The voice actor for james nailed this role man. Very few games get me to emotionally. He should be one of the nominees for best performance of the year.
If you listen carefully, between the ignition and the clutch, you can hear a door opening, different from in the water. I think that here James launches the car into the lake but without him.
@@Jaxolantern1how do you know it's Mary and not Maria? The camera makes angle makes a point to only show her mouth and when he looks in the mirror there's a smirk when she says she's always been waiting. Just a thought I think is worth entertaining.
That would make sense when considering how he asked Mary if she would wait for him. If he was going to end himself right there then she wouldn’t need to wait. So basically she forgave him and he went on living, waiting for the day they could be together again in the afterlife. Maybe that’s the only place they could ever truly be together the way they wanted to be; maybe that’s why Mary said she had always been waiting. Maybe “stillness” refers to James’s inner psyche after this ending. Not repression or fear or denial or anger or happiness, just stillness. The stillness of waiting for when he can be together with her again.
@@TheTicassShow yeah, I just think it's strange that she seems to be encouraging him to end it while every other time Mary is encouraging him to keep on living and go on with his life. It could also be the town, having one last shot at his guilt and manifesting Maria and telling him what he wants to hear since neither Mary (Alive anyway) or Maria are in that car with him. I could be reading into it too much. I just thought it was interesting that it deliberately never shows you the whole face.
2 things I have to give heavy props to Luke Robert's portrayal as James is so fucking good its unreal and Yamaoka's score for this ending is spectacular. The song playing here is like something Ryuichi Sakamoto would write.
W for the Sakamoto reference, RIP to a legend. But I agree wholeheartedly with all of your points. This is easily my performance of the year. He's just so human in this. And Yamaoka did a wonderful job re-imagining an iconic score.
I've watched this a few times. Here is my take. James killed Mary out fatigue and depression. He can't bear to see his wife withering and dying slowly and he was definitely heavily burdened by the responsibility of taking care of his dying wife for 3 long years. It was like snap in the moment. Mary on the other hand was already in a state of acceptance. She knew she will die, there was no cure. Though she threw tantrum and did broke down asking James not to leave her alone, deep down she wished for the pain to end. James definitely loved Mary to the core but shit happened. He cannot forgive himself for the killing and thus he created the whole delusional scenario where he got the letter and went straight to Silent Hill. In the final scene, Mary the ghost had already accepted her death and forgive James, it was only James who felt the ultimate guilt and regret about his action. James, up until the final scene was not able to forgive himself, contrary to what Mary wanted him to be. So, this ending is a good closure in the most realistic way. It continues the mental state of James unable to forgive himself whilst Mary soothed him and reassured him that she understood and that she will always wait for him in the afterlife. That is proven during the lines where james said "im so, so sorry" and Mary answered with "it's okay", continued with James asking "will you wait for me?" and Mary answered "i've always been waiting for you". About the car plunging into the lake, i believe that James did jumped out of the car at the final moment. This is hinted by 1. him not reading the final letter which he just looked at the passenger seat. It is a directive of James wishing to put an end to this whole Mary tragedy without any regrets and second thoughts that may come after reading the letter. 2. The dialogue earlier "will you wait for me?" "I've always been waiting for you". I think if he chose to die on the spot, he will say something like "i'm coming for you" or words to that effect. Just my two cents.
Nah, he clearly died. Reading a letter was his chance to change his mind, but he didn't read it. He make up his mind on what to do. There is something sinister about this Mary as they don't show her eyes. It's his delusion or a demon.
I think what this ending does, it shows a better contextual narrative for in water. James does all these things in sh2, and the in water ending exists. I think stillness is just a "happier" narrative from James perspective during that ending.
Maybe I could be wrong but maybe "will you wait for me?" could imply equally as well that if he was to die right then and there in the water, would she wait for him. I don't know if it directly feels like he isn't planning on dying right then and there. I can see how the statement implies a distant death as opposed to a soon one though
I thought he thought about killing her but never did but his feelings of guilt of wanting to do it haunts him, shes now dead from cancer he misses her, hes sorry that he cheated on her with prostitutes etc. Probably wrong but i dont know why it implies it at times.
@samw2670 It's not an implication, james did kill mary. That's why so many things in the story hint at it. Everything you said is implying that action. His guilt aspect that is reflected back to him shows that. It's never even specified what terminal illness she had, but honestly I also assumed since the original that it was some type of aggressive late stage cancer or something of the like. It's not a problem if you're not exactly sure of what he did, both original and remake intentionally make it subtle, to the point that you might never notice it until the twist happens
I think this ending is probably the most canonical in that it’s both ‘in water’ and ‘leave.’ He decides that he hasn’t forgiven himself fully, but continues living despite his guilt. It’s different from in water because in that ending he decides that killing himself is his resolution, while ‘stillness’ is his emotional acceptance of what he has done and deciding that suicide isn’t his release from the suffering he endures.
The problem, is that this is exactly what the Leave ending accomplishes and in a much sweeter, personal way by Mary telling James to go on living his life. There's no ambiguity. She takes mercy on him by forgiving him, and he lives on with the guilt and knowledge of what he did. Being forgiven doesn't absolve his guilt. It just means that he received Mary's forgiveness and will spend the rest of his life making up for it by living his life the way Mary wanted him to.
@@Absurdword The Stillness ending is a lot more personal than ‘leave’. You can only get Stillness after completing ‘in water’ because it represents James ending this loop of reliving Silent Hill and experiencing his painful realization of killing/losing Mary and he’s aware of it. In stillness, he accomplishes ending this cyclical nightmare while still promising to live his life as Mary wanted him to. It’s a lot more nuanced and ambiguous but that’s what makes it fit Silent Hill so well.
@@evawon3127 We see things differently, and I get it feels more personal for you. Ultimately, it comes down to how you view forgiveness . To me, Ambiguity is not necessarily nuanced, and in my opinion, the level of empathy and nuance in Mary forgiving James is a far more impactful and beautiful message. But that's what's so great is that no one's opinion is definitive, and it's all about what makes Silent Hill meaningful for you.
I love this ending. I love that in water ending implies James couldn’t read Mary’s letter and was looking to the backseat in disbelief that she’s there. I love that in this ending it sounds like James lives; his focus is on the letter and not Mary in the backseat; like he’s accepted it all and Mary is the one who keeps James from killing himself.
@@Kryptic_Karma There seems to be some subtle difference in the sounds used for James driving the car into the lake with this ending, namely there seems to be delay in the car hitting the water A lot of people are interpreting from this that James might have actually bailed from the car in this ending, intending only to give Mary a final burial in their "special place" and then live the rest of his life like she wanted, hoping she'll be waiting for him
@@Kryptic_Karma I dont hear it but some people say they hear James shut the car door. Another thing people point out that I do hear though is that the rain stops being muffled between the sound of wood shattering and the car hitting the water, which people say could represent James jumping out of the car to let it sink into the lake without him. I honestly think it does make sense, this makes Stillness a hybrid of In-Water and Leave. James leaves Silent Hill alive but he can't let go of the guilt, but he also doesn't let the guilt drive him to suicide.
This shows how James was a good husband. Not a horny, maniac for sex, but a kind guy, who really loved her wife, but made the worst choice in their lifes.
Cara, isso foi interpretação de youtubers brasileiros desinformados, porque o site da wiki em português tava desatualizado para a língua, que contia todos esses equívocos de que o James era tarado. Essa ideia já foi abandonada há muitos anos quando a wiki em inglês foi atualizada na época. O que não ocorreu com a versão em português que se manteve por muito mais tempo.
I think the perception of him being excessively horny comes from people misunderstanding what his monsters represent. James was effectively starved of affection and intimacy due to Mary's disease. They represent the primal longing for intimacy that all humans have coupled with the shame he felt for having such thoughts while his wife was slowly dying. They are monsters and tormentors to James for a reason.
