The actress actually starts crying for real at the end of the letter. It wasn't planned, part of the acting. And the audio guys actually re-recorded her reading the letter without crying. At the end of the day, when deciding what take to use, they picked the first one, where the actress unintentionally let her emotions flow and cried. A more emotional and honest take. Glad they picked the first take.
I personally don't think James really hated his wife and he didn't know what to say or feel because he was losing the only person he ever had. James hated the fact that he was going to have to live a life without her and that's why he was angry. Not at Mary, but at the circumstances.
He isolated himself, sank into depression and alcoholism. He even flat out states this while looking at the booze in the Heaven's Night nightclub: "Booze. I don't need it right now. It's not that I don't drink. In fact, I drink quite a fair bit. To get away from the pain, the loneliness. But the alcohol never changes anything, it only makes matters worse. Anyway, I don't need it now. There's something I gotta do."
@@Stigmatix666 The wikipedia page states that James is depressed and sexually frustrated. Mary took all his time and was having major mood swings and was lashing out at James.
@@thekrustaceox5181 It's in the game itself.. James staring at alcohol bottles in the Heaven's Night club: "Liquor bottles. I don't need that right now. It's not that I don't drink. In fact, I drink a fair bit. To get away from the pain, the loneliness.. But the drinking never changes anything... Anyway, I don't need it now, there's something that I have to do." ua-cam.com/video/Gqo2bo19XGg/v-deo.html You don't need a book in order to understand straight up exposition dialogue from a game..
Silent Hill 1 is a horror story. Silent Hill 2 is a tragic life love story, one that shows us how someone can slowly be consumed by depression. More than scaring us, it actually depresses us in a way that we can say “wow, such a great video game that messes up with our feelings”. This is a masterpiece.
It always interested me how different Harry and James were. Harry also lost his wife, but he didn't fall like James did. Harry's story in Silent Hill is a heroic one where a man goes through literal hell because of his love for his adoptive daughter and his wife's memory. James's story is one of guilt and redemption
@@ItsSpecialHands just for the record, the SH1 manual says Jodie Mason died from illness, but the Novel says she died from a car wreck. Is say her and Mary may have had similar diseases.
@@angelgonzalez5766 SH3 is more of the trials and fears that come with woman hoood, such as pregnancy, unwanted advances, etc. I've never played SH4 so i cant say much about that.
This is, in my opinion, the best ending. It's at least my favorite, and considering the final letter and everything else...James didn't even partially hate Mary, he hated her suffering. She forgives him, and he's finally able to live life for himself for now like she wanted him to, having gone through this to see the truth now and being able to move on...and it's nice seeing Laura leave Silent Hill with him. This ending feels the most complete. Maybe not the saddest, but the most moving for me.
"Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need.. Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon! So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
James accepts his sins and comes to terms with what he did. When he entered Silent Hill he had no reason to go on living. Now he has a determination to go on with his life, committed to learning from his mistakes. What happens after that isn't really important.
@stigma nobody knew what he did. He took Mary to their home as the doctors told them this could be their last chance AKA their last chance to be together and die on peace in a comfortable space, not just suffering in the hospital for nothing. Nobody would have thought James killed her, she was meant to die anyway.
@@diegobartolome9172 Damn, good catch. I always wondered how he even got as far as he did (was sorta picturing a Little Miss Sunshine "out the hospital window" kinda situation). Clearly I need to pay more attention. Thanks.
- The truth is, I hated you...I wanted my life back! - James...if that were true...then why do you look so sad? (shudders) I...I need a minute guys, hold on...
Here's the thing about illness. It's not so cut and dry. There's anger that's impossible to place, because when you watch someone you love die from illness, your life gets robbed of them. There's a hole in your world that's replaced by hospital visits and a slow decline. Everything connected to them becomes tinged by what happened to them. And you can't help but resent them a bit for it. There is no person or scapegoat to pin your anger and sorrow on, so they take that burden for their disease. Unfairly. And they similarly have a lot of directionless bitterness that may find it's way to you. That makes you more estranged from them and hurts you both equal parts. For someone like James, his life was built around her. She was probably in everything, from birthdays to dumb mundane groceries. Without her even being truly responsible, her illness stole that from him. So I have no doubt he hated her as much as he loved her. Also, with her illness, they couldn't have engaged in much intimacy. That probably frustrated him, honing in on the sexual undertones of the game. He had to have been so frustrated and pained by everything. So he took the choice away from her. Maybe he remembered her bitterly saying they should just kill her, but refusing to remember her rescinding that statement. His choice wasn't just mercy, and I think we need to acknowledge that. He wanted a release, from the obligation, hospital visits, and emotionally taxing interactions. It was a joyless life.
This is my favourite ending. James leaves a better person with Laura to look after. I usually get this one as I don't love having to do tedious stopping for Maria, or staring at the knife a bunch of times and this seems like the overall good ending. Plus, I feel more respect for James taking responsibility for Laura. I personally see this one as canon, even though it could be any of them.
@@BlindBosnian Yeah. Leave: James was strong enough to finally man up and pay for his mistakes and finally move on with his life. In Water: Despite all the tests silent hill had given him, he was too depressed and couldn't move on from the rut he was stuck in. Maria: James being very lonely decided to replace the true love with he had with Mary with Maria. He didn't learn anything during his time in Silent Hill and thus these events may repeat themselves.
Nice interpretarions,dude.However,there are some problems In Water:You say that James wasn't stong enough to move on,and so,decided to commit suicide.But think about it like this:What if James was never meant to survive Silent Hill? Eddie didn't survive,Angela didn't survive,so why should James? What if the whole point of Silent Hill was to reveal the truth to James that was so unendurably painful,that it would drive him to commit suicide? To simply make James suffer for his wrongdoings instead of helping him get over them Maria:You and I have pretty much the same interpretation of the Maria ending,and we see it as the worst ending in the game,because James learnt nothing by throwing away Mary(reality),and choosing Maria(illusion).And Maria coughs at the end,signifying that,just like Mary,she'll get sick,and James will be driven to kill her,just like Mary.So,the core basis of this interpretation is that James was supposed to realize the Maria is an illusion,and that she was what James wanted Mary to be,not what Mary really was.And in his failure to do so,the events might happen again.BUT! Even though James supposedly learned nothing,the Pyramid Heads still died.Their role was to torment James until he finaly faced the truth.When James faced the truth and confronted them,the purpose of Pyramid Heads was served,and so,they commited suicide.Also,notice how Pyramid Head was constantly killing Maria troughout the game.That was most likely to show James that she's not real.Even though Pyramid Head was killing her again and again,she was returning with no explanation.Another meaning of Maria being killed by PH over and over was to remind James of what he had done to Mary.Still,whatver the meaning may be,the death of PHs must mean that James learned something from his journey in Silent Hill,and so,will not repeat the same mistake again
@@BlindBosnian I love this. When I was in 7th grade, I thought the Maria ending was the good ending cause James finally found love(12-13 year old boys will fall for anything I guess). Now at 21, I realize the best thing for James was to move on with his life but still cherish the true love he did have with Mary, and possibly fulfill Mary's wish of adopting Laura. Sure, Mary might be gone, and things won't be the same, but James was now a better person in the end.
The In Water ending is the Japanese ending in that James' unselfishly carries out seppeku for retribution but simultaneously fulfills an unconscious desire for death to be reunited with Mary. But Guy Cihi, who voiced James, feels that the Leave ending is the most gratifying because James reaches a catharsis and discovers something to continue living for. Even though he did something he felt was unforgivable, he comes to believe that Mary didn't see it that way and it was time to put the pain and suffering to rest with her. The simple act of forgiveness of himself freed him from the prison.
It wasn't for retribution, though. He killed himself out of weakness. He couldn't continue without Mary, and so sought to reunite with her, or at least end his pain, with death.
I like the leave ending better because I feel it fits better with the subtle spiritual alchemy themes found in his redemption. They're more overt in the first game, but you can find the same process of spiritual purification of James using the seven stages of alchemy.
This is honestly my favorite silent hill 2 ending. He isn't in denial anymore he decides to go on with his life lives with laura and refill that empty void in his life.
@@sam_hm_ yeah i can't help it i have a bond to silent hill 2 now and it left a mark on me, especially this ending. Its just such a emotional and sad ending.
"James...if that were true, then why do you look so sad?" That line really drives homes the bond these two had. No matter how much it may have degenerated in its final days, the love was always there, even in death. James actions may have been partially motivated by selfish reasons, but even Mary was astute enough to recognize that James truly *did* love her in the end, and the guilt of what he had done was destroying him. James isn't a murderer or some heartless monster, he's just an ordinary guy who was pushed to the breaking point by terribly unfair circumstances. That's why I love this ending so much (even though Rebirth remains my favorite) because it gives James what none of the other endings does: Closure. With Mary's blessing, James is finally able to forgive himself and carry out Mary's last wish: To go on with his life and take care of Laura.
It's not even entirely selfish reasons. It's pretty heavily implied that Mary wanted that as well, to not go through the suffering and pain any longer when she was on borrowed time anyway, and the fact that she doesn't tell James that wasn't a factor in what he did at all essentially confirms that. But this ending does give him a lot more closure than any of the others.
