Rules
Episode TwoIt's been roughly two months since Sean and Daniel fled Washington. Traversing through the Willamette National Forest, buried in the snow, Sean is now training Daniel, who has learned to control his powers to an extent. Daniel is a bit insecure, but his brother's encouragement is all the motivation he needs. They're simultaneously out on a supply run, gathering water from the stream. Daniel has started to fall ill, which makes Sean consider finally budging from the cozy house they're squatting in. Unfortunately, on the day they decide to leave, Mushroom is killed by a cougar and Sean is given the option to stop Daniel from killing it in retaliation.
With Daniel not getting better and the weather only getting colder, Sean takes them to Beaver Creek, the setting of The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit and where their grandparents on their mother's side live. Claire and Stephen are more than happy to take their grandchildren in, with the only stipulation that they don't leave the house in case the police are able to track them down. Daniel recovers from his illness and makes friends with Chris, the boy next door, and Sean is able to sleep in and act like a normal teenager for once. Despite being told to stay indoors, Sean and Daniel go with Chris and his father to the Christmas Market, where Sean can buy presents for his family and where he meets Finn and Cassidy, two drifters who are also just passing through Beaver Creek.
Ultimately, the lure of their mother's locked bedroom proves to be too much for Daniel, and he and Sean end up breaking in there so they can learn more about the mother that abandoned them. They find out that Karen has actually been in touch very recently, after their father's death, to let her parents know that the boys can come to her if they truly need help. Claire is angry on finding out that they broke into the room, while Stephen is more understanding, but that takes a backseat when Stephen's unstable cupboard in his office falls on him, and Sean and Daniel need to help him.
Then, the police arrive, having tracked down the brothers either because they were spotted at the Christmas Market, or because Sean tried to contact Lyla either from the phone or from Stephen's computer. Claire gives the brothers time to escape, so Sean and Daniel hop onto the nearest train passing through Beaver Creek, onto the next stage of their journey.
Tropes featured in this episode of Life Is Strange 2:
- Abusive Parents: It's implied that Charles isn't always the best parent to Chris, enough for Sean to notice. Sean can ask Chris if everything is okay, and he can later talk to Charles at the Christmas Market.
- Book Ends: The episode starts and ends with Sean and Daniel travelling through the snow.
- But Thou Must!:
- No matter what you do, Sean will end up going to the Christmas Market and breaking into Karen's room.
- The police will find Sean and Daniel even if Sean doesn't try and contact Lyla nor check Facebook through his grandfather's laptop, because they're then spotted at the Christmas Market that Sean is forced to go to.
- Chekhov's Gun: The unstable cabinet in Stephen's office comes into play when it falls on him, giving Daniel the opportunity to lift it using his powers.
- Cool Old Guy: Stephen is an overwhelmingly kind old man who is very open to the idea of Daniel's powers. He's also not nearly as strict as Claire is, even if he also wants to keep his grandchildren safe.
- Downer Ending: If Daniel doesn't tell Chris the truth about the fact the powers he's made Chris believe he has are actually Daniel's, then Chris will try to use his powers in the finale to save himself from getting hit by a police car. A Daniel who has been taught to use his powers if he needs to will save Chris, otherwise Chris will be hit by the car. Fortunately, a later episode reveals that Chris wasn't too badly hurt even if he wasn't saved.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Sean meets Finn and Cassidy at the Christmas Market, both who play prominent roles in the next episode.
- Golden Ending: If Daniel tells Chris the truth about the fact the powers he's made Chris belief he has are actually Daniel's, then Sean and Daniel will run into Chris in his backyard while escaping, allowing him and Daniel to have a proper goodbye. Chris even gives Daniel his Captain Spirit cape.
- Heroic BSoD: Daniel has one should he end up killing the cougar with his powers.
- Kick the Dog: Mushroom is killed by a cougar no matter what choices you make.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Daniel will break down into tears if he kills the cougar, horrified at what his powers are able to do.
- Nostalgia Level: For those who played The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, Beaver Creek is this, which includes an opportunity to explore more of the town and spend time with Chris.
- Not Quite the Right Thing: Sean has to find a balance when it comes to telling when Daniel can use his powers; if he lets Daniel use his powers whenever he wants it means that people might find out, but if he constantly tells Daniel not to use them then he won't save people with them when they need help.
- Only Friend: Chris is devastated when Daniel has to leave, as he states that he's his only friend since moving to Beaver Creek.
- Second Hour Superpower: With Daniel's powers improving, this episode shows that he can now lift people with them. He saves Chris from falling from his tree-house, and depending on the choices that have been made, he can also save Chris from being run over by lifting him out of the way with his powers.
- Toilet Humor: Daniel announces that 'you do not want to go in there' after using the bathroom at the Eriksens house. He is nine years old after all.
- Video Game Caring Potential: Sean has the opportunity to talk to Chris about his issues with his father, offering advice and comfort in a very big brotherly manner.
- Video Game Cruelty Potential: Sean can order Daniel to toss snow on Nick's head after he harasses Cassidy and Finn. Of course, "cruelty" is generous considering it's completely harmless and Nick is a total Jerkass anyway.