This ending has totally different tones if you just listen to it vs watching it. The facial expressions that Luke pulled off are absolutely award winning. He goes from dead to accepting he's a monster to finally letting out all his pain. This would not have been possible in the PS2 era.
I don't know if anyone noticed, but in the first few seconds of the blackscreen, you can probably hear a car door open before it was driven into the lake.
I saw someone say this on reddit. I do not hear a car door sound. It just sound like him shifting gears. It also makes no sense for him to drive his car into the lake if he isn't in it. For what, to bury Mary in the lake? If that's the case, carry her down to the water instead of ruining your car and only transport home lol
@@PatriotInfinity The rain gets louder and not muffled, implying the door was opened and James exited. He even asks Mary to wait for him. This is an alternate version of In Water where James cannot forgive himself, but chooses to live in the hopes that he will eventually find his peace because it's what Mary would have wanted for him. It's "happier" than in water, but the term "stillness" is a totally neutral word. Could be that he did find his forgiveness. Could be that he relapsed and offed himself later on. We don't know. Just that he chose not to in that instance.
It's kinda cool how this ending is kind of a remake of the In Water ending, having james get his ''forgiveness'' from Mary herself instead of the letter before driving into the lake. Of course it could be just a hallucination because he is even more broken than in the OG in water or maybe even Maria, but whatever it is, he uses it to justify what he is about to do, asking if she'll be waiting for him in the afterlife and responding she always was. Very Nice
I see it as James just being completely disillusioned here. It's obvious that Mary talking to him isn't real, but her reassuring him along with the incredible amount of self destructive guilt he's feeling. it feels more like the town is tempting him to drive off the cliff. Great stuff.
See, I'm not sure "forgiveness" is the right word for it. The way I see it, all of SH2 can be interpreted as being entirely in James's head--he may not even actually be in Silent Hill atm. The town became his mindscape--it was important to him and Mary, after all--which is why there seem to be indications he lived in Silent Hill (eg: all of the letters found throughout the game, the fact that the car before the apartment building bit is the same color as--and probably is--his car, the receipt found in the pharmacy possibly being related to Mary's meds, etc. etc), even though we know they didn't live there, and all of the other kinda "dream logic" aspects of the town. To that end, each of the endings can be seen as different ways he's chosen to move forward. With that in mind, this ending is less a "remake" of the water ending and more an alternate. They're both tied to his guilt over what happened, but in Water, James ends up drowning in his guilt, where as I think, in spite of its name, the "Stillness" ending represents James embracing his guilt but choosing to embrace his guilt and choosing to live with it. Mary, and the guilt he carries for what he did to her, will always be with him, but it's not going to let it overwhelm him the way he does in the Water ending. I would even argue it's the most hopeful ending of them all ("Leave" shows him walking further into the fog and being consumed by it, "Maria" has him learning nothing and just repeating his troublesome pattern of behavior, "Rebirth" shows James refusing to let go of Mary or accept her death, I'm choosing to ignore the joke endings for the purpose of this discussion).
@@shizucheese That's an interesting point of view i haven't seen before, but i don't think that's the case. First of all, James most likely did not live in Silent Hill but in Ashfield Heights instead, in Silent Hill 4 you meet James's dad, Frank Sunderland, who states that his son and daughter-in-law disappeared in Silent Hill years ago, also, Rachel, the nurse who took care of Mary during her disease can be seen in apartment 106. About the ending itself, i don't think there's anything that shows it to be James choosing to live with the guilt or it being hopeful whatsoever, mainly because in this ending James still drives the car into the lake, ending his own life, the difference is that in the In Water ending he's completely overwhelmed with guilt, specially after reading the letter, even saying ''I know this isn't what you would have wanted'', but in this ending he has Mary saying that is okay, alleviating his pain and guilt of what he done and what he is about to do. Another thing that makes me say that it is a remake of the In Water is, not only that it's starts and ends the same way (James says the same thing and drives into the lake), but to unlock this ending you have to beat the game AND get the In Water ending beforehand. In the OG Silent Hill 2, most people considered the In Water ending to be canon, even some of the people who worked on it, but i never saw it like that, to me the Leave ending is still the best and most hopeful, which also appears to be the case in the remake, because the moment the game starts is when James's memory is basically ''erased'' and his whole journey in Silent Hill is to accept what he has done, deal with his pain, guilt, suffering and move on. Having him still do what he wanted to before the game starts (driving onto the lake with his wife's body) kinda makes the journey pointless, which, thinking about it now, kinda makes the name of the ending fitting, because he doesn't advance in his journey or in his development, he stays the same way he was when he entered Silent Hill.
@@MarluxiaInTheOtherworld I think "Stillness" gives a lot more room for interpretation. The pause before the car drives into the water and the rain growing louder during that time implies that James got out of the car to let itself drive into the water as a burial for Mary. In my headcanon, I like to believe that "Leave" takes place immediately after.
@@fae_gavan7582I also feel it’s more appropriate and realistic than “Leave” on its own. It’s a more realistic mental state to be in after the events of the game. Also, you don’t ask somebody “Will you wait for me?” to someone who is dead if you’re going to off yourself immediately afterwards.
Definitely my favorite ending. James wants to die for his actions but in the end there would be nothing. Mary wouldn't want that. So for his punishment to himself and Mary's request he'll go live the rest of his days knowing what he did, but possibly raising Laura and having a life for Mary. Till they meet again.
Not sure but the sounds at the end seem to imply rather than dropping into the lake with his car, James jumped out, basically burying Mary in the depths of the lake with the car as her coffin. It does seem to make sense somewhat since he asks her if she'll wait for him, implying he means to live.
i think he wants to redeem himself, he has to live on, mary wanted that for him. until he changes for the better, in order for him to be with mary in heaven he has to be redeemed from his sins so that he could go with her in the afterlife. he’s not ready to die, he still has time and hope to change
“if you really want to see mary, you should just die. But you might be heading to a different place than mary” this quote is seen in silent hill, james must be redeemed from his sins to be in heaven with her by the time he dies later on in the future
@@isaacbecerra96ify yeah so this can be seen as either a hopeful ending if you believe the sounds, or be thought of as a different version of the In Water ending. Still, I'm on the former side additionally because unlike In-Water you don't see the view of underneath the lake after the crash.
@@MistromLuthane Because there's an extra 4 seconds before the car starts driving into the lake and the rain getting louder, it's interpreted as James sending the car into the lake instead of driving the car into the lake to off himself. He also asks Mary "Will you wait for me?" right before that, too.
I don’t think this James feels any less guilty but is just more open to forgiving himself. The car is sent into the lake without him in it. You can hear the car door close implying he gets out.
You can only get this ending on a New Game+. His first words in this ending were, “I tried”, perhaps suggesting he’s been through this before. He asks Mary if she’ll wait for him, and she replies she’s always been waiting. He has suicidal thoughts, but unlike the In Water ending he looks at the envelope in the passenger seat. It may or may not contain Mary’s actual letter, but it hints that the town is still calling him, and he hasn’t finished what he’s really supposed to do yet.
The acting is sublime! Oh and I looked the actor (Luke Roberts) up because he's that good - the guy was not just Arthur Dayne in GoT but also that Black Sails "villain" Woodes Rogers (whom I really didn't like unlike James and Dayne). Talk about a versatile actor! I hope he gets more juicy roles, this is one talented guy. I loved the SH2 remake, actually enjoyed it more than the original (I'm a "SH1 is the best" guy but now.... SH2R takes the crown), I hope they get to do more.
This ending is underrated. It made me so emotional. The ambient sounds, the voice acting, the atmosphere, the animation, how the feelings are conveyed and everything about it.
I wish this ending wasn’t exclusive to a first playthrough as it actually makes a lot of sense compared to dog, ufo, rebirth, and bliss. It’s a great in between of leave and in water where James still carries his guilt and remorse but pushes on living because it’s what Mary would want. Also it’s easily the most emotional ending which would fit better with someone’s first immersive playthrough.