@@Cool70sfreak I think it's a combination of selfish and unselfish reasons. James really did love Mary and wanted her suffering to end. But I also think he was burnt out and angry with dealing with a sick wife who was becoming more and more turbulent, and his resentment grew. Add that he felt tremendously guilty about feeling that way, because he knew Mary was scared, in pain, and it wasn't her fault that they were in this predicament. I think the combination of killing his wife and his guilty conscience of "I was a shitty husband to her when she was sick" drew him to Silent Hill. The actual killing was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I have a theory (although it's never explored and I admit it's liberal), that James' guilt is also driven by another factor. Let's say Mary never got sick, but James was the one with the illness. Would Mary treat a dying James the same way? Or would Mary's kind and selfless personality stand by her husband to the end no matter how aggressive and depressing James might become? There's a letter Mary writes that admits James is sweet but bad tempered, so I can't imagine James would take his own terminal illness with dignity and calm. Perhaps James thinks, subconciously or not, that Mary would never treat him the same way if the roles were reversed.
I prefer this ending mostly for Laura's sake. It's the only ending that shows Laura getting out of Silent Hill. Sure, she probably made it out in the other endings considering she was a pure soul but she'd still be an orphan. James probably adopts Laura in this ending and I think James would make a decent father, for Mary's sake at the very least.
@@theimmortalrain867 by him thoroughly explaining to her why he did what he did, in a way that allows her to understand that he truly loved Mary. (Not easy, I know)
@@thebadwolf3088Not at all. Which is why I wish we could see how that would happen. The only other thing I can think of is if Mary appeared to Laura as a manifestation and explained everything, but would that even be consistent with the lore?
I totally prefer this ending for one simple reason. Here, James was capable of do Mary's final request, which is go on with his life, but the thing is that the request was ALREADY written in her letter. Before she died, she wanted that James continues with his life, and wishing the best to him. This makes the "In Water" ending more tragic because James couldn't do that last request from her because he NEVER read her letter, James was totally consumed by his guilt in the Water ending, unlike in "Leave" ending that even with all that guilt, at least he had the opportunity to listen to Mary's last request, the request that was already in her letter.
"Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need.. Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon! So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
I must recognise that Angela's story was so cruel and evil that finding peace for her own was basically impossible. She couln't even face her dad AKA Daddy Monster. Is James who ended up killing it. She was so abused and her story is so twisted... I can't imagine which horrors Silent hill made her confront.
@@Stigmatix666 Not really, you can interpret it as James and Laura leaving Silent Hill in the morning. Second, he can start a new life. I could argue that he euthanized Mary, he doesn't bear seeing her like this as she's dying in a slow agony. Might as well kill her to end her suffering.
6:05... When her voice starts to break, I absolutely lose it. Every single time. Silent Hill 2 is one of the most beautifully crafted stories of all time.
This has always been my favorite idea for Silent Hill. This paints it in a more mystical and mysterious town rather than just a hellscape. The idea that the town itself can actually help those willing to overcome their problems gives it an almost benevolent feel in all of its horror. James never fell to self hatred or self loathing despite everything he was going through and in the end Silent Hill rewarded him by finally giving him closure with his wife, having her tell him the words he needed to fully move on, then releases him. This honestly adds to the mysterious nature of Silent Hill. Like it’s less of a horror freak show chased by curses, demons, PSI abilities, or cults, and is instead a mysterious entity that is acting as a judge on if a person truly wants to make up for the past or wallow in their guilt.
notice how angry and aggressive Maria is in this ending compared to the Water Ending or Rebirth Ending, how desperate her tone is initially in comparison to her cruelly playful one or disbelieving the other two, no matter what Maria knows she'll never truly live, in the other two though there is some consolation in the fact James isn't moving on, either choosing to die or tether himself to silent hills power in a similar way that Maria is, in this one she's simply an abandoned tool now that he's moved on, she's doomed to fade and fade alone.
Well, she is a construct of James' own imagination, created to bear his wife's death at his own hands. So in essence, this is his guilt filled mind desperately clinging to that guilt that kept him in Silent Hill's trap all along, wishing him to suffer and get punished for his actions. But as he has realised that Mary has forgiven her, he doesn't need it anymore and, well, this happens. She came to life because he needed her, but now that he doesn't, she's bound to disappear, as he leaves the town with Laura, most likely adopting her.
Maria was never real she was a manifistation of James's imagination mixed in with the demonic presents of Silent Hill. That's why she a appeared at the lake if anyone else had gone there she wouldn't exist. Her constant dying througout the game is also James own guilt for letting Mary die.
@@navylaks2 Yes but in "Born from a Wish" you see that she has consciousness, feelings, she can think, and since the first time she meets James and from the way she talks to him during the game it shows that she knows her only chance for life is if James accepts her, which makes her character even more tragic.
Yeah, the writers have said it's ambiguous. SH4 doesn't define the ending for me, so I just say that James doesn't talk to his father much. I mean come on, the guy keeps an old umbilical cord in his room...
"James... if that were true, then why do you look so sad?" I love this line; she doesn't want James to suffer really because he really misses her... and that last message to him revealed at the end... The villain in this ending is Silent Hill itself; it's Silent Hill that made Maria to torment James, it's Silent Hill who let her go Yandere. And though you have the potential to kill your wife again, you would need to really betray Mary to do that.
Many sources claim that both Pyramid Head and Maria are the true villains given they are both personification of James' guilt... But I think you are onto something here given that they wouldn't came to be if it wasn't for Silent Hill. I guess you could say Silent Hill it's the Palpatine to Maria and Pyramid Head Darth Vader
Silent Hill isn't the main villain. Silent Hill make obstacles and objects to torment people for what they did, and after they regret for what they done, Silent Hill let's them go. In this story, Maria is the villain. She's an obstacle made by Silent Hill, which her objective is to make James never confront his objective.
@@gray01216This. Silent Hill is like some sort of supernatural therapist. Sure, it spawns monsters formed from the psyches of those who enter the town, but at the end of the day, it’s trying to help people confront their demons, and heal from their traumas. It forms obstacles based off of guilt and regrets, but this is so that they can break through those very regrets, and recover from the pain.
@@rhysthereddragon1326 To be honest, I don't buy that the town is an active supernatural therapist. I never liked that theory that the town is some secretly benevolent force that helps its victims. Personally, I feel that the town automatically draws out the deepest desires and fears of any individual that wanders in and/or is drawn in. It does not care to break or fix anyone but rather, the town and the land are a force of nature that Alessa and the cult twisted into its current state. If you happen to recover and heal yourself while in the town, the town does not care. If you fail to recover and/or die in the town, the town does not care. It is up to the individual to learn from their manifested desires and fears which is where Angela and Eddie fail and where James succeeds in Leave.
The awesome part is that whichever ending you pick as canon, you're right. The writer for this game wanted us to make the story our own, so there is and never will be an "official" ending, no matter what certain other, crappier games may try to establish (Silent Hill 4, looking right at you).
@@cigoLxeL what all the endings have in common is he won't leave silent hill. In the end it's assumed he's just in his own personal torment even in this. He will remain in the foggy haze like most characters in all Silent Hill games
"Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need.. Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon! So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
@@qwereder Why are you being rude and resorting to personal attacks instead of coming up with a solid counter-argument? Seems like you have unhealthy tendencies, let *that* sink in
Leave: James confronts his personal demons and forgives himself for killing Mary. In Water: James confronts his personal demons but can't forgive himself for killing Mary. Maria: James stays in denial about his demons. Rebirth: James becomes a slave to his demons.
I know "in Water" is supposed to be the real ending, but to me this is the one ending that makes sense. I think that around the first time James meets Laura you start realizing that this is really a story about redemption, James'. I can't understand how it is that the town would punish James so much, by killing María so many times until he learns his lesson, reenacting Mary's death, and by having him go through all those horrible places filled with monsters, and then we're supposed to accept that he goes through all of that and decides to commit suicide at the end. I think it is a much clever idea to end it this way, he goes through hell, because the torture within him is much worse than anything Silent Hill can throw at him. He killed her out of misery, and of course he won't ever be ok with that, but he isn't the bad guy, he sacrificed his own sanity just that she wouldn't suffer anymore, even if that meant he would suffer more by carrying the burden. And then this ending releases him that burden. I think we're able to sympathize even when we learn the truth because by that point he's proved that he cares, he wouldn't have come all this way if he didn't.
