First off, huge props to Matthew Porretta (the voice of Alan Wake!) and the team over at Remedy - this dude is an absolutely wonderful character.
Initially something of a one-note 'happy science man' with a vaguely sinister undercurrent (which you pick up contextually, due to how suspicious everyone was of the guy leading up to the events of the story), Darling eventually becomes so much more as you slowly watch him unravel throughout his presentations and (surprisingly sweet at times) memos.
The best part though is how the execution never forgets that at the core of this character - no matter how bad things get - he is still ultimately that 'happy science guy'. So while things turn to shit and get worse and worse, Darling never loses his exuberant humour and passion for the things he's dealing with - he's still in love with the weird as fuck phenomena and technology, even as it threatens to destroy everything around him. He's worn down and beaten up, but he always has that trademark enthusiasm!
What a wonderful, lovable character. And yoked too. How the fuck is that man in his 50s? What the fuck?
... What's your favourite character from this year?
Initially something of a one-note 'happy science man' with a vaguely sinister undercurrent (which you pick up contextually, due to how suspicious everyone was of the guy leading up to the events of the story), Darling eventually becomes so much more as you slowly watch him unravel throughout his presentations and (surprisingly sweet at times) memos.
The best part though is how the execution never forgets that at the core of this character - no matter how bad things get - he is still ultimately that 'happy science guy'. So while things turn to shit and get worse and worse, Darling never loses his exuberant humour and passion for the things he's dealing with - he's still in love with the weird as fuck phenomena and technology, even as it threatens to destroy everything around him. He's worn down and beaten up, but he always has that trademark enthusiasm!
So when it turns out that the only reason Darling was suspicious is because we were viewing him through the eyes of Trench (ultimately the bad guy) and his only real mistakes were putting too much faith in Dylan and trying to save the entire bureau himself (fearing a lot of the darker information he was privy to would trouble his employees (like Emily Pope))? Damn, I couldn't have loved the dude more. Wonderful work from Remedy pulling a double swerve - instead of using the rote 'too-nice guy is a villain', they subvert that and keep him as something of a tragic, goofy hero. Exceptional work from Porretta in walking a fine line between sinister, playful and sincere at all times.
And oh my god, that moment where he seemingly ascends from the physical plane and calls you from the hotline with his own goofy visuals (he doesn't know where to put his hands - this is all so new to him!)? Amazing. His song in the Oceanview? AMAZING (I like to think of this as him beaming positive vibes Jesse's way). The memo where he brings treasured projector slides from his childhood days into the office, waits for everyone to leave, and then spends all night trying to run them through the slide projector - to go back to happier days? Amazing :(
And oh my god, that moment where he seemingly ascends from the physical plane and calls you from the hotline with his own goofy visuals (he doesn't know where to put his hands - this is all so new to him!)? Amazing. His song in the Oceanview? AMAZING (I like to think of this as him beaming positive vibes Jesse's way). The memo where he brings treasured projector slides from his childhood days into the office, waits for everyone to leave, and then spends all night trying to run them through the slide projector - to go back to happier days? Amazing :(
What a wonderful, lovable character. And yoked too. How the fuck is that man in his 50s? What the fuck?
... What's your favourite character from this year?