@drb5469 the sound of rain goes from muffled to full and the sound of a door being opened before the water hits. Stillness can be interpreted either way really but given the dialogue and the audio cues its implied that James ditches the car and chooses to live as Mary wanted him to.
So Mary forgives James but he doesn't forgive himself. James doesn't feel worthy of reading Mary's letter and decides to drive into the lake only now he decides to live of which you can hear him get out of his vehicle. This is what he means by "will you wait for me?".
Nah he asked Mary if she would wait and when she said yes, he jumped out of the car. He doesn't plan on dying anytime soon, not if Mary's waiting for him in the afterlife
It's really not the in water ending at all actually. It just shares the location. He gets out of the car in this one. You can hear the car door opening and the rain getting louder before the car takes off. If anything, this ending is James giving Mary her "burial" and could neatly transition into the leave ending afterwards. (He and Laura walk away from Silent hill, they don't drive).
Bloober team did such an amazing job with the remake. I liked how all the monsters would just collapse and die or cower away after James watches the tape because he doesn't need them to punish him for his guilt anymore. Such a good touch.
James has no courage to commit suicide, he decides to continue to live in guilt feeling he does not deserve forgiveness. It appears he crashed his car into the lake but got off with only the corpse of Mary inside it giving her a "burial"
I didn't really think much of the Mary water burial until reading your comment just now. Helped me suddenly make the connection between the mentions of the lost souls buried beneath the lake from the unknown disease that ravaged Silent Hill. I love how even years after the original, albeit with the help of the remake, you can still make new story connections that you'd never considered before. The writers of the original and remake really thought of everything, huh?
Yeah. I still think that he didn't intent to do s*icide. Because he asked mary to wait for him, meaning that he might continue his life. But I don't think it is how it is
If someone told me Bloober would make a banger of a Silent Hill remake I'd not believe them. But if they then went on to say they would even IMPROVE on some things (abstract daddy boss fight and the lack of them in the hotel later) I'd already be like you're joking. But that they actually went ahead and made a whole new ending that actually feels the best out of ALL the endings and has the most emotional payoff and makes the most sense? Damn.
Fans: "i have a theory that mary was indeed in james backseat or trunk of his car" Bunch years later Developer: "hey team, remember when fans make that theory? Let's use that in the remake"
@@Fedor_Kisliakov he's also the one who claimed that James wouldn't ever put Mary in a trunk. It's really confusing. At least backseat makes more sense
@@Fedor_Kisliakov more like he accept fans idea of mary in his backseat. He actually contradict Book of Lost Memories (and even the novel) that mary possibly in the trunk (which is also a theory)
@@xAustishx the reason it's confusing is because there's already a book that give a possibilities that mary is in the trunk (which is also from fans), and more confusing because the official novel also use that theory
@@xAustishx Basically she wouldn't be in the back trunk because it's in honor of her and because he loves her too much to do that. It's also a western and cliche way to do it to prevent being seen with a body. It's been confirmed
So this is basically them wanting to make some additions/changes to the “In Water” ending but also include the original. I dig it. Didn’t really have any expectations for the new endings and thought they were unnecessary, but I honestly think Bloober did great with this and Bliss. Felt like they both could have been in the original
Silent Hill has been my favorite game for so long. This remake lives to its original content. This ending in particular feels so good, feels correct. Its not a happy ending, james doesnt deserve it. Its not either the worst ending possible. Its just so perfect, He knows what he did and what he deservers, yet he finds comfort in the person he loved and ironically killed. In my opinon this is a water ending but with with a better development of James feelings, more human. Beautiful.
It's really not the in water ending at all actually. It just shares the location. He gets out of the car in this one. You can hear the car door opening and the rain getting louder before the car takes off. It's why he asks Mary to wait for him shortly before the car drives into the lake. That line makes no sense if he is still in the car. If anything, this ending is James giving Mary her "burial" and could neatly transition into the leave ending afterwards. (He and Laura walk away from Silent hill, they don't drive).
@@resound8355 idk the extra sounds and dialogue all heavily point to him not offing himself in this ending 🤷🏻♂️. It’s hard to see that stuff as being coincidental with how meticulous the devs were with the rest of the game. It also just makes narrative sense that you need to have done in water once first (James kills himself). And then can only get this ending on new game plus. It’s James rejecting that path on his repeat journey through his purgatory and saying goodbye to his wife. But we can def agree to disagree! Either way I agree with you, the dialogue and acting work are all top notch and beautiful. Give Luke Roberts all of the awards!
I am led to believe perhaps Leave, Stillness, or Rebirth is the canonical ending for the remake. You can only get this ending after getting the In Water ending. This implies Silent Hill's cycles. The only alternative would be the Bliss ending, but I doubt Silent Hill would be satisfied with James living in denial- what would be the point of bringing him? The Leave Ending, Rebirth, and Stillness have James confront the truth and accept responsibility and fulfill Mary's wishes. Even the Maria Ending implies Silent Hill is still trying to tell James he needs to face the truth- Maria herself still gives James the letter despite being afraid of James choosing Mary over her. Notice Maria is still a manifestation of the town at the end of the day?
James sends Mary to her burial and its the same as in water but james gets out of the car as He feels Mary has forgiven him and for him to go on. When its his time she will be waiting for him.
I was fully braced for the In Water ending but holy /shit/, this ending just right out punched me right through the chest and straight into the feels. Luke Roberts absolutely /killing/ it out here. 😭👏💕
I just finished the game and got the water ending. I was surprised and scared as hell when I saw a hand touching James' face in this one. In the ending I watched he just looked behind which made me think (holy Sh1t. There's no way that her body is in the backseat) This ending just confirms it for me... I didn't want to believe it because James said or at least I think he did that Mary died 3 years ago. so there was no way that her body was there for 3 years..
I subscribe to the idea that James got out of the car before it went into the lake, so when I first saw this ending, I thought of the part of Mary's letter where she says "I can't tell you to remember me, but I can't bear for you to forget me," and it made me think this ending is almost a proper response to that, giving closure for both James and Mary. That James is okay with living on remembering Mary if that means she'll be waiting to see him again. And Mary will be okay waiting knowing James will always remember her.
I don't get when he says "Will you wait for me?" I think implies that he is not ready to die yet. I don't remember in SH4 saying he is dead, just he never came back. That could mean he has a new life, new name... I don't know, i don't want James death xD
I don’t really hear what people are saying of the car having a door opening sound prior to driving the car into the lake. That sounds more to me like he lifted the emergency brake down.
Mary's apparition or whatever you would like to call it hits so hard when you find out that bloober actually modeled and put her body covered by their bedsheet in the backseat.
In the beginning of the game, it looks like it just freshly rained. In this ending, it’s raining. Is this a hint of a time loop that James enters right after he drives away? 😮
I think it's because Mary always knew that James couldn't live with himself so he would end up committing suicide, so she's basically been waiting for him since she died.
“I completely understand how James felt because I’ve been carrying the guilt of what I did to my ex-girlfriend. She reached out to me three weeks ago and told me she had forgiven me. I was so relieved in that moment and thought my karma had finally ended, but it wasn’t true. Instead, I felt even more guilty, and even though she forgave me, I can’t seem to forgive myself. Now, I don’t know how to move on again.
Why does everyone keep thinking he doesn't die in this ending? That's clearly the sound of a shifter and not a car door. Also, how do you think he drives the car into the lake without being in it? Did homie tape the accelerator pedal down lmao
two reasons, one is that he says "will you wait for me" this is implying there will be time before they can see each other again and he's asking for more time. If he was killing himself why would he ask for her to wait another 30 seconds before "reuniting" second because this would be almost identical to the in water ending, and the name "Stillness" implies stasis, static, un moving or limbo, which plays into the loop theory that has always been popular and even more so with bloober clearly in this remake, also it's a new game plus only ending. Also i believe before the launch patch the stillness ending shows the in water ending closing cinematic of the letter in the water but they cut that out of the official stillness ending Personally i like the idea of James living but never really forgiving himself but still moving on in a sense, it sorta makes this my new favorite ending, previously it was in water
I agree with you. He did died. When he says "will you wait for me" and Mary says "i've always been waiting for you" is because Mary knew since her death that James wouldnt be able to live with himself far long.