It isn't "The canonical ending" as this game has none, simply the creators prefer that ending because it is much more in tone with the game's atmosphere and supposedly fits better with James' maniacal descent into madness. But beyond that, the creators themselves said that whichever you wish to be the end, is the end. And I like this version too. It's a much more...hopeful ending, if I do say so myself. It gives a sense of hope in terms of James' character and his life continuing after Silent Hill. As you said, he isn't a bad person per se, like Dombrowski was, he is just an ordinary man forced by his own broken psyche to do a horrible thing, which he clearly feels guilty for. Funnily enough, however, I think the fact he went through this Hell in the first place proves he did care about his wife. And I don't just mean the whole journey, coming all this way, but if he did not care about Mary's death that much, he wouldn't have desired to be punished so much that Pyramid Head came after him. It's an interesting concept to think that the existence of the torment alone can prove the validity of the protagonist's claim at redemption. Personally, this game to me is about guilt. Guilt and the feelings you feel towards it. Whether you cast it aside like Dombrowski did and keep doing horrible things until you die by someone's hand or get suffocated by it like Angela was, to the point of suicide, or maybe you can find a way out of it, it's up to you. And seeing the two different extremes, I think James is the middle man. To me, he's supposed to be the one, who does care, but has the ability to move on. The one, who got away from Silent Hill because he loved his wife and cared about her, but had it in himself in the end to forgive himself, seeing that in the end, his wife forgave him too. Thus, he carries out her wish to adopt Laura. Sorry, that was kinda sappy, but you get my point. I agree, I think this is the best ending out of all (except for maybe the Dog ending) because of it's meaning towards James as a character, as a person and towards the overall message of the game on what guilt can mean.
maybe it's a little sappy, but i think it fits james' character a little more than him killing himself. because you're right, if he didn't care he wouldn't have gone all this way, if he didn't have the capacity to forgive himself he wouldn't have endured so much pain and misery. and it fits more with the themes of guilt and forgiveness that are within the game. that you shouldn't cast aside your actions, but the first step to atoning isn't to seek out punishment in a self destructive manner, but to be willing to forgive yourself and say "i can keep going in spite of it"
Just loved the point of view of you guys, i Just wanted to add my point too. In my Gameplay I had in water ending without knowing How to do this. I swear that I examed the knife a Lot of times thinking that "something" would happen. Maybe I was Just wanting to end James suffering. But after searching about SH 2 symbolism i see thats ways of ending in the game Say something about us too. It means that the potential of guilty in my life is so huge that I would end like Angela or James in the water ending. So i m trying to be nicer with myself, accept my errors and trying to see the good side of things. So the leave ending is the best for us to have Hope in ourselfs and in life, like Laura is a chance of redemption for James.
@@darklord884 I think people say it's the canon ending because the novelisation uses In Water as its epilogue and the fact it ties best with Frank's appearance in Silent Hill 4 (even though, EVERY ending can support what he says when you think about it)
@@heroesoftomorrow3488 I bet the novelisation uses In Water because the creators said before that it's their favourite ending. Considering we never see James again in canon, I do admit that the easiest option to explain his absence is that he killed himself, but the Leave ending in my opinion means a similar absence, except that James got out. That he managed to leave Silent Hill with the girl and never looked back, being one of the few who escaped the clutches of that horrid city.
I love the way the game literally responds to your actions using them as basis of the rendered outcome. The outcome you've been heading towards all along. Obsession with dead Mary & the tragedy itself brings you to a tragic Dead end as well Obsession with Maria - well. .to Maria But if u kinda don't give a s*** about both things - you'll most likely end up free It's a masterpiece
Has any videogame ever portrayed a relationship in such a complex and nuanced way before? It honestly puts most other games to shame. The number of themes this games expertly and maturely deals with is staggering. The final letter alone is more intricate and finely crafted than the entire plot of most other games. In just a few minutes it tackles themes of love, hate, insecurity, depression, longing, regret and fear. What an achievement.
Genuinely one of the greatest endings to any video game ever made. I know a lot of people think the In Water ending is more impactful and fitting, but to me, the Leave ending solidifies Silent Hill 2 to me as a game about human emotion in general. There are moments of humor, sadness, happiness, anger, everything you can think of. Treating the game as a man coming to terms with a horrible action he committed and moving on to a new life instead of the downward spiral of that man makes this game so much more beautiful and poignant for me. It's still beautiful and poignant if you get the In Water ending, in a tragic sort of way, but leaving the game with that optimistic note is so perfect an ending for me, that I couldn't bare to end any playthrough of SH2 any other way. From the wonderful final exchange between James and Mary, to the excellent credits theme, to Mary reading over her letter to James, to seeing James leaving the town, and then Laura in tow. It's amazing, and Mary's reading of her letter is possibly some of the best voice acting I've ever heard in any video game ever.
I understand now Its time to end this nightmare James realized everything and know why he's when through everything.. that's why Leave Ending is the perfect ending. Mary forgive James and James adopted Laura. Do what the best for you.
For about 3 years I was completely unable to cry. Despite having very sad events happen i would be completely unable to actually form tears in my eyes. Recently I played through and completed Silent Hill 2 for the first time and it brought me to tears. I'm very happy to have finally shed tears. Thanks.
For me a lot of the reason *why* James did what he did is implied by the ending you get and how James chooses to process his punishment. And that’s why I think this ending is my favorite. James still tried to play god and did something pretty fucking terrible, but at least with this his sense of repentance and acknowledgement that all along he really did love Mary makes the game a lot more…optimistic? In an earned way.
Silent hill it's a trial to redemption for some people. For other people is the place to fuck up or save the whole humanity from op gods and imagine the outerworld extended to whole earth... silent hill cult aims to armageddon via godly demons/fallen angels and shit. Normal people that wrecks demons shit via sheer will and WEAPONS as a peak trial in their life. Even in the worst scenario james dies as a warrior that have fought his demons.
the letter hits like a truck. how did they pull this off in a game from 2001? there's still just nothing else like this on the market, maybe like the last of us in terms of just emotional impact and writing, but the way this game melds surreal and disturbing imagery with well-written and tragic portrayals of trauma, abuse, guilt, and love. god i just can't believe this game exists.
like i've never seen a game tackle the idea of what it's like to watch a loved one died like this. it's literary. but goes beyond that by being interactive.
@@beagle626 Yeah this game’s a work of art. I love this ending the most. I have hopes for the remake but I feel like they could’ve just resold the series no changes and I’d still buy. 😀
just like dante's version of afterlife james committed a sin by killing mary but he feels conflicted. he goes to silent hill banished there for his misdeeds but he goes through every step of this hell. not only he goes deeper down at first feelings worse but thus he repents. he starts walking back up this ladder not to hell but to purgatory to somewhere in between hell and paradise to speak with mary and to confront his sin. he repented with suffering and mary's forgiveness and finally can be free. his soul became light enough to continue climbing up that ladder to a better place. to paradise
I like the fact that despite everything, James was not a good person, he should have stayed with her until the end and not end her in anger and resentment; while I agree and understand his frustration and anger it’s not enough to do that to his life partner; I like that SH you don't have a typical character, James is a lot of things... but he is guilty too, that’s why he is in Silent hill, he need to purge that sin, Laura was his redemption and he had to face those memories his mind suppressed.
The In Water ending is considered cannon. It's suggested in Silent Hill 4. Also Jamss actually carries her lifeless body the In Water ending; this is fitting the game's screensaver, in which you see a silhouette of James carrying her also. However, the Leave ending fits more with the whole narrative the we all should want: for James to overcome his burdens. Silent Hill places a test on the characters James, Eddie and Angela. It is up to them to stay in denial, like Eddie; to be inconclusive; like Angela; or find an outcome, like James. But Silent Hill doesn't just test the characters, it tests the players, and that's what makes it brilliant. It's a personality test. This wasn't the only time it's been done - Shattered Memories comes to mind. Though not nearly as original and genius likely SH2. Basically if the player thought the same way I did originally, and clung on to James' dependency on Mary - your behaviour in the game will eventually lead to the In Water ending. If you fancied Maria too much, you'll get the Maria ending. But if you wanted James to move on from the false illusion of Maria and the ghost of Mary, James will get the Leave ending. And y'know what? Sure, the In Water ending seems canon. But it's not as good as Leave.
Unhappily I had in water ending. But i trying to be a nicer person to myself so I dont end stuck with someone else and with guilty like James in these ending.
Nobody gives a shit what SH4 says and we need to stop pretending like it's a good game just because it "did something different". The guy who wrote SH2 said there is _no_ canon ending so you're free to choose the one that gives you the best sense of closure.
I admit, I am writing this out of my own volition and emotion, but at first, I couldn't help but feel drawn to the In The Water ending. The truth is, when I learned some people die when they choose to, orfinally feel at peace, for example, those who are sick will hold on to life until they know a loved one is safe, it brought me happiness. It brought me happiness because I couldn't bare the thought of going on without the one I loved the most. I'd rather die from a heartattack, than to take my life on my own accord. The guilt that would follow me would ruin me, but it seemed that living without them isn't living at all. However, deep down inside, I do not want to be chained to this pain. And if I had a spouse who survived me, I would want them to be happy. Especially if there is a child who could be taken under their wing too. If I were Mary, I would want James to move on and have a beautiful life taking care of Laura. A child who I wished was my daughter, but never got the chance to fulfill that wish. I know love is stronger, and what's meant to be will be. I do not want to steal the beauty of life. I hope whoever I end up with will be happy. With or without me, but I truly hope, we could live a life together.
@@animalfinatic9366 I know, but people like us truly feel empty and alone, sorry if this hurts you but God bless you. The pain gets better sometimes but never really goes away it feels.
@@youtubeisgarbage900 It's okay, I understand where you're coming from. I'll be your friend if you're interested. I'm glad you said that to me. Yeah it does get lonely for people like us but it definitely does get better down the road.
I know the creators say no ending is more canon than the others. But I think they gave this one more weight, since it's the only one that bothers to address the important character of Laura. In all the other endings, we learn what happens to the other characters, but Laura's a total loose end. They don't even imply that she stays in the town or anything; the story just forgets about her. But this version ties up all the loose ends, so it feels most satisfying from a narrative standpoint. I honestly wish the other endings dealt with Laura, just so they'd all be equally thorough. It feels like the devs were trying to slant you towards this ending, instead of *really* treating the endings equally.
