I've watched this a few times. Here is my take. James killed Mary out fatigue and depression. He can't bear to see his wife withering and dying slowly and he was definitely heavily burdened by the responsibility of taking care of his dying wife for 3 long years. It was like snap in the moment. Mary on the other hand was already in a state of acceptance. She knew she will die, there was no cure. Though she threw tantrum and did broke down asking James not to leave her alone, deep down she wished for the pain to end. James definitely loved Mary to the core but shit happened. He cannot forgive himself for the killing and thus he created the whole delusional scenario where he got the letter and went straight to Silent Hill. In the final scene, Mary the ghost had already accepted her death and forgive James, it was only James who felt the ultimate guilt and regret about his action. James, up until the final scene was not able to forgive himself, contrary to what Mary wanted him to be. So, this ending is a good closure in the most realistic way. It continues the mental state of James unable to forgive himself whilst Mary soothed him and reassured him that she understood and that she will always wait for him in the afterlife. That is proven during the lines where james said "im so, so sorry" and Mary answered with "it's okay", continued with James asking "will you wait for me?" and Mary answered "i've always been waiting for you". About the car plunging into the lake, i believe that James did jumped out of the car at the final moment. This is hinted by 1. him not reading the final letter which he just looked at the passenger seat. It is a directive of James wishing to put an end to this whole Mary tragedy without any regrets and second thoughts that may come after reading the letter. 2. The dialogue earlier "will you wait for me?" "I've always been waiting for you". I think if he chose to die on the spot, he will say something like "i'm coming for you" or words to that effect. Just my two cents.
My interpretation is that James is in a very similar mindset to In Water but desperately still wants to believe Mary is alive, like he tricked himself into thinking for the duration of the game. He can't bring himself to forgive himself for his deeds and he can't face the reality of it either. Even still he is aware that in spite of what he wants to believe she is gone and he's responsible. That's why she still appears to him.
The fucking comment at the end sent me. I interperet it as him seeing the letter again and realizing he'll never escape this nightmare and he's gonna destined to keep experiencing this torture especially after mary smiles and says shes always been waiting (for him in silent hill...) rather than do it all again he ends it. My personal interpretation.
Warning long comment ahead: You can definitely make a case for it, it's what I assumed myself despite him asking Mary to wait for him, instead of saying they'll be together soon. However, I've seen others point some stuff out and had noticed some things that warrant doubt. Firstly we don't get a letter reading over footage of the bubbles of air rising from the sunken car, which seems to imply that James didn't drown himself this time. Instead he got out before the car hit the water. Secondly the car has a delay before hitting the water that isn't there in the In Water ending. This furthers the idea he gets out just before hand. The ending also shows he is giving Mary a water burial to be among the dead claimed by the unknown disease that once ravaged Silent Hill. Ultimately I'm not able to come to a conclusion of either options, James is clearly someone who wants to live. He wouldn't have gone through everything he did if he was going to off himself anyway. Of course seeing Mary was his driving force but he doubted she was really there the entire time as well. He may have initially come to Silent Hill to off himself before the delusion set in at the sink but he's clearly afraid to die. So I could reason out him choosing to live despite how much he feels he otherwise deserves to die. Especially after looking at the letter which shows Mary wants him to live.
I've watched this a few times. Here is my take.
James killed Mary out fatigue and depression. He can't bear to see his wife withering and dying slowly and he was definitely heavily burdened by the responsibility of taking care of his dying wife for 3 long years. It was like snap in the moment. Mary on the other hand was already in a state of acceptance. She knew she will die, there was no cure. Though she threw tantrum and did broke down asking James not to leave her alone, deep down she wished for the pain to end.
James definitely loved Mary to the core but shit happened. He cannot forgive himself for the killing and thus he created the whole delusional scenario where he got the letter and went straight to Silent Hill.
In the final scene, Mary the ghost had already accepted her death and forgive James, it was only James who felt the ultimate guilt and regret about his action. James, up until the final scene was not able to forgive himself, contrary to what Mary wanted him to be.
So, this ending is a good closure in the most realistic way. It continues the mental state of James unable to forgive himself whilst Mary soothed him and reassured him that she understood and that she will always wait for him in the afterlife. That is proven during the lines where james said "im so, so sorry" and Mary answered with "it's okay", continued with James asking "will you wait for me?" and Mary answered "i've always been waiting for you".
About the car plunging into the lake, i believe that James did jumped out of the car at the final moment. This is hinted by
1. him not reading the final letter which he just looked at the passenger seat. It is a directive of James wishing to put an end to this whole Mary tragedy without any regrets and second thoughts that may come after reading the letter.
2. The dialogue earlier "will you wait for me?" "I've always been waiting for you". I think if he chose to die on the spot, he will say something like "i'm coming for you" or words to that effect.
Just my two cents.
My interpretation is that James is in a very similar mindset to In Water but desperately still wants to believe Mary is alive, like he tricked himself into thinking for the duration of the game.
He can't bring himself to forgive himself for his deeds and he can't face the reality of it either. Even still he is aware that in spite of what he wants to believe she is gone and he's responsible. That's why she still appears to him.
oo i like this theory !!
The fucking comment at the end sent me. I interperet it as him seeing the letter again and realizing he'll never escape this nightmare and he's gonna destined to keep experiencing this torture especially after mary smiles and says shes always been waiting (for him in silent hill...) rather than do it all again he ends it. My personal interpretation.
This one fuckin broke me btw. Best ending in the game imo. Outdose og in water by a landslide
But, at the end, on the black screen, we can hear that he go to the lake and died
Warning long comment ahead:
You can definitely make a case for it, it's what I assumed myself despite him asking Mary to wait for him, instead of saying they'll be together soon. However, I've seen others point some stuff out and had noticed some things that warrant doubt.
Firstly we don't get a letter reading over footage of the bubbles of air rising from the sunken car, which seems to imply that James didn't drown himself this time. Instead he got out before the car hit the water.
Secondly the car has a delay before hitting the water that isn't there in the In Water ending. This furthers the idea he gets out just before hand. The ending also shows he is giving Mary a water burial to be among the dead claimed by the unknown disease that once ravaged Silent Hill.
Ultimately I'm not able to come to a conclusion of either options, James is clearly someone who wants to live. He wouldn't have gone through everything he did if he was going to off himself anyway. Of course seeing Mary was his driving force but he doubted she was really there the entire time as well. He may have initially come to Silent Hill to off himself before the delusion set in at the sink but he's clearly afraid to die. So I could reason out him choosing to live despite how much he feels he otherwise deserves to die. Especially after looking at the letter which shows Mary wants him to live.