This ending should be in the water ending, this hits hard and james getting forgiveness from mary and decides not to "off" himself like the in the water ending is just way better for someone's who hasn't played the og sh2
I mean each to their own but 1. Will you wait for me? Is an odd thing to say if he intends to die in a matter of moments. 2. In the In Water ending we see him switch on the Ignition and grip the wheel, In Stillness we only get the audio 3. The Audio is subtly different, there's an extra thump that could be a car door. 4. No 'In Water' segment.
@Rork310 ok 1) what else is she gonna wait him for? Him dying of old age 40 years later after living alone waiting to reunite with his wife that's waiting for him on the other side? That's worse! 2) It's unimportant, you can hear him driving into the lake later on the black screen. 3) Or maybe it's just a thump and not something that puts everything on it's head. 4) actually the in water segment was only in the stillness ending in 1.00 version. That's why there's a letter on the passenger seat in the stillness ending and not in the in water ending. They changed it around probably because it's kinda weird to finish your first playthrough, get the in water ending and they leave you without a letter. And you have to get the in water ending to get the stillness ending so there's no point in showing the letter again because you already seen it.
@@NECO2926 She did want him to live, because she made him even more miserable by lashing out and verbally abusing him while trying to reconnect with her. Too scared to die, too heartbroken to truly live.
This ending is amazing, and I'd consider it canon even, but i hate that we have to get the in water ending first to even see it?? Cant do leave and then this?
well, first of all, I won't spoil ya second of that, I break a little so you can understand more: Mary did not die 3 years ago, even in the OG SH2 told that and the third, James indeed did something to Mary, but you actually saw that in game tho.
James smothered Mary with a pillow a few days before silent Hill 2 takes place, although he hallucinates/falsely remembers that she died 3 years ago, when really, she's been laying on the back seat of his car this whole time, covered in a blanket.
@@johnshepard8556 Depends on the ending. The "In Water" ending has him drive himself and her corpse into the lake. This ending is similar in that he drives her corpse into the lake, but gets out of the car (you can hear the door open before it accelerates and crashes into the water) to live on like Mary wanted him too. In other endings it's just never brought up at all and you only know she's in the car if you do this ending or "In Water".
@@mad_max21 Am i wrong or maybe she was murdered literally right before the game begins? as we can see James looking at his own hands just like he did when killed Eddie.
There are some claims from players regarding the Stillness ending in the Silent Hill 2 Remake, where James is said to open a door before his car sinks, which could symbolize an attempt to escape or a deeper psychological meaning. However, this doesn't appear to be widely confirmed or described as a central detail in most descriptions of the ending. In the Stillness ending, James accepts his fate and death in a more tranquil, resigned manner, similar to the In Water ending from the original game, but with a more reflective and peaceful tone. If players are seeing James opening the door before the car fully sinks, it may suggest an added layer of ambiguity or interpretation for this new ending, hinting that James might be struggling with his final decision. In the Stillness ending of Silent Hill 2 Remake, James actually dies, just like in the original In Water ending. However, there are some important differences. In this new ending, James does not die by drowning in a lake, but rather in a state of peace and resignation. He seems to accept his fate and death, but with a deeper understanding of his actions and emotions. The ending focuses on James's realization and acceptance of his mistakes and his inner world, making it less dark and more tragically peaceful. Yes, in the new Stillness ending, James does decide to commit suicide, which points to his internal struggle and guilt over his past actions. While some players may speculate that he survives or that the ending is open to interpretation, the main focus of this ending is still on his giving up on life and accepting his fate. Theories that he may survive or that his actions have a different meaning are likely speculations of the players themselves. It is important to note that the ending is tragic and emotionally charged, which fits the overall theme of Silent Hill 2, where characters face the consequences of their actions and choices
I see, they made this ending to state that the "in water" ending has always been a bad ending. This is basically in water but with the 'spoiler' addition that the voice who drove him to threw his car in the lake was an evil one and not his higher consciousness. So to end the debate that if "in water" was the true ending or not, it was not and the real good ending is the "leave" one.
Why are some people saying that james came out of the car and let mary sink with the letter?? Is it oficial or somenthing? Cause i find no sense in that
![Silent Hill 2 Remake - Final Boss Battle + Ending/Hard Mode [PC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OWfX6P6j-RI/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the new endings in the game. Just 2 left now. Bliss and Rebirth
does this ending imply that he never ventured into silent hill? that he instead drive into the water at the beginning of the game?
@@MisterBrodono, he go back to his car after learning the truth
The voice actor for james nailed this role man. Very few games get me to emotionally. He should be one of the nominees for best performance of the year.
Oh absolutely
Yes he did get nominated for golden joystick.
@@schizomani4cdamn didn’t know that good for him
VOICE actor? Just actor bro, only the eyes were filled in
@@androognoix1685 What ?
If you listen carefully, between the ignition and the clutch, you can hear a door opening, different from in the water. I think that here James launches the car into the lake but without him.
Gave Mary a watery grave
@@Jaxolantern1how do you know it's Mary and not Maria? The camera makes angle makes a point to only show her mouth and when he looks in the mirror there's a smirk when she says she's always been waiting. Just a thought I think is worth entertaining.
That would make sense when considering how he asked Mary if she would wait for him. If he was going to end himself right there then she wouldn’t need to wait.
So basically she forgave him and he went on living, waiting for the day they could be together again in the afterlife. Maybe that’s the only place they could ever truly be together the way they wanted to be; maybe that’s why Mary said she had always been waiting.
Maybe “stillness” refers to James’s inner psyche after this ending. Not repression or fear or denial or anger or happiness, just stillness. The stillness of waiting for when he can be together with her again.
But isn't Maria a fragment of his mind ? I'm confused @@Jordan-d5p
@@TheTicassShow yeah, I just think it's strange that she seems to be encouraging him to end it while every other time Mary is encouraging him to keep on living and go on with his life. It could also be the town, having one last shot at his guilt and manifesting Maria and telling him what he wants to hear since neither Mary (Alive anyway) or Maria are in that car with him. I could be reading into it too much. I just thought it was interesting that it deliberately never shows you the whole face.
2 things I have to give heavy props to
Luke Robert's portrayal as James is so fucking good its unreal and Yamaoka's score for this ending is spectacular. The song playing here is like something Ryuichi Sakamoto would write.
What is the song??
@@Lubble-Umbra Veil
@@artarealmblazer thankyou
W for the Sakamoto reference, RIP to a legend. But I agree wholeheartedly with all of your points. This is easily my performance of the year. He's just so human in this. And Yamaoka did a wonderful job re-imagining an iconic score.
I've watched this a few times. Here is my take.
James killed Mary out fatigue and depression. He can't bear to see his wife withering and dying slowly and he was definitely heavily burdened by the responsibility of taking care of his dying wife for 3 long years. It was like snap in the moment. Mary on the other hand was already in a state of acceptance. She knew she will die, there was no cure. Though she threw tantrum and did broke down asking James not to leave her alone, deep down she wished for the pain to end.
James definitely loved Mary to the core but shit happened. He cannot forgive himself for the killing and thus he created the whole delusional scenario where he got the letter and went straight to Silent Hill.
In the final scene, Mary the ghost had already accepted her death and forgive James, it was only James who felt the ultimate guilt and regret about his action. James, up until the final scene was not able to forgive himself, contrary to what Mary wanted him to be.
So, this ending is a good closure in the most realistic way. It continues the mental state of James unable to forgive himself whilst Mary soothed him and reassured him that she understood and that she will always wait for him in the afterlife. That is proven during the lines where james said "im so, so sorry" and Mary answered with "it's okay", continued with James asking "will you wait for me?" and Mary answered "i've always been waiting for you".