Just beat the game. Literally a masterpiece, there’s nothing else quite like it. Honestly am pretty worried about the remake just because I don’t see how it could be anything but a lesser version of what already exists. Like you can maybe improve the boss battles or combat, but at the end of the day the original experience is just so overwhelming and emotionally potent that it’ll be hard to not get put off by any changes that they do make. Guess I’ll see.
They don’t make games like this anymore. When I first played this game like 16 years ago, I was so captured and mesmerized by this game. Since then I’ve been a huge fan. The voice acting is unbelievable
To me, this is the canon ending. I always like it when someone who commits a sin, actually go through a mental trial of overcoming their turmoil and realize they can move on. James confessing his sins and is willing to put it all behind, just as Mary wanted him too. She'll always love him despite that moment happening. Plus him taking Laura as a potential daughter just moves my heart. Granted it might take some time for her to accept what James had done, but I'm sure she would understand what they were going through at the time.
This was the first ending I got when I played this game back when it was first released, and nothing I've experienced since has come close to its emotional impact. Well, maybe Bloodborne, with its tragic side stories (the Gascoigne family, the old woman you guide to Oedon Chapel who succumbs to dementia and believes you're her own child). But the sensitivity and grace that Team Silent brought to this story is still unrivaled all these years later, and I wish Konami hadn't devolved into such a trash fire because this game deserves to be preserved and appreciated by future generations.
Baron's story in the Witcher 3 ripped my soul! His story has different endings. I'll save the spoilers in case you have not played the game yet. Try it out!
@@esmerylan it's definitely a slow moving game, especially at the beginning. The Baron's story is just so sad. I hope you get a chance to go back to it.
James never hated Mary. He was scared, she was scared. She was suffering and watching her suffer made him suffer. He knew she wasn't the same as she was before and that the illness was killing her mind the same way it was her body. He thought the only option left was to release her. It was terrible and not subverting that should be forgiven just like that, she was caught between not wanting to hurt anymore but being afraid of death. But he never knew how much she was holding inside her. It's not easy or sometimes even possible to make sense of what people who love each other do. In the end, I guess James had to endure Silent Hill and become the person he was before Mary took ill again. One final crucible to show him and her that he truly loved her and wanted her pain to end.
So i've replayed this game with a friend. And we noticed that during the letter segment of this ending, there was text scrolling up and no music. So we played the Star Wars theme song over perhaps one of the saddest parts in the game and laughed our asses off. Good times
The way this is so close to the In Water ending suggests that one of them is the more "canon" ending. Considering that this one more honors Mary's wishes, from her letters, and that he actually overconfesses his emotions, makes this one seem...well, it's the "good" ending, but who can say if it's canon? Does anyone win in a horror story?
This is my canon ending and screw what SH4 says. I don't hate that game but it completely missed the point of leaving the conclusion of SH2 open and for the player to interpret in their own way.
No, it didn't.. "Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need.. Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon! So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
@@Stigmatix666 You're overthinking and underthinking things at the same time. They released Mary to in-home hospice care, meaning her doctor knew she was about to die. They don't conduct autopsies when the cause of death is so open and shut. Also, fuck _Silent Hill 4._ It's the Joe Besser of videogames and I don't give a damn what it says about anything.
People still don't understand there's no canon ending to this game. The ending you got is a reflection of your actions. I would love to get this ending, but got the In Water in my first playthrough. And I guess it suits me... If you got this ending, congrats, you are able to carry on your dead wife's wishes :D
I prefer this ending because it's unique to the other characters you meet in Silent Hill. Eddie falls further into his madness, Angela succumbs to her depression, Maria accepts and doesn't fight her fate and takes on the role the town has for her - with this ending, James "gets it" - he realizes what he did, accepts it, rises above it, comes face to face with his victim, gets forgiveness, and seemingly comes out the other side a better person.
![[Alice: Madness Returns] - Ending](/img/n.gif)
The actress actually starts crying for real at the end of the letter. It wasn't planned, part of the acting. And the audio guys actually re-recorded her reading the letter without crying. At the end of the day, when deciding what take to use, they picked the first one, where the actress unintentionally let her emotions flow and cried. A more emotional and honest take.
Glad they picked the first take.
When her voice starts to break, i can feel the emotions welling inside of me. Absolutely devastating. One of the greatest games of all time.
Any source on that chief?
@@jamesphillips3584you can fucking tell, dude.
The source is that he made it the fuck up@@jamesphillips3584
She aint the only one. Im a grown man crying
If James isn't careful letting Laura run ahead like that it's gonna be Silent Hill 1 all over again.
Have you seen a little girl ? that's always stuck in my head
Dont worry the order arent around lol
"Have you seen a little Laura?" xD
"Have you seen a little girl? Short, blond hair?"
@@protocetus499 how so
Monica's voice acting in the final letter is flawless... Truly flawless. Totally nuanced and perfect.
Aaron Lanier It s Just like a personal and real talk.
which is amusing considering this game also had terrible voice acting
@@moizeslopes3991 IS THE LEAVE ENDING THE GOOD ONE OR THE BAD ONE OR THE MORE PERSONAL ONE? Cuz I just have it for first try right now
@@mariano1196 did you play the recasted version?
@@StrawHatGuy_ No, Ps2 OG
"James... if that were true, then why do you look so sad?"
"James... You made me happy."
Every damn time... they hit me like a train every damn time.
Same
Kurea Kagayaki “I can’t tell you to remember me, but I can’t bear for you to forget me.”
Same
My first girlfriend brome up with me yesterday for the third and final time I hope. This... story. Hits home. Stay strong people!!
I personally don't think James really hated his wife and he didn't know what to say or feel because he was losing the only person he ever had. James hated the fact that he was going to have to live a life without her and that's why he was angry. Not at Mary, but at the circumstances.
He isolated himself, sank into depression and alcoholism. He even flat out states this while looking at the booze in the Heaven's Night nightclub:
"Booze. I don't need it right now. It's not that I don't drink. In fact, I drink quite a fair bit. To get away from the pain, the loneliness. But the alcohol never changes anything, it only makes matters worse. Anyway, I don't need it now. There's something I gotta do."
@@Stigmatix666 The wikipedia page states that James is depressed and sexually frustrated. Mary took all his time and was having major mood swings and was lashing out at James.
@@hre2044 Wikipedia lol.. *This* is what you need, the official words from the creators: www.silenthillmemories.net/lost_memories/info_en.htm
@@Stigmatix666 there is nothing in the book about James' alcholism though.
@@thekrustaceox5181 It's in the game itself..
James staring at alcohol bottles in the Heaven's Night club:
"Liquor bottles. I don't need that right now.
It's not that I don't drink. In fact, I drink a fair bit.
To get away from the pain, the loneliness.. But the drinking never changes anything...
Anyway, I don't need it now, there's something that I have to do."
ua-cam.com/video/Gqo2bo19XGg/v-deo.html
You don't need a book in order to understand straight up exposition dialogue from a game..
That letter is the most sad and beautiful thing I think I've ever heard. This game is a masterpiece.
Best horror game ever made
i just got it first try right now cuz I’m playin them all cuz I’m new in this silent hills and gotta say this game is brilliant
but i don’t know if I the leave ending is the good one or the Maria one cuz at the end u see that James goes with Laura and leaves silent hill
this was the first time i cried at a video game
@@friendlyneighborkevin7245 Past silent hill 4, the rest is a downward roller coaster
Silent Hill 1 is a horror story.
Silent Hill 2 is a tragic life love story, one that shows us how someone can slowly be consumed by depression. More than scaring us, it actually depresses us in a way that we can say “wow, such a great video game that messes up with our feelings”.
This is a masterpiece.
It always interested me how different Harry and James were. Harry also lost his wife, but he didn't fall like James did. Harry's story in Silent Hill is a heroic one where a man goes through literal hell because of his love for his adoptive daughter and his wife's memory. James's story is one of guilt and redemption
Silent Hill 3 & 4 are also basic survival horror games (4 being just a little bit more creative) 2 Is just perfect
@@ItsSpecialHands just for the record, the SH1 manual says Jodie Mason died from illness, but the Novel says she died from a car wreck. Is say her and Mary may have had similar diseases.
@@angelgonzalez5766 3 was so close to being something intense and interesting. They just pulled back on those elements
@@angelgonzalez5766 SH3 is more of the trials and fears that come with woman hoood, such as pregnancy, unwanted advances, etc. I've never played SH4 so i cant say much about that.
This is, in my opinion, the best ending. It's at least my favorite, and considering the final letter and everything else...James didn't even partially hate Mary, he hated her suffering. She forgives him, and he's finally able to live life for himself for now like she wanted him to, having gone through this to see the truth now and being able to move on...and it's nice seeing Laura leave Silent Hill with him. This ending feels the most complete. Maybe not the saddest, but the most moving for me.
"Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need..
Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon!
So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
James accepts his sins and comes to terms with what he did. When he entered Silent Hill he had no reason to go on living. Now he has a determination to go on with his life, committed to learning from his mistakes.
