and dominate. Just my thoughts.
Also it would be intrestinf if he said he was going to hell but since it will help those around him. That he will become a monster for other and suffer what he will
It's an interesting dynamic with him which I'm happy that the player character is the one that helps him realize since they're also put in many positions where they could be the "monster of the people" if that means they (think) they help the wasteland. A sort of Batman type.
@ThatFoolishBoy We've rarely seen a miss when it comes these dramatic OSTs as of recent. Hopefully the trend doesn't die down. I know Nier: Automata also had great OST.
Eventually! I have more than just Fallout planned and, even then, have other characters in mind. But Daniel and so on will get coverage in due time. That said, I think it was written that way to give a sort of day-night perspective on the White Legs Conflict. Joshua is war-driven, while Daniel wants to avoid conflict. So, a good ending for Daniel is not so much about getting what he wants, but trying to accept what will follow next. This is just my short interpretation of it.
I just realised that the fact Graham has caused 2 miracles (Surivng the fall and the burning) would allow him to be canonized as a saint (atleast in the catholic church, I cannot speak for the rest)
Aren't we all, eh? Perfectly imperfect characters meant to help us understand... something. Something about ourselves, something about people, something about God.
Right? I'm grateful to have remembered the somber beauty of Halo ODST whilst making the video; its an underrated gem, even if only for its music. Thank you for the comment!
That's an interesting way of thinking about it. It makes a lot of sense for Ulysses, a man driven by philosophy, but without the right circumstances, to try and be an example through major scale scheming just to prove his point; whereas Joshua has already seen the scale of his errors and chosen a simpler, more peaceful way of advocating for his beliefs. That's an excellent observation.
Thank you! Best wishes to you as well and happy new years! Thank you for the subscription and will do, hope to provide more great content in the coming future!
It's a breath of fresh air, that's for sure. The other DLC are great, but usually are grim or satirical. So having just a simple, but human character-focused story was refreshing and poignant.
I'm happy for you. It's like the Prodigal Son story that the writers of Joshua Graham used as inspiration. Sometimes we have to face our mistakes and own up to our years of spiritual immaturity to rediscover what faith really means for us. Happy to hear that you've found your faith!
Fair enough. I did mean that script-part as in "Joshua Graham is being influenced by his mistakes and it's channeling into a very unrighteous wrath." But! To your point, there's plenty of stories from scripture where the unfaithful or challenged in faith are able to discover a renewed strength in their faith as a result of being tested or simply making a mistake. Goes to show that even being pious and believing has its trials and tribulations. Good pointer there.
And for a character you literally don't even interact with, let alone have to find off the beaten path, Clark is up there. A perfect human story in the wasteland.
My life and this fictional characters have many parallels including in their former life being burned alive As he would say "i was baptized by water...then by fire" All of his dialogue fits a person that experienced the worst pain imaginable and wasnt weak enough to die Theres duality in being built different than others its an amazing gift but also a debilitating curse The most dangerous person is not one thats constantly violent But is strong and silent until honor and justice dictates the justification of violence Also dude is just the walking embodiment of the terrifying presence perk 😅😅 #iwillhuntyoudown #wouldntbethefirsttotry #lightshiningindarkness
I find it humorous that the best characters in a massive series about criticism of conservative values are always slightly locked into conservative ideas. You could argue the people themselves are not conservative however the ideas are ones championed amongst conservatives none the less. Even the gritty cannibals in fallout 3 believe in family first even if their actions are atrocious.
I think it's about accuracy, ya feel? From a neutral (as is possible) game developer, they'd want to make these kinds of characters more accurate rather than overtly satirical (unless that's the point). The values themselves might be critiqued at a large, setting-scale, but for the specific NPCs and characters, I feel it's the way they embody their values that is how they are represented and characterized. Just what I feel.
I’m no longer a Christian, I discovered I believed in a different faith. Joshua Graham certainly didn’t bring me “back” rather, he inspires me to be pious
Ulysses is what I consider the perfect foil to the player character. Still great on his own terms. Lonesome Road is for YOU, the Courier, while Honest Hearts is exploring more of the lore of a man you only heard of while in the Mojave. It's still has the impact that a player can bring, but it is more or less a side story for you, whereas Lonesome Road IS your story.
While I love Joshua Graham and everything avout his character, I fully believe that the survivalist is the best character in fallout. A man you never meet alive, but drove me to tears when I first read his story
Randall Clark IS what Fallout is about. If there was a character that encapsulated the overall theme and message(s) of the Fallout games (barring 4 and 76), it is the Survivalist.
@NarwhaI95 Thats fair, haha. There's plenty of Fallout and RPG characters I would love to cover. So, we'll see! See where the mind takes me. Feel free to stick around for more, though!
@expychristian630 oh nah, I wasn't trynna talk crap or nothing. Actually the opposite, I was saying his character is so good, the only flaw that stands out to me is the devs lack of knowledge on the subject. Great vid btw
@DoofusChungus OH gotcha. Thank you. During the creation of Josh Graham, the writers wanted to make an accurate portrayal of Christianity in practice in a character. There are some flaws, but I've found them either contributing to the character arc or miniscule that it doesn't impede my enjoyment of the story portrayed in-game. Just the way I felt.
He played a character, Captain Holt, in the show "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", a famous police comedy. He was like the "father-figure" for many of the characters in the show. I recommend it, it's a good show.
That's understandable. Joshua can be considered a hypocrite, as mentioned in the video, but its because he doesn't know what is the best path for him despite his intentions and history. Glad to hear you were able to discover and learn from your experience with the video!
His armour, plus 1st Recon Beret and a high crit weapon like the Paciencia hunting rifle is actually OP, not gonna lie. Yeah it's light armour, but if you invest in Sneak perks, you'll basically one-shot most enemies. Also it's just unique and eye-catching, perfect wasteland aesthetic for an imperfect wasteland legend.