About the car plunging into the lake, i believe that James did jumped out of the car at the final moment. This is hinted by
1. him not reading the final letter which he just looked at the passenger seat. It is a directive of James wishing to put an end to this whole Mary tragedy without any regrets and second thoughts that may come after reading the letter.
2. The dialogue earlier "will you wait for me?" "I've always been waiting for you". I think if he chose to die on the spot, he will say something like "i'm coming for you" or words to that effect.
Just my two cents.
Nah, he clearly died. Reading a letter was his chance to change his mind, but he didn't read it. He make up his mind on what to do.
There is something sinister about this Mary as they don't show her eyes. It's his delusion or a demon.
I think what this ending does, it shows a better contextual narrative for in water. James does all these things in sh2, and the in water ending exists. I think stillness is just a "happier" narrative from James perspective during that ending.
Maybe I could be wrong but maybe "will you wait for me?" could imply equally as well that if he was to die right then and there in the water, would she wait for him. I don't know if it directly feels like he isn't planning on dying right then and there. I can see how the statement implies a distant death as opposed to a soon one though
I thought he thought about killing her but never did but his feelings of guilt of wanting to do it haunts him, shes now dead from cancer he misses her, hes sorry that he cheated on her with prostitutes etc. Probably wrong but i dont know why it implies it at times.
@samw2670 It's not an implication, james did kill mary. That's why so many things in the story hint at it. Everything you said is implying that action. His guilt aspect that is reflected back to him shows that.
It's never even specified what terminal illness she had, but honestly I also assumed since the original that it was some type of aggressive late stage cancer or something of the like.
It's not a problem if you're not exactly sure of what he did, both original and remake intentionally make it subtle, to the point that you might never notice it until the twist happens
I think this ending is probably the most canonical in that it’s both ‘in water’ and ‘leave.’ He decides that he hasn’t forgiven himself fully, but continues living despite his guilt. It’s different from in water because in that ending he decides that killing himself is his resolution, while ‘stillness’ is his emotional acceptance of what he has done and deciding that suicide isn’t his release from the suffering he endures.
The problem, is that this is exactly what the Leave ending accomplishes and in a much sweeter, personal way by Mary telling James to go on living his life. There's no ambiguity. She takes mercy on him by forgiving him, and he lives on with the guilt and knowledge of what he did. Being forgiven doesn't absolve his guilt. It just means that he received Mary's forgiveness and will spend the rest of his life making up for it by living his life the way Mary wanted him to.
@@Absurdword The Stillness ending is a lot more personal than ‘leave’. You can only get Stillness after completing ‘in water’ because it represents James ending this loop of reliving Silent Hill and experiencing his painful realization of killing/losing Mary and he’s aware of it. In stillness, he accomplishes ending this cyclical nightmare while still promising to live his life as Mary wanted him to. It’s a lot more nuanced and ambiguous but that’s what makes it fit Silent Hill so well.
@@evawon3127 We see things differently, and I get it feels more personal for you. Ultimately, it comes down to how you view forgiveness .
To me, Ambiguity is not necessarily nuanced, and in my opinion, the level of empathy and nuance in Mary forgiving James is a far more impactful and beautiful message. But that's what's so great is that no one's opinion is definitive, and it's all about what makes Silent Hill meaningful for you.
I thought he offed himself in this ending tho? You hear the car break the road barrier and smash into the water
@@crawdaddyylol for real i don’t think he watched the video all the way
Honestly i love this ending more than in water, incredible
I love this ending.
I love that in water ending implies James couldn’t read Mary’s letter and was looking to the backseat in disbelief that she’s there.
I love that in this ending it sounds like James lives; his focus is on the letter and not Mary in the backseat; like he’s accepted it all and Mary is the one who keeps James from killing himself.
I@@bradyking4299I'm confused... it sounds like James drives into the river at the end when it cuts to black? How is that what you're describing?
@@Kryptic_Karma
There seems to be some subtle difference in the sounds used for James driving the car into the lake with this ending, namely there seems to be delay in the car hitting the water
A lot of people are interpreting from this that James might have actually bailed from the car in this ending, intending only to give Mary a final burial in their "special place" and then live the rest of his life like she wanted, hoping she'll be waiting for him
@@FalcoMoment Ah I see. I mean it makes sense by what is being said. It just didn't sound like he exited the vehicle to me.
@@Kryptic_Karma
I dont hear it but some people say they hear James shut the car door.
Another thing people point out that I do hear though is that the rain stops being muffled between the sound of wood shattering and the car hitting the water, which people say could represent James jumping out of the car to let it sink into the lake without him.
I honestly think it does make sense, this makes Stillness a hybrid of In-Water and Leave. James leaves Silent Hill alive but he can't let go of the guilt, but he also doesn't let the guilt drive him to suicide.
This shows how James was a good husband. Not a horny, maniac for sex, but a kind guy, who really loved her wife, but made the worst choice in their lifes.
Yeah I feel like James is misinterpreted a lot got a bad husband who's hungry for sex
Cara, isso foi interpretação de youtubers brasileiros desinformados, porque o site da wiki em português tava desatualizado para a língua, que contia todos esses equívocos de que o James era tarado. Essa ideia já foi abandonada há muitos anos quando a wiki em inglês foi atualizada na época. O que não ocorreu com a versão em português que se manteve por muito mais tempo.
Anyone that thinks James was a horny manic for sex is clearly not old enough to be playing SH2.
Then explain the monsters he sees then they are all sexual prostitute looking things
I think the perception of him being excessively horny comes from people misunderstanding what his monsters represent. James was effectively starved of affection and intimacy due to Mary's disease. They represent the primal longing for intimacy that all humans have coupled with the shame he felt for having such thoughts while his wife was slowly dying. They are monsters and tormentors to James for a reason.
Give Luke Roberts all the damn awards. He did so f--ckin good!
This ending has totally different tones if you just listen to it vs watching it. The facial expressions that Luke pulled off are absolutely award winning. He goes from dead to accepting he's a monster to finally letting out all his pain. This would not have been possible in the PS2 era.
This is my new favorite ending
This ending broke my heart. I don’t know how I can move on from this 😭
I don't know if anyone noticed, but in the first few seconds of the blackscreen, you can probably hear a car door open before it was driven into the lake.
I saw someone say this on reddit. I do not hear a car door sound. It just sound like him shifting gears. It also makes no sense for him to drive his car into the lake if he isn't in it. For what, to bury Mary in the lake? If that's the case, carry her down to the water instead of ruining your car and only transport home lol
@@PatriotInfinitythe car probably would remind him of her so he decided to drown it with her.
@@PatriotInfinity It sounds different in the In Water ending
@@PatriotInfinity The rain gets louder and not muffled, implying the door was opened and James exited. He even asks Mary to wait for him. This is an alternate version of In Water where James cannot forgive himself, but chooses to live in the hopes that he will eventually find his peace because it's what Mary would have wanted for him. It's "happier" than in water, but the term "stillness" is a totally neutral word. Could be that he did find his forgiveness. Could be that he relapsed and offed himself later on. We don't know. Just that he chose not to in that instance.
Mary sitting in the back is a surreal and nice touch. I'm actually impressed 👍
Her body is back there after all.
@@deusprogrammer_thekingofspace edit: Thanks for the answers everyone
@@JBranderNo, she's actually been dead for a few days or so.
@@deusprogrammer_thekingofspace that's my point
@@JBrander James was just hallucinating that she's been dead for 3 years, while in fact he killed her few days ago.
This is the canon ending and nobody can convince me otherwise
It's kinda cool how this ending is kind of a remake of the In Water ending, having james get his ''forgiveness'' from Mary herself instead of the letter before driving into the lake.
Of course it could be just a hallucination because he is even more broken than in the OG in water or maybe even Maria, but whatever it is, he uses it to justify what he is about to do, asking if she'll be waiting for him in the afterlife and responding she always was. Very Nice
I see it as James just being completely disillusioned here. It's obvious that Mary talking to him isn't real, but her reassuring him along with the incredible amount of self destructive guilt he's feeling. it feels more like the town is tempting him to drive off the cliff. Great stuff.