What happens after that isn't really important.
@stigma nobody knew what he did. He took Mary to their home as the doctors told them this could be their last chance AKA their last chance to be together and die on peace in a comfortable space, not just suffering in the hospital for nothing. Nobody would have thought James killed her, she was meant to die anyway.
@@diegobartolome9172 Damn, good catch. I always wondered how he even got as far as he did (was sorta picturing a Little Miss Sunshine "out the hospital window" kinda situation). Clearly I need to pay more attention. Thanks.
He still killed her
A better ending would be him calling the police, admitting to his crime
"I'll never yell at you!" while she starts yelling at him.
Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss 💅✨
Ironic
She screams at him and makes him feel bad so many times throughout the game lol
- The truth is, I hated you...I wanted my life back!
- James...if that were true...then why do you look so sad?
(shudders)
I...I need a minute guys, hold on...
Because she was a big part of his life that's why.
Aaaaand that's about when the tears started....
Here's the thing about illness. It's not so cut and dry. There's anger that's impossible to place, because when you watch someone you love die from illness, your life gets robbed of them. There's a hole in your world that's replaced by hospital visits and a slow decline. Everything connected to them becomes tinged by what happened to them. And you can't help but resent them a bit for it. There is no person or scapegoat to pin your anger and sorrow on, so they take that burden for their disease. Unfairly. And they similarly have a lot of directionless bitterness that may find it's way to you. That makes you more estranged from them and hurts you both equal parts.
For someone like James, his life was built around her. She was probably in everything, from birthdays to dumb mundane groceries. Without her even being truly responsible, her illness stole that from him. So I have no doubt he hated her as much as he loved her.
Also, with her illness, they couldn't have engaged in much intimacy. That probably frustrated him, honing in on the sexual undertones of the game. He had to have been so frustrated and pained by everything. So he took the choice away from her.
Maybe he remembered her bitterly saying they should just kill her, but refusing to remember her rescinding that statement. His choice wasn't just mercy, and I think we need to acknowledge that. He wanted a release, from the obligation, hospital visits, and emotionally taxing interactions. It was a joyless life.
@@aerieleah533 Control...Within the gameplay and the story..it's all control.
🥺😭😞😖😬
This is my favourite ending. James leaves a better person with Laura to look after. I usually get this one as I don't love having to do tedious stopping for Maria, or staring at the knife a bunch of times and this seems like the overall good ending. Plus, I feel more respect for James taking responsibility for Laura. I personally see this one as canon, even though it could be any of them.
The Neon Reaver I see the endings as a personality test.The ending you get determines your personality
Unhappily i had in water ending First.. after searching about that symbolism i m trying to change that aspect.
@@BlindBosnian Yeah.
Leave: James was strong enough to finally man up and pay for his mistakes and finally move on with his life.
In Water: Despite all the tests silent hill had given him, he was too depressed and couldn't move on from the rut he was stuck in.
Maria: James being very lonely decided to replace the true love with he had with Mary with Maria. He didn't learn anything during his time in Silent Hill and thus these events may repeat themselves.
Nice interpretarions,dude.However,there are some problems
In Water:You say that James wasn't stong enough to move on,and so,decided to commit suicide.But think about it like this:What if James was never meant to survive Silent Hill? Eddie didn't survive,Angela didn't survive,so why should James? What if the whole point of Silent Hill was to reveal the truth to James that was so unendurably painful,that it would drive him to commit suicide? To simply make James suffer for his wrongdoings instead of helping him get over them
Maria:You and I have pretty much the same interpretation of the Maria ending,and we see it as the worst ending in the game,because James learnt nothing by throwing away Mary(reality),and choosing Maria(illusion).And Maria coughs at the end,signifying that,just like Mary,she'll get sick,and James will be driven to kill her,just like Mary.So,the core basis of this interpretation is that James was supposed to realize the Maria is an illusion,and that she was what James wanted Mary to be,not what Mary really was.And in his failure to do so,the events might happen again.BUT! Even though James supposedly learned nothing,the Pyramid Heads still died.Their role was to torment James until he finaly faced the truth.When James faced the truth and confronted them,the purpose of Pyramid Heads was served,and so,they commited suicide.Also,notice how Pyramid Head was constantly killing Maria troughout the game.That was most likely to show James that she's not real.Even though Pyramid Head was killing her again and again,she was returning with no explanation.Another meaning of Maria being killed by PH over and over was to remind James of what he had done to Mary.Still,whatver the meaning may be,the death of PHs must mean that James learned something from his journey in Silent Hill,and so,will not repeat the same mistake again
@@BlindBosnian I love this. When I was in 7th grade, I thought the Maria ending was the good ending cause James finally found love(12-13 year old boys will fall for anything I guess). Now at 21, I realize the best thing for James was to move on with his life but still cherish the true love he did have with Mary, and possibly fulfill Mary's wish of adopting Laura. Sure, Mary might be gone, and things won't be the same, but James was now a better person in the end.
The In Water ending is the Japanese ending in that James' unselfishly carries out seppeku for retribution but simultaneously fulfills an unconscious desire for death to be reunited with Mary. But Guy Cihi, who voiced James, feels that the Leave ending is the most gratifying because James reaches a catharsis and discovers something to continue living for. Even though he did something he felt was unforgivable, he comes to believe that Mary didn't see it that way and it was time to put the pain and suffering to rest with her. The simple act of forgiveness of himself freed him from the prison.
It wasn't for retribution, though. He killed himself out of weakness. He couldn't continue without Mary, and so sought to reunite with her, or at least end his pain, with death.
@Ethan Johnson stop this nonsense
@@rw5120
I would agree with you
Correct. Leave ending IS the best ending.
I like the leave ending better because I feel it fits better with the subtle spiritual alchemy themes found in his redemption. They're more overt in the first game, but you can find the same process of spiritual purification of James using the seven stages of alchemy.
This is honestly my favorite silent hill 2 ending.
He isn't in denial anymore he decides to go on with his life lives with laura and refill that empty void in his life.
U came back after 2 years to the same video :)
@@sam_hm_ yeah i can't help it i have a bond to silent hill 2 now and it left a mark on me, especially this ending.
Its just such a emotional and sad ending.
"James...if that were true, then why do you look so sad?"
That line really drives homes the bond these two had. No matter how much it may have degenerated in its final days, the love was always there, even in death. James actions may have been partially motivated by selfish reasons, but even Mary was astute enough to recognize that James truly *did* love her in the end, and the guilt of what he had done was destroying him.
James isn't a murderer or some heartless monster, he's just an ordinary guy who was pushed to the breaking point by terribly unfair circumstances. That's why I love this ending so much (even though Rebirth remains my favorite) because it gives James what none of the other endings does: Closure. With Mary's blessing, James is finally able to forgive himself and carry out Mary's last wish: To go on with his life and take care of Laura.
not reading allat
👏👏👏 I couldn’t have said it better.
@@yoin4698 I'm sorry for your inability to read more than a single sentence
It's not even entirely selfish reasons. It's pretty heavily implied that Mary wanted that as well, to not go through the suffering and pain any longer when she was on borrowed time anyway, and the fact that she doesn't tell James that wasn't a factor in what he did at all essentially confirms that. But this ending does give him a lot more closure than any of the others.
@@Cool70sfreak I think it's a combination of selfish and unselfish reasons. James really did love Mary and wanted her suffering to end. But I also think he was burnt out and angry with dealing with a sick wife who was becoming more and more turbulent, and his resentment grew. Add that he felt tremendously guilty about feeling that way, because he knew Mary was scared, in pain, and it wasn't her fault that they were in this predicament. I think the combination of killing his wife and his guilty conscience of "I was a shitty husband to her when she was sick" drew him to Silent Hill. The actual killing was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
I have a theory (although it's never explored and I admit it's liberal), that James' guilt is also driven by another factor. Let's say Mary never got sick, but James was the one with the illness. Would Mary treat a dying James the same way? Or would Mary's kind and selfless personality stand by her husband to the end no matter how aggressive and depressing James might become? There's a letter Mary writes that admits James is sweet but bad tempered, so I can't imagine James would take his own terminal illness with dignity and calm. Perhaps James thinks, subconciously or not, that Mary would never treat him the same way if the roles were reversed.
I got this ending the first time I played this game and I wont play it again
PoonBot5K I know, the ending of this game is pretty depressing, I was sad for the rest of the day after I finished this game.
Same
@@tristanlau1213 shouldnt this is what silent hill is all about
@@olechristianhenne6583 Yes
@Neco_42 A true testament to this game's staying power.
You could always get a cheap ps2 and a copy of the game from ebay ;)
I prefer this ending mostly for Laura's sake. It's the only ending that shows Laura getting out of Silent Hill. Sure, she probably made it out in the other endings considering she was a pure soul but she'd still be an orphan. James probably adopts Laura in this ending and I think James would make a decent father, for Mary's sake at the very least.
I love Leave too and consider this my canon ending. But the question I have is, how would Laura forgive James for killing Mary?
@@theimmortalrain867 by him thoroughly explaining to her why he did what he did, in a way that allows her to understand that he truly loved Mary. (Not easy, I know)
@@thebadwolf3088Not at all. Which is why I wish we could see how that would happen.