@TimesFM4532 Thank you. Oh and uh if you struggle with getting good hits in, buff Agility with the Clinic Implant purchase in the New Vegas Clinic and get the Concentraed Fire perk, it amps up VATS accuracy every time you repeat a hit on one limb; so if you have like Lucky or the All-American, it's accuracy makes it worth the high crit build!
I do believe that Joshua Graham is Mormon Missionary, while being similar in beliefs to the Christianity that commonly gets the wrap as the only religion. It is a representation of the Mormon's religion as Joshua is a missionary New Canaan to preach to the various tribes of the Mojave wasteland. W video I just read the comments and couldn't help but notice these inconsistences' with a game that is nearly 15 years old.
Appreciate the comment! If I recall, the writers DID do research to make a character that is as accurate as is possible when it comes to the roots of their religion. They took inspiration from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as stories in the Bible such as the Apostle Paul. Him being a missionary is very on the nose (and is culturally-accurate within the framework of Utah), but his redemption story is definitely a combination of Christian precepts and inspiration.
while it is sad us Christians don't have many well written characters to latch onto, we have Joshua Graham, and that might just be good enough.
Well... if you extend the christianity name to mormonism.
We have an entire Bible of well written characters. Jesus is really the only one you need.
Wasn't Graham rather zealous in his way of "spreading the word"? Believing himself to be a living Right Hand of God in a seemingly godless world ridden with injustice and death to the point you wonder wether he himself is a sympton of all the insanity which plagues the Fallout universe? I personally like Joshua Graham as a character but i fail to see how this man can be considered a well written "Christian character" given the paradoxical contradictions underlying his very character.
@@Operador2281they don't focus or acknowledge his Mormon beliefs, what he preaches fits with any Christian denomination. That's what I love about him. Sure, cannon wise he's a Mormon, but if you take his preaches apart. You'll see how universally Christian he is.
@@zomsburgs fair enough.
My favorite thing about Josh is that you wonder why he cant be a permanent companion after the DLC then realize YOU were HIS companion during it and he merely dismisses you back to New Vegas afterwards.
woah
Main character energy. You literally can't tell him nothing, and even at high levels, he just obliterates any foe that gets close.
You don't even command him he actually commands you lol
Woah
I never even thought of this lmao
I think a big part of the reason he resonates with people is because it's one of the only times in fiction where Christianity is presented seriously and sincerely without undermining it later.
That is true! I do recall Josh Sawyer, who helped design and write Joshua Graham, wanted to create a figure that wouldn't be made to preach or to dissuade people from faith and Christianity, but to more accurately portray both. So yes, there are flaws to Graham as a character, but that's exactly their focus: character flaws.
Which, as you said, enables the character of Graham to resonate with many people. Flaws can bring out the best or worst, and we got both from the Burned Man.
Yeah, modern Christianity is wattered down pacifism but Jesus was a human/God sin detector. He flipped the money changers' tables and drove them out of the temple with a whip. He called the Pharisees sons of the devil. He also told his followers to sell the cloak off their back in order to carry a sword (for personal defense) when doing their work.
This character reminds my of Paul. He was a phrase who persecuted and killed the early followers of Jesus and then had a run-in with the spirit of Jesus and was blinded for a time. Then he converted and spent the rest of his days suffering in order to share the Gospel of Jesus. It's all how we're supposed to be, not sitting in the back of a church once a week acting like we're all hopy and perfect. And turning the other cheek refers to forgiveness not not defending ones self from physical harm. This story is how real Christianity is supposed to be. I love it.
@@homevalueglass3809 God did teach self-defence (if I recall, Old Testament and New Testament had plenty of examples). So Joshua is not wrong for defending his people. I think what helps "sell" the character, if you may, is that background of him being a Legate first before fully converting to his God. Similar to what you said, with Paul being anti-Christian before converting from personal experience. Joshua was a soldier before he became a "saint", so the danger is the player letting him revert back to that soldier side near the end of the story. Which I think was incredible for the DLC and the war-torn setting of Fallout.
But I also do like that you pointed out that Christianity is an active faith, one where imperfection is not supposed to lead to a perfectionist complex, but instead sharing and living the faith.
@homevalueglass3809 clean, sterile Christianity always rubbed me the wrong way. Prostitues knelt at Jesus’s feet, jesus and his apostles were tortured to death, ALOT of the stuff in the Old Testament, etc. Christianity is all encompassing, covering all aspects of humanity. The dirty, bloody, lustful, is part of that.
Honest Hearts is the best exploration of faith, religion, and tribe that I've ever seen in video games, zero question about it. It's even better that Randall Clark was an atheist & had no tribe like the New Canaanites to go back to, because you have two profound characters who confront enormous challenges and you can see how they tackle them differently.
In a DLC filled with misery and uncertainty, it is a great comfort to know that, in the end, there is Joshua in the darkness.
Joshua was the DLC. Zion was the enabler and host to his terrifying/inspiring presence.
But also Zion was gorgeous. I've wanted to visit the area irl and hope to do so!
@@expychristian I really only even go into Honest Hearts to talk to Joshua so I 100% agree.
My friend has been to Zion and says its very beautiful. I'm planning a trip there sometime in 2024 to see it for myself. Hope you'll get to go soon!
@thehuckleberry8349 Here's hoping! Seriously, while I was recording this video footage, I just wanted to go and explore more of the area. Not to mention all the Survivalist lore!
Hope you enjoy your visit! We could all use more positivity and beauty.
Children look under their beds at night to make sure monsters aren't under it.
The devil checks under his bed at night to make sure Joshua Graham isn't under it.
Can you imagine that kind of interaction? A devil checks under the bed and there's a glowing 1911 aimed at him? 🤣
Joshua Graham is one of the best written characters in all of Fallout history. He makes the Courier into a side character during Honest Hearts.