See, I'm not sure "forgiveness" is the right word for it. The way I see it, all of SH2 can be interpreted as being entirely in James's head--he may not even actually be in Silent Hill atm. The town became his mindscape--it was important to him and Mary, after all--which is why there seem to be indications he lived in Silent Hill (eg: all of the letters found throughout the game, the fact that the car before the apartment building bit is the same color as--and probably is--his car, the receipt found in the pharmacy possibly being related to Mary's meds, etc. etc), even though we know they didn't live there, and all of the other kinda "dream logic" aspects of the town. To that end, each of the endings can be seen as different ways he's chosen to move forward. With that in mind, this ending is less a "remake" of the water ending and more an alternate. They're both tied to his guilt over what happened, but in Water, James ends up drowning in his guilt, where as I think, in spite of its name, the "Stillness" ending represents James embracing his guilt but choosing to embrace his guilt and choosing to live with it. Mary, and the guilt he carries for what he did to her, will always be with him, but it's not going to let it overwhelm him the way he does in the Water ending. I would even argue it's the most hopeful ending of them all ("Leave" shows him walking further into the fog and being consumed by it, "Maria" has him learning nothing and just repeating his troublesome pattern of behavior, "Rebirth" shows James refusing to let go of Mary or accept her death, I'm choosing to ignore the joke endings for the purpose of this discussion).
@@shizucheese That's an interesting point of view i haven't seen before, but i don't think that's the case. First of all, James most likely did not live in Silent Hill but in Ashfield Heights instead, in Silent Hill 4 you meet James's dad, Frank Sunderland, who states that his son and daughter-in-law disappeared in Silent Hill years ago, also, Rachel, the nurse who took care of Mary during her disease can be seen in apartment 106.
About the ending itself, i don't think there's anything that shows it to be James choosing to live with the guilt or it being hopeful whatsoever, mainly because in this ending James still drives the car into the lake, ending his own life, the difference is that in the In Water ending he's completely overwhelmed with guilt, specially after reading the letter, even saying ''I know this isn't what you would have wanted'', but in this ending he has Mary saying that is okay, alleviating his pain and guilt of what he done and what he is about to do. Another thing that makes me say that it is a remake of the In Water is, not only that it's starts and ends the same way (James says the same thing and drives into the lake), but to unlock this ending you have to beat the game AND get the In Water ending beforehand.
In the OG Silent Hill 2, most people considered the In Water ending to be canon, even some of the people who worked on it, but i never saw it like that, to me the Leave ending is still the best and most hopeful, which also appears to be the case in the remake, because the moment the game starts is when James's memory is basically ''erased'' and his whole journey in Silent Hill is to accept what he has done, deal with his pain, guilt, suffering and move on. Having him still do what he wanted to before the game starts (driving onto the lake with his wife's body) kinda makes the journey pointless, which, thinking about it now, kinda makes the name of the ending fitting, because he doesn't advance in his journey or in his development, he stays the same way he was when he entered Silent Hill.
@@MarluxiaInTheOtherworld
I think "Stillness" gives a lot more room for interpretation.
The pause before the car drives into the water and the rain growing louder during that time implies that James got out of the car to let itself drive into the water as a burial for Mary.
In my headcanon, I like to believe that "Leave" takes place immediately after.
@@fae_gavan7582I also feel it’s more appropriate and realistic than “Leave” on its own. It’s a more realistic mental state to be in after the events of the game.
Also, you don’t ask somebody “Will you wait for me?” to someone who is dead if you’re going to off yourself immediately afterwards.
Definitely my favorite ending. James wants to die for his actions but in the end there would be nothing. Mary wouldn't want that. So for his punishment to himself and Mary's request he'll go live the rest of his days knowing what he did, but possibly raising Laura and having a life for Mary. Till they meet again.
Not sure but the sounds at the end seem to imply rather than dropping into the lake with his car, James jumped out, basically burying Mary in the depths of the lake with the car as her coffin. It does seem to make sense somewhat since he asks her if she'll wait for him, implying he means to live.
i think he wants to redeem himself, he has to live on, mary wanted that for him. until he changes for the better, in order for him to be with mary in heaven he has to be redeemed from his sins so that he could go with her in the afterlife. he’s not ready to die, he still has time and hope to change
“if you really want to see mary, you should just die. But you might be heading to a different place than mary” this quote is seen in silent hill, james must be redeemed from his sins to be in heaven with her by the time he dies later on in the future
@@isaacbecerra96ify yeah so this can be seen as either a hopeful ending if you believe the sounds, or be thought of as a different version of the In Water ending. Still, I'm on the former side additionally because unlike In-Water you don't see the view of underneath the lake after the crash.
I love that they added 2 new endings. This one in particular shows us a James with a little less sense of guilt
James new voice actor is incredible
Does it??? He still throws himself in the lake. Its just In Water but he talks to Mary, which he already DID in the old In Water ending
@@MistromLuthane
Because there's an extra 4 seconds before the car starts driving into the lake and the rain getting louder, it's interpreted as James sending the car into the lake instead of driving the car into the lake to off himself.
He also asks Mary "Will you wait for me?" right before that, too.
I don’t think this James feels any less guilty but is just more open to forgiving himself. The car is sent into the lake without him in it. You can hear the car door close implying he gets out.
I think it's less about forgiveness or having 'less guilt" and more about him choosing to live with his guilt rather than drown in it.
0:15 in water ending the lighting is darker inside the car, while the stillness ending it is lighter inside
As someone who also has a hard time letting things go, this ending hits home for me.
You can only get this ending on a New Game+. His first words in this ending were, “I tried”, perhaps suggesting he’s been through this before. He asks Mary if she’ll wait for him, and she replies she’s always been waiting. He has suicidal thoughts, but unlike the In Water ending he looks at the envelope in the passenger seat. It may or may not contain Mary’s actual letter, but it hints that the town is still calling him, and he hasn’t finished what he’s really supposed to do yet.
Whatever happened to James Sutherland hasn't shown any facts after silent hill 2
The acting is sublime! Oh and I looked the actor (Luke Roberts) up because he's that good - the guy was not just Arthur Dayne in GoT but also that Black Sails "villain" Woodes Rogers (whom I really didn't like unlike James and Dayne). Talk about a versatile actor! I hope he gets more juicy roles, this is one talented guy.
I loved the SH2 remake, actually enjoyed it more than the original (I'm a "SH1 is the best" guy but now.... SH2R takes the crown), I hope they get to do more.
BRO ITS SO GOOD NOOOOO he’s so sad
This ending is underrated. It made me so emotional. The ambient sounds, the voice acting, the atmosphere, the animation, how the feelings are conveyed and everything about it.
For me the best ending.
Imo, best ending out there to wrap on what he did to mary. I totally feel his regret in this ending. It's just really heartbreaking :(
I wish this ending wasn’t exclusive to a first playthrough as it actually makes a lot of sense compared to dog, ufo, rebirth, and bliss. It’s a great in between of leave and in water where James still carries his guilt and remorse but pushes on living because it’s what Mary would want. Also it’s easily the most emotional ending which would fit better with someone’s first immersive playthrough.
I don’t think he lives at the end of this ending ? Unless I’m missing something huge ?
@@drb5469 there’s extra audio added at the end, you can hear the car door opening
@drb5469 the sound of rain goes from muffled to full and the sound of a door being opened before the water hits.
Stillness can be interpreted either way really but given the dialogue and the audio cues its implied that James ditches the car and chooses to live as Mary wanted him to.
@@bombird8813 I just listened to both endings back to back and in water has literally the same sound?
My canon ending is this, then shortly after james walks off with laura in the leave ending.