The only other thing I can think of is if Mary appeared to Laura as a manifestation and explained everything, but would that even be consistent with the lore?
@@theimmortalrain867i thought of that too..
I totally prefer this ending for one simple reason. Here, James was capable of do Mary's final request, which is go on with his life, but the thing is that the request was ALREADY written in her letter. Before she died, she wanted that James continues with his life, and wishing the best to him. This makes the "In Water" ending more tragic because James couldn't do that last request from her because he NEVER read her letter, James was totally consumed by his guilt in the Water ending, unlike in "Leave" ending that even with all that guilt, at least he had the opportunity to listen to Mary's last request, the request that was already in her letter.
I find it brilliant that Silent Hill is a personal hell for the protagonist to get out of.
Only the 2 does that, and all the games after this should done that.
Luis Marin Downpour too
James may very well have imagined his entire ordeal in the town.. Notice how each ending ends at the exact same spot as the game starts?
@@llckarther87ll yes but what the other games lack in story they definitely make up In horror
@@opioidhamster3205 idk there are some silent hill games that aren't that scarry....
This is a story about three murderers. And this ending is the ONLY scene where one of them finds redemption.
Eddie only killed a dog
Kennedy Tank He’s still technically correct, since Angela killed her dad and brother, though I don’t think that’s what he meant
"Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need..
Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon!
So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
I must recognise that Angela's story was so cruel and evil that finding peace for her own was basically impossible. She couln't even face her dad AKA Daddy Monster. Is James who ended up killing it.
She was so abused and her story is so twisted... I can't imagine which horrors Silent hill made her confront.
@@Stigmatix666 Not really, you can interpret it as James and Laura leaving Silent Hill in the morning. Second, he can start a new life. I could argue that he euthanized Mary, he doesn't bear seeing her like this as she's dying in a slow agony. Might as well kill her to end her suffering.
6:05... When her voice starts to break, I absolutely lose it. Every single time. Silent Hill 2 is one of the most beautifully crafted stories of all time.
This has always been my favorite idea for Silent Hill. This paints it in a more mystical and mysterious town rather than just a hellscape. The idea that the town itself can actually help those willing to overcome their problems gives it an almost benevolent feel in all of its horror. James never fell to self hatred or self loathing despite everything he was going through and in the end Silent Hill rewarded him by finally giving him closure with his wife, having her tell him the words he needed to fully move on, then releases him.
This honestly adds to the mysterious nature of Silent Hill. Like it’s less of a horror freak show chased by curses, demons, PSI abilities, or cults, and is instead a mysterious entity that is acting as a judge on if a person truly wants to make up for the past or wallow in their guilt.
notice how angry and aggressive Maria is in this ending compared to the Water Ending or Rebirth Ending, how desperate her tone is initially in comparison to her cruelly playful one or disbelieving the other two, no matter what Maria knows she'll never truly live, in the other two though there is some consolation in the fact James isn't moving on, either choosing to die or tether himself to silent hills power in a similar way that Maria is, in this one she's simply an abandoned tool now that he's moved on, she's doomed to fade and fade alone.
Well, she is a construct of James' own imagination, created to bear his wife's death at his own hands. So in essence, this is his guilt filled mind desperately clinging to that guilt that kept him in Silent Hill's trap all along, wishing him to suffer and get punished for his actions. But as he has realised that Mary has forgiven her, he doesn't need it anymore and, well, this happens. She came to life because he needed her, but now that he doesn't, she's bound to disappear, as he leaves the town with Laura, most likely adopting her.
Good !
Just because James killed her this is so sad
Maria was never real she was a manifistation of James's imagination mixed in with the demonic presents of Silent Hill.
That's why she a appeared at the lake if anyone else had gone there she wouldn't exist.
Her constant dying througout the game is also James own guilt for letting Mary die.
@@navylaks2 Yes but in "Born from a Wish" you see that she has consciousness, feelings, she can think, and since the first time she meets James and from the way she talks to him during the game it shows that she knows her only chance for life is if James accepts her, which makes her character even more tragic.
That letter was surprisingly overwhelming, didnt expect that impact on me when i first got it when i was 17.
It's 2021 and this still makes me wanna cry. An awesome experience
Yeah, the writers have said it's ambiguous.
SH4 doesn't define the ending for me, so I just say that James doesn't talk to his father much. I mean come on, the guy keeps an old umbilical cord in his room...
Imagine hearing your Superintendent saying the Umbilical Cord he has started to smell?-
*Time to move! 😃*
Kinda wish the SH4 endings(well except for the 21 sacraments ending) were as good as this.
This is my favourite ending in a Silent Hill game. It's such a touching and sweet conclusion to such a depressing game.
"James... if that were true, then why do you look so sad?"
I love this line; she doesn't want James to suffer really because he really misses her... and that last message to him revealed at the end...
The villain in this ending is Silent Hill itself; it's Silent Hill that made Maria to torment James, it's Silent Hill who let her go Yandere. And though you have the potential to kill your wife again, you would need to really betray Mary to do that.
Many sources claim that both Pyramid Head and Maria are the true villains given they are both personification of James' guilt... But I think you are onto something here given that they wouldn't came to be if it wasn't for Silent Hill.
I guess you could say Silent Hill it's the Palpatine to Maria and Pyramid Head Darth Vader
Silent Hill isn't the main villain. Silent Hill make obstacles and objects to torment people for what they did, and after they regret for what they done, Silent Hill let's them go. In this story, Maria is the villain. She's an obstacle made by Silent Hill, which her objective is to make James never confront his objective.
@@gray01216This. Silent Hill is like some sort of supernatural therapist. Sure, it spawns monsters formed from the psyches of those who enter the town, but at the end of the day, it’s trying to help people confront their demons, and heal from their traumas. It forms obstacles based off of guilt and regrets, but this is so that they can break through those very regrets, and recover from the pain.
@@rhysthereddragon1326 To be honest, I don't buy that the town is an active supernatural therapist. I never liked that theory that the town is some secretly benevolent force that helps its victims.
Personally, I feel that the town automatically draws out the deepest desires and fears of any individual that wanders in and/or is drawn in. It does not care to break or fix anyone but rather, the town and the land are a force of nature that Alessa and the cult twisted into its current state.
If you happen to recover and heal yourself while in the town, the town does not care. If you fail to recover and/or die in the town, the town does not care. It is up to the individual to learn from their manifested desires and fears which is where Angela and Eddie fail and where James succeeds in Leave.
So never played this game, but after reading about it and watching the ending I kinda want to curl up into a ball and cry.
Zachary Goddard You gotta play it, for posterity
Just go ahead, it's not very difficult anyways
You have to play it. It adds so much more emotion to it with a proper build up.
I don't care what others said.
This IS the canon ending.
Otherwise I'll just cry like a bitch everytime someone mentioned Silent Hill 2.
The awesome part is that whichever ending you pick as canon, you're right. The writer for this game wanted us to make the story our own, so there is and never will be an "official" ending, no matter what certain other, crappier games may try to establish (Silent Hill 4, looking right at you).
@@cigoLxeL what all the endings have in common is he won't leave silent hill. In the end it's assumed he's just in his own personal torment even in this. He will remain in the foggy haze like most characters in all Silent Hill games
When people yell at us and tell us we are insane, we are the only sane person left.
Let’s leave Silent Hill together.
@@cigoLxeLI enjoyed Silent Hill 4, despite its flaws. But I agree. The ending should be up to the player.
Definitely the best ending.
No the dog ending is the best
"Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need..
Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon!
So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
@@Stigmatix666 why are you so persuasive with your vision? Seems like some one has one hell of sad life, let that sink in
@@qwereder Why are you being rude and resorting to personal attacks instead of coming up with a solid counter-argument? Seems like you have unhealthy tendencies, let *that* sink in
Stigma cringe response
Please... please do something for me.
Go on with your life.
:'(
It is so hard to take good advice...
Leave: James confronts his personal demons and forgives himself for killing Mary.
In Water: James confronts his personal demons but can't forgive himself for killing Mary.
Maria: James stays in denial about his demons.
Rebirth: James becomes a slave to his demons.
Rebirth ending was wild though, reminded me of Pet Semetary
Dog: The real mastermind was DOGE!
Aliens: James is roped into an intergalactic search and rescue mission by Harry Mason
dog: doggy funney
I know "in Water" is supposed to be the real ending, but to me this is the one ending that makes sense. I think that around the first time James meets Laura you start realizing that this is really a story about redemption, James'. I can't understand how it is that the town would punish James so much, by killing María so many times until he learns his lesson, reenacting Mary's death, and by having him go through all those horrible places filled with monsters, and then we're supposed to accept that he goes through all of that and decides to commit suicide at the end.
I think it is a much clever idea to end it this way, he goes through hell, because the torture within him is much worse than anything Silent Hill can throw at him. He killed her out of misery, and of course he won't ever be ok with that, but he isn't the bad guy, he sacrificed his own sanity just that she wouldn't suffer anymore, even if that meant he would suffer more by carrying the burden. And then this ending releases him that burden.
I think we're able to sympathize even when we learn the truth because by that point he's proved that he cares, he wouldn't have come all this way if he didn't.