That's that main character energy. Can't be helped. The Honest Hearts DLC is literally a byproduct of Joshua's very existence. You're stepping into his story and it's incredible, even if short.
Bruh you are not wrong at all saying that. Even though YOU the courier are the main character of the game, Graham’s presence alone steals that status from you without you realizing it. Just goes to show just how good of a character he really is. Joshua Graham is the true protagonist of Fallout: New Vegas Honest Hearts. You’re just an observer of everything unfolding.
@nicholascauton9648 That's what I felt! Sure I'm powerful and loaded with perks and whatnot. But it's just how he is and what he is; he's a legend of the wastes that no one wants to talk about except how powerful he was. You might tip the balance of power in the DLC, but he's the driving force towards HOW YOU, the player character, determine the fate of the setting. If that isn't clever crafted writing, I'd love to know what is. And it's simple. Nothing flashy, just pure narrative.
that's kinda why honest hearts falls completely flat to me. we are a side character. we have no real conflict with the white legs or salt upon wounds. the dead horses and sorrows do. we never even meet salt upon wounds until the very end of the dlc. it's not really our fight.
Keith Szarabajka did such an amazing job with this character. Of all the characters in FONV, Joshua Graham is one of the most compelling.
He’s a complex, conflicted individual. He knows he’s capable of extraordinary violence, and wrestles with balancing mercy and his impulse to protect his people.
Honest Hearts isn’t my favorite DLC, but Graham is one of my favorite characters in the entire Fallout franchise.
The voice acting definitely helped solidify and bring out realism for Joshua Graham. Lowkey saved and improved the character arc.
Me personally, all the DLC are great, but having replayed it recently, Dead Money and Lonesome Road have risen above Honest Hearts, though HH is no less fantastic, they're all just in a league of their own.
That last name almost sounds like it belongs to some conflicted villain character haha.
"Szara Bajka" roughly translates into "Grey Story/tale"
On a serious, he did an amazing job with the character.
Honest Hearts is my least favourite DLC but it’s immensely saved by the two best characters, Graham and the Survivalist.
@kotzpenner Not wrong, a few comments have mentioned that the DLC isn't for them. It's definitely more for story-drivem gameplay over rewarding exploration. Thankfully it did deliver some great characters!
@@expychristian yeah it was somewhat less Fallout-y, but I really enjoyed the natural scenery, unfortunately it doesn't have much to offer apart from the main quest and the Survivalist, OWB is still the best
I grew up Mormon, and still occasionally go to church from time to time, so Joshua Graham has always stood out to me. He reminds me of some people I knew in church.
I'm happy to hear that. It's good to have faith. I've also known Christians and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that have been good people, good examples to me. Helped inspire this video, in all honesty. I admire their ability to take things in stride and believe, even when things seem uncertain. Just good things all around, even in spite of their imperfections.
“In the darkest times, Hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength.”
“When you hit your lowest point you are open to the greatest change"
Amen, good sir. Good to have something to believe in during our hardest trials.
That's uncle Iroh
Also, change isn't always for the better.
@-gemberkoekje-5547 he isn't saying that change is always good, he was implying it at a dark time for Zuko in the show. It can be either good or bad change, but you are always susceptible to it.
Uncle Iroh, Joshua and Iroh are some of my most favorite characters ever
Kinda pickled yourself into having to make a Ulysses essay now. Great video man
Oh I'll be more than happy to cover Ulysses, eventually! Thank you for the support AND the reminder 😁
I’ll hold you too it no rush🙌
@@Trevbotics Not a problem 🫡
Bear bull bear bull bear bull
I can't bear that man's bullshit.
That's the essay
Great quality video! Joshua Graham is one of my favourite characters OAT, because his philosphy and development is so human and real, from a strong, ego filled legate that lost to the sin of pride, but before his fated death turns to his roots of christ, showing that god really forgives, as he repents for pride. you really need more subs, keep it up!
That's what really caught my eye. Just the positive, no filter representation of having faith in tough circumstances. It's as you said, the "human development". And in something like Fallout, where there is a lot of tall tales, he's very close to his myth, while still being his own person driven by personal motives, like faith in God.
Appreciate the support! I have good stuff coming! Here's hoping to more growth in the new year!
It is also interesting how he was before, a follower of apocalypse trying to help others. He strayed from his path in Caesar's service, then found his path again. Gentle and fierce combined in one person.
@FluffySylveonBoi That is true. He was exposed first to the Followers of the Apocalypse's humanitarian work before he would embrace his faith (and to an extent his militarism). It's also likely said humanitarian work helped to remind him of his New Canaanite background when he first was thought dead.
As a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Joshua Graham and the Honest Hearts DLC has always stood out in my mind since I first played it. Such depth in a character is somewhat rare for a Christian in media but even more rare for an LDS Christian and I’m grateful for such a good example of representation.
And I don’t know if it was intentional but I appreciated the LDS art in the video. (Lehi’s Dream)
@drakemiller2267 It was and wasn't, if you may? I encountered the Lehi's Dream as well as that New Years video from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And it fit the video, but was also just very endearing.
As for Joshua, it is absolutely been part of why I like his character writing so much. It's a representation of a human being with faith in extreme circumstances and how they can rise above or descend below their newfound calling. It felt very natural, even if it was very present throughout all of Honest Hearts. Happy to hear (or rather see) your words 😁
@@expychristian that’s really cool that you saw that video and I really like that piece. I totally agree with you thoughts on Joshua Graham and I’m definitely going to subscribe now.
@@drakemiller2267 Thank you for your support kindly, good sir. I appreciate the dialogue as well!
Obsidian made the arguably, best representation of a devote christian in post apocalypse world
meanwhile Bethesda in Fallout 4 is making a church that has no conviction.