I didn't even consider that but that is such an interesting way to tie these endings together
So basically
In water: james drown himself because of guilt and being alone
Stillness: james drown himself to see mary again
Stillness has different audio in the end. There is a door opening sound 4 extra seconds. Implying that he left the car and threw it in the river
So Mary forgives James but he doesn't forgive himself. James doesn't feel worthy of reading Mary's letter and decides to drive into the lake only now he decides to live of which you can hear him get out of his vehicle. This is what he means by "will you wait for me?".
Nah he asked Mary if she would wait and when she said yes, he jumped out of the car. He doesn't plan on dying anytime soon, not if Mary's waiting for him in the afterlife
actually no in water ending says that he kills himself because he wants to be with marry as well.
@@user-fv7jd4xj5nso it’s more James disposing of the body and coming to terms?
i wish you can get this ending in your first playthrough..it's upgraded version of in water ending, might cried like a lil bitch but i don't care.
It's really not the in water ending at all actually. It just shares the location. He gets out of the car in this one. You can hear the car door opening and the rain getting louder before the car takes off.
If anything, this ending is James giving Mary her "burial" and could neatly transition into the leave ending afterwards. (He and Laura walk away from Silent hill, they don't drive).
When she strokes his face and he finally lets himself break down and cry... so do I. Jesus Christ, the emotion in this scene.
This voice acting... Man, i rarely see that even in movies
Bloober team did such an amazing job with the remake. I liked how all the monsters would just collapse and die or cower away after James watches the tape because he doesn't need them to punish him for his guilt anymore. Such a good touch.
James has no courage to commit suicide, he decides to continue to live in guilt feeling he does not deserve forgiveness. It appears he crashed his car into the lake but got off with only the corpse of Mary inside it giving her a "burial"
I didn't really think much of the Mary water burial until reading your comment just now.
Helped me suddenly make the connection between the mentions of the lost souls buried beneath the lake from the unknown disease that ravaged Silent Hill.
I love how even years after the original, albeit with the help of the remake, you can still make new story connections that you'd never considered before. The writers of the original and remake really thought of everything, huh?
Yeah. I still think that he didn't intent to do s*icide. Because he asked mary to wait for him, meaning that he might continue his life. But I don't think it is how it is
If someone told me Bloober would make a banger of a Silent Hill remake I'd not believe them. But if they then went on to say they would even IMPROVE on some things (abstract daddy boss fight and the lack of them in the hotel later) I'd already be like you're joking. But that they actually went ahead and made a whole new ending that actually feels the best out of ALL the endings and has the most emotional payoff and makes the most sense? Damn.
exactly
This ending man. THIS FUCKING ENDING.
1:48 idk if it was intentional but Mary’s eyes being covered with just her smile was really eerie and creepy.
Fans: "i have a theory that mary was indeed in james backseat or trunk of his car"
Bunch years later
Developer: "hey team, remember when fans make that theory? Let's use that in the remake"
It was not a theory, Masahiro Ito is the one who spread that information
@@Fedor_Kisliakov he's also the one who claimed that James wouldn't ever put Mary in a trunk. It's really confusing. At least backseat makes more sense
@@Fedor_Kisliakov more like he accept fans idea of mary in his backseat. He actually contradict Book of Lost Memories (and even the novel) that mary possibly in the trunk (which is also a theory)
@@xAustishx the reason it's confusing is because there's already a book that give a possibilities that mary is in the trunk (which is also from fans), and more confusing because the official novel also use that theory
@@xAustishx Basically she wouldn't be in the back trunk because it's in honor of her and because he loves her too much to do that.
It's also a western and cliche way to do it to prevent being seen with a body.
It's been confirmed
So this is basically them wanting to make some additions/changes to the “In Water” ending but also include the original. I dig it. Didn’t really have any expectations for the new endings and thought they were unnecessary, but I honestly think Bloober did great with this and Bliss. Felt like they both could have been in the original
Man James' actor is definitely going to get an award. He literally carried this remake!
this is canon to me idc
Silent Hill has been my favorite game for so long. This remake lives to its original content. This ending in particular feels so good, feels correct. Its not a happy ending, james doesnt deserve it. Its not either the worst ending possible.
Its just so perfect, He knows what he did and what he deservers, yet he finds comfort in the person he loved and ironically killed.
In my opinon this is a water ending but with with a better development of James feelings, more human.
Beautiful.
It's really not the in water ending at all actually. It just shares the location. He gets out of the car in this one. You can hear the car door opening and the rain getting louder before the car takes off. It's why he asks Mary to wait for him shortly before the car drives into the lake. That line makes no sense if he is still in the car.
If anything, this ending is James giving Mary her "burial" and could neatly transition into the leave ending afterwards. (He and Laura walk away from Silent hill, they don't drive).
@@gatorarman12 I dont agree, but thats a good interpretation too!
@@resound8355 idk the extra sounds and dialogue all heavily point to him not offing himself in this ending 🤷🏻♂️. It’s hard to see that stuff as being coincidental with how meticulous the devs were with the rest of the game. It also just makes narrative sense that you need to have done in water once first (James kills himself). And then can only get this ending on new game plus. It’s James rejecting that path on his repeat journey through his purgatory and saying goodbye to his wife. But we can def agree to disagree!
Either way I agree with you, the dialogue and acting work are all top notch and beautiful. Give Luke Roberts all of the awards!
I somehow got this ending while aiming for leave ending
It’s locked in if get an item.
@@philipgodsworth4764 that's probably why, I collected everything I found
This is probably the best ending.
I am led to believe perhaps Leave, Stillness, or Rebirth is the canonical ending for the remake. You can only get this ending after getting the In Water ending. This implies Silent Hill's cycles. The only alternative would be the Bliss ending, but I doubt Silent Hill would be satisfied with James living in denial- what would be the point of bringing him? The Leave Ending, Rebirth, and Stillness have James confront the truth and accept responsibility and fulfill Mary's wishes.
Even the Maria Ending implies Silent Hill is still trying to tell James he needs to face the truth- Maria herself still gives James the letter despite being afraid of James choosing Mary over her. Notice Maria is still a manifestation of the town at the end of the day?
James sends Mary to her burial and its the same as in water but james gets out of the car as He feels Mary has forgiven him and for him to go on. When its his time she will be waiting for him.
This ending also fits the story perfectly! The remake is really good. Heartbreaking scene.
_Will you wait for me?_ This ending is soul crushing holy shit
0:46 how the keys start talking to me after 13 beers
I was fully braced for the In Water ending but holy /shit/, this ending just right out punched me right through the chest and straight into the feels.
Luke Roberts absolutely /killing/ it out here. 😭👏💕
If you listen to the Audio cues, James gets out of the car before the water.
But I think it sounds like the car is accelerating
I just finished the game and got the water ending. I was surprised and scared as hell when I saw a hand touching James' face in this one. In the ending I watched he just looked behind which made me think (holy Sh1t. There's no way that her body is in the backseat) This ending just confirms it for me... I didn't want to believe it because James said or at least I think he did that Mary died 3 years ago. so there was no way that her body was there for 3 years..
I subscribe to the idea that James got out of the car before it went into the lake, so when I first saw this ending, I thought of the part of Mary's letter where she says "I can't tell you to remember me, but I can't bear for you to forget me," and it made me think this ending is almost a proper response to that, giving closure for both James and Mary.
That James is okay with living on remembering Mary if that means she'll be waiting to see him again.
And Mary will be okay waiting knowing James will always remember her.
So little is said here compared to the other endings but that just makes every word hit that much harder. Fav ending
I don't get when he says "Will you wait for me?"
I think implies that he is not ready to die yet.
I don't remember in SH4 saying he is dead, just he never came back. That could mean he has a new life, new name...
I don't know, i don't want James death xD
There is actually a ghost James
Too scared to die, but too heartbroken to truly live.
Thus, 'stillness'.
This is the real ending.
yup
So this ending is basically similar to the In Water Ending but with this dialogue
nice details, cus from the start Mary's body in jame's car already.
The song in the background is “their song” playing in the jukebox in neelys bar but a more somber version
I don’t really hear what people are saying of the car having a door opening sound prior to driving the car into the lake. That sounds more to me like he lifted the emergency brake down.