It isn't "The canonical ending" as this game has none, simply the creators prefer that ending because it is much more in tone with the game's atmosphere and supposedly fits better with James' maniacal descent into madness. But beyond that, the creators themselves said that whichever you wish to be the end, is the end. And I like this version too. It's a much more...hopeful ending, if I do say so myself. It gives a sense of hope in terms of James' character and his life continuing after Silent Hill. As you said, he isn't a bad person per se, like Dombrowski was, he is just an ordinary man forced by his own broken psyche to do a horrible thing, which he clearly feels guilty for. Funnily enough, however, I think the fact he went through this Hell in the first place proves he did care about his wife. And I don't just mean the whole journey, coming all this way, but if he did not care about Mary's death that much, he wouldn't have desired to be punished so much that Pyramid Head came after him. It's an interesting concept to think that the existence of the torment alone can prove the validity of the protagonist's claim at redemption.
Personally, this game to me is about guilt. Guilt and the feelings you feel towards it. Whether you cast it aside like Dombrowski did and keep doing horrible things until you die by someone's hand or get suffocated by it like Angela was, to the point of suicide, or maybe you can find a way out of it, it's up to you. And seeing the two different extremes, I think James is the middle man. To me, he's supposed to be the one, who does care, but has the ability to move on. The one, who got away from Silent Hill because he loved his wife and cared about her, but had it in himself in the end to forgive himself, seeing that in the end, his wife forgave him too. Thus, he carries out her wish to adopt Laura.
Sorry, that was kinda sappy, but you get my point. I agree, I think this is the best ending out of all (except for maybe the Dog ending) because of it's meaning towards James as a character, as a person and towards the overall message of the game on what guilt can mean.
maybe it's a little sappy, but i think it fits james' character a little more than him killing himself. because you're right, if he didn't care he wouldn't have gone all this way, if he didn't have the capacity to forgive himself he wouldn't have endured so much pain and misery. and it fits more with the themes of guilt and forgiveness that are within the game. that you shouldn't cast aside your actions, but the first step to atoning isn't to seek out punishment in a self destructive manner, but to be willing to forgive yourself and say "i can keep going in spite of it"
Just loved the point of view of you guys, i Just wanted to add my point too. In my Gameplay I had in water ending without knowing How to do this. I swear that I examed the knife a Lot of times thinking that "something" would happen. Maybe I was Just wanting to end James suffering. But after searching about SH 2 symbolism i see thats ways of ending in the game Say something about us too. It means that the potential of guilty in my life is so huge that I would end like Angela or James in the water ending. So i m trying to be nicer with myself, accept my errors and trying to see the good side of things. So the leave ending is the best for us to have Hope in ourselfs and in life, like Laura is a chance of redemption for James.
@@darklord884 I think people say it's the canon ending because the novelisation uses In Water as its epilogue and the fact it ties best with Frank's appearance in Silent Hill 4 (even though, EVERY ending can support what he says when you think about it)
@@heroesoftomorrow3488 I bet the novelisation uses In Water because the creators said before that it's their favourite ending. Considering we never see James again in canon, I do admit that the easiest option to explain his absence is that he killed himself, but the Leave ending in my opinion means a similar absence, except that James got out. That he managed to leave Silent Hill with the girl and never looked back, being one of the few who escaped the clutches of that horrid city.
I love the way the game literally responds to your actions using them as basis of the rendered outcome. The outcome you've been heading towards all along.
Obsession with dead Mary & the tragedy itself brings you to a tragic Dead end as well
Obsession with Maria - well. .to Maria
But if u kinda don't give a s*** about both things - you'll most likely end up free
It's a masterpiece
This made me cry like a little girl. Mary's letter was so incredibly beautiful yet so terribly sad.
"James..."
"You made me happy."
**Cry**
Has any videogame ever portrayed a relationship in such a complex and nuanced way before? It honestly puts most other games to shame. The number of themes this games expertly and maturely deals with is staggering. The final letter alone is more intricate and finely crafted than the entire plot of most other games. In just a few minutes it tackles themes of love, hate, insecurity, depression, longing, regret and fear. What an achievement.
Genuinely one of the greatest endings to any video game ever made. I know a lot of people think the In Water ending is more impactful and fitting, but to me, the Leave ending solidifies Silent Hill 2 to me as a game about human emotion in general. There are moments of humor, sadness, happiness, anger, everything you can think of. Treating the game as a man coming to terms with a horrible action he committed and moving on to a new life instead of the downward spiral of that man makes this game so much more beautiful and poignant for me. It's still beautiful and poignant if you get the In Water ending, in a tragic sort of way, but leaving the game with that optimistic note is so perfect an ending for me, that I couldn't bare to end any playthrough of SH2 any other way. From the wonderful final exchange between James and Mary, to the excellent credits theme, to Mary reading over her letter to James, to seeing James leaving the town, and then Laura in tow. It's amazing, and Mary's reading of her letter is possibly some of the best voice acting I've ever heard in any video game ever.
The canon ending, it makes sense, bitter sweet, they both lost someone special. Very simple. Very true.
One of the many reasons Silent Hill 2 will forever be a masterpiece. Ah look its beginning to rain..
I understand now
Its time to end this nightmare
James realized everything and know why he's when through everything.. that's why Leave Ending is the perfect ending. Mary forgive James and James adopted Laura.
Do what the best for you.
The content of the letter at the end combined with the amazing voice acting had my ass in tears. Thank you Silent Hill.
This game is beautiful.
For about 3 years I was completely unable to cry. Despite having very sad events happen i would be completely unable to actually form tears in my eyes. Recently I played through and completed Silent Hill 2 for the first time and it brought me to tears. I'm very happy to have finally shed tears. Thanks.
I'm in a similar boat.
After all these years .. I still cry for this masterpiece
For me a lot of the reason *why* James did what he did is implied by the ending you get and how James chooses to process his punishment.
And that’s why I think this ending is my favorite. James still tried to play god and did something pretty fucking terrible, but at least with this his sense of repentance and acknowledgement that all along he really did love Mary makes the game a lot more…optimistic? In an earned way.
Silent hill it's a trial to redemption for some people. For other people is the place to fuck up or save the whole humanity from op gods and imagine the outerworld extended to whole earth... silent hill cult aims to armageddon via godly demons/fallen angels and shit. Normal people that wrecks demons shit via sheer will and WEAPONS as a peak trial in their life. Even in the worst scenario james dies as a warrior that have fought his demons.
the letter hits like a truck. how did they pull this off in a game from 2001? there's still just nothing else like this on the market, maybe like the last of us in terms of just emotional impact and writing, but the way this game melds surreal and disturbing imagery with well-written and tragic portrayals of trauma, abuse, guilt, and love. god i just can't believe this game exists.
like i've never seen a game tackle the idea of what it's like to watch a loved one died like this. it's literary. but goes beyond that by being interactive.
@@beagle626 Yeah this game’s a work of art. I love this ending the most. I have hopes for the remake but I feel like they could’ve just resold the series no changes and I’d still buy. 😀
just like dante's version of afterlife james committed a sin by killing mary but he feels conflicted. he goes to silent hill banished there for his misdeeds but he goes through every step of this hell. not only he goes deeper down at first feelings worse but thus he repents. he starts walking back up this ladder not to hell but to purgatory to somewhere in between hell and paradise to speak with mary and to confront his sin. he repented with suffering and mary's forgiveness and finally can be free. his soul became light enough to continue climbing up that ladder to a better place. to paradise
I keep coming back to this ending, aside from it being beautifully bittersweet, there’s also something very calming and serene about it.
This to me is cannon
This is the only canon ending to my ND life.
The last 3 lines always kill me.
...I've never cried at a video game. But this... this made me come close. Really damn close.
I like the fact that despite everything, James was not a good person, he should have stayed with her until the end and not end her in anger and resentment; while I agree and understand his frustration and anger it’s not enough to do that to his life partner; I like that SH you don't have a typical character, James is a lot of things... but he is guilty too, that’s why he is in Silent hill, he need to purge that sin, Laura was his redemption and he had to face those memories his mind suppressed.
Recently finished this with a buddy. Him and I were both teary-eyed and emotional by the time the credits rolled. Fucking masterpiece, 10/10.
20 years of this masterpiece!
i come back to this every 4-5 years or so and goddamn it still has the same effect.
I do okay heading this until I get to "James, you made me happy". Literally gets me every time.
Realy, after I saw this letter,
Tears from my eyes
The music in the scene always gives me the feels.
The In Water ending is considered cannon. It's suggested in Silent Hill 4. Also Jamss actually carries her lifeless body the In Water ending; this is fitting the game's screensaver, in which you see a silhouette of James carrying her also.
However, the Leave ending fits more with the whole narrative the we all should want: for James to overcome his burdens. Silent Hill places a test on the characters James, Eddie and Angela. It is up to them to stay in denial, like Eddie; to be inconclusive; like Angela; or find an outcome, like James.
But Silent Hill doesn't just test the characters, it tests the players, and that's what makes it brilliant. It's a personality test. This wasn't the only time it's been done - Shattered Memories comes to mind. Though not nearly as original and genius likely SH2.
Basically if the player thought the same way I did originally, and clung on to James' dependency on Mary - your behaviour in the game will eventually lead to the In Water ending. If you fancied Maria too much, you'll get the Maria ending. But if you wanted James to move on from the false illusion of Maria and the ghost of Mary, James will get the Leave ending.