Joshua Graham is so amazing and he’s a character that deserves a movie. It can start from the Battle of Hoover Dam all the way to the events of Honest Hearts and I would enjoy every second of it.
"One does not simply expect God to do all the work."
-Boromir
Does he actually say that in book/film? I don't recall hearing that, maybe my memory acting up, haha
@@expychristian He doesn't, but the more I think about it, the more it sounds like something Boromir would say.
@@Amarenamann I wouldn't doubt it, given his character. Excellent wordplay, though 👏
@@expychristian Dạnkeschön, you've made a pretty sweet video.
Joshua graham is one of the greatest characters in video game history, not just fallout.
Right up there with the likes of Kratos and John Marston. I really love a good “bad guy turned flawed hero” redemption story.
From the backstory to the dialogue to the character design to the voice acting, Joshua graham and the DLC he is featured in was a complete masterpiece in perfect, beautiful storytelling
I love this; I feel we forget that Kratos and John and others of their kind are not exactly the best on the moral scale by hyping them up, but they get the time they need to learn from their errors and achieve some form of redemption.
John Marston and Kratos are shallow characters written for children and people with very low IQ
Deeply written characters you have Planescape: Torment and Xenogears, Kotor 2 and Xenosaga.
As a child, you haven't played any truly outstanding games or met any outstanding characters.
Joshua Graham < Nameless One, Elhaym Van Houten, Kreia, Visas mar
Kratos < Fall of Grace, Fei Fong Wong, KOS-MOS, Modron, Ignus
John Marston < Trias, Citan Uzuki, Morte, Dakkon, Billy Lee Black
@@solaris4019 probably the dumbest statement I’ve ever heard.
Just shows how good fallout new vegas is and will always be a timeless classic amongst us gamers.
Absolutely. I can only imagine how great the game could have been if Obsidian got the same amount of development time as, say, Red Dead Redemption. And if we're just talking base game, the DLC perfectly concludes the player-character's story arc while introducing memorable characters and exceptional worldbuilding. Timeless classic indeed.
Wonderful commentary, especially the Christian nature of the character. Graham is perhaps one of the best characters in gaming, despite how brief his time in NV is. I love writing characters and vids like this are great for inspiration too.
Same here. As someone who is currently writing a book, creating characters is my absolute favorite part of the process. And it’s thanks to games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls I can actually create physical representations of my characters.
Good video, it’s a shame that Bethesda didn’t take this example from Obsidian to make more complex characters in their other games. Characters like Father from Fallout 4 or the Blades in Skyrim could have really challenged the player and their choices if they had a fraction of this duality
Absolutely fantastic video, great analysis and great editing. This deserves all the attention and appreciation that I’m praying it gets!
I can't say it enough, but thank you! This one was my last this year, so I did all I could to make it a labour of love about a game and a character that has a special place in me.
I appreciate the prayers! Let's pray we can all find success in the near or distant future!
Okay two of my favorite actors from my 2 favorite shows have a dedication at the beginning? Here’s a sub my friend
Remembering that Benny, the guy who shoots you in the face in Fallout: New Vegas at the beginning, was voiced by Matthew Perry inspired this video! Obviously not entirely, but hearing of his passing made me remember the characters of New Vegas, including Joshua Graham and the rest is history.
Thank you for the sub! I appreciate the support, friend.
Great video, Joshua Graham is one of my favourite characters in all of fallout. I really liked the commentary and explanations, good work.
Thank you for the complement, ranger. I did my best to do Joshua’s character and story justice.
I think Joshua Graham/The Burned Man is possibly/arguably the most well written character in Fallout: New Vegas and possibly/arguably all of Fallout. In fact, he and consequently Fallout: New Vegas inspired me to write a book that takes inspirations from The Punisher and Fallout: New Vegas. The book is called “The Road Ranger.”
The story is about a young Calivadan Army Ranger war veteran named “Matt Santos.” After six years of fighting outside of Calivada’s borders, he comes home to a mother and stepfather who are going through a bad patch after his mother accuses her husband for abandoning her to the mercy of an incoming mass shooter. Despite being promised legal protection as a witness, Matt’s mother is shot dead weeks later just outside of the courthouse. Which leaves Matt in distraught. Matt’s lady friend and possible romantic interest Maria Garcia of the FBI promises him she will find justice on his behalf. However this seeking of justice would be quickly shot down by her superiors. Given this bad news by the woman who promised justice for him, Matt decided to go off the rails. Shooting those who may be responsible for the death of his mother. What he does not realize however is the one who betrayed him is the one very close to him.
Matt Santos is inspired by both fictional and real life figures. As badass as he may be, at the end of the day, he is still a human being. He can die either with time or by someone else’s hand. However by the end of the story, he does forge a legend of himself whether he realizes it or not. Some say he is justice incarnate, others dismiss him as just another killer. By those who have heard of him for his actions, he is often called “The Road Ranger.”
Edit: I’ve even went as far as creating Matt Santos and other characters close to him (like Maria Garcia) in modded Fallout 4. Matt Santos is described wearing sleek black tactical armor and uniform while armed with a MK18 Carbine and a Glock 19 pistol as his side which represents his military background reminiscent of U.S. military. Whereas Maria Garcia is described wearing a sleeveless tactical gear set and armed with an MP5 submachine gun and a Glock 19 which is reminiscent of U.S. police. Since Matt is my main character that I play in Fallout 4, I’ve found a mod that made Piper somehow look very close to how I describe Maria in the book. It’s almost an eerily similar appearance which I wish I could show on photo here.
And you know what, this is exactly the kind of inspiration that's also inspired me in my own writing pursuits, including this video!
I'm glad to hear a writer around these parts, the "Road Ranger" feels to me, at least personally, like a combo of Jason Bourne and the wild west! But that's the kind of creation and worldbuilding that comes around when you're inspired by memorable characters like Joshua Graham! I think it just goes to show how well-crafted much of New Vegas' writing was/continues to be.
Thank you for sharing your work! I'm always intrigued by new authors and/or upcoming authors and what they can cook up! Helps me continue to find inspiration and study out what and how I can shape my own content!
@@expychristian Know what? You’re actually not that far off with thinking The Road Ranger is a combo of Jason Bourne and The Wild West. Because even though he is inspired by The Punisher, Matt Santos/The Road Ranger does take some personality traits from Jason Bourne. And yes, there are also some Wild West influences in the story. Not just with the main characters’ hometown of Calivada (California and Nevada formed into one country) but later on in the story, the main characters travel to the south beyond the border which consequently is Old Mexico. Which does have its fair share of being in Wild West flicks.
Edit: One thing I have to admit about Matt Santos as a character: Apart from The Punisher, he does also take inspirations from Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines who is (funnily enough) dubbed The Punisher during his time in office as president. Personally I do want to have a little bit of Filipino-ethnic representation but as a character, Matt exhibits little to no stereotypes of the Filipino. If anything, his name and physical description gives just enough of what his background is. Especially since he speaks in a North American English accent.
@nicholascauton9648 That's even more intriguing now! Seems like larger than life is still part of that saying "Art imitates life"!
What I've taken from this is that, although characters written can take cues from existing content/media, new characters are meant to be homages or take from general characteristics that help bring their motivations to light. This also reflects upon setting and conflict. It's one big cycle of literature, evolving or exploring paths old and new.
@@expychristianOh absolutely. In fact I would even go as far to say that Arcade Gannon said it best when you first meet him in the Old Mormon Fort in Freeside. Nihil novi sub sole. Which means “There is nothing new under the sun.” Which rings absolutely true in so many media arts.
One thing that irritates the absolute crap out of me is when a new writer wants to write a “completely original” story. Like something that has never ever been done before. To that, I say that’s next to impossible. There is absolutely no way you can make something that has none of the tropes we’re all familiar with. That’s just the truth.
To me, writing a story is a lot like cooking. The tropes are your ingredients, the outline is the recipe, and the story is your dish.
What I learned from Graham was to make peace with your mistakes, and to understand your inner demons. 21:58 natures are malleable they are not set. We can and should change.
Thank you for your thoughts and analysis. I look forward to seeing your work continue.
Liked and subscribed
Thank you, friend! Appreciate the support, even as I continue to power up for the next video! I always like these sort of analyses.
It's an unspoken lesson from Joshua, that we can learn to overcome our own negative natures. But personal nature must be recognised as changeable, even if we don't think they change as much as our ideals do. And that means coming to terms with many things that might hold us back.
I’m a simple man: I see Graham, I click to watch.
The one time where I was threatened by an NPC in an RPG, but I believed him, will always stay with me.
I encountered hidden dialogue where if you aim at him, he'll quote something like "Make your first shot count. You won't get another."
"Understandable. Have a good day" 💀💀💀
i just realized how joshua graham is similar to zuko from avatar, obviously they arent the exact same but they def have some in common
burned by a higher up after they commit an error, scarred for life and trying to redeem themselves after committing atrocities from their tribe/nation
That's a very good comparison! I never thought of that, that's a great observation there.
You get so much yet so little of him that it captures you like a singularity.
You could say that for just the Honest Hearts DLC as a whole. So much provided in so little time you wish you could stay around and discover more.
This was awesome. I almost never have the urge to comment but this is one of the best videos I’ve seen on TH-cam. Thank you for putting it out there.
Fun fact for anyone who hasn't looked it up yet: 'Malpais' is Spanish for badland. Given where he comes from, that's pretty fitting.
Didn't know! That's a unique little connection there.
This was really well done. Great work !
I love that Joshua Graham was raised a Mormon and never gave his Mormon faith after being Burned Alive and tossed down the Grand Canyon ✓
You can also say that he found his faith after his fall. Like he rediscovered that fire that burned inside of him, the Spirit that was always there, but he just never paid attention to it.
He certainly fits the mold of many Fallout characters in terms of being an incredibly flawed character
Yessir! That's why I was particularly on Joshua's case, if you may, about how he's influential, but also flawed to the extent that his influence can be either good or bad. The writing was superb.
@@expychristian Even going back to the likes of Marcus, who admitted to once serving the Master, or Cassidy, who while he was dead in New Vegas, his daughter Rose was in New Vegas
@AdrianFahrenheitTepes I'm actually so happy New Vegas has so many callbacks to characters that were from the older, darker Fallout games, while still worldbuilding enough to match its satirical energy like in Dead Money and Lonesome Road.
@@expychristian Considering Obsidian was the one at the helm it made sense they would bring back/reference many characters and plotpoints from the first 2 Fallout games for continuity's sake. Makes me wish they had also worked on Fallout 4's storyline considering the missed opportunities to continue tying the series to the original games.
@javiervasquez625 I agree. There's a lot to unpack from previous entries besides the obvious Brotherhood of Steel, Enclave, and so on. New Vegas showed us how far the NCR has come from its earliest days and how guys like Marcus continue to operate within the wasteland. Would've been cool to see more of how these disseminated across the continent as a whole, not just DC, Nevada, and so on. So props to Obsidian for staying true to their roots.
I think what's impressive about New Vegas is how they introduce certain characters through dialogue and they are built up to be something really special and you think surely they can't live up to the hype then you meet them and not only do they meet it, but they surpass it. They did this with not only Graham but House and Father Elijah. The only one it fell a bit flat for was Ulysses, the voice acting and writing was a bit OTT for me.
I would agree! They give the "legends" and "tall tales" their due while keeping them human in some way. The writing doesn't over-satirise or overcompensate, it does the worldbuilding justice. Ulysses IS a special case since he was meant to be part of the conclusion to the player-character, so based on experience, he could be one of the best or the most confusing characters for the player.
The ultimate epitome of balance in ones religion
And in one's personal morals. I do love that the player is the one who helps Joshua to see, despite him taking the stage for most of the game. Helps both sides understand what's really at stake and it isn't religion or even war; it's personal integrity.
Great comment.
Is that ODST music popping off during the breakdown of Graham’s faith? Excellent choice.
It sure is! ODST OST happened to fit the themes I was breaking down, so I was happy since it sounds amazing, but also complemented the video!
Anything fallout with a good slide show and good microphone gets a sub, I'm fallout addicted ❤🎉
Well, I'm happy to provide! I ain't done yet with Fallout or its modern day counterparts either, so feel free to stick around! I got more good stuff coming from all media. Trying to improve each and every time!
wonderfully put. Joshua Graham is one of the best characters of fiction. This is the first video of yours that i have seen, and i look forward to more great videos. i don't know about others but was having a sound level difference between your voice over and the audio from the game, the game audio being a bit quieter, maybe %15, but if that is the only gripe i can find you've done a truly marvelous job.
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the content across the channel! As for the audio, I tried to have primarily vocal audio opposed to the background music; I just felt that the background music from in-game was too ambient and sharp to have over important quotes spoken by the character. Unless you're talking about the background music playing in the video itself, in which case, it was meant to provide a complement, but not take over the presentation itself. Thank you nonetheless for your kind words! I got more in the future coming!
This is one of the best videos I’ve ever watched
Thank you! Happy to provide.
this is one of my favorite video essays
Thank you! I got plenty more on the horizon! What'd you like about it?
Great video! I’d love to see you cover Randall Clark as well.
Ooooh. You've given me a great idea to consider! Also, thank you for the support!
Another memorial in honor of those lost. Cheers, good video
Looking at your work makes me realize how much I've grown up with these games and learnt so much more than I ever expected, plz make a video about Ulysses aswell
We can't expect God to write all the great characters
Wouldn't we prefer to have him write all the great characters, though?
Rhetorics aside, happy to hear you appreciate the Burned Man!
It's so crazy to me that one of the deepest characters in fallout lore was originally made as a hilariously evil person for Fallout Van Buren. A very bigoted murderer who was so awful, most of the wasteland would ignore or become hostile just by having him in your company. The only thing they shared in common was being an unstoppable killing machine. Meaning the only reason we got the Joshua we did is how much he grew to hate the 1 trait they share in common.
Joshua Graham is Fallout version of
Paul Of Tarsus AKA Paul The Apostle AKA The Guy who wrote almost the entire of New Testament
Yup! Josh Sawyer, who designed and helped write Joshua Graham, also quoted Paul as being an inspiration for Mr. Graham's character.
Love the ODST ost in the background
It's legendary for a reason. Also just super happy it complemented the video footage!
Pls tell me I’m not imagining Deference For Darkness from ODST in the background…
You are not! I did, in fact, use ODST music. It was too gorgeous not to be included, and it fit in nicely with the video!
14:20 mgsv ishmael lol
Pretty dang awesome video my dude.
As someone who never cared for Christianity or the rhetoric; Joshua Graham didn't change that; however he found a way of rationalizing it all in his world and I have always found it almost mesmerizing. This is how to properly utilize religion to make a character better.
Holy shit I feel like I found a great new youtuber. Good audio, check. Good video, check. Decent backlog, check. I'm in
I'm locked in! Doing my best at all angles, always trying to improve my output. Thank you for your support and reminding me of what I can do better at!
I cant believe how high quality this video is!! youve definitely earned yourself a new sub :)) keep up the good work 😊
I just (finally) did Honest Hearts about a week ago, and I gotta say…. He is an AMAZING character. A perfect mixture of being a bad azz and a righteous man. An absolute ALPHA CHAD.
Alpha Deathclaws look for Joshua Graham under their nests at night..
With that high crit chance of his, Mojave Deathclaws would've definitely been easier to take care of.
Glad you were able to experience the DLC! I really liked it myself, only complaint was that it was just too short compared to the others. Joshua Graham is definitely among the most memorable aspects and characters from HH. Well-written, isn't weak in gameplay mechanics. Legendary for many reasons, yours included, indeed.
It is my theory that Joshua Graham was based off of 3 people. 1. Orrin Porter Rockwell, a legendary gunman who was the bodyguard of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, who became a great lawman in the Wild West. And 2. Alma the Younger from the Book of Mormon, a man in his rebellion rejected the faith of his father to commit many sins but after a great event went on a path of redemption with the book attributes to him within the Book of Mormon, being the Book of Alma being known as the war chapters as he was involved in many conflicts between the Nephites and Lamanites. 3. Of course the Prodigal Son from the famous parable. Though these are my thoughts as being a member of the same faith as Joshua Graham is.
Given how Josh Sawyer wrote the character of the Burned Man, all of that can be true. He did say he took inspiration from Paul the Apostle, who is somewhat like Alma the Younger, although without all the battle history written in the Book of Mormon that involved Alma. The fact that Graham uses .45 auto, which is originally an invention by John Moses Browning, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, could also be inspiration.
And for the context of how Joshua Graham was written, it is supremely respectful of the faith and the culture, while not taking away from the consequences of a wasteland setting, if anything reinforcing both the faith of the church and fear and fighting of the wasteland.
Basically, GOATED.
@expychristian630 Joshua Graham is a very respectful character to my Faith, and he is very much a great inspiration to me to always strive to better and more Christlike. He is truly GOATED
I will find you. Make no mistake. God willing, you will not leave this valley.
One of the most believable threats from an NPC in a video game.
Nice work. Well made video.
Why, thank you! Appreciate the comment, friend.
I was brought up somewhat protestant, as protestant as the average Dane, so fairly lacking in knowledge, but Joshua Graham's story taught me a few of the missing pieces I hadn't really understood about religion.
I feel that is what the writers were hoping to accomplish with Graham's character. Not to like advertise any religion, y'know(?), but to more accurately represent someone's own spiritual journey. So, happy to hear that, @redsaint! What were those missing pieces, if you may?
Its amazing that a character you hear other people whisper and mention through the Mojave like a myth would be in a random DLC and become one of the best written, voiced and acted characters within all of Fallout.
I've always wondered what Joshua was like as the Malpais Legate. How did his savagry contrast the Burned Man's collected wrath. So many questions.
Max Derrat made a good video regarding that. I recommend it. As for me, I can only imagine that he was as militaristic and "brutal" as most tribals were at the time, especially if Caesar had already had multiple tribes under his army. Near losing his life and regaining his faith definitely helped him to foster a more collective demeanor, but make no mistake: Joshua can and WILL fight like his life depended on it. I suppose you could also consider that Joshua Graham fights to protect his new life and people, while the Legate fought to conquer and dominate. Just my thoughts.
Also it would be intrestinf if he said he was going to hell but since it will help those around him. That he will become a monster for other and suffer what he will
It's an interesting dynamic with him which I'm happy that the player character is the one that helps him realize since they're also put in many positions where they could be the "monster of the people" if that means they (think) they help the wasteland. A sort of Batman type.
FNV character essay in 2024🥰great work!
I got more coming, good sir 😏
But thank you nonetheless!
8:24 deference for darkness in fallout fits well
I'm just loving all the ODST OST listeners, it's like we all collectively agreed that ODST OST makes anything more legendary.
@@expychristianODST was a journey and I think many of us keep searching for another path like it
@ThatFoolishBoy Reach and ODST are undefeated stories in the Halo universe, heck I dare say in video game history.
Facts my man. Last of us ost ftw too
@ThatFoolishBoy We've rarely seen a miss when it comes these dramatic OSTs as of recent. Hopefully the trend doesn't die down. I know Nier: Automata also had great OST.
hes father from fallout 4 i knew it always loved his voice
Keith Szarabajka? He's Father in Fallout 4??? Didn't even know that! Wow.
Will there be an analysis of Daniel? I wonder why he is against Joshua and why he never gets a good ending.
Eventually! I have more than just Fallout planned and, even then, have other characters in mind. But Daniel and so on will get coverage in due time.
That said, I think it was written that way to give a sort of day-night perspective on the White Legs Conflict. Joshua is war-driven, while Daniel wants to avoid conflict. So, a good ending for Daniel is not so much about getting what he wants, but trying to accept what will follow next. This is just my short interpretation of it.
Thank you for being here with me. Dawn will be upon us soon. And the good Lord knows there is much to be done.
That was heavy. Amazing contribute for our fellow brother in christ in the world of Fallout.
I wanted to do this character justice. It's only fair given his positive reputation amongst the Fallout Fandom.
I just realised that the fact Graham has caused 2 miracles (Surivng the fall and the burning) would allow him to be canonized as a saint (atleast in the catholic church, I cannot speak for the rest)
@Scarletspiderofyoutube Huh. Being canonized post-nuclear war is definitely unexpected haha
@@expychristianI wonder if there’s still a pope in Europe?
Nice pick of music ODST theme always slaps
Great video bro
Thank you, kindly.
Awesome video! i def subbed!
Thank you for the sub! Appreciate the support!
Joshua Graham is so imperfect he's perfect ❤
Aren't we all, eh? Perfectly imperfect characters meant to help us understand... something. Something about ourselves, something about people, something about God.
I took the vengeance path... I loved how these choices. Great character.
The odst music was a nice touch 👌 somehow fits well
Right? I'm grateful to have remembered the somber beauty of Halo ODST whilst making the video; its an underrated gem, even if only for its music. Thank you for the comment!
Thanks. Have a blessed New Year everyone.
Joshua Graham is what Ulysses Tried to be.
That's an interesting way of thinking about it. It makes a lot of sense for Ulysses, a man driven by philosophy, but without the right circumstances, to try and be an example through major scale scheming just to prove his point; whereas Joshua has already seen the scale of his errors and chosen a simpler, more peaceful way of advocating for his beliefs. That's an excellent observation.
Great video may God be with you and have a wonderful new year. You have earned a new subscriber, keep up the great work❤
Thank you! Best wishes to you as well and happy new years! Thank you for the subscription and will do, hope to provide more great content in the coming future!
Honest Hearts is my favorite NV DLC. It just hits different
It's a breath of fresh air, that's for sure. The other DLC are great, but usually are grim or satirical. So having just a simple, but human character-focused story was refreshing and poignant.
Great video
Thank you! Mind I ask, is that a wolf for your pfp?
@expychristian630
Yes it is, why do you ask?
@@bennyv4444 It just looked cool is all.
He is the yellow king
Joshua Graham literally inspired me to return to Church after years of hedonism and evil.
I'm happy for you. It's like the Prodigal Son story that the writers of Joshua Graham used as inspiration. Sometimes we have to face our mistakes and own up to our years of spiritual immaturity to rediscover what faith really means for us.
Happy to hear that you've found your faith!
14:50 it's not opposite, the Bible has many such stories (presented as good), he even cites some of them
Fair enough. I did mean that script-part as in "Joshua Graham is being influenced by his mistakes and it's channeling into a very unrighteous wrath." But! To your point, there's plenty of stories from scripture where the unfaithful or challenged in faith are able to discover a renewed strength in their faith as a result of being tested or simply making a mistake. Goes to show that even being pious and believing has its trials and tribulations. Good pointer there.
RIP We lost some legends last year.
Loved it.
Thank you kindly.
He's number two. Randall Clark IS the man.
And for a character you literally don't even interact with, let alone have to find off the beaten path, Clark is up there. A perfect human story in the wasteland.
He is my favorite character. He made me question my faith.
My life and this fictional characters have many parallels including in their former life being burned alive
As he would say "i was baptized by water...then by fire"
All of his dialogue fits a person that experienced the worst pain imaginable and wasnt weak enough to die
Theres duality in being built different than others its an amazing gift but also a debilitating curse
The most dangerous person is not one thats constantly violent
But is strong and silent until honor and justice dictates the justification of violence
Also dude is just the walking embodiment of the terrifying presence perk 😅😅
#iwillhuntyoudown
#wouldntbethefirsttotry
#lightshiningindarkness
I find it humorous that the best characters in a massive series about criticism of conservative values are always slightly locked into conservative ideas. You could argue the people themselves are not conservative however the ideas are ones championed amongst conservatives none the less. Even the gritty cannibals in fallout 3 believe in family first even if their actions are atrocious.
I think it's about accuracy, ya feel? From a neutral (as is possible) game developer, they'd want to make these kinds of characters more accurate rather than overtly satirical (unless that's the point). The values themselves might be critiqued at a large, setting-scale, but for the specific NPCs and characters, I feel it's the way they embody their values that is how they are represented and characterized. Just what I feel.
Luv ur shit great content happy new years BTW
Also I see u wit the otsd
@autisticturtle8210 Thank you and happy new years to you too! Haha yes, I did use some Halo ODST music. It's legendary stuff.
I’m no longer a Christian, I discovered I believed in a different faith. Joshua Graham certainly didn’t bring me “back” rather, he inspires me to be pious
Did Andre Braugher voice someone in game?
No, I just particularly liked the fellow. It was also my final video of the year of 2023, so I wanted to pay tribute to the man.
I prefer Ulysses over Joshua but then again I did honest Hearts three times more than Lonesome Road just to get all of his endings
Ulysses is what I consider the perfect foil to the player character. Still great on his own terms. Lonesome Road is for YOU, the Courier, while Honest Hearts is exploring more of the lore of a man you only heard of while in the Mojave. It's still has the impact that a player can bring, but it is more or less a side story for you, whereas Lonesome Road IS your story.
While I love Joshua Graham and everything avout his character, I fully believe that the survivalist is the best character in fallout. A man you never meet alive, but drove me to tears when I first read his story
Randall Clark IS what Fallout is about. If there was a character that encapsulated the overall theme and message(s) of the Fallout games (barring 4 and 76), it is the Survivalist.
@@expychristian probably don't want to become a solely fallout TH-camr but seeing a video on him someday would be amazing!
@NarwhaI95 Thats fair, haha. There's plenty of Fallout and RPG characters I would love to cover. So, we'll see! See where the mind takes me. Feel free to stick around for more, though!
The worst part about his character is the animations of him maintaining and loading the guns. Like, thats not how that works
Oh it's not accurate? Probably just my lack of knowledge in that regard, but I always thought it was legit.
@expychristian630 oh nah, I wasn't trynna talk crap or nothing. Actually the opposite, I was saying his character is so good, the only flaw that stands out to me is the devs lack of knowledge on the subject.
Great vid btw
@DoofusChungus OH gotcha. Thank you. During the creation of Josh Graham, the writers wanted to make an accurate portrayal of Christianity in practice in a character. There are some flaws, but I've found them either contributing to the character arc or miniscule that it doesn't impede my enjoyment of the story portrayed in-game. Just the way I felt.
Who is Andre Braugher?
He played a character, Captain Holt, in the show "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", a famous police comedy. He was like the "father-figure" for many of the characters in the show. I recommend it, it's a good show.
He's "The Burned Man" not "The Burnt Man", implying there is still more burning to do.
And depending on the ending you choose, whatever that fire is may be dramatically different. I imagine the "burning" is forever his redemption.
Joshua Graham helped my rationalize the hypocrisy of some church goers
That's understandable. Joshua can be considered a hypocrite, as mentioned in the video, but its because he doesn't know what is the best path for him despite his intentions and history.
Glad to hear you were able to discover and learn from your experience with the video!
Tbf i uses his vest in every none tech playthrough
His armour, plus 1st Recon Beret and a high crit weapon like the Paciencia hunting rifle is actually OP, not gonna lie. Yeah it's light armour, but if you invest in Sneak perks, you'll basically one-shot most enemies.
Also it's just unique and eye-catching, perfect wasteland aesthetic for an imperfect wasteland legend.
@@expychristian more it look badass in vat lol. I'm a terrible shot
@@expychristian tbf his impercections are what makes him fatastic. Amazing vid
I'm a Vault 34 Security Armor enjoyer myself
@TimesFM4532 Thank you. Oh and uh if you struggle with getting good hits in, buff Agility with the Clinic Implant purchase in the New Vegas Clinic and get the Concentraed Fire perk, it amps up VATS accuracy every time you repeat a hit on one limb; so if you have like Lucky or the All-American, it's accuracy makes it worth the high crit build!
The second most dangerous Mormon ever! The first one is Moroni!
Ill put two more up there for ya Orrin Porter Rockwell and Teancum
I do believe that Joshua Graham is Mormon Missionary, while being similar in beliefs to the Christianity that commonly gets the wrap as the only religion. It is a representation of the Mormon's religion as Joshua is a missionary New Canaan to preach to the various tribes of the Mojave wasteland. W video I just read the comments and couldn't help but notice these inconsistences' with a game that is nearly 15 years old.
Sent from*
Appreciate the comment! If I recall, the writers DID do research to make a character that is as accurate as is possible when it comes to the roots of their religion. They took inspiration from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as stories in the Bible such as the Apostle Paul.
Him being a missionary is very on the nose (and is culturally-accurate within the framework of Utah), but his redemption story is definitely a combination of Christian precepts and inspiration.