Mary's apparition or whatever you would like to call it hits so hard when you find out that bloober actually modeled and put her body covered by their bedsheet in the backseat.
Who puts a stupid watermark over a clip of a video game that you didn’t have a hand in making whatsoever 😂
Makes me tear up every time
Probably my favourite ending. 😢😢
In the beginning of the game, it looks like it just freshly rained. In this ending, it’s raining. Is this a hint of a time loop that James enters right after he drives away? 😮
I like how they left this ending somewhat ambiguous if James' actually was in the car when he sent it down the lake.
I don't get when he says "Will you wait for me?"
It has so many connotations.
I want the ost of the background music of this
The track title is "Umbra Veil"!
Omg this is fucking heartbreaking
Luke Roberts has to win the best performance
I got this ending. I was crying fr
....my favourite ending.
What does it mean she’s always been waiting for him. It kind of hints at the past of when she was still alive but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
I think she was just being romantic, as in "I've waited my whole life for you and will wait again", actually.
I think it's because Mary always knew that James couldn't live with himself so he would end up committing suicide, so she's basically been waiting for him since she died.
“I completely understand how James felt because I’ve been carrying the guilt of what I did to my ex-girlfriend. She reached out to me three weeks ago and told me she had forgiven me. I was so relieved in that moment and thought my karma had finally ended, but it wasn’t true. Instead, I felt even more guilty, and even though she forgave me, I can’t seem to forgive myself. Now, I don’t know how to move on again.
What’s with the fingers?
Mary’s body is in the backseat of the car.
@@B-zk9bt so you don’t see it…
Its a demon.Demon talking James.
Timestamp? Can't see anything weird.
Damn thanks for pointing that out! That adds a new grimness to this ending. Disturbing
Her middle finger is short and funny.
Also where do you guys hear him opening the door when he plunge the car into the lake?
Why does everyone keep thinking he doesn't die in this ending? That's clearly the sound of a shifter and not a car door. Also, how do you think he drives the car into the lake without being in it? Did homie tape the accelerator pedal down lmao
two reasons, one is that he says "will you wait for me" this is implying there will be time before they can see each other again and he's asking for more time. If he was killing himself why would he ask for her to wait another 30 seconds before "reuniting"
second because this would be almost identical to the in water ending, and the name "Stillness" implies stasis, static, un moving or limbo, which plays into the loop theory that has always been popular and even more so with bloober clearly in this remake, also it's a new game plus only ending. Also i believe before the launch patch the stillness ending shows the in water ending closing cinematic of the letter in the water but they cut that out of the official stillness ending
Personally i like the idea of James living but never really forgiving himself but still moving on in a sense, it sorta makes this my new favorite ending, previously it was in water
I agree with you. He did died. When he says "will you wait for me" and Mary says "i've always been waiting for you" is because Mary knew since her death that James wouldnt be able to live with himself far long.
This ending should be in the water ending, this hits hard and james getting forgiveness from mary and decides not to "off" himself like the in the water ending is just way better for someone's who hasn't played the og sh2
this ending kills me
Perfect Ending
What a performance. Senua might lose the award to James
Definitely will, that game is trash anyways, movie game garbage🤡, Silent Hill 2 goated forever
@@fredericchopin3628 hellblade may be a playable movie but it's not trash
@@BorhanReazon then it shouldny be advertised as a game, so it is trash
What's the song that's playing though??
people thinking he's alive after this ending is crazy
I mean each to their own but
1. Will you wait for me? Is an odd thing to say if he intends to die in a matter of moments.
2. In the In Water ending we see him switch on the Ignition and grip the wheel, In Stillness we only get the audio
3. The Audio is subtly different, there's an extra thump that could be a car door.
4. No 'In Water' segment.
@Rork310 ok
1) what else is she gonna wait him for? Him dying of old age 40 years later after living alone waiting to reunite with his wife that's waiting for him on the other side? That's worse!
2) It's unimportant, you can hear him driving into the lake later on the black screen.
3) Or maybe it's just a thump and not something that puts everything on it's head.
4) actually the in water segment was only in the stillness ending in 1.00 version. That's why there's a letter on the passenger seat in the stillness ending and not in the in water ending. They changed it around probably because it's kinda weird to finish your first playthrough, get the in water ending and they leave you without a letter. And you have to get the in water ending to get the stillness ending so there's no point in showing the letter again because you already seen it.
@@NECO2926 She did want him to live, because she made him even more miserable by lashing out and verbally abusing him while trying to reconnect with her.
Too scared to die, too heartbroken to truly live.
Best ending.
This ending is amazing, and I'd consider it canon even, but i hate that we have to get the in water ending first to even see it?? Cant do leave and then this?
What does james do with Mary's though
well, first of all, I won't spoil ya
second of that, I break a little so you can understand more: Mary did not die 3 years ago, even in the OG SH2 told that
and the third, James indeed did something to Mary, but you actually saw that in game tho.
James smothered Mary with a pillow a few days before silent Hill 2 takes place, although he hallucinates/falsely remembers that she died 3 years ago, when really, she's been laying on the back seat of his car this whole time, covered in a blanket.
Sorry i meant what does james do with Mary's body he has her just laying in his car
@@johnshepard8556 Depends on the ending. The "In Water" ending has him drive himself and her corpse into the lake. This ending is similar in that he drives her corpse into the lake, but gets out of the car (you can hear the door open before it accelerates and crashes into the water) to live on like Mary wanted him too. In other endings it's just never brought up at all and you only know she's in the car if you do this ending or "In Water".
How do you get the aliens to abduct him like in the original one?
Best ending
So marys been dead all along?
That's not the twist. The twist is she's dead just a few days before, not years ago.
also that other twist about James
I think is ending him doing this after what he did and left silent Hill and the letter was unread still
@@mad_max21 Am i wrong or maybe she was murdered literally right before the game begins? as we can see James looking at his own hands just like he did when killed Eddie.
@@mad_max21 I wouldn't say days... more like hours at the most :)
the true ending of silent hill 2
There are some claims from players regarding the Stillness ending in the Silent Hill 2 Remake, where James is said to open a door before his car sinks, which could symbolize an attempt to escape or a deeper psychological meaning. However, this doesn't appear to be widely confirmed or described as a central detail in most descriptions of the ending. In the Stillness ending, James accepts his fate and death in a more tranquil, resigned manner, similar to the In Water ending from the original game, but with a more reflective and peaceful tone. If players are seeing James opening the door before the car fully sinks, it may suggest an added layer of ambiguity or interpretation for this new ending, hinting that James might be struggling with his final decision. In the Stillness ending of Silent Hill 2 Remake, James actually dies, just like in the original In Water ending. However, there are some important differences. In this new ending, James does not die by drowning in a lake, but rather in a state of peace and resignation. He seems to accept his fate and death, but with a deeper understanding of his actions and emotions. The ending focuses on James's realization and acceptance of his mistakes and his inner world, making it less dark and more tragically peaceful. Yes, in the new Stillness ending, James does decide to commit suicide, which points to his internal struggle and guilt over his past actions. While some players may speculate that he survives or that the ending is open to interpretation, the main focus of this ending is still on his giving up on life and accepting his fate. Theories that he may survive or that his actions have a different meaning are likely speculations of the players themselves. It is important to note that the ending is tragic and emotionally charged, which fits the overall theme of Silent Hill 2, where characters face the consequences of their actions and choices
Nah this not game this is cinema
What's the other new ending?
bliss
bro this game ..
Waiting for you...
I see, they made this ending to state that the "in water" ending has always been a bad ending. This is basically in water but with the 'spoiler' addition that the voice who drove him to threw his car in the lake was an evil one and not his higher consciousness. So to end the debate that if "in water" was the true ending or not, it was not and the real good ending is the "leave" one.
😘😘😘😘😘😘
damn
Why are some people saying that james came out of the car and let mary sink with the letter?? Is it oficial or somenthing? Cause i find no sense in that