And y'know what? Sure, the In Water ending seems canon. But it's not as good as Leave.
The developers said that there is no canon ending. Besides, SH4 wasn't developed by the original Team Silent anyway.
SH4 was created by Team Silent, Origins was the first to be made in the west.
Unhappily I had in water ending. But i trying to be a nicer person to myself so I dont end stuck with someone else and with guilty like James in these ending.
There is no canon ending to SH2. The hardest ending to obtain is *maybe* the closest? Ressurection..
Nobody gives a shit what SH4 says and we need to stop pretending like it's a good game just because it "did something different". The guy who wrote SH2 said there is _no_ canon ending so you're free to choose the one that gives you the best sense of closure.
Steve harvey said this was his favorite video game of all time... crazy.
You could tell she really started tearing up towards the end.
In my Drama class, my exam is to preform a monologue of my choice. I'm ssooooooo doing this, if i'm allowed
Did you?
Well? Howd it go?
Hunter Laycox bruh update did you do it
Christ, guys this was 6 years ago lol.
Too much of a chicken shit to do it most likely
I admit, I am writing this out of my own volition and emotion, but at first, I couldn't help but feel drawn to the In The Water ending. The truth is, when I learned some people die when they choose to, orfinally feel at peace, for example, those who are sick will hold on to life until they know a loved one is safe, it brought me happiness. It brought me happiness because I couldn't bare the thought of going on without the one I loved the most. I'd rather die from a heartattack, than to take my life on my own accord. The guilt that would follow me would ruin me, but it seemed that living without them isn't living at all. However, deep down inside, I do not want to be chained to this pain. And if I had a spouse who survived me, I would want them to be happy. Especially if there is a child who could be taken under their wing too. If I were Mary, I would want James to move on and have a beautiful life taking care of Laura. A child who I wished was my daughter, but never got the chance to fulfill that wish. I know love is stronger, and what's meant to be will be. I do not want to steal the beauty of life. I hope whoever I end up with will be happy. With or without me, but I truly hope, we could live a life together.
very insightful comment, i feel the same
@@youtubeisgarbage900 it's cool you relate to my blabbering, you really aren't alone. Thanks friendb:)
@@animalfinatic9366 I know, but people like us truly feel empty and alone, sorry if this hurts you but God bless you. The pain gets better sometimes but never really goes away it feels.
@@youtubeisgarbage900 It's okay, I understand where you're coming from. I'll be your friend if you're interested. I'm glad you said that to me. Yeah it does get lonely for people like us but it definitely does get better down the road.
@@animalfinatic9366 I'm interested in staying in touch, where would you wanna talk?
While this might not be my favourite game i have to say, This is the best ending to any game i have ever played.
I know the creators say no ending is more canon than the others. But I think they gave this one more weight, since it's the only one that bothers to address the important character of Laura.
In all the other endings, we learn what happens to the other characters, but Laura's a total loose end. They don't even imply that she stays in the town or anything; the story just forgets about her. But this version ties up all the loose ends, so it feels most satisfying from a narrative standpoint.
I honestly wish the other endings dealt with Laura, just so they'd all be equally thorough. It feels like the devs were trying to slant you towards this ending, instead of *really* treating the endings equally.
Yes indeed. I just love this ending.
My heart literally stopped beating just because of watching this..
Finally some happiness for James
Just beat the game. Literally a masterpiece, there’s nothing else quite like it. Honestly am pretty worried about the remake just because I don’t see how it could be anything but a lesser version of what already exists. Like you can maybe improve the boss battles or combat, but at the end of the day the original experience is just so overwhelming and emotionally potent that it’ll be hard to not get put off by any changes that they do make. Guess I’ll see.
Oh, God... Why am I crying watching this...
2018 Anyone?
They don’t make games like this anymore. When I first played this game like 16 years ago, I was so captured and mesmerized by this game. Since then I’ve been a huge fan. The voice acting is unbelievable
To me, this is the canon ending. I always like it when someone who commits a sin, actually go through a mental trial of overcoming their turmoil and realize they can move on. James confessing his sins and is willing to put it all behind, just as Mary wanted him too. She'll always love him despite that moment happening. Plus him taking Laura as a potential daughter just moves my heart. Granted it might take some time for her to accept what James had done, but I'm sure she would understand what they were going through at the time.
This was the first ending I got when I played this game back when it was first released, and nothing I've experienced since has come close to its emotional impact. Well, maybe Bloodborne, with its tragic side stories (the Gascoigne family, the old woman you guide to Oedon Chapel who succumbs to dementia and believes you're her own child). But the sensitivity and grace that Team Silent brought to this story is still unrivaled all these years later, and I wish Konami hadn't devolved into such a trash fire because this game deserves to be preserved and appreciated by future generations.
Baron's story in the Witcher 3 ripped my soul! His story has different endings. I'll save the spoilers in case you have not played the game yet. Try it out!
@@amunkhufu I've played a little of it but never got very far. One of these days I'll get back to it. 😅
@@esmerylan it's definitely a slow moving game, especially at the beginning. The Baron's story is just so sad. I hope you get a chance to go back to it.
James never hated Mary. He was scared, she was scared. She was suffering and watching her suffer made him suffer. He knew she wasn't the same as she was before and that the illness was killing her mind the same way it was her body. He thought the only option left was to release her. It was terrible and not subverting that should be forgiven just like that, she was caught between not wanting to hurt anymore but being afraid of death. But he never knew how much she was holding inside her.
It's not easy or sometimes even possible to make sense of what people who love each other do. In the end, I guess James had to endure Silent Hill and become the person he was before Mary took ill again. One final crucible to show him and her that he truly loved her and wanted her pain to end.
this ending still blows me away its the true ending for SH2 glad james can move past the fear and guilt and do some good by taking care of laura
My unemotional ass cried so much at that letter... so beautiful.... God I can't think..
OMFG I got this ending in my first try :D
I was 15 years old when I first rented this from blockbusters and played this game. I'm 35 now and I will never forget it.
So i've replayed this game with a friend. And we noticed that during the letter segment of this ending, there was text scrolling up and no music. So we played the Star Wars theme song over perhaps one of the saddest parts in the game and laughed our asses off. Good times
That letter always makes me slightly teary eyed, the voice actress did and excellent job.
The way this is so close to the In Water ending suggests that one of them is the more "canon" ending. Considering that this one more honors Mary's wishes, from her letters, and that he actually overconfesses his emotions, makes this one seem...well, it's the "good" ending, but who can say if it's canon? Does anyone win in a horror story?
Just finished this masterpiece and got this ending. Definitely the best ending after the experience.
the voice acting when she’s reading the letter is so raw and emotional
This is my canon ending and screw what SH4 says. I don't hate that game but it completely missed the point of leaving the conclusion of SH2 open and for the player to interpret in their own way.
No, it didn't..
"Leave" is a deceitful ending. Firstly, he's still in the fog world here. Let that one sink in, take all the time you need..
Secondly, where would he go? He's a murderer. Either he'd be on the run, assume a false identity or turn himself in. We know he didn't do the latter, as he (and Mary) disappeared in Silent Hill according to his father in part 4. That much is canon!
So, what exactly is "happy" about that particular ending?
@@Stigmatix666 Fog world... my god xd, there are still people who believe that silent hill has several dimensions.
@@blazinsword My god. Are there *still* people who think it doesn't??
Or perhaps you're one of twinstupid's disciples..
@@Stigmatix666 You're overthinking and underthinking things at the same time. They released Mary to in-home hospice care, meaning her doctor knew she was about to die. They don't conduct autopsies when the cause of death is so open and shut.
Also, fuck _Silent Hill 4._ It's the Joe Besser of videogames and I don't give a damn what it says about anything.
This is still the best Game I never *played*
Época de ouro da série
First time a videogame made me cry
Cant wait 2 see this ending in the SH2 Remake
I'm not crying, you are!
I actually had hoped for a 7th ending, one in which James calls the cops and admit to his crime.
Then seeing them taking him away
Maybe in the remake... Who knows what they are doing
People still don't understand there's no canon ending to this game. The ending you got is a reflection of your actions.
I would love to get this ending, but got the In Water in my first playthrough. And I guess it suits me...
If you got this ending, congrats, you are able to carry on your dead wife's wishes :D
I suffer from chronic depression. Guess what ending I got first?
@@Stigmatix666 In Water Ending??
@@91Definite Of course. One of the few games to make me cry
This is the greatest voice acting performance ever given in a video game. I hope the remake will keep this, it would be a sacrilege to redub this.
The in water ending might be the “actual” one. But this is definitely my favourite.
Water is the canon ending, but Leave will always be my feels--- er, fave.
Xuncu SH 4 don't define this ending the creators say that still anbigue!
This is the ending I got on my first playthrough. It's my favorite.
I prefer this ending because it's unique to the other characters you meet in Silent Hill. Eddie falls further into his madness, Angela succumbs to her depression, Maria accepts and doesn't fight her fate and takes on the role the town has for her - with this ending, James "gets it" - he realizes what he did, accepts it, rises above it, comes face to face with his victim, gets forgiveness, and seemingly comes out the other side a better person.
without fail everytime I watch this ending I cry, and not like a wet eyes silent cry either like I start weeping
This is the ending